Evening journal., 1910-08-27
SATURDAY. AUG. 27. 1910
THE COMING CONVENTION.

N VIEW Of the large registration and the evil
dent interest of the voters in the coming cam
paign the question is quite naturally asked, What
VIII be the platform OF the Republican State
Convention which meets next week?
he last two years have been stirring years in
political education and development. The move
ment has been forward and not backward The
people have become interested in live questions
and therefore it is to be expected that the Re-
publican State convention will have platform in
accordance with the spirit of the times
While declarations national issues are pro-
per and necessary, we fancy that many voters of
the State will give much heed to the resolutions
referring to State issues. The Journal hopes that
the Republican State convention will meet all
the expectations, which in some quarters are
high. If the platform is not progressive, does
not answer the demands Of advancing public
opinion in Delaware, it will certainly prove TO be
very Disappointing
1t is we'll for the Republican leaders to remem-
Der that any slip-ups they may make in the plat
form will be taken advantage of by the Demo-
Gratis who hold,fheir own State convention at a
later date. During the lest few years many young
, Democrats have become active in the party and
they will endeavor to put their views into the re-
solutions Of their State convention.
On the whole we look for progressive
platforms at both State conventions than ever
before, for neither party have been insen-
sibe to the remarkable development of political
thought.
Let us consider few points briefly which ought
to find expression in the resolutions of the Re-
publican State convention. The subject Of good
roads is one of them. A great deal of sentiment
has been developed in favor Of good roads That
topic has been discussed by every newspaper in
the State. We believe that nearly every news
paper will admit that we should have a continu-
Gus well-made highway from one end of the State
to the other In some counties of other states
as in Orange and Ulster counties of New York
ncH Ac IL LEE
as great If not greater than from Claymont TO
Delmar In this county we have made considerable
progress in road building, but believe that
most people think mistake has been made in not
building good road from Wilmington TO the Kent
county line. SelhshnesS OF some members of the
Legislature and their friends prevented the build
ing OF such road We hope that the Republican
State Convention will declare for a State highway
10 be built at least in part by the State.
Speaking Of good roads the convention would
take wise step should il advocate the condem-
nation of the privately owned turnpikes in this
county SHOW tickets or pay toll, is a relic OF
uirateal barbarsm that has been tolerated long
enough Think of the condition of the alleged
turnpike from this city TO Claymont. Instead oil
users of that road being forced TO pay 10 ride or
It, the owners OF the road should pay persons who
are unfortunately compelled 70 use IT,
The convention should declare in favor of a new
city charter for Wilmington. Recent develop
nents, the playground land DEAL the injustice oil
assessments, the councilmanic junket and various
other matters have forced on the minds of the
people the necessity Of new city charter and the
placing Of the municipal affairs of Wilmington
on business basis and not on the basis Of pea
nut political manipulation. The convention should
pledge itself to the new city charter movement
The convention also should take UP in connee
ton with this the subject OF equitable assessment
OF land values Again the recent playground
land deal thrust before the people the inecua
ties and injustices of our assessments, a cond
ton that has been permitted to exist for years
strange to say without aroused public opinion
demanding fair deal in assessments Our pres
ent machinery OF assessing land values is a fail
ure honeycombed with rank injustice and oppres
sion. If the matter we're thoroughly probed. IN,
injustces and unfair assessments disclosed woulS
be stencil in the nostrils of open-minded people
The convention should declare for thorough
overhauling and revision of our assessment
methods. The subject is important and Difficult
TO handle. but no further argument is needed I,
expose the rankness of our present method thar
the publication OF the assessed valuations Of pro
Pefties as was recently made by The Journal |
such 6gures showing inequalities do not arous'
the public 10 realization of the iniquities OF ou
present assessments nothing will DO so.
The convention also, The Journal believes
should declare in a cIean-cut and unambguous
manner for a public service corporation commits
sion. That problem has been forced TO the front
~ tho recent deals in our public utilities. At