Evening journal., 1911-03-07
OPPOSES THE
DUPONT OFFER
John 5. Hamilton Thinks it
Should Not be Accepted
by the State
STATE SHOULD BUILD
THE ROAD, HE DECLARES

Editor of THE EVENING JOURNAL.
General DUPONT has contributed 10
the State highway project the asser-
ton that he is making the offer OF a
State road solely for the good of the
State, and he also says that he will
give a trolley franchise for a trolley
company or any other public utility
to any bona fide applicant who will
agree to operate SAID utility inside Of
a period of FIVE years. The writer is
ON record as favoring a State road.
He believes, however, It should be Of
Delaware, for Delaware, and by Dell
aware. He, the writer, cannot under
stand why Mr.. DUPONT should say that
he is acting entirely for the States
good while he accompanies his offer
with the condition that he should bs
given the franchise spoken Of.
The writer will not deny that he is
opposed to accepting the road as a
gift. Il may. because he, the writer,
Is cranky or whimsical, but he
thinks he is 80 loyal to the State Of
Delaware and SO proud of its people
and resources that he would feel
humiliated If It were deemed neces-
sary to accept a road as a gift, which
IL Is acknowledged is needed. as a
gift, when in his opinion the people
of the State have ample resources
and means TO build the road them
selves
In No Sense a Gift.
The writer, however. does not be-
lieve that Mr. duPonts offer is In any
sense a gift; the latters offer of a
franchise 10 any legitimate seeker
seeming sufficient evidence that Gem
eral DUPONT does not so regard IT, The
conditions attaching themselves 10
this question are difficult TO analyze
so many things have 10 be taken into
consideration, and a knowledge Of so
many things Is necessary, that It
would take more than communica-
ton TO newspaper to do the writer
justice or 70 satisfy him that he is
effectively laying before the people
ms reasons for opposing the accent
ance Of what at first sight really docs
appear to be a magnificent offer
The writer would Hike 10 say In tho
beginning that he has no nroiudice
against General DUPONT. political or
otherwise. His opposition would be
inc same lot the offer come from
whomsoever It might He is opposed
to It whether il be regarded as a gift
which he, the writer. insists It is not.
or whether Il be considered as a deal
namely a road for the possession Of
franchises which in the nature of
things must soon be utilized and
when placed In operation will have
tremendous influence on the destinic4
Of The people Of this State.
II Is urged IN answer to tbir con.
lentlon that these franchises arc IA
ne mad for the asking. aud the write,.
- aware and not unmindful OF these
lacts when he opposes the acceptauce
OF this offer on tho terms named.
IT, Coleman DUPONT is one of tho
leaders in big business in this conn
try His possession. therefore az
these franchises becomes most vital
and signihcant thing. while The pos.
session OF the same rights and privi-
leges by soldiers Of fortune and un-
scrupulous advonturcrs Is almost
negligible quantity. T. Coleman du-
Pont could finance these utilities to-
morrow and operate them at loss
until their benefcent effects would
bring prosperity ont of adversitv and
profit out of loss Mr. DUPONT. no one
Will deny. could do this thing. but
he is very careful in his offer 10 make
1t clear that he does not promise 10 DO
so.
But there is another side TO con
slider and e Is an important eide.
When a man Of Mr. duPont's financial
ability gets possession Of such provi-
leges as he asks. under conditions
such as exist In this State al this
time, he practically eliminates every
one else Even those as financially
| able as himself will not think of en-.
/ tering the field with an enterprise of
the kind for which he holds fran
chlEe, for the possessor Of these privi-
leees Mr.. DUPONT, with his skilled
engineers. has already pre-empted tho
strategic right Of way, and he would
be Ia a position 10 smash those who
would dare to enter the field. even
though he does not choose TO do the
business himself II does not there
fore look very promising for electric
traction or the operation of other
modern utilities down State If this Of
fer Is accepted, unless Mr.. dupont