Evening journal., 1912-12-11
Az INTERESTING DEMOCRATIC FIGHT.


sonN ~ is Democratic fight pure and simple, and one
which the Democrats must settle among themselves.
Notwithstanding that Republicans cannot fail to be
interested i'm g. especially view Of the fact that Just
prior to the recent general election 1t was asserted
by Democratic leaders that the Democratic party
a united and harmonious condition. The
fact is that within month after the election large
majority of the Democratic voters in the State espe
ciay those Ia Kent and Sussex counties insisting
that Mr. Salisbury shall 90 TO the United States
Senate IN other words that the old factional fight
within the party is wide open and that Mr.
Salisbury may deem himself exceeding fortunate If
he Succeeds next month i'm winning the Senatorial toga
for which he long has been contending. Nor do
think that Mr. Salisbury is fair to himself to the
public when he gives aippant utterances de-
signed to make the public think that he regards the
opposition lightly. Those who oppose his election
Democrats who must be taken seriously when they
bent upon serious mission, and they to
gard the enterprise OF preventing his election the para
mount political issue Of the present time.
We do not profess know how many Of the twenty
nine Democrats who will sit in the next Legislature
pledged TO for Mr. Salisbury for United States
Senator Neither do we profess TO know how many
OF them are averse to him being honored. What
do know is that tsere is strong opposition to his
election particularly in and Sussex counties and
that that opposition cannot fail to make itself felt in
the State House In January We also are Informed
that the friends Of Mr.. Salisbury building their
hopes upon the assumption that Kent and Sussex will
be unable to agree upon either man a
for the place and that a result Of that fight
between the two counties Mr.. Salisbury will be able
to slip in. Whether those hopes well founded we
do know. AS said before Il is a Democratic
fight and Republican newspapers and individuals are
merely interested bystanders.
In this connection desire to call to public atten
ton the following editorial i'm the Washington Post,
which bears the caption Party Politics and Courtesy
II be that the Democrats of the Senate intend
to withhold approval of nominations made by President
Taft i'm order that the Offices Amay be placed the
disposal Mr. Wilson they must stand in a less gra-
cous attitude than Republicans stood toward President
In 1896 after the election Of Mckinley, the retiring
Democratic President about 4S2 nominations to
the Senate The nominations included many first
postmasers and other important oices and made
clean sweep OF an vacancies at the disposal Of Presi
dent cleveland
Almost without exception the Republican Senate
confirmed the nominations AS matter Of fact, the
only conspicuous exception was in the Of James H.
Wolcott, the Chancellor Of Delaware who was recon-
| mended to President Cleveland by George Gray, the
! present United States Court Judge who at the time
represented Delaware i'm the Senate. Wocbt nom-
4 mated by President Cleveland for the position OF
United States district judge Of Delaware but this one
appointment OF all the important ones submitted was
| held up
The Republicans in the Senate in 1896 could not be
blamed for the failure TO raty the nomination of Vol
colt because &c made quite clear at the time that
members OF his party IN his own State strenu-
ousy opposed ms continuation TOT personal reasons.
In fact while the Democrats OF Delaware might have
had district Judge Of their own political faith, the
whole matter through the insistence of one leading
Delaware Democrat, was put over until Mckinley was
induEurateu. Ihen a kepuulcdn was dppomttu
This one leading exception to the Uniform courtesy
shown by the Senate n 1896 TO the retiring Democratic
President cannot Of course be charged to the Repub-
lican account u would therefore seem as though ME-
Taft entitled equal courtesy at the hands Of
Democratic Senators The holding up OF Mr. Tats nom
this would be more than offset by the disagreeabe
impression left upon the public mind
Nor should those who doubt the bitterness of the
fight now brewing in the Delaware Democracy fail 20
heed the significance OF the following editorial entitled
r.f srafun ulfoh
peared i'm the Wilmington Every Evening. a Democratic
newspaper on Monday evening:
An editorial from the Washington Post OF yesterday
headed Party Politics and Courtesy which we reprint
in this issue reyiyes interest in notable incident OF
Delaware politics The defeat Of prominent Democrat'
lawyer this State the Office of judge of the United
States Court for the district of Delaware at the i'm
stance it is said, of ope leading Delaware Democrat
BY this opposition the Democratic party deprived
Of the honor of having Of its members i'm this
high judicial position which In consequence went to
Republican
report that Democratic members Of the United States
Senate purpose to hold up the appointments TO ohc
which President tar may make between NOV now sa 9n'
March 4, by opposing their continuation IN order ina
they may be reserved for Democrats under the admin
istration Of President-elect Wilson. AS contrast
refers to the action Of President Cleveland IN 1876
in making 4S2 appointments TO Federal Offices all o
which were courteousy confirmed by a hepunnoal y
Senate, save one And that one the appointment o
the late James L. Wocot of Dover father of Attorney
Genera-elect Josiah o. Woloott Of this city, was he'll
up the Post editorial by Of the opposition
OF leading Delaware Democrat and went over un
tl after the inauguration OF President Mckinley. Whe
! II allowed to fall and Republican Judge Edwar
, C. Bradford appointed and confirmed
IL Is fact that James L. Wolcou was named b.
President Cleveland for the Office Of judge of the Unite
States Court for the district Of Delaware II IS ais
fact that there opposition 20 confirmation. b.
reason OF which action the appointment was deferred
there being time for investigation OF tho reason
offered In opposition prior 70 the advent OF the mex
administration Then. Of course. the pending appoint
ment OF no effect and the new President appointe
4 a Republican. Nov Il is stated. the authority OF
leading and reputable newspaper that this opposition
TO the confirmation Of the appointment OF a Deawar
Democrat TO the Office Of Judge Of the United State
e District Court raised by zone leading Deawar
Democrat"
This Information incredible. Il Is hard 70 be
eve that kind OF a Delaware Democrat. much les
a leading one would have been false to bis part
plot against Its interests by resisting the appoint
q nent Of Democrat and who good ciuze
a and an able lawyer TO such office knowing rs
must have known. that delay would surely deprive hi
\ narLN nf Lhs hlgh honor Lhls imnnrnnL nncLaI nos