The Cortland Democrat, Friday, March 3, 1899.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.
A New Proprietor.
While not new to the readers of the DEMOCRAT as the editor thereof, the writer with this issue assumes the entire ownership and control of the newspaper and plant. Since the lamented death of my late father-in-law, Benton B. Jones, the business affairs of the office have been conducted by his estate and for the past year the editorial work has been in my hands. In that line I hope to improve with age and use.
As the times have changed, the price of country weeklies has gradually dropped and today there are few which still remain at $2. To keep up with the march of progress the subscription price of the DEMOCRAT is, with the new regime, reduced to $1.50, but this does not mean that the quality of the paper will be in any way lowered. On the contrary, it is expected to furnish the readers of my humble effort with the very latest news and to have the miscellaneous reading of the highest order.
With the reduction in price, it is expected that the subscription list will be greatly increased and that the DEMOCRAT will thus be able to give advertisers more for their money than ever in the past. A solicitor will take the road immediately and will thoroughly canvass this and neighboring counties. Tell your friends of this, that they may have the $1.50 ready to pay an advance subscription, for to such subscribers we offer great inducements. It is subscribers that we want and are going to have, because we intend to give them the greatest value they ever received for their money. For particulars see our advertising columns.
As to our policy, it will ever be Democratic, supporting the national and local nominees, but we will also furnish the news which will be of interest to all, no matter what their political belief.
For all kinds of job work, the plant is admirably equipped and you will find prices are all right.
Hoping that my editorial and business relations with the public will be as pleasant in the future as in the past and that my acquaintance with it through the columns of the DEMOCRAT will ripen into a personal one, I am,
Yours very respectfully, FAY C. PARSONS.
This Gerrymandered State.
The Albany Argus has been studying the figures of the November election, and it finds that the total Democratic vote for members of the legislature materially exceeded the total Republican vote. The vote for Democratic candidates for the assembly exceeded the vote for Republican candidates by 4,302, while the excess of the Democratic vote for senatorial candidates over the Republican was 9,236. In spite of these facts, the Republicans have a majority of four in the senate, and a majority of 24 in the assembly. This means that the Democrats must vote all day and vote hard if they would overcome the disadvantages under which Choate and Root's gerrymander of the constitution placed them. Commenting [upon] this, the Argus says:
How hard the people tried to elect a Democratic legislature these figures eloquently tell. Old Republican editors have seen visions, and young Republican editors have dreamed dreams, in which they saw the people of this state impatiently awaiting election day last November, in order that they might vote to retire Senator Murphy from the upper house of the Congress of the United States. But appears that the popular impatience was for an opportunity to vote for Senator Murphy's return, for had the joint ballot truly reflected the will of the greater number of voters for senators and for assemblyman, Edward Murphy, Jr., not Chauncey M. Depew, would today be United States senator-elect from the state of New York. The people wanted Murphy, as these statistics show; but the gerrymander wanted Depew, as the result shows. They talk, do these our minority rulers, about the people voting to sustain the Raines law; the people voted to repeal the Raines law, as these figures conclusively prove. The people voted for home rule for cities, for Democratic doctrines as to legislation as embodied in the Democratic state platform framed at Syracuse; but the gerrymander was in favor of the platform put forth at Saratoga, and the gerrymander is greater and more powerful than the ballot-box.
This is the situation in which the Democratic party of the state of New York finds itself to-day. The vote of a Democrat is not equal to the vote of a Republican in a legislative election. A bare Democratic majority at the polls is not enough to insure a Democratic majority of the legislature. In spite of a fair Democratic majority at the polls the Republicans have a legislative majority of 24 on joint ballot. This is the effect of the gerrymander, which makes it possible for the Republicans to govern the state without the consent of the governed.
DEATH OF W. N. ANDREWS.
Took Strychnine by Mistake, Thinking it was Quinine.
(From Our Regular Correspondent.)
Thursday evening, Feb. 23, the usually quiet inhabitants of Taylor were shocked to learn of the sudden death of William N. Andrews, who had taken a large dose of strychnine thinking it was quinine. The particulars as we learn them are as follows: Two years ago he bought strychnine to kill crows and the unused portion was placed in or near the clock. Thursday a package was found upon the floor which was tasted, not looking at the label and it being bitter they concluded it was the quinine and it was placed on the clock shelf. While eating supper Mr. Andrews left the table and took about a half teaspoonful of the supposed quinine, then sat down and drank a cup of tea. In a few moments he complained of feeling badly and went upon the couch constantly growing worse. His wife gave him the white of an egg and some strong coffee, he telling her to hold it for him as he could not hold it. The coffee or eggs not doing any good, Mr. Whitney mounted a horse and went to telephone for a doctor while the alarmed woman ran up the road and called to Nathan Oliver. Mr. Andrews told him he thought he had taken too large a dose of quinine. Soon after Mr. Oliver's arrival, he went into another spasm, from which he never rallied. Before the doctor arrived death relieved him from his sufferings.
The death of Mr. Andrews, especially in such a sad manner, has cast a gloom over the entire community, among whom all of his life had been spent. He was born here 49 years ago and was a kind husband, a good and generous neighbor and was generally liked by all who knew him. For 25 years he had been a member of the M. E. church. He leaves his wife and one brother, H. Andrews of Cortland, besides innumerable friends to mourn his untimely death.
The funeral services were held from the M. E. church at 1 o'clock Sunday, being conducted by his pastor, Rev. J. N. Eberley, assisted by Rev. David S. Anderson, a former pastor of the deceased. Interment was made in the new cemetery.
A REPUBLICAN ROW ON.
Two Candidates Will Contest the Police Justiceship with Charles V. Coon.
The Republicans of Cortland are never so happy as when engaged in a family quarrel, and the campaign for village officers this year is no exception to this rule. The row began with the caucuses last Friday evening, when the four candidates for police justice locked horns and put up a pretty fight. In the first ward Fred Hatch and Chas. S. Bull were allowed the privilege of contesting for delegates, the other two candidates keeping hands off. In the second ward the large number of 387 votes were cast, Rowland L. Davis, Edwin C. Alger and C. S. Bull each presenting a list of delegates. Davis won by the narrow majority of fifteen. The third ward sent an uninstructed delegation without opposition. In the fourth ward two tickets were in the field. Alger and Bull combined against Davis and Hatch. In this ward many charges of illegal voting were made and the polling place was also the scene of a sensational episode, in which two prominent attorneys nearly came to blows. The ticket known as the Davis-Hatch combination won by 24 majority.
The convention was held Saturday afternoon, the following being placed in nomination:
President—Samuel N. Holder.
Trustee, first ward—Wm. A. Dunn
Trustee, third ward—Elbert D. Wood.
Police Justice—Rowland L. Davis.
Assessor—Fred M. Kingsbury.
Collector—Schuyler P. Bulkley
Treasurer—George V. Clark.
School Commissioners—George J. Mager, M. H. Yale and A. W. Edgcomb.
Inspectors of Election, first ward—O. F. Allen, F. E Park; second ward, Oliver Jennison, Porter Bunnell; third ward, Chas. H. Miller, George G. Jarvis; fourth ward, Geo. J. Maycumber, Eugene Bates.
The citizens' party met Monday evening in the Y. M. C. A. rooms and after much discussion a majority of those present decided that the Democratic ticket was satisfactory to them and decided not to make further nominations.
On Wednesday a fire-brand was thrown into the canvass by the announcement that an independent ticket was to be nominated by petition. This ticket contains the names only of Charles H. Price for president and Charles S. Bull for police justice.
Meanwhile the Democrats keep up the Coon fight to win, and thus far they have the Call [Duane E. Call] on the presidency.
HERE AND THERE.
Rogers & Sherwood are now prepared to install a complete acetylene gas plant, including the piping and fixtures in your house. It is the only perfect light, being far ahead of coal gas or electricity and is very economical. See their adv. elsewhere.
Bishop Huntington preached and administered the rite of confirmation to eight persons in Grace church yesterday afternoon. His sermon was a masterpiece, full of valuable and timely instruction. His text was, "Is it nothing to you all who pass by?"
The Farm Journal is choke full of gumption and it has the largest circulation of any paper in the world. It is good everywhere. We offer it for a short time as a prize to advance paying subscribers to the DEMOCRAT a year ahead, and the Farm Journal five years, all for the price of our paper alone.
Mrs. Dorliska Tisdale died last Saturday
morning at her home on Port Watson-st. at the age of 87 years. A general
breaking down was the cause. She has
always lived in this county, her father, Loren Blodgett, having been an early
settler at Blodgett Mills and erecting the famous mills. She was a devout
member of the Baptist church. Four children survive. Hon. Wayland Tisdale and Mrs.
Lucian Hale of Cortland, Mrs. A. T Stone of Binghamton and Mrs. C. A. Hinman of
Baltimore, Md. The funeral was held from the home Tuesday afternoon with
burial in the [Cortland] Rural cemetery.
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