Smyrna times., 1947-01-30
1sse-1s46-5o years ago in the

loSo-lS4o-oo years ago HI the
year just passed was one of the
most spectacular in the history of
the country and it occasioned much
bitterness. In the spring of that
year a meteor blazed across the
political horizon in the person of
William Jennings Bryan. 1t was
the beginning of the fight between
the advocates of free silver at the
ratio of 16 to 1 and those who
would continue the United States
under the Gold Standard.
At the Democratic primaries in
Delaware, the gold forces won and
instructed the delegates according
ly. Among the delegates elected
was John F. Salisbury of Dover,
but he refused to obey instruct
tions and voted with the free silver
forces. Mr.. Salisbury was one of
the first delegates to vote for
Bryan for the presidential nomina-
tion. The writer had on several
occasions heard Mr.. Salisbury de-
scribe the exciting scenes of the
Convention when Mr.. Bryan pre-
sented the majority report of the
committee on resolutions and end
ed with his "cross of gold" re-
marks. you shall not press down
upon the brow of labor this crown
of thorns, you shall not cruelty
mankind upon a cross of gold" ;"
The delegates, both gold and silver,
mounted their chairs and the re-
porters dropped their pencils and
stood on their desks cheering the
boy orator from Nebraska. His
eloquence completely swept them
from their feet.
While Mr.. Bryan was defeated in
his aspirations to become Presi-
dent, it seems rather significant
that all the reforms which he ad-
vocated-popular election of Unit
ed States Senators by the people,
social security, old age pensions,
guaranteeing of bank deposits, col
lective bargaining, etc. have been
enacted into law with the excep-
ton of 16 to 1. But for several
years past the United States has
been off the gold standard.
A few years after the Republi-
cans had been successful in send
ing Anthony Higgins to the United
State Senate, they elected Joshua
Marvel of Laurel, as Governor, the
first Republican to hold the office
since the Civil War. This victory
was of short duration. The Cover
nor died few months after being
inducted into Office. At that elec-
tion the Democrats elected John
w. Fennimore, of Leipsic and
Hezekiah Harrington of Harring-
ton, as state Senators from Kent
County. These two made up a
Democratic majority of the State
Senate. That body selected Will
liam T.. Watson, of Milford as
speaker and he became Governor
Delaware at that time did not
have a Lieutenant Governor. Thus
the State Government went back
again into the hands of the DEM
ocrats.
When the Legislature convened
the Republicans had a majority in
joint ballot, but the Addicks forces
were able to hold out enough votes
to prevent the election of Col.
Henry A. DUPONT who had secured
the caucus nomination. In this
connection it may be noted that
Horace r. Mustard of Smyrna
bolted the democratic senatorial
caucus and cast a lone vote for
Ebe w. Tunnel.
On the last day of the session
Col. DUPONT was within one vote of
a majority. Just before the noon
recess one of the Addicks holdouts
notified his colleagues that on the
next ballot he would vote for Mr..
DUPONT. When the members as
sembled again in joint session one
of the Addicks holdouts made good
his promise and voted for Mr.. du-
Pont, but Governor Watson had