Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-15
THURSDAY, AUGUST Is, 1918.
First Round of Republican Fight.

EISt VI ANSpa'"N"' 'eN''E
The first round of the Republican
factional fight in Delaware-for there IS
still factional fight no matter what may
he claimed to the contrary-will take
place next Saturday. when primaries Will
bc held throughout the State for the cleo
ton OF delegates to the Republican State
Convention Upon the result of these
primaries Will depend which faction Will
control the convention and dictate the
nominations, especially the nomination
for United States Senator.
In Wilmington ard rural New Castle
county there Will not be many factional
contests nj the primaries An attempt
was made 10 secure arrangements for an
equal div sion OF the delegates between
tho two factions, but it did not entirely
succeed. In the Sixth and Ninth wards OF
Wilmington there are contests, and also
in Brandvwine. New Castle. St. Georges
and Appoquinimuk hundreds Unless
Sc tied before Saturday, the result OF
these primaries may determine the fac
tional control Of the New Castle county
delegation.
Also, there are intimations that even
the alleged "fifty-fifty' division OF dele
gates between the factions, IN the districts
where there are no candidates may not
hold when the delegates assemble IN State
Convention at Dover, next Tuesday
One hears many rtmors Of the wool be
ing pulled over the eyes Of the lnde-
pendent bolters' faction IN ONE districts,
and of the old Organization IN others
Fractional politicians are ever tricky and
cannot be trusted, even though kobbled
with ball and chain on their legs Their
actual status frequently IS never accurate
" known until the decisive test comes
In Kent and Sussex counties, however,
there is ructios, and il IS likely to con
tinue after the convention. The remnants
Of the old Organization-h how strong they
are is matter Of coniCcturc-are not
satisfied with the trend of the new party
dispensation undtr the rule of the indie
pendent bolters faction. In Kent county.
they seriously object 10 the prominence
given 10 ex-senator Alice. and espC cialIy
to the choice Of his son, James +. Alice,
Ir., as chairman of the Kent County Re-,
publican Committee. IN succession 10 that
former sturdy exponent of old Organlza-
ion Republicanism, James NJ HlTons,
who recently went over TO the Independ-
ent bolters' faction In Milford hundred,
also, there is much discomfort over the
surprising manner in which the Inde-
pendents have gobbled" the strongest
elements of the old Organization In
Kent and Sussex there viii be some eXcit-
ing contests for delegates, which may be
a considerable FACTOR in determining the
factional complexion Of the State Conven-
ton.
But, no matter what may be the out
come OF the convention-whether the
especially selected candidates Of the In
dependent boters faction for United
States Senator, William IT, Head, bear
ing the stamp of approval by the leader Of
the faction, shall win or lose-it is appar-
ent that the claim of harmony in the
Republican party is an empty boast There
is no harmony The two factions are still
in opposition While the independent
boilers faction seems TO have come 10 the
top, by what occult measures it may be
difficult to determine, there are elements
Of the old Organization that will not will
ingly consent to the new dispensaton.
And there is always the haunting fear ia
the minds of the independents that the
leader OF the old Organization, Coleman
du Pont, is still standing around-in
spirit, however, as he is said 10 be out Of
the country at present-ready to "hurl |
a monkey wrench into the political ma
chine of the Independent bolters' faction. |
And monkey-wreneh is q very bad thing !
to be hurled into machinery, political or |
otherwise.
II is probable, therefore, that no matter !
how the primaries may result in the con |
tested districts, the outcome Of the Re !
publican State Convention Of next Tues |
day cannot be confidently foreshadowed. |
il till seems probable the Independent !
bolters faction will be IN control, and Will |
nominate ex-Congressman Heald for Unit |
ed States Senator, or such other candidate
as the head of the faction IN select
AT present he has apparently bestowed bis
favor upon Mr.. Heald, but in politics,
especially factional politics, it is never
possible to say what one day may bring
forth.
Also, IL is as sured that no matter what
the State Convention may do, there will
be Trouble The old Organization will not
mecllly submit TO being walked over by
the Independent bolters' faction. Should
the Organization, by using trckery and
political efhoanery, manage TO win, the