Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-19
Bu a star corrcspOnGent

WILMINGTON, Del, Aug. ia father
and n son, the former a Governor, the latter
Congressman pitted against each other IN
all the bitterness of a factional political
contest--this is one of the curious side-de-
yelopments in the complicated and heated
political fight which is holding the attention
OF the entire tate at the Republican pri-
maries today.
The father is Governor Charles r.. Miller.
He is not an avowed candidate for any office
at this time The son is Congressman
Thomas w. Miller. candidate for re-elec-
tion and at present supported by both the
regular organization Republican leaders
and the Alfred /. dupont faction.
While the defeat or denomination of
Colonel Henry A. du Pont for the United
States Senatorshp the biggest issue In
the Statewide fight will be virtually
known by o'clock tonight when the polls
close the Miller family breach will not
even come to the surface until next Tues-
day when the delegates elected today will
meet in Dover to nominate the Republican
candidates for the November election
1t is then that local politicians expect
Governor Miller to try to administer the
political spanking which he is said to
have promised his son should the latter
be a candidate this time.
The differences between the Governor and
the Congressman-and they were purely
political differences-began more than two
years ago. At that time the Republican
organization was a bOllu unit lllIOGbh blS
State there being inl<ling that Alfred
l. du Pont would try to split the party in
an effort to compass the defeat of Senator
du Pont.
The Governor, although elected by the
Organization under the leadership of Gem
eral T. Coleman du Pont Republican Ma
tional Committeeman from Delaware, and
Senator du Pont had shown on several
occasions signs Of political independence.
His independence would not have been
I,t IN 1fanF n
Organization leaders. but coincident with 1t
developed rumor that he was nursing am
bitions to succeed Colonel Henry a. du Pont
in the United States Senate.
without waiting positive proof that the
rumor was founded on fact the Organization
determined TO forestall him. Immediately
Thomas W. Miller was groomed for the
place of Congressman, the idea being that
as there are only three places of real honor
in Delaware two OF these places could not
be filed by members of the same family
and the Governor would be forced to for
get his ambition at the expiration OF his
gubernatorial term
Just what passed between the father and
son then is a matter OF much speculation,
but not of definite knowledge among poll
ticans. But there was a breach and the
breach wdened.
The second move to eliminate the elder
Miller came in the spring at the primaries,
when delegates TO the Republican National
a matter of official courtesy in Delaware to
send the Governor, IL he was Republican.
as one OF the delegates to the National Con-
vention.
The Governor became a candidate for this
honor simultaneously the candidacy of
Major Edmund Mitchell, at that time Re-
publican city chairman. became fact and
General T. Coleman and Senator du Pont
swung their support TO Mitchell. The con-
test was bitterly fought and Mitchell won
made by Governor Miller and an appeal was
made to the State committee, but the COM
mittee refused to hear the case, because,
Governor Miller charged the du Points
forced them to keep hands Off.
The breach was then wdened further and
the Governor. 1t is declared. then began to
scheme the defeat OF his son. The factlonal
fight fomented by Alfred 1. du Pont within
the party might have proved ripe oppor-
tunity for the Governor but unfortunately
during his term he had won the enmity of
Alfred l. by announcing that he would not
sign bill which the latter planned to force
through the Legislature as part of his
scheme OF personal and family vengeance
Without the hope of support from either
OF the warning factions, 1t Is said, the
Governor has worked underground to have
elected at the primaries today enough
delegates TO make him a potential factor at
Dover on Tuesday.
His plan, as viewed by politicians, will
not be TO openly oppose the nomination of
his son, for there has been no candidate
except Congressman Miller suggested for
the congressional place but he win make
an EFFORT, by swinging a balance OF power
between the two DUPONT factions, to force
his own name TO be considered either as
a candidate 10 succeed himself as Gov
ernor or as United States Senator.
In the event of success in either case the
boom OF Congressman Miller would imme-
diately fall for the reason that the Organi-
zation cannot AFFORD 70 have two members
OF the same family continue TO hold two OF
the only three important political places In
the State The fact that Congressman
Miller has won unusual distinction in Con-
greEs during his hrst term and the fact that
he is already looming big a national
leader In the party would not. II is declared
be sufficlent 70 assure his nomination should
the schemes OF his father run true.
The first fight. Il is expected, will be
made in naming the committee on rules of
the convention. This committee. which
consists OF 12 delegates three from each
county ana three from Wilmington, has
the power 20 say which nominations
shall be made frst. Should they determine
70 make the nominations for Congress first
ne defeat OF Governor Mnlers plans ere
esxfain. But should they vote hrst on the
senatorial ana tbs Eubsrnatorial vacancies
there = every possibility, the leaders admit,
that the already complex situation IN the
state may be further muddled
Although some show OF fight might be
expected at tbs primaries today Il Is
aala that the Governor has worked 50
quietly that mona knoEs just which candi-
aetes he has pledged 70 support him. The
asiiF open HSht today VIII be between the
&Izrad 4 a. Fonl faction who claim theg
z1e Horkins for party purity. and the
regular Qfz4alEsiiaH ieadeFa. Nho are
N1e'a8 81 ~ rstazn a senator du Peat