Middletown transcript., 1897-09-11
MIpDLETowN. DEL. SEP. II, 1897
KENNY AssUMEs coMMAND.

day too soon, for week ago through the
ubiquitous medium Of the puplic press
his Democratic colleague, Senator Ken
ney of Dover, gave him notice that the
issue Of the next campaign, in which
Mr.. Gray has more than an ordinary
interest, would be free silver coinage at
the ratio of 16 to l. Senator Kenny says
number of other things in his first
official pronunciaments, but none Of
them are deserving Of attention save
his notice upon Mr.. Gray that be must
change his views on national finances
or cease to lead the Democracy of Del
aware. The great increase in the price
of wheat, which fact is not calculated
to contribute to Senator Gray's peace
of mind here in Delaware, appears to
be the immediate cause that moved
Mr.. Kenny to write his little piece.
The Jump in wheat has produced cor
responding gymnastics among the Pop
ulist leaders. Mr.. Bryan wrote four
columns of views which were printed in
last Sundays Philadelphia Press. Sen
ator Daniel of Virginia sent his views
post haste to the New York Herald,
and the greatest among them all, ex-
governor Altgeld Of Illinois, came all
the way to Washington Park on the
Delaware river to offset the benefic-
lent influence Of higher prices in agri-
cultural products. Senator Kenny
with Characteristic alertness antici-
pated all of them.
Much that the Junior Senator put
into his somewhat crude and hysteri-
cal proclamation is ridiculous. 1t
would all be amusing enough, if not
ridiculous, were it not that its author
is Senator of the United States and
shares with George Gray the influence
of this state at Washington, and more
than George Gray enjoys the confidence
and support of the Democrats of Del
aware. Mr.. Kenny commands larger
following of Delaware Democrats than
Mr.. Gray. He is in the position of
command. Hear what he says about
his faith in free silver coinage:
''The gold organs of the country
grow jubilant over the advance in the
price of wheat over that Of silver and
claim that because of this, the chief
argument of the bimetalists has been
destroyed. Instead of this being true,
the fact is that under existing eircum-
stances the advance in the price of
wheat strengthens the claims of the
bimetalIists, in that this advance in
wheat prices is admitted to be owing
to the great shortage of the wheat
crops of Argentina and India,
thereby creating an unusual demand
upon this country to supply the needs
Of the world for this grain, thus ac-
crediting the increase in the price of
wheat to the real and only cause-in-
creased demand. And so, were the
mints of the world opened to the free
coinage of silver, there would be at
once an advance In the price of that
metal to more than double its present
value, and for the reason that thereby
an increased demand for that metal
would at once be created. Supply and
demand fix the price of every commod-
ity, gold and silver included.
Every Evening"" the leading Sound |
Money Democratic organ Of the State,
makes but brief and contemptuous ref
erenee to the young Senator's declara-
tious. 1t reprints the last ten lines Of
his letter and. reminds its readers that
this extraordinary rubbish comes from
seat once filed by Clayton, Bayard
and Salisbury. This is true. Never
theless Kenny is in the seat now and
he is true and proper representative
Of nine-tenths of the Democrats of his
state. They concur in the above senti-
ments. They believe that rubbish.
Even in the present Legislature, the
majority of the members who voted
against Mr.. Kenny and for Messrs.
Wolcott and Salisbury held these
views. Representatives HAZEL and
Adams of Kent, Short and johnson,
Of Sussex, and Dempsey and DON
aldson of New Castle are all free silver.
ties who supported Bryan with cordial
ity and hope to be able to do so again
in 1900. The Democratic party in Del
aware is almost solid for Altgeld,
Bryan, Jones, Kenny and Handy, be-
cause they are the apostles of free sill
yer coinage at ratio of 16 to ]. Senator
Kenny's views therefore cannot be
pooh-poohed into notbingness, nor his
of leadership whistled
lown the wind. For this reason we say
hat Senator Gray did not return to
Delaware day too soon.
OF course Senator Gray will not
,hange his views on the money ques-
ion. He may change his opinion as ,
20 the law governing the conduct of
,he Levy Court for, example, when the
political complexion of that Court Or
he question has changed, but he could .
lot and we give him the credit that /
le would not, change it in respect to /
inances Of the nation, not even in the
lace Of defeat. But neither can Sena- J
or Gray afford to retire and leave the
ield undisputed to Messrs. Kenny and
Handy. He must fight for his convic-
lions and his cause, nor is there doubt
hat be will and we predict that the
esults of his efforts will far exceed
hose of the Sound Money Democrats
ast fall, in this county, and indeed all
,yer the state, Like German of Mary ,
and, Senator Gray is no doubt dream
ng and schemiDg to compromise the
wo warring ideas. but ike Gorman,
le will fnd it impracticable and inn