Evening journal., 1913-01-25
THE COURAGEOUS FOUR AND
THE CAUCUS.
From the Dover Index (Dem.)
M, 4 - A. ,+to,,,,t,J

From the Dover Index (Dem)
The outcome of the attempted
Democratic caucus of Monday night,
while disappointing to Democrats
who have the best interest of the
party and the state at heart, is hope
full i'm that four Democratic members
of the Legislature refused to bend the
knee and bare the neck to the yoke
of boss. That there are other DEM
Ocratic members who are in accord
with these four and will stand with
them in the end, we have every rea-
son to believe. Those four honestly
and cOurageously represent the DEM
ocrats Of their districts, and there
are other legislative districts whose
Democratic voters demand that the
members from those districts stand
with those valiant four. In fact, we
believe that the Democratic senti-
ment of the state, If fearlessly and
honestly expressed upholds the ac-
ton OF Senator Williams and Repre-
sentatives Houston, Cummins ana
Schneider in refusing to be bound by
caucus of the 20 Democratic mem
bers of the Legislature to take from
Kent county the United States Sen
atorship, to which Kent county, by
long usage and right Of representa-
ton and Democratic strength and
achievement, is entitled. In this day
of progressive thought, many of the
states have adopted the plan Of pre-
ferential primaries, but Delaware has
not. and until such a plan is adopted,
or until the better plan of selecting
Senators by direct vote is adopted, the
selection of Senators is by the Rep
resentatives in the General Assembly,
and hore each member must decide
for himself all questions as TO distri-
button, fitness of candidates and party
advantage. As we have said before,
the custom of doing this by caucus Is
not binding on any Democrat and
such custom has been the great cause
of the dissatisfaction that has led to
the movement for election of Sena-
tors by direct vote. The caucus has
been abandoned In many OF the states
and its binding effect has not been
respected in many others. Even IN
the great State of New York, so long
the maker of Democratic Presidents,
and where the caucus was so long
recognized, two years ago rev
democratic members of the Legisla-
fure. a less number in proportion
than the four in Delaware, refused
Ia abide the caucus result, and on
nrincinle refused to vote for William
IA Sheehan. and Notwithstanding the
accumulation clamored for his cleo
tion and put forth every claim Of
marry service, Judge O'Gorman was
elected and is today serving that
state and the nation as the leading
Democratic Senator in Congress, and
the handful of members OF the Leg
ielature who refused to abide the
caucus are leaders Of the party IN
New York. In Delaware the party
caucus has been custom observed
freouentlv i'm the breach. In 1888
ana again in 1899 members refused
m he hound. The fact is that after
oil the election of a Senator is not
all a party matter, but one OF lnul-
vidual conscience Of the members %
the Legislature, and no right tnihk-
ing. right feeling man shoulo SUNNI
10 have his hands tied ana ms con-
science stined by a caucus OF any
other party machinery. we nope tlae
the four members who have so far
refused to stand by the caucus VIII
continue in their course and tnat
others who are in sympathy win
their stand will speedily join them'
and that every Democrat OF the state
who svmpathizes with their stand
viii he courageous enough 10 say so
and thus aid in the ultimate selec-
Ton If senator who will be cred
n ~ the state and nation and
strength TO the Democratic party.