Middletown transcript., 1895-04-20

| fEHWlf8gY48& SUI II or. Mr
Cleveland is per.
fectly willing to do anything to prevent
the capture of the Democratic party by
the silver men, but up to this time he has
been unable to decide what he ought
TO do. At first he was disposed to stop
the movement by going to Chicago and
making an anti-sllver speech, which
should rally the Cleveland Democrats
around the single gold standard, and
the arrangements we're made to have
him invited to do so By committee of
alleged non-partisan business men of
Chicago; but later he became doubt
full as to that plan, and has given con-
siderable consideration to project sug-
gested by a member of the Cabinet for
the writing of a series of letters by
himself and all the members of the
Cabinet, to be made public by those
who received them and to be used as
weapons against the silver phalanx of
the Democratic party. Other plans
have also beer considered, but nothing
has yet been definitely settled upon.
Meanwhile, Senator Roach, Of North
Dakota, who is a silver Democrat, fires
thi. broadside right under Mr.. Cleve-
lands nose, SO to speak: 81 am glad
to see the Illinois State Central Com
mittee take the Initiative in sounding
the Democracy of that State on the
silver question. We have got to meet
the issue OF silver In the next National
convention, and we might as well hear
from the various States now as not.
The Illinois scheme is a good one, and
hope to see other States fall into line
and adopt the same plan." That is
treason against Mr.. Cleveland on tho
part of Mr.. Roach, for he must have
known when he made those remarks
that the administration was bitterly
opposed to the Illinois scheme, and
that Hon. William R. Morrison
"Horizontal Bill,") is now in that
State, at the request Of Mr.. Cleveland.
trying to lay plans to prevent the con-
vention declaring for free coinage.
Secretary Hoke Smith likes Wash
ington so we'll that he wants to step
from the Cabinet to the United States
Senate on March 4, 1897, and he is
now engaged in pulling the wires
which, he thinks, will accomplish that
purpose. One of the principal draw
backs to the accomplishment of Secre-
tary Smiths ambition is that Senator
Gordon has shown no willingness to
retire. On the contrary, be is credited
with desiring to succeed himself, if
the Democrats can retain control of
the Georgia legislature. An attempt
was made to make deal for the elec-
tion of Gordon to be governor and
Smith to the Senate, but Gordon re-
fused to enter it. Ex-Speaker Crisp is
also willing TO go to the Senate.
Secretary Morton's serious announce
ment of his intention to use the ma
chinery of the Department of Agrieul-
ture to make an investigation in orderto
ascertain if there is a beef trust, which
is responsible for the recent sudden and
continuing rise in the price of beef, is
enough to bring a smile to the face of
the most solemn COW. If Mr.. Morton
was honest in making that announce
ment his ignorance is greatly to be
deplored, as it is fact we'll known to
thousands hat there is a beef trust.
composed of the big meat packers,
which has for some time been slowly
but surely forcing the local butchers
in all towns of considerable size out of
business, in order that the trust could
dictate prices without fear of local op-
position. That time has apparently
come, and the trust is itting on the
screws. There is an antitrust law,
which might be used to annoy the beef
rust, even if nothing more could be
lone under its provisions, if Attorney
General Olney so willed. But the ad-
is apparently satisfied to
ct the case rest on Secretary Morton's
romise to investigate. Meanwhile,
he people can choose between paying
he prices demanded by the trust or
topping their beef supply.
To-day is the last upon which re-
urns can be made without penalty by
hose who are liable for the judicially
masculated income tax, and orders
ave been sent out that all those who
all are to be Immediately proceeded
gainst by the collectors of internal
evenue, but at one time the Cabinet
ad under consideration the adyisa-
ility of suspending the collection of
le tax until the Supreme Court had
assed upon its constitutionality with
full bench, and it is said that it would
ave been suspended had not Secretary
arlisle insisted upon the necessity of
citing as much money as possible out
the tax, even if some of iG should
ave to be paid back under a later
'cision of the Supreme Court. It is
garded as certain that the case will,
the near future be reargued and
cision reached by full bench.
There is great relief in administra-
)n circles over the unofficial state
ent that Nicaragua had reached a
tisfactory settlement with England
d hopes that-it will soon be officially
nfirmed. There was q dread that
!caragua might defy England and
II on this country to live up to the