MESSAGE FROM CONGER, EDITORIALS, DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION, FOURTH OF JULY LETTER, AND NEW HOSPITAL

 

Edwin Hurd Conger.

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, July 21, 1900.

CLOUDS HAVE PARTED.

Message From Conger Dispels Nation's Gloom.

IMPROMPTU CABINET SESSION.

American Minister's Plea For Immediate Help Will Be Heeded With Alacrity—Government Will Not Now Delay in Rushing Force to Pekin.

   WASHINGTON, July 21.—Like a flash of sunlight out of the dark sky came the intelligence at an early hour yesterday that United States Minister Conger had sent a cipher cable dispatch from Pekin to the state department, making known that two days ago he was alive and that the foreigners were fighting for their safety. The minister, Mr. Wu Ting Fang, received the message. Within half an hour the welcome intelligence that Conger had been heard from, after weeks of silence and evil report was flashed throughout the country and indeed throughout the world, dispelling the gloom which had prevailed everywhere and bringing to officials and to the public generally a sense of profound relief.

   The dispatch was in reply to Secretary Hay's cable inquiry to Minister Conger on July 11, and as both messages were in the American cipher code they were regarded by the officials as above the suspicion of having been tampered with in the course of transmission through Chinese channels. Mr. Wu promptly communicated the dispatch to the state department.

   It was telegraphed by Secretary Hay to the president who responded with a wholesome expression of gratification and word of it was sent to the various cabinet officers. They gathered in Secretary Hay's office and an impromptu cabinet conference was held in the diplomatic chamber.

   But with this cheering news came the ominous statement of Minister Conger that the besieged foreigners were in the British legation under continued shot and shell from Chinese troops and that only quick relief could avert a general massacre.

No Pronounced Change.

   The consultation brought about no pronounced change of policy for it was felt that already every energy had been bent toward meeting the situation and that there was absolutely nothing more that could be done.

   The government accepted the message as authentic and Secretary Hay telegraphed it to all our ambassadors and ministers abroad with instructions to lay it before the respective governments to which they are accredited and to urge upon them the necessity of co-operation for the immediate relief of the foreigners at Pekin.

   A message also was sent by Secretary Long to Admiral Remey conveying the intelligence of the desperate situation in Pekin and instructing him to "use and urge every possible endeavor for relief." This message Secretary Long explained meant for Admiral Remey to himself "use" and to "urge" upon the commanding officers of the other powers the use of every endeavor for the relief of Pekin. Secretary Root sent a similar notification to Colonel Coolidge, the senior American officer ashore at Tien Tsin. This action was the result of the conference of Secretaries Hay, Long and Root.

   Secretary Hay said he attached no significance to the use of the words "Chinese troops" in the message. They did not, in his opinion mean that the Chinese government troops were besieging the foreigners. In this connection the message from Mr. Fowler that General Yuan Shih Kai, governor of Shan Tung province, reported that the Chinese authorities were doing all in their power to put down the insurrection is exceedingly welcome intelligence. Yuan is considered one of the ablest, if not the ablest, general in China. He has the best drilled and equipped army in China under his command.

Expect Fall of Tuan's Rebellion.

   Some doubt was entertained as to which side he would ally himself with in the present insurrection and the fact that he appeared to come on the side of the government is accepted as evidence that his best judgment is that Prince Tuan's rebellion is destined to fall.

   Throughout the day the Conger message remained the absorbing topic of discussion. Secretary Hay was congratulated on the success of the steps he had adopted to open up communication between Pekin and Washington, for while the chancellories of the world stood hesitating and inactive, he had adopted a course which had brought a message from our minister. The Chinese minister, Mr. Wu, shared also in the universal approbation of what had been done. It is appreciated by the officials both American and Chinese that there will be suspicion in some quarters. Against this, it is declared, that a message authenticated by the American cipher code, and backed by the integrity of the officials through whom it has passed, must be accepted as authentic until something better than mere suspicion is brought forth. Later in the day several messages were received from United States Consul Fowler at Che Foo, all strongly confirmatory of the news that the foreigners were alive.

   It was said at the state department that it was not thought expedient to give out either the text or a paraphrase of the message sent by the state department July 11 to Minister Conger.

 

Booker T. Washington.

A Negro Business League.

   After consulting with colored men in all parts of the country, Booker T. Washington of Tuskegee, Ala., has decided to assist in the organization of a national negro business league. The object of this organization is to encourage colored people, through the central organization and the local organization, to enter all avenues of business. The first meeting will be held in Boston on Aug. 23 and 24.

 

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Democrats the Only Imperialists.

(From the Elmira Advertiser.)

   Kentucky has the issue of imperialism on her own account in the present state campaign. Mr. Yerkes, the Republican candidate, has put it in the forefront of his canvass and no one in the state disputes the statement that the only local issue is the Goebel law. Bryan took pains to go into Kentucky last year in support of Goebel and has expressed his sympathy with what may be termed the Goebel doctrine. The Goebel law is the most conspicuous illustration of imperialism in the whole history of American politics. It provides that the legislature may override the official returns of the vote on governor and lieutenant-governor, alone of state officers, may disregard the decisions of the courts, and arbitrarily declare a man elected who was in reality beaten by thousands. The leading Democratic journals of the state denounced the law as a device of the rankest tyranny, when it was passed.

   No respectable journal in the country has ever defended it, and it stands today the foulest blot on the statutory annals of any state in the Union. Governor Taylor, though fairly elected and inaugurated, has been compelled to fly the state to save his life. The attempt to find a victim in order to earn the reward of $100,000 offered as a reward for the slayer of Goebel has set the unscrupulous tools of the Democratic machine on the track of men whose trial is a farce of the most shameful description. Yet this specimen of Democratic imperialism is applauded by journals devoted to the task of denouncing our policy in Philippines as dangerous to American institutions.

   Almost from the beginning of its existence the Democratic party has been noted for its lofty declarations of principle and its scandalous conduct when actually in power. The crimes against negro suffrage in the Smith are applauded. The unspeakable villainy perpetrated in Kentucky is cordially approved, and each for the same reason—it makes for Democratic supremacy. If the party ever got in practice within cannon shot of its professions it might carry some title to respect—but it does not. The rank insincerity of the talk about imperialism is apparent to all but the most bigoted of partisans. Even the professional antis have nothing to say about the examples of it in our own country, and their professions of patriotism are rated at just about their miserable worth.

 

"Chickens Come Home to Roost."

   Not a little amazement is expressed at the growth of the Chinese military establishment since the war with Japan. The Celestials did not accomplish this unaided. It was mainly the work of the European powers, who scrambled over each other in their efforts to modernize the Chinese soldiery. They detailed skillful officers, who carefully drilled the apt orientals in the business of scientific warfare. Enterprising European manufacturers eagerly supplied vast quantities of Mausers, Krupps and Maxims to the dowager empress' government, and thus the whites in every way facilitated John Chinaman's preparation to slaughter and exterminate the Caucasians sojourning within the Middle Kingdom. Doubtless but for this Admiral Seymour would have been able to have reached Peking in time, to save the thousand Europeans and Americans from a fearful fate. It is likely also that if Germany had not sent General von Henneken to drill the Chinese troops Minister von Ketteler would have been alive today.

   It would seem to be an opportune time for the powers to unite in a pact to be enforced by rigorous penalties to prevent once for all the supplying of fighting paraphernalia and tuition to nations and peoples who disregard the rules of civilized warfare and who indulge in the inhuman treatment of captives. Such a consummation may sound like an iridescent dream, for the international jealousies and the avarice of arms manufacturers make such a project most difficult if not altogether impossible, but so long as the more civilized nations continue to furnish instruction and munitions of war to the less civilized it may be expected that the latter will some time turn them with deadly effect upon the former. There is an old and homely saying that "chickens come home to roost."                                                                

 

James M. Milne, PhD.

DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.

A HARMONIOUS GATHERING—MACHINE RAN SMOOTHLY.

Dr. Benjamin Kinyon Nominated for Member of Assembly, F. M. Hazard for Sheriff, J. W. Fassett for County Clerk, Edwin Duffey for District Attorney, Watts Freer for Superintendent of Poor, Dr. McBirney and Dr. Hunt for Coroners.

   The Democratic county convention was held in Fireman's hall this afternoon and was called to order at 1:45 P. M. by Dr. James M. Milne, chairman of the county committee, who nominated James Dougherty for chairman of the meeting. Mr. Dougherty was unanimously elected.

   Morris Wells and Luke J. McEvoy were elected secretaries, and John Wavle and James Grant, tellers. These were duly sworn by Fay C. Parsons, notary public.

   The roll of the towns showed that all were represented except Lapeer, Marathon and Willet. The roll of delegates who made up the convention was as follows:

   Cincinnatus—Benjamin Kinyon, J. M. Lotridge, Earl Smith, Merritt DeVoll, W. W. Wood, Abner Harrington.

   Cortlandvllle—J. Hub Wallace, James Grant, Verne Skeele, H. B. Hubbard, F. W. Collins, Eugene Davis.

   Cuyler—A. Campbell, David Connell, James M. Milne, Geo. A. Hulbert, Chas. Vincent, Wm. Petrie.

   Freetown—Patrick Welch, C. H. Bouton, Louis Bell, J. A. Jayne, E. D. Mallery, Merton Dillenbeck.

   Harford—E. F. Wilcox, Rosmy Blodgett, John Wavle, L. J. McEvoy, Louis Wilcox, John Wilcox.

   Homer—C. A. Smith, G. W. Loomis, James B. Watson, F. B. Stoker, D. J. Sullivan, J. W. Fassett.

   Preble—Wallace W. Salisbury, Matthew Carpenter, James Steele, John Fox, Seth Hobart, O. U. Kellogg.

   Scott—Geo. S. Cady, D. J. Cottrell, F. M. Hazard, Wm. R. Stoker, Wm. Cummings, Halsey J. Ball.

   Solon—Henry Kelly, John McKendrick, William Hayes, Maurice Welch, James Fitzgerald, T. P. Keefe.

   Taylor—Nahum Perry, T. O. Brown, G. P. Rockwell, L. D. Finn, V. Jipson, E. S. Crain.

   Truxton—John O'Donnell, John O'Connor, M. McSweeney, Thomas Lee, T. E. Fitzgerald, Patrick Comerfort.

   Virgil—R. E. Holton, S. H. Bouton, Henry McKinney, D. E. Stillman, Frank Stillman, S. D. Deyoe.

   Dr. J. M. Milne, in complimentary words, presented the name of Dr. Benjamin Kinyon of Cincinnatus for member of assembly, and the nomination was unanimously made by acclamation.

   Mr. Cady moved that Francis M. Hazard be the nominee for sheriff. This also was unanimously voted by the convention.

   Jas. T. Steele moved the nomination of Joseph W. Fassett of Homer for county clerk. Mr. Fassett made a vigorous protest, but was unanimously slated for the position in spite of himself.

   Hon. O. U. Kellogg presented the name of Edwin Dnffey as a candidate for district attorney and complimented him for his work in that office during the past three years. Mr. Steele seconded the nomination and it was carried amid great applause.

   Mr. Duffey was called for and accepted the nomination saying that he owed it to the party at this time to accept this nomination, if the party wanted him for its candidate, because three years ago he asked the nomination at its hands and was given it.

   The next office to be filled was that of superintendent of poor. Dr. Milne nominated Watts Freer and this was unanimously voted.

   For coroners Dr. Timothy McBirney of Willet and Dr. H. D. Hunt of Preble were selected. It was moved, seconded and carried that the secretary be instructed to cast a ballot for each of the nominees.

   Dr. J. M. Milne, James Dougherty and John O'Donnell were chosen as delegates to the state convention.

   Dr. Milne offered a motion that a committee consisting of one member from each town be chosen to report to the next county convention a plan for reorganizing the county committee. Hon. O. U. Kellogg, Cortland; Dr. Benj. Kinyon, Cincinnatus; A. Campbell. Cuyler; Patrick Welch, Freetown; J. W. Fassett, Homer, J. H. Wavle, Harford; W. E. Hunt, Lapeer; J. T. Steele, Preble; Dr. H. J. Ball, Scott; Henry Kelly, Solon; Chas. Bouton, Marathon; G. P. Rockwell, Taylor; P. O'Donnell, Truxton; Daniel Stillman, Virgil; A. E. Ingersoll, Willet, were selected to make this report.

   At 2:45 the convention adjourned. No resolutions were offered.

 

FOURTH OF JULY.

AS OBSERVED ON THE CITY OF ROME THIS YEAR.

By the Cortland Party—How They are Passing the Time—Rob Carpenter the Darling of the Party—Poem Telling of Celebration on Land and Sea.

   Aboard City of Rome, July 4, 10 A. M.

   To the Editor of The Standard:

   SIR—A coterie of ladies has decided that the most patriotic thing we can do to-day is write to our home papers and tell them how we celebrate at sea. Consequently we, the Cortland party, offer our mite as follows:

   The Rome is sufficiently glorious this morning draped in English and American flags and bathed in the most brilliant sunlight. All our party is in good health and corresponding spirits.

   Mr. Robert Carpenter is a conspicuous member of a section of the Chautauquans known as the "Will-o-the-wisps." His music is in great demand and I think he may be fairly called the darling of the boat. Mr. and Mrs. and Miss Muller with their friends, Miss Van Hoesen, Miss Stone and Mrs. Tillinghast, have chosen a breezy corner of the deck where extra steamer rugs must be kept closely tucked under chilly chins and warm hoods shade the eyes. They call themselves the papooses. Miss Goodrich, Miss Barnes and Miss Van Hoesen are on the outlook committee. Up-to-date they have seen a school of porpoises, two whales and a large number of steamers and sailboats. It is supposed to be due to their vigilance that we escaped fog off Newfoundland banks.

   On the eve of the Fourth the Chautauqua party gave an entertainment to the ship's company. It was of a humorous character and was highly appreciated by a crowded saloon. Miss Beers of Danby was a favorite. We, the forty Chautauquans, have our name on a tiny blue enameled streamer which we wear as a badge, and we are rapidly becoming fast friends. We cover considerable territory, as we have representatives from the North, South and West, but, as Cortland is the center of York state, it is consequently the center of everything. Today our party is wearing the National colors with the word "Chautauqua" in gilt letters slanting across. We took pains to give it a citified tilt lest any one should think we were from the country.

   The decks of the Rome are unusually broad; indeed a cottage piano is taken out every evening for dancing. Our own special ball is on Thursday night. The annual drill fell through because ladies were not allowed. Every Darby clings to his Joan here.

   Later— The special exercises of the day began with a series of races: Boys, young men, older men, ladies, a potato race, a three legged race and others. Among the prizes were a cut glass bottle (Apollinaris water with the neck off); a fancy match box (paste-board with a torn edge); a leather case (old slipper). The last was three rare stamps. These were given by the feet of the company on the deck. In the evening a concert of much merit beguiled near three hours. The only violin on board figured largely and I have copied a poem which was the most unique number on the program. It was written on and for the Rome.

   Hoping that it may not crowd out more important things I am,

   Very Cordially Yours, CAROLYN R. GILLETTE.

THE DAY WE CELEBRATE.

 

 

A FINE NEW HOSPITAL

Being Erected in Oneonta—Pointers for Cortland's Hospital.

   Mrs. Waters, the matron of the Cortland hospital, has received the following letter from Dr. Arthur Ward Cutler concerning a new hospital just about to be built in Oneonta. We publish it because of some of the valuable suggestions which it contains with reference to the local hospital. Cortland has a hospital of which it may well be proud, but it has various needs; it is not endowed and is still in debt and the board of managers has a constant struggle to make both ends meet financially. Every one realizes the value of such an institution to the place, and in fact we could not get along without it now, but it cannot be conducted upon air or wind, and substantial cash is needed to put it upon a self supporting basis.

   Dr. Cutler speaks of the furnishing of the rooms in Oneonta's new hospital and says that $250 has been appropriated for each room and ward and the money paid in. Cortland has been obliged to get along for about $50 a room. Oneonta has received a check for $500 for purchasing instruments for use in the hospital. Cortland's instruments will not exceed $100 in value, and each physician has to furnish his own instruments in the main from his own office before performing an operation. This is well enough perhaps in cases where he knows in advance of the operation, but in emergency cases, such as accidents, there is sometimes a waste of valuable time in going to an office for instruments which really ought to be at hand, the property of the hospital. Every well conducted hospital in the country has a full set of instruments. The local hospital also needs a larger operating room and a new operating table. Perhaps some of Cortland's benevolently inclined and philanthropic citizens may note the suggestions and aid in supplying the material needs of this hospital in one way or another. The letter follows.

   Mrs. Waters, Cortland hospital, Cortland, N. Y.:

   MY DEAR MRS. WATERS—Some few days ago I received a letter from Mrs. Thornburn requesting me to give you some idea about our new hospital. Mr. R. Fox of New York City, formerly of Oneonta, recently lost his wife, a native of Oneonta, and desiring to erect a suitable memorial, decided after some time to furnish a room in the new Albany hospital in her memory. About this time l once more started the agitation concerning the building of a hospital here, and Mr. Fox taking notice of the same, subscribed $10,000 with the proviso that the building be called after his wife. We immediately accepted and to-morrow, July 12, the contractors' bids are to be opened, and the building is to be pushed as rapidly as possible.

   The hospital is to consist of a main building and a wing. The wing will contain on the first floor a public male ward and on the second floor the public female ward. Off each ward are the toilets, bathrooms, medicine rooms and pantry. The ground floor of the main building contains the offices, one room for private patients, the emergency room and the small (three bed) ward for male patients who are able to pay $7 per week. The second floor of the main building contains the three bed ward for females—and the rooms for private patients (four in number) with the toilet, bathroom, etc. Each private room, also the wards, has a spacious closet off, and rooms are about 11 by 10 1/2 feet. The third floor of main building contains the operating room, washing and sterilizing room off of the same, the anesthetizing room and the sleeping apartments of the superintendent, matron, nurse and servants. There is also a dark room on this floor for eye, ear, nose, etc., work, also bath room, toilets, closets, etc. An elevator connects each floor of the hospital opening into the emergency room (and hall) on the ground floor and into hall opposite operating room on third floor.

   Much interest has been taken by the public in this work. Each and every private room in the hospital has been set aside as a memorial room, and every one of them will be furnished by a family or an individual. The sum decided upon to furnish each room being $250. A very pleasing bit of information is every room and each private ward, also one public ward, has had its subscription made and paid and the furnishing of these rooms and wards is an assured fact, leaving only one public ward to furnish. The cellar containing kitchen, diningrooms (for servants, etc.,) still remain to be furnished. A check for $500 was received a few days ago from a New York man, a friend of Mr. Fox, who sent the same with the request that the instruments for the operating room be purchased with the same. I regret that my limited time does not allow me to go more fully into the matter and should you desire further information I will be glad to give the same, on request, at some future time.

   Faithfully yours,

   A. W. CUTLER, Oneonta, N. Y., July 11, 1900.

 

Sold His Automobile.

  Mr. W. W. Kelsey, who had the first automobile in Cortland, has sold his machine to a party in Syracuse, and is now waiting for the perfecting of a machine which he had his eye on for six months before he bought this one. He had had an order in for one of those machines for six months before he got this one, but its manufacturers were experimenting and perfecting the machine and would not put one on the market, nor have they done so yet. Meanwhile Mr. Kelsey thought he would buy one that was being sold and have a little fun with it while waiting. He has had his fun and realized well upon his machine, and is now content to wait for the other more perfect machine. He thinks be will not have to wait long now, and that machine will be a very perfect one.

 

BREVITIES.

   —Mrs. J. L. Judd and daughter Jessie will spend a month with relatives in Rome, N. Y.

   —A meeting of the Church Protective union will be held at 21 Clayton-ave. on Monday, July 23, at 7:30 P. M.

   —The West End Brownies defeated the East Siders in a game of baseball this morning by a score of 16 to 12.

   —The public hearing on the paving of Groton-ave. occurs on Monday evening, July 23, at 7:30 o'clock, at Fireman's hall.

   —It seems paradoxical that while a woman's full dress costume costs more than a man's, yet it doesn't come so high.

   —Edward Allen's residence, Cortland, and G. A. Brockway's residence, Homer, have been connected with the telephone exchange.

   —Dr. N. W. Tracy, the temperance evangelist, will preach at the First Methodist Episcopal church to-morrow at 10:30 A. M.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—Fred I. Graham, Cut rate R. R. tickets, page 4; C. F. Brown, Huyler's candies, page 4.

   —The Cortland ball team will play a double header at Athletic field next Monday with Troy. The day following will be ladies' day.

   —A 100-ton Lackawanna locomotive which was dumped in a swamp by derailment at Stroudsburg last week has sunk out of sight in the mud.

   —Mrs. A. B. Nelson very pleasantly entertained a number of lady friends at her home on Monroe Heights yesterday afternoon. Duplicate whist was the attraction.

   —The union service to-morrow evening will be in the Congregational church at 7:30 o'clock with sermon by Rev. Robert Clements, pastor of the Presbyterian church.

   —Cortland will have General Nelson A. Miles for a neighbor after the general's retirement from the army. He has purchased a residence in Auburn and expects eventually to occupy it.

   —The Jamestown Evening Times has suspended publication after an up-hill struggle for existence for ten years. The place is not considered large enough for two dailies, even though it has 22,000 population, and The Times, which sold for $4 per year, has gone to the wall leaving The Journal which sells for $7 per year in control of the field. Unprofitable business is the cause arranged for the suspension.