Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-09-10
Democrats at Dover.

The Democratic State Convention,
which opened At Dover at noon today. Is
ono of the most interesting political
events of the wear in Delaware. i has
much more than tho significance that
usually attaches to such gatherings Of the
Democratic party.
This convention IS the first opportunity
for representatives OF tho Democratic
party Of Delaware to gather for con
sultation and consideration Of party
measures sincc our country entered upon
the Great War in Europe lis platform
,iclivcrancc, therefore. will be q Tar
more than ordinary Importance As 70
the selection Of candidates. il has been
clearly indicated n advance that Senator
SALISBURY Will secure denomination
unless some political cataclySm should
intervene that Representatives
Albert + Polk will hc rcnominatcd unani-
n,ouSlv. in accord with established Demo
cratic custom and in recognition q ms
signal success during his first term. nc
convention also uill nominate candidates
for state treasurer and auditor 81 ac-
counts. but with many good Democratic
citizens from all sections Of the Stat"
from among whom 10 make selection, i
cannot fail 10 choose acrptably for these
Two nominations. no matter who may
carry of the honore-
The preparation Of the platform. ne
doubt viii nc given far more consldcra-
ion than usual K will, Of course. un-
rosorvcdlv and wholc-hcartcdly indorsc
the Wilson administration and is con-
duet 81 thc war Thus far. Il will glvc no
room 10 carping criticism Or ha.i-hcartod
oraiSc. Tho administration has done Z
wonderful work since our country DE-
hhoratclv decided e takc active part n
The war, and. onc rv one, alI the lrtty
partisan attempts to bclttlc rs aorem-
plishmcnts have proved abor;ive There
wcrc sensational cndeavor~ BY nar'i-an
Influences, 10 dlscrcdIl the work q iic
navy. the administration Wa a~e.llcd
with charges ol incompetoncy and graft
n The arrsn gcmcrts for ship construction.
there were underhanded attacks upon lie
War Department, there was quite q
aubbu b O vcr alleged inctficicncv and waste
OF money without results IN the operations
Of the department ID charge Of the con
struction O. ar machines
But. one after another. AL these partisan
attacks were shattered by the weight and
impetus Of their falsity and malignity
Facts soon proved that our navy had done
splendid work. quietly and effectively,
without the blare Of trumpets, but with
most amazing results. The work Of the
War Department also shone forth re
spleDdentlv. The country now knows the
War Department provided the men, and
the NAVY Department addressed itself 10
tho work Of transportation. 50 that TODAY
we have a million and half American
soldiers on the battle ground Of Europe,
doing valiant service IN the righteous
cause Of the Allies And all these men.
together with ample quantities OF mu-
nitions and more than ample supplies Of
subsistence, were transported across tho
Atlantic without the loss of a single vessel
ov the insidious assaults of the muTderous
German undersea enemy.
But possibly il would be well 0 pause
here and knock WOOD We have had
most amazing immunity. thus far, thank.
q the efficiency and thoroughness Of our
precautions. We can hardly expect, how
,ver. to continue unlnterrupfediy N the
enjoyment Of such great good fortune
These conditions should be an IN
splratIon 10 the representatives Of the
Democratic party assembled at Dover
today in State convention. They should
lncite to harmonious action and purpose,
no matter how the contests for the nomI-
nations may result And they should
incite to a ringing and enthusiastic decla-
ration Of party principles and party pur-
poses that viii arouse patriotic Demo
cratic sentiment throughout the State, to
the end that well-deserved Democratic
victory may attend the election in No
vember.
All these things should inspire and en-
courage the representatives Of the Demo
cratic party at Dover, today. They have
every incentive to harmonious and accept
able action They should present e the
people good nominations and dcclara-
tion OF sound principles Here is the essen
tiaI, and il it shall be fully met, the cam
pagn will be full Of encouragement for the
party The Republican party
Of Delaware is faction-torn and most
disturbed Its national noInl-
nations are weak and unsatisfactory. It's
platform declarations contain nothing
that will appeal - the conscience and
sound judgment u Delaware voters
Never did The Democratic party oi Dela-
ware have d inner opportunity to DO the
things and say The things that will prove