POWER OF LABOR AND ALBANY GOSSIP

 

Samuel Gompers.

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, December 15, 1898.

POWER OF LABOR.

Organizations Could Be Bettered Through Political Channels.

   KANSAS CITY, Mo., Dec. 15.—At the annual convention of the American Federation of Labor the delegates listened with great interest to talks by William Thorne and William Inskip, delegates from the British labor congress and to a response by President Samuel Gompers.

   The burden of Mr. Thome's talk was that labor should strive constantly for better organization and to wield a power in politics. In England, he said, one great element of organized labor's power was the fact that political positions were held by so great a percentage of unionists.

   Delegate Inskip urged not only a stronger organization, but a stronger friendship between American and British unionists. What was needed was not only a federation of trade organizations, but a federation with our English-speaking countries. The sentiment was heartily cheered.

   A resolution providing for a fund to push the organization of trades unions in the inter-mountain states, was adopted.

   A resolution presented by Adrian M. Jones of Chicago, protesting against the passage of the anti-scalping bill recently passed by the national house of representatives, was adopted without discussion.

   The income tax resolution offered by S. J. Kent of Nebraska was not adopted, but this substitute was unanimously endorsed:

   Resolved, That the American Federation of Labor is of the opinion that the decisions of the supreme court on the income tax are not in accord with the constitution or spirit of the American people, and that the federation demand of congress a law making tax on incomes a feature of the federal legislation.

   Convict labor came in for a share of the convention's attention. The resolution condemning convict labor by C. W. Coy was referred to the executive council with instructions that it take such steps as may check its encroachments upon the interests of the honest working people of the land.

   The convention emphatically reaffirmed the boycott on the American Tobacco company, declaring it to be a monopoly and a trust and to be under the ban of organized labor.

 

Henry Clark Corbin.

ARMY REQUIREMENTS.

Number of Soldiers Necessary in Time of Peace.

THE VIEWS OF DIFFERENT MEN.

Adjutant General Corbin Appears Before the House Committee on Military Affairs—Where He Would Distribute 100,000 Regulars—General Miles' Views.

   WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.—Adjutant General Corbin appeared before the house committee on military affairs. His statements attracted unusual interest because of their direct reference to conditions in Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines, and the military requirements on which the war department was acting. As to the need of an increased army General Corbin said that was a most serious proposition. He proceeded:

   "The Cuban evacuation commission, consisting of Generals Wade and Butler, and Admiral Sampson, has submitted a statement that in order to preserve order and restore order in Cuba it will require the presence of an army of 50,000 men."

   "It was on this recommendation," said General Corbin, "that the plan of sending troops to Cuba was based. It might be found that 50,000 men would not be absolutely requisite.

   "But we are holding 50,000 men in readiness to go if required," said the general. "As to the Philippines, General Otis in command there has recommended that 25,000 men were required there. In Porto Rico the officers in command there recommended that the force now on hand is about adequate for the requirements. The present force there is about 6,000. That made 81,000 men, 60,000 for Cuba, 25,000 for the Philippines and about 6,000 for Porto Rico, leaving an army of 100,000 with about 18,000 for reserves at home.

   "It must be borne in mind," said General Corbin, "that an army of peace is like insurance. It is a preparation for an emergency. If we had such an army last June there would have been no such loss of life as occurred."

   "Do you think 50,000 men for Cuba a conservative estimate?" asked Mr. Jett of Illinois.

   "I think it is." answered the general.

   "And how long will that last?" asked Mr. Hay.

   "I wish I could say," answered General Corbin. "But no man can say. You cannot view conditions in Cuba as you can in Ohio or Pennsylvania. For 100 years the people there have been accustomed to be ruled by force. The officers there fear that with these conditions and habits if troops are not there trouble may occur."

   As to the trouble which had occurred in Porto Rico, General Corbin said it was not due to a disposition to fight the United States, but to a tendency in certain classes—wandering outlaw bands—toward disorder.

   Questioned again by Mr. Hay of Virginia as to how soon the United States troops could be withdrawn from Cuba, General Corbin repeated that it was impossible to say even approximately.

 

General Nelson A. Miles.

GENERAL MILES' VIEWS.

He Thinks Twenty-five Thousand Soldiers Enough to Garrison Cuba.

   WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.—The senate committee on appropriations continued its hearing on the army deficiency bill, General Miles being before the committee for more than an hour. The pending proposition is an amendment supported by several members, providing for the immediate muster out of 50,000 volunteers. It is understood that Secretary Alger and Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn oppose such a provision and Adjutant General Corbin said in view of the recommendation of the Cuban military commission it would not be advisable.

   General Miles said that he thought 25,000 men would be enough for Cuba. He said that the island must in time and at an early day be policed by natives, which should be recruited into the army under American officers. Americans could not stand the climate unless they were immunes. He thought the standing army should be increased to 75,000 men and said at least some of the volunteers should be continued in service until the increase was made.

 

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Party of Opposition.

   Mr. Bryan's interview, on laying aside his soldier accoutrements, "is interpreted by politicians in Washington," we are told, "as his bid for the presidential nomination of the Democratic party in 1900." The interpretation includes Mr. Byran in the list of Democrats who perceive that there is not a second presidential candidacy in the silver issue. Bat nothing that the colonel has said publicly indicates a chance on his part. He may have been thinking, while enduring the restraints of military lockjaw.

   If the next presidential campaign is contested on issues growing out of the War, the Democratic party will champion the wrong side. It always has, and in the nature of things it always must, as the Republican party constantly holds its position as the advocate and friend of progress and whatever is best for the American people. On the questions of slavery, the war for the Union, emancipation of the slaves, reconstruction, resumption of specie payment, protection for home industries, the currency question in all of its stages, from paper inflation to the free and unlimited coinage of silver craze—on all occasions, in congress and in party platforms, the Democratic party has stood for what was wrong—what it has been compelled to admit was wrong, as its making ready to abandon its chief contention in 1896 is admission that it was wrong in the last national campaign.

   Colonel Bryan is to "enter at once into the fight against expansion." Yet he would not reject the treaty of Paris. He would "end the war by ratifying the treaty." And then? The treaty accomplishes expansion, as by it Spain cedes to the United States the territory whose acquisition constitutes our expansion. The idea of the Democratic leader is to conclude a settlement and then make faces. The way to defeat expansion is to defeat the treaty. The Bryan Democratic statesmanship shrinks at opposing peace. It will accept peace, and find fault with its terms afterwards. It will feel at home opposing whatever is, embarrassing efforts of the government to make the best of the fortunes war brought the nation.

   The Democratic party has had years of experience in and of that kind of statesmanship. It ought to be able to predict as well as other people what will result from another trial of it.

 

   ◘ Among the commodities that are lower in price now than a year ago are:  coffee, leather, pig iron, steel rails, wheat, cotton, wool and lead. Among those higher are: silver, rubber, rice, petroleum, corn, oats, lard, tallow, pork, beef, sugar, raw silk, copper, and tin plates.

Chauncey M. Depew.

 

ALBANY GOSSIP.

A BILL TO REGULATE EXPRESS CHARGES TO BE INTRODUCED.

Chauncey M. Depew Will Be the Only Candidate for United States Senator—State Prison Reforms—Cost of the Soldiers' Ballots in New York State.

   ALBANY, Dec. 15 (Special.)—A bill will probably be introduced under the influence of the Merchants' association of New York, to place the express companies of the state under the regulations of the State Railway commission. The object is to secure uniform charges. In a pamphlet which the association has issued recently, it says that the railroad companies receive for transportation services from the express companies on an average of 40 per cent of the total charges and for the terminal charges the express companies receive on an average of 60 per cent of the total charges. This latter percentage yields to the express companies an annual profit of 150 to 175 per cent of their investment. The association proposes to show that the express companies sometimes make the terminal service as low as 4 cents for individual shipments and sometimes as high as several dollars for the same work precisely, and to obviate this elastic scale of charges will be the object of the bill. Merchants all over the state have proffered their support to the measure.

   Chauncey M. Depew will be the only candidate before the Republican caucus for United States senator this winter. For this statement Benjamin B. Odell, Jr., chairman of the Republican state committee, is authority. He says that he himself, is not nor ever was a candidate for the office and that all the other men who have been mentioned for the place have withdrawn. Mr. Platt is not in favor of Dr. Depew's election to the United States senate, but it is believed that he will concede this in order to gain other points. Governor Black, who considered himself in the race at one time and who was going to deadlock the vote if a man not acceptable to him was nominated, apparently is satisfied with the name of Dr. Depew. At any rate he is not saying anything about the United States senatorship at present, but is mainly concerned with his intention to remove to New York City for the practice of law. It is said that Governor Black has in mind just now only the object of defeating Mr. Platt for the leadership and that in New York with the aid of Messrs. Lauterbach, Gruber, Olcott and others, he hopes to control the selection of delegates to the assembly conventions. Whether or not Mr. Platt is much alarmed at this prospectus rumor does not state.

   In his inaugural message Colonel Roosevelt will devote some space to a discussion of matters pertaining to prisons and he has had a conference with Lispenard Stewart, chairman of the state prisons commission, in connection with existing conditions. Mr. Stewart called the attention of the governor elect to some alleged abuses in the administration of prisons and recommended legislation for the improvement of state institutions and for the method of detention of criminals. The subject was gone over very thoroughly between the two and the matter will be comprehensibly covered in the message.

   Now that the soldier's ballots are all in and distributed to the county clerks' offices, the vote will soon be canvassed in the election districts. It is estimated that the cost of each vote was more than $17 to the state, something over $20,000 for the whole number, 1,968. In most cases one day will be long enough for the canvass of the votes, but the inspectors are allowed until next Tuesday, at which time the ballots will be sent to the boards of county canvassers who will be obliged to finish their work by the following Thursday. At that time the final count will be announced.—C. N. A.

 

Death of Mrs. Covil.

   Mrs. F. Amanda Covil, who was one of Cortland's oldest and most respected residents, died last night at 11 o'clock at her home, 50 Clinton-ave., from Bright's disease at the age of 80 years, 2 weeks and 3 days.

   She was the oldest of a family of seven children, of whom but one, Mr. Fred Conable of Cortland is now living. Her husband, Joseph Clark Covil, died in 1877, one year after their removal to Cortland from Woodstock. The home of Mrs. Covil's youth was in Fabius, Onondaga county. She was a woman of unusual activity and retained her faculties to the last. She was an attendant at the Presbyterian church. She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Ella Keeney of Cortland, her other daughter, Miss Clara Covil having died in April, 1897. Two sons also survive her, Watson J. Covil of Webster City, Ia., and Frank Covil of Woodstock. The funeral is to be held from the family home Saturday at 2 o'clock P. M., and burial will be made in the Cortland Rural cemetery.

 

FAIR AT EAST HOMER.

Given Under the Auspices of the Ladies' Aid Society.

   The Ladies' Aid society of the M. E. church of East Homer will conduct a fair at Bennett's hall to-night and to-morrow night for the benefit of the church. The ladies have been busy for several days in making their preparations. The hall is tastefully draped with flags and bunting of the national colors, and decorations of evergreens add materially to the pretty effect. A number of booths have been arranged, and these and numerous tables are laden with articles useful and ornamental which are for sale. The ladies invite all their friends to come here and inspect their goods before purchasing Christmas presents elsewhere. They have things on sale that they are confident will please nearly every one and at prices ranging from one cent upwards. Merchants and others in East Homer and in the surrounding towns have been very generous in donating articles that are now placed on sale.

   This evening among other attractions will be free refreshments served with every purchase. This feature is in charge of Misses Augie Burnham and Bertha Kirkup.

   To-morrow evening there will be an oyster supper served for 15 cents. It may be added by way of explanation that the supper will not be confined to oysters, but will really be a general supper with an elaborate menu and an abundance of everything. Let no one stop to eat supper at home before starting for the fair, but take the supper at the hall.

   A musical and literary program will also be presented on Friday evening by East Homer and Cortland talent. Miss Marie Carberry of Cortland will give several readings; Miss Grace and Julian Carberry will furnish banjo and guitar solos and duets; there will be singing by a number of ladies and gentlemen, and the students of the East Homer school, under direction of the teacher Miss Jennie Wells, will furnish Home declamations and recitations.

   Mrs. O. A. Knapp, Mrs. Verne Knapp and Mrs. E. A. Phillips are the general committee in charge of the sales; Mr. Verne Knapp will look after the sale of vegetables; Mr. DeWitt Stevens will sell ice cream Friday night; and Claude Seacord, Leon Avery, Ernest Howard and William Beattie will sell candy.

   No admission will be charged, but every one is cordially invited. Come and spend a social evening as well as patronizing the fair.

 

BREVITIES.

   The appointment of Henry P. Mitchell for postmaster of DeRuyter has been sent by the president to the senate for confirmation.

   —The Cortland Political Equality club will meet with Mrs. M. H. Yale, 40 Prospect-st., Monday, Dec. 19, at 3 P. M. All ladies invited.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—Angell & McFall, Holiday Groceries, page 5; Smith & Beaudry, Christmas Season, page 8.

   —The third in the series of assembly parties will be held in Taylor hall to-morrow evening with music by McDermott's orchestra. Dancing will begin at 8 o'clock sharp.

   —The mothers' meeting (east side) will be held at the residence of Mrs. L. E. Tuthill, 10 Hubbard-st., Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock. All ladies are especially invited to attend.

   —Dr. W. H. Brownell of Utica claims to have discovered a process by which he can make almost any kind of cloth waterproof. His experiments have been highly satisfactory and there is talk of organizing a stock company in Utica.

   —At the meeting of the Excelsior Hook and Ladder company last night, the election of officers was postponed until Jan. 11. D. F. Waters was chosen as representative on the board of engineers, and Messrs. J. W. Petrie, R. L. Caldwell and T. N. Leach as representatives on the joint nominating committee.

   —In the court report in Tuesday's STANDARD in the account of the decision of the Pickert case it was stated that in the earlier proceedings in the case Mr. Pickert's interests were looked after by N. L. Miller of Cortland and A. M. Mathewson of Marathon. It should have said J. H. Miller and A. M. Mathewson, both of Marathon.

 

Had Ridden Far Enough.

   An amusing incident occurred yesterday afternoon on one of the streets of this city. A good-natured farmer was driving along when a number of boys searching for a ride, climbed on the sled without asking permission. As soon as the boys had got fixed for a nice time the driver turned to them and said "I've got smallpox; you better look out." Such a tumbling off a sled was never witnessed before, the boys getting away quickly while the farmer drove on with a broad grin on his face.—Ithaca Journal.