The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-10-06
DECLINING DELAWARE"
II Is One Of the Way Stations Of POpu-
lation's Progress.

1t must be rather trying to civic pride
to be a citizen of Delaware, TO read
after every census a reminder that it
is in area the smallest state in the
Union save Rhode Island. After that
comes the announcement from which
monotony has removed the shock that
IN population Delaware mas made but
a small gain. 1t now has less than half
the number of inhabitants Rhode Island
possesses, or 202,322 on April Is, as
the census declares That number l.
but 1857 more than in 1900, and the
growth by decade seems fixed at about
that increment A consolation to the
Delawarean is that the state is used
TO IT," for t was not until 1860 that
it passed the 100000 mark. and falling
hack on mathematics on the immediate
local basis, he can point with whatever
pride he can muster, TO a gain almost
100 per cent in half a century is not 50
bad after all This reflection cannot
last long, fot il Is patent to the histOr-
icaiiy min led that Delaware is not what
It was in the Union. Since 1920, it
has had lut one member of the House
oi Representative and that one by
force by constitutional prescription. In
the presidential elections of 1872, 1916
and 1920, four electors assembled at
Dover, but after the apportionment fol-
lowing the census OF 1890 Delaware lost
its second inc nbtr in the House, loss
which carried with It reduction of It's
electoral college.
There are M Indications Of the return
Of the days when delaware was a lit.
he state with great influence in the
Union. The families which were almost
dynasties and centred public attention,
have either died orr or passed into q
drsuetude that Is not wholly innocuous,
Tue Rodneys IRE no mere; the name
OF EaJard has lost the prestige it WELD
q. for tbrcc generations. The Rodneys
like the Bayarus, were strong men,
thinkers and doors, identified with ,ile
development OF the nation as we'll as
Of state As Delaware is now expect
ed to @ overwhelmingly Democratic,
there is the possibility of the reap
pearanee of the Saulsburys, dynasty
which was at hereditary variance with
the Bayards, and Willard Salisbury Is
prominently mentioned" as the next
4 United States senator The newer
Delawareans are not the equals in pres
tige or power Of the elder. The Ad'
dicks episode brought to the front some
very small men for very great places
and the net result of the CONFUSION
was the ascendency Of the Dup0nts
who, TO their credit be it said, defeated
tie "gas mans" crowd. Now the as,
tendency of the Duponts is threatened
with eclipse and possibly extinction.
Delaware has TO its credit, the fact
that 1t was the first state to ratify
the federal constitution. It was ther
promising little commonwealth, which
in giving allegiance to our organic law
was simply following the strong in
stinets OF nationality which had mad,
It conspicuous in the Revolution. L
declared its independence as Delaware
state before the signing Of the i'm
mortal declaration" Like several 9th
ef states its executive was styled pres
ident." The first President Mckmle!
in American history was John Mckin
lev. or McKinly, Of Delaware. who, cap
tured by the British, paid in imprison
ment. the penalty of his patriotism.
The progress of population passe
Delaware by at express train speed, !
is way station at which few through
trains Of development stop.-BostoI
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