Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-04-10
ALFRED |. DU POINT
WARNS bosses
Recognized Leader of the indie
pendents Says Day of Reck-
oning is Here.
FAIR PRIMARIES URGED
Suggestion That They he Held
Under the State Law, as is Done
in New Castle County.
Special Dispatch to Every Evening

Special Dispatch to Every Evening
Dover. April lO.-Members of the Re
publican State Central Committee came
here today to attend meeting called by
Chairman Alden X. Benson, TO pave the
way, If possible, for party harmony.
The meeting was held at the Hotel
Richardson.
State Chairman A. r. Benson, after
calling the committee to order, addressed
the members as follows:
Gentlemen: This committee meeting
has been called by me at the written re-
quest OF the required number of its MEM
bers / issued the call as soon as the
request was received by me.
Il do not know the exact purpose OF
the meeting. Ny general understanding
is that it is for the purpose OF elimination,
50 far as possible. of any differences that
may exist between and among Republl-
cans of this State Assuming that TO he
the purpose, | desire first of all to state
briefly some of nv own views.
The first duty of every American
always is absolute loyalty 10 his govern
ment. The great struggle before us
emphasizes this fact But 1t is also the
duty OF every good citizen to see that the
affairs of his government are managed in
the very best way.
Il believe in the principles of the
Republican party, and believe that party
could conduct us with greater safety
through these troublesome tunes than IS
being done by the Democratic party. For
this reason ! believe 1t is of great I'M
portancs TO this nation and to this State
that we elect this fall a Republican Sena-
tor and Congressman from Delaware
This is no time for the success of personal
L.. F@r Hbra SYyrn r.f
personal friends.
THE duty of every man Is to lay these
things aside if they stand in the way of
the success Of the party he believes can
best conduct the affairs OF the nation.
The National Republican party Is
fast closing the gap that has for some
years prevented its success.
These differences In party policy are
being eliminated. In Delaware our diff
ference IS not so much in party policy.
as it IS men.
This makes our excuse a poor one
indeed If every Republican in this State
whose conduct Is controlled by jealousy,
prejudice or suspicion, could lay it aside
until after the next election we would
have an old time Republican majority in
the State.
Success means, however, the obscrva-
ton OF very important principle the
principle of majority rule. Republicans
who enter into the contest at common
primaries. with the determination TO
support at election only those nominese
whom they supported at the parlmaries
are not true disciples of harmony. Hon
est and hearty support Of the nominees
nj a primary. fairly conducted, is what
the Republican party OF Delaware must
have if it would succeed.
"Anv reasonable proposition, any sug-
eestion which rings clear and true for
harmony will have my heartiest support.
''On the other hand any proposition
or suggestion which has at It's foundation
revenge personal ambition or factional
control should not be countenanced by
a committee representing the Republican
voters OF the State. ] believe every mem
Der Of the committee knows this TO be
true.
II personally am willing 70 forget all
past differences and II ] could ] would
have every other Republican do the
same.
'.The door should be thrown WIDE open
and every man who would agree to sup
port the Republican ticket should be
giyer. voice In the election Of candidates,
as well as a voice in the management OF
the party affairs.
E"rhis is the time for party loyalty. Let
as have it with its full force. We will now
take ur whatever the members of the COM
rniftee who signed the call desire To bring
before the committee.
Those OF the committee present included
State Chairman Benson, b. A. Groves, DIR.
l.. II. Ball. New Castle county chairman
II. II. BiIlany, Isaac W. Bowers. CITY
chairman: Isaac II. Brown, G.. j.. Wat
son. Thomas :. Foreacre, Daniel Tbomp-
son. Charles J. Luff, James A. Hirons,
John W Herring, :. ;. Pennewill, Charles
5. Richards, Elijah Lynch.
Others here include Edward g. Brad
ford. Jr., and William Tinsman While no
plans had been mapped out by the New
Castle county members, who had asked
for the meeting, it is probable that q
resolution will be offered asking for the
appoiptrnent of harmony committee to
suggest plans for united party in the
coming campaign.
While the problem seems impossible,
unless somebody 'eats crow, some Of the
members express hope that something can
be ACCOMPLISHED TO achieve the object
they are after 1T is admitted that if there
i to be harmony there will first have to
be a housecleaning, which means that
some of the former leaders will have to
step down.
j. Frank Alice Of Dover, Edward q.
Bradford. Jr., Of Wilmington and other
Independents were in Wilmington yes
terdav and conferred, at the Young Mems
Republican Club with some Of the Regu-
lar Republican leaders. State Chairman
Benson was also in Wilmington yester-
day -.
ii develops that at conference held in
Wilmington and other parts Of the State,
during the past few days, the thought
seemed 10 be that the harmony program
would be best facilitated by requiring the
5.oldine ,ef primary elections in Kent and
-cssey counties under the Primary
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