"LITTLE CORTLAND" HEARD FROM

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, March 6, 1891.

"LITTLE CORTLAND" HEARD FROM.

(From the Syracuse Courier, Feb. 28, 1891.)

   Hon. Rufus T. Peck, member of Assembly from Cortland County, being asked by an Evening Herald correspondent at Albany whether he would consent to be a candidate for the Senate to succeed Mr. Hendricks, replied:

   "I will say this, that Cortland County intends to put in a claim for that nomination, and it expects to have its claim honored. If Onondaga County ever intends to do justice to my county now is a good time for it to do so."

   Mr. Peck thus serves due notice that "Little Cortland" (as the late C. T. Longstreet sneeringly christened our southern neighbor in the McCarthy-Duell fight of 1870) proposes at last to assert its rights. She will claim the Republican nomination for Senate. For thirty years Cortland has been an annex of Onondaga in the composition of this Senatorial and Congressional district. For these thirty years Cortland has not once been honored with a seat in the Senate and has been accorded but two terms in Congress. The celebrated five days' Congressional convention of 1862— the sharp quadrangular fight between R. Holland Duell of Cortland, Charles B. Sedgwick, E. W. Levenworth and Thomas T. Davis of Onondaga—was the first gathering of representatives of the then new District. After much wrangling, the convention finally adopted a plan of representation proposed by Parley Cole of Cortland. It was in the nature of a solemn compact, by the terms of which Cortland was to have two Congressional terms out of every five. There have been fifteen Congressional terms since then, and Cortland's share has been but two of the whole lot. And even then the Cortland candidate, the late Hon. R. H. Duell, had to encounter the vigorous opposition candidacy first of the late Dennis McCarthy, then of Frank Hiscock. That's the way the Onondaga Republicans have kept their compact with the Republicans of Cortland.

   In the matter of the Senatorship, where the compact was rather implied than expressed, the Republican newspapers of this County have treated their Cortland brethren even more shabbily. Cortland has never in all this time, as we have stated, had the Senatorship and yet, kicked and cuffed about as they have been, the Cortland Republicans have every time walked up to the polls and voted the straight ticket. Had they once in a while "kicked the traces," the party managers would have held them in far greater respect, and Cortland would have extorted from them a proper recognition, however, grudgingly given.

   It is the party kicker that gets the persimmon, as witness Frank Hiscock, the "bridge burner" of 1872. Cortland is altogether too loyal to the Republican party to get anything. The faithful spaniel will follow your heels the more closely, the more vigorously you cuff his ears. "Little Cortland" is Onondaga's spaniel. Brother Peck's formal notice that his County will "put in a claim" for the Senatorial nomination won't frighten the Republican bosses in the least. Little Cortland will not be "in it"—not at all.

PAGE FOUR/EDITORIALS.

   The citizens' ticket headed by H. A. St. John for mayor, was elected in Ithaca last Tuesday.

   Both houses of Congress adjourned sine die at 12 M., Wednesday. The people of the United States are to be congratulated.

   Mr. Blaine's endeavor to marry Reciprocity and Protection is poor match-making. The newly wedded couple will be divorced in three months on account of incompatibility of temperament.—Boston Globe.

   The fact that the Cortland Standard finds it necessary to apologise for candidate Harry Swan, is certainly suggestive. If his candidacy was in all respects proper, the need of an apology would not have presented itself. The first time we believe that he came into prominence before the public, was as one of Hon. R. T. Peck's workers last fall.

   While Mr. Howard, the Republican candidate for trustee in the third ward is a good citizen, the question of electing a man to that office, who is in the business of furnishing supplies required by the village, has been questioned. Mr. Howard has in past years furnished a good many flagging stone for village walks, and we believe the goods furnished and the price paid has been satisfactory to the board.

   The Democrats, in their convention on Wednesday evening, after failing to find a candidate for the office of President of the village, endorsed the nomination of Mr. Walrad, the Republican candidate. Many Democrats were dissatisfied and the result was that Mr. Palmer was induced to stand as a candidate and he is now in the field. By using paster ballots with his name on, Democrats can have the privilege of voting a straight Democratic ticket. No nomination was made for village Treasurer or for School Commissioners.

   A petition was put in circulation on Wednesday by several prominent citizens of this place, asking Irving H. Palmer, Esq , to take a citizens' nomination for the office of President of this village, and fifty names of reputable citizens, the number required by law, were soon attached to the petition which was filed in the office of the village clerk the same day. This action will insure the printing of an official ballot with Mr. Palmer's name for President. Of course the rest of the ballot will be blank so far as the names of the other candidates are concerned. Paster ballots will be provided by Mr. Palmer's friends, with his name—and the names of the candidates for the other offices on the Democratic ticket which can be pasted on any other ballot, and the same will count in preference to the names on the official ballot. Mr. Palmer has held the office of President of the village for two terms and all agree that the village never had a better officer. He is always ready to lay aside his personal affairs to transact the business of the public, and no interest of the taxpayer ever suffers through inattention on his part. The village is sadly in need of energetic and thorough officers and we need not repeat, what everybody already knows to be a fact, that Mr. Palmer possesses in an eminent degree, every element of intelligence, energy and firmness necessary to discharge the duties of the office to the satisfaction of all. With Mr. Palmer in the President's chair and two such excellent trustees as Messrs. Thompson and Van Hoesen would make, the village would be properly and correctly officered.

   By noon Wednesday the Republican Congress had managed to drain the U. S. Treasury of every penny and of course they were ready to adjourn, even if their time had not expired by limitation of law.

   It has been suggested that Mr. Walrad, the Republican candidate for president, owns considerable real estate on some of the streets in the outskirts of the village, that have not as yet been graded. It is quite probable that the Board of Trustees might be persuaded to spend the money appropriated for street purposes on these byways, to the exclusion of more prominent thoroughfares. It has also been suggested that he owns stock in the street railroad and that he might not be able to prevent any intended encroachments of that company on Main-st. Mr. Walrad is a good citizen but it is not every good citizen that makes a first-class president.

   For trustee in the first ward the Democrats have nominated C. Fred Thompson, the well known and deservedly popular Railroad-st. grocer. Mr. Thompson is a successful business man, and the same qualifications he exhibits in conducting his own business will be brought into play in looking after the affairs of the village, should he be elected. In selecting public officers, a pretty safe rule to adopt is, to choose men who are successful in their own business, for if a man can't conduct his own affairs to a successful issue, he is pretty sure to be negligent in looking after the affairs of the people. Mr. Thompson possesses excellent judgment and will make one of the best officials the village has ever had. From present appearances his election is probable.

   Mr. Harry Swan, the Republican candidate for trustee in the first ward is a comparative stranger in town and very little is known about him. If we have been correctly informed he came to town some four years ago from St. Louis, and voters who have some interest in the town, may well be pardoned for hesitating about placing their interests in his charge for the next two years, even though he be a republican. Would it not be as well to elect some one who owns property in the village and whose interests are identical with those of the taxpayers? Mr. Swan may be a very excellent young man, but we submit that his line of business has not been such as to qualify him for the duties of the office of trustee. It would be poor policy to spoil a good wire-drawer to make an indifferent trustee.

   David W. Van Hoesen, the Democratic candidate for trustee of the third ward, is a lawyer, well known to the people of this village as one of the brightest young men of the Cortland bar. He is the junior member of the firm of Kellogg & Van Hoesen, and is a deservedly popular citizen. He possesses all of the characteristics of a first class business man, and has plenty of energy and will take the time to look after the interests of the village. It is well known that since the adoption of the new charter, many legal questions are constantly arising over the construction of the same, and it would be a great saving to the village to have at least one lawyer on the board. If elected Mr. Van Hoesen will take pains to discharge his duties faithfully and well, and as he possesses the requisite intelligence to an unusual degree there ought to be no question about his election.

   It has been reported that certain candidates nominated for the offices of trustee are members of the Cortland Board of Trade and that as such, they are in favor of a village ordinance refusing to allow farmers to sell their produce from house to house in this village. We think there has been considerable misunderstanding in regard to this question. As we understand the matter, and we think we do understand it perfectly, the Board of Trade have no objection to farmers coming into town to sell any and all of their produce in any way they please. In fact they invite them to do so. What they do object to is this: It has been a practice for years with the fruit growers of the lake counties to bring their peaches, apples, pears, grapes and berries here and sell them from house to house and then offer what they have left to the dealers here, after they have glutted the market. These "hucksters" spend no money here, but simply ruin the market for dealers who pay rent and taxes. Certainly the Board of Trade are not very unreasonable in their demand.

A Bride at Fourteen.

   SCHUYLERVILLE, March 4.—Melvin Welch, aged about twenty-two, and Grace Pratt, fourteen years of age, left Schuylerville together and drove over toward Middle Falls in Washington county. On the way they stopped at the house of the Rev. Mr. Cockerine and were married by him. Then they drove on to Greenwich and from there back to Schuylerville, where they arrived about midnight. The groom was at once arrested and the bride was taken home by her parents.

The Alhambra was located at 275 James Street in Syracuse. It was originally used as a roller skating rink. It was destroyed by fire in 1899.

HERE AND THERE.

   March commences anything but lamb-like.

   The spring term of Marathon Academy will open March 16th.

   The Fisher Manufacturing Company, of Homer, are enlarging their works.

   The American and National express companies opened their new office on Railroad street, Monday.

   Gov. Hill vetoed Peck's bill in relation to a highway in Virgil on the ground that it was special legislation.

   The addition to the Homer avenue M. E. church is nearly completed and gives the entire structure a fine appearance.

   Cortland county receives from the State for school purposes, this year, $26,552.50, which is $2,819.22 more than last year.

   The annual banquet of the Recreative Reading Circle will be held at the residence of Mr. H. C. Beebe, Clinton avenue, this evening,

   The Sons of St. Patrick will hold a grand banquet at the Cortland House, on the evening of March 16th, in honor of the patron saint.

   Messrs. Bentley & Mack, of Marathon, have purchased the store of Myron Glover, in Texas Valley, and will run the same as a branch of their business in the former place.

   A Mr. John Daly is about locating in Marathon, where he will start a leather board manufactory. He promises to furnish employment for a large number of ladies.

   Thos. White, the veteran hotel keeper of Homer, has leased the stores occupied by Green & Bliss and R. J. McElheny in the Burdick block in that place, and is fitting the same for an hotel.

   The patrons of the Carson cheese factory in Lapeer, have elected the following officers for the ensuing year: Sec'y, Oliver Jennison; Treas., Charles Smith; salesmen, Smith Jennison, Charles Smith, Reed Alvord.

   James E. Briggs, of this place, has secured letters patent on a show-rack for windows, and Charles Mee, also of this place, has obtained a patent on a lounge. William L. Pike, of Groton, has secured a patent on a road cart.

   At the people's caucus held in Homer, Monday evening, the following ticket was nominated: For president, John J. Murray; for trustees, Charles A. Ford and Edward J. Bockes; for clerk, W. H. Foster; for treasurer, Charles S. Pomeroy, and for collector, Cyrus B. Coggeshall.

   The six mail carriers handled the following mail matter during the month of February. Collected.—Local letters, 1,219; mail letters, 27,781; local postal cards, 1,023; mail cards, 4,605; papers and packages, 6,497; delivered—registered letters, 130; ordinary letters, 57,769; postal cards, 13,701; papers and packages, 44,584; total, 157,282.

   Rossini's "Stabat Mater" will be the attraction on Wednesday evening and "Handel's Messiah" on Friday at the music festival to be held in the Alhambra, Syracuse, March 10-13. Tickets will be 25c, 50c, 75c, and $l . Extra trains are announced to run on all railroads after the evening entertainments, and south on the D. L. & W., if a sufficient number to pay the railroad company for such service make application.

   Last Monday a lad of nineteen summers, named Daniel Thompson, commonly called "snowball,' among the boys, refused to obey his mother, Mrs. Delacy Thompson, and she, to impress upon her refractory son the fact that he was still under his mothers control and guidance, smote Daniel with an egg beater. As a further revolt at paternal government, Daniel immediately retaliated by smiting his mother with his fist. A warrant for assault in the third degree, trial before Police Justice Bull, Tuesday morning, and sentence to the Onondaga county penitentiary for a period of 60 days, followed. This youth was given a just reprimand by the Justice on the impropriety of beating his mother.

   Charter election next Tuesday.

   Teachers' examinations were held Tuesday in the Normal building by School Commissioner Stillman, assisted by Miss Hunt. The number applying for examinations was seventy.

   Owing to the fact that we have been putting a new engine and boiler into our press rooms this week, the DEMOCRAT is a little late in making its appearance. We hope to have everything in good running order, however, next week.

   Mr. S. M. Ballard, who was nominated on the Republican ticket for one of the School Commissioners of Union Free School District No. 1, declined to be a candidate, and the committee have selected Henry A. Dickinson to fill the vacancy.

   Preparations for sugar making begun in some of the Cortland county orchards last week were cut short by the cold wave which ushered in the present month. However, the sap did flow quite freely, last Saturday, and those who have tapped will be in the early market.

   Last Friday the committee appointed by the State Association of School Commissioners and Superintendents met with Commissioner L. F. Stillman in the parlors of the Cortland House, for the purpose of revising the plan of graded studies introduced in the district schools of Cortland county about three years since, and as now adopted by fully one-half of the districts of the State.

AUCTIONS.

   Commencing at 10 A. M., March 18th, Mr. James T. Whipple will sell at public auction at McLean village, two horses, one lumber wagon, one open buggy, double harness, nearly new, single harness, and other farm implements, together with a quantity of hay, straw and seed potatoes, and sugar utensils. A credit of nine months on approved notes for amounts over five dollars

   On Thursday, March 12th, at 11 o'clock, A. M., Mrs. Julia Stevens will sell on the Galbraith farm 3 1/2 miles northeast of Homer, 12 choice dairy cows, one fine pair of 8 year-old horses, sound and kind, one 6 year-old gelding, 7 sheep, sow with pig, lumber wagon, bobs, horse rake, dog power and churn dog, churn, double harness, plow, horse hoe, cultivator, Buckeye mower, 3 turkeys, 40 hens, 1 cook stove, milk pans, potatoes, hay &c. Nine months credit on sums of $10.00 and over, under that amount cash down. Geo. I. Crane, auctioneer.