Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-10-06
fnsu'a1'9's fSsn,nr Yesterday sseis 1373U
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER g. 1920
Candidate Denncy's Pledge.

Candidate penney Ticukc-
R~puhlic.n leaders and newspapers are
somewhat concerned over the pubic
nle,ce 80 freely and unrcscrvedly given
hy Colonel William ID. Denny, Republican
candidate for governor, at a meeting held
in Milton on the evening of Septembe er 70,
when. in reply TO question as to his posi-
t,on IN respect Of the School Code, he said !:
II will. IL elected governor. approve any
legislation m reference to the School Code
pa-scd by the Legislature. They fear
that such surprising pledge, IN advance
os the election. as TO how he would exercise
one of the most important duties OF the
office Of governor, may have the effect OF
incIining many independent voters to the
belief that nc is hardly the kind of man to
he cho~cn 10 thi. very important office, and
also that il may make him impossible to
both friends and opponents of the Schooi
Code.
One Republican newspaper organ, pup-
hsheSj in Dover, essays, but very feebiy, to
defend Colonel Denncy and justify his sur
prisinrly free. even reckless, ante-election
promise. He holds, according TO tins
apologist. that "the governor OF the state
"a an executive officer. not member OF the
law-making body, and If the people Oh
Delaware. by their votes for members OF
the Legislature, designate their desire
that the School Code be amended, he
would II elected. obey that desire of the
peoplc of Delaware, and would not inter
fere with any such efforts TO change the
School Code" But this reasoning, while
ingenious. is not conclusive or assuring
The people could hardly designate their
desire in respect Of School Code changes IN
= clear and definite manner by their votes
for members Of the Legislature, and the
governor could be Informed only by the
action Of the Legislature. This action
might be bene6c ial 10 the public school
interests, or highly detrimental. And IN
either event the people have the pledge OF
,hc candidate for governor that II elected
NJ would extend to il his official approval.
-. even in the light Of this lame de
fence. the utterance of Colonel Denney
stands as 4 reflection upon his idea OF the
real duties Of the governor of our State
and his dutyto the people in respect OF
matters Of legislation, or IN respect Of
mdicions exercise Of the veto power with
which the Office is clothed. The exercise OF
this power. its employment or Withholding,
- one Of the most important Of the gov
ernors official duties. and the people VIII
hardly relish Colonel Denney's pledge, IN
advance Of the election, 10 surrender 1t
absolutely AZ the behest Of the Legislature |
IN reSpect Of one of the most important |
matters that viii come before the next |
session.
The Dover Index, Democratic paper, |
which also comments upon Colonel |
Dennev's remarkable and impolitic pledge, |
takes an entirely different view OF the |
situation thereby created than that ad- |
vanced by the candidates party organ
The objection we have to such declara-
ton. II saws. us that il is an abdicatlOn IN
advance by q candidate for governor OF his
most useful power-the power Of veto |
and an offer, for the sole purpose Of gaining
votes. 20 renounce the right to exercise the |
veto power in legislation Of serious i'm
portanoe to the people. We do not believe
any other candidate for executive u the
State or nation ever did such a thing IN
any extremity, and if MIR. Denney said
what be il quoted as saying. be Is unftfor
the high Office for which he is candi-
date
We have ~ doubt this is the view which
win be taken by the majority Of our good |
citizens. Colonel Denney's
pledge. freely and publicly given, to sur
render the most important prerogatlve Of |
the executive Office IN respect Of a matter
that concerns the people more Intimately
than almost any other subject Of legisla-
tim cannot but be regarded as the
thoughtless utteranoe Cf one unframed
md uniformed IN respect Of the duties and
q public Office, especially an
lflioo Of such Importance as governor Of
Delaware. Well may they hesitate at vot-
mr. for such a candidate.
We submit, therefore, that in this action
alone, Colonel Denney has set himself be-
lore the people Of Delaware as a candidate
or governor for whom conscientious
.itizens with full regard for the best inter
sts Of the State cannot afford 70 east their
ballots