Evening journal., 1912-11-16
EDITORIAL OPINION

be IN every way well qualified for the
oince, but that he be a man respected
and Democrat possessing I'm a mark
ed degree the confidence Of the people
OF the state. For the position there
are some dozen Democrats more or
less prominently mentioned No one
Of these can be said to have any
peculiar claim TO the position OF one
MS admirers say he has kept the party
together and led its fights in losing
years, and is, therefore, entitled to the
reward; of another that he has had ex
perience. and OF others that they would
be a credit to the state and useful
representatives. The fact is that the
party does not owe its existence or its
holding together to any one man or set
or men, and some of those who claim
the credit of keeping it alive have been
dead weight about its neck. Nor is
there any merit in the claim that be-
cause Democrat has done his duty he
IS TO be rewarded for Il. The man who
is not a Democrat because he beliegas
IN the principles Of the party and it's
necessity as an instrumentality in ad-
Vancing its principles, but because he
expects to be rewarded for his ser
vices, is not the sort of Democrat to
send to Washington to represent the
state In the Senate. The fact is that
no man is entitled to the place, nor
does the party owe it to any man.
The members of the Legislature should
approach the important duty imposed
on them in this light and should lend
a dear ear to those who are busy
running about the state impOrtuning
Tor votes. To our mind the cOnsidera-
tons of greatest Importance are
First, what sort of man does the state
need as Senator at Washington; sec
ond' from what part of the state
should he come; and third, what sort
OF Democrat would be of most real
service in advancing the party. Della
ware needs the ablest, strongest. most
broad minded man IN the state for her
Senator. She needs one who is IA
miliar with her interests and her
needs, but is broad enough to stand
for the common good though some
special home industry may feels the
need of government favor. She needs
at this time a Senator who knows
and is able and courageous enough to
serve her agricultural as well as her
industrial interests. For more than
so years, with the exception of the
time when Anthony Higgins acci-
IDENTIFY secured a seat in the Senate
Delaware has been represented by a
Senator from New Castle county and
a Senator from the lower counties
I One Senator has gone from the manu-
featuring city of Wilmington and one
from the agricultural community COM
prising Kent and Sussex counties
That is Democratic fair play. Why
should this time-honored custom be
departed from now? Wilmington has
a Senator at Washington. Kent anc
Sussex furnish % Of the 20 Democratic
votes. Why should they not choose as
a Senator, if not a farmer, one who is
interested in, familiar with and il
sympathy with the farmers of lowei
Delaware? 1t seems to us that tn,
Democrats of agricultural Delawar,
who think it necessary or advisable
to go to industrial Wilmington for
Senator, lose sight of their best in
terests and the long and arduous figh
that has been made by the Democrat
OF the lower counties. led by man
leaders, most of whom are as wei
, qualified for the position than tn
! candidate from Wilmington Tn
Z Democratic party needs a Senator a
. Washington who can unite and NO
divide its forces; who is broa
2 enough to represent all and not a fac
= ton, or a personal following who
above petty spite and revenge, an
who at least has the respect OF thos
who don't favor him. The two lowe
counties Of Delaware are now Demo
cratic; a continuance of this cond
ton depends on whether the % Demo
Z cratic members of the Legislatur
, chosen in those counties are wise an
choose a Senator from the lowe
counties who measure up to the el
pectation of the voters. The day ha
e passed when men blindly follow
party. They think for themselves an
they act as they think and they wi
not tolerate a boss-controlled party.