Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-04-27
What viii the End Be 7

While general interest in the political
campaign of this year in Dr'nwarc mas
been comparatively mild, thus Tar, "
is apparent there is considerable concern
in Republican circles over the proh"-
bility of Republican harmony. Can har-
mony, real harmony, between the war
ring factions of the Republican party pe
brought about ? is The chief question.
Sometimes il is an easy matter TO
bring about a restoration OF co-opcrn-
tive, if not cordial, relations, between
the factions of a political party. At other
times it is a matter OF great difficulty
The situation in the Republican party
of Delaware today is such as to leave the
probability of harmony involved IN grave
uncertainty.
! There is no doubt tho old Organixa-
| ton leaders would hate like sin to make
any important CONCESSIONS TO the IN
! dependents The Organization con-
trolIed the Republican party for years,
| and by its astute management OF pointer
affairs. and especially by its contomp-
tuous disregard of political ethics and
| political considerations, WAS enabled to
keep itself right at the top. 80 that he
| puhlican victory at the election WAS al
WAYS an Organization victory oppoSi-
tion at primaries was ruthlessty over
| thrown by the manner in which the or-
yan saton leaders were enablcd To com
mand q majority of the party vote but
at the 1916 primaries they were so hard
pressed that gross frauds had TO he
resorted 10 in the city of Wilmington
to enable the Organization 10 secure
! control Of the State convention, by n
narrow majority And even IN Keep
ing control of the State convention II
had TO resort TO what are called steam
! roller tactics" which arc always often
sivr and irritating 20 those who hnd them
selves fattcued out hv the process
And so il was that tho Independent
faction of the party the 1916 election
revoltcd at the polls, and hy independent
party nominations defeated the Orgsn'
zation in its hope OF securing IT'S custom
ary political victory III the state NJ
election did not result IN complete
Democratic triumph, but Il defeated th'
Organization in manner that severely
impaired its prestige
Realizing the danger that ~ould con
front the Republican party N go'nl
through this years : political campaign
in Delaware in a divided condition, the
talk among Republicans at this time Is
for party harmony. OveTtur"s 70 thE
end are now IN progress
But how can the two factions he
brought together? BY joint primaries
honestly conducted Possibly. hut i +
not to bc expected the Organization
leaders wo,.ld consent 10 such an arrange
ment unless they could scc, after care
ful canvass Of Republican voters, Ger
talntv OF winning and controlling the
State convention and the nominations
Then thcv would 20 IN and hammer
the life out of the independents n the
primaries
That the independents would accept
such beating and acqutscc n the re-
suit Is hardly probable They would
stilI be IN 4 rehchous mood And har-
Inony could not prevail with such dis
turbing feelings
And can II bc imagined that the Or
ganization leaders would accept prl-
mary verdict that would place the In
dependents. the wreckers Of their hopes
st the last election, in the saddle Hardly
.And 50 il Is that the Republican situa-
ton st present Is very uncertain, with
almost anything likely TO happen. Har-
mony may be brought about but it rs
doubtful lnd without complete ana
sincere harmony there would bc no pros
pcct Of Republican victory IN I'cta-
ware tins wear
Il is no wonder therefore, that Demo
Gratis feel encouraged They n least have
fine opportunity for winning