Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-07
LONG AND. SHORT
FIGHT IS PRO SPECT
IN STATE SENATE
Opposing Republican Factions
Pick Selbyville and MILFORD
Men as Standard Bearers.
FOR PRESIDENT PRO TEN

s1onp and Short" fight is expected
TO enlven the program tor the organlza-
tion of the State Senate next month. That
the Republicans are factionally divided Is
not disputed, and, according TO present
indications, they are going to lock horns
over the election of officers. The New DIS
pensation Republicans, it Is understood,
have picked |. Dolphus Short OF Milford,
one of the new members OF the body, as
their candidate for President pro tempore,
while the "oId guard" are said to have
practically decided upon Senator Ira
w. Long of Selbvvilie. one of the holding
over members. While Mr.. Long has the
experience of service In the Senate at
regular and special session, friends OF MT
Short say the latter has the advantage IN
the matter of support among the Re
publican members, which Is construed as
apparent confidence on their part OF their
ability to nominate HIM and bring about
his election Some of the Short followers
20 so far as to say that If they cannot elect
their man with Republican votes they
can get enough Democratic support to
turn the trick 1t is figured that each
faction will stand by its candidate after
m attempt to caucus has tailed-whlch
,ome predict will be the case-and that
the result will be q deadlock until such
time as the Democrats are expected TO
vote for one Of the Republican candidates
in order to start business going. Whcther
the Republicans who are counting on
Democratic support. in the event OF neces-
sitv. know what thev are talking about,
remains for.the future to determine.
ALLIES SAID To FAVOR SHORT.
While James f. Alice, Jr., Of Dover,
new senator from Kent county, was at
first groomed for presiding officer OF the
senate. in the event If enough strength
being forth coming, IT IS sand That hent
county has been given 20 understand that
she cannot have president pro tenn and
that the allces- James T. and his father,
forrner United States Senator J. Frank
have become reconciled and have gotten
IN the Short handwagon. with all the
strength they can command. Ihis is
said to be q New Dispensatlon move
engineered from Wilmington and IN the
interest OF Short.
While there are host Of candidates for
the other offices it Is little too early TO
make anv definite predictions, though It
il said there Is q strong probability of
Frank c. Miller OF Brandywine hundred
i,ejng elected secretary of the Senate, lie
Is backed by George W. Webster OF that
hundred, one Of the rev senators, VINO
makes. the clam that Brandsp1ne hum
tlrcd is entitled 10 the honor this omc; be
cause IL never had 1T before.
rs 10 the organization OF tgte hoyse
matters arc in chaotic shape. AithoIigh
AIexander p Corhit Of Odessa appears 10
ic the choice of majority Of the Re
tsrblican members of that body, some feel
that thcv would rather have hIs advice
and counsel as chairman Of some OF the
moro important committees.
II is proposed TO hold a general CON
fcrence Of all of the Republican members
.,f the two houses IN Dover, Some time
before the week Of the eonvenIng Of the
legislature when, III ali probability. II
viii be determined whether II Il possible
70 settle the differences IN advance and
hold i caucus the night before the Legs
lature meets, which will be on the sixth
Of January Il Is said that II the kinks
canno; be lroned out at this conference,
there will be no caucus and that the Re-
publieans will go INTO the opening session
without any definite plan OF action and
without a slate for either house.
RURAL MEMBERS OPPOSE RIPPER
Having heard that there IS move
rnent among some of the city Republicans
10 introduce q ripper bill early in the
session. the principal object Ci which
would be the abolition of the Stewcrt and
Sewer Commission and combination Of its
work with one or two other departments,
The rural members OF the two houses,
particularly in this end Of the State, have
begun 10 SIT w and take notice. They say
they will not permit OF the passage OF any
hill that has for its object the abolition
of the Street and Sewer Department. for
the reason that that department manages
the street market IN the city under the
new Law; thai they are satisfied with the
market regulations and the departments
management.
Should the Street and Sewer Depart
ment still be in existence next March, IT
will change from Republican to Demo-
cratic control, for Mayor Lawson will be
called upon TO appoint director to sue
ceed President George ". Sparks, Re
publican I he holding over members will
he Andrew L. johnson, Democrat and
Charles A. Rudolph, Republican. A lot Of
Republicans would like 10 clip the Demo
s;rat's wings In this behalf, and they have
been hoping that if would be possible To
have the department abolished before
the time for the change, and its duties
placed In the hands OF some other Re
publican body, which might be created as u
spTt OF blanket COMMISSION Tor several
departments. But if the farmer members
don't change their minds, this will not be
possible, for they don't propose TO have
The Street and Sewer Department dis
ttirbed. on account Of their own interests
And then il Is doubtful whether the effort
could succeed as a purely partisan measure
which it doubtless would have to be, in
view of the fact that two-thirds vote is
necessary to pass municipal legislation Of
that kind.