Evening journal., 1909-08-17
Tuesday, August u. 1909
CAMPAIGN OF NEXT YEAR.


II HE Laurel State Register, a Democratic
J. paper of Sussex county, has an excellent
editorial article discussing the prospects of the
political campaign next year. Most of what it
says applies to both parties and II states some
truths that should not be forgotten. In "off
years in former times, the Register remarks,
politics were abandoned for the time being, but
this is not the case at present. The wise lead
ers are those who, as the Register says, are con
the Job" during the off years. Two important
factors are pointed out as having an interesting
bearing on the contest of next year One is the
independent vote and the other the effect OF
the prohibition agitation in the state.
The independent vote will, OF course, play an
important part The Republicans during the
last two campaigns have felt the effects OF the
independent vote adversely, and ths vote in
stead of diminishing is likely to be increased.
Therefore, the advice as 10 the nomination Of
strong Candidates is pertinent for the Repub-
licans as well as for the Democrats for whom
IL was directly intended. The Republicans must
nominate candidates who will have the full party
support il they wish to win by the Republican
maorities that were obtained in elections be-
fore the last one
The Register thinks that the Ultra-Prohibi-
tionsts will take up a fight for statewide pro-
hibition with a view of forcing such prohibi-
ton upon New Castle county whether the cit
liens of this county wish it or not Doubtless
some of the extreme Prohibitonists the men
many who supported the "Drys" in the lower
counties during the local option election who
would not favor statewide prohibition which is
the very opposite of local option
A statewide prohibition movement would
find little favor with them and would probably
result in the Prohibitionists losing ground in
the lower counties. A great many of those who
voted for prohibition in the lower counties dur
ing that memorable campaign were men who be-
heved that if the counties were DRY" there
would be less disorder in those counties They
were confronted with a condition of Saturday
night braws and disorder. They did not vote
for prohibition because they believed that any
moral harm was done by drinking not to
excess. This class OF voters, we conjecture,
held and do hold today the balance OF power in
the lower counties.
1t is unlikely, therefore, that If the Prohibi-
tionists should attempt to force statewide pro-
hibition, they would be successful 1t is not
probable that they will get a more strongly
Dry Legislature next year than they had last
time. and certainly no state wide scheme Of pro-
hibition could have been put through the last
Legislature. However the question will compli-
cate, more or less the next election. Such COM
plications would have been removed had the
Legislature decided to FIX a certain time after
the interval of years for the submitting OF the
license question according TO the plan suggested
BY Colonel Drexer
The Register also believes that the candidates
for the Legislature should not be nominated en-
tirely with the idea Of their Senatorial prefer
ences. We fear this advice will not be needed
BY the Democrats. Having no issues with
which to go before the people, the nominations
among the Democrats will be made only with
the idea OF electng Senator. With the Dem
ocrats the next campaign means a revival OF
the od-time factional feud in the party. II is
true that the Democrats will have a platform
similar TO the delusiye affairs that have passed
for platforms during recent years and they may
make a campaign on mock ssues-such as the
buncombe about railroad rates-but all this viii
simply be veil to hide the real intent of the
campaign
However the Senatorial question should no
-. be the only one considered. The Legislator,
will have or should have other things to pas
upon but whether it will consider any liv
problems is open to doubt Judging by the las
session it will not do so