Evening journal., 1908-11-23
Editorial
Opinion
Review of the Election.

Delmar News, (Rep)
Now that the election of 1908 Is a
thing OF the past. Il is time to take a gen.
eral look around and consider the re-
suits and the conditions that brought
about the results in Delaware. For re-
trospecton is good for any cause, no mat
ter how successful it may have been. 1t
is necessary IN order to avoid making
the same mistakes again in 1910 and 1912
that we made In 1908.
In 1904 the Republican plurality in this
State was the largest ever given that
party. In 1906 II decreased quite a little
and we fnd that I'm 1908 il again decreased.
1t is easy for the poorest statistician to
readily see that such a decrease every
two years cannot long continue in a
State that has no more votes than Della
ware. This decreased plurality means that
II the decrease continues proportonately
in the next four years as IL has in the
past four years. Delaware will pass out
Of the control of the Republican party
and into the hands of the Democrats. For
already the Democratic party has OBJ
tained control Of Kent county, and in
Sussex II will he compelled to gain but
about Ave per cent. Of the total vote to
give It control These are the facts. Now
the next question to consider is, why does
this condition prevaill
As Shakespeare says, "Ahl there's the
rub" A doctor may know a man is sick
but yet not know just what's the matter
with him. Such a condition really does not
confront the leaders of the Republican
party. Gentlemen. it's easy to see what
the trouble is That's the easiest part Of
the matter. The hardest part is TO apply
the remedy. "To be or not to beY" that s
the question. II il is TO be, in our honest
opinion certain elements in the party
must be displaced II success is to con-
tinue. The plain fact is evident that there
must be a general house-cleaning or a
general house-mussing. Either the rotten
elements must be driven out or the clean
elements Will get out. That's the propo.
sltion in a nutshell. and it is PROPOSE
ton that should engage thoughtful at
tention Of the party managers until the
next convention in 1910. That is the REM
edy. How shall Il be apphodl
A man even slightly acquainted with the
political situation I'm Delaware knows that
there are many good upright, conscien-
tious men in the Republican party who
are opposed to the use of money at cleo
tions That is one important considera
ton Another is, the people will insist tina
honest conscientious, capable men be pu
up for office. They will insist that the
nominees be men who have done clean
service and not men who have done dirty
service. The party must not put up mel
who have engaged in vote buying and
other do Il in the dark work. This
much Is certain If anyone doubts it, a
study OF the number OF split tickets at
the recent election will soon convinc'
them. Such a study will show that the
men who polled the full strength OF tn
ticket were men who have always beer
known as "clean" men. men who have
never had any known connection with un-
d drhand work. and who We're never
known as bribe givers or bribe takers
When the usa of money is discontinued
and the right men are put on the ticket,
every Republican and every Independent
voter viii work for II and support it, and
when such a united party presents its
2stltion to the people on election day, the
results will be greater than when money
! is depneded upon. Then there Will be moth
iig to be ashamed Of either before or af-
tr election day. Until such conditions
prevail. the Republican plurality will con-
t.nue to decrease until Il has no plurality.
The people will not swallow everything
all the time. There must eventually be a
clange. and that change must be made
| in Delaware not later than 1912, II indeed
it must not be made in 1910.
To bring about such change does No.
necessarily mean that there must be d
change in the head OF the party in tn
state. 1t simply means that there mus
be a change IN the methods OF the Stat
Central Committee. II must depend upo
common sense and not SO much upon III
almighty dollar. Tn making its recommen
dations it must learn to see how clean IL
dirty work they have done before the
cbn get a job There is no doubt abou
the Importance Of this fact. 1t may nc
seem so important 10 the leaders but a
matter Of fact, they seldom know jus
what the rank and file of the party /
thinking until the ballots are counted
and then Il is too late.
We mention these things because the
are tho thoughts Of many OF the hes
class Of Republicans in the State. an,
because Of our desire to see the Republ
can party continue its power. Cond
tions absolutely demand attention 10 tn,
facts stated in this article and we CON
mend them TO the attention Of every ma
interested i'm the success OF the Repul