Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-06-16
JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS.


rise TO the most criticism is that Of
aenator wolcott, Democrat, to the
Ghaneellofship. Woleotts acceptance
OF this office necessarily Involves his
resignation as United States Senator
and creates a vacancy to be fliled by
Governor Denney-an arrangement
by which the former obtains a twelve
years ineumbency OF the highest ju-
dicial office In our State upon sur
rendering about eighteen months Of
his unexpired term In the United
States Senate and thus giving the
Governor the opportunity to name a
United atntes senator to fll tho va.
caney. n prnrogative of very high po-
fltieal value In the estimation Of some
people.
Unfortunately, however, transac-
tiona of this character, even when
nothing improper il intended, are
often open 20 criticism because of
their terms; and while We believe that
the Governors intentions were wholly
good and meant TO promote the best
interests Of the party as he saw them,
we feel bound TO say that in the opin-
ion Of thousands Of Delaware Repub-
Leans he has made n serious mistake.
Ills duty as Governor is tn give the
State good and successful admlnis-
tfation. which is beet achieved by the
support Of united and harmonious
Republican party. Without the slight
est cxpla nation and without assigning
any good and sufficient reason, he has
made a nomination which has seri-
ousiy divided Republican public opin-
ion and afforded unlimited chances
for trouble In the party.
There are a great many Republicans
who are unalterably opposed to VOL
colts nomination because IL does not
conform 70 our traditional Statewide
principles in regard to judicial ap-
pointments; and. because IL is be-
lieved that the ability, experience, high
character and personal merit Of the
present Chancellor, who is a Hepub-
Iican, should have entitled him 10 a
preference over a Democratic Senator
particularly as the present incumbent
mas been recommended for re-appoint-
rnent by an overwhelming majority
Of the Delaware bar.
On the other hand. there are some
Republicans who urge the confrna-
ton because they profess TO consider
that the Governor has selected the
man best fitted for the place. in his
personal Judgment, and at the same
iastic Democrats, at the close of tbs
meeting. carried Colonel whiteIey out
on their shoulders.
Democrats Move Ahead.
Democrats gained a good start al
the city election in September. elect
ing william Huntingdon mayor over
John A. AIlderdice by SIS ma jority.
The little election" in october also
vas a Democratic triumph. Mean
while. the results Of various State
elections, especially that of Pennsyi-
vania, in October, showed that the
trend of the country was still with the
Democratic party. The Republican
party was too young and too far ad-
vanced in it's anti-siavery propaganda
20 be satisfactory to many who could
not bring themselves 10 support the
Democratic party, while the narrow.
proscriptixe doctrines of the American
party were not appealing to anything
like majority of the American
people. This was the general political
status. in Delaware as Well as through
out the rest Of the country. Buchanan
was elected, and Delaware was with
the victorious majority for Buck and
Breck.'
And SO, in November, the Demo-
cratic party won its last national vic
tory for many years, and James Buch-
anan was chosen to enter upon one of
the most eyentful terms of the Office
of President of the United States. Also
the party of "knownothingism" died
after that election.
This election, however, marked quite
impressively the approach of that
fatal division OF the Democratic party,
which enabled the young Republi-
can party to score a national triumph,
although comprising a minority OF the
country's voters. The fierce discussion
between the radical and conserI 1tive
elements of the Democratic party in
Congress over the slavery question
became more and more acrimonious,
and the Congress elections of two
years later clearly indicated the APP
proach of the open break. This ele-
ment of discord. however, did not af-
feet the Democratic party in Delaware
lis ulS1SIEOuSlN dS Was NhE [aot GASS-
where. and at the 1858 election, after
an interesting eaHiaign, it was sue
cessful in electins William Burton
governor and returning William G.
Whiteley to Congress, the former by
a maiority OF 2Gt, and the latter by
lie. Bdt Buchanan had carried the
state by ISIS two. years before. and
50 even here there We're indications
Of the coming Of the great factional
llphcavai that was to wreck the ma
tional Democratic party for years.
s----
ARE MARTIN