Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-06-06
An Aggressive Campaign.

Inspired By confidence Of success in
both state and nation. the Wings of
Delaware made their campaign spirit
ed and aggressive. The Democrats had
a parade and meeting in Wilmington
on June II which the Journal rldi-
cnled as 4 small affair. numbering not
more than Six hundred marcners. and
docking like a funeral procession,
solemn and slow The Wing demon
atration. held the next day. was vastly
different according to the Journal, and
probably was II was eniivened BY the
presence OF the banner and the big
bail. and drew Wings from the SUR
rounding country in large numbers.
The meeting was held on what was
then vacant square bounded by
Market. King, Seventh and Eighth
streets just fancy such a situation
today. If you can and Mr.. Clayton.
AZ usual, was the chief oratorical at
traction.
And so, with plenty Of meetings and
all kinds of enthusiasm. the campaign
in Delaware progressed, Wings of
Kent and Sussex counties being just
as lively and just as confident as their
brethren of New Castle county and
wilmington Also. then. as now. there
was a great deal of betting on the
election, and the variations Of the
gamblers were seized upon as avidly
as Indicative OF prospects or proba-
bilities. I'VE are opposed 70 betting.
said the Journal in one Of its issues
and with this pretended apology IL pro-
ceeded 10 inform its readers OF wagers
of several different kinds on Clay,
amounting to $3.50, ready for taking
at the Journal Office" Unfortunately
there is no record of the bettors. or
of the success or failure of their ef-
forts to thus express their confidence
in the winning qualities of their party 5
great leader.
Also. there was some talk OF the
corrupt use of money in influencing
voters. The cry of British gold be-
ing freely and extensively used for
the election of a Democratic Free
Trade Congress" found favor all over
the country, and in suggestion of cor
rupt tactics at home the Journal de-
clared, in its issue OF October 20, that
money is plenty in the hands of those
who never had any before These
walls were the first intimations of ans
weakening of the Journals firm faith
that Clay would be elected. In It's
issue of Tuesday. November 5. il indig-
nantly announced that "a plot ha6
been discovered to ring fraudulent
voters from Philadelphia TO Delaware
to vote the Democratic ticket"
Loyalty of Delaware Wings.
The election IL Delaware was helt
i on fItnag3aV Afa4saTs,1af9Ys Int haf,ts5
that day dawned 1t was known tha
/ Polk and Dallas had been elected. Tn,
States did not vote ON the same day
for President al that time. and Dem
oeratic victories in New York an,
Pennsylvania had assured the defea
Of Clay Birnie. thu abolition candidat,
/ for President got enough votes in New
| York To give that state to Polk. ans
/ that practically settled the contest
Still party leaders endeavored 10 max,
/ the result appear doubtful as long a.
possible, especially in Delaware. fol
the purpose Of keeping up the spirits
Of Whig voters. And the stauncl
| Wings of Delaware, even when the.
knew their party had been defeates
in the nation. refused to surrende
their own State to the political enemy
They gave their electoral vote to Cla,
ly a majority Of 295. They eleete,
| Thomas Stockton governor by a ma
jority of As. and they sent John w
Houston back to Congress by a ma
| jority of zoo.
That was rare devotion to poiitica
principles and fidelity TO party organ
| ization. Few States would have sioni
as little Delaware did at this natiuna
election Of 1914
Sore ia Defeat.
The Delaware State Journal tool
| the defeat Of Cliy very much TO heart
and in its issue OF Tuesday, Novembel