Evening journal., 1911-01-17
GENERAL GRUMBLING.

~ HE..forces Of some of the Democrats
s. ~of Delaware whose views arc expressed by
their newspaper here seem to be under the com.
mand Of General Grumble and Colonel Growl
and the Duke of Disappointment. There has been
more grumblng and growing during the last year
or so than at any other time since the old Demo
cratic days when partisanship ran riot and the
mass Of the people divided into hostile fac
tons and forced to devote considerable OF their
time which could have been more prohtably eni-
ployed, to wrangngs and disputes. These, sitted,
had as their basis the ambitions and desires
of this or that man to hold office. They manipu-
lated the people to further these selfish ambitions.
But after all, that is what politics chiefly consists
Of.
At the time the Democratic State Convention
met a weak candidate was nominated for one OF
the high Offices and the Democratic leaders them
selves threw up the sponge and believed that they
had no chance Of carrying the election. They made
practically no fight, which was in marked con-
trast with their previous campaign Their candi.
dates were left to shift for themselves.
When the Democrats we're defeated, they did
more grumhling and growing than ever Instead
OF making vigorous campaign on "a progressive
platform and attempting to rouse the interest Of
the people in the live issues now before the coun-
try. they Sulked and they have since grumhled and
growled The great clamor about bribery was
started, but the fact that the Attorney General is
investigating these charges and trying TO run down
those who violated the election law should have
caused the grumhling TO cease on that mat
ter. Everything that can be done is being done
through legal means TO abate that evil.
Then came the appointment of judge. No one
said anything for a long time and the appointment
was practically going by default. large number
Of leading lawyers" so-called, signed the petition
Of Mr.. Churchman. Now the intmation is that
these lawyers did not know what they we're doing.
The Governor followed what he considered to be
the best information he had on the subject and
appointed Mr.. Churchman. The same men that he
consulted in making the other appointments TO
the bench we're consulted doubtless in the latest
appointment But lately the forces of opposition
which we're dormant for so long began to grumbe
and growl and the fight is on.
There is nothing in the cry of partissnship about
Mr.. Churchman II compared with Democratic par
tisan appointments in the past As for various
other matters il is fair TO presume that the attor
neys who approved him for Judge passed upon
them and did not think them Of sufficient moment
to prevent him from being Judge. II is reasonable
10 presume that these attorneys regard the high
honor OF the bar of which we hear so much talk
II the lawyers TO whom as judges no excep
ton at all could be taken, refuse TO go on the
bench, the Governor has nothing else to do thar
10 take their advice to his appointments. He
tried We believe TO make the best use possible
Of the material that he had at hand, and il he
has not men who always wore angel wings and are
second Blackstones for positions on the bench il
is not the fault Of the Governor.