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| Trolley at McGrawville. |
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| Cortland Park. |
"GREATER MCGRAWVILLE."
ELECTRIC
RAILROAD OPENED TO THE CORSET CITY.
Whistles
Blow, Bells Ring—Celebration at Park—Cortland and Homer Join in Festivities.
For several days past McGrawville and the
towns and country to the east have been covered with bills bearing the heading
"Greater McGrawville, Cortland and Homer Annexed." The bills
proceeded to invite every one to join with the corset city in a grand
celebration to be held yesterday afternoon at the new Cortland park in honor of
the opening of the new electric road to that place. The celebration was held,
cars ran to and from McGrawville and altogether it was the greatest day in the
opinion of every one which that little village has ever known. When there was a
prospect that electricity would take the place of horse power in the road
between Cortland and Homer, both those villages were glad, but the enthusiasm
in either place did not approximate that in McGrawville, when it became known
that there was a likelihood that the railroad would be continued to that
thriving little settlement at the east end of the town.
Many difficulties of one kind and another
have been encountered in the securing of franchises, rights of way, etc., for
the road, but McGrawville people have left no stone unturned to help remove
them and to forward the enterprise. Though the village is something of a
manufacturing town and a center for the trade of the eastern part of the
county, it has been greatly handicapped in growth by its lack of railroad
communication, and by the fact that it was sidetracked four miles away from a
railroad. For twenty-five years it has lived in the hopes of the building of
the steam road whose grade was completed to Cortland, but which had stopped
right there, but the idea that they should ever be "hauled by
lightning," as it was wittily expressed by one speaker yesterday,
"from the sight of the old Central New York college up to Cortland"
never once entered their minds until this company of Scranton and Ithaca
capitalists put it there. Then their enthusiasm rose and kept rising as they
watched the process of the road building, and it reached fever heat yesterday
at noon when a car rolled in from Cortland bearing the officials of the road
and stopped at the corset factory.
It was purely by accident, so far as McGrawville
was concerned, that the car arrived just at noon, but the attendant circumstances
was not an accident. An arrangement had been made for every steam whistle in McGrawville
to begin blowing at 12 o'clock and for every bell of every description to ring
and as the car approached the town the signal was given by the shrill whistle
of the corset factory. It was taken up by all the others, and as the astonished
officers stepped down from the car they were greeted by such a screeching of
whistles and clanging of bells and general din as made them wonder "where
they were at," and if they were the cause of it and how the news of their
coming had preceded them. For nearly a quarter of an hour this continued, while
the crowd, which had had an early dinner began to gather to be on hand for the
cars which were expected at 1 o'clock to take them to the park.
During the morning it rained quite steadily
and this undoubtedly prevented the country people from coming in, but it would
have taken something more than rain to dampen the enthusiasm and ardor of the
McGrawville people. It was McGrawville's day and they knew it, and when 1
o'clock arrived and three open cars, each attended by a trailer arrived, there
was a great crowd of people ready to crowd them to their utmost capacity even
before they had fairly stopped. The McGrawville band was playing. It had been
the intention to have them come over on one of the first cars, but by the time
they had finished their piece there was no room for them, and they had to wait
with the rest of the crowd which seemed just as large as before for the second
trip. When the cars came next time the band had learned wisdom and made a dash
for seats along with the others. Each car and trailer would carry at least 195
passengers and a large number of trips were made. The car registers show that
5,126 fares were collected from McGrawville. The Traction company had sold
excursion tickets at a round trip rate of ten cents. Had it not rained this is
probably but a fraction of the people who would have come.
By noon the rain had stopped and by 1
o'clock it looked as though the afternoon would be fair. Not all the crowd that
was going came to the park from McGrawville, for Cortland and Homer were doing
well their part. TheTraction company had extended special invitations to the
president and trustees of the three villages and to some others. The Cortland
City band was also on hand and furnished fine music.
At about 2:30 o'clock the clouds began to
gather again and a little later down came the rain. There was a rush for the
great dancing floor, over which a large tent had been erected. This was gaily
decorated with red, white and blue bunting, which added to the pretty effect.
The tent did valuable service in protecting many the from shower during the
exercises. One McGrawville gentleman said "It makes little difference
whether we get wet or hot. If we had come off on a wild goose chase and had got
soaked we should have been provoked. As it is we have got something genuine to
celebrate, and we can stand it in good humor." And that was the sentiment
of the entire crowd.
It was nearly 3 o'clock when Dr. F. W.
Higgins, president of Cortland village, called the assembly to order and
welcomed all the visitors from the three villages to the park. The doctor stood
upon a platform at the east side of the tent which was gaily decorated with flags,
bunting, ferns and cut flowers. Over his head was an equilateral triangle with
an evergreen border. In the center in monogram of silver appeared the letters
C. & H. T. Co. Upon the lower side of the triangle was the word Cortland.
On the left side was Homer, on the right McGrawville.
Dr. Higgins nominated Mr. Horace E. Hand of
Scranton, treasurer of the Traction Co., as chairman of the afternoon's
exercises. Mr. Hand was elected and took the stand. He welcomed all to the park
in behalf of the Traction company and regretted the absence of Mr. C. D.
Simpson, the president, who was detained by important business. He spoke of the
improvements already made at the park and said these were hardly the beginning
of others which were to follow. He would not outline them, for it was not the
policy of the company to promise but to go ahead and do. The people would take
note of the improvements from time to time as they came to the park. Mr. Hand
told several good stories and called upon Dr. H. C. Hendrick for remarks. The
doctor was followed by Hon. P. H. McGraw, A. E. Seymour, J. H. Kelley, A. P.
McGraw, Judge A. P. Smith and Dr. F. W. Higgins. The words of all were
appropriate and timely and all expressed the gratification felt on every side
at the work of the Traction company and at the opening of the new park. Mr. A.
P. McGraw in the course of his remarks presented the resolutions adopted by the
citizens of McGrawville which are given below.
At the close of the speaking there was music
by both the Cortland City band and the McGrawville band in the tent, and a
little later the rain stopped and the sun came out again.
The Traction company then served a very nice
lunch in the rear tent to the specially invited guests. The refreshments were
provided by A. D. Wallace and Rood & Son, who have the refreshment
privileges upon the grounds. The menu included chicken salad, cold ham, cold
tongue, cold chicken, sandwiches, celery, olives, pickles, crackers, cheese and
coffee.
Many of the McGrawville people took
advantage of the special excursion rates of ten cents for the round trip and took
a ride to Homer before returning to McGrawville.
The road is now fairly opened to McGrawville
and a car leaves the Cortland House every hour and exactly on the hour. The
cars leave McGrawville returning on the half hour.
MCGRAWVILLE'S
RESOLUTIONS.
WHEREAS, The Cortland & Homer Traction
company have been engaged for some time in building an extension of their
electric railroad from Cortland to McGrawville; and
WHEREAS, Said electric railroad is now an
accomplished fact, as is evidenced by the people brought over it to this
beautiful park to-day; and
WHEREAS, Said Cortland & Homer Traction
company were freely given the franchise for the building of said road, at least
so far as the McGrawville portion of the same is concerned, and were asked to
give no bonds to secure the people in any degree as to the quality of road they
would build, or as a guarantee for proper construction of the work; and
WHEREAS, The whole matter was regarded by
the people of McGrawville and vicinity as purely a question of honor, and the
gentlemen composing said Cortland &
Homer Traction company were treated as men of candor and honesty;
and
WHEREAS, The construction of said electric
railroad has been carried on by said Cortland & Homer Traction company
under many difficulties and against many obstructions, but at the same time
with the cordial aid and assistance of our people; and
WHEREAS, In all transactions between said
Cortland & Homer Traction company and the citizens of McGrawville and vicinity,
collectively or individually, said company has in all respects followed the straight
path of justice and honesty; and
WHEREAS, ln all cases wherein any citizen
has asked any favor or accommodation of said Cortland & Homer Traction
company in connection with the construction of said electric railroad, such
accommodation and favor has in every case been cheerfully granted by said
company when possible, often at more or less disadvantage to the company, and
WHEREAS, The citizens of McGrawville and
vicinity are now able to see in the completion of said electric railroad the
great conveniences now opened to them, and the possibilities of future
improvement to their village, therefore
Resolved, That we, citizens of McGrawville and vicinity here assembled, heartily
congratulate the Cortland & Homer Traction company upon the successful
completion of the task upon which they have been engaged.
Resolved, That we believe said company have given us a better railroad than we even
had reason to expect.
Resolved, That our sincere and hearty thanks are due and are hereby extended to
said Cortland & Homer Traction company for the straightforward manner in which
they have carried out all the details of their work, and for the candor and
manliness which has characterized all their dealings as a company and as
individuals with our citizens.
Resolved, That we commend said Cortland &
Homer Traction company to any and all localities desiring similar
service, as a company which in all respects keeps to the strict letter of its
agreements.
Resolved, That we appreciate the improvement that said Cortland & Homer Traction company
has brought to our town, and the convenience and value of said electric
railroad to us as a community.
Resolved, That our thanks are also due said Cortland & Homer Traction company because
they have in the construction of said electric railroad established such
convenience of communication between the villages of Cortland, Homer and McGrawville,
uniting us so closely as to make us practically but one community in our
business and social interests.
A. P. MCGRAW,
A. E. SEYMOUR,
C. B. WARREN,
JOHN B. KELLY,
H. C. HENDRICK,
Committee appointed by the board of trustees
at the opening of the electric railroad Sept. 5, 1895.
IS HE A FIREBUG?
CHARLES
F. JEWETT CHARGED WITH ARSON.
He is
Arrested—Claims to Have Started a Dozen Fires—Trapped at Last.
ITHACA, N. Y., Sept. 5.—The arrest of
Charles F. Jewett of Candor, at Owego yesterday afternoon has thrown that
village and the surrounding towns in a state of excitement. During the last
year, about a dozen buildings have been burned in Candor and Owego, the fires being
all of incendiary origin. The last fire was that of J. C. Taylor's creamery, involving
a loss of about $30,000, a large number of cows being burned, and valuable
machinery. Jewett who had a rival creamery was suspected. In fact with the
first incendiary fire suspicion has rested on him and detectives have been
employed to watch him, two of them working for him. After the last fire the
suspicions of the supervisors of Tioga county were roused, and they offered a
reward of $3,000 for the capture and conviction of the culprits. This large
reward has resulted in the arrest of Jewett. The detectives tell the following
story:
After being in Jewett's employ they became
convinced that he was a crook and began to lay a trap. They suggested him that
they rob a D., L. & W. passenger train. This he agreed to, but the scheme slipped
up and the detectives had to lay another trap. This proved successful. Jewett
agreed and the two detectives said they must first consult with their chief who
was in Binghamton. Jewett consented to go to Binghamton with the two and there the
chief of the detective bureau met them and the job was fixed. When the plan had
been made, the detectives said that Jewett must give some evidence that he could
be trusted. Jewett replied "Why, I have burned a half dozen buildings this
winter." He then went on to tell what he had burned and named the Taylor
creamery and his own building which were burned a short time ago. He claimed to
have set fire to his own creamery in order to get the insurance, having a
mortgage of $2,000 coming due. He
explained how he started the fires. Starting out early in the evening he would
take a bunch of cotton and soak it with oil. He would then place a candle in
the middle of this, light it, and go home and before the fire started he would
be safely in bed.
The detectives made him put all this down in
writing, "to make their safety sure from his squealing" and when
Jewett started back to Candor they telegraphed the sheriff at Owego and as
Jewett stepped off the train he was placed under arrest. His confession it is claimed
implicates a half dozen other Candor men.
JOHN L.
WALLER'S CASE.
State Department
Working Wisely For the Ex-Consul's Interest.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 6.—The state department has
been advised that the record in the Waller court-martial, for which the French
authorities found it necessary to send to Madagascar, is expected to reach Aden,
on the Red Sea, about the 12th inst. After its arrival there some time will be
required for its transmittal to Paris, and still more before it can reach Washington,
if it is decided to have it examined here, so that it is expected to be at least
a month before the department can be in full possession of the facts in the case.
In all probability no further steps will be
taken by the department in this matter until the examination.
There is a growing feeling in the department
that France has purposely sought delay in producing this record in the hope of
causing the United States to make a peremptory and unconditional demand for Waller's
release. It is believed that if made, this demand will be granted, and that if
granted, Waller would be deprived of all chance of securing an indemnity and
the restoration of his land concession.
Without an examination of the record, which could
not be demanded after his release, it would be impossible to show that Waller
had been unjustly deprived of his property. The department is using every
effort to avoid falling into this trap, while at the same time it is determined
to protect Waller in all his interest.
PAGE
TWO—EDITORIALS.
The Root
of All Evil.
Amid all the discussion concerning the recent
Cortland caucus, and the charges and counter-charges of fraud, voting Democrats,
non-residents, etc., one fact stands out prominently, emphasized as it has been
time and again for years by successive caucuses, and time and again urged by
the STANDARD upon the attention both of the Republicans of this town and of all
the other towns of the county. That fact is that where either of the contesting
parties in a caucus in this village is determined upon using fraudulent means,
it is absolutely impossible to have a fair and honest vote. In a place of the
size of this village where only one caucus is held, and where this caucus embraces
not only the voters of election districts within the corporate limits but also
all the outlying districts in the town save two, no man or set of men can know the
residence and party affiliations of all the persons who offer to vote, and even
if these could be known, illegal voters if challenged could swear their way
through—as more than a few of them did last Saturday evening.
In the first place it is a crying shame that
the Republicans of a village of over 10,000
inhabitants, joined with their brethren from nearly the entire township, should
be compelled to do their primary voting in a single caucus, where from 1,000 to
1,500 votes are sometimes cast; and in the second place it is even more of an
outrage that these immense caucuses, representing districts casting nearly
1,500 Republican votes, should be entitled to send only four delegates to the
county convention, when four towns casting less than 100 Republican votes each,
and less than 350 Republican votes all told at the last presidential election, send
six delegates each —or about one-seventh of their entire Republican vote. In
other words, one-fourth as many Republicans as vote in the districts
represented in our Cortland caucus, send six times as many delegates as we do
to county convention. We are confident that another such an instance
of inequality and political injustice and outrage cannot be found in this or
any other state of the Union.
The continuance of this state of affairs, we
believe, is not so much due to the unwillingness of the outside towns to do justice
to this village as it is to the secret or open action of certain Cortland
Republicans who want to avail themselves of iniquities such as were perpetrated
at the recent Cortland caucus. Some of their
sympathizers hare openly declared in time past that it was easier to buy the
outside towns than it would be to fight Cortland, if caucuses were held by
election districts and fairly conducted. If these men are anxious for fair
play, as they claim, it can easily be assured in this village for all time to
come, and dissatisfaction and revolt against caucus results absolutely done
away with. All that is necessary is to have the representation in county
convention based on election districts and the Republican vote, instead of on
towns as at present, and then have a Republican association organized in every
district in the village, to which all known Republicans shall be entitled to
admission, and only members of such associations be allowed to vote in
caucuses.
Bitter factional fights in Onondaga county
have forced a reorganization of the Republican party in that county, under
which the sentiment of the party can find free and fair expression. We have
before us in pamphlet form the new "Constitution of the Republican Party
of the County of Onondaga, and Rules Governing Conventions and Primary
Elections" and an admirable piece of work it is. Such a constitution and such
rules would insure peace and harmony in Cortland county. The basis of representation
in Onondaga is the election district and the Republican vote, instead of the
town, and gives a county convention numbering 231 delegates. Primary elections
are held in the various towns and wards on the same day; delegates voting for
candidates for nomination in convention are obliged to rise in their places and
declare their choice, or the roll may be called by towns, and the chairman of
each delegation rise and announce the vote of the delegation; and various other
provisions are made, constituting an organization and plan of work which must
commend themselves to every Republican who believes that caucuses and
conventions are designed to express, and not suppress, the wishes of the party,
and that trickery, fraud and corruption are not all that should count for
anything in political action.
The STANDARD wants fair caucuses and conventions.
It has always stood for them and always will, so long as its present editor can
breathe or write. It condemns illegal voting, no matter who does it or in what
interest it is done or whether by its friends or its enemies. It bolted the
famous spring-bottom hat caucus, where more votes were cast in forty minutes
than there were Democrats and Republicans combined in the districts holding it,
and denounced it, and the
convention which endorsed it. It proposes to continue to denounce similar
corruptions so long as they exist. Men who are involved in such proceedings may
belie this paper and its editor, and call them all the vile and filthy names
which figure in the ordinary conversation of loafers and blackguards, and with
which decent men would not defile their mouths, but it will make no difference.
We shall not only unflinchingly and constantly oppose fraud and corruption, but
we shall hold ourselves ready at any and all times to drop and bury every
personal animosity and strike [sic] hands with our worst enemies in any honest
attempt to assure to the Republicans of this village and county fair caucuses
and a fair representation in county convention. We believe that today the
Republicans of the county see, as they never have before, the necessity of
doing something in these directions if we are to have a united party, and will
join the Republicans of Cortlandville in any reasonable effort to make things
right. Let those who declare that the recent caucus in this village was not all
that it should have been, and that they are opposed to anything which savors of
trickery or corruption, prove their faith by their works in aiding so to guard
our caucuses and conventions in future that fraud will be impossible. Onondaga
county and New York City Republicans have furnished us good models for organization.
Let us act upon them, and good will be brought out of evil and harmony out of
discord.
SAUNDERS NOMINATED
FOR
MEMBER OF ASSEMBLY ON THE FIRST BALLOT.
The
Brewer Delegation From Cortlandville Admitted to the Convention.
The Republican county convention was called
to order at 2 o'clock this afternoon in Taylor hall by Henry Howes, chairman of
the county committee, who nominated for chairman of the convention Mills G.
Frisbie of Scott, whose name had been agreed upon at a meeting of the county
committee in the morning, Mr. Frisbie was elected and took the chair. After
briefly thanking the convention for the honor he inquired the pleasure of the
convention.
On motion of F. M. Beardsley of Marathon, W.
A. Brink of Marathon and O. D. Patrick of Truxton were elected secretaries.
On motion of Rodolph Price of Virgil, N. J.
Baldwin of Cincinnatus and O. A.
House of Lapeer were elected tellers.
The oath of office was administered to all
the officers by Justice of the Peace H. A. Dickinson of Cortland.
The call for credentials was then made and
they were presented. Two sets of credentials were presented by the town of
Cortlandville, one set headed by the name of Edward H. Brewer, the other headed
by T. H. Wickwire. Otherwise the delegates were declared admitted to the
convention as indicated below.
A motion was made and carried that a
committee of five be appointed upon contesting delegations. Carried. Chairman
Frisbie called Secretary Brink to the chair while he retired with the list of
delegates to select the committee. He named them as follows: T. R. Space of Virgil,
Lyman Heberd of Homer, Alexander Lansing of Truxton, Daniel Tanner of Harford,
W. H. Holben of Scott. The committee reported in favor of the delegation headed
by Edward H. Brewer. N. L. Miller moved
the adoption of the report which was carried, and the delegation was admitted
to the convention.
Cincinnatus—Henry Knickerbocker, N. J.
Baldwin, B. R. Corning, O. E. Nichols, J. H. Murray, Oliver Griswold.
Cortlandville—E. H. Brewer, A. H. Watkins,
J. B. Kellogg, C. F. Brown, A. P. McGraw, J. H. Kelley.
Cuyler—Seabury S. Brown, H. P. Andrews, L.
S. Barber, B. D. Crandall, William Hinds, C. N. Knapp.
Freetown—Harvey Tuttle, M. M. Brown,
Sylvanus Smith, H. M. Dunbar, A. P. Smith, Frank Gardner.
Harford—A. T. Beard, C. W. Harrington, W. W.
Parker, Daniel Taner, John Jones, A. J. Butterfield.
Homer—Thomas Kennedy, Lyman H. Heberd, C. O.
Newton, Robert Watson, John Henry, C. H. Stevens.
Lapeer—Freeman Cook, H. L. Bronson, N. L.
Miller, J. I. Burden, Seymour Hults, O.
A. House.
Marathon—F. M. Beardsley, W. A. Brink,
Charles Brooks, Eugene Boyden, Arthur
Brainard, S. P. Jamieson.
Preble—Isaac Van Buskirk, Charles Wilbur,
Robert Dorothy, Wm. Van Denburgh, Joseph Moss, S. P. DuBois.
Scott—M. G. Frisbie, Jas. W. Newman, H. I.
Whiting, B. H. Bierce, W. H. Holben, E.
H. Underwood.
Solon—Chas. Manchester, Geo. Davis, Jerry
Atkins, Henry Hewitt, George W. Case, Thomas Marks.
Taylor—G. N. Skinner, Frank Garner, R. V.
Fuller, DeVer Ellis, William Andrews, A. S. Anderson.
Truxton—Alexander Lansing, T. J. Saunders,
A. R. Bryant, O. D. Patrick, William Crandall, P. J. Dwyer.
Virgil—George Moore, T. R. Space, Frank Marcey,
Rodolph Price, A. E. Gardner, E. B. Miller.
Willet—Benjamin Loomis, Ogden Burlingame,
John Jones, Bert Harris, Delos
Eaton, Lewis Gardner.
C. E. Boyden of Marathon moved that the
convention proceed by ballot to name delegates and candidates in the following
order: First, one delegate to the judicial convention; second, five state
convention delegates; third, seven senatorial delegates; fourth, candidate for
county judge and surrogate; fifth, member of assembly.
N. L. Miller moved to amend by making the
order as follows: Member of assembly, county judge, justice of sessions, coroner,
seven senatorial delegates, one judicial delegate, five state delegates. The
amendment prevailed.
Upon motion of A. P. Smith the convention proceeded
to an informal ballot for candidate for member of assembly.
The ballot resulted as follows:
Whole number cast, 89
Necessary to choice, 45
Frank P. Saunders, 53
Wilber Holmes, 24
Benjamin F. Lee, 12
H. P. Andrews of Cuyler moved that the
ballot be declared formal and Mr. Saunders
be declared unanimously nominated. The motion was seconded by Henry
Knickerbocker of Cincinnatus and the motion was unanimously adopted. Mr.
Saunders was called for and thanked the convention for the honor.
The convention was about to proceed to the
nomination of county judge as The STANDARD
went to press. It was expected that Judge J. E. Eggleston would be nominated by
acclamation to succeed himself.
BREVITIES.
—The Y. M. C. A. bathrooms will be closed
Saturday night at 10 o'clock for one week for renovation.
—The proprietors of Ithaca's new canning factory
propose to work up about fifty thousand bushels of apples this fall.
—There are now 2,400 inmates of Willard
asylum. For these, 1,300 loaves of bread are made daily in Geneva.
—Mrs. G. H. Jones has removed her millinery
and hair goods establishment to the store on Railroad-st., recently vacated by
J. D. Green.
—Mr. George P. Yager is making quite
extensive improvements at his residence on Argyle Place by adding a nice flower
conservatory.
—A private dancing party composed of young
people will enjoy themselves at the park to-night. Music will be furnished by
McDermott's orchestra.
—The First M. E. church picnic will be held
at the park to-morrow. Every one is
requested to be on hand to go at 10 o'clock with dinner baskets well filled.
—We are requested to state that it is imperative
that every Sir Knight [Templar] who intends going to Niagara Falls should be
at the meeting this evening at the asylum.
—The Misses Venette and Editha Stephens and
Miss Emily G. Ormsby entertained a large number of their lady friends at dinner
to-day at 1 o'clock at the park.
—Supervisor Bingham of Solon has the first
round trip ticket sold by the Cortland & Homer Traction Co. over the McGrawville
line. It has been carefully laid away with the intention of keeping awhile. Maybe
something of a curiosity twenty years hence.
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