Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-30
FRIDAY. AUGUST 80. 1918.
What Will the Old G. uard Do

What Will the Ola u uatu 10
Possibly the most interesting question
in the pending Republican campaign IN
Delaware is the course that will be foi-
lowed bv the "Old Guard, that Is, lead
ers of the old and once powerful Organiza-
ton. who seem TO have gone over this year
to the new dispensatiOn. At least they
went over far enough 10 insure a new deal
at the recent Republican State Conven-
ton notwithstanding the previously an
nounced intention of the official head and
front of the new dispcnsation through TINS
neyspaper organ, that a certain man was
10 be chosen as the candidate for nlted
States Senator, was diSregarded ana
another named The fact remains, how
ever, that the old Organization has been
dIssirated and no longer exists. What,
therefore. will be the attitude Of ITS torm-
or leaders towards the new dispensation,
especially of those who went over the
lines and joined forces with It before the
State convention was held.
Il i known OF all men in Delaware
what actuated these old Organization
leaders in their factional incl!nations- In
the davs OF Addicksism they enthusiastic
alIv followed the fortunes OF the arch
corr,lntionist. because he had money 10
spend and spent it freely. He laid II out
in large sums and paid II IN hand, with
out annoying Inslstancc for detailed
statements in respect Of expenditure.
As 4 result, mortgages were lifted on
farms in Kent and Sussex counties, and
many substantial Improvements TO prop
erty effected, to say nothing OF swelied
bank accounts and investments IN proht-
able securities. But Addicks cared not as
long as they enthusiastically supported
his efforts to buy a seat IN the nlted
States Senate.
After anh hile Addicks became financially
bankrupt, and then his ardent followers,
with few exceptions, left him and ttocked
under the banner of the old Organization.
Here they found the same pleasing and
genial condition Money, money, plenty
al il. paid IN hand and no questions asked
as TO expenditure. In one notable IN
stance, on the Saturday before the elcc-
ton of 1904, the sum OF S53, 900, IN notes
and coin, was spread out on a table IN an
Office in this city, for the use OF these
Organization grsfters in Kent and Sussex
counties alone. OF this large sum SO, 900
was sent TO Kent and like sum TO
sussex. while one greedy old corruption
ist insisted upon having 5000 for ms
own use IN his home town Of Brdgevllie.
which he took with him. This was the
incident that subsequently led to exposure
and to an airing of the entire disreput-
able transaction, by sworn testimony be
fore a subcommittee of the United States
Senate at Washington.
With the expenditure Of $50 900 IN
Kent and Sussex counties by the old
. Organization at that election, for vote
] buying and graft 1t may be imagined
how much was laid out for similar pur-
poses in New Castle county and the city
of Wilmington
Now, many of the leaders who revelled
IN that old Organ zation corruption
and probably profted by it-are lined up
with the new dispensation that apparent
" controls the Republican party Of Della
ware today But will they be satisfied
without a continuation Of the former imam
cial conditions? Principle counts for
nothing with them, money for every
thing. Sworn testimony has attested the
measure of their devotion TO the party
1t is understood the new dispensatlon
opposes the expenditure Of money for
actual corruption, especially the buying Of
votes, and more than ever the placing Of
large sums of money IN irresponsible
hands for vote-buying purposes and no
accounting asked for, as was the case
under the previous regimes Will these old
party leaders be satisfied with the new
and financially Improbable conditions?
1t remains to be seen.