IT TAKES A MUCH SMARTER MAN THAN JONES

William H. Clark.

Judge S. S. Knox, Democratic candidate for Assembly.

Benton B. Jones

Assemblyman Rufus Peck

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, October 31, 1890.

PAGE FOUR/EDITORIALS.

   The editor of the Cortland Standard in a recent issue is pleased to remark:

"It takes a much smarter man than Jones to play the liar and slanderer for even a brief length of time successfully." The DEMOCRAT begs leave to remind the editor of the Standard, that in this peculiar line of smartness, Jones has always been free to admit that he was no match for the editor of the Standard. If long experience in any calling counts for anything, our neighbor certainly ought to be considered an expert, and Jones has studiously refrained from entering a field already so completely occupied, and for success in which he is totally unfitted both by inclination and education.

   [At the time of this exchange, William H. Clark, a Republican, was editor and publisher of the Cortland Standard and Benton B. Jones, a Democrat, was editor and publisher of the Cortland Democrat—CC editor.]

  Secretary of the Interior Noble has refused the request of Mayor Grant of New York for a fair count of the population of that city. The second enumeration of the people of that city taken by the police force, shows that there are 200,000 more inhabitants in the city than Superintendent Porter's employes [sic] reported. The reason why New York is refused a fair count is obvious. She would be entitled to one or two more Congressmen and Senators and several additional Members of Assembly if a fair and honest, enumeration was made and as New York is a Democratic city the Democratic party would be likely to profit by it. A new count would show that New York has been cheated and this is what Secretary Noble is anxious should not be known.

   The new tariff law increases the tax on cotton collars and cuffs by fifteen cents a dozen, and on linen collars and cuffs by thirty cents a dozen. Are the wages of those employed in that industry to be increased by that amount? Are the prices of collars and cuffs to be reduced? Who is to get any benefit from the increased tax?— Albany Argus.

   The local politicians of the Republican persuasion in this village are said to be already canvassing the subject of doing something for Homer next year. A Sheriff, County Clerk, District Attorney, Member of Assembly, Superintendent of the Poor, Justice of Sessions and a Coroner, will be elected in 1891. It would be a little singular if Homer should fail to present a candidate for one or more of these fat offices. Some of the Cortland boys are said to be in favor of giving our sister town the candidate for Justice of Sessions or Coroner, while others think Homer ought to be satisfied with the resolutions as she had to be this year. It is undoubtedly true that Mr. Peck has promised the Assembly nomination to the chairman of the County Committee who resides in that place, but it must be remembered that he promised the same nomination to Mr. Tripp of Marathon, this year, if he would support him two years ago.

   Should Judge Knox be elected to the Assembly, a bill, properly drawn, will undoubtedly be passed by the legislature, making an appropriation for the building of an Armory in this place, and there is no doubt but that the same would be signed by the Governor. The bill should and must be drawn with tact and skill, so as to avoid the Governor's objections and there will be little if any trouble in securing the object sought. Peck's bombastic manners are annoying to men of sense and consequently he has no influence with the able men in the House or with the Governor. The latter is careful of the people's rights and is opposed to spending the people's money unnecessarily, but when he is convinced that the object is a proper one he does not hesitate to do his duty. Peck will never be able to get an Armory for Cortland, but Judge Knox could secure that much needed building without serious difficulty. It would save a large amount of expense to the tax payers of Cortland county.

   Reports from the towns of Solon and Taylor convey the information that "The Queen's Own" has been assuring the taxpayers of those towns that if he is elected to the Assembly he will have a law passed to relieve them from the payment of their town bonds, issued to aid the building of the Cortland, Chenango & Utica Railroad. When he offers such assurances, he is simply trying to deceive the people living in those bonded towns, and adding insult to injury. Such a law could not be passed for the reason that it would be unconstitutional in that it would impair the validity of a contract. Peck ought to know this and if he does not, he is unfit to represent a school district in the legislature. He is either trying to deceive the farmers or he is incompetent. If Peck meant what he said, he could have proved his sincerity by offering up for cancellation the large amount of Solon and Taylor bonds he now holds. That he did not do and that he does not propose to do. But for him, Solon would never have been bonded. Why not deliver up and cancel his bonds? Did they cost him anything beyond his efforts to bond the town of Solon? If they did, then the people of Solon are entirely mistaken. When Peck is trying to hoodwink and deceive these people, he should explain how it happens that a large number of the signatures to the bonding petitions now on file in the Cortland County Clerk's office are in his own handwriting. Surely the taxpayers of the towns of Solon and Taylor will exhibit a very forgiving spirit when they again vote for Rufus T. Peck.

   There is a duty of 35 per cent on wooden coffins and there is also a duty of 45 per cent on metallic burial cases. Verily the tariff tax follows a man to his grave!—Kingston Leader.

   New Mexico has a greater population than Idaho and Wyoming combined. And yet Idaho and Wyoming are states and New Mexico remains a territory, simply because New Mexico is Democratic.—Kingston Leader.

   Under the caption of "Chestnuts" the Standard charges the DEMOCRAT with "warming over its old chestnut charges against Hon. R. T. Peck," and then proceeds to copy an interview with that distinguished gentleman that occurred two years ago. Who said anything about chestnuts?

   Mr. Crofoot wants the office of School Commissioner for the salary that is attached to the office. He is well off now in this world's goods and does not need the salary. Mr. Coon is a young man who has had to struggle to obtain his education and is devoted to his profession. Why not assist the schools as well as a worthy and deserving young man by giving him a vote. There is no politics in the office.

   The Cortland Standard itself feels called upon to administer a slight rebuke to candidate Peck, because of the sort of campaign he is waging. Fearing that if Mr. Peck is elected he may not be able to take the office, the Standard publishes the "Corrupt Practices Act," and in a note calling attention to the fact says "the provision requiring a sworn statement of all election expenses to be filed in the County Clerk's office within ten days after election day is a new feature which ought to be specially borne in mind." The caution to its candidate is opportune and should be heeded.

   The Standard says "Taxpayer," "Inquirer," &c, find fault with Peck because he did not sell his house in Canada, and take a hand in when Sumpter was fired upon. If Peck told the truth about his age to the soldiers at Wells' Hall, he must have been an infant when Sumpter was fired upon, and we all know that it is difficult for infants to convey real estate. Poor fellow! How he must have suffered and pined away "an exile in a strange land," too young to sell his real estate and not old enough to go to war. Some of the New York "boodlers" gave as a reason for going to Canada, "press of business engagements," but we believe none of them plead infancy.

   On Wednesday evening, December 11, 1889, at a camp fire of veterans held in Wells' Hall, Cortland, Rufus T. Peck among others was called upon for a speech and responded with alacrity. During his remarks he said that ''the one great regret of his life was that he was not one of them, but that he would have been had he been old enough." This statement as to time and place ought to be plain enough. Now did he say those words? There was a large number of veterans present and if any one doubts that Peck used the words charged let him ask any one of the many veterans residing in this place who were present. According to his own statement Peck was born December 24, 1836, and in April 1861, the date of the commencement of the war, Peck was over 24 years of age. If he had possessed the least desire to enlist to fight the battles of his country, there was absolutely nothing to prevent his doing so, except a lack of disposition and a want of courage. There was absolutely no law which would prevent him from coming back from Canada and marching to the front.

   The office of County Treasurer is one of great responsibility, and should be filled by an honest, capable man. Such a man is Randolph R. Maybury of Marathon, who was nominated by the Democrats for that office. He is an excellent business man, and is highly esteemed by all who know him. The good people of Marathon, with whom he has come in contact for many years, both in a business way and socially, speak of him in every way as a most honorable citizen. He would do credit to the office and should receive a rousing vote. Be sure that the name of this tried and true Democrat is on your ballot.

   Of course Clark is in favor of the election of Rufus T. Peck for the reason that the latter managed to slide an amendment to the code through the legislature last winter, allowing school trustees to become contractors and to furnish supplies for schools. This amendment throws open the doors for corruption and fraud to stalk in and rob the state, county and town. An honest trustee would not like to have the barriers thrown down that corruption might prevail. A trustee that asks to have every facility provided to make peculation  and fraud easy, is pretty sure to intend a raid on the peoples treasury box. It is as if the professional burglars should ask to have the laws against burglary and larceny repealed. What would be their object in making the request? Simply to legalize the nefarious business. Does any one suppose for an instant that they would ask to have the law repealed unless they intended to take advantage of the repeal? So when the trustee of a school asks to have the law that prohibits him from taking contracts or furnishing supplies for schools repealed, he intends to take contracts and furnish supplies. He is one of the auditing committee and sits in judgment on his own bills. Can any one doubt what the result will be? Peck who aided and abetted the scheme is no better than the originator of it.