CONSIDERABLE CONJECTURE AND MANY RUMORS

 

William H. Clark, lawyer, journalist and publisher.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, December 2, 1898.

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

   There has been considerable conjecture and many rumors as to the probable action of the Republican members of the board of supervisors in regard to the awarding of the publication of the session laws for the coming year. Brother Clark of the Standard went before the board last year and urged them to give him the work then as he needed the money at that time. The understanding then was, and it was spread on the minutes, that they were to go to the Homer Republican this year. Now Mr. Clark has been before the board to claim that the amendment to the law which he secured last winter is mandatory and that the board had no choice in the matter but to make the award to the Standard. The Attorney General has been asked for his opinion and he says that the law as amended is not mandatory but simply directory.

   This is evidently not in accordance with Mr. Clark's idea when he had the law framed and his talks to the board sound as though he desired to play the hog and freeze out the Homer paper entirely. If Mr. Clark had this idea in mind he certainly received his deserts Tuesday when the Republican members held a caucus and the matter came to a vote. There were but two votes for the Standard. In the face of the action taken in this matter by last year's board and the real justice of the question, this was two votes more than the Standard and Brother Clark had a right to ask or expect. It has always been customary for the supervisors to give this work to the Homer Republican every third year and to the Standard the other two years. This is possibly a fair arrangement; at least the Standard has no kick coming, for while the Republican has always been a staunch party paper, the Standard has been on all sides of the fence. Rumor says that if William H. Clark does not get the appointment as postmaster in Cortland that he will begin legal steps to endeavor to compel the supervisors to give the Standard the session laws for 1899. We have no vindictive feelings for the Standard but there are other papers in the county and "right wrongs no man."

 

Chauncey M. Depew.

POLITICAL NOTES.

   Senator Depew would be apt to begin his speeches in the Upper House with "That reminds me,"—Lockport Union-Sun.

   Spain is like a cabbage. It has a big head and a large body resting on a slim foundation.—Albany Times Union.

   The necessity of increasing the membership of the cabinet will be unavoidable if colonial expansion is to be the new policy of the government.—Syracuse Herald.

   "A door must be either shut or open," Mr. McKinley. If the Philippines are annexed the "scum of Asia" will be free to settle in the United States.—World.

   The suggestion of Depew as Senator is a good one. What the country needs in that body is a talker who can out-talk everybody else. And, Depew is the man.—Atlanta Constitution.

   Col. Teddy says he will appoint only men of spotless character to office. This will have the effect of sending quite a number of New York Republicans to the renovating department.—Washington Post.

   The Chesapeake and Ohio canal, which cost the state of Maryland $25,000,000, is now on the bargain counter. New York could make money, and a lot of it at that, through a similar disposition of her artificial waterways—Binghamton Leader.

   Of all the candidates on the Democratic State ticket this year, the one most honored by Republican abuse was Elliott Danforth,  and yet he has run about 6,000 votes ahead of Judge Van Wyck. Mud slinging is not political argument.—Bath Advocate.

   With Boss Platt as stage director, these senatorial candidates find it difficult to keep both in the center of the stage and n range of the lime light. In grasping for the toga, their present skirt dancing is more amusing than dignified.—Syracuse Courier.

   Lieut. Gov. Woodruff has filed the biggest expense account of all the candidates in this state—$13,500, of which $10,000 went to the Republican State Committee, and $3,500 to the Kings County committee. This explains why Woodruff was renominated.

   It is claimed that one of the first official acts of Governor Roosevelt will be to bounce Lou Payn. Only Payn will find any fault with such a beginning. If he would get rid of the unofficial supervision of Platt next, Roosevelt might make a model Governor—Kingston Leader.

   Senator Platt's description of the kind of colleague he wants as "one who can talk" is good as far as it goes, but it does not go far enough. The kind of Senator wanted by the state of New York is one who can talk against imperialism, against trusts and monopolies, against perpetual war taxes and a lot of other dangers and abuses.—World.

   It is generally admitted that the race problem in the south is a serious one, and that something must be done toward solving it. Perhaps, however, the acquisition of a few million Asiatic savages will operate to simplify this problem. The processes of extermination are all that have made the Indian burden fairly tolerable.—Binghamton Leader.

   Governor-elect Roosevelt says that Boss Platt, "Ben'' Odell and others of the Republican machine must help him make his administration an honest one. The Rough Rider shows a childish confidence in the integrity of the ringsters if he sincerely believes that they will raise a finger to help him keep his promises to the people to give them an honest administration.—Syracuse Courier.

   Well, if all those charges of conspiracy and swindling preferred against Boss Quay in the five true bills of indictment just returned by the Philadelphia grand jury are true, it will require superb nerve in his henchmen in the Legislature to return him to the United States Senate. The possibility of such a besmirched politician occupying a seat in our highest Legislature is shocking to every decent and honest American citizen.—Syracuse Courier.

   Superintendent McCullagh and his seven hundred election deputies in New York city cost the state over $150,000. They made 164 arrests on election day for crimes against the franchise. Most of the prisoners were discharged. A year ago the police of New York city, without any force bill assistance, made 275 arrests on like charges There is no evidence that the state of New York has gained anything by this metropolitan election law. Superintendent McCullagh attempts to make out a justification for his office and his salary by saying he is satisfied that many persons were prevented from voting illegally, but he accompanies this statement with no evidence. The results of the expenditure of this $150,000 show it to be a waste of money.—Rome Sentinel.

 

William McKinley.

WASHINGTON LETTER.

(From our Regular Correspondent.)

   WASHINGTON, Nov. 28.—The ease with which Mr. McKinley compelled Spain to cease dilly-dallying and accept the terms offered by this government, as soon as he himself got down to business, shows that the treaty of Peace might have been signed a month ago had the administration made proper use of its power. The inference is plain that the delay was allowed because it suited the plans of the administration.

   Lobbyists are swarming in Washington because of the impression that the administration will seek to get Nicaragua canal legislation through Congress. The President of Costa Rica, which claims a right to be consulted in the matter, is in Washington as an official guest of this government; a representative of Nicaragua is also on the ground. Representatives of the old canal company, which by its greedy demands has done more than any one thing to prevent legislation in the past, are on hand to demand compensation for what it claims to have spent, and the agents of the New York syndicate, which claims to have a brand new canal concession are putting out feelers to ascertain what prospect they have of getting some money for it. In addition to all these interests, there is a lobby employed by the French company, that is now at work on the Panama canal, for the purpose of trying to prevent action by Congress looking towards the construction of the Nicaragua canal.

   Representative McMillan, who was recently elected Governor of Tennessee by a majority of 35,000, will not resign his seat in the House until about the first of January, as he will not be inaugurated governor until after that date. There has been some talk in Washington about the probability of his being elected to the Senate, if he desires to be, although it is known that Senator Bate, whose term will expire next March, is a candidate for reelection. Mr. McMillan pleasantly, but positively declined to discuss the subject. He was asked what he thought of the Republican assertions that the silver question is dead and said in reply: "It is not even sleeping. It is a live issue and it will be the pivot upon which the national campaign of 1900 will turn. As long as there is heavy taxation, heavy indebtedness of individuals, corporations and government, and vast commercial transactions requiring a large volume of currency, the question of the extent and nature of our currency will be undecided. It will be a live issue until it is settled to the satisfaction of the mass of the people. I see that Senator Thurston says that in the West no attention was paid to the speakers who endeavored to discuss silver. I am afraid he listened only to the speakers who were on his side. I know that in Tennessee—and what is true of Tennessee is, I believe, true of the entire South—the silver question is still uppermost.

   Senator Cockrell of [Missouri] has returned to Washington to remain during the session of Congress. He thinks there will be very little new legislation at this session, that the important business accomplished is likely to be confined to the regular appropriation bills, a river and harbor bill, enough army legislation to meet emergencies, and a bill providing a government for Hawaii. Senator Cockrell is opposed to our taking permanent possession of the Philippines, although he fully approves of their being taken away from Spain. He says we should aid the natives to establish an independent government, to be under our protection until able to stand alone. Speaking of the political outlook, the senator said "The Democrats are not downcast at the result of the election. The heavy Republican losses show the strength of the Democracy and indicate that the next general election will return the party to power."

 

HERE AND THERE.

   Ticket scalpers arc again doing business at the old stands. Cortland has several.

   The John W. Vogel combined "Darkest America" and "Afro-American Minstrels," at the opera house Monday evening, drew a large house and everybody was well pleased. The excellent music, vocal and instrumental was a feature.

   Derr Fritz, the magnetic healer, whose extended notice appears in another column, is one of the most wonderful of healers and the cures he effects are wonderful and many are the supposed incurable kind. He has been giving free exhibition of his powers afternoons at the opera house and can be seen at his parlor at the Kremlin [hotel] at anytime. His stay in Cortland is limited and invalids should immediately avail themselves of this opportunity for health. His public cures at the opera house are a guarantee of his ability.

   The Lehigh Valley railway will soon have the names of stations put on each end of the depots, which will enable passengers on rapidly moving trains to read them as they go by.

   Thomas Foley, the [typhoid] fever patient, who wandered in the cold last week Monday night clad only in a night shirt, is improving and that kind of treatment will probably be prescribed in future.

   The Palace confectionery company of Ithaca have leased the large store in the Harrison block, No. 19 Main-st. and will engage in the manufacture and sale of confectionery.

   T. H. Osborn, ''The Drummer Evangelist,'' will conduct a series of revival meetings in the Cincinnatus M. E. church, beginning Sunday, Dec. 11.

   Dr. Dana is now located at his new office which adjoins his residence on Main-st. The office is, like the home, most tastily and conveniently arranged.

   We are now ready to receive about twenty cords of wood on subscription and allow market prices.

   Anyone wishing to rent an excellent barn in the center of town should apply at this office.

   At the regular communication of Cortlandville lodge, F. & A. M. Tuesday evening, Mr. Daniel Nye of Owego, formerly of Cortland, was present and as a token of further friendship he was presented with a purse of $30.

   The Singer sewing machine office, No. 25 Railroad-st., is now in charge of Mr. W. C. Lyman. He has been connected with this branch for the past year and is thoroughly familiar with the trade and the business. His predecessor, Mr. H. W. Price, has gone to Oswego to take charge of the branch office in that city.

   Harry Beers and Henry Torrey of Cortland were indicted at Norwich last week for burglary in the third degree, the crime having been committed at Greene. They pleaded guilty and Beers was sent to the Elmira reformatory, while Torrey was given two years in Auburn prison.

   For the coming year we will send the DEMOCRAT to Mr. Geo. S. Pudney of McGrawville, he being the oldest Democrat who attended the recent hose and band fair. Mr. Pudney is 78 years old and cast his first ballot in 1841 at town meeting at Solon and has voted the ticket and advocated its principals ever since.

   The court of appeals has rendered a decision releasing Messrs. L. J. Fitzgerald, Hugh Duffey, F. Cy Straat and R. T. Peck of Cortland and William Fitts of Moravia from all liability from the failure of the Madison Square bank of New York city, in which they were stockholders and which closed its doors in 1893. There has been long litigation.

   Coroner Bradford was called to Marathon last Friday by the sudden death of George Wilson at that place. Wilson enlisted in the army last summer and was in the Cuban campaign, where he became ill and was given a furlough, arriving home only a few days after the death of his mother Mrs. Oliver C. Gaige. For the past week he had been stopping with the family of Clinton C. Johnson at Marathon, and Friday morning he was found dead in bed.