Milford chronicle., 1923-10-05
BALL WILL NOT RUN
IN DELAWARE RACE
Statement Concerning SenatOrship
Comes From Good Authority
Raises Many Issues.


political situation in Delaware, and
it is reprinted in the Chronicle for
public information.
Although not officially announced, it
was stated on the best of authority
that United States Senator L. H. Ball
would not be a candidate for the Sen
ate. From the same source it was
learned that Colonel H. A. du Pont has
been made to see that DR.. Ball could
not be elected and would throw his in
f1uence to former Representative Will
liam H. Heald.
In inner Republican circles it has
been rumOred for some time that Ball
would retire and was only awaiting
a chance to make the announcement
in such way as to save his face.
That Colonel du Pont would be behind
Mr.. Heald is no surprise, as they have
been the closest political and personal
friends for years. Colonel du Points
decision is said to have been reached
after a most searching investigation
into the political situation as regards
the possibility of Ball being elected.
All along the Colonel has been cOun-
selling the Republicans to get together
or face the alternative of the State
going Democratic and a Democrat
Senator being sent to Washington. Ma
tional leaders also have been bring
ing influences to bear upon the Re-
publicans here to patch up their diff
ferences.
1t is thought that Heald will be
able to get all of the Ball strength and
a large faction which would not fol-
low the Senator. Although it has been
said that Colonel Thomas w. Miller,
alien property custodian, was behind
the boom of former Governor John G.
Townsend, of Sussex County, he has
been closely connected with Mr.. Heald
and it is believed by many that he
would explain the matter satisfactorily
to Townsend and throw his following
to Heald. The only thing which might
prevent this is the fact that Colonel
du Pont has always been against Mil
Ter. Still, he might forget this, as he
(Miller) has designs upon the Senate
seat at some time in the future. !
Need du POnt Aid
There is a possibility that Sussex
County Republicans will not take
kindly to the arrangement whereby
Heald is placed in the running, Ac-
cording to the rotation rule, Sussex.
should have the candidate. On the
other hand, there has been tendency
of late years to get away from this
tradition. Colonel du Pont has the
only real organization in the State.
Without its help no Republican could
win. 1t is argued that to throw this
help away at this critical period would
be political suicide.
This new deal will result in the
elimination of Governor Denney,
Judge D. o. Hastings and Secretary Of
State A. R. Benson, who have been
warm supporters of General T. Cole
man du Pont. The three are accused
Of being the men who arranged the
deal. by which General du Pont was
appointed to the Senate after Josiah
o. Wolcott, the Democratic incumbent,
resigned to accept the chancellorship.
Colonel du Pont has never forgiven
the Governor for giving this impOr-
tant appointment to a Democrat.
Townsend naturally would get the
support of Denney, Benson and Hast
ings if he decided to run. There is
some speculation how the new turn in
affairs will suit the Allees, of Dover.
They were to have supported Ball be-
cause the organization behind him
was opposed to the Governor and his
lieutenants. 1t is claimed that there
will be no trouble in getting them to
back Head.
One of the reasons assigned for the
slump of the Ball stock was the deser-
tion of "Dol' Short to the camp of
Ruby Vail. Without the aid of the
former, the Senator would be without
a strong leader in the lower county |
and, with former Governor Townsend
fighting him, Ball would have no show.
Democratic Situation Serious
Just as the Republicans seem to be
getting into better shape a serious sit
uation has developed in the Democrat
ic Party over the rotation rule. Ac-
cording to precedent, Sussex Demo-
Gratis claim the right to nominate a
senatorial candidate. James M. Tun-
nell and Andrew J. Lynch, of George
town, seem to be the only ones who
want this honor Kent County Demo-
Gratis announced that the Senator
should come from Kent County, the
only Democratic stronghold left in the
State. What is more, they announced
that they were going to fight for it.
Their position was outlined as fol-
lows:
New Castle County has a Democrat
ic Senator in the person of Thomas F.
Bayard. 1t had the Democratic NOM
ination for United States Senator in
1918 in the person of former Senator
Willard Salisbury. 1t had the Demo-
cratic nomination in 1916 in the per-
son of Josiah o. Wolcott, who then
lived in Wilmington, and that is as ;
iar back as senatorial nominations go, !
for prior to that time the Senators \
were elected by the Legislature. ;
Sussex County had the gubernator- q
al nomination in 1920, so that in fact .
lbout all Kent County has received in :
he last seven years is one congress
;ional nominee, and he was elected by \
he largest majority a Democrat re- A
'eived in Delaware for years.
Prepared to Fight for Rights +
Where would Bayard have been last v
7ear had Kent County returned Re- I
publican instead of a Democratic ma I
ority? Where would any Democratic
State candidate be without Kent's e
Democratic majority to rely upon to e
iffset Republican gains in other coun- Ii
les?
If the Democrats of New Castle and e
sussex Counties are not broad-minded
nough to recognize the justice of s
Ient's claims, then the Democrats of v
a