Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-17
,i Evening e'as''s5 Saturday l4UU5
Determining a Party Contest.

Determining Party tontest.
At present there are indications Of an
unusually interesting Democratic party
contest in Delaware, next Saturday,
when primary elections will be held Tor
delegates to the Democratic State Con-
vention, to meet at Dover on Tuesday.
May 25. For the first time the States
member Of the Democratic National Com
,nittee will be chosen by the State con-
vcntion. that duty having hitherto been
performed by the delegates 10 the Demo-
cratic National Convention. Referring
to the question Of an appropriate seiec-
ton for the national committee, the Dover
Delawarean. evidently under the inn
preston that the former system stands
unchanged, says the delegates to the
national convention should select man
as national committeeman best qualified
for the position: one who will give his
attention TO the work. and who has ca
pacity to know and 10 do the work for
which he has been selected"
This undoubtedly IS sound and practi-
cal advice, and it applies as well TO the
delegates to the State convention, upon
whom the selection devolves as 70 those
10 whom it is directed. Certainly il
should be the main purpose Of the con-
vention delegates to select for tins I'M
portant position a sound Democrat,
capable man. and one who would accept
the honor with firm intention 70 do his best
to join his fellows Of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee in every effort TO bring
success to the party in this Years ma
tional campaign
That there should be contest foT the
position Of member Of the Democratic
National Committee for our State is not
surprising. especially as this year, for the
hrSt time, the Democratic voters wall
have an opportunity 70 express an almosi
direct choice in the matter by choosing
the agencies Of selection tho delegates
10 the Democratic State Convention
If the contest should develop TO proper
tions sufficient to cover the entire state
with two or more aspirants 70 the national
committee having delegate tickets in their
respective interests. the Democratic voters
would virtually determine the result IN adj
vance, and there would be no more right
cous or effective method Of decision Or
!; might be possible. even with contcsting
asplrants for the national committee IN
the field. for the Democratic voters %
elect a State convention in which no one
aspirant would have majority In that
event. II would be for the state convention
10 make selection, by bailoting ID open
session, and against q selection made IN
this manner no voice Of dlsapproval or dis
sent could justly be raised
And 50. in respect of aspirants to the
position Of member Of the Democratic
National Committee, the situation is one
hat should not cause the slightest per
lurbation to loyal Democrats who are
interested in national and State politics
and ardently desire the success Of the
Democratic party. There is nothing in
such a situation TO give occasion for re-
joicing n the ranks Of the political enemy.
which at present is grasping at any kind
of a pretext for dissipating the gloom
that attends its party councils, by rea-
son Of factional dissensions which are
rapidly growing worse. and threaten
open disintegration, followed by defeat
at the election.
But, as we have said, no contest Of this
character can be an occasion for Demo
cratic uneasiness or foreboding. On the
contrary, such a situation would be really
encouraging as denoting healthy interest
in the minds OF Democratic voters 4
lively primary contest will benefit the
entire party and put life into its campaign
a cut-and-dried program for the opening
primary event Of the year. covering the
election Of delegates to the Democratic
State Convention and including the selec.
tion Of the national committee member
would be q gloomy affair indeed, unin-
spring and unsatisfactory, and indicative
of lassitude among the party voters, in
stead Of that lively interest which counts
50 much Tor victory
Il is up to the Democratic voters, there
fore, at next Saturdays Democratic pri-
mary elections, to come out and express
their preferences. as far As may be pos
sible. by the election Of delegates to tho
Democratic State Convention. Then il
will be up to the convention delegates L
do the rest, guided by the expressed wish
of the voters as far as it may be ascer
tanned. and if not so expressed, To exercise
their best judgment in making selection
There viii not be the slightest danger o
any serious dissent from the final decision
If the convention majority.