Evening journal., 1912-12-16
Son rHE OLD FAcTIONAL FIeHr.
From the Wilmington Every Eve
ing (Dem)

From the Wilmington Every Even
ing Dem)
In view of the fact that there are
still Saulsburys and WOlcOtts i'm Della
ware. ii is only natural that some per-
sons, in commenting upon the pend
ing campaign among aspiring Deia-
ware Democrats for the Office of Unit
ed States Senator. should call it
revival of the old Saulsbury-Wolcott
fight" But il is not II is a contest
among several aspirants for high
political prize and the elements of the
old factional struggle alluded to en-
ter into the situation very remotely. II
at all.
The Salisbury Wolcott figbt cul-
minated in the campaign of 1888. more
than score of years ago. II was
clean-cut and clearly defined. Ell
Salisbury then nearing the close OF
his third successive term as United
States Senator asnired to a fourth
term. James T. Wolcott. then the
leading Democrat of Kent county and
of lower Delaware, entered the lists
against him. The decisive contest
was for control OF the Demo-
cratic convention Of Kent county
where the legislative nominations
we're to be made. and in the primary
fight Mr.. WOlcott won His victory.
however did not include control of
the DELEGATIONS from all the districts
but the friends of Mr.. Wolcott, when
the. convention met. imposed the unit
rule. thereby preventing the selection
Of legislative nominees favorable TO
! Senator Salisbury in the districts
which the latter had carried. In con-
sequence Of the application of the
unit rule Senator Saulsburv's follow
ers bolted and refused TO support the
/ Wolcott legislative ticket. The re-
suit was a Republican victory in
/ Kent county. and il was also at
tended by Republican victory in Sus-
sex countT. by virtue of an extra
thousand dollars contributed 10 the
Republican corruption fund on the eve
Of the election which bOught enough
votes to turn the scale This victory
| for corruption together with Demo-
cratic defeat in Kent made the Legis-
lature Republican on Joint ballot and
the prize went to that party. the late
/ Anthony Higgins securing the cleo
tion.
Such w7s the Salisbury wolcott
fight of 1883 MANY Of the leading
narticDants have nassed away Men
horn that YEAR are nov full-fedged
voters. While its effect were felt for
a long while thev did not seriously
imnair the soliditv of the Democratic
marty which carried the State at the
two succeeding elections. and they
we're not instrumental 81 the c0nver-
sion of the State to Repuhlicanism.
which was due 10 tho corrunt use NJ
money Also. in numerous instances.
men who were on the Saulsbu~v side
and men who were on the Wolcott
side at that time have changed posi-
iions as far AS the ancient feud NAV
be said 70 have even 2 remote hearing
upon present political conditions
Tho present senatorial contest will
not he decided on the lines ~ this
fqetional contest % the past. notwith-
standing some adherents to the old
factions are still prominent in the
Democratic party of Delaware u will
he referred to. Of ccur~e Attempts
will he made ~ revive g. Events
growing out Of - nov still ha urged
aa '~nuoriant fao-ors. oenecialiv Il
thev involve subse1uerf acts Of marty
t~eacha~v ho-r of noreonal ernaifv
The Democratic party. as a body