MYSTERIOUS DANIEL LAMONT

Daniel Lamont.

Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, November 20, 1893.

MYSTERIOUS LAMONT.

The Most Exclusive Member of Cleveland's Cabinet—An Intensely

Practical Man.

   You would not expect that the most exclusive member of the cabinet would be the man who once sold newspapers upon the streets of the capital city of New York. But such is the case. Secretary Lamont is the most exclusive member of Mr. Cleveland's cabinet. He even out-Endicotts Endicott. It is harder to get an opportunity to see Secretary Lamont than it is any other cabinet officer. You can walk without reserve into Gresham's room and be sure of a hearty western greeting; you can gossip with Carlisle over persons and things; but you can do none of these things with Lamont. There is a covering of reserve about him that it is impossible to break through. He has a combined air of business and mystery that makes familiarity a stranger.

   He always has the appearance of a man who is too busy to talk with you, and who regards you as wasting every moment of his time during the while you are with him. He has been the confidential man of so many prominent men—Tilden, Cleveland and the rest— and so accustomed to keep their secrets locked up fast in his breast, he has repressed his feelings so long in his efforts to be studiously diplomatic, that natural cordiality he has lost.

   Lamont is in his office less time than any member of the cabinet. He is not so much of a cabinet officer as Mr. Cleveland's confidential adviser. He never was more thoroughly the president's private secretary than he is to-day. He does the private secretary's thinking, while Mr. Thurber holds the position and attends to the routine. Thurber is the clerk and Lamont the secretary. Whenever there is a question in the president's mind as to what should be done, it is to "Dan" that he turns for advice, and "Dan" is always ready with a solution.

   Lamont is the politician of the administration, and his real title is secretary of politics and expediency. He was put into the cabinet for this purpose. This is why he refused to be postmaster-general. That office would require too much attention; he preferred the war portfolio, for in that department matters drift along easily and quietly and practically run themselves. He is a good executive officer, that he has shown and is showing, but above all he is a politician. All his life has been devoted to politics, and he was a politician as soon as it was possible for him to be one. His father's store at the cross-roads in New York state was his primary political school, and a good one it proved. At 20 years of age Lamont was sitting side by side with Tilden in that famous Rochester Democratic convention and helping the Democratic chieftain to cut the Tweed cancer out of the Democratic party.

   He carries his exclusiveness into his private life. He lives at the Arlington, but is seldom seen either in the office or the public diningroom. He takes his meals in his own rooms, and keeps by himself through most of the day. He is the one person to whom the door of the White House is never shut and whom the president is never too busy to see. He is in daily conference with Mr. Cleveland. He does not care for society, and goes out only for the sake of his wife. He reads books much but he is fondest of newspapers, and retains the ability of a journalist to read all the papers without performing the work of actually reading one.

   He uses neither tobacco nor liquor, no matter what the occasion. On one occasion he said all his people were Presbyterians, and that he was brought up in that faith. "And do you attend a Presbyterian church in town?" he was asked. "My wife does," said he, an answer that was the fruit of 20 years' training in politics. In everything except in abundant humor he is an intensely practical man, who looks upon the world as a workshop in which he has enough to do to keep him busy all his life. And in politics he is no less practical than in all things else. And he is also the exclusive man of Mr. Cleveland's second cabinet, this young secretary of war.—New York Commercial Advertiser.

Oliver Curtis Perry.

PERRY DIDN'T ESCAPE.

THE DARING TRAIN ROBBER FOILED IN ONE MORE ATTEMPT.

With the Handle of a Spoon He Dug Out of the Wall of His Cell and But for the Timely Discovery of the Officials Might Now be at Liberty.

   Oliver Curtis Perry, the desperado, was foiled in an attempt to escape from Auburn prison, Thursday, says the Bulletin.

   Perry, since his five days' confinement in the prison jail a few weeks ago for refusing to leave his cell until a stream from a hose was turned on him, has been confined in a cell in the north basement, being allowed to go to the bucket grounds each day.

   Back of the tier in which is Perry's cell is another tier in the cells of which are confined men who are working in the shops with a wall of stone between the tiers.

   To dig through this wall was the attempt Perry made and he had undoubtedly worked industriously for several days as the only instrument he had was the broken handle of a spoon.

   When Perry was taken to the bucket grounds Thursday the prison officials discovered that the mortar had been skillfully removed from a portion of the stone wall forming the back of Perry's cell and a few hours' more of labor would have allowed the daring train robber to leave his own cell and enter that of the convict back of him.

   Perry cursed his luck when he found that his plot had been discovered and vowed that he would yet beat the prison.

   Had he succeeded in removing the stone in the daytime, entrance into the other convict's cell would have been easy and, that convict being at work and his cell door unlocked, the train robber could easily have secreted himself and awaited a favorable opportunity for escape. He is now in a place from which he cannot dig his way out.

   The prison officials tried to keep the escapade a secret but it leaked out. When a Bulletin reporter called at the prison Warden Stout was very reticent and would say nothing about the affair.

THE LEHIGH STRIKE.

MANY OF THE OPERATORS JOIN THE TRAINMEN.

Passenger Trains Still Moving—Officials at Many Points Taken by Surprise by the Strike—Reading Employes May Be Called On by the Lehigh—Situation So Far in Favor of the Strikers—A General Tie-Up Threatened.

   SAYRE, Pa., Nov. 29.—The much talked of strike on the Lehigh system went into effect at 10 o'clock Saturday night. Orders have been issued by the men that no trains shall be made up or pulled out on the main track. The up trains will be discontinued here, and no more trains, either passenger or freight, will start or be allowed to go through.

What Mr. Voorhees Says.

   PHILADELPHIA, NOV. 20. — Reports received by the general grievance committee at the Bingham House indicate that the Lehigh Valley road strike is of a much graver nature than the road officials are willing to acknowledge. Vice-President Theodore Voorhees, who was seen at his home, said to a representative of the Associated Press that his information was to the effect that all trains on the road were moving. The only desertion from the ranks of the employes [sic] so far as he had learned were two telegraph operators, several firemen and one or two engineers.

   The small number of men who had quit on account of the refusal of the company to reinstate a discharged operator had not hampered the road to any considerable degree.

   When questioned as to the alleged omission of certain clauses or paragraphs in his official bulletin, posted along the line last summer, which is said to have stated the company would respect certain alleged rights of the employes, he denied the assertions in the most emphatic manner.

   "Tell Mr. Wilkins, with my compliments," he said, "that he lies when he says any such omissions have been made. To prove what I say I have documentary evidence in my office which will bear me out in my statements. We do not apprehend much [of] any trouble now on as it does not appear to be much of a strike as one might be led to believe from the manner in which the men have acted."

   When Chief Wilkins, who is chairman of the grievance committee, was informed of Vice-President Voorhees' statements, he said: "We also have documentary evidence to sustain us in our statements, and will say further that I most heartily return the compliment of Mr. Voorhees which he has transmitted to me. Never at any time have we asked the reinstatement of Mr. Hughes, the discharged operator, but when he (Voorhees) was asked to receive the committee, he exclaimed: 'Ask me to do anything in reason, but do not ask the company to back down from the stand it has taken.'"

   "He don't want the company to back down, but he does want us to do so. Well, we won't. We are in the field to stay and will win it for the men. They failed to have the promises made by the company fulfilled, and came to the grand officers as a last resort to assist them."

   Said Assistant Grand Chief Youngson, who is the personal representative of Grand Chief Arthur of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers: "And we intend to help them all we can."

Nothing but Mail Trains Moving.

   WILKES-BARRE, Pa., Nov. 20.— Since 10 o'clock Saturday night, not a single freight or coal train has passed over the Wyoming division of the Lehigh Valley road, and if the strikers are to be believed none will pass over until their grievances are adjusted. The strikers are not interfering with the running of mail trains, but they object to the company attaching passenger cars to such trains. Last evening when the Philadelphia Flyer pulled into the depot, she was not allowed to depart on her western trip until the passenger cars were detached.

Nothing Moving at Sayre.

   ELMIRA, N. Y., Nev. 20.—All the Lehigh trains that have reached Sayre since 12 o'clock Saturday night have been abandoned and the yards are now filled with cars. The crews have simply deserted their trains, and the strike includes engineers, firemen, conductors, brakemen and telegraph operators. It is a mammoth tie-up. At Sayre there has been great excitement, and 500 strikers have hung about the tracks all day.

   Two passenger trains were got through yesterday, but the strikers say they are the last that will run over the road until the trouble is settled.

   There is much perishable freight now in the yards and the other roads refuse to assist the Lehigh by helping it.

   No violence has yet been offered and all is quiet.

AN INTERESTING EPISTLE.

Wilson, the Horse Thief, Writes to Sheriff Miller.

   Sheriff Miller received a letter from Charles B. Wilson, who was sent in September to Auburn prison for one year for running off with a team of horses at Homer and selling them at McGrawville, and who was arrested last February by Sheriff Miller at Marathon. He will be remembered by many, who had occasion to pass the jail last summer, as being of a sandy complexion, red mustache, and was given considerable liberty, was allowed to sprinkle the lawn, wash the wagon, etc. His most prominent feature was a pair of gold bowed spectacles, which he always wore.

   In his letter to Sheriff Miller be sent his best regards to inquiring friends and said he was as happy as he could be in that place. He claims to have been converted at one of the Sunday afternoon meetings at the jail, said he was endeavoring to live a Christian life and when he got out he intended to be a man. He then devoted a half page to a list of articles which he wanted the sheriff to send him. He sent his regards to the sheriff and the judge, the prison was not as bad as he thought it would be, he was getting along O. K. and stated that the warden and officials were very kind men and that he was working in the mill room, polishing hammers. He thanked the sheriff for his kindness and said that he would pay him some day. He signed himself, "Your Homble Survent, Charles B. Wilson, No. 23,359, Auburn prison."

BREVITIES.

   —"A little learning is a dangerous thing," but it's a good deal more dangerous to know it all.

   —Mr. W. F. Clark is building a large bay window on the south side of his house on North Church-st.

   —There will be a meeting of the new Chautauqua circle at the residence of Rev. W. H. Pound, 8 Greenbush-st., at 7:30 to-night.

   —The Clover club issued to-day about one hundred fifty invitations to their party to be held in Wells hall Thanksgiving night.

   —The Cornell university football team was on Saturday beaten by the team of the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia by a score of 50 to 0.

   —Rev. J. J. Cowles of McGrawville addressed a large and appreciative body of young men at the Y. M. C. A. rooms yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock.

   —The mothers' meeting (north) will be held at the home of Mrs. F. Fenner, 45 Madison-ave., Wednesday, Nov. 22, at 2:30 P. M. Subject, "Character Building." All ladies are cordially invited.

   —Frank Johnson, a vagrant, applied to the jail last night for lodging. He was taken in out of the snow, given a warm cell during the night and was discharged by Justice Bull this morning.

   —The Ladies' Guild of Grace church will serve a chicken-pie supper at the residence of Mrs. S. M. Benjamin on West Court-st. on Tuesday evening of this week. Supper will be served at 6 o'clock. All are cordially invited.

   —The health commissioners of Minnesota have prohibited the exchange of lead pencils among the school children. They say that diphtheria and other diseases are often transmitted by putting the pencil in the mouth, which is a very common habit, not only with children, but adults.

   —"My boy, are you one of the Fresh Air children?" asked a lady of Cortland, N. Y., of one of the little fellows from New York who was enjoying a few days in the country at the expense of Life's blessed fund. "Well," he replied, "not so very d—d fresh."—Once a Month.

   —Will H. Powers' funny comedy, "An Irishman's Luck," with Steve Maley as Dennis McDowd, was played to a fair-sized audience at the Opera House Saturday night, and proved to be one of the funniest comedy shows ever seen here. Maley is great, the company is a good one, and the specialties are all up to date, and were encored repeatedly.

   —Since the advent of the Intermediate News at the Normal two more newspapers have sprung into existence in the intermediate department. They are known as the Intermediate Hustler and the Intermediate Echo. Each has its individual board of editors and each is complete in every department of news. The illustrations in both papers are specially worthy of mention.

   —Mr. D. C. McGraw, who suffered a shock of paralysis in Cortland early in the past week, and who was taken to his home in Binghamton on Thursday, died there last night, at the age of seventy years. The remains will be brought to Cortland on the 4:20 train Tuesday afternoon for burial in the Rural cemetery. Deceased was a brother of Messrs. M. H. and L. H. McGraw of Cortland. A delegation from Cortlandville lodge, No. 47, F. & A. M., will escort the funeral cortege from the D., L. & W. depot to the grave in Rural cemetery.