Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-05-14
TUESDAY, MAY Ia, 1918
Possibly Premature.

An interesting political correspondence
from Wilmington in the Philadelphia
Record of Yesterday made The somewhat
surrrisipr announcement that General
Coleman du Pont has "lost his place
as leader of the Republican party, and
intimates that IL has been taken by Alfred
l. du Pont. There is q probability.
however, that this announcement is
premature, although it is even moro
probable it may come 10 pass
What Coleman du Font may do ~
directing the Republican campaign ~
Delaware, this wear. is involved in doubt.
More than two years ago hc declined
reelection to the position Of chairman 81
the Republican State Central COMMITTEES.
but he is still member for Delaware Of the
Republican National Committee. which
position carries with it q large degree of
party leadership IN state Recently.
Coleman du Points business interests ~
New York City have kept him there
large part of his time. hut a few DAYS aeo
he made flying visit 70 Delaware End
look at the political situation Whether
the review was satisfactory 20 him W
not possibly no one but himself knows
But. as We have said. he still holds.
norninallv at least. The position of member
from Delaware Of the Republican National
COMMITTED, which fairly entities him to
party leadership until he i dcposcd hv
the party voters at primaries We say
he holds the position "nomnallN a.
least. because at one time subsequent 10
the 1916 election he rendered his rcslgna-
ton 10 the national committee But
it was not acted upon, and he did not
press il And as long as he retains this
membership, he may still claim his pa r'v
leadership
Thus far. nothing has been done to
depose Coleman du Pont from hIs place
as leader of the Republican party in
Delaware. OF of the old Republican Or
ganization, which was the real party
II is true the Organization. Al the 1916
election. was badly beaten in this state
by the Independent Republicans under
the leadership Of Alfred du Pont, but
it was not completely annihilated L
is still in the field
There is. as we have said, a strong
probability that in the test Of common
primaries the Organization would he
beaten by the Independents Such
result would completely depose Coleman
du Pont from the leadership Also he
might win at common primaries and
in that event If is probable the Inde-
pendent opposition would be continued
to the next election.
1T will be seen, therefore, that the
Republican party of Delaware is in a very
peculiar position. 1t is divided into two
factions-the old Organization and the
independents The one wav to determine
which faction is stronger numerically
among Republican voters Is TO hold
common primaries, with each faction
struggling for the mastery. Should such
common primaries be held, the indie
pendents would insist that they be held
with entire honesty and fairness, free
from any Of the gross frauds that marked
Organization primary victory at the
pre-; mary contests OF the last campaign
tIls dependents would not stand for
grr~t4s;On Of such tactics, and if beaten
~ No. u common primaries, undoubted-
ly ,.uuiu revolt
Nor = . certain the leaders Of the old
Oreanl5 .on would gracefully accept a
victory " the Independents at common
Repubhcan primaries There would be
8 natural inclination to revolt, in retalia-
ton for the Independent opposition
during the 1916 campaign. which cost
the old Organization the loss of some OF the
political results on which it was most
intent, and also quite lot of political
prestige.
So the situation is far from settled
Only the test of common primaries will
determine the question of future leader
ship Of the party.