The Cortland Democrat, Friday, October 21, 1898.
ISSUES FOR THE PEOPLE.
When does a candidate stand no show of election? When he is a tax dodger.
If Theodore Roosevelt swore to the truth last March, he is ineligible. If Theodore Roosevelt is eligible, he swore to a falsehood last March.
Did anyone overhear of a farmer dodging, or trying to dodge his taxes? Will the farmers vote for Roosevelt? The same word answers both questions.
Do the voters of this state want a Platt dummy in the United States Senate at Washington? That is what they will have, if the next State Legislature is Republican—Albany Argus.
One of the planks of the platform adopted by the Republican convention at Saratoga reads as follows: "We commend the administration of Governor Black. It has been wise, statesmanlike, careful and economical." Is not this a good enough reason for voting the straight Democratic ticket? Not one man in a thousand concurs in the assertion made in the platform and why not vote as you believe?
The Cortland Standard persists in the idea that Cortland is still under the 1897 regime at the county jail. Tuesday evening they spoke of a man who had been taken to jail as "boarding with Sheriff Hilsinger." To the best of our knowledge and belief Arthur E. Brainard took the oath of office as sheriff on January 1st last, and he is still serving. Black's starchless civil service may depose him but we doubt it.
Speaking of national issues in state affairs, Platt now proposes to have President McKinley assist the Roosevelt boom with a couple of speeches. Locally, the same state of affairs is apparent when United States Commissioner of Patents C. H. Duell writes a letter to Cortland county Republicans and has it printed in the Cortland Standard. His argument is all based upon the issues paramount in a national campaign with nothing to say about the canal steal, Raines law, force bill or civil service. That letter is a vote-getter—nit.
Taking Col. Roosevelt's affidavit for authority, he was a citizen of this state in 1897 but his 1897 taxes are still unpaid.
Roosevelt's admonition, "Thou shalt not steal" will be supplemented by the people at the polls with "Thou shalt not dodge the tax collector."—Oneida Union.
The German-American Reform Union which represents 47,000 voters in New York city has declared in favor of Van Wyck for governor.
The stars and stripes were raised over Porto Rico Tuesday at noon. The people of that island now owe allegiance to no power or nation except the United States, "the land of the free and the home of the brave."
The farmers of this state represent an interest of great importance. They are entitled to a friend at court. In the election as State Treasurer of Elliot B. Norris, master of the State Grange, they will secure a thoroughly first class business man, peculiarly attached to the agricultural class and watchful in its behalf.
No one has yet explained why, if Col. Roosevelt has $50,000 worth of personal property in Madison-ave., he did not pay, nor why he went and paid taxes on $50,000 worth of personal property in Madison-ave., if he did not owe these same taxes. And if he did owe these taxes why in blazes did he not pay them in the first place?
Paying taxes after his nomination does not relieve Colonel Roosevelt from the stigma of dodging them before. A person deserves no credit for doing what is right because the law compels him to. Roosevelt paid no taxes at all on personal assessment in 1897. He would have paid none this year if he had not been nominated for Governor.—Oneida Union.
The Change in Our Ticket.
Since our last issue a change has occurred in the ticket that heads the first column on this page. The name of R. Bruce Smith [registered Republican and former Cortlandville supervisor—CC editor] has been substituted for that of Walter A. Cook, Jr., as our candidate for member of assembly. This change has been brought about by a succession of events that has been gradually leading to that result as the legitimate and logical outcome of the peculiar conditions existing in this county at the present time.
The Democratic party in Cortland county has always been a minority party. The only way it ever has been able to accomplish anything in the way of local party success has been through the dissatisfaction and disintegration of its opponents. In other words, 2,000 Democrats cannot outvote 4,000 Republicans; unless, perchance, they are permitted to make the effort at a Republican machine caucus and under Republican machine methods.
The chief trouble with that general situation is, however, that party disaffection and dissatisfaction, whenever they have sprung up among our opponents have been so rare, so weak and so short-lived that only two of three times in the past twenty years have the Democrats been able to gather any of the fruit in the way of county offices. That being the condition of affairs, the argument is easy that it is a part of the Democratic duty to foster and cultivate and coax along each struggling plant of Republican disaffection and make it thrifty so that we may occasionally "shake the plum tree," as Senator Quay says, and elect somebody.
That was exactly the opportunity that was presented at the last Democratic county convention. Unquestionably a majority of the delegates to that convention favored the endorsement of R. Bruce Smith for member of assembly solely on grounds of party policy, believing it impossible to elect a Democrat and also believing it to be the only way to prevent a Republican victory. Before that proposition was submitted to the convention, however, the name of a Democrat was suggested who stated to the convention that he did not wish the nomination but would go upon the ticket if it was thought that the best interests of the party required it and with that reservation and upon that statement, Walter A. Cook, Jr., was nominated and the county committee was authorized to fill the vacancy in case he should thereafter decide to decline.
Since that convention events have been progressing quite rapidly and it has become perfectly apparent to all that the only possible way to prevent the achieving of a victory for the old Republican machine, which is still grinding on in spite of recent disasters, was to bring about some union of strength, between the two minority candidates, Mr. Cook and Mr. Smith. Their combined forces outnumber those of the common enemy and render the defeat of that common enemy certain.
At this juncture the matter was referred by Mr. Cook and the Democratic leaders to the state committee and the situation was fully explained and carefully considered in all its phases. It was stated to that committee, among other things, that Mr. Smith is personally one of the popular men in Cortland county; that he is a man who will honor any party by consenting to be its candidate; and that his election would be a victory for good government and honest politics and for independent action in politics and a defeat for the old Republican ring and its machine men and methods. It was also stated to the committee that neither Mr. Cook nor any other Democrat in the county could poll the full party vote because of the unfortunate dissensions that have arisen in our own party—the leader of one faction having publicly stated, immediately after the convention, that he would not support or vote for Mr. Cook—and also because of the fact that many Democrats throughout the county had already announced their intention to vote for Mr. Smith.
The attention of the committee was also called to the effect of the Independent movement upon the state ticket in this county last fall when a Republican plurality of 2,400 in 1896 was reduced to less than 500 in 1897 and it was predicted that a similar victory could be expected this year if our Independent friends be not repelled by us but instead be invited and encouraged to make the strength of their movement and position felt by striking directly at the Platt-machine state ticket and thereby wounding their enemy in a vital part. It was also suggested that if a Democrat could not represent this county at Albany, the next best result would be to have our next member of assembly an independent, anti-organizations anti-Platt Republican, who would be equivalent numerically to half a Democrat.
These suggestions, among others, led State committee and leaders without hesitation to consent to Mr. Cook's withdrawal. The members of the County committee were also practically unanimous in taking the same view of the matter. The result is that the Democrats and Independents of Cortland county, though marching under different banners, have for the time being joined forces for the purpose of defeating their common enemy and of winning a joint victory over the regular Republican machine in the state and county.
FOR GRAND JURY.
ALLEGED HORSE THIEF ARRESTED IN VIRGIL.
Supposed to Have Been Accomplice of Horace Cole in Stealing Horse and Rig of John Downs—An Elmira Horse Found.
Men from the Sheriff's office were hot after Horace Cole for stealing a horse and rig of John Downs of Blodgett Mills, when he was arrested in Towanda, Pa. They recovered the Downs' property and the other work they did has just leaked out.
It appears that Erving D. Congden of Virgil was in the company of Cole when he was arrested; but Cole said he had just picked him up and that he was in no way implicated. Congden was released. He returned home and soon afterward Cortland officers visited his home in Virgil and found a strange horse. This was later identified and taken home by Liveryman Parsons of Elmira. Congden was then arrested by John Miller and taken before Justice Winslow who held him in $500 bail to await the action of the grand jury. In default of bail he reposes with Sheriff Brainard.
SCARE AT MCLEAN.
A MILD TYPE OF SMALL POX CALLED VARIOLA.
Many Have Been Exposed—Not Fatal but Several Cases Quarantined—Supposed Result of Joshua Simpkins' Tour.
The latter part of last week people in this state were much excited over the report that McLean, N. Y., had an epidemic of smallpox. It is supposed to result from the trip of the Joshua Simpkins troupe which was through the country and later quarantined at Geneva. The Ithaca Journal gives the following particulars:
"The epidemic at McLean proves to be, as suspected by Ithaca physicians, a mild form of small pox. Dr. E. J. Morgan, health officer of Ithaca, and Dr. Hitchcock, a member of the health board, as stated in yesterday's Journal, went to McLean, expecting to meet the representative of the State board of health. The expert was late in arriving, however, and the Ithaca representatives decided to inspect a number of suspects without him. They stated to the local doctors that they came to McLean in the interests of the people of Ithaca, They were courteously received and permitted to see a number of the patients. Dr. Morgan upon a first glance was thoroughly satisfied that the ailment was small pox. The first patient was a lady who has been ill for six weeks. She has a sister who has had the same illness who was partially recovered and who is now teaching school. The doctors then saw a mother and child, both confined to bed and covered with the small pox pustules. Impetigo contagiosa, which the local doctors pronounced the disease to be, is a skin disease but is confined mostly to children and consists of a slight breaking out on the face and arms, and generally disappears in a few days, leaving no marks. In the cases examined the doctors found the genuine small pox marks. They deemed it unnecessary to examine any further suspects and gave their opinion to the local doctors that it was genuine small pox of a mild form.
It appears that there have been all told about twenty five cases of the disease and with the exposure to which hundreds of people have been subjected, the number may run up still farther. There have been many gatherings in McLean during the last two months and quite a number of people have undoubtedly been exposed.
One of the patients recently attended a small convention with the disease in full bloom. A number of the patients have recovered and at the present time there are, as near as can be learned, fourteen people sick. Upon returning to Ithaca Dr. Morgan received the following dispatch from the state board of health small pox expert:
HERE AND THERE.
To-day and to-morrow are the last days of registration.
The Grand Union Tea company give away sewing tables to-morrow. See local.
The cooking school in the Y. M. C. A. is a great attraction of the ladies this week.
We are now ready to receive about twenty cords of wood on subscription and allow market prices.
Jay Dubois fell through the trestle at D. E. Call's coal yard Monday and sprained his ankle quite badly.
Heard In a barber shop—Did many Jews go to war? Not unless their parents held life insurance policies on them.
The Loyal Circle of King's Daughters will meet with Mrs. Coburn, 30 Union-st., Friday, Oct. 21st, at 2:30 P. M. Come prepared to sew.
Asphalt has been laid west of the tracks from Groton-ave. around to Lincoln-ave. The work will proceed night and day when the weather permits.
It is an offense against the criminal laws of the state to wear the button or badge of the G. A. R. except for a comrade in good standing of some post.
Commissioner G. J. Mager presided at the monthly meeting of the board of education in the absence of Chairman Carley. Routine business only was transacted.
Black Patti's Troubadours gave one of the best entertainments ever seen in Cortland Tuesday evening. They are all right and the star is exceptionally fine.
The chart for seats for the Normal [School] lecture course will be at McKinney & Doubleday's tomorrow. Tickets for the season $1 to students, and $1.50 to others. The entertainments are worth many times the price.
Smith Mead, formerly night operator at the D. L. & W. depot in Cortland and recently transferred to Whitney Point, has been promoted to be station agent at Little York. We are glad to see him get the better position.
The volunteer soldiers who desire to preserve their arms and other accoutrements supplied them by the government as relics of the war, will be allowed to buy them at cost price, the amount to be taken out of their pay.
Messrs. Wallace & Gilmore, who conduct the Richardson theatre in Oswego and the Cortland opera house have leased the Stephens opera house in Fulton. These hustling managers will give Fulton a fine line of attractions.
The cooking school conducted by Miss Vernon in the Y. M. C. A. rooms this week is well attended and Cortland husbands are feasting upon a host of fancy dishes which their wives prefer first to try on the sharer of their joys and sorrows.
According to our Groton City correspondent, Mrs. Louisa French of that place is the possessor of a rare old newspaper file in the shape of a bound volume of the McGrawville Sentinel of the year 1847, edited by her father, Rev. Mr. Boynton.
Charles Davis, a colored employe [sic] of the Warren-Scharf paving company was very much intoxicated last Saturday evening and he did some promiscuous shooting with a revolver. Monday he was arrested and Police Justice Mellon gave him six months in Onondaga penitentiary.
Ithaca is to be congratulated. The Ithaca Gun company has purchased the entire plant of the Wilkesbarre Arms company, maker of the Wilkesbarre and Barry gun. The whole equipment will be moved to Ithaca and added to the plant of the Ithaca Gun company, making it the largest of its kind in the world.—Ithaca Democrat.
Flour make from potatoes is coming into quite general use. It is cheaper than good wheat flour and is said to be highly nutritious. It is beautifully white and especially adapted to confectionery and fancy bakery work. Some Rochester bakeries are advertising potato flour bread.
The village trustees on Monday evening audited a few bills and Messrs. White and Sprague were made a committee to see about a better heating system for Firemen's hall. Mr. White was made a committee to have a pipe laid to carry off the water from Madison-st. The treasurer was ordered to pay the $500 voted by the taxpayers for the firemen's convention.
The trial of Arthur O'Donnell, charged with cruelty to animals, was held in Justice Dowd's court last Saturday, E. E. Mellon appearing for the people and James Dougherty for the defendant. After the examination of several witnesses the plaintiff's counsel voluntarily consented to the discharge of the defendant and the case was dismissed.
Our farmers are highly elated over the result of the annual meeting of the central union of the Five States Milk Producers' union held at Binghamton Tuesday. The association has now 3,715 members and control 89,465 cows with a production of 13,526 cans of milk. H. T. Coon of Little York was elected secretary, and the executive committee was instructed to visit New York and arrange the price of milk with the dealers.
Kennedy Bros. have a wheel in the window of the Model clothing company which is run every evening from 5 to 9 o'clock by a small electric motor. The number of revolutions is checked each Saturday night and the one guessing nearest the correct number receives a $5 gold piece or a barrel of flour. Any one purchasing to the amount of 25 cents is entitled to guess.
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