 |
| Engine on the Lehigh Valley Railroad, 1897. |
Cortland
Semi-Weekly Standard, Friday,
February 28, 1896.
LEHIGH OFFICIALS
MAKE A CAREFUL INSPECTION OF
LOCAL PROPERTY.
No Immediate Changes
Contemplated—Well Pleased with All That They See.
(From the Daily Standard on
Wednesday.)
The Lehigh Valley R. R. officials returned last night from their inspection of the east
end of the E., C. & N. R. R., or of the Elmira and Cortland branch of the
Auburn division of the Lehigh Valley R. R., as it must now be called. At an
early hour this morning they started on a tour of inspection of the
local property. Representatives of different branches of the industry of the
road visited different portions of the property here. General Superintendent
Wilbur and Superintendent Titus and Roadmaster Swart of this division with some
others looked over pretty much the whole property. Electricians Lattig and
Daniel confined their observations to Dispatcher Clark’s office. Mr. Cole of
the car accountant’s office inspected Car Accountant Morse's way of doing
business. Storekeeper Coleman spent some
time with Storekeeper James Walsh at the store. Others were busy in various
ways.
A STANDARD
reporter spoke with Superintendent Titus in regard to the inspection and that
gentleman said that the party were very much pleased with what they saw along
the whole line of the road. It seemed rather strange to him to be looking over
this road with the thought that he was to have it in charge. He felt very
familiar with every foot of the old Southern Central road which now forms the
main part of the Auburn division. His connection with that began more than
twenty-nine years ago when he was appointed its superintendent, about six
months before the road was completed. He remembered well when this road was
built. He was well acquainted with Mr. Fred Pomeroy of Cortland, now of New
York, its first superintendent, who has since come to prominence in important
positions on various large roads. His relations with Superintendent Albert
Allen had always been very pleasant and it was with something of embarrassment
that he came here to succeed him. Everything that he saw about the road, the
road bed, the condition of the rolling stock, the property at the different
stations, all reflected largely to Mr. Allen’s credit as manager. He hoped to
come to Cortland soon to get acquainted with people here. It would be
impossible for him to live here or to be here a very large portion of the time
and he should doubtless be compelled to have some one here to represent him in
the management of this division.
The
question which interests so many Cortland people, as to a change in the
location of the car shops, was asked and Mr. Titus replied that he was unable
to answer that and he thought no one of the party could speak upon that now. The
manager of the main carshops would probably soon come up here to look over
these shops and then some decision could be reached. In the meantime everything
would go on as before.
The
question of the possible extension of the road to the St. Lawrence river and to
Syracuse was asked. Mr. Titus laughed as he replied that he really thought the
newspapers knew more about that than anybody connected with the road. He had
noticed that the Syracuse papers almost had the building of an extension under
way and arrangements all made, but he thought that no officer of the road had
yet gone so far.
Mr. Titus
said that for the present most things would probably remain about as they are.
They did not contemplate any material change in the near future. He was
gratified at the loyalty Cortland people manifested toward the E., C. & N.
road for he was sure that that loyalty would be transferred to the Lehigh, and he
was confident that the coming of this large railroad system, opening as it
would another trunk line to Cortland, would not be at all to the disadvantage of
Cortland.
The special
train left for the west at about 10 o’clock to complete the inspection.
◘ It is fortunate for Cortland and this whole line that in the change of superintendent
of this division so excellent a man as Mr. Titus is put in charge. He is
personally known to a number of Cortland people and these all unite in the
sentiment of others along the line of the Auburn division in approbation of the
high character of Mr. Titus as a man, and of his ability, efficiency, courtesy
and kindliness as a manager.
◘ Mr. Allen will close his connection with the road at the end of this
month, on Saturday of this week. A report was in circulation that he was to
take a position as superintendent of the Long Island road, but Mr. Allen denied
this. He says he has not yet decided what he will do. He
will carry from Cortland when he leaves the kindliest feeling of all with whom
he has come in contact, employees or others.
◘ Among the employees of the E., C & N. road who have been with it
during the longest time may be mentioned Conductor P. F. MacMartin of Elmira
who has been a conductor on the line for twenty-five years. Everyone who travels
on this road is familiar with his white hair and beard and kindly face. Patrick
Clancy has been the efficient roadmaster for nearly twenty years and before
that was a section foreman from the building of the road. E. D. Phillips,
station agent at Cortland, has looked out through the ticket window here for
eighteen years, and for patrons to buy a ticket at this station from any one
else would seem strange enough, for rain or shine, year in and year out, he has
always been on duty. J. R. Birdlebough is one of the oldest heads of
departments in point of service. For thirteen years he has been superintendent
of bridges and buildings, and for several years before his elevation to the
head of that department he was a member of the force. Every bridge, culvert and
building on the road is constantly photographed before his watchful eye. There
are others who have been on the road for long periods, and it is to be hoped
that with the new change of arrangement, changes in the departments may not
come.
Commends Superintendent Titus.
The Owego Record well says the management of
the Lehigh show good judgment when it turns the management of the newly
acquired E., C. & N. road over to Superintendent H. D. Titus of the Auburn
division. That gentlemen has never been found wanting when weighed in any condition
of affairs requiring a cool head and good railroad common sense and while this
will impose additional duties they will be well performed and there will be no
slighting of any other matters that may be entrusted to him.
SALE POSTPONED.
Sheriff Restrained From Selling the Hitchcock
Stock.
The sheriff’s sale of the Hitchcock
Manufacturing company’s personal property which was to have taken place at 10 o’clock
Tuesday has been postponed to March 10 at 10 o’clock and Tuesday morning
Sheriff Hilsinger posted notices to that effect.
The cause of the postponement is an order
issued by Judge Forbes restraining the sheriff from selling until after the hearing
and determination of a certain motion. This motion was one made before Judge
Forbes by J. William Wilson of Syracuse, attorney for the receivers to set
aside the levy. This motion is made returnable before Judge Forbes at Norwich
Tuesday, March 3.
FIVE DOLLARS.
Fine Paid by Adolph Skinner For Leaving his
Horses Out.
Tuesday evening as Attorney E. E. Mellon was
walking down Main-st. at about 10:30 o’clock some one made complaint to him
that there was a team hitched on Port Watson-st. which needed the attention of
the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Mr. Mellon, who is
attorney for the society, investigated and found that the team had been
standing near the foundry for several hours and he ordered it taken to Baker’s
hitching barn. Next morning a warrant was sworn out before Police Justice Bull charging
Adolph Skinner with cruelty to animals. Skinner was arrested and when brought
before the court pleaded not guilty and paid a fine of five dollars.
DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.
TWO REPUBLICANS PUT AT HEAD OF TICKET.
Charles H. Price for President, E. E. Mellon for
Police Justice—Others Are Democrats.
Fireman’s hall was again Tuesday
night the scene of a political convention.
This time there was a gathering of Democracy’s representatives
elected in the ward caucuses Monday night pursuant to a call for a
Democratic village convention. For two or three days there had
been rumors of a fusion between the Democrats and certain of the Republicans,
the ticket previously agreed upon by the leaders was adopted in the old
stereotyped fashion in the Democratic convention last night. This is how it was
done.
C. E. Rowley called the convention to order and nominated John
D. Norton for chairman. Mr. Norton assumed the chair and then Mr. Rowley
nominated Charles W. Barker and Hubert R. Maine for secretaries. Mr. Rowley
then put his own motion while the newly elected chairman stood in amazement.
The mistake was observed and due apologies were offered to the chairman who re-put
the motion and declared the gentlemen elected. James T. Davern and James
McDowell were elected tellers and the oath of office was administered to Notary
Public Edwin Duffey.
At this juncture Edwin Duffey
arose and said: “As I understand it, there is at this time being held in
another hall a meeting of citizens to consider the nominations of candidates
for village offices whose sole object is good government and I move the
appointment of a committee of five from this convention to confer with a
similar committee from that meeting in regard to a suitable ticket.”
The following committee was
appointed: C. E. Rowley, Dennis McCarthy, W. W. Winters, W. L. Wingate, Edwin
Duffey. The committee retired and in fifteen minutes reported the following ticket:
President—Charles H. Price.
Police Justice—Enos E. Mellon.
Assessor—Burdette Howard.
Collector—H. H. Pudney.
Treasurer—George V. Clark.
School Commissioners—George L. Warren,
Asa J. White, George J. Mager.
Inspectors of Election:
Second ward—A. B. Nelson, John Nix.
Fourth ward—Michael Burns, A. E.
Hitchcock.
The convention ratified the
ticket and made the following additional nominations:
Trustee, Second ward—Luther T.
White.
Trustee, Fourth ward—J. Hub
Wallace,
Inspectors, First ward—Fred L McDowell,
Fred Wilkins.
Third ward—E. G. Tibbits, John
Lanan.
The proceedings were continued
by the election of the following village committee:
Committeeman-at-large—C. E. Rowley.
First ward—Dennis McCarthy.
Second ward—John D. Norton.
Third ward—Hugh Corcoran.
Fourth ward—Edwin Duffey.
The convention adopted the star
as the party emblem.
A committee consisting of John
Corcoran, Burdette Howard and Frank
Dowd was appointed to wait upon Mr. Mellon and bring him before the
convention. Mr. Mellon soon appeared amid Democratic applause and said:
“Mr. chairman and gentlemen, I desire to express my sincere thanks for the honor
you have conferred in nominating me for police justice and with that,
gentlemen, I will bid you good night.” The convention then adjourned.
◘ The other meeting referred
to was a caucus of independent Republicans in the office of E. E. Mellon.
Edward Keator was chairman and W. C. Crombie was secretary. A committee consisting
of G. S. Van Hoesen, Thomas Jones and A.B. Corwin was appointed to meet a
similar committee from the Democratic caucus and recommended a ticket. This committee
recommended the same ticket that the Democratic committee did, which was
adopted. This ticket is nominated by petition while the same ticket was
nominated by the regular Democratic convention and therefore the same names
will appear in two different columns on the official ballot.
MR. BENTON INTERVIEWED.
WILL PROSECUTE ALL VIOLATIONS OF LAW.
If Elected, Will Do All He Can for the Best Interests
of Cortland Village.
Within the last few days many stories have
been in circulation as to what Mr. Benton’s position, if elected to the
presidency of the village, would be on this or on that subject, what he had
said and what he had not said. Some of these were calculated to injure his
candidacy. It was not believed that he had taken some of the positions
attributed to him and a STANDARD man called upon him to secure an affirmation
or denial of these.
One of the stories reported was
that Mr. Benton had said that he would be able to do nothing in the line of
attending to the president’s duties beyond being present at two or three
meetings of the trustees each month. Mr. Benton denied that he had ever made
such a statement. He said that he had in the first place emphatically declined
to accept the nomination. He had his own extensive business to attend to.
Some citizens had called upon
him and had urged his acceptance of the nomination and had rather made light of
the duties of the office and had said that there would be no unreasonable calls
upon his time or attention. He had taken that statement for what it was worth.
He understood it to be merely an argument to secure his acceptance of the
nomination. He knew full well that Cortland village or any other village did
not have a president unless there was something for him to do. He knew that
whoever accepted the presidency and was elected must at the same time accept
all the duties that go with it. He had at last reluctantly accepted, not
because he wanted the office, not because he had any political aspirations, but
because he thought perhaps he could do some good in the way of harmonizing
factions.
A committee from the Good
Government club had called upon him immediately after the Republican convention
last Saturday and had inquired what his position would be upon law enforcement.
He had replied to them that he was in favor of law enforcement and was in full
sympathy with the movement in that direction. Whenever he knew of any
violations of law he should favor prosecuting the violators. The committee had
said to him that during the past year Dr. Higgins had devoted a large share of his
time to securing evidence against violators and in prosecutions. Would he do
the same thing? He had frankly told them that he would not do so, he had too
much other private business to attend to, and there would be too many other
duties requiring the attention of the president of the village to permit it.
The committee had inquired what he considered the duties of the president of
the village to be, and he had told them he did not yet fully know what those
duties were, but whatever they were he expected to attend to them if elected.
Mr. Benton asked the STANDARD
man where he could get a copy of the village charter and said that it was his
purpose to immediately possess himself of a copy and to make it a study until
he should fully understand what the president’s duties were. Mr. Benton told
the reporter that he had not the slightest doubt but that if elected he should
sadly neglect his own business in looking after the duties of the village. He
had expected that when he had agreed to take the nomination. It always proved
to be that way whenever he undertook any public duty of any kind. Mr. Benton
said that he had not sought the office or the nomination and he did not purpose
to go into it with a rope around his neck and with any one leading him. He
would give no pledges to any one of what he would do or what he would not do
beyond saying that if elected he should try to do his very best to further the
best interests of Cortland village as a whole.
A story is in circulation,
started from some source unknown, that Mr. Benton told the Good Government club
committee that if elected he would not sign the complaint for the prosecution
of any violator of the excise law. Mr. Benton branded this as absolutely false.
One member of the committee also told a STANDARD man that this was entirely false,
no such question was asked Mr. Benton and no such answer was received.
Mr. Benton said further that if
he were elected it would be because the people wanted him to be president, as
he should not ask a person to vote for him. He regretted exceedingly that the
nomination of Dr. Higgins had not been made before the Republican convention, as
in that case he certainly would not have been a candidate against him. He was
sorry that two tickets, both of which might be supposed to represent good
government were in the field, as he feared that the only outcome would be to
pass the whole matter over into the hands of its enemies and that everything
gained so far would be lost and that the cause of good government in Cortland
would receive a blow from which it would not rally in years, if ever.
Mr. Benton summed up the whole matter
by saying that he could not and would not give any pledge as to what he would
do in any specific case that might arise. He could only be governed by circumstances,
but in general he would say that he would in every case try to do his very best
not for the interests of one person or of one faction or of one ward, but for the
whole village of Cortland.
CITIZENS’ CONVENTION.
FULL TICKET PUT IN THE FIELD FOR MARCH 10.
Dr. Pearce and Rev. M. J. Wells Favor Endorsing Mr.
Benton, but are Over Ruled.
(From the Daily Standard of Tuesday.)
There was a large attendance at
Fireman’s hall last night at the caucus of citizens interested in law
enforcement. The meeting was called to order by Prof. D. L. Bardwell who named
Prof. J. E. Banta for chairman. Prayer was offered by Rev. M. J. Wells, and
Prof. W. A. Cornish was elected secretary. The tellers were M. L. Decker and
Martin Edgcomb. The oath of office was administered by J. D. F. Woolston,
notary public.
The motion of Prof. Bardwell to
proceed to an informal ballot for president prevailed. At this point Rev. M. J.
Wells arose and called for the report of a committee which he understood had waited
upon Mr. Benton, the Republican candidate.
Prof. Bardwell said he was on
that committee which visited Mr. Benton Saturday afternoon. Mr. Benton told the
committee that he accepted the nomination with great reluctance and with the understanding
that the duties of the office would require nothing more than attendance upon
two or three meetings of the board a month. He was in entire sympathy with and
had great admiration for the work of the citizens’ movement, but his time was
so fully taken up with business that he had no time to do anything more than to
attend the meetings of the board.
The informal ballot resulted:
F. W. Higgins, 25
H. F. Benton, 4
Blank, 1
H. M. Kellogg moved to declare
the ballot formal. There was objection and at this point. Dr. L. H. Pearce
arose and said:
It is a moment for caution. The
most important plank in the platform of the
Citizens’ movement is independence from national party politics in
municipal affairs. Our ticket must be made up of the best men that are most
true to our cause and are available irrespective of whether they have or have
not been nominated on other tickets. Mr. Benton is a charter member of the good
government club. He, without hesitation, has declared that he is in hearty
sympathy with the citizens’ movement to enforce law. He believes that the laws
should be enforced against illegal liquor selling as against other crimes. He
is a no-license man and was on the platform as one of the vice-presidents at
the late no-license Opera House meeting. He is a popular, influential businessman
of large means, There is just one objection to his nomination. Our committee
who waited on Mr. Benton inform us that he frankly declares that he could give
almost no attention to the duties of president beyond attending the meetings of
the trustees, that he could give no such time to that office as did Mr. Tisdale
and has Dr. Higgins. But it must not be forgotten that the work of the Good
Government club is to go on, no matter who is elected, and with the sympathy, approval
and official sanction of the president the club could supply his lack of
service in pushing on the work of enforcing the law. If we nominate Dr. Higgins,
whose record as president has been splendid, we shall divide the temperance sentiment.
Both Mr. Benton and Dr. Higgins will probably be defeated and we shall have a
board of trustees and a police force unfriendly to our cause. Thus our defeat
will be about complete for at least one year. If we nominate some one else than
Mr. Benton the only hope of his election would be in an unprecedented campaign
on the part of the busy professional and business men who are leading in this
movement.
Prof. Bardwell said that in
nominating Dr. Higgins the record of the past year would be endorsed. It would
be an injustice to Mr. Benton and to the cause to nominate him. He was of the opinion
that Dr. Higgins could be elected.
Rev. M. J. Wells said the
convention should be careful, cautious and considerate. He rather favored Mr.
Benton.
Rev. B. F. Weatherwax spoke in
favor of Dr. Higgins.
The formal ballot resulted:
Higgins, 26
Benton, 6
Dr. Higgins was declared the
nominee.
On motion of Dr. F. D. Reese, C.
W. Collins was unanimously nominated for treasurer.
H. M. Kellogg nominated O. K. George
for collector.
Dr. Pearce moved a formal ballot
which resulted:
O. K. George, 17
G. W. Porter, 10
F. A. Woodworth, 1
A. Huffman, 1
For assessor Charles E. Sanders
was nominated by acclamation.
J. A. Jayne nominated Charles S. Bull for police justice and Dr.
Pearce seconded it. It was unanimous.
On motion of Prof, Bardwell the
following were nominated for school commissioners: F. E. Whitmore, Dr. George
H. Smith, Dr. S. J. Sornberger.
The following were elected a
village committee with power to fill vacancies and nominate candidates for
trustees and inspectors of election: D. L. Bardwell, M. H. Yale, J. D. F.
Woolston, J. J. Glann, H. M. Kellogg. After the signing of the petition for
nominating the convention adjourned.
DR. HIGGINS WITHDRAWS.
Urges the Substitution of Mr. Benton’s Name on Both
Tickets.
To the Editor of the Standard:
SIR—I understand that a
committee of citizens have waited upon Mr. H. F. Benton, and that he has
expressed himself emphatically in favor of the enforcement of law by the
village officers and in all respects upon the citizens’ platform. Since I have
always had the utmost respect for Mr. Benton as a man and a citizen, I feel
sure that, holding this position, the office could not possibly fall into
better hands. Furthermore, it seems to me that the election of president of the
village this spring will depend, as it should, entirely upon issues outside of party
lines. That there may be no division among the friends of good government, I
take this early opportunity to decline the nomination with which my friends
have thought best to honor me, and shall ask that the name of Mr. Benton be
substituted for mine on both tickets where mine appears.
Very respectfully,
F. W. Higgins.
No comments:
Post a Comment