Evening journal., 1913-02-04

The agricultural interests or the
State Mr. Salisbury is thoroughly
familiar with all parts of Delaware.
He knows the needs of the agricul-
tural districts as well as any other
parts of the state. While the Index
is covering up its grief, having made
the fight on the county line argument,
we do not believe that it really thinks
that any part of Delaware viii suffer
as much as it pretends to believe.
Cochran's Kisses Did 1t.
Wilmington Sunday Star.
The "roll of honor" in relation to
the senatorial succession appears to
have been a rather jelly-like affair. 1t
dissolved at a mere breath Of secret
persuasiveness from the Salisbury
camp. The first member Of the "roll"
to weaken was Representative Will
liam F. Cummins Of Leipsic, and then
the others followed suit. 1t is related
that the breaking of the deadlock was
the direct result of a conference on
Tuesday night between John G. Arm
strong, of Odessa, a former salesman
for the international Harvester Com
pany, and Representative Cummins in
the Hotel Richardson, which lasted
until nearly midnight. Representative
Cummins is reported as saying that
"Mr. Armstrong; arguments had
been the most convincing of any pre-
sented to him."
1t would be interesting to know
what were the nature Of those "argu-
ments, but Mr.. Cummins carefully re-
frains from disclosing their character
or their color. When repeatedly asked
for information on that point, his
stereotyped reply was 81 have nothing
to say" OF course no one can think
for moment that Mr.. Armstrong
arguments were not honorable argu-
ments. We are therefore driven tc
speculate in another direction as &c
the reasons that might lock Mr.. Cum
Minis mouth against disclosing pre-
cisely the inducement-an honorable
one of course-that won him over t
Mr.. Salisbury after repeated protes
tations that he would never vote fol
anybody but Kent man for senator
In seeking the reason for such a sur
prising somersault, we find it sug
gested in the Dover reports of tina
day. which declare that ex-Judg
Cochran hugged and kissed Represen
tative Cumntins Immediately after tn
casting of his vote. Mr.. Armstrong
the quondam Harvester Trust repre-
sentative, is a close friend of Judg
Cochran's. Judge Cochran is a mic
little fellow Of decidedly lady-lik
appearance; furthermore, Kent is
"dry" county. Only two votes wer
needed to break the deadlock, and it
significant that Williams and Schneid
er, whose votes were not needed
didn't get kissed.
When you put all these facts tc
gether, it appears more than probabl
that the inducement to Representative
= Cummins was that kiss from Judg
Cochran. II must have been a strongl
favored inducement, and we ask: Ca
you blame him?
The same argument applies to Rel
resentative John M. Houston, and r
doubt the same inducement was hel
b out to him. Men are but flesh an
? blood, and we are all subject to tenn
tation of one kind or another. "
can't say that we altogether apprec
4 ate the taste Of Messrs. Cummins an
: Houston, but that is their affair; an
certainly their modesty in declining
talk of such a delicate matter is el
tirely commendable. 1t should in ju
4 tlce be added that ex-Judge Cochran
; promptness in liquidating his oscul
tory obligations is worthy of q
@ praise. A suitable diplomatic bert
G should be created for Neddy-su'
u for instance as envoy extraordinal
to Turkish harem--in recognition
s his exquisite feminine proclivities.