SHALL CORTLAND HAVE THE SENATOR

The Cortland News, Friday, August 28, 1885.

CORTLAND AND VICINITY.

   The Truxton Courier after four months of perilous sailing on the seas of journalism has ceased to exist.

   The next term of the Normal will commence at 8:45 a. m., Wednesday, September 2.

   The [horse] street car company have completed the crossing between Homer and Cortland and cars now run clear through.

   Residents can expect to see the electric lights shedding their beams the latter part of next week. The Crandall Rail company will furnish the power.

   Charles Griswold, an employee in the Crandall Rail factory had the misfortune to lose two fingers of his right hand on Monday.

   Rains the fore part of this week have done a great deal of damage to grain in his vicinity. The river overflowed its banks in many places, being higher than in a great many years at this season.

   Another letter-box has been put up for the accommodation of people living in the central part of the town who object to a journey to Virgil if they wish to post a letter. The box is located at the intersection of Court and Main streets. ["a journey to Virgil" was sarcasm directed at the Cortland Evening Standard block where the post office was located. The Cortland News was located on North Main Street--CC editor.]

   Mechanic's Band gave an open air concert Tuesday evening at the corner of West Court and Main streets. Their selections were good, and with one or two exception, well rendered. The boys received hearty applause from the crowd.

   Wickwire Brothers have broken ground for a new building which they will erect just east of their mill near the E. C. & N. depot. The building will be 40x200 feet, and four stories high. They intend moving their shop from Railroad street as soon as the new building is completed.

   The examinations for the free scholarship [Cornell] was concluded at the Normal building last Friday, but the school commissioners have not yet rendered a decision as to whom it shall be awarded. The contestants were C. M. W. Smith, of Cortland, E. N. Coleman, of Homer, and F. W. Knapp, of McLean.

   White & Ingalls, dentists in the Wickwire Building, report a prosperous business. Having teeth extracted is by no means a pleasant diversion, but by the use of Nitrous Oxide Gas the operation is made painless.

   A turtle is now about the premises of Mr. W. D. Benedict, who resides in the town of Smithville, about six miles from this village, which carries the following inscription plainly marked upon his back: "W. D. B., 1834." The initials stand for the above gentleman's name, and were marked on the turtle by Mr. Benedict's brother, Ephraim, 51 years ago. The turtle is a regular resident of the farm, and Mr. Benedict says he has grown but little during all these years. He makes his headquarters in a moist place in one of Mr. Benedict's meadows, and is seen during haying nearly every year by some of the family. The turtle is always seen in about the same spot, and was picked up by Mr. Benedict's son and examined only a few days ago.—Greene American.

PERSONAL.

   Dr. J. H. Hoose [Normal School Principal] returned on Monday from his extended vacation at the Thousand Islands.

   Prof. T. B. Stowell is attending a session of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, in Ann Arbor, Mich., this week.

   Mr. Edwin Place, of Cincinnatis, was calling on friends in town Monday. Mr. Place is on his way to Ann Arbor, Mich., to attend a session of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Repairs at the Normal.

   The Legislature of last winter passed an appropriation of something over $6,000 for necessary repairs to the Normal building in this place. Nearly ever since the last term of school closed painters and carpenters have been as busy as bees to get it in shape for the opening of school next week. The outside of the building has been painted two coats of a deep red color, new verandas built over all the outside doors furnishing protection to the students from snow and rain and from huge lumps of ice and snow which sometimes fall from the roof in the winter season. Besides these, other improvements have been made by painting and kalsomining the interior. A librarian will have charge of the books hereafter.

 

SHALL CORTLAND HAVE THE SENATOR.

   During the twenty years in which Onondaga and Cortland have been associated in the same Senatorial District, Onondaga has been made the locations of the candidate and Cortland has conceded the honor of her sister county. If the candidate has not always been freely given to Onondaga it has nevertheless been cheerfully acquiessed in finally. It would seem therefore that Cortland could this fall present a very strong claim to have the nomination yielded to some one of the number of the prominent Republicans of the county upon whom the popular sentiment might be united.

   Cortland county cannot expect the nomination by the mere force of her own numbers, as it has but thirty-one delegates while Onondaga has one hundred and sixteen. The rights of the minority are however entitled to consideration, and we think that after Cortland county has for twenty years faithfully supported the nomination of her sister county by good round majorities she is now entitled to the candidate tor Senator.

   In looking over the State, we find many Districts made up of a large and small county. Monroe and Orleans formed a District for many years, and although Orleans was much the smaller county, she was conceded the nominee at least one third of the time. St. Lawrence and Franklin may be pointed at as another conspicuous example where the smaller county has uniformly been allowed her rights.

   At an early day soon after Onondaga and Cortland were united as a District, a convention representing both counties solemnly resolved that Cortland county was entitled to two terms out of five. In looking over the names of the honorable and influential gentlemen who were members of the Onondaga delegation in that Convention we were led to believe that Onondaga would redeem her pledge faithfully and cheerfully. To the credit of the Republicans of Onondaga county be it said that they have as a body been in favor of doing justice to Cortland on many former occasions but they have been overruled by: certain leading politicians. Whenever the people have spoken the right has triumphed.

   We call to mind a memorable gathering held in Syracuse in 1870 on the eve of the Congressional struggle of that year, when such men as E. W. Leavenworth, L. W. Hall, C. Shoemaker, Carroll E. Smith, E. B. Phillips, W. R. Chamberlain, Horace Candee, Gen. D. H. Bruce, Dr. J. Kneland and hundreds of others stood up for the rights of Cortland, and passed among others a resolution in the following words:

   Resolved, That Cortland county is in common fairness and decency entitled to the next Congressman — a recognition unjustly and too long withheld.

   Yet at that time Cortland had only been united with Onondaga as a Congressional District eight years, while at this time she has formed a Senatorial District with Onondaga for twenty years without once being recognized. May we not say in the language of the foregoing resolution that at this time "Common Fairness and Decency” entitled Cortland to the next Senator!

   Onondaga has said to Cortland in the past, "If you come into the Convention united you shall have the nomination." There is force in the point and we believe Cortland intends this fall to unite upon the best, strongest and most acceptable candidate.

   We again repeat that the Senatorial nomination by all right and fairness belongs to Cortland. The Convention when it assembles will fail in its duty should it deny the claim. The Onondaga delegation will this fall perpetuate a wrong, if it shall clutch again and hold for itself this public office. What we ask of the Republicans of Onondaga is, that they look at this question in a spirit of candor, and send to the Convention unpledged delegates who will act in a spirit of fairness towards their sister county. If the Senator is now conceded to Cortland, it will harmonize and strengthen the Republican party in the district and we shall present a united front to the common enemy.