Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-06-21
f,ssnlas'0s ivsnins sa5ufdsy tueds 1879
The Next Governor OF Delaware

The political campaign in Delaware is
Of more than ordinary interest. this year
as in addition to the element of national
campaign, it includes State issues and
the selection Of State officials, including
the next governor. II therefore appeals
with additional force TO our voters.
Notwithstanding Delaware is a small
State, the office of governor is one
of Importance, Of dignity and Of high
honor. Even in the days when the State
was much smaller in population and husi-
ness Importance. and the salary rcmunera-
ton was insignificant, the position was held
IN high esteem Our best and ahlest citi-
zens have felt honored to be called upon to
serve in this capacity as witness the names
Of Cunning Bedford, Richard Bassctt,
Joseph Hazlett. Daniel Rodney, Cornelius
r. Comegvs. Thomas Stockton. in DAYS
long gone hv, and Cove salisbury, John
= Cochran. Ehe ". Tunnel and Preston
Lea in more recent years. Truly. It is
an Official position that any citizen Of Della
ware might we'll feel proud to hold and
leave record Of good administration as
a priced possession 81 his family
This wear. in the regular order Of party
procedure. except in the event Of some
entirely unexpected reversal Of practice,
the next governor Of Delaware viii te
named hv the State convention Of either
the Democratic or the Republican party.
And unless there shall he a departure
from accepted party rulc-long establish
ed in respect Of the Democratic party
the next governor will be from Kent coun-
u # the Republican party carries the cleo
tion. or from Sussex county N the event
Of Democratic victory
The Republican party, however, is not
So strongly welded to the rule of rotation
among the three counties IN respect Of
the nomination for governor rs the Demo-
cratlc party has been for many Years, but
still the rule has been potent IN its party
councils. Under this rule-lnwrittcn,
but possessing force and much senti
mcnt-it IS the turn Of Kent county to
have the Republican nomination for gov
ernor. but recently there has been \ great
deal Of talk about throwing the nomination
to New Castle county This, however. is
a matter entirely within the control Of
the Republican State Convention, TO he
determined by the verdict Of the Republic
can voters at the primary.
The Democratic rule Of rotation has
been effective almost without q question
since 1874, when John P Cochran Of
Middletown was nominated for governor,
after a warm contest IN a State convention
IN which John W Hall OF Frederica was
determined contestant, on the potent
plea that New Castle county had not
enjoved the honor Of the governorship for
thirty years. Then the unwritten rule
was established, and the only contention
that it was being violated came IN 1896.
when Ebe W Tunnel of Lewes, who had
been defeated for the office two years
before, was again nominated on the
insistence of Sussex county that as four
wears had not elapsed. the nomination
was still the property Of that county.
The election OF governor in 1896 was
necessitated by the death Of Governor
Joshua Marvil of Laurel, elected N 1894,
a short time after he entered upon bis
official duties.
So, in regular order, Sussex county Dem
ocrats will expect the nomination for
governor in this years campaign. and
several aspirants to the honor have bern
mentioned with the cordial approval Of
their fellows AS in the Republican party,
there is some talk Of candidates from New
Castle county, but it is a safe assumption
that if Sussex county, in the next Demo
cratic State Convention, unanimously
presents candidate for the Office Of
governor, he will be nominated, in all
probability without question, by the
convention