STRIKES AND THE MILITIA

Brooklyn Street Car Strike 1895.

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, January 31, 1895.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Strikes and the Militia.

   Up to 1877 the employment of the militia to suppress strikes was practically unknown. Indeed it would be safe to say that strikes themselves were comparatively unknown. In 1877 it was a question whether it was good policy or quite safe to call out citizen soldiers to put down riots instigated by those who were in many cases their own fellow townsmen and acquaintances. Results have since shown that the militia, except in one single instance in California, can be depended on to fire at anybody or anything where the order has been given them to fire. This fact has given rise in workingmen's organizations to a prejudice against the militia companies, and a sort of unwritten law obtains that no member of a labor organization shall belong to a company of the national guard.

   Since the great railway strike in Pittsburg in 1877, however, the calling out of the national guard to suppress strikers has become more and more frequent. Beginning with the strike named and ending with the Brooklyn trolley wire strike of January, this year, at least 12 times the militia companies have been called to do duty against laboring men. In 1880 Colorado silver miners struck against reduction of wages. The Knights of Labor were behind this rising, which the citizen soldiers were called on to suppress. Again troops were employed in 1885, when the employees of the Wabash railway system in Missouri quit work because of an order that no Knights of Labor should be employed.

   In 1886 occurred another railway strike through the southwest. The Knights of Labor supported this strike also, and the militia were again called out to put it down throughout Missouri, Texas and Arkansas. In 1890 came the strike on the New York Central road against a reduction of wages, and the state troops were ordered out. In April, 1892, the Pennsylvania state troops were ordered out in the strike in the coke regions. July, 1892, the Pennsylvania militia were sent to guard the Carnegie works against strikers during the riots there, riots which cost Alleghany county many thousands of dollars.

   In 1892 occurred also the strike on the Lehigh Valley road, with the violent demonstrations at Buffalo and the calling out of the New York militia.

   The occasions for using the state troops in labor troubles crowd thick and fast in the past few years, as though in one part or the other of this Union there was always an armed camp. In 1893 occurred the miners' strike at Cripple Creek, Colo., with the state troops on the scene of action and the sympathies of the governor on the side of the strikers.

   In 1894 we find strikes all over and state troops called constantly in to guard the property of employers. The coal miners' organization throughout the middle and southern and some of the western states stopped work very generally in protest against a reduction of wages. Troops were ordered out in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Alabama and other states. Upon the heels of the coal strike came the Pullman trouble, in which the American Railway union in different parts of the country became involved through sympathy. During the progress of this affair not only state troops were called out, but President Cleveland ordered the soldiers of the United States regular army to guard railway cars at Chicago.

   Finally the year 1895 is opened with the strike for raise of wages of the employees of the Brooklyn trolley lines. In Brooklyn one day nine regiments of militia were under arms at once.

Photo copied from Grip's Historical Souvenir of Cortland.

About Passes.

   The members of the legislature and some other people are much exercised over the provisions of the revised constitution prohibiting all officials, whether elective or appointive, from receiving or using free passes or franks, and are trying to find some way of avoiding the provisions. The officials wish to avoid paying for their transportation and the railroad companies would like to seem to help the officials and have them feel under obligations, and at the same time secure some public money by having the state pay for the "free transportation" of the legislators.

   Dr. Depew of the New York Central railroad, which controls its connections of the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg, the Harlem and many other branches, is kindly advising the legislators in the matter. He and Speaker Fish, it is announced, have agreed upon a scheme satisfactory to all and considered feasible. This is, to have the legislature make a new law giving its members several extra mileages, and then let the Comptroller issue certificates, which the railroad companies would honor as tickets and the state pay for as such.

   But Mr. Louis Marshall of New York, formerly of Syracuse, calls attention to the fact that this can not be done, and that the vouchers would be worthless and unconstitutional, for the constitution provides that members of the legislature shall have but one mileage each way. Mr. Marshall holds that the only way in which the officials can avoid paying, is by means of a law to be enacted which shall require the transportation corporations, as one of the burdens incident to their franchise, to carry the state officials free, on certificates of their official character to be furnished by the secretary of state. Mr. Braun of Buffalo has introduced in the assembly a bill to this effect.

   Mr. Mantanye, the delegate from Cortland county to the constitutional convention, looks on the troubles and efforts of these people with equanimity and something of an I-told-you-so air. In the convention he opposed the anti-pass amendment as being in the interest of the railroad companies, to enable them to profit from the state, and also as being too broad, including as it does notaries and officers whose action could not possibly be influenced by a pass. He also spoke against it as being improper in the constitution and being more of the nature of a section of the penal code. In convention he proposed an amendment to the proposition to the same effect as the bill now introduced, but in more concise language, providing that the transportation companies, as a burden incident to the franchise and public rights granted to them by the state, should carry all state officers free between their places of residence and the place where their duties are to be performed, and that the secretary of state should furnish to them certificates showing their official character, etc. The amendment proposed was defeated and among those who voted against it was Mr. Marshall—who now, along with many others of its opponents, is proposing the same thing.

ALL RIGHT IN BROOKLYN.

Cars Running Day and Night and the City is Quiet.

   BROOKLYN, Jan. 31.—Cars were started on all trolley lines this morning and are running to-day on schedule time for the first time in seventeen days. Only one wire was cut during the night, and that was quickly repaired. Cars will run all night to-night for the first time since the strike began and the normal operation of the roads is now restored. All cars are running except those which were damaged by strikers. Violence has died out and the city is once more quiet.

   The cessation of rioting, wire-cutting, assaults upon motormen, bombardment of cars and other lawlessness which have prevailed is said to be due to the advice of Delos McCurdy, Col. Dennison and Congressman Sulzer, counsel for the strikers in the action before the attorney general. They made it plain to the strike leaders that redress through courts of law cannot be obtained if it is shown that the petitioners are themselves law breakers.

   Last night was a quiet night, and to-day cars are in operation without police on either platform.

A TEST CASE.

The Question of Violation of the Ten Hour Law.

   BROOKLYN, Jan. 31.—President Benjamin Norton and Superintendent Quinn of the Atlantic-ave. R. R. Co. appeared in the Adams-st. police court this morning in response to the summons sent them yesterday to answer the charge of violating the ten hour law. Ex-Judge Morris entered a plea of not guilty. The examination was set for 10 A. M. Saturday. The case will be made a test. If the strikers win they say hundreds of similar cases will be brought.

PEOPLE VS. MEACHAM.

The Defendant on Trial for Beating His Horse.

   There was scarcely standing room in police court this morning when the case of The People vs. Howard Meacham was called. The defendant is charged with beating his horse till it died on Saturday evening, Jan. 19, an account of which proceeding has already been published in The STANDARD.

   The panel of twelve men who had been summoned was exhausted before a jury was secured. Six more were then summoned from the court sitters. It was an hour before the jury was finally secured. It consisted of E. Dodge, A. W. Stevens, D. F. Waters, Levi Rittenhouse, Henry Corcoran and J. H. Ryan, who were sworn.

   Attorney Riley Champlin appeared for The People and Attorney N. L.  Miller for the defendant.

   Attorney Champlin read the charge under which the defendant was arrested and the code.

   Irving Barnes of 91 Elm-st. was the first witness. He stated that on Jan. 19 just before dusk he saw Meacham's horse hitched to a cutter walking up Elm-st. Some one stopped the horse on the corner of Elm and Church-sts. Meacham came up, got into the cutter, took up the reins and struck the horse with a whip. The animal reared. Witness saw Meacham strike the horse a half dozen or more blows, saw him strike the horse after he had fallen down.

   E. D. Foot of 118 Elm-st. was the next witness. He stood on the corner of Elm and Church-sts., fifty or sixty feet from the horse when he fell. He saw the horse fall and saw the defendant kicking and striking the horse. Should think the man was angry and should think that six or eight blows were struck.

   Miss Lillian Northrup of 111 Clinton-ave. testified that she saw a horse lying in the road and a man whipping it very hard. The horse tried several times to get up. Should think he must have struck as many as twenty blows after the horse was down. The man was excited and angry. Should say that the whip was an ordinary horsewhip. He was standing up whipping the horse over the dashboard. The horse was lying down.

   Mr. F. P. Hakes of 5 Elm-st. testified that he saw Meacham take the lines, and whip, yank and strike the horse hard. Yanked the horse so that it fell on its side. Witness went into his house. When he came out again defendant was still whipping the horse, which died just as witness reached it. Mr. Hakes said he was greatly excited at having the horse beaten. He thought defendant was using profane language. There must have been fifteen, twenty or twenty-five blows struck before the horse fell. Quite a number after that. Witness saw the horse try to raise itself upon its forward legs.

   An adjournment was then taken till 1:30 o'clock.

   Other witnesses for the prosecution sworn this afternoon were W. H. Dennis of Homer and Miss Ola Hakes of Cortland.

   Up to the time of going to press the defence had put upon the stand the defendant himself, Patrick Clancy, E. O. Kingman, James Wood, Bert Hummelbaugh and Ellis Middaugh.

   3:50 P. M.—The jury were out ten minutes and brought in a verdict of "not guilty."

Stage Line Changes Hands.

   Eugene Barber, for the past four years proprietor of the Cortland and Pitcher stage, has sold the route to Mr. A. O. Hakes of Pitcher, giving possession tomorrow. By his careful management of affairs and his courteous treatment Mr. Barber has won many friends along the line who will regret the change. No doubt, however, Mr. Hakes will fully prove his efficiency inasmuch as his father was an old veteran in the stage business before him. The sale included five horses, wagons, sleighs, mail contracts, etc. Consideration $600.

A PROMISING INDUSTRY.

A Skunk Farm Started by Ithaca Capitalists.

   The Ithaca Journal says, "Located one mile south of Brookton, near the crossing of the E., C. & N., and D., L. & W. railroads, is a farm that belongs to the Ithaca Fur company, a part of which is devoted to the breeding of skunks. At the first mention of an industry for the rearing of such obnoxious animals, some persons might be struck with disgust, but they will be reassured the moment they reflect upon the enormous prices that are now obtained for skunk furs. Indeed one needs only to step into any metropolitan fur store to see skunk skin fur garments that cost $2,000 each. It was with these facts in view that several Ithaca gentlemen invested their money in skunks, and they hope in a few months to get large returns from the business. At present the company have over one hundred of the little animals but by another season they expect to have by purchase and careful breeding the large total of 5,000. It is said that the ordinary skunk skin has a small value, but by proper care the Ithaca company expects to breed out all the white, leaving only the dark skin of unusual size. Their present home, kennel or "skunkery" consists of five acres of ground fenced in by high boards over a stone filled trench, on which stands a large building that is filled with nests.

   The animals' food consists mostly of milk, water and bits of meat, while their beds are made of chestnut leaves and dried grass. They are seldom seen during the day, but come out at nightfall and gambol about the yard. Beginning with the "kittens" they can be easily tamed. To understand their habits is to know how to easily avoid a shower of scent, a liquid quite as distasteful to them as to man. When killing time comes, they are carefully (?) placed in a tight box and chloroformed, thus rendering their fur free from odor. Besides the fur a fat animal will yield nearly a pint of oil that is said to be an unequalled remedy for stiff joints, etc.

   The company have made arrangements with a New York exporting house for the disposition of their skins, while their sales agent for the oil is druggist J. B. Todd.

   Fur farms, as they are called, are not very numerous. There are some in the West, one in New Jersey and one in Maryland. The Brookton farm is an interesting place to visit and people go from far and near to have a chat with Mr. Runner and look over the home of his soft-haired pets.

"A Bright Book About Seeds."

   This is the title of a valuable little pamphlet published by W. Atlee Burpee & Co., proprietors of Fordhook farm, Philadelphia, Pa., the well-known seedsmen. The cover of the book is a bright red and an inscription says "We paid to have the outside red. It will pay you to have the inside read."

   And it will indeed pay well for any one interested in seeds and their growth to have this book read. It contains all kinds of valuable information in regard to the best seeds and how to grow them. The Burpee company can speak with authority in such matters, for they are one of the largest and best known seed companies in the country. In one day last year they received 6,752 pieces of mail matter which included 5,100 orders for goods accompanied with the cash. Their order books last year showed patronage from 59,353 postoffices out of a total of 68,043.

A NARROW ESCAPE.

Miss Emma C. Nason's House Wrecked by Dynamite.

   Miss Emma C. Nason, formerly of Blodgett Mills, now of Sault Ste Marie, Mich., had a narrow escape from death on Thursday, Jan. 24. Miss Nason is now matron of the Rescue Home in that city. A powerful effort has been made to wipe out the evil of allowing houses of ill fame to run openly and undisturbed in Sault Ste Marie. Miss Nason has been prominent in this work and has incurred the bitter enmity of those interested in the continuance of the evil.

   On Wednesday night Miss Nason felt uneasy and restless. She was unable to sleep and rose soon after midnight. After dressing she stepped for a moment out upon the piazza to get a breath of fresh air. Scarce two minutes had elapsed after her return to the house before a mighty explosion shook the entire building and the piazza where she had been standing was blown to splinters. Nearly every window in the house was broken, and the budding was otherwise injured. The inmates of the Home were dreadfully frightened and hastily arose. Fortunately no fire caught or resulted. Barrels of papers packed for the lumber camps and several large boxes of clothing were wrecked in the explosion.

   A stick of dynamite had been put under the piazza and the intention doubtless was to wreck the entire building. There is no evidence with which to connect the explosion with the people who have become Miss Nason's enemies through her efforts for the moral welfare of the place, but the Sault Ste Marie papers say there is little doubt in the minds of the residents of the place but that they are responsible for the explosion.

  

BREVITIES.

   —The Chautauqua circle will meet with Mrs. Shirley, Railroad-ave., to-morrow night at 7:30 o'clock.

   —The fourteenth annual public exercises of the Y. M. D. C. will be held at Normal hall at 8 o'clock to-night.

   —Senator Childs yesterday introduced a bill re-appropriating $100,000 with $50,000 additional for a Normal school at Jamaica.

   —The Imperial orchestra has an engagement to play for a Washington's birthday party at Preble, Cortland Co.—Dryden Herald.

   —The first one of the permanent tandem compound engines for the new power house of the traction company arrived yesterday and will be set up at once.

   —Regular meeting of W. C. T. U. on Saturday, Feb. 2, at 2:30 P. M. The entire program will be "In Memoriam" and will be conducted by Mrs. T. P. Benjamin.

   —The telephone company began the work this afternoon on Court-st. of raising the seventy-five foot poles, about twenty of which are to be substituted for the old ones.

   —The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick hold an adjourned meeting at Empire hall at 8 o'clock to-night for the annual election of officers. All members of the organization are urged to be present.

   —Mrs. Melissa M. Leonard, aged 62 years, died at 7 o'clock last evening of organic heart trouble. The deceased leaves a husband, one son and four daughters. The funeral will be held at 8 P. M. to-morrow from her late home, 126 Railroad-st.

   —The first trial of the Victoria motor cycle fitted with the four inch tires was made at the armory yesterday afternoon in the presence of a small number of spectators. The test was made with the six mile an hour adjustment and the machine surpassed the expectations of all present. It worked perfectly.

   —Don't ask an editor to suppress an item of news, remarks a bright exchange. Some other paper will get it anyway. The next week something will happen to your neighbor and if he asks to have it suppressed you will be the first man to jump on the editor for daring to say his soul is his own. Take your medicine when the item happens to fall your way, for really you have no more claim on the paper than your neighbor.