Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-20
SHOULD PREVENT
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a major political party in an official or
detailed capacity and have no direct
knowledge of che past conditions referred
TO in my letter. ! take you at your word
absolutely, but the knowledge that comes
TO US Indirectly sometimes, is most
impressive indeed Directing myself To
the last election only, point out that the
extraordinary sum of money spent IN
Delaware is, believe, matter of common
knowledge and ] submit that the money
so expended could not, by any reasonable
probability, have been properly expend-
ed.
Besides, our State, sad 10 say, has
been rather notorious In this very conncc-
tion for some time past. IL follows, "
seems to me, concluslvely that you and
|, if we are TO perform our full duty can
omit no effort to prevent every form oil
corruption IN the present campaign and
at the election. You very courteously ex-
press in your letter the thought that the
convictions and records of you and myself
respecting such principles are well-known.
This being SO, | submit that the people
of the State Of Delaware will hardly feel
that their estimate of our convictions and
records is justified if we fail 10 use every
effort and influence at our command to
bring about an honest election.
Your letter indicates that you construe
the proposed agreement purely as
promise on our part that we viii do no
criminal act and permit none to be done
during the coming months, If we can
possibly avoid it. / think If you will
examine it again you will find 1t goes much
further. 1t is not only a promise on cur
part that we will commit no wrongful act
nor permit any to be done, but that we
will use our utmost effort and influence TO
prevent dishonest practices.
"Can any harm come from signing an
agreement to this end, if our convictions
and records are such as you indicator
Is there anything illogical or inconsistent
in the execution of such an agreement
On the contrary, it seems TO me that
the estimate put by the public upon our
convictions and records rather makes IL
imperative that we shall enter into such
an agreement and a score OF other, II
necessary, if by so doing, we may &C ON
plish the great end aimed at.
"You point out in your letter the province
of the encouragement of the State OF
Delaware and of the district attorney
of Delaware and very kindly enclose copies
of letters forwarded by you to them. In
addition YOU say that we, as law-abidlng
citizens, should report to the prosecuting
officers any violations withinour knowledge
Undoubtedly this is true, but your
very statement makes clear what is the
fact, that these officers are prosecutors OF
violators of the law and are in no sense
specifically charged with the duty OF
preventing violations of the law. The
purpose of the agreement proposed by me
is prevention, not merely prosecution
after the law has been violated, and men
Ia,ro .oola ~ tbaynoolyae
"Your counter-proposal of leaving the
matter in the hands of the attorney
general and of the district attorney
cannot accomplish our purpose for
the reason shown by your own letter,
namely, that they have to do with vio-
lations of the law. They have no machinery
to my knowledge, and no funds available,
for the all-important work of prevention.
81 earnestly hope that you will give this
matter your further consideration and
that ] may hear from you again without
delay, before Saturday if possible, report
ing that on reconsideration you have de-
cided TO enter into the agreement proposed
or into some other agreement directed
to the same purpose.
fI may say in line with your letter that
though ] have had some experience for
the past few years in political matters, !
am apparently In the same position with
you and have no "direct" knowledge of
the political conditions which j am so
anxious to correct, but say to you with |
the utmost frankness that | have no
doubt whatever of their existence. Be-
sides, there is general conviction, both |
within the State and without the State,
that political corruption is rampant in |
Delaware am convinced that the honor |
of orr scitinepsbin and the fair name of |
the State challenge us.
"Such agreements as the one proposed |
have been entered into by gentlemen |
occupying the offices now held by us.
There is precedent, therefore, for the course |
of action now proposed. It's purpose is
worthy. 1t certainly can do no harm; the |
chance is that it may do good. Can we avoid |
taking any step which may accomplish |
good when so much is at stake2
"Yours very truly,
Henry A. IsaacA,