Evening journal., 1908-10-03
LAWYERS WRITE
TO MR.. RICHARDS
Summary Of Replies to His
Inquiries About Nominee
for AttOrney-GeneraI

HAhAiNAN rNAltu MI FRANK IL.
Davis. the Republican candidate for the
Office Of attorney general. Of this State.
Is UNQUALIFIED 10 hold ard perform tho
duties Of that office. I do not desirc
| to be unfair to Mr.. Davis and I should
like to know whether the members OF
the legal profession generally in this
state agree or disagree with my posi-
ton.
"Will YOU kindly inform me whether
YOU know or know Of Mr.. Davis and
whether YOU consider his professional
attainments such as 10 qualify him to
hold and perform the duties of the OF.
fee OF attorney general.
Awaiting your early reply. which
will not be made public If you object.
j beg TO remain yours very truly,
Robt H. Richards"
or the above 143 members Of the bar,
eightv-seven are Democrats and nifty.
six are Republicans. Thus far eighty
four replies have been received to the
letters thirty OF the replies having been
received from Republicans and fifty,
four from Democrats. OF the thirty
Republicans who have replied. fourteen
have written letters In which they hav.
expressed the opinion that in their
judgment Mr.. Frank II. Davis is unfit.
for various reasons. fo- the Office of
attorney general; and thirteen have
stated either that they do not know
him or know anything about him ana
therefore are unable to express an opln
ion. or that they prefer not to express
an opinion; and three Of the Repubii
cans have expressed The opinion that
= ffe4t tn
office OF attorney general These three
are Messrs. Daniel J. Layton. Jr.. OF
GEORGETOWN. and Walter II. Hayes, ana
Sylvester d. Townsend, Of Wilmington
or the flfty-four Democratic members
% the bar who replied, forty have ex..
pressed the opinion that Mr. Davis is
untitled and UNQUALIFIED for the Office Of
attorney general. ana fourteen havo
stated that thev do not know MI
Davis or anything about him and there
fore can express no opinion. In addi-
ton 20 the above a letter was received
from Ruby Vale. who lives IN Delaware
but practices law in PENNSYLVANIA, in
which he expresses the opinion that in
his judgment Mr.. Davis Is qualified 70.
the Office OF attorney general. A copy
OF fis letter is printed below, II beink
possibly the reply which is most favor
able to Mr. Davis.
In addition there is olso printed be-.
low a letter received from Judge Ig.
natius c. Grubb. and letter received
from former Attorney General Herbert
IT, Ward. one Of the Republicans who
expressed an opinion adverse 10 Mr.
Davis and who states that he has per.
sonal knowledge Of the matter concern
ing which his opinion Is given.
The writer's OF some Of the letters
above referred to have requested that
they be not made public and they can
therefore, not be published. but others.
including those favorable to Mr. Davis
and those adverse win be published 50
that the people OF the State may be
apprised Of the facts.
Clifton Springs. New York, N. Y, Sep
tember "a, 1908
Hon Robert II. Richards. Attorney-Gen-
eral OF Delaware
MY Dear Sir Your letter has been for
varded to me here whore I am seeking
the health and strength to continue my
judicial duties until the end OF my term.
next June.
You request me TO inform you "whethsr
I knew or know Of Mr. Frank II. Davis
the Republican candidate. and whether
consider his professional attainments such
as TO qualify him to hold and perform the
duties of the office OF Attorney General
have had no personal but only casusl
official knowledge OF Mr.. Davis and his
professional attainments, and this merely
through his connection as attorney with
a few cases tried in the courts at Dover.
wherein I was then sitting Consequently
l do not feel justified. upon such made
quatc knowledge, in expressing my opin.
Ion upon the subject OF your inquiry.
I thoroughly concur with you. in both
conviction and action that party organ.
ization is necessary and the support OF
ones party and It's candidates a duty as
the general rule. but that. as you truly
say there is point, however. in the
matter Of party regularity beyond which
bis conscience and personal dignity viii
not permit a seifrespecting man 10 ao'
and that is where the party's nominee is
positively known to him TO be devoid Of
the character and other qualifications
Indispensable TO the faithful and efficient
performance of the duties he seeks bv
either election or appointment. This is
especially true regarding those 10 he
charged with the administration OF iustice
whether as judges or prosecuting officers
for upon their ability integrity. courage
and fidelity depend not only the lust set
tement OF Individual disputes. but also
the security Of life. person and property
and the maintenance Of the public peace
and welfare
MY long experience. first in the active
exercise OF my political duties as a pri.
vate citizen. and since in the dscbar.e
Of my duties as Judge for nearly twenty.
five years enables me now. in my maturer
years, to see more clearly and 10 perform
more resoiutely tho duty Of good citizen.
ship.
l fully realize how party leaders and
managers IN the heat and excitement OF
partisan conflict may fail TO pause ant
soberly reflect upon the serious impor..
ance OF selecting only honest. capable ane
faithful public servants. either 10 occup,
positions OF the gravest responsibility ant
power, or to apoint those who are to IN
them. But such failure on their part is No
reason or justification for the thought.
ful. conscientious and self respecting ciu
zen 10 repeat their default. much less Z,
hlindly obey their dictation. abdicate nj,
manhood and prove recreant 10 the dutie,
Of good citizenship.
The approaching general election Is
one OF the most important in our his