THE TOWN TICKETS

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, February 17, 1894.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

The Town Tickets.

   Friday's issue of the Cortland Democrat is decidedly amusing. Its editorial column is devoted almost exclusively to making faces at the Republican nominees for town offices, throwing taffy in larger or smaller chunks to the Democratic nominees, and trying to stir up jealousies and resentments and make sore heads in the Republican ranks. There is not a nominee on the Republican ticket—and the Democrat knows it—who is not worthy of the support of every Republican voter. They were all fairly nominated and there is no reason why every one of them should not receive more than the usual party vote. Neither the McGrawville people nor the Grand Army men nor the "other fellows who are out of the cold" propose to kick as the Democrat advises them to. There never has been a time when voting the straight Republican ticket was more in order than just at present.

   The suggestion made by the Democrat that the Republican candidate for supervisor, Mr. R. Bruce Smith, should be retired on account of his years and experience in favor of his youthful and inexperienced Democratic opponent is perhaps the most amusing of all. The spectacle of Mr. Jayne, whom the Democrat endorses as fitted "for war," making a reconnaissance in force or a cavalry charge upon the supervisors from the fourteen other towns, and dragooning them into doing justice to Cortlandville, would certainly be an inspiring one—if it ever could have any existence in fact. Even a charge on the overwhelming Republican majority of the board by Mr. Jayne in full Democratic uniform would possess a lively interest. But we fear that in either case Mr. Jayne's condition after the assault would remind one of President Cleveland's predicament following his attempt at bulldozing President Dole into putting the savage Queen Lil back on the throne from which she had been driven.

   Mr. Smith's "counsel," candor, fairness and courtesy have done much more towards securing recognition for the rights of Cortlandville from the board of supervisors than could have been accomplished by any young man, armed and mounted, with a feather in his cap and fire in his eye. The Democrat had better go and hunt up some stronger and more sensible argument against Mr. Smith—if it can find any. But we suppose it had to say something.

  

◘ President Dole of Hawaii in his last diplomatic bout with Minister Willis has polished that gentleman off to the people's taste, if not to the queen's. Mr. Willis has more "specifications" on hand now than he can well take care of. He will probably not call for any additional ones. Throughout this Hawaiian controversy the representatives of the provisional government have appeared to far better advantage than the president, "paramount" and minister who have misrepresented the United States.

   Should any plot to blow up government buildings, or inaugurate riot or bloodshed in the interest of the ex-queen in Hawaii succeed, the responsibility will rest on the shoulders of Grover Cleveland and his underlings. The people of the United States do not sympathize with dissolute savages and barbarian monarchies as against the descendants of American citizens and Republican institutions.

  

◘ The verdict of guilty on Boss McKane is received with a chorus of approval all over the country. To send this insolent and defiant promoter of fraud and stuffer of ballot boxes to state's prison for a number of years would help the cause of pure elections more than anything which has happened in the last decade.

W. C. T. U. sponsored cartoon.

MR. JOHN H. PHELPS INTERVIEWED.

He Replies to Mr. Reynolds—Believes that No License should be Sustained.

   A representative of the STANDARD met Mr. John H. Phelps, the no-license candidate for excise commissioner this morning and inquired whether he had read Mr. Horace G. Reynolds' interview as published in Thursday's STANDARD. Mr. Phelps replied that he had and said that he wished to make the following  statement in reply thereto:

   "The main argument advanced in the Thursday's issue of the STANDARD by the nominee for license commissioner seems to be this: That because there is a set of men in our town who defy law, and ignore the will of the people as expressed by a majority of over three hundred at the polls last year, we should this year express our approbation of such a course by voting for license. It seems to us that the majority against license should be doubled, in resentment for such conduct on the part of the liquor men. To ask the people to vote for the men who boast that they have not and will not obey the laws, and in the face of the taunt, 'You can't enforce the law,' ought to arouse the honest indignation of every law-and-order-loving citizen. It is an insult to the commonwealth. It is a blow at our principles of government by the people and for the people. It is a concession that crime is at a premium.

   "If the liquor men had obeyed the law, and could show that license was preferable to no license, then might they justly appeal to the people. It is the law-abiding people who are entitled to the confidence of the voters.

   "In effect here is the appeal of the liquor men and their supporters: Come now, good citizens of Cortland, vote for us. You see it's no use to vote against us. Your will is nothing to us. Three hundred majority counts for nothing. You see you can't enforce it. You only place us in the position of outlaws and criminals and we don't care for that. We sell more liquor without than with license, no matter what you desire. Now seeing you can't control us, why won't you make us respectable by legalizing our business? No matter if we do ruin your sons, debauch your husbands, and crowd your jails and alms-houses, we'll do it any way; and why not place our business right alongside that of the grocer, the dry goods merchant and the coal dealer, make it respectable and protect us by law, and then you can share the responsibility of our business.

   "Now we ask any fair-minded man if this is not a fair representation of what the liquor power wants? Let us look at facts. When we had license the restrictive laws were not enforced. What reason have we to suppose that they would be in the future? The license candidate says in his article: 'It it a notorious fact that there has been more drunkenness in Cortland during the past year than for many years previous.' The no-license people take issue with him on this statement and deny it most emphatically, and had he investigated the matter thoroughly he would have never been led into making such a statement. The records show quite the contrary, and prove that not nearly as many arrests were made for drunkenness in 1893 as in 1892. But if it were true will not our friend please tell us why the liquor men want license?

   "Another fact is that one of the greatest obstacles thrown in the way of the enforcement of the law and punishment of lawbreakers during the past year was a petition signed by 60 business men of Cortland asking the excise board to override the will of the people and to grant licenses "in the interest of law, order and sobriety." This petition was a public document and the Law Enforcement association asked for its publication, but this request was declined, and the name of the attorney even who presented it to the board was not made public, but suppressed at his request.

   "Another fact is that we have had one of the most quiet years in the history of Cortland, and never one more free from rowdyism on our streets, save perhaps the night of the Linderman trial, when, (we quote from The STANDARD of that date): 'After court adjourned a gang of hoodlums congregated in front of police headquarters and made the night hideous by their hooting, yelling and threats to do personal injury to the detectives. The police accompanied the detectives to their boarding places on Greenbush-st.' This was a trial of a case brought by the people against Mr. B. Linderman for selling liquor without a license. If this trial of that case taught any lesson, it certainly taught this, that the 'hoodlums' as they were termed, should not be encouraged by decent, respectable business men petitioning to make 'hoodlums,' and create lawlessness and disorder against the legally expressed wish of the law-abiding citizens of this community.

   "The liquor-sellers abused their license when they had them, and violated the law until the people became indignant and said by an overwhelming majority 'Away with license.'

   "Now these same liquor men have continued another year to break the law and make criminals of themselves. Then, to cap the climax, they, through their nominee, ask the people in effect to license criminals to carry on their infamous business and make it legal and respectable. 

   "Will the people consent to be thus overridden and ignored? We don't believe it. Let the law-and-order loving majority again stamp the seal of their disapprobation upon law breaking next Tuesday at the polls, so that there shall be no mistake or misunderstanding about it."

HOMER DEPARTMENT.

Gleanings of News from Our Twin Village.

   A very pleasant dancing party was given at the Columbia club last evening, it being the regular ladies night. Adams' full orchestra furnished the music. The whole affair was very informal and the guests departed before midnight.

   Tioughnioga Hose Co., No. 2, gave a very enjoyable party in Keator opera house Wednesday evening. Adams' orchestra furnished the music. There was a large attendance.

   The thermometer stood 8 degrees below zero at midnight, but had risen to 4 degrees above at 8 o'clock this morning.

   A prize fight was to have occurred here yesterday between two young local sluggers. These young aspirants for pugilistic fame had met on two successive evenings and fought ten rounds each time with no decisive result and last evening was to have witnessed a fight to the finish. The referee, seconds and backers of the parties assembled yesterday afternoon in the barn where the mill was to occur, but on account of a sore jaw, the result of a previous encounter, one of the principals was unable to be present.  The fight will come off later if not interfered with by the police.

  

◘ Frank Johnson, James-st., is the only place in Homer where Baltimore oysters are received direct. Only 25 cts. per qt. Good lunches at all hours.

THE LYCENCOR.

Initial Bow of the New Society at the Central School.

   The Lycencor, the new society at the Central school, made its initial bow to the public last night. The exercises were held in room E of the Central school which was prettily decorated with the club colors of orange and black. At the front of the room upon a background of orange was the name of the society in black letters and its motto, "Step by Step." A number of rugs and easy chairs, a banquet lamp and several bouquets of cut flowers added to the pretty effect of the decorations.

   The room was completely filled with friends of the society and the following program was presented in a most excellent manner:

Chorus—The Sleighride, Club.

President's Address, John Tuthill.

Recitation—Preparing for the Contest, Nellie M. McGraw.

Discussion—Resolved That Man is as Much Given to Gossiping as Woman,  Affirmative, Teresa Davern, Negative, Paul Higgins.

Solo—Mottoes Framed Upon the Wall, Anna Burns.

Declamation—Wanted, a Wife, Charles Outhoudt.

Essay—The Value of "I'll Try," Maud A. Kinney.

Trio—Slumber Song.

Recitation—The Old Actor's Story, Leah Danforth.

Essay—A Vision of the Future, Laura Hall.

Duet—Whispering Hope, Anna Burns, Nellie McGraw.

   The president's address was a graceful introduction to the club, which was organized from the ninth grade on Jan. 9, 1894, with ten charter members. It has since increased in numbers. Reversing the order of syllables of the name Lycencor, the syllables stand for Cortland Central Lyceum. The aim of of the society is to cultivate a taste for literary work. While the program was a very interesting one throughout and reflected much credit upon all those taking part, especial mention should be made of the essays of Miss Laura Hall and Miss Maud A. Kinney. Both were thoughtful and were very well written.

   The essay of Miss Hall was a prophecy as to the future of the club. It was bright and witty and abounded in personal hits that were particularly amusing to those on the inside.

   The music under the direction of Miss Mary Bouton was a pleasing feature of the program.

BREVITIES.

   —No meeting at the Y. M. C. A. rooms Sunday. Mass meeting at the Opera House at 3 o'clock.

   —Maj. A. Sager will conduct the service at the East Side Reading room tomorrow, Feb. 18, at 4:15 P. M.

   —Revival meetings will be held at the Homer-ave. church on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings of next week.

   —An adjourned union meeting of the Epworth leagues of Cortland will be held in the parlors of the First M. E. church this evening at 7:30 o'clock.

   —The usual prayer-meeting at the Good Templars' rooms will be omitted next Sunday on account of the massmeeting [sic] at the Opera House.

   —One member of the Y. M. C. A. in less than two hours yesterday sold eighteen tickets for the musical entertainment given by the Lotus Glee club, Feb. 27.

   —Buy your tickets now for the Lotus Glee club. Admission 25, 35 and 50 cents. Reserved seat checks on sale at G. F. Wallace & Co.'s bookstore, Monday morning, Feb. 19 at 9 o'clock.

   —At a meeting of the Sons of Veterans last night, Mr. Mortis Chapin was elected captain in place of C. L. Bushnell, deceased. Mr. George E. Butler was elected a member of the camp council in place of Morris Chapin, resigned, Mr. J. T. Bates resigned as quartermaster.

   —The Oneonta Star of Thursday publishes the following: "The voting machines were packed up yesterday and taken to the depot, where they await orders for shipment." Present indications are that there will be four machines of the same kind at the Cortland depot next week awaiting the same kind of orders.

   —The examination of the records of Cortland Normal school show that the present is the largest February entering class in its history up to date. The attendance is so large that the pupils cannot be accommodated in Normal hall without two sitting in a seat in a great many instances.

   —Eleven of the boarders at the popular house of Mrs. H. Griffith at 14 W. Court-st., made that lady an unannounced call last night, the occasion being her birthday. Mrs. Griffith was greatly surprised and was wholly at loss to understand how they found out the date, but she made them very welcome. At the proper time very nice refreshments were served and the evening was passed very pleasantly.

   —A prominent and highly popular Normal young man left on the 4:20 train yesterday afternoon for Syracuse under very suspicious circumstances. The manner in which his fellow students watched the white ribbon on his grip and showered him with rice and wished him good luck in the step he was about to take, gave the impression that he was departing on an important errand. ''Rufus" refused to be interviewed on the subject.