Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-25
G'Ieulaa''YH Gyeu1ns Yesterday ssTts 137OZ
A Humiliating Compromise.

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Considerations of party harmony
real or fancied-have whsedled or coerced
men to strange and surprising actions IN
times mast. but seldom have they brought
about such a result as that which astonish-
ed the State, yesterday, IN respect OF the
nomination for Congress by the hepuo-
6can State Convention at Dover. There
they were employed to the extent OF De
,rav;nq a constituency and repudiatlng the
verdict of party's voters, falrly ascer-
tanned. for the purpose OF ''savi1S 're
face" of a partisan organization, and max
ing a pretence of preserving the prestige OF
a ,olitical boss. And those who had been
chosen by the voters to do certain
thing, did exactly the reverse OF what
those who elected them had unmlstakaoiy
asked to have done.
Governor Townsend, repudiated and
discredited by Organization leaders at the
early State Convention primaries, wheh
he sought Endorsement as candidate LOT
delegate to the Republican National Con-
vention. a result mainly brought about by
the vicious opposition of Representative
Lavton's. friends, got glorious revenge, at
the Sussex county primaries last Satur-
day. when, under his inspiration ana
leadership, Representative Layton was
repudiated and thereby denied the 10
dorsement of the Republicans OF his
county for a denomination. The repudia-
tion was decisive, and the Republican
voters of Sussex county no doubt expected
their representatives would truly repre-
sent them when they gathered IN county
caucus previous to the assembling OF the
State Convention at Dover, yesterday.
And no doubt they expected Governor
Townsend to lead in thus plainly repre-
senting their desires.
Here was situation that threatened
disaster TO the Coleman du Pont Organiza-
tion. It lacked not the votes necessary TO
control the convention, but to force the
denomination of Congressman Layton
AGAINST the wishes of Sussex county would
have threatened revolution. To have
Welded - the expressed desire OF Sussex
Republieanism would have badly impaired
Organization prestige. Here was dIlem-
ma that caused CONSERVATION.
The result is now known, but how 1t
MAS brought about is a matter of con-
= iectuN. The head of the Organization
conferred with Governor Townsend and
other leaders of the successful anti-Lay-
ton movement in Sussex Organization
workers in general joined their leader in
pIeading for. consideration, for mercy.
What was said in argument, what was
promised, if anything, only those who
were part of the secret inner circle know.
But. 10 and behold, the opposition to
Congressman Layton dissipated like the
r,ists over a Sussex swamp before a lively
morning breeze, and the hostile Sussex
county caucus gave him unanimous IN
dorsemeut for denomination
And this is called ''in the interest of
harmony" What amount of political
treachery was involved. what kind of
intrigue and manipulation, the future
NAV reveal Certain it is that Sussex Re
publicans were betrayed, and in the house
OF their friends. Ii may be impossible TO
paeify them, even "in the interest Of
harmony"
However, this amazing instance OF
despairing pleading and secret manipula-
ton saved the Organization from a
desperate dilemma and enabled it to carry
through its program by the nomination OF
William d. Denney Of Dover for governor,
and it's other slated candidates. The ticket
throughout. is of the fair to average
variety, composed of men who stand well
in their communities in respect of char
acter, and of fair ability, two of them now
serving in the Offices TO which they have
been renominated-State treasurer and
auditor of accounts. Of themselves
nothing more need be said; but Of the
Organization whose political creatures
they are great deal may be said, and will
be said. between now and the election.
Mr.. Denney, the candidate for governor
is a well-known citizen of Dover, to whom
is no injustice TO say he would not have
been seriously considered in connection
with the Office Of governor had he not beer
picked out by the Organization as III
representative. He is a respectable either
and good business man, entirely on all
fours with several thousand other good
citizens and business men of our State
How well-htted he may be for the Office oi
governor is a matter for the voters te
determine.
The platform adopted by this boss.
ruled convention is .deliverance re-
markable for its lack of virility, inspira-
ton or sound principle. 1t has statements
that are untruthful, as clearly shown by
facts; statements that appeal 70 partisan