Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-05-03

| III MS IprInai announcement tItat ne
will be a candidate for the Democratic
nomination for United States Senator,
Mr.. James NJ. Tunnel of Georgetown
: made some statements that are OF more
than usual importance, and possibly Of
| much significance ut this time. His
utterances also are peculiarly appropriate,
IN view Of the surprising policy that had
been urged especially by some down.
State newspapers, that all aspirants to
| the honor Of being United States Senator
( from Delaware for the ensuing term should
suppress their aspirations Mt this time
and refrain from presenting their claims
| and submitting their chances to the de-
cison of the Democratic voters ut fair
and open primaries
MIR Tunnel, in announcing his candi-
| dacy, assumed that other aspirants would
appear. "All such candidates he said,
will he welcomed by me. rs | believe il
will be good for the Democratic party To
have the merits of number of men
presented to the voters, in orler that
they may have freer choice, which will
doubtless result IN n more correct selcc-
ton of a candidate. Such n contest be-
tween candidates will have a further hcne-
fit, in that il will arouse the interest of
voters in either one or the other of the
candidates which will follow the sue
cnsSsful candidate TO the polls, And IN
support of this very appropriate prcsenta-
ton of the situation Mr. Tunnel pledges
his earnest support to the candidate
chosen by the Democratic State Conven-
tion, duly called for that purpose
In view of recent events, MIR. Tunnel
has performed service in making this
pointed and important reference. There
could be no more potent illustration OF
what has been called "Prussian politics
than the insistcncc that all asprants other
to office should suppress their aspira-
tiUns and remove themselves from the |
field of competition. in favor Of any one |
man. Especially would tins policy bc |
obnoxious and creative Of dissatisfaction |
in the Democratic party Of Delaware. |
Democratic primaries IN this state, SINCE |
the enactment Of the original Primary /
Election law, have been On opcn arena IN /
s1iancc az laudabc ambition 10 secure
nomination 10 public office, could enter
with an absolute assurance that his claims
would bc fairly considered by the voters
II I II. J.. .fl
every vote cast for HIM, without fear Or
favor And never has the result 81
Democratic primary been seriously chal-
lcngrd SINCE this law was enacted
Democratic primaries could not hc
considered fair and open if candidates
were rcpcIlcd ny spcciouS argument by
design. or by any other consideration,
and induced 10 refrain from entering the
lists Heretofore the field has been
considered open 50 All For All nomina-
lions TO official position from assessor 10
nitcd States Senator. il has been held
that any honest Democrat, in good stand
ng with his party. had night to submit
hls namc and his fortunes 10 the con
adcrs'ion o. 'oih"cf"uc Vo'eTS
Why any departure from this time
1onorcd custom Shouu &c uFEeN ~ ''iA
anne II Is dIthcut !" understand =
irne mat a. 'l'nes 'i'' situation hA9 peer,
'uch that INC aoiiitN' me character ana
the public services Of one man in public
'fhcc nave oeFn Shci tha' ms fellows n
liS poi'ucsh party nave o'Fh uhai'lli''''!S
D demanding hiS DENOMINATION "'"' r.
Iec'loh' ana 2" "h' ever dF'iI'Hd p