Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-07
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1918.
This Years Camp aign is Every Citizens
Business.

This Years Camp aign is Every Citizens
Business.
In Delaware, rs in every other part c'
the United States, the great mass OF the
voters, while feeling an intsrest-general
II not partisan--in the outcome OF any
approaching political campaign, give the
business involved in accomplishing that
result only secondary consideration, as far
rs they are concerned personally. They
actually sacrifice their own independence
and political manhood by doing so. but
many Of these are among the loudest In
condemnation of the outcome. Really,
such persons have no right TO raise the
slightest objection, because they have
failed in not only their privilege and their
right, but also their duty, in the making
OF the result While it is true they may
have voted, at the primaries as we'll as at
the election, they failed TO inject their
individuality into the various stages Of
this histoy-maIling, which it was their
duty 20 do.
Each good citizen should begin, early
IN the campaign, to make his influence
felt among his fellows. He should see that
other good citizens are equally awake 20
their duty, snd together they should
serve notice on their parties that they
will help In the making OF good nomina-
tions, but viii support none but good
nominees. Utopia? No; good business,
business that you owe your community,
Your neighbor, your family, your State,
vour nation. You are an integral part of
each such unit, and il Is your obligation TO
TO your share toward keeping il good
md clean, and helping IT be what it should
bc, one Of the mainstaN of this great
nation Of ours.
You hadn't thought Of the matter this
way before, had you? II never appealed
L. YOU that il WIS incumbent on you to
personally help in upholding the hands of
the nation. Well, if it never did before, 1t
certainly ought TO now, when so much Is at
stake. II 1t was ever necessary TO do the
night thing in s. political campaign, cast
ing sentiment to the four winds and acting
solely for the general good-which rs
Ipur good and thst Of your family, though
YOU may not realize that such is the case
Il Is more necessary than ever in the cam
psign OF 1918, which is Just beginning 10
show above the horizon. Look over that
horizon and see what it all means. The
country is in life and death struggle In
world war, the outcome of which depends
on America; yes, depends on America
doing the thing right. And how can
America do the thing right if it does not
have the right sort OF people IN charge Of
this phase OF the work? So il is up TO every
voter 70 see that the right sort OF people
are In the right places, for nobody puts
them there but the people. Therefore, 1t IS
Incumbent upon US TO begin now; take an
account Of stock, see what there Is TO be
done and pick the right sort Of material
10 do IT.
Our destiny ls at stake-yes, the lives Of
and our families at home, and all Of the
rights and privileges that we now enjoy,
the great national institutions that have
been our heritage and which we cherish
therefore, we cannot afford TO make one
false move. Time was when most Of us
were content to leave the whole matter to
the political boss, because OF the time and
trouble any other course would involve,
and we would say Amen" to the boss
selections, but can we afford to do that
this year? The nation looks TO us TO keep
Delaware in the right channel. Are we
going 70 fall2
There Il no hint or suggestion here to
parties, partisan politica or
lesderships. We must have them all and
must keep them. They are necessary to
the success Of & republican form of govern
Inent. Let us maintain our parties; purge
them Of their foul elements, build them up
and make them stronger, and, if need be,
create new parties; in fact, do whatever j
" u afford chahnel through which every
honest voter can DO honest work for his
-cun.ry We must keep and maintain our
party principles, after amending them so
Is 70 honestly meet new conditions, and |
We must have leaders committed To those /
principles, but select only strong men as |
The directing heads. men we not only want |
10 follow, but who draw US to them with |
their magnetism, energy, ability and |
honesty Of purpose, men who will show |
10 quarter TO sn unscruplilous enemy |
Dr 70 traitor
With these fundamentals, Delaware |
;an go into this campaign of 1918 feeling |
that it will get the best results. While /
iirectly the nation can feel very little
shett, for the reason that We viii select
1nly two members Of Congress, a Senator
md Representative, the indirect result |
nay be important many times during the