Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-10-20
CHANCES
SAID TO Be DARK
At WASHINGTON
Balls Favor of Him Overcome
by Opposition Of du Pont
and Layton.
OLD SCHEME is DISCARDED
Special Dispatch From Every Evenings
Washington Correspofdent

special Dispatch From Every Evenings
Washington Correspondent.
washington, Oct. 20.--"It looks like
they have taken peeneys scalp said
n prominent citizen of Delaware to-
day. mot only Is Sylvester ID. Town
send being backed by the Republican
Organization of the state and large
numter Of people In all sections. for
internal revenue collector, but It seems
(. At Senator du Pont and Representa-
tive Caleb n. Layton likewise are
favor able to Townsend, leaving Mr.
Peeney with only Senator Ball as his
chief supporter"
While Senator Ball and Senator du
pont decline TO discuss the collector
ship & the extent of saying how near
an agreement has been reached as TO
who shall have the Job. the situation
seems to be such as to Indicate very
clearly where the appointment is go
ing. In other words. Il is fair to say
that the consensus of opinion among
those who have been watching the
develop nts is that Townsend will
get the job.
There is very interesting story In
connection with the Federal patrons
age that is 20 20 TO Delaware. Nts
IN inner Of distribution, and especially
that portion Of IL which is termed
statewide The story appears to be
authentic. Al least there are NUM-
Der of men here who declare it to be
true.
Balls Original Plan.
| This is the way it runs: Months
ago---long before any one even dream
ed that ID. aware would have two Re-
u ,lisan Senators, not conceiving that
one could be appointed, in as much as
a Democrat held one of the places
! Senator Ball called n meeting Of the
r. oul lican state Committee. the caair-
men of the county committees, and
/ prominent party men. and submitted
a plan of his own devising for the dis
DC sition of Federal patronage of tbs
statewide kind.
This plan, II was claimed. was put
forward for the purpose OF not only
making an equitable distribution OF
patronage. but for the purpose of sc.
lcuring harmony throughout the Stat,
within the ranks of the Republican
party.
ae agreement was, i'm effect, thai
the state committee--hcluding tbs
chairmen OF the county committees
should allocate those offices amonl
the four political districts into which
Delaware in divided by Republican
party Wilmington, rural New
G stle. Kent and Sussex counties.
The further agreement was, SO /
is said, that all these appointment
should be made by Senator Ball, th'
only Republican Senator at that time
Representa- tive Layton, and the chair
men OF the districts, TO which tn
offices in question were allocated.
he current rumor here is to tn
effect that in the internal revenue col
lector fight--which is the big fight il
every State--Senator du Pont, Chair
man Warner of the state eommitte,
Chairman Ellison II the City com
lmittee. are all for Townsend. and tha
Senator Ball is practically alone Il
his support and advocacy OF Peeney.
1t is also whispered In the politica
gossip here that Representative Lay
ton will make it four-to-one propo
J sltion that the senior Senator fror
Delaware wifi not only lose in thi
|, game--the cullectorship--but that h
will lose in others. The Congressma'
probably would confess. If urged {
! do SO, that the Senior Senator had es
tranged him and his friends in Sus
.se:. county over the appointment O
the prohiNition~ enforcement officer.