Evening journal., 1899-03-04
SATURDAY. MARCH 4, 1899
CoNCERNTNG MIR. KNOX.

CONCERNING MIR. KNOX.
we have treated state Senator sam
uel NJ. Knox with the utmost courtesy
at all times. It is to us a matter OF
regret that he should have taken occa-
sion. in the corree OF his speech on
the Pyste water bill, to make a direct.
uncal,ed for and untuthful attack
upon the Evening journal He made
two declarations which he knew were
false IN every particular. The hrst was
that the Evening journal is not read
by the people OF the city OF Winning
ton; the second, that the Evening Jour
nal reflects no public sentiment
We wish to say to the senator from
the Fist district that there is no
newspaper in the city Of Wilmington
which is more widely read by the peo-
Die Of Wilmington. or one which so
nearly reflects the true public senu
ment. He knows 1t. and it was this
knowledge which prompted the attack.
The Evening journal has made plain
10 the water consumers Of the city the
imposition which has been practiced
upon them by the friends and famil-
iars OF this statesman, who apparently
believes that he was sent there TO rep
resent certain corporations and not
the people OF his district.
Senator Knox made a spectacle Of
himself in his desperate effort to save
himself from defeat. After failing in
an endeavor to make deal with the
Democrats to vote with them to pass
the hye commissioners olil for Sussex
county he was driven into his cor
ner and forced to fight Il out on the
floor Of the Senate. He presented a
riiaFs cif figures whlch were more con-
faising than convincing and which
had been prepared by those particular
friends Of his who have been, for years,
preying upon the water consumers.
Then he lost his head, and drifted into
statements which every senator on the
hoor knew were false They were that
the Evening Journal Is not readi that
Il rejects no public sentiment; that
most Of the people OF wilmington did
not know there was sudh bill here;
that those who did know it had M
idea that ii would pass; that II they
had they would come TO Dover in a
body and throw the senator's out Of
the windows OF the State House. To
cap the farcical climax he read a let
ter from President Porter, OF heWater
Department, in which It was stated by
that functionary that, II the bill pass
ed, be would resign his Office. This
was mere than the members could
stand. They knew that there was not
a true statement in the entire list, with
the exception Of that concerning Presi-
dent Porter We could ten Senator
Knox that for over two months the
Pyle water bin has been a subject cf
public discussion, IN the press and out
OF the press IN the city OF Whining
ton. It Is unnecessary for us to do so
We could tel him that Wilmington
ians are not IN the habit q throwing
peop.e cut OF windows. such state.
ment is an Insult TO the people Of hi.
own city
Now a word concerning Presiden,
Porter. There never was an iudispen
sable man and never will be. Presi
dent Porter is no exception TO the rue
II he feels that he Is bigger than IN,
water consumers; II he feels that hl
Us bigger than the General Assembly
and II he feels that the city cannot Ee
along without him. the sooner he re
signs the better He has been a goo,
rfficlal. but there are other men in tn,
city OF Wilmington who wiz prove iu.s
as capable II given the oppormnity
The Water Department would be in
terrible plight if its continued exist
enoe depended upon the continued ex
lstence Of President Porter. Tha
WaterDerartmentwou.d lvean thriv
u the entire board handed IN its resie
nation to-day. The water consumer
furnish the money and the Wate
Commissioners spend il. Presiden
Porter Is nrt the only man in vii
mington who knows how Ito spen
money advantageously. and both h
and Senator Knox knw H. Such
plea as the indispensabIlty OF on
man only shows the weakness Of IN
cause OF the Beard Of Water Commts
si-ners.