Evening journal., 1912-11-20
Editorial Opinion
Some Questions for Democratic Men,
bers of the Legislature to Answer.

rum INC WnhAi6eOA AfOAJ A'OhAhbs
(Dem) 4ns,
As a result of the recent election
in this State, the next Legislature
Will have a Democratic majority on
joint ballot And as the term OF
United States Senator Harry A. Rich
ardson will expire on March 3, 1913,
the Democratic majority on joint ball
lot in the Legislature will have the
opportunity, which no doubt it will
avail itself of most cheerfully. OF
eiecting a Democrat as Senator Rich
ardson's successor The Legislature
VIII meet on Tuesday, January z, and
assuming that it will organize prompt
ly' VIII address itself to the task OF
electing United States Senator by
taking formal ballot in each house
on the second Tuesday thereafter,
January Il. In accordance with long
precedent the choice of the Demo-
cratic majority for Senator will be
made ny caucus, held previous to the
uay Tor taking the formal ballot.
Naturally, there will be many aspir-
ants to the honor of representing the
State in the Senate of the United
states And in making a selection
from among these aspirants. or from
eligibles who may not be omen aspir-
ants, it will be as much the dufv Of
the Democratic members of the Leg
islature to give consideration TO those
whom they should not choose for the
high honor, as well as those whom
they should favor with their votes.
First, of all, the Democratic men,
bers should endeavor to secure the
most able and best fitted man for the
position. He should be a Democrat,
OF course, one who will give loyal
support to the Democratic national
administration. And especially he
should be one who will stand firmly
Tor revision of the protective tariff
In the interest of the people.
with these considerations duly set
iorth as preliminary essentials, it is
next IN order to take up the aspirants
10 the once, and decide who should
ana VINO should not be considered.
Mr. Willard Salisbury is conspic-
uous among the aspirants to the Sem
atorsnlp' and therefore it is pertinent
to ask: Is he the one who gives
promise of meeting all the require
ments and best representing the state
OF Delaware in the United States
Senate? Mr.. Salisbury is a leader of
the Democratic party in this State
but not the sole leader, by any means
In thls capacity he has done some
very good work, but has he not done
much that was not good, but rather
was decidedly detrimental to the in
terests of the party?
AS one OF the leaders of the Demo-
cratlc party for many years, has he
not dlsplayed numerous evidences of
unprontable, unwise and decidedly i'm
practlcal leadership? Has his been
q leadership that conduces TO vic
tcryE And has IL placed the party Or
ganization on that high plane which
appeals most strongly to the people i'm
its behalf? F0NS'0 ~
was not the disorganizing and in
enective character of Mr.. Saulsb,Irv's
leadership cOnspicuously disnlavsd
during the recent political campaign
IN this State? For, with an ability that
mas more than once proved more eff
IecliVe IN primary contests than i'm the
struggle with the political enemy ON
electlon day, he has addressed himself
10 dlctatlng various nominations on
the democratic ticket He put forth
extraordinary efforts to nominate q
candidate for governor this year and
persisted in his choice in the face OF
protests Of Democrats who realized
that his favorite would not prove ac-
ceptable. At the election his selection
Tor governor failed to receive the an
proval OF the voters and was defeated.
On the other hand, may it not be
stated that the one nomination on the
Democratic ticket with which Mr..
SHnICnnfsW ~, =.
which he could not have prevented had
he tried. by reason of the general
recognition Of its eminent fitness, was
accorded the highest vote of the Demo-
cratic ticket, leading even the nomi-
nees for Presidential Electors? Does
not this show that candidates whom
Mr.. Salisbury does not favor with his
approval stand better with the people
than those whom he puts forward as
representative of his capacity to Sc
lect the best exponents OF Democratic
principles and policy?
Has not Mr.. Salisbury ever been a
partisan and a factionalist in politics?
In political campaigns has he ever
looked beyond the primary? And has
he not been satisfied so long as he
could make himself a ruler at that
stage OF the campaign? Does he ever
take into consideration the large ele-
ment of Independent thought and vot-
ing in the electorate of this State,
which controls all elections and with
out the sympathy and support of
which no ticket can win? Does his
leadership attract this element? And
even within the Democratic party
lines have not his methods of leader
ship been arbitrary and offensive,
conciliations wide diplomacy and due
regard for sound public sentiment
finding no part in them? Would not q
large portion of the party be deeply
offended at his election to the Senate,
and would it not prove especially Of
fensive to the Independent element to
which we have alluded? Would it not
injure the Democratic party after the
manner of an unfit and objectionable
nomination to Office and have a weak
ening effect upon the party in subse-
quent campaigns?
Therefore, is Mr.. Willard Salisbury
an aspirant for the senatorship who
should be favored and supported
above all others by the Democratic
members of the Legislature?