Milford chronicle., 1923-09-28
RETURN TO POLITICS
is URGED ON DU POINT
Friends of Ball Try to Have AL
fred /. Throw Support to
Senator

Efforts are being made to get Alfred
/ du Pont to re-enter politics in Della
ware and to take major part in the
campaign next year The friends of
Ex-Governor Townsend, of Sussex
county; Governor William D. Denney,
and Secretary of State, A. r. Benson,
of Kent county, and Judge Hastings Of
Wilmington, all of whom are hostile
to the denomination of DR.. Ball.
Mr.. du Pont is silent on his plans,
but if he does decide to get into the
fight he also will carry a club for
Colonel Miller, Alien Property Gus
todian. Those who have been watch
ing the developments of the last few
weeks, and especially the actions of
the lieutenants of ALFRED l., say that
he will not be Indifferent to the trend
of affairs. The lieutenants referred to
have opened fire on Townsend, Hast
ings, Denney, Benson and Miller. 1t
is cOntended that this would not have
been done without some understand
ing with Mr.. du Pont.
Mr.. Miller has long been a friend of
T. Coleman du Pont, and for that rea-
son has been on the Alfred I. black
list. He is most Objectionable this
time because of his support of the can
didacy of Townsend for the senator
ship. 1t will not be so easy to elimi-
nate Miller, but it does look as if the
political lives of the others are num-
bered.
May Combine with Col H. A. du POnt
It is reported that Alfred I. will
make an alliance with Colonel H. A.
du Pont, whom he onced forced into
retirement by defeating him for the
United States Senate. If these two
factions should unite they could make
it almost impossible for Townsend to
win the nomination. Some explana-
ton was attempted this week, for the
report that dol" Short, of Milford,
was behind Ruby Vail, of Milford, for
Senator. 1t was said that Short was
for Ball if he could deliver the New
Castle County delegation. If the Sen
atOr fails to do this, Short, it is said,
would throw the delegates he control
led in Sussex County to Vail. This eX-
PLANTATION is not satisfactory to some
of the Ball people. They argue that
the biggest fight will be at the elec-
ton for delegates and that if any help
was needed it would be then.
It is doubted by many that Mr.. du
Pont will enter the campaign with the
vim that he showed several years ago.
At that time he had a powerful or
ganization and virtually controlled the
State. Just when he was at the peak
of his power he threw up the sponge
and left his organization fOundering
around without a leader. 1t broke into
pieces and has not been a unit to be
seriously considered since. T. c. du
Pont, whom Alfred I. opposed, was ap-
pointed to the United States Senate,
securing the honor his cousin had so
bitterly contested his getting.
League Will be Revived
To recruit these forces would take
time and money. Therefore it is said
that Mr.. du POnt will conduct his cam
paign through other agencies. The
Non Partisan League of Wilmington is
one of these. In former years it Of
ten served his purpose. 1t nominated
and placed on the ticket men to com
bat candidates whom Mr.. du Pont
wanted defeated. In mast cases it full
filled it's mission. This league will be
revived in a few months by E. M. Da-
Wis, the right-hand man of the powder
magnate. Branches may be established
in other parts of the State.
Another early move in the cam
paign will be to attempt to weaken
the Miller organization by attacking
Robert G. Houston, of Georgetown, one
of the attorneys in the Alien Proper
ty Custodian's office. Mr.. Houston, be-
sides having the position in Mr.. Mil
ler's office, is deputy Attorney Gen
eral for Sussex County. The fight
against him will be made on the
grounds that he cannot hold State
and Federal Office at the same time.
The Ku Klux Klan is proving to be
a thorn to both the Republican and
Democratic Parties. The former are
beginning to see that to espouse its
cause will mean the loss of the negro |
vote. A large element of the Demo-
cratic Party in Wilmington is anti
Klan, but, on the other hand, hun
dreds of young Democrats in the low
er part of the State are Klansmen.
Thus the Klan is a two-edge sword
and both sides are afraid of it.