A MONSTER LABOR DEMONSTRATION

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, September 2, 1887.

A Monster Labor Demonstration.

   The third annual picnic of the Trades and Labor Assembly of Syracuse and vicinity, on Monday Sept. 5, Labor holiday, will undoubtedly eclipse anything in the line of labor demonstrations ever seen in the interior of the State. The grand parade will take place at about 10 o'clock in the morning in the city, and the line will be composed of all the legitimate organized labor unions and assemblies in the city and vicinity. It is estimated that about 3,000 persons will be in line. The picnic will be held at Pleasant Beach, Onondaga Lake. Reduced rates on the D. L. & W. R. R., will enable those in Cortland and Homer, wishing to participate in the day’s festivities to avail themselves of this chance. Small bills will be distributed giving time tables and rates of fare.

[Page Two/Editorials.]

   The result of the republican caucus held in this place last week proved beyond a doubt, that to be successful the opposition of the Standard is an absolute necessity.

   The next State Firemen's Convention will be held in Cortland. This is a brilliant victory for State Treasurer Fitzgerald, for he labored zealously to secure the convention for 1888 to be held in his own town. Mr. Fitzgerald is something of a fireman himself, and he knows all Cortland will turn out and give the fire laddies a most royal reception.—Albany Argus.

   By the Herald correspondence and the Cortland county papers I see that the county is making its usual bluff for "recognition." There are a good many politicians to the square inch in Cortland, but they generally run against Onondaga. Of course, it is not much for the southern county to ask for either the Congressional or Senatorial nomination, but just now it looks extremely improbable that they will get either.—Syracuse Herald.

   The fact has recently leaked out, that the republicans intend to hold their judicial nominating convention in this district, at a very late day in the campaign, for the reason that there are several weak candidates in the field. Their idea seems to be that if one of these weak candidates is successful, the holding of the convention only a few days before the election, will prevent the weakness of their candidate from being made known to the people. The very best man in the district should be nominated for the important office of Judge of the Supreme Court, and voters should take especial pains to see that the candidate voted for is both able and honest. There should be no trickery practiced in respect to this important office. It is of interest to everybody to have an able and an honest judiciary.

   The first caucus under Editor Clark's revised rules and regulations was held in this village last week. The caucus was called to choose delegates to a convention which is to elect a delegate to the Judiciary Convention not yet called. As is pretty well known, Ex-[County] Judge A. P. Smith and M. M. Waters of this place, are candidates for the nomination for Judge of the Supreme Court, and both were anxious to secure the delegate from this county. Editor Clark published a long editorial a few weeks since taking strong grounds in favor of Mr. Waters, who is an able lawyer and would make a good candidate. Fortunately, as the sequel will show, Judge Smith had no organ to back him but went into the fight on his own hook. As the day for the caucus drew near, it became manifest to all that Mr. Waters and his abilities were lost sight of, and that the fight was to be a rough and tumble go-as-you please match between Smith and Clark. The result proved that such was the case. Judge Smith's delegates received 412 votes and Clark's 58. Voters had to be registered according to Clark's new version or else they were obliged to say they voted for Blaine in 1884 or Davenport in 1885. Some, who were undoubted republicans, but who had voted for Cleveland in 1884 or Hill in 1885, refused to be [sic] about it and they were not allowed to vote. Democrats were excluded in every instance. The result indicates pretty plainly that Mr. Waters was unfortunate in having the support of the editor of the Standard, and it also shows pretty plainly, that if any democrats have voted in republican caucuses heretofore, they must have voted in Clark's interest or else his following in the republican party in this town is mighty small. Of course the result in this town does not decide the question, as there are several towns yet to hear from. The towns yet to hear from may change the aspect of affairs provided Editor Clark has not interfered.

   The Prohibitionist State Convention held at Syracuse last week, adjourned on Friday. The following is the ticket nominated:

   Secretary of State—D. W. C. Huntington, of Cattaraugus.

   Comptroller—Caleb B. Hitchcock, of Cortland.

   Attorney- General—Silas W. Mason, of Chautauqua.

   Treasurer—W. W. Smith, of Dutchess.

   State Engineer—J. P. Grey, of Ulster.

Hancock and the Execution of Mrs. Surratt.

(Mrs. Hancock’s Book of Reminiscences.)

   When Lincoln was shot, Gen. Hancock being military commander of the district proceeded at once to Washington and took measures for the discovery of the murderer. His widow calls attention to two points in this connection on which she says he has been seriously misrepresented.

   "The proclamation that was issued about that time, calling upon the negroes to arm and assist in hunting down the President's assassin, was really written by Attorney-General Holt and Mr. Stanton, and only published formally over the commanding officer's signature. [This] proclamation Montgomery Blair maliciously endeavored to use as an argument against Gen. Hancock's nomination [President] in 1869. The attempt to make Gen. Hancock in any way responsible for the trial and execution of Mrs. Surratt is as unfair a charge as any man has ever been called upon to meet, and he never cared to discuss it, so obvious to all intelligent and fair-minded people did he consider its injustice.

   "The troops, 100,000 men, were under his entire control, including those that guarded the prisoners. All orders came to him from the Secretary of War, and through him to Gen. Hartranft, who was the governor of the military prison, and who had immediate charge of the prisoners, and gave the verbal order for the execution.

   "Gen. Hancock never understood why he should be held responsible for that unhappy execution, as cruel a spectacle as ever stained the escutcheon of a nation. President Johnson was wholly responsible for it. Not once, but many times, did my husband urge upon the President unanswerable reasons for granting a pardon. He would reply that he could not. The execution was demanded by many prominent men of his party, and a portion of his cabinet was as uncompromising as the others.

   "The question has many times been asked, Why did Gen. Hancock consider it necessary to be present at the execution? For the important reason that Miss Surratt had gone to the President at the last moment, by his advice, to plead for a pardon for her mother, and it was hoped up to the last moment that a reprieve would come. This fact necessitated his presence at the arsenal to receive it from his couriers, stationed at intervals along the route from the White House to the arsenal, in order that if the President relented and granted a reprieve, not a moment would be lost in reaching him."

The Farmers Picnic.

   Last Tuesday was a gala day for the farmers of Cortland county. Long before noon the spacious grounds of the Floral Trout Park [located near South Franklin Street. See 1876 map link below—CC editor] in this place, were filled with farmers accompanied by their wives, daughters, sons as well at their ''cousins and their aunts,'' who had come to enjoy the farmers picnic. Huge baskets of good things were unloaded, and while the men were engaged in discussing various questions of interest to themselves, the women folk were busily engaged in preparing the feast that was to follow. After dinner the HON. D. H. Thing, of Maine, was introduced, and spoke for nearly an hour and a half. His remarks were well received and seemed to please all who heard him. Miss Wheaton, of Binghamton, was then introduced and gave an excellent recitation, the subject being especially suitable to the occasion. Miss Wheaton possesses an excellent voice, and is a very fine elocutionist. Very few professionals could have equaled her performance upon this occasion.

   A sharp rain storm set in and the hall upon the grounds was soon filled with people. The weight proved too great for the sleepers [support beams—CC editor] and the floor on one side of the building broke down with a crash. Fortunately no one was injured, but two or three of the ladies present fainted.

   After the shower Lieut. Gov. Jones, of Binghamton, was introduced. Mr. Jones is a fluent speaker, and he succeeded in putting himself on good terms with his audience in a half hour's talk. He seemed to be entirely familiar with the needs of the farmer and his remarks were listened to with marked attention. His ideas on taxation seemed to find especial favor with his hearers and his advice to them on voting was equally well received. An impromptu reception was held after the speech and an immense number of those present were presented to Gov. Jones.

   It is said that over 3,500 people passed through the gates of the park on Tuesday. The young people had a dance in the hall after the elders had departed. This was by far the largest gathering of farmers that has taken place in the county in years and it was voted a decided success. Gov. Jones took the evening train for Syracuse on his way to Geneva, where he spoke the following day.

Old First National Bank at 36 Main Street was located next to Fireman's Hall. Tompkins County Trust Co. now occupies the block.

HERE AND THERE.

   Next Monday is labor day, a legal holiday.

   The frame of the Cortland Omnibus Company's new building is nearly completed.

   The Homer & Cortland Street Railway Company has declared a dividend of 3 percent.

   The annual parade and review of Cortland Fire Department will occur Wednesday, Sept. 7th, 1887.

   Robert Nixon, of this place, has taken out letters patent on a machine for the manufacture of rakes.

   At least 150 people from this place took in the excursion to Pleasant Beach, under the auspices of the Homer Band, last Saturday.

   The season at the Opera House will open September 12th, with Murray & Murphey in "Our Irish Visitors,'' under the management of J. M. Hill.

   It is rumored that parties from Scranton, Pa., have bought the overall building on North Main street, and that they will soon start a corset factory [Cortland Corset Company--CC editor.]

   Rev. W. W. Hunt will deliver the address at the Odd Fellows' picnic, to be held at Floral Trout Park, in this place, on Saturday, Sept. 3d, at 2 o'clock.

   Burglars attempted to enter the residences of A. H. Bennett and W. F. Hitchcock, on Clinton street, Homer, last Tuesday night. They were frightened away by the ringing of the burglar alarms attached to the windows.

   Justice Squires held Jay Wood, of Norwich, in $500 bail for his appearance before the grand jury on the charge of robbing the boy, R. D. Brinsmade, of Ithaca, of $8 in money. His examination was held on Monday last. Bail has not been secured.

   The work of tearing down The First National Bank building was commenced on Monday, and finished yesterday. A handsome new building will be erected on the site. The bank is occupying quarters in S. K. Welch's store until the new building is ready for occupancy.

   Last Tuesday, Mrs. Patrick Littleton, who resides near the fair grounds, north of this village, had occasion to come down town and left her little seventeen months old daughter, Katie, in charge of a sister who was visiting her. The sister had occasion to go to the upper part of the house for a few minutes, and left the child in the kitchen. When she returned the child was missing. A tub of water, covered with a board, stood near the back door, and the child was found in the tub. Although there were signs of life when the child was taken out, she could not be resuscitated.

   A brutal and disgraceful affair happened a mile or so west of this village, in the town of Cuyler, on Friday afternoon last. Ralph Burt and wife, of Quaker Basin, while returning from Truxton, quarreled over some money matters until he, unable to persuade her to give up the funds, knocked her from the wagon and jumping out kicked her severely in the side. She finally eluded him and ran up the hill toward Ethan Coon's, while he, seeing Cyrus Burdick and one or two others coming across the fields, attracted by her cries, drove hurriedly away. The unfortunate woman was taken to Thos. Davidson’s and Dr. Truman called. One eye was closed, and for some days severe internal injuries were feared. It is not the first nor the second time her worthless husband has pounded her, yet no notice has been paid to it. We are assured that there are two sides to this matter; there is no side to it, however, that can justify such an assault.—DeRuyter Gleaner.

The Irishman Too Much For Him.

   At a certain debating society an English doctor recently argued that the Irish were naturally a depraved and dishonest race and in support of his position he adduced his own experience. He remarked that he had at Manchester 800 Irish patients on his  books, and out of this number only 30 paid  him his fees. 
   An Irishman arose when the doctor sat down, and said: "Sor, there is never an effect without a cause; there is never a phenomenon which does not admit of an explanation. How, sor, can we explain the extraordinary phenomenon to which the doctor has called our attention? He finds an explanation in the natural depravity of the Irish nature. I, sor, have another explanation to offer, and it is this: That the thirty patients who paid him were the only ones that recovered."

1876 map showing location of Floral Trout Ponds and Hall (click or touch map to enlarge or move): http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/14995/Cortland/