Evening journal., 1915-06-05
LIE LIZ BE WISE.

- If II value its continued cxstence;f
If it would keep political and partisan raneor out
of its councils
II it would serve the best of the business
men of our city and Peninsula;
II II would continue to be regarded as commercial
and not as political organization;
If would not be disrupted by internal dssension
that would be as resretabe it would be
cessary;
If # would have the respect and confidence of our
business community
II will not permit Every Evening erstwhile organ
of and apologis the Salisbury Democratic machine
and the Morning News newspaper avowedly antagon-
the Republican State. county and city organ
izatons, lead to persist in its mistaken and llad
vised policy OF posing the chief advocate Of an in
vestigation of the Republican Levy Court of this
county.
That they would like have It make the mistake is
plain from their editorial utterances
That they would club upon it, II necessary, to
force into il-adyised and mistaken position,
is clearly apparent
II is time for the thinking members of the Chamber
TO assert themselves and to their organization
itself and from the ruinous influence of such self
seeking advisors
It is a henous thing for the Every Evening to at
tempt to make of the Chamber of Commerce tail for
the Salisbury political kite.
Il is low-down piece Of factonal business for the
Morning News to attempt to use wimingtons chief
commercial organization TO serve Its unjust attacks
upon the Republican State county and city organza-
tions.
No commercial organization not aHhicted with sui
| cidal mania would permit them to DO it.
The original proposition that the Levy Court be in
vcstgated and that the Chamber of Commerce play a
part in that Investigation OF political origin.
II supplied an opportunity however for those who are
endeavorng to play politics TO make political issue
of IL and to seek to add the Chamber of Commerce
to their equipment regardless Of the effect upon that
commercial body.
They are stin at it; and are endeavorng to shove
the Chamber so deeply into the political morass that
it viii he impossible for it to cxtrcate itself
Those who have an interest in the present and the
future OF the Chamber should assert themselves.
There should be a clear understanding whether the
! Chamber is commercial political organization
and whether it be- is not to be- the creature OF
the salisbury machine the side and of the anti
| Republican organization macontents the other
side.
II Il Is to be converted into political organization,
or into cats-paw for political organizations or polit-
cal macontens then declaration to that effect should
be made and should promugate political platform
that will permit OF an intelligent lineup Of It's mem
borshp and of the decent dgnifed withdrawal of
those members who cannot accept such a platform
That is all there is to 1t.
The men who went into the Chamber OF Commerce
did so with tho explicit understanding that its chie
missions were to obtain industries, to serve com
mercial interests and to make Of Wilmington, fa
as il might be DONE a great convention city. Ther
could he no division Of sentiment upon those lines
That was a platform upon which Republicans, Demo
Gratis Progressivos. Socialists, Single Takers, Prohib
tionists Independents and men of all other poitica
creeds might stand without doing violence TO thei
convictions When, however, thanks to the mischiev
ous meddng of politicians is made to appear that tn
chiof mission of the Chamber Is not to promote husi
ness but to back an attack upon the Republican Lev
Court an entirely different situation is created an
one that be persisted in, will lead to disastrous re
suit TO the Chamber
If there he members of the Chamber of Commerc
who think the Levy Court should be investigated lo
them take their thought the political organization
or TO the Attorney and PROFOUND it there Tn
Levy Court already has expressed its Willingness
be investigated by any competent authority and to d
evervhing in its power to facilitate such an invest
CATION
Let the matter be kept out OF the Chamber of Con
merce where does belong. partisan and malcor
s tent statements to the contrary notwithstandins
The very best service the Chamber of Commerce ca
do is to centre its energies upon the procurement
! new industries new business and new conventions.
IL will do that the community will not hold II respoi
sibe in any way for the sins of omission or commits
y sion of the New Castle County Levy Court In fac
the people will laud IL for attending 10 its own bus
ness instead of nogectng that business to attend
e the business Of others
II should show it's competency to attend to and pc
form It's own business before Il to attend to az
perorm tho business OF the Levy Court the Attorne
, General or the Grand Jury
" We have no objection TO Levy Court investigation
"A nor have We been chary in criticism of that bod
p. We do object however. to the Chamber of Commer'
o neglectful of its proper functions playing into {
hands Of the local Democratic machine on the one 81
n and into the hands certain Republican maconten
Ie on the other side both of whom eager TO use il
m club to strike at the Republican organization throu
he Republican Levy Court
A. We wish to repeat that the original proposition
the Levy Court investigation came from source II
n was not political Nevertheless. the proposal was U
to wise That fact has been demonstrated by the us
a. 10 which politicians seeking to put the Cha
nd Der of Commerce in forwarding it,
of The wise course for the Chamber to pursue is TO