TROOPS FOR OTIS, AND ANTI-SALOON LEAGUE PROMOTED

 

Maj. Gen. Elwell S. Otis.

Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, June 5, 1899.

TROOPS FOR OTIS.

Five Thousand Regulars Could Be Started to Manila within a Week.

   BOSTON, June 6.—Secretary of War Alger, with Mrs. Alger, his son Russell A. Alger, Jr., accompanied by Mrs. Frank Russell and Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Pike, left Boston for Detroit by the way of Montreal.

   In the course of an interview, he said that the matter of calling for volunteers for service in the Philippines has not been decided, but probably would be when President McKinley returned from his visit to New England.

   General Alger was asked if General Otis had said that 30,000 troops were sufficient to subjugate the natives and he replied that General Otis had at no time said that he required more than 30,000 troops. He said further: "We have still 25,000 regulars including the artillery that we can call on to reinforce the army of General Otis. If needed, we could send off 5,000 of these in a week and thus allow General Otis the full force which he says he requires for the subjugation of the insurrection."

 

Alfred Dreyfus.

GOING AFTER DREYFUS.

His Rank In the Army Restored and as Such He Will Be Treated.

   PARIS, June 5.—The cabinet council decided that the French second-class cruiser Sfax, now at Ford de France, Martinique, should proceed immediately and bring Dreyfus from the Isle of Devils to France. The cruiser is expected to arrive at Brest about June 26, when Dreyfus will be handed to the military authorities and lodged in the military prison at Rennes.

   His conviction having been annulled by the united chambers of the court of cassation, his military rank and title are restored to him. He will occupy an officer's cabin on board the Sfax, and will be allowed on deck from 1 to 4 o'clock every afternoon.

   The decree of the court was communicated to Madame Dreyfus at the house of M. Hadamard, her father. She immediately sent the following dispatch to her husband: "The court of cassation proclaims revision with a new trial by court martial. Our hearts and thoughts are with you. Let us share your immense happiness. Teaderest kisses from all."

   The Figaro says that throughout the day congratulatory telegrams have been flowing in upon Madame Dreyfus, M. Mathieu Dreyfus and Maitre Mernard, their counsel.

   Lieutenant Colonel Picquart on being informed of the court's decision said: "There is nothing better to be hoped for."

 

GERMANY'S ACQUISITION.

The Newspapers of Berlin Belittle the Value of the Concession.

   BERLIN, June 5.—Replying to congratulations tendered him by the Hamburg-American Steamship company on the acquisition of the Spanish islands [in the Pacific region], Emperor William sent the following dispatch:

   "Your warm congratulation shows me that the importance of this acquisition for German trade and commerce and my own incessant striving to further the same, have been rightly appreciated. I, therefore, thank you most heartily and wish that, upon its voyage to see the new German island realm, German shipping may continue to be accompanied by God's blessing."

   The general tone of the press in commenting upon the acquisition of the islands from the Spanish government is in the direction of belittling the value of the concessions.

   The Tagliche Rundschau, the leading organ of the German expansion policy, says: "Germany obtains the remnants which America, in her superior manner, despised. Their value is small, and there is no need of joyous transports."

   The Freisinnige Zeitung, which calls them "our new and worthless colonies," says: "A prize would have to be offered to discover which of the three groups is the most valueless. Germany is paying for colonies that nobody else wanted."

   The Frankfurt Zeitung says: "Spain alone derives any advantage. The islands are of next to no economical value and will involve Germany in continual expense without any prospect of profit."

 

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Wealth Incognito.

   There is an alarming tendency on the part of our multimillionaires to disguise themselves. Does this show that wealth is afraid of itself or ashamed of itself? That question cannot be easily answered. But it is none the less true that our wealthiest men sign fictitious names on registers when traveling and employ detectives to tramp after them and even wear costumes of disguise. On the passenger list of the steamers Mr. Vanderbilt and his family were under assumed names. Mr. W. K. Vanderbilt, while at Palm Beach recently, registered at the hotel and was known to the public as Mr. Everard Green. This may be brought about by a simple desire to avoid attention. But one would hardly attribute that desire to some of our wealthy women who are doing the same thing. It is much more likely that these wealthy persons are conscious of an unreasonable danger and hatred on the part of ignorant people in the community, and it is curious to observe that this is just the result among the ruling potentates of Europe, very few of whom dare mingle with their fellow beings undisturbed by fears of disaster. Apropos of this subject, Mr. William Waldorf Astor announces that he will publish in an English magazine a history of John Jacob Astor, the founder of the family in America. Here we have a startling precedent. It may be Mr. Astor's desire to show that the wealth of the Astor family came through industry, toil and patience and was not heaped up by any dishonest means. But fancy what a condition of affairs would be brought about if it should become a fad of wealthy people to write up their ancestors! The mere idea of it makes American society rattle to its foundations. A much more interesting style of book than that which tells how they got it would be the one which tells what they have done with it.

 

Rev. Howard Hyde Russell.

ANTI-SALOON LEAGUE.

Stirring Address at Union Service at Presbyterian Church Sunday Night.

   There was a union service at the [Cortland] Presbyterian church last night in the interest of the American Anti-Saloon league, which has been doing work for some years in several of the states and which is just about to include New York state in its organization. The address was made by Rev. Howard H. Russell, D. D., L.L. D., of Columbus, O., secretary of the American Anti-Saloon league. There was a large attendance and much interest was manifested.

   Dr. Russell said he was not about to deliver an old fashioned temperance address, though he fully believed in them, but he was here to represent and explain the work of the American Anti-Saloon league. In this league the speaker said there were four departments, and he proceeded to speak at length regarding each one of them.

   The first department is that of Agitation, in which he included the work of the press, the work of the pulpit in systematic preaching and the work of the lecturers in the field. The printing and circulation of anti-saloon literature forms a very important part of this department. The speaker said that the league wanted to connect the printing press with every fireside in the state. The state of Ohio last year expended $6,000 in publishing and circulating literature.

   The second department is that of Legislation, which means the looking after existing laws, the securing of new legislation as public sentiment will allow it, and the seeking to back up the enforcement of all laws everywhere. It does not secure evidence of any kind or conduct any prosecutions, but it gives moral support to the officers elected for that purpose. This league has a committee on legislation whose work it is to see that no bad laws are gotten through the legislature, and that nothing is done to retard the temperance work. The liquor men have for years had a committee on legislation, but the temperance men never have had one till this league came into existence.

   The third department is that of Organization. The speaker dwelt upon the necessity of more effective organization. The federation of churches has proved a very valuable aid. Every state where the system is in operation, has a state superintendent and from a dozen to eighteen men working under him.

   The fourth department is that of Finance, which forms the sinews of war. This is conducted, not by the taking up of an ordinary temperance collection, but by voluntary contributions, subscribed for a year and payable quarterly to a regular collector. The collector already appointed for Cortland is Mr. F. E. Whitmore.

   The speaker made two points very emphatic: that this organization is always to be non-sectarian and non-partisan. It does now and it is the intention that it shall always include all denominations. He urged upon every man the importance of attending the primaries of his own party, and doing all he can to bring it about that good men are put in nomination in every party. Prior to the organization of this league in Ohio it was found that not 10 per cent of the Christian men of the state attended the primaries of their respective parties. After this league came into existence this percentage was very greatly increased. Prior to six years ago the saloons were steadily increasing in number in Ohio. During the six years of its existence there the increase has been stopped and over 2,800 saloons have been closed up.

   A superintendent for New York state has already been appointed, Rev. J. Q. A. Henry, D. D., who has given up the pulpit of one of the most prominent and important Baptist churches in Chicago to undertake this work. He is eloquent of tongue and possessed of great executive ability. A corps of assistants will soon be selected and the work in New York state is to be pushed hard.

   At the close of the meeting the pastors of the churches and some of the citizens of the place remained to take preliminary steps toward the organization of a local branch in Cortland. The matter was talked over and it was left in the hands of the pastors to effect the organization, which will very shortly be done.

   There is reason to believe that the meeting of last evening marks the beginning of a better era in the politics of this village. If the league which seems about to be organized in accordance with the plans outlined by the speaker succeeds as the similar organization have in other states, the caucuses in Cortland will no longer be run by whisky, fraud and violence; and the first, and almost only influence which a candidate for nomination hereafter seeks will not be the saloon influence.

   The proportion of one church member attending a caucus out of every ten who ought to attend—which was found to exist in Ohio—is not far away from the facts in this state. It is only a few years since a candidate for a local nomination now living in Cortland said that when he made his first effort he relied on the churches and was left. The second time he relied, so he said, on the saloons and got there, and his experience had taught him that in politics one saloon was worth six churches.

   It must have startled some who listened to the remarks last evening to be told that when a caucus is called on a prayer-meeting night it is their duty to go to the caucus rather than the prayer-meeting. The saloons have looked after their interests in public matters far better than the churches have after theirs, and it has been one of the far from edifying spectacles to see leaders of the saloon element deceiving many of the elect and drawing them into their following. The brotherhood of politicians holds not a few who are willing to "pray with the pious or drink with the dry" as occasion requires, and to be all things to all men if they can only get office thereby. It has not been an unknown thing either, for a "temperance" orator to load up with "eloquence" at a bar and then go to a church or hall to harangue his hearers on the evils of drink, and afterwards laugh with "the boys" over the way in which he had hoodwinked the "goo-goos."

   An organization like the Anti-Saloon league, well officered, wide awake and earnest, determined that nominations for local offices shall be made in the interests of law and order and decency and honesty, will not be likely to be deceived, as to who are proper persons to nominate and elect to office, and who are in genuine sympathy with the aims and ends of good government.

   The Standard has always stood for the enforcement of law, whether that law was license or no license. It stands there still, and it pledges to the new organization in case the plans of last evening are carried out, as there is every indication that they will be, its earnest and cordial support.

 

A FINE RIDE.

W. H. Angell Gives His Employees an Outing.

   Walter H. Angell yesterday gave the employees of his grocery and meat market on Owego-st. an outing in the form of a fine ride. Starting at 7:30 o'clock they took a trip to Lake Como and on to Cascade on Owasco lake, where the greater part of the day was spent. The return was by Moravia and Locke, and home was reached at about 9 o'clock. They had Old Delavan's four-seated carriage and four horses. The party included six employees: Messrs. N. C. Smith, S. P. Smith, L. B. Griffing, E. P. Halbert, W. J. Stillman and Ernest Teeter. Mr. James R. Schermerhorn was also taken along as a special guest and Mr. Angell was the driver.

 

Attacking  Trees.

   A species of army worms, differing quite materially from the apple tree worms, has attacked maple trees in sections in this vicinity. In some places west of the village the trees are completely stripped and of course will die. In some instances in town people are painting a strip around the trees 6 or 8 inches wide of pure tar. The result is that the worms cannot get up the trees. People will do well to keep an eye out for them and head them off in the beginning. It would be too bad to lose our beautiful maples.

 

Youths Under Arrest.

   Chief of Police Parker yesterday afternoon broke up what was said to be a little game of chance going on with cards at the rear of the opera house, and arrested three boys on the charge of gambling. In as much as all come from highly respectable families and this is a first offense, we omit the names. This morning in police court one of the boys pleaded guilty and the other two pleaded not guilty, and the matter was adjourned until 2 o'clock this afternoon.

   This afternoon the other two boys pleaded guilty and the police justice let them off with a severe reprimand. Police Justice Davis says that no more leniency may be expected from him in cases of this character. This is the second instance in a month, and the next gang of boys found committing such a crime will be severely dealt with.

 

CLUBS ENTERTAINED.

Five Normal Societies Gathered at Mrs. George C. Hubbard's.

   Last Friday night the Clionians gave a lawn reception to the Corlonors and Alpha Deltas at the pleasant home of Miss Aria Hubbard, 116 Port Watson-st. Lemon sherbet and cake were enjoyed by the young ladies, but not more perhaps than a surprise planned by Mrs. Hubbard in inviting the members of the two gentlemen's clubs to join the party at the close of their meetings. This was the first time within four years at least, that the five literary societies of the Normal [School] have met in a social way and been characterized distinctively as clubs. The combined aggregation numbered about two hundred people. After the party had taken leave, a serenading visit was made to several members of the faculty.

 

BREVITIES.

   —Grover post, No. 98, G. A. R., will meet to-night at 8 o'clock.

   —The town board held a regular meeting at the office of Town Clerk Dowd this morning.

   —The regular meeting of Grover Relief corps, No. 96, will occur to-morrow, June 6, at 2:30 P. M.

   —Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Scutt of 132 Clinton-ave. entertained a number of friends at their home last Friday in honor of the 69th birthday of Mr. Scutt.

   —Republicans have been dropping into the office of Town Clerk T. H. Dowd all day to see if their names were on the enrollment list entitling them to vote at the primary elections.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—Pearson Bros., Big bargains in willow rockers, page 4; Buck & Lane, Garden hose, etc., page 4; W. J. Perkins & Co., Chemically pure baking powder, page 6; W. E. Pratt, Commission broker, page 4; McGraw & Osgood, Feet, page 5.