Evening journal., 1912-06-06
THURSDAY. JUNE 6. 1912
c0rNcILMAN srOyER,s puTY.


TT rs unfortunate that a like Councilman sover
i Of tho Seventh ward permitted himself to be
used by the marsh land spectators in their frantic
effort jam through City Council their scheme for
the exploitation of the Delaware river waterfront by
using state laud and Federal aud municipal funds.
When Councilman stover elected from the
Seventh ward there those who predicted for him
a distinguished Councilmanic Suggestion was
made that what he would do Councilman undoubt-
cdy would lead his selection for even more inn
portant positions in the public service His early acts
bade fair to verify that prediction
His many personal and political friends were shocke4t
when they discovered that he unwittinsly ha1 hf
come victim Of the waterfront speculators and that
they not only using him cats pap hnt sesga
ingly we're willing he should ,befome hspkspek6at
should their exploitation plalS ko i<
Confident predictions ftt 1.adF Nh'~s~nen Council
man stover disooFs& N f( dkploitation scheme,
far from bena sood 81 ths cB highly inmical
TO itssinleFesla .aaa. n,ht its championship by him
tafet,snad - vfeck his political career-he
tcI'|t Aol ftritate out in manly way admit
hif fiaf turn upon the outrageous proposition ad-
r1cd and demand something infinitely better for the
Wy. Thus far he has failed TO pursue that course
and square himself with the people Now is the
time for him to do t. He should take advantage of the
opportunity which presents itself TO shake himself free
from the waterfront exploters acknowledge the mis-
take he has made and become the leader of the peo-
pies side of the waterfront fight
II Councilman Stover will be man enough TO
knowledge his and to take the peoples side Of
this tight he viii become in one day the popu-
lar member Of City Council. The public holds
anything against a who, from of zeal. puts
himself in false and untenabe position, II he ac-
knowedges his error gets the right side OF ques-
ton and takes manly part in fighting what simply
because he had deceived. he formerly thought
right The public official who suffers lasting harm is
the who knows he is wrong who knows that
the thing for which he lighting dangerous those
whom he represents and who. despite that knowledge
persists in pursuing wrongful course.
Councilman stover will have in this entire contro-
versy such favorable opportunity the one which
presents itself for setting himself right with the
taxpayers and voters by showing them that the viii
mington Terminal Company and its associates have
stranElehold either his voice his The
shameful nature this riverfont proposition be
by this time apparent to him and every other mem
ber Of City Council whose motive is honest and whose
mind is open to conviction
It is settled beyond all question that the 500 acres
of land under water from low water mark out 20 the
proposed bulkhead is owned by the State and by
the Wilmington Terminal Company and its associates.
Il is settled beyond ali question that the Whining
ton Terminal Company and its associates cannot even
claim title that State land under Bulkhesd Law
of 1901 until they have built bulkhead.
Certain things that have transpired in the County
Court House within the last few DAYS indicate that
the Wilmington Terminal Company is in no position
financially TO build bulkhead il may claim title
Statements recently made by Senator Knute
Nelson, chairman Of the Committee Commerce Of the
United states Senate and by Major Deakyne the
United states engineer in charge Of the entire Della
ware river improvement project show that the Fed
fra Government rather would build the bulkhead and
make the FIJI back Of il for the benefit Of the public
than for the benefit of marsh land Spectators.
Interviews given by Major Deakyne show there is no
reed Of precipitate haste or unwise action by our
Council in order that the hulkheaa the flI be OBJ
tanned from the Federal Government
There is legal precedent for the statement that the
Delaware Legislature has right TO repeal the Bulk
head Law Of 1901 and that acres of state land
TOT the public benefit time prior 10 the Whining
Ton Terminal Company and its associates carrying out
the terms Of the conditional grant which are that a
bulkhead shall be built before claim for title from the
State may be made
Reputable and dsinterested lawyers assert that the
Buikhead Law itself is clearly unconstitutional and
mat II its eonsttutonality be tested in the courts
that fact will be established
We print in another column today a letter from
DOCK Commissioners Tomkins of New York in which he
says he obtained fair understanding Of the situation
IN THIS city when he several months ago and
\ ndds mat II would ~BE A MONUMENTAL MISTAKE
FOR THE CITY or WILMINGTON TO PERMIT ITS
WATERFRONT OR THE FLATS TO PASS UNDFR
PRIVATE ONNERSHIP.-
With such set of facts confronting him. Council