Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-10-08
ignoring the Real Issue.

The Republican party Of Delaware has
no good grounds for asking the people 70
give it a vote Of approval at the coming
election. It's cause is bad and its leaders |
know il. Its record Of administration Also
is bad-one Of incapacity, extravaganza
high and unnecessary taxes, and bad con-
ditions generally. The people know TINS -
no mere partisan charge, as the evidence Is
plainly seen on every hand, especially IN
New Castle county and the city OF VIII
mington. For awhile, even Republican
party papers acknowledged the existence oi
these evil conditions and condemned them.
But now that the political campaign fs
under way, they arc singing to different
tune.
The present Republican policy 's TO re-
frain from any direct reference to these
miserable conditions of Republican maiad-
ministration and to charge Democratic
papers with making attacks" when they
call attention to results of misrulc. Any
criticism by Democratic paper OF ke-
publican maladministration, any chal-
lenge Of Republican candidate as to the
propriety or significance of his public ut
terances. is set down as Democratic
attack"
Thus. we are informed by the Morning
News that 'those directing the assaults OF
the Democrats have picked Colonel Den
ney, the Republican nominee for governor,
as the target Of absurd attacks" Also,
Democrats have pretended fears as to
what Colonel Dcnney would do If elect
cd" Here we have both deliberate mis-
statement and Misrepresentation, to-
cether with reprehensible exclusion OF
what this partisan Republican organ
really is referring to.
There have not been in any Democratic
newspaper in the State, so far as our OBJ
servation extends, any "absurd attacks
upon Colonel Denney, or, indeed, any at
tacks whatever. There have been COM
ments-very serious and appropriate
comments, too-upon public declaration
bv Colonel Denney as to what he would do
in respect Of most important pubhc
question should he be elected governor.
And this we submit, is legitimate sub
ject Of comment
At a Republican meeting held IN the
town of Milton. Colonel Dcnney was asked
| a question as TO his position in respect o.
the School Code, and according to the re
port of the meeting printed In the Morn-
ing News. made this reply: II will IT
elected governor, approve any legislation
in reference to the School Code passed by
the Legislature" This surprising promise
by a candidate fer governor OF what ne
| would do officially in the event Of his
election has been commented upon by
Democratic papers, and any feir- mined
citizen viii recognize at once that " is
fair and legitimate subject for both com
ment and adverse criticism.
But the Morning News docs not give
any consideration whatever TO the nsnii
fest improperly Of candidate tor gov
/ ernor making such sweeping promise 10
surrender one Of the most important
Dreroeatives Of the Office to which be
asDires in the event Of his election. IL
falsely sets down the comments OF Demo
cratic papers as absurd attacks upon
Colonel Denney. Thus far, however, it has
not had the hardihood to deny that
Colonel Denney made this amazing
promise. or to attempt TO justify it. For IFS
own columns gave publicity 70 the inci-
dent. and the surprising action STANDS
forth as absolutely beyond justification.