A MUCH NEEDED CHANGE

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, January 30, 1895.

A MUCH NEEDED CHANGE.

Representation in County Conventions Should be by Election Districts.

CORTLAND, N. Y., Jan. 29, 1895.

To the Editor of the Standard:

   SIR—It seems to be in order at the present time for the Republicans of different parts of the state to improve and perfect their organization and rules of government, with a view to making the party really a popular party and to strengthen it with the people. In New York City the principle of representation in conventions by delegates from Election Districts instead of from the Assembly Districts has been adopted, and is approved by all except the aristocratic oligarchy that through the Assembly District organizations was able to hold the party in its grasp and prevent the will of the rank and file from governing.

   Why should not this same principle be applied in Cortland county and our delegates to county conventions be elected from Election Districts instead of from the towns at large? Cortlandville is a large town—10 miles long and 5 mile wide. Town caucuses in the fall are sometimes called, as last fall, on two days' notice, and a few from the village gather in and elect the delegates, while the electors of the town generally have not heard of the matter or have not had time to consider the questions at issue. But the delegates elected are supposed to represent the whole town, and those of our citizens whose views they represent are on convention day the "regulars," while all dissenters, though the great majority in fact, are called "kickers," and are without influence and unrepresented. The town is said to be "solid," and through that power and the lobby that procured these delegates the convention is carried, for Cortland usually controls the convention.

   Last fall the McGrawville delegates, who are separately elected by a partial application of the district plan, differed from the other delegates and the town was to that extent better represented, and the result was not favorable to those who had procured the village delegates on two days' notice.

   If all delegates were elected by districts, true the town of Cortlandville would have more delegates, as its greater Republican vote entitles it to have, but at the same time there would be representation of different views and shades of opinions, and the delegation would be divided accordingly, and the power of Cortland could not wrongfully be consolidated against the other towns. The representation would be of the people, as in the smaller towns, and all would work together in a far more popular and satisfactory manner. The out towns would gain in influence by it, having the same influence as a like number of voters in an Election District in Cortland or Homer, and also having some of the Cortland and Homer delegates with them, instead of being in a solid body for the large towns as now.

   Of course the civil division of towns should not be lost sight of, and it should in a measure modify the representation, as different parts of a town would have much in common to draw them together in some matters.

   Let each town of one election district have four delegates to represent both the town and its voters, each town of two districts have three delegates from each district, making six from the town and the larger towns two from each district. This would give Marathon and Virgil each six delegates, Homer eight delegates, Cortland a divided delegation of twenty, representing the varying views of each district, and each of the other towns four delegates, making in all eighty-four delegates. The out towns, the people and the party would gain by this change.

   REPUBLICAN.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

A Much Needed Change.

   Under the above heading we publish in another column a communication from one of the most intelligent and clear-headed Republicans in the county, urging a change in the manner of representation in our county conventions, of which there has for a long time been urgent necessity, and the wisdom and justice of which ought to commend it to every one. Almost every county in the state now has its conventions organized on some such basis as our correspondent suggests, and we have never heard of a county which once adopted it and afterwards wanted to go back to the old method. The idea of Cortland county's sending six delegates to a state convention and the city and county of New York sending only the same number would be hooted at, yet it is not a whit more ridiculously unfair than that the village of Cortland, with nearly 9,000 inhabitants and a very large Republican majority, should send only four delegates to a county convention, while the towns of Solon and Lapeer, with a population of less than 900 in one case and less than 800 in the other, and so close politically that they are represented part of the time by Republican and part by Democratic supervisors, should each send six delegates.

   There is a wrong here which demands to be righted, and which cannot be continued year after year without the party's suffering from it. It was the cause some years since of the revolt against the famous spring-bottom-hat caucus, where the necessity to certain parties of carrying the one caucus held in this village seemed so great that more votes were cast in it in less than an hour—the majority of them fraudulent—than there were Democrats and Republicans in the entire village, Then the four delegates fraudulently elected were given the aid of enough out of town delegates to control the convention, and nominated a ticket which was repudiated by Cortlandville and was swept away by a whirlwind of popular indignation at the polls.

   Had a fair caucus been held in every election district in this town—and small caucuses can be kept fair much more easily than large ones—and the town had its fair share of delegates in the convention, there would have been no such scandal and no such defeat. A mass caucus—better called a mob caucus—in this village can never be fairly conducted, and where fraud becomes too outrageous it is always liable to provoke rebellion at the polls—and ought to. No Republican is under any obligation to support a candidate whose nomination is fraudulently obtained. On the contrary it is his duty to bolt him.

   Just so long as the indifference or mistaken selfishness of the Republicans of the county compels the village of Cortland—now almost a city—to hold a single mass caucus to elect four delegates, just so long there will be danger of rebellion against unpopular nominations secured by fraud here and the use of money in buying outside delegates. A well-known Cortland politician who opposed a fair representation of this town in county conventions a few years ago, declared openly that he did so because it was cheaper to buy outside delegates than it would be to carry Cortland if caucuses were held by election districts and the town allowed the number of delegates to which it was entitled.

   The injustice to Homer is the same as to Cortland under the present system, only a little less. These two towns should begin the agitation now, and take action at their next town conventions to have the wrong righted. If their just demands are not granted by the next county convention and some method of representation by election districts established, they should withdraw from the convention, hold a convention of their own and keep on holding such conventions until the Republicans of the other towns are willing to have regular conventions on some other basis than that one Republican in Solon or Lapeer is equal to ten or fifteen Republicans in Homer or Cortlandville.

   We do not, however, believe that any such extreme measures will be necessary. We believe that the vast majority of Republicans in all the towns desire to do what is fair as between the towns and best for the party as a whole. The plan which our correspondent suggests is perfectly feasible and would doubtless work satisfactorily. Should the convention proposed seem too small, a larger one can easily be provided for, the principle of representation remaining the same. Or a certain number of delegates might be assigned to each election district, with additional delegates based on the number of Republican voters —which is really the most equitable method possible. Details can be discussed later, but the principle of treating every Republican alike in representation in convention, whether he lives in Lapeer or Solon, Cortlandville or Homer, cannot be too soon or too firmly established. Then form Republican associations in every election district, admit, without charge, every one who is a Republican, and allow only those who are members to vote at Republican caucuses, and the party organization will be on a basis which will conduce to harmony, strength and steady growth.

◘ It seems as if the people of this free country must go on forever eating yellow ocher mustard, white earth candy, brick dust and buckwheat hull pepper and glucose and sulphuric acid sugar and preserves, likewise drinking coffee made of parched, musty dough and chicory and chocolate loaded down and made slimy with arrowroot and starch for all congress cares. In some mysterious way, known undoubtedly to a few, that Pure Food bill slumbers year after year in committee. What are lawmakers for anyway?

Cortland Opera House on Groton Avenue.

"ZARAH'S SACRIFICE."

Repeated To-night for the Hospital Benefit.

   There was a fair-sized audience at the Opera House last evening at the presentation of "Zarah's Sacrifice" by the Players' club for the benefit of the Cortland hospital.

   The play is a thrilling comedy drama, the scene of which is laid at the foot of the Black mountains in North Carolina. The characters of the piece were types peculiar to that section.

   The title role was impersonated by Mrs. E. S. Burrows in her own inimitable clever manner. Mr. E. B Cummings was well adapted to the part of Ray Clifton and he was at his best. Mr. B. D. Hakes took the double role of Col. Sutherland and Jack West. He appeared to the better advantage in the latter part.

   Miss Elizabeth Phillips was at her best in the character of Grace Sutherland. Mr. W. F. Seacord very creditably took the parts of Trevino, the captain of the moonshiners, and the character part of Sophronia West. Miss Virginia Coates was a new face to a Cortland audience, but she commendably sustained her part. Mr. James F. Costello made quite a bit in the blackface part of Wool. His makeup and acting in the character of Larry Horton was also very good.

   Among the best features of the evening performance were the specialties introduced by the Dillon brothers.

   The piece will be again presented this evening for the benefit of the hospital.

Looking down at the kinetoscope's viewer.

Edison and Eastman demonstrating the kinetoscope camera.

THE KINETOSCOPE.

Edison's Latest Invention on Exhibition in Cortland.

  The Kinetoscope, Edison's latest invention, is now on exhibition in the store on Main-st. lately vacated by Nelson & Cull. It is a very simple arrangement, but its effect is wonderful. One looks down through a magnifying glass into a black hole in a box. The operator presses a button, the machinery moves, an incandescent light flashes up in the dark hole and the spectator views some scene in real life which goes on before his eyes with all the action of the original event.

   The explanation is easy. By means of Edison's rapid system of photography, photographs at the rate of forty-six to the second have been taken upon a piece of film an inch and a half wide and fifty feet long. There are 1,500 pictures on the strip of film. A horizontal wheel called a shutter has a slit an eighth of an inch wide and an inch long. This wheel is revolved at the rate of 3,000 revolutions per minute. At each revolution the slit is brought over one of the photographs on the film which is also moving at a slower rate of speed. Through the slit the observer sees each one of the 1500 photographs on the film in thirty seconds. An incandescent light is placed right under the film and a powerful magnifying glass just above it, so that the picture is clear and distinct. The intervals of darkness between the exposures of the photographs through the slit in the shutter are so short and the flashes of light come so much faster than the retina of the eye can record them that the observer seems to see one continuous photograph and every detail of the original action is reproduced.

   The store where these kinetoscopes are on exhibition is open from 9 A. M. to 10 P. M. and the machines will remain there until Friday night. The views now shown are a barber shop scene, the dancing of the London gaiety girls, a barroom scene, and the rapid shooting of Annie Oakley, Buffalo Bill's sharp-shooter.

BREVITIES.

   —Hotel de Sager [jail] had two lodgers last night.

   —The Meacham horse beating case will come on in police court to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock.

   —Mr. R. E. Dunston's residence on Charles-st. was to-day connected with the telephone exchange.

   —The nineteenth annual public exercises of the Gamma Sigma fraternity will be held in Normal hall this evening at 8 o'clock.

   —The fourteenth annual public exercises of the Young Men's Debating club will be held in Normal hall to-morrow evening at 8 o'clock.

   —Drs. Jewett, Bennett and Sornberger were called yesterday in consultation for Irving Rice, who has been sick a long time with heart trouble.

   —Mr. F. B. Nourse's safe was opened at 10 o'clock this morning. All of the goods were found just as they had been placed. The expert found that the combination lock was out of order.

   —The Ladies' Literary club meet this afternoon at 3:30 o'clock with Mrs. E. B. Nash. The subject is "The American in Literature," the reference being particularly to George William Curtis.

   —Mr. H. P. Mulligan of Rochester will deliver an address in Empire hall at 8 o'clock this evening on "Money at Interest," or "The Emancipation of Labor." All are invited.

   —Assemblyman Brownell yesterday introduced a bill in the legislature fixing the passenger rate of fare on the trunk lines of steam railroads in this state at two cents a mile and providing that a passenger ticket issued at the maximum rate shall not be limited as to its use.

   —The two elegant open cars for summer use of the Cortland and Homer Traction Co. were transported yesterday from the Cortland Omnibus & Cab Co.'s factory to the car barns, where they will be wired up. The commodious baggage car was taken to the barns this morning.

   —Twelve of the thirteen members of the McKale family, West Buffalo-st., have been ill with the grip. In a few of the cases the attack was not extremely severe, which is accounted for by one of the family, on the theory that there was not enough of the disease to go 'round.—Ithaca Journal. It mast be a doleful household.

   —Mr. Ainsworth has introduced a bill in the assembly, giving to town agricultural societies 30 per cent and to county agricultural societies 70 per cent of money collected under the Ives pool law. The bill provides that only the societies shall be benefited that have held fairs for the past three years, and disposed of $1,000 annually in premiums. The distribution applies to money now in the comptroller's hands.

   —A Cortland wholesale merchant who travels quite extensively for his house the other day handed to a man from whom he hoped to obtain a large order for goods what he supposed was his business card. The man looked at it curiously and then back at the traveler who finally looked to see what he had passed out. He found that he had got into the wrong pocket and the card which he had presented was a jack of spades. It was several hours before he could get the order.

Death of H. L. Rogers.

   Mr. Henry L. Rogers of Cortland died at about 6 o'clock last night at his home on Tompkins-st., after an illness of only four or five days caused by pneumonia. Mr. Rogers had been in feeble health for several years and had not the vitality to throw off the sudden cold which he had caught. He was out on the street last Thursday.

   Mr. Rogers was born in Whitney's Point, N. Y., Jan. 5, 1835, and came to Cortland soon after the opening of the S., B. & N. Y. R. R. to act as the company's agent in this place. He made many friends in that place and remained in the company's employ for twenty-six years. For four and one-half years afterward he held the government position of inspector of free delivery postoffices. Since resigning this place he has not been engaged in active business.

   He was twice married; the first time in 1862 to Miss Ellen M. Fairchilds, who died Dec. 24, 1887, and the second time in 1889 to Mrs. W. H. Newkirk, who survives him. He leaves a brother, Rev. Edson Rogers of Cincinnatus, N. Y., and one daughter, Mrs. C. H. V. Elliott of Cortland.

   The funeral will be held from his late home on Friday at 2 o'clock and the burial will be in the Cortland Rural cemetery.

THE STRIKE IS OVER.

Cars Running—New Men in Place of the Old.

   BROOKLYN, Jan. 30.—Every trolley line in the city of Brooklyn was in operation this morning except one. That was the Third-ave. line to Fort Hamilton. The strikers cut the wires of that line at Bay Ridge during the night and cars could not run until linemen made repairs. Wires were cut in nine places last night, but they were quickly repaired by the companies.

   The strike is over. New motormen and conductors have replaced the men who went out in a body on Jan. 14. The linemen who went out on a sympathetic strike a week later have broken ranks on several lines and those whose places had not been filled were taken back.

   The 6,000 men who went out in a body are still holding out. They were prepared for a long siege and say they have plenty of money coming in daily in contributions aside from what they had laid away from their wages. One reason why the strikers hold together so well is that on one whole system—the Atlantic-ave—President Norton has positively refused to give work to any man who struck, and on the other lines other applicants are given the preferences. The lines now have enough men to operate all cars which are in condition to run. About one-third of the trolley cars of Brooklyn have broken windows, disabled motors or are otherwise incapacitated by the scrimmages they have been through during the past 16 days.

   The strikers are directing their attention to court proceedings. The law's delays are proverbial and whatever trouble the companies are having in the operation of their cars is due to imperfect protection. The strike leaders threaten boycott, mandamus and arrest for violation of the ten hour law, but the companies treat these things lightly and only dread the recurrence of acts of violence, lawlessness and rioting.

   The second brigade of nearly 3,000 men is still on the scene. The six hundred special policemen are retained, and some degree of peace and quiet is restored. The cars ran until after midnight last night without serious attacks. The cars to-day were not stoned as they have been daily. Only one arrest for wire-cutting was made last night, against sixteen the night before. The presidents fear that this fortunate condition of affairs will not continue after the troops disband. It is thought that one or two regiments will receive orders before night to break camp, and the others will be relieved gradually.