Evening journal., 1913-05-22
THURSDAY. MAY. 22. 1918.
THAT nIpnNT cIRcrLAR.


n circular addressed to the people the city Of
Wilmington. Francis l. DUPONT Bull Moose Pro-
gresive candidate for Mayor gives another certificate
OF Official fitness TO Or. Harrison W. Howell The Re
publican and National Progressive candidate for that
cticc.
- do not claim that II elected can administer the
Affairs Of the city better than the present adminatra-
ton Mr. DUPONT says. u. however have looked into
the mates sufficiently te feel eeaadea, that Il elec-
sed coulc perform the duties required of me- The
present city charter and State laws permit things to
be done only in certain ways. and conditions can be
improved only by changing these laws"
We understand that when certain Of the Bull Moose
Progressive leaders aseertained that Mr. DUPONT had
expressed himself frankly in print in relation to
Mayor Howell and admitted that it is not within the
power Of Mayor to change either the city charter or
the laws to bring the governmental remedies In which
Mr. DUPONT believes, they made efforts to suppress
the circular If they did the that 1t is being cir
culated widely shows that they could not suppress
either the circular or Mr.. DUPONT
In his speech accepting the Bull Moose nomination
Mr. duPon. admitted that he could not make a better
Mayor than Mayor Howell has done. He also admitted
that Mayor Howell has done the very best he could
under the laws governing his actions and that the
remedy lay In the Legislature anG not 10 the Mayor
or the city administration The confession his cir
cuar simply emphasizes that previous statement
We think the people OF Wilmington viii agree that IL
mr. cannot 40 poUer tndn Mayor Howell there
is no for Mr.. DUPONT seeking the Office which
Mayor Howell now holds and for which he has been
renomndted by the Republicans and the National Pro-
gressives, and that there is reason why any VIII
mineton voter should his vote for Mr.. dupont in
preference to the present Mayor Mayor Howell
has been tried and found to be good Mr. DUPONT
never has been tried and knows what sort Of
Mayor be would make. That he is an intelligent self
respecting citizen no Denies but there many
such in Wilmington who would not make good Mayors
Much OF MT duPonts circular Is discussion Of un-
equal representation in the State Legislature We feel
that Mr. DUPONT will admit that the Mayor OF
Wilmington has power remedy that and that II It
is to be remedied, IL only can be done through the
legislature, in which the Mayor of Wilmington has
neither voice vote. The remainder of his appeal
to the voters really is discussion the advantages Of
the Single Tax opposed to our present system of
assessment and taxation
we should gradually lessen the rate upon improve
ments until they tax free" Mr. DUPONT says "why
should the government charge a man anything for
building house? II does build IL for him. II the
city built his house for him. then It would be all right
to tax IT,"
Without going into discussion OF the merits or
demerits Of the Single Tax. take It that Mr. DUPONT
also will admit that the assessment and taxing
system cannot be changed by city administration but
only by the Legislature and that his election to the
Mayoralty would have bearing whatever upon the
questions OF assessment and taxation In short he
seems to be running his Mayoralty campaign upon
issues With which the Mayor Of the city of Whining
ton has nothing to do except in very remote way
Every declaration he makes only serves to emphasize
the fact that he has valid excuse for being in the
Msyoraity nght at all.