Evening journal., 1910-11-29
TUESDAY. NOV. 90. 1910
DEMOCRATIC DIsCORD IN KENT.

g ONE of the Democratic newspapers of Kent
~ have been washing their soiied linen in pub
lic and the more they do so the clearer becomes
the explanation of why the Democrats failed TO
elect more than three members OF the lower mouse
of the Legislature at the recent election
During the campaign The Journal pointed out
that the old factional fight among the Democrats
of Kent had by no means been dropped 1t seems
10 be more alive than we thought or course
the cry of money is raised. II is hard to give up
the old habits and talking about money influenc-
ing the election is a confirmed habit with many
Democrats
The Dover Index thinks the legislative ticket
was weak and that it stood for the election OF
man who the Index thought should not go to the
Senate The Delawarean, on the other hand, be-
eves that the legislative candidates we're all right,
Presumably the Delawarean favored the election
Of Mr. Willard Salisbury for Senator
AS the Democratic newspaper OF this city says
at is blowing of the embers OF the old Sauls-
burv-Wolcott faction fight OF a generation ago.
which Democrats elsewhere have forgotten, and
which il was supposed the Democrats OF Kent
had forgotten also" But they have not forgotten
II as the returns of the election show and prob
ably they never will forget il.
1t was thoroughly believed in well-informed
political circles that the Democratic candidates
for the Legislature in Kent county we're controlled
by the Saulsbury-Kenney combination and that
for Senator Believing this, it was an easy matter
for the opponents of Mr. Salisbury TO throw
enough votes in close districts TO defeat the ticket
There is another point which seems to us may
have had some bearing on the result and which
none Of the Democratic newspapers have touched.
Some of the Democratic candidates, we are in
formed, refused TO commit themselves on the
wet or dry question in Kent but the Repub-
lican county convention went on record as oppos-
ing any change in the present status. In one dis
trict we know of and probably in others, this
cost the Democratic candidates considerable
number of votes perhaps enough to change the
result in several instances.
The Democrats Of Kent carried seven Of the ten
lower house districts two years ago, but then the
senatorial question was not an issue. The Demo
Gratis two years ago made aggressive campaign
from one end Of the State 10 the other, and they
had the best ticket the whole that they had
had for years. Neither of the old factions would
have gained any particular advantage had the
Democratic State ticket won.
Far from the old sores being healed we think
that if the Democrats had won the Legislature the
party would have been involved in a regular cat
and dog fight over the election OF a senator with
the probabilities Of deadlock at the start at least
1t may be recalled that during former sessions of
the Legislature, It was impossible for the Demo-
Gratis to hold their members of the Legislature 10
the caucus candidates even though there was no
chance OF the party's eecting the senator The
factional bitterness among the Democrats has been
bitter indeed, and it is remarkable that
II should have continued so long but II
Is probable that this very fsctonal difference add
cd TO the unpopular nomination of Mr.. White for
Congress and the circumstances surrounding that
nomination caused the Democratic campaign to
lack the aggressveness and interest which marked
the campaign of the party two years ago
At best, queer politics played in Kent and nc
wonder the Democrats are discouraged when they
have to deal with so peculiar situation The
Democrats themselves are busy explaining the rea
causes of their defeat