Smyrna times., 1913-01-01
SAULSBURY'S DEFEAT NOW
SEEMS VERY PROBABLE
FIGHT AGAINST HIM FOR w. s.
SENATOR MOST DESPERATE
May be a Deadlock-LegisIat So
Divided That There May Not Be
an Election for Some Time


Not since the days of j. Edward
Addicks in Delaware politics has
there been such desperate fight over
the election of United States sena-
tor as the one now being waged for
the seat of Senator Harry A. Richard
son. The legislature convenes jan
uary z, and the fight is one of Demo
cratic National Committeeman Will
lard Salisbury against the field. The
question in the minds of every one
who know anything about Delaware
politics is: Can Salisbury weather the
storm that is brewing in the face of
his candidacy? The political divi-
sion of the legislature is very close,
the Democrats having a majority of
only six on joint ballot, which makes
it possible that there may be dead
lock. There will be twenty-nine
Democratic members of the legisla-
ture. Only fifteen will be needed to
control Democratic caucus if one be
held
Opposition to Holding Binding Caucus
Should a few Democratic members
refuse to enter a binding caucus to
nominate it would make a free-for-
all fight in the floor of the legisla-
ture in joint session. with Sauls-
bury's defeat probably. Most of the
candidate are willing to abide by the
caucus, feeling confident they have
Salisbury licked. With L. Irving
Handy, Richard R. Kenney, David T.
Marvel, John Biggs, Andrew c. Gray,
James H. Hughes, Colonel James R.
Ross, Henry Ridgely and other promi-
nent Democrats either working for
the honor or being urged by their
friends, Salisbury will find it difficult
to land the prize. Anti-Saulsbury
men have in mind to unite the oppo-
sition on one candidate, Henry Ridgely,
the blind lawyer, of Dover. Ridgely
is an able attorney and if elected, ii
is claimed for him, he would be 4
second Senator Gore at Washington.
Former Congressman Handy, who i:
probably the best orator in the state,
will be a potent factor in the fight
Both Handy and his friends have beer
making a very active canvass of thu
state. Handy lets it be known tina
he is an aspirant for the office, an,
sees no loss in true dignity in askini
members of the legislature to vote fo
, him, Handy says:
Handy Feels Confident of His Winnin
elbow else am 1 to get what
, want? l am too poor to buy the sen
, atorship; and too good to steal it; bU
l am not too poud to beg for it.
am rurly sorry we cannot have poi
ular primtary on the subject so thi
l could make my appeal directly
the voters. think that would
. most appropriate. But since such
n primary cannot be d, shall NJ
fail to ask the men bers to vote f
d me. Yes, l am smiling over the 81
n uation too, and feeling just as plea
II ant about it as Mr.. Salisbury.
o rather think it will be up to me
Il give some sort of a dinner after Il
y senator has been elected" The fig
% against Saulsbury's rule of the Dem
20 cratic party started before the Dem
l. cratic state convention last Septel
ru ber, when he forced the nomination
s. Thomas M. Monaghan for govern
n against the wishes of other leaders
lg his party. They aver that almost a
y good Democrat could have be
n elected and carried along the ent
10 Democratic state ticket.