BEEF INQUIRY RESULT

 

General Nelson A. Miles.

 

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, May 6, 1899.

BEEF INQUIRY RESULT.

No Discipline Awaits the Commander of Our Army.

THE GENERAL IS NOT SUSTAINED.

Still the President Is Anxious That the Whole Affair Should Be Dropped as Soon as Possible—Mercy Is Also Extended to Others Connected With the Scandal.

   WASHINGTON, May 6.—General Nelson A. Miles will probably not be punished for stirring up the scandal over army beef. A member of the cabinet is authority for the statement that President McKinley will neither court martial him nor transfer him from his station as commanding general of the army.

   The findings of the court of inquiry do not sustain the changes of General Miles, but the president has no desire to make a martyr of him, and is anxious to have the whole unsavory mess buried in forgetfulness.

   There naturally are varying opinions as to the degree of the general's offense. Administration officials do not complain of his calling attention to what he believed to be bad food, but they hold he should have reported the matter in a quiet, official manner to the war department for investigation through the regular channels. Instead, he permitted himself to be interviewed by the yellow journals of the country in a manner that gave serious offense.

   Many administration officials think the general is a fit subject for discipline because of his irregular methods, but that may be open to question. The president is reported as willing to give the general the benefit of the doubt and pass over his offense for the sake of the army's welfare and the country's tranquility. The president regards the report of the court as vindication of the administration, and he is in a magnanimous frame of mind. He looks upon the beef scandal as an unnecessary and unfortunate incident of the war, and he thinks the sooner it passes into oblivion the better. Even if General Miles' discipline were so much as a mere transfer from command of the army to the command of a department it would lead to bitter discussion and endless criminations, which would keep the sores open and running.

   The president wants peace. He would put the petty jealousies of men out of the sight of the nation in order that it may see the glory of the war in its undimmed radiance. This will not be the first time he has overlooked the frailties of army officers and mercifully saved them from disgrace. When the secret history of the war is revealed it will be learned that his mercy and magnanimity were stretched like a shield over a number of men of high rank who had failed at critical moments. There has been more or less talk by officials of the probability of a court-martial for General Miles, but some of the official friends of the president are of the opinion that he never contemplated any severer punishment than the removal of the general from Washington.

   General Miles does not hold his place as "commanding general of the army" by any direction of law. It is really a title by courtesy, or he holds it only at the pleasure of the president, who is the commander-in-chief of the army. The commanding general is usually selected by seniority, but the president is not bound to observe that rule and may select any of his major generals. General Miles in the ordinary course of events will retire in August, 1903, when the commander of the department of the east will probably be moved to Washington.

   In this connection the gossips have started the rumor that General Miles would be transferred and General Merritt brought from New York to Washington. There is apparently no foundation for this "guess" except General Merritt's speech at Detroit, in which he spoke in high terms of Secretary Alger's conduct of the war department. The gossips jumped at the conclusion that there had been reconciliation between the secretary and the general and that the latter's speech was dictated by the desire to curry favor with the secretary. Friends of General Merritt say this construction does not reflect credit on the general. They do not believe he would stultify himself by playing the lickspittle of a generation of dignified hauteur. They point out on the contrary that he proved his greatness of mind by rising above personal feelings and giving fair and proper credit to the war department for its conduct of recent operations.

 

Conductor Theodore Thomas.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

   ◘ Theodore Thomas refused the other day when in Atlanta to play "Dixie" when requested to do so and quite lost his temper. He said that his time had been spent in training his men to play only classical music and that they did not pander to the street music element. This was unnecessarily severe. ''Dixie'' is not a classical tune nor in any sense a very high order of composition, but it is well to remember that a great many of the world's most precious tunes are not at all classical or even excellent, but they are associated in the minds of millions with great events, and the desire to hear them occasionally well done is not, as Mr. Thomas would have us believe, altogether an evidence of very bad taste. "Yankee Doodle," "The Star Spangled Banner," "The Marseillaise" and "Old Hundredth" are not usually found on a classical programme, but they have swept millions on to victory and to immortality; and any conductor might bend his classical back a little at the request of an honest crowd and play them that which is linked in their minds with great events and great emotions.

 

Julia E. Hyatt.

AN IMPORTANT MOTION.

Seeks Appointment of Commissioners to Assess Damages.

   Mrs. Julia E. Hyatt yesterday caused to be served upon [Cortland] Village President Holden an important notice relative to her claim for alleged damage to her property on Main-st., by the change of grade when the new pavement was laid. The notice was served by her attorney, B. T. Wright, and stated that at the term of supreme court which will begin May 15, a motion would be made for the appointment of commissioners to assess damages. The motion will probably be opposed for the village by Kellogg & Van Hoesen.

 

William C. Taylor.

   Mr. William C. Taylor, who died in Cortland on Wednesday, May 3, and whose funeral was held this afternoon, was born in Dummerston, Vt., June 18, 1823. When 2 years old he came back with his parents to Cortland county and located in the town of Truxton. In his 11th year he gave his heart to Christ and was baptized in the Truxton Baptist church by Rev. Thomas Purington. In 1845 he was married to Sarah Jane Seymour, and they held memberships in the McGrawville and Homer churches previous to going West in 1857. There they united with the Wasioga Baptist church in Minnesota. In 1863 he helped organize the Concord Baptist church and was chosen senior deacon, which office he held while he remained in that state. Eight years ago he returned to this state on account of his health, having been ill for two years. Since coming here he has united with the First Baptist church, but has been able to meet with the church but a very few times. He was always an active and earnest worker in Sunday-school and was interested in all religious and moral reforms. For ten years he has been a constant sufferer.

   Mr. Taylor was survived by his wife, their only child having died when she was 3 years old; also by one sister, Miss Melvina Taylor of Homer; and by two brothers, Daniel Taylor of McGraw and L. D. Taylor of Cortland.

   The funeral was held this afternoon and was conducted by Rev. G. H. Brigham. Appropriate music was rendered by Mrs. G. E. Persons and Mr. C. F. Brown. The bearers were the two brothers of the deceased, Roland Eastman, Elhanan Taylor of Homer, N. W. Walworth and Henry Seymour. The burial was in the Cortland Rural cemetery.

   Among those from out of town present at the funeral were Mrs. La Verne Hill of Erie, Pa., Mrs. Taylor's sister, and E. Seymour of Corning, a nephew.

 

Purvis' house, 19 Union Avenue, Cortland, N. Y.

MRS. PURVIS' RECEPTION.

A Delightful Social Affair on Union-st. Friday Afternoon.

  Mrs. Robert Purvis gave a reception yesterday afternoon to which 175 ladies were invited. The charming day was very favorable for such a social occasion and Mrs. Purvis' pleasant home on Union-st. was hospitably open to its guests from 3 until 6 o'clock.

    A notable feature of this reception was the presence of five sisters who together received their friends. They were Mrs. Robert Purvis, Mrs. Julia E. Hyatt, and Mrs. Geo. H. Smith of Cortland, and Mrs. Amanda Smith and Mrs. Donald McKellar of Marathon.

   The ladies who assisted in the parlors were Mrs. O. L. Swift and Mrs. C. H. Bouton of Marathon and Mrs. F. J. Doubleday, Mm. Geo. P. Hollenbeck and Mrs. W. A. Stockwell. Miss Mira Haskins had charge of the diningroom, aided by Mrs. C. T. Peek and Mrs. T. E. Dye. Mrs. E. B. Nash and Mrs. F. W. Higgins presided over the dining table with Mrs. C. F. Weller, Miss Mertie Jones, Miss Maud Grannis and Miss Bessie Morgan as assistants. Mrs. Harris C. Burgess had charge of the punch bowl with Miss Mabel C. Whitcomb as associate.

   The decorations of the parlors and dining room were in pink and white with charming effects. These were arranged under the especial supervision of Mrs. Geo. P. Hollenbeck, ably assisted by Mrs. S. N. Holden and Mrs. C. H. Bouton. Miss Emma Lucy with Master Frank H. Smith were stationed at the door.

   The Susan Tompkins Harp Orchestra of four pieces added much to the pleasure of the occasion which was delightful in every sense of the word.

 

BREVITIES.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—W. L. Briggs, Roof paint, page 7.

   —The Epworth league of the First M. E. church will hold a business meeting Monday evening.

   —The West End Spiders were defeated at baseball this morning by the South End Giants by the score of 23 to 17.

   —The Lehigh Valley railroad station at Van Etten burned to the ground Thursday night. The cause is unknown.

   —Rev. B. W. Hamilton, D. D., of Homer will preach at the First M. E. church to-morrow at the morning service in exchange with the pastor.

   —The bicycle ordinance is in force. Don't get caught without a bell or a lamp, and remember to slow down when you go around corners or pass people.

   —The milk traffic over the Erie & Central New York railroad has increased to such an extent as to require the second car on the morning trip, which was put on yesterday for the first.

   —The Assembly party at Cortland park last night was attended by about twenty couples and a fine evening's enjoyment is reported. Music was furnished by McDermott's orchestra.

   —The resignation of Rev. J. Barton French as pastor of the Memorial Baptist church was presented at the prayer-meeting Thursday night, but no action was taken upon it. It is understood that the matter will be brought up to-morrow. The resignation was not unexpected for Mr. French had received the call to Trumansburg as already stated in The STANDARD.

 

A PECULIAR ACCIDENT.

Ray Crandall Runs Into a Wire Clothes Line With Fatal Effects.

   A peculiar accident which proved fatal happened to Ray W., the only son of Mr. and Mrs. William M. Crandall of Truxton, Tuesday evening. With Mr. Crandall's hired man, John Dutton, he went to the home of Wilford Youngs, where they with Mr. Youngs' boys were playing tag. Ray was running to keep away from the other boys and, not noticing a wire clothesline which hung in the yard, he ran with full force against it. The line caught him under the chin, throwing him heavily to the ground. He was picked up and carried to his home and Dr. H. I. Van Hoesen summoned. The boy was unable to speak and it was with difficulty that he could breathe. Upon examination the physician found that the larynx and throat were badly bruised, but he had strong hopes of his recovery.

   Yesterday the boy seemed better. Although he could not talk he was able to whisper. At 11 o'clock last night he seemed to be sinking. A physician was summoned, but before he arrived the injured boy had peacefully passed away.

   His sudden death came as a great shock to his parents and those who knew him. He was a bright little fellow and will be greatly missed. The funeral will be held at the house Monday at 1 o'clock. The bereaved family have the sympathy of the entire neighborhood.