Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-21
Member of the Associated Press
The Republican Convention.

ne htpuDiftah tbhN tuatoh.
The one result that stands forth plainly
ms cmanating from the Republican State
Convention at Dover, yesterday, Is
that Mr.. Alfred du Pont was beaten
i'm his evident desire To become the
leader Of the Republican party Of Della
ware during the coming campaign Ills
acknowledged candidate for the nomina-
tion for 'ntcd States Senator was not
cvcn considered The candidate whom
lc had assumed 10 set aside as not
worthy oi the honor secured the prize.
However, Mr.. du Pont got his second
choice Tor Senator Dr. l.. lIcislcr Ball.
The New Castle county caucus gave
approval to the nomination Of pr Ball,
and the Kent county caucus, very
surprisingly. gave assent 10 the choice
of tie New Castle county caucus And
the SUSSEX county caucus. instead of
taking i stand IN respect of the selection
cf candidate for nitcd States Senator,
contcntcd itself with naming Dr. Caleb
Rodney Layton cf Georgetown as its
choice for the nomination for Representa-
tive IN Congress. And DR. Layton was
nominated by tlfe convention. 30 was
DIR. Ball for United States Senator, on
the first ballot
Thus. it is seen that Mr. Alfred /
du Pont, in his effort to be the boss OF the
Republican party Of Delaware. with his
choice for the senatorial nomination
clearly announced in advance, was de-
cisivey beaten. And why? Can any
one doubt the reason?
Il is known to all men how Addicks
secured Republican leadership in Dela-
ware, and how he maintained il until his
money was exhausted and he became
bankrupt. It i equally well hnown how
the subsequent du Pont leadership secured
and maintained control of the Republican
party organization Wei Is i remember
cd how, on the eve u the election Of 1901
the sum oi Sl3 O00, IN hard cash, was Laid
out before The Republican leaders Of Kent
and ~li-~cx colhIeS, in this city, for u>e
OF the following election day. money lhat
came from ou Pont Golfers Thus the
du Pont influence ike the Addicks
influence in its day OF money power,
maintained il sway over the Republican
party Of Delaware.
This year, il i no, 10 be doubted, the
Republican leaders Of Kent and Sussex
counties depended upon the same infu-
cnro Of corruption money to keep them
selves and tho Republican party in power
They looked upon the leader of the
independent boltcrs faction Of the
campaign Of two years ago. who seemed /
TO have secured control Of the party
organ zatIon this year, 10 the customary
sappiv Of monetary considerations, with !
out which they knew nothing OF political
work They held out their hands for
tho regulation corruption funds fer the
purchase u voters But they held out
their hands IN vain.
Therefore, tie result Of tho Republican
STATE Convention at Dover, Yesterday.
may be considered a. nothing more than
Tho determination Of Mr. Alfred ]. du |
Pont, an accepted leader Of the Rcpubli- |
ran party Of Delaware, 10 refrain from
holding out the customary corruption
fund Tor holding delegates from tie two
lower counties. There i no tloubt |
that had he provided tho expected cor |
rlplion fund, which Addchs 50 iavishly /
provided in he hey-day of hi- prosperity, I
and winch be subsequent du Pont regime !
always had ready for us subservient |
party workers in Kent and Sussex counties, /
MIR A. ] du Pont would have controlled |
the Republican state Convention II |
Dover, yesterday, and nominated the /
candidate Of his choice, cx-Congressrnan I
Head, for United States Senator But !
conditions were vastly different Repub- I
lican leaders from Kent and Sussex coun- |
ties, with their eager hands held out for
lucrative financial returns, finding their
palms empty, Lad no regard for MIR
Alfred /. du Pont and his altruistic pro-
fessions for the high principles of the
Republican party Of Delaware What
regard had they lor any other oonsidera-
accustomed to receive from Addicks and
his du Pont SUCCESSORS?
But it may be said to the credit Of Mr..
du Pont that he is to be commended for
refusing to accede to the demands Of the
cormorants of the Republican party
organization in Kent and Sussex counties
for funds for corruption purposes in party
which would have resulted,
Judging by the evidence Of past campaigns,
simply in putting money in the pockets
of certain party leaders. Had he yielded
to them, he might have won. But it
would have done him no good in the end
As TO Dr. Ball, who, by reason Of the
refusal OF the leader Of the Independent