SAVAGERY OUTDONE, AND CORTLAND VILLAGE CAME TO AN AGREEMENT

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, April 26, 1899.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Savagery Outdone.

   For a parallel to the atrocious cruelties inflicted on the negro Sam Hose, burned at the stake in Georgia Sunday, we must go to the history of savagery in the early days of white occupancy of this country, and to tales of the Inquisition. And rarely in accounts of the Indians' extreme savagery is to be found recital of cruelty and inhumanity so shocking. The savages sometimes buried their victims alive, leaving only the head above ground over which they built a fire. Sometimes they scalped their prisoner alive, and tortured him otherwise. They were savages.

   We boast of our civilization, and contend for Christian observance of Sunday.

   In a civilized state, in a community of present day enlightened people, 2,000 persons engage in the atrocities related gleefully by the Newnan reporter! Only two voices were raised in protest. A former governor of the state and a citizen of Newnan implored the mob to leave Hose's punishment to the law. They were heard impatiently. The response: "Burn him!" And the wretched negro was hustled away to a fate that must remain forever a blot on the community and state in which it occurred, and a reproach to the nation.

   Murder and outrage, each as cold blooded and shocking as the Atlanta Constitution paints them, were the crimes of the negro. His death by legal process was certain. For whatever uncertainties attend the legal processes of justice in the South and elsewhere in other classes of crimes, and to criminals of different color, there is no instance of the acquittal by a southern jury of a negro convicted of Hose's crimes. There was not the excuse for the lynchers that justice might fail. But, says the Atlanta newspaper apologist: "Remember the fact; remember the dark night in the country home. Remember the slain husband, and, above all, remember the shocking degradation which was inflicted by the black beast." As though in the fact that the negro Hose was a murderer and bestial was excuse for a community of white men to turn murderer and eclipse "the black beast" in barbarism!

   Last week a South Carolina jury failed to agree on the trial of lynchers whose guilt had been clearly proved. They had fired the home of their victims and shot them as they ran to escape the flames. The court, in discharging the recreant jury, said of the growing tendency to mob violence and burning and murder: "These things indicate that the law is no longer respected by our people—the law has lost its sanctity. What does that mean? It means anarchy; it means the disintegration of society. It means barbarism." The Newnan atrocities are covered in these words. Failure of law is the peril of society.

 

Russell A. Alger.

TRACING THE TROOPS.

Fighting In the Philippines Carefully Watched by Cabinet Officers.

   WASHINGTON, April 26.—With a large war department map before them, the members of the cabinet traced the positions of the American soldiers and the Filipinos near Calumpit. Secretary Alger pointed out what was intended to be accomplished, the position and strength of the opposing forces. The secretary is rather hopeful that the Filipinos will not be able to elude the American forces this time. He believes that if a large part of Aguinaldo's army could be captured the termination of the fight might be near.

   A cabinet officer said that the cabinet has at no time discussed the subjects of the future disposition of the Philippines. "It is the present that we are thinking of," he said, "and there is not the slightest intention of deviating from the present program. I believe it is the unanimous feeling of the cabinet that nothing shall be decided as to the future status of the islands, until we have placed them satisfactorily under the control of the United States."

   He said that every dollar and every man necessary to bring the islands under the dominion of this country would be used. When the insurgents have recognized the power of the United States, the question of their future status will be taken up and discussed.

 

LETTER FROM J. P. GRAY.

Was in Alaska Where the Thermometer Went Down Pretty Low.

   Mrs. Elizabeth Gray of 84 Greenbush-st. received Monday from her son, Mr. Judah P. Gray, who left last year for Alaska, a letter dated Red Mountain City, Alaska, Jan. 29. This is the first letter received from Mr. Gray since last September, and while it is dated Jan. 29, it was postmarked Seattle, April 19. Mr. Gray gives a very interesting account of his surroundings and the conditions existing in the part of Alaska where he is located. The cabin in which he lives and which he built himself is the best in the settlement and is 15 by 18 feet in size. Up to the time the letter was written they had experienced some exceedingly cold weather, the thermometer registering 30 to 35 degrees below zero and in some cases even as low as 60 to 70 degrees. Mr. Willard Wilcox who went from Cortland at about the same time and left Seattle in the same party with Mr. Gray is also at Red Mountain City. Both were well at the time this letter was written and seem to have experienced no serious inconvenience from the intense cold and with the supplies which they took with them from Seattle. They expected to get through the winter very comfortably.

 

Cortland Opera House.

"THE MERRY MILKMAIDS."

Grand Closing of a Fine Season of Comic Opera.

   The second presentation of "The Merry Milkmaids" occurred at the Opera House last night and was conceded by those who were there both nights to be given better than the first night. The audience was large and enthusiastic and entered well into the spirit of the affair. Their enthusiasm was contagious and the chorus and soloists feeling the appreciation of the listeners sang with a snap and a dash that was inspiring. Special mention should be made of the solo work of the Misses Stillman, O'Connell, Arnold and Howard and Mrs. Gladding, in addition to those previously mentioned. The duet of Messrs. Dillon and Walsh was well received.

   Mrs. Terwilliger of Binghamton sang another solo last night which was warmly applauded and which brought out in large degree the compass and style of her voice.

   At the close of the opera and while the audience was leaving the house Rev. J. J. McLoghlin, pastor of St. Mary's church, made some very complimentary remarks to the singers upon the success of their efforts and voicing the thanks of the choir of his church as well as his own thanks, to all who assisted in making this benefit entertainment so much of a success.

   Among the audience last night were Rev. Father McGrath of Moravia, and Rev. Father McLoghlin of Tully.

   The opera last night closed two very successful entertainments recently presented in Cortland under the direction of Mr. A. D. Lane. With the exception of the fact that both were of a musical order they were so different in style that they could not be compared. "Belshazzar" was a sacred cantata after the oratorio order, rather heavy in style and with slow and stately choruses; "The Merry Milkmaids" was a comic opera, pure and simple, light, airy and full of action. Both were admirably gotten up and admirably rendered, and it is safe to say that they were about the two best amateur entertainments of their kind given in this section of the state in a long time. Cortland is a musical town. Its traditions and training for decades have been along musical lines. But within a few years the musical sentiment has increased and whatever is undertaken along musical lines is bound to go and go well.

 

CAME TO AN AGREEMENT.

CORTLAND & HOMER ELECTRIC COMPANY WILL LIGHT STREETS.

The Village Will Emerge from Darkness Next Monday Night—Traction Company Owners Accept the Proposition of the Village—Lights will Run Till 1 o'clock A. M.—Conference Behind Closed Doors for Four Hours.

   "I move that we adjourn." This was the only motion recorded on the books of the village clerk at the meeting of the board of trustees last night, and it in no way expresses the business agreed upon by the board for they held a four hours' conference behind closed doors with the owners of the Cortland & Homer Traction Co. and the Cortland & Homer Electric Co., which resulted in an agreement for the lighting of the streets of the village for a term of five years.

   The board met at the office of the clerk at 8 o'clock and at once retired to the law offices of Bouton & Champlin across the hall, where until midnight conferences were held with the owners of the Cortland & Homer Traction Co. represented by C. D. Simpson and P. S. Page of Scranton, H. Bergholtz of Ithaca, Hugh Duffey and H. B. Westcott of Cortland and Attorney Edwin Duffey. Attorney O. U. Kellogg advised for the village. During the conference the newspaper men waited patiently in the village clerk's office discussing the probabilities and possibilities of the situation.

   At the close of the conference it was announced that the Traction company had accepted the proposition made by the village April 17. This is in effect that a contract will be made for five years, beginning next Monday night, May 1. The village is to pay $6,000 per year for eighty lights of 2,000 candle power to run until 1 o'clock A. M. for 264 nights per year. This is at the rate of 28.41 cents per light per night, or $75 per light per year. The village has been paying 30 cents per light per night, and lights have burned only until midnight. An important point in the new contract is that half of this sum, or $3,000 is to be applied each year on the Traction company's paving assessment until the whole is paid. Another condition is that next spring the board of trustees will submit a proposition to the voters of the village for an appropriation of $7,500 per year for eighty lights 264 nights in a year and all night. In case this proposition is carried, $3,000 is to be applied on the Traction company's paving assessment each year until the same is wiped out. The terms of the contract were made last night only in a verbal way. It is expected the contract will be signed next Monday night. In the meantime, it will be put into writing by the attorneys for the company and the village. The streets will again be lighted next Monday night.

   In arriving at a contract with the Traction Co. the board found a difficult question before it. The Traction Co. made several propositions, none of which the village authorities would accept, but finally the company accepted the original offer of the village. Bids of the Welsbach Street Lighting company of America and of the Union Electric company were not considered, the first object of the board being to effect a settlement with the Traction company so that the payment of the paving assessment should be secured to the village.

   The question of whether the Traction Co. is liable for paving 2 feet or 4 feet outside the rails on Railroad-st., is still in the courts. The condition as to Main-st. is exactly the same, and the agreement is that this shall abide the result of the Railroad-st. litigation. The Warren-Scharf Asphalt Paving Co. holds a judgment against the village for the amount of the Traction Co.'s Main-st. paving assessment, nearly $15,000. In case the decision of the court on the litigated questions should be favorable to the Traction Co., the amount covering the two feet of pavement would be deducted from this sum. In any event, whatever the total amount the Traction Co. pays the village it is agreed also that the same rate of interest shall be paid that the village is compelled to pay on the judgment or on a loan to pay the judgment. The judgment now draws 6 per cent interest, but it is thought money can be hired at a lower rate to retire it. It would appear that the trustees have taken the wisest course in the matter, and the decision reached will without doubt meet with general public approval. There were many sides from which the matter could be viewed, and the board in coming to the conclusion it did considered carefully each phase.

   During the conference several other matters came up, the owners of the company claiming that its cars had not been patronized by the public as liberally as they should. Some of the trustees reminded the representatives of the company that perhaps the public had not been given as good service as it should receive and on certain occasions the company has not been as accommodating as it might have been. In the past the company has refused to carry bicycles on any of the cars, but in the future it is understood that arrangements will be made for the accommodation of wheelmen who may meet with an accident, by supplying cars with wheel racks or frames on the outside. Some little changes may also be made in the schedule.

   On the other hand, the belief is prevalent that with the present solution of difficulties, there will grow up a stronger feeling of friendship and spirit of accommodation between company and public.

 

Baseball.

Notes of the Diamond.

   The frame for the new grandstand at athletic field is now up and work is progressing rapidly. Posts for the fence are being placed in position. A quantity of loom is being spread over the surface of the new diamond.

   The Binghamton team made its initial appearance yesterday against the Rochester team and won by a score of 6 to 5.

   The suits for the Cortland team arrived yesterday.

 

THE A. O. U. W.

Will Journey to Cincinnatus to Establish a Lodge.

   Cortland lodge, No. 351, Ancient Order of United Workmen, has arranged an excursion over the Erie & Central New York railway to Cincinnatus next Monday evening for the purpose of instituting a new lodge of the order there. Stephen Ryan of South Otseilc has been working up sentiment for a lodge in Cincinnatus for some time, and a flourishing organization will be instituted. District Deputy Grand Master Workman Joseph Bunney will be master of ceremonies. About seventy-five Cortland members of the order are planning to go over. The excursionists will leave Cortland on the regular train at 6:30 P. M., and a special train will be run over later to bring the party back. The fare for the round trip will be 75 cents.

 

BREVITIES.

   —The grocery store of E. O. Dean on Groton-ave. has been connected with the long distance telephone.

   —Grove Stevens was arrested last night by Officer Smith for public intoxication and in police court this morning was fined $3.

   —Mr. Joseph Bunney of Cortland has been appointed district deputy grand master workman of the A. O. U. W. for the county of Cortland.

   —The first 100 badges of the Sidepath association for the Cortland county riders have been received and will be ready for delivery this evening at the store of Kennedy Brothers on Railroad-st. The balance of the first 1,000 badges are promised for to-morrow, and may then be called for.

   —During the thunder storm Tuesday afternoon at 5 o'clock the large barn owned by Will Gleazen, living on Smith hill about two miles southwest of Lisle village, was struck by lightning and burned to the ground with twelve head of cattle, one horse, wagons and farming implements.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—Pope Mfg. Co., Bicycles, page 7; J . E. Girvin, Turkish couch, page 4; Warren, Tanner & Co., Spring goods, page 4; F. Daehler, Fancy shirts, page 8; C. F. Brown, Neal's enamel, page 7; Glann & Clark, Big special, page 7; T. Brogden, Celery bitters, page 4.