Evening journal., 1911-06-05
MAYOR VIEWS
OF HIS DEFEAT
Scores the DiSGruntIed and
the Cant Win"
Democrats
FRIENDS SAY LAND DEAL
WAS A HEAVY LOAD

DR.. Harrison w. Howell, the sue
cessful candidate for Mayor, today
made the following statement:
Il am grateful to the citizens Of
Wilmington for the splendid victory
accorded me, and l deeply appreciate
the confidence thus manifested. | am
likewise delighted that the other can
didates on our ticket are elected and
a full Republican administration is
thus assured"
In discussing his defeat with a re-
porter for THE EVENING JOURNAL
today, Mayor Spruance said: While
/ was disappointed l am getting over
it. Yet | feel that / would be migrate
full toward those who Loyalty support
ed me in not publicly extending my
thanks to them. feel that had every
Democrat done his duty on Saturday
there would have been no question as
to the outcome. Much of the response
bility for the defeat of the ticket is due
to the apathy displayed by the dis
gruntled, sore and cant win" Demo-
Gratis, many of whom opposed me at
the nomination and after / was nomi-
mated went around with that oft re-
peated remark che can't win"
'I am grateful TO the independent
voters for their support, who, accord
ing to the returns, must have voted
for me in large numbers. 1t is a
great honor to be Mayor of this city
and | had hoped to have a term free
of the embarrassments with which
was surrounded as a defacto official
during twenty months Of my two-year
term about to end | had hoped to
do something for the permanent good
of the community, my present term
in office having taught me the possi-
bilities of the Mayor, limited though
his powers are.
Can't Win Democrats.
There are several things to which
describe my defeat aside from the
cant win Democrats" The very
misleading statements concerning the
financial condition of the city relative
to the deficit, for which alleged condi-
tion, though l was not responsible
also had much to do with It. The
large Socialistic vote, drawn mostly
from the Democratic party, counted
and l believe l was entirely without
the support of any newspaper, al
though I must extend my thanks L
THE EVENING JOURNAL, for, ever
| though it is Republican in principle,
was allowed the use Of its columni
freely.
Even with these handicaps l be
lieve that / would have won had 4
not been for the big negro vote, ag
gregating about 5000, which fullnesl
was secured by the prodigal use o
money.
Il will not be a candidate for Of
j fee again one defeat being sufficient
j congratulate the city upon III
Mayor-elect, and he has my bes
wishes and support in his endeavors.
Playground Deal In II.
Friends of Mayor Spruance, VIII
handled his campaign for him, CLAIM
that one of the most vital thing
which figured in Mayor Spruance'
defeat was the Ford-Gibson land deai
whereby the city was saddled wit
park land at a cost of $4,000. Man
we're of the opinion that the Mayo
had a hand in this transaction an
that he had to execute papers or sig
an ordinance to acquire the land i
question. This, however, was nc
true, the matter never having com
before the Mayor in any shape O
form. His official sanction of such
transaction is not even asked, muc
less required.
These advisers had on several oC
oasions, knowing the Importance {
this matter, brought It to the after
ton Of the Mayor and urged him I
make a statement concerning it, an
, had even gone to the trouble to pre-
pare such a statement. The Mayo
however, rather than unload the r.
sponsibility on those where il b.
? longed. refused to make the stat,
ment, having reached the decision I
take his share of the responsibilit
3 with the rest of those on the tick
I and suffer the consequences.
4 Another thing which figured larg'
D ly in the Mayors defeat, they say, W;
0 the large number of Democratic ba
{ lots thrown out which Democrats ha
Q cut to wipe from the ticket a cand
K date who was not in favor with o
gaaized labor. Seventeen ballots
: one district of the Eleventh ward Ct
e in this manner and spoiled, wei
? thrown out.