THE MYERS' BALLOT MACHINE IS REJECTED IN CORTLANDVILLE

Jacob Myers' lever-operated ballot machine.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, February 23, 1894.

The Myers' Ballot Machine.

   Mr. Myers made no effort last Tuesday to induce the voters of this town to cast ballots in favor of purchasing his machines after he discovered that the Standard was opposing the purchase. In fact he notified the members of the town board that he did not desire to and should not hold them to the contract to purchase even if the vote was in his favor. The machines were in charge of the several members of the board during the day, and after the day's work was over they voluntarily gave Mr. Myers the following certificate:

   CORTI.AND, N. Y., Feb. 20, 1894.

   Myers' Ballot Mch. Co.:

   GENTLEMEN.—The five Myers' Ballot Machines, used in our election here today, worked like a charm and placed the merits of the Myers' System high in the estimation of this board and our people generally. We polled to-day 2,107 votes in 9 3/4 hours, no voters were turned away, or disfranchised, and the machines were idle part of the time. The final result was announced from the five machines in 43 minutes. We regard this system as the coming system for all elections and when so adopted it is evident they will soon pay for themselves. They register the votes reliably and their operation is extremely simple and we trust that the time will be short when their use will be general and universal throughout the State and Nation.

Yours truly,

   R. B. SMITH, Supervisor.

   HENRY A. DICKERSON, J. P.

   EUSTACE C. PARKER, J. P.

   W. R. BIGGAR, J. P.

   DORR SMITH, J. P.

   E. E. MELLON, Town Clerk, Town Board.

Friendly Sons' Banquet.

   At a meeting of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick held in their rooms last Thursday evening it was decided to hold their annual banquet at the Cortland House March 16. The following committees were chosen to take charge of the affair:

   Decoration—M. F. Cleary, T. P. Keefe, James Walsh.

   Wines and cigars—John F. Dowd, Geo. McKean, Henry Corcoran, Hugh Corcoran.

   Program and tickets—E. S. Burrowes, Charles Corcoran, J. P. Maher, M. V. Lane.

   Reception—Hugh Duffey, E. S. Burrowes, L. J. Fitzgerald, M. F. Cleary, John Courtney, William Martin, J. T. Davern, John F. Dowd, Edward Fitzgerald, G. F. Beaudry, Edwin Duffey, N. L. Miller, W. H. Clark, B. B. Jones. J. E. Eggleston, S. K. Jones, A. P. Smith, F. J. Cheney, J. P. Maher, Chas. Corcoran, Ed. Mourin, R. T. Peck.

   Toasts—John C. Barry, Thomas H. Dowd, James Dougherty.

   Arrangements—William Grady, John Kennedy, Will Nix, B. H. McNiff, A. J. Lucy, P. H. Dowd, Frank Lanigan, M. T. Roche, Thomas Drake, John McDermott. J. H. O'Leary, Peter Nodecker, Dewitt Howard, A. J. McSweeney.

   Speakers—L. J. Fitzgerald, Rev. J. J. McLoghlin, Hugh Duffey, John Courtney, Albert Allen.

The Robin Hood Opera Co.

   A genuinely good thing is offered theatre goers at the Cortland Opera House Saturday evening March 3 when Barnabee, Karl and MacDonald's "Robin Hood" opera company will appear for one performance. The organization is such as only Barnabee, Karl and MacDonald have the artistic faith to send on the road. In this day of cheap companies, when managers in general are studying how to reduce expenses even at the expense of performances, it is gratifying to note that the most successful opera comique managers in America have the courage of their convictions and organize for the road a company comprising sixty high class artists, a superb cast of principals, a chorus of thirty-five fine voices, and a special operatic orchestra; and furnish it with elaborate special scenery and costuming. This is what Barnabee, Karl and MacDonald have done for the Robin Hood company, and they are being rewarded by overflowing houses everywhere.

   "Robin Hood" has broken all records of American opera and even made a close contest for honors with the most popular of light operas of European authorship. Eminent musical authorities declare that it will endure as long as opera comique lasts, and be classed with such imperishable works an "Carmen," "Bohemian Girl," "Martha," "Fra Diavalo," etc. This position seems to be well taken. Mr. Smith has carefully preserved the romantic flavor attaching to the amiable robbers of Sherwood Forest, has given them the brightest of character painting, and has coherently put together so many of the lively incidents connected with them that the book stands a self-established classic. Mr. DcKoven's music contains more of genuine melody, more of harmonious orchestration and more of humorous whimsicality than have been expressed in a composer's score since comic opera writing was first undertaken in America.

   Among the principals—each having been chosen with special reference to the characters to be impersonated are Jerome Sykes and James Nickolds, comedians; Edward Wentworth, Ross David and Charles Landie, tenors; Edwin Isham and Frank Bills, baritones; Ricardo Ricci and Louis Casavant, bassos; Fatimah Diard and Ethel Balch, sopranos; Mary Palmer and Agnes Stone, contraltos. The orchestra is under the direction of Prof. J. A. Robertson.

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

  

◘ The DEMOCRAT begs leave to call the Daily Standards attention to the fact that last week the town of Groton elected a Democratic supervisor for the first time in over forty years. The Standard published the results in some far away counties where the republicans had made some slight gains but entirely overlooked this great democratic victory in an adjoining town. As a purveyor of democratic news the Standard is anything but a blooming success.

  

◘ The Meyers Ballot Machine worked splendidly in this town last Tuesday and must be regarded by all who tested it as a grand success. Any intelligent man could cast his vote in less than 30 seconds and the illiterate need spend but little more time. There was no trouble in voting a mixed ticket if any desired to do so. The voter had only to press the button opposite any candidate's name and the machine did the rest. The proprietors of the Standard were as busy as bees before town meeting in endeavoring to prejudice the public against the machine, and they issued and caused to be distributed hundreds of circulars containing statements calculated to arouse grave doubts as to its merits.

   The manner in which the live machines conducted themselves while on duty in this village was conclusive proof to our citizens that their character had been wantonly and perhaps maliciously assailed. There are those who are uncharitable enough to express the opinion that the Standard's objection to the machine might possibly lay in the fact, that if they were purchased by the town, there would be no more need of ballots at town meetings and that the Standard's revenue would be considerably reduced in the following years. The DEMOCRAT trusts that no such unworthy or unpatriotic reason actuated our neighbors in their opposition.

  

◘ The people of the good city of Syracuse have been wonderfully excited for the past two or three weeks over their charter election. The Belden republicans obtained possession of the organization, it was claimed by unfair means and improper practices, and as a consequence the Hendricks' republicans made a grand kick. The former nominated Jay B. Kline for mayor and the latter nominated Jacob Amos, who has served in that capacity for the past two years. Both city factions nominated full city and wards' tickets and the fight commenced. The Kirk—Mowry democrats nominated Duncan W. Peck for mayor and full city and ward tickets. To most observers it looked as though the latter must win, but he was evidently traded for other candidates and lost the election. The vote stood when counted as follows: Amos 7,802, Peck 7,527 and Kline 4,833.

   This is the first time in the history of Syracuse politics that Belden and his barrel have been downed, and he is badly floored this time. The Belden men charge that the Hendricks people used barrels of money, while the latter say that the former bought votes right and left and paid almost any price asked. Candid observers of the fight in the several wards say that both factions used large amounts in purchasing floaters. The Belden ticket got badly left and made a very poor showing. The democrats elect Jas. H. Meagher for overseer of the poor and Jared W. Wicks for assessor.

Notice.

   We, the members of Carpenters Union No. 805 of Cortland, do hereby respectfully give notice to all contractors and builders, and to the public in general, that on and after April 1st, 1894, nine hours shall constitute a day's work for all union men of our trade, working in the jurisdiction of this union.

(381am4m)                                        BY ORDER OF COMMITTEE.

NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.

   CHENANGO— L. E. Darling is the new landlord of the Pitcher hotel.

   Some 18 car loads of machinery are on the way for Treanor's stone-sawing mill now going up on Fair street, Oxford.

   Sunday afternoon the flyer struck the wagon containing William Johnson, his wife and two children, at the Main street crossing near the station in Bainbridge. Mrs. Johnson was injured, one of the children had its foot crushed and will probably die, and the horse was killed. Mr. Johnson is a farmer, residing on the hill near the village.

   MADISON.—A session of the Pomona Grange will be held at Hamilton March 13.

   A large amount of eleven-inch ice was harvested on Cazenovia take last week.

   The claims for sheep killed in the town of Lenox for 1893 amounted to $532 while that of the year before was only about $100.

   The trial of the three Italians who robbed Matthew Miner of Brookfield, was concluded at Morrisville last week, two getting ten years each and the other fifteen years in the Auburn prison.

   A tramp stole a suit of clothes of James Purcell of Pompey Hollow, who gave him shelter on a cold night, and fled. Purcell followed him to Cazenovia and Erieville, finding his trampship near the latter place. He was made to disrobe in the open weather, in which condition he was taken before Justice Thompson and sentenced to the O. P. [Onondaga Penitentiary] for sixty days.

   TOMPKINS—Trumansburg wants a Board of Trade.

   Dryden is preparing for a village park and fountain.

   At the Gregg Iron Works, Trumansburg, orders for machinery are being filled from Russia and Germany.

   Assemblyman Stewart's bill for dredging the Inlet was reported favorably last week. The call is for $7,500. The last appropriation of $5,000 reverted to the treasury as the work was not carried out.

   Rents and prices of real estate in Ithaca are moving upward somewhat rapidly. A house on East Hill, which could be duplicated for $500, was rented a few days since, on a five years lease, for $300 per year.

   When the electric [street] cars first started, about every horse in the city was ready to run away at the sight of one. Now the animals are no more afraid of them than a bummer is of the forty-rod whisky dealt out over the bar of a saloon.

   Dryden Opera House narrowly escaped a scorching, on account of the upsetting of a kerosene lamp during the rehearsal Saturday evening, but the flames were promptly smothered with a coat which one of the actors took from his back.

HERE AND THERE.

   Charter election in McGrawville takes place March 20.

   The revival meetings have been continued through this week.

   Everybody seems to be enjoying the present good sleighing.

   A Farmer's Institute will be held at Marathon February 26 and 27.

   You can cure warts by simply rubbing ordinary white chalk over them every night at bedtime.

   Hi Henry's Minstrels in Cortland opera house Wednesday evening, February 28.

   We understand that the Cortland & Homer street railway will run their cars by electricity next summer.

   It is rumored about town that two Cortland families who attended the World's Fair are now subjects of charity.

   Four of the seven court of appeals judges have held that fishing on Sunday, even on private grounds, is a misdemeanor.

   Messrs. Hyatt & Tooke have taken a group photograph of the Normal school faculty. They are on sale at the gallery.

   Mr. R. F. Randall of this place has purchased the stock of liquors, wines, &c, in the store heretofore occupied by E. Dodge in Homer.

   A dispatch from Washington yesterday announced that Benton B. Jones, publisher of the DEMOCRAT, had been appointed postmaster at Cortland.

   Mr. John L. McKee for several years past superintendent of the Cortland Foundry and Machine company has resigned and Mr. H. C. Fairbanks of Homer, takes his place.

   Mr. Samuel Parsons, whose Directory of Cortland county has given so great satisfaction in the past, will renew its publication early the coming spring. The canvass will be made commencing April 1st, to assure accuracy to date of tissue.

   Some wag of an editor says that under the new unwritten game law, book agents may be killed from August 1st to October 1st; spring poets from March 1st to July 1st; scandal mongers from January 1st to December 31st, inclusive; umbrella borrowers February 1st to May 1st. Season open all the year on life insurance agents, picture peddlers and match venders.