Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-07-31
WEDNESDAY, JULY 81. 1918.
Tho Sc Suspicious Brethren.

The public is Informed, from time
TO time. that the Republican factions in
Delaware arc about to embrace. and that
harmony Will be the rule from this time
until after the election But occasionally
things occur 10 show there is more suspi-
con than confidence between the two
factions, and that at least one faction
the independent boltcrs---ls sitting up at
nights. with both cycs open, ready TO
pounce upon the slightest movement Of
the other faction that may even bc sup
posed 10 be the covering Of an overt act.
Evidence to thus effect IS found IN
some comments Of the independent Re
publican faction organs down the state
there are no moro old Organization Re
publican papers. sad to relate on the
formation, recently. Of he Service titizcns
Of Delaware. IN this city This Organi7a-
ton. according "a its public statement
of principles and purposes IS absolutely
aloof from politics Of any kind, partisan or
general Vet the newspaper organs Of the
independent Republican holtcrs regard It
with a suspicious cyc. One ot them
calls It new du Pont product, and
secs in its formation Q deliberate pur-
pose to attempt 10 intmidate the
Voters Non-Partlsan League, which IS
held UP rs an able and fearless upholder Of
tho cause Of the people all tho tlme
1t is very strange that the formation
of the Service Citizens Of Delaware,
with an announced program Of purposes
that is absolutely altruistlc, and IN
which. so far as its utterances arr con
cerncd. not the slightest suspicion Of
partisan interest can he disccrned. should
create such q futtcr IN the camp Of the
independent Republican holters faction
But it has, and the newspaper organs Of
that faction seem vislbly concerned.
One organ Of the Independent Re-
publican faction rointcdly inquiries, in
respect Of the organization of tho Service
Citizens of Delaware, why such a body
was organized at this tImc2" is there
anv real need for it, this boilers organ
asks
Certainly Many long-sutfcnng citizens
and taxpayers in Wilmington stand
ready to give Endorsement to any move
ment, to any organization that aims, rs
this organization says II does and that
the Voters Non-Partlsan League also
does-to better municipal conditions in
the city of Wilmington We arc gong
from bad 20 worse IN tins city, in respect
of municipal administration Taxes have
been increased outrageously, not only
through higher tax rate. but by much
higher assessment The city tax rate Is
now 81 rs on the 500 on iuH-rate assess
ment.
But in respect Of the benefits of mu-
nicipal administration the taxpayers find
themselves with very unsatisfactory re-
suits. Our streets are in n very dirty con-
dition, Repairs and new paving are
lamentably slack The garbage col
lection service is not only farce in respect
of efficiency, but is positive detrment, an
incentive 10 the spread OF contagious
which garbage is allowed to collect on
private premises, and Of the awful stencil
that permeates all sections Of the city
through which the infreQuent trips Of the
collecting vehicles are made, the ofal col
lected being in a horrible state Of de-
composition Forty years ago or more the
garbage collection service of Wilmington
was a thousand per cent better than it is
today.
The organization known as the Service
Citizens OF Delaware has announced its
purpose Of endeavoring TO correct mu-
nicIpal evils Of this character, and Of dong
other things that will tend to the interest
of the people, especially in respect Of good
administration 1t has promulgated an
admirable platform. Yet it IS regarded
with severe suspicion by the organs Of the
Independent Republican boilers faction,
as though it was partisan organization,
bent and determined upon bucklng
against the Independent bolters and knock
inc them out OF business We submit
that il viii be time enough to hold up
this new organization in this unfavorablc
light when it shall have said something,
or done something, that will give reason
for such an assumption, apparently So
unfair and unwarranted at this time
Why the palpable fear?