Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-05-23
IuT REAI ISSUE OF THE CITY
ELECTION.

uroay afternoon, Ike those OF lhe
Democrats week before, We're merely
perfunctory, formally registering the
selections made in advance by the party
leaders. al threatened contests for
places on the city ticket were avoided
by careful elimination Of possible con-
testanta. SO that the primary ticket was
unopposed. This situation at the Dem
ocratle primaries was set down by Re-
publican authority as evidence Of lack
of interest" but in the Republican
party we suppose. II is an evidence of
supreme satisfaction" with the work
50 carefully performed by the party
authorities at $40 King street.
In placing this Republican ticket be-
fore the people OF Wilmington. the
party managers ask that it be elected
entirely Ia tho interest Of the Republi-
can party Of the city. State and nation.
While the claim is advanced that its
success would also mean local good
administration. the chief appeal TO
voters i 20 elect il because it, success
would be an Endorsement OF the party
Special emphasis Is laid upon this ele-
ment % campaign argument.
nut We earnestly ask the people Of
wilmington 70 bear in mind that the
interests n the Republican party a4e
not in any manner involved in the re-
suit 81 the city election to be held on
saturday. June A. The Republican
party, as an organization. would not
be affected IN any manner. in city,
state or country. by the election Of this
Republican city ticket. or by its defeat
hut the interests Of the people Of Will
mington are very materially involved
and may De either furthered or in
jured by the result.
by their verdict at the coming cleo
tion the people win Enthusiastically de-
clare whether they are in sympathy
with the recent campaign for improved
municipal administration through
new aud effective charter. which came
o. such disastrous and undeserved
onding az tho hands OF certain men,
ncrs Of the General Assembly. or are
opposed 90 H. That fine campaign.
entered upon with the sole purpose Of
making better administration possible
IN our city and releasing the munich
pahty from the retroactive clutches of
the present partisan and restrictive
charter. was a truly popular ana repre-
sentative uprising. No partisan in1u-
ences directed It's operations, and the
claim was made that the charter meas
ure Il proposed was approved by a
large majority OF the men and women
of Wilmington. Yet IL was baseiy de-
foated.
The Republican ticket in the pend
ing municipal campaign represents the
partisan influences that defeated char
Ter reform az Dover. II was framed by
those Influences, every candidate there
on owing his selection to them. If the
people elect this partisan ticket. they
VIII BY their act give Endorsement to
the brutal partisanship which during
the recent session OF the Legislature
blocked their earnest and sincere efforts
g secure muSh-icfdcd reform in our
system of municipal administration.
II Is unfortunate that the people Of
WILMINGTON. eosirous above All things
of a sound and businesslike adminis-
tration OF their affairs. should be COM
pcileo 20 make a choice, at their purely
local elections. between two tickets
labelled with partisan names. This
demoralizing situation they endeavored
60 remove through the effective medium
~ q new charter. They were defeated
iu this effort. but they can gain their
ends az the coming election il they are
atiil determined 10 fight for the reform
The one way 70 secure the new char
ter Is 70 defeat the partisan Republican
ticket az the city election. Should il
be- elected what reply could friepds oa
the new charter make TO the next
Legislature when confronted with tho
truthful accusation: you cannot pre-.
tend 10 represent n majority Of the
voters OF Wilmington in your request
FOR al their very next election they in.
dorsed those who defeated the new
charter measure al the last session ol
the General Assembly" None what
ever.