Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-16
Republican Contest in Sussex.

Next Satu rday, Republican primaries
will be held throughout Delaware for the
election Of delegates to the Republican
State Convention to be held at Dover on
Tuesday, August 24, at which candidates
for Reprcsentative in Congress and state
offices will he nominated. These primaries
are ~ the utmost Importance. rs they VIII
docide the factional control Of the party
organization for the remainder OF the
campaign.
In New Castle county there will be few
contests for delegates to the State CON
vention and none Of any Importance. The
old Coleman du Pont Organization is
once more in the saddle and will have con-
,,rol Of practically the entire city and
county delegation. But in Kent and Sus-
.ex counties there will be revolts against
Organization dictation, and IN the latter
county il will be especially vigorous and
of unusual significance.
The Kent county situation IS quite
interesting. The Organization had slated
Colonel William ID. Dcnney Of Dover as
the candidate for governor. but It's seicc-
t,on ,s d,stastcful 10 some of the followers
~ the recent Alfred l. du Pont organiSa-
zion. which. although in absolute controi
of the party two years ago. seems 70 nave
retired itself almost completely thus year.
The main interest in the Kent situation,
however is whether the Organization
really desires the nomination OF Colonei
Denncv II had him all hand-picked and
dried for the occasion, but now seems
somcwhat lukowarm towards him. 1T may
be sot down as a certainty, however. that
Il tie Organization should abandon
Colonel Dcnncv it would not be for the
purpose of accepting candidate desig-
mated bv the opposition. Not for an
instant. Merely to replace him with some
other good Organization man whose
selection. in the belief Of the Organization
leaders would be more acceptable to the
people
In Sussex county. however, the fight at
next Saturdays primaries will be square
w between the Organization and the anti
Organization forces. the latter led by
Governor Townsend. The Organization
stands souarely behind DR.. Caleb H.
, Iavton for denomination to Congress-fi-
E though there is a belief it would feel vastly
relieved if the doctor should Voluntarily
retire-and Governor Townsend and
followers are against DR.. Layton and all
the other Republican Laytons Of sussex
county. What the Laytons did to Govern
or Townsend at the early Repubhcan
State primaries. defeating him for delegate
u the Republican National Convention,
swell known. Now the governor and his
friends are thirsting for revenge
The Sussex Republican of Georgetown
an independent Republican paper, IN It's
current issue sets forth the issue II the Sus-
sex county primaries Of next Saturday n
plain terms. The present contest, 1t
saws editerially. = in which the issue is d.
I.avton's : denomination now and the dom
ination and control Of the Layton faction
IN Sussex county ID the future, is the result
of the fight started at the 10 ST primary by
the Lavtons. It was simply determine
ton u destroy a party influence they
oould not control. They had been unable
u control the Townsend administration
and get out Of it all they wanted. and they
took advantage Of the unpopularity OF the
School Code To make a fight against
Townsend and thereby advance their own
political interests and control the Re
publican party in Sussex county. lhey
saw visions Of controlling the next State
administration and naming the judges the
next governor will-appoint. They Won on
the public opposition to Governor Town
send. This primary contest on August Il
is different There is no Townsend or
anti-Townsend fight; no School Code or
anti-School Code fight But the issue is
PLAIN and clear, and that Is whether the
Republican party in Sussex county shall
be or shall not be controlled by the Lay
tons. Their political careers are well
known. Their political purposes are clear
The danger to the party and county Is
apparent. The issue is SO clear that no
sensible voter can misunderstood IT. The
Republican Voter who wants the Repub-
lean party in Sussex county CONTROLLED by
the Laytons, let him vo te that ticket; and
these Republicans who have the best
interetsof the party at heart and wish it to
be a party in which all may have fair
and equal chance should vote against the
Layton ticket"
4 80 here we have a square presentation
Of the issue at the Republican primary Con-
test n Sussex county, next Saturday The
Organization is committed to the cause
Of the Laytons. and their unpopularity is
admitted. 1t would suffer in prestige by
DIR. Layton's defeat, and il is certain to
suffer by his success. No wonder there is
current belief that it would be great
relief TO the head Of the old Organization if
DIR. Layton should gracefully retire from
the field before the decisive day.