NEGOTIATIONS HAMPERED AT PEKIN, TABLOID JOURNALISM, EXAGGERATED TYPHOID CASES IN CORTLAND, AND BASEBALL PROSPECTS

 

Edwin Hurd Conger.

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, January 9, 1901.

HAMPERED AT PEKIN.

United States Believes Chinese Trouble Should Be Settled From Washington.

   WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.—The negotiations which have been pending for some time relative to the removal from Pekin of some of the subjects of international negotiations so that they could be taken up at Washington or at the capital of one of the powers, have now advanced to a stage where there is promise of a satisfactory understanding among the powers on this move.

   The plan originated through a suggestion of Minister Conger cabled about a week ago, to the effect that there was little prospect of securing united action on the subject of indemnity and of new commercial treaties with China. Mr. Conger suggested that better progress in the negotiations were likely to result if these two phases could be removed from Pekin and taken up at some point entirely removed from local influences.

   Mr. Conger's idea met with favorable consideration here and the suggestion was made to the other powers interested in China that the matter of Chinese indemnity and of commercial treaties be taken up at Washington or at one of the other capitals. In expecting this plan, it has been the purpose to assemble an international commission which could pass on all questions of indemnity, both among themselves and as against China. It would be in the main a conference among the powers, although it is expected that Chinese envoys would be invited to participate after the proceedings reached a stage where the unity of action among the powers should be assured.

   The state department has already received indications as to the general feeling of some of the powers on this proposition. There appears to be no reason to anticipate serious opposition to the transfer, as most of the powers have appreciated the obstacles at Pekin in the way of an agreement on the two subjects of indemnity and commercial treaties.

   Minister Conger was heard from yesterday in a cablegram to the state department. The text of the dispatch was not given out, but it was made known that in substance Mr. Conger confirmed recent press reports to the effect that there was reason to believe the empress dowager was exerting her influence against the acceptance of the demands submitted by the powers. It is the feeling among officials here that the influence still wielded by the empress dowager may lead to serious complications, in case she seeks to bring to a halt the negotiations now pending. The powers by stating their demands to be irrevocable made them practically an ultimatum and while a refusal to sign by China would not result in a declaration of war, to enforce the demands there would be a prolonged occupancy of Pekin, and this might lead to fresh complications threatening the integrity of the Chinese empire.

   The United States government is seeking to insist upon the signing of the treaty by the Chinese envoys on the ground that they presented credentials clothing them with complete authority to act without the necessity of first submitting their acts to the imperial court for approval. Based on these credentials, Mr. Conger and the other ministers at Pekin are urging that the envoys should sign without reference to the attitude of the court, and in case the signatures are given, they will be accepted as a complete expression of the will of the Chinese government.

 

USS RANGER.

MUST NOT ATTACK PANAMA.

United States Will Not Tolerate Any Blockade of Isthmian Traffic.

   WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.—There is reason to believe that United States government will adopt a vigorous line of action in case the city of Panama is attacked or there is any interruption of the transit facilities of the isthmus.

   According to a treaty arrangement with Colombia the United States has been given a certain measure of protection over the peaceful conduct of this traffic across the isthmus. When Consul General Gudger a few months ago reported that the revolutionists would bombard the city of Panama, Acting Secretary of State Hill promptly sent a dispatch to Mr. Gudger announcing in unusually vigorous terms that this government would not tolerate any action likely to prejudice American interests or interfere with the rights which this government had assumed.

   The dispatch became public in Panama and had the effect of putting an end to the plans of bombardment. Mr. Gudger's present dispatch does not indicate that the city itself is about to be attacked, but if it develops by later information that there is any prospect of bombardment the vigorous procedure of a few months ago will be repeated.

   At present the gunboat Ranger is at Panama and the Philadelphia and Iowa are on the way to that locality.

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

Tabloid Journalism in America.

   While the unique experiment of Alfred Harmsworth, the editor and proprietor of the London Daily Mail, in demonstrating through the medium of the New York World his idea of what the modern daily newspaper should be has excited keen interest and much comment among the publishers of newspapers and, in a measurable degree, among the readers of newspapers, it has on the whole demonstrated nothing of special importance and value in respect to the technical methods and economies of American journalism.

   Mr. Harmsworth had complete control for 24 hours of The World's amply equipped plant and facilities, with the mechanical and editorial departments in working sympathy with his plans. The result was rather disappointing than otherwise. The product was a 32 page paper, three columns to the page, with headlines considerably reduced from those appearing ordinarily in that paper and the subject matter somewhat more condensed and classified than its regular issue.

   As to the form and size of newspapers there are wide differences of opinion, though the make up of the Harmsworth sheet will, we think, hardly appeal to the average American newspaper reader. The daily paper must print the news and much matter of current general interest and, if successful, there will be large demands upon its space for advertisements. If the pages are small, there must be more of them, and any considerable addition to the number of small, loose pages in the Harmsworth edition would be undesirable. Indeed, their duplication, which any successful newspaper might find necessary, would make a product quite as unwieldy and distressing as that which Mr. Harmsworth seeks to mitigate. Instead of a roll of blankets we should have a bale of hay. On the whole, Mr. Harmsworth's experiment will not produce a revolution in American journalistic methods. The American editor will go right along producing the kind of newspaper he thinks the American people will buy and read, and he probably knows pretty nearly as much about what the American reader wants as the brilliant but somewhat self confident young journalist from London.

   ◘ A cheerful writer says that this is the golden age for America's young men. Good enough. But looking around to Carnegie, Armour and others it would appear that the old fellows are not doing so badly.

   ◘ A wiener wurst maker in Iowa has been arrested for refusing to pay his dog tax. Possibly he is one of those who contend that a tax on the raw material is unjust when another tax is to be levied on the manufactured article.

 

Main Street, Cortland, N. Y.

EXAGGERATED IDEAS.

Neighboring Towns Have Enlarged Opinions in Reference to Typhoid Here.

   Traveling men who visit the villages about Cortland, state that there is an exaggerated idea in these places concerning the number of cases of typhoid fever and the number of deaths resulting from the disease in Cortland. In Freeville one of the traveling men heard that there were two hundred fifty cases here and that there had been six deaths on Greenbush-st. alone as a result of the disease. Other equally false impressions have floated in from surrounding places.

   As a matter of fact there have been altogether only about forty cases of typhoid fever [recorded] and some of these are very light. The six deaths reported from one street would cover all the deaths that have occurred in the city from the disease, while on the street referred to no deaths have resulted. There need be no hesitation felt about coming to Cortland, for as a matter of fact, there are no more cases here in proportion to the inhabitants than there are in other localities about Cortland, and physicians are agreed in the belief that the fever is not contagious except under conditions that would not exist in the case of people merely coming into the city to trade or to do business.

 

WATER TO BE ANALYZED.

Mayor Brown will Call a Meeting of the Board of Health.

   Mayor C. F. Brown, as president of the board of health will, on account of the prevalence of typhoid fever in Cortland, not wait for the action of the new board which is not organized till the first of February, but will call a meeting of the old board to-morrow night.

   Following this action there will be collected samples of the water in wells in various parts of the city, also of the city water, which will be sent to Albany and to Commissioner Doty of the New York Quarantine commission for analysis. The matter will be energetically followed up by the mayor, and the cause of the disease will be discovered if possible.

 

Pure Milk.

   Filzenger's bottles, cans and all milk utensils are thoroughly washed and scalded before using, and there is not one case of fever on his route. [Paid ad.]

 

Cortland Hospital on North Main Street.

Operation at Hospital.

   Mr. Hubert R. Maine, who has been ill with typhoid fever, and who was recovering from that disease, was found a short time ago to be suffering from tuberculosis of the intestines. He was taken to the hospital this afternoon and an operation was performed to [relieve] the difficulty by Dr. Jacobson of Syracuse, assisted by Dr. Sornberger and Dr. VerNooy. His physicians did not believe there was any hope for his recovery without the operation, but were hopeful of a successful outcome if the operation were preformed. At 4 o'clock, the operation was completed and the patient had recovered from the ether. The most hopeful results are anticipated.

 

Fireman's Hall.

COMMON COUNCIL.

New Telephones—Frank E. Price For Commissioner of Charities.

   At an adjourned meeting of the common council last night, Mr. W. H. Jones of the Home Telephone Co. came before the members and offered to furnish the city with eight telephones, four for officers and four for schools, at $12 a piece, with option of ordering additional telephones for city service at the same price. Mr. Jones stated that this reduction was made by the company to the city inasmuch as it was the people of the city who had them to pay for, and the company wished to take this way to show to the citizens the appreciation of the company of the generous treatment that had been accorded it ever since operations for putting in the new telephone system in Cortland had been begun. In places where other phones were contracted for till July, the Home company would place their telephones at once and not charge rental for them till the expiration of such other contracts.

   It was in the discussion of this matter that Mr. Geo. F. Richards of the Third ward gave utterance to his views of the fire alarm system and the police situation, which will bear investigation at least. He would exchange the old fire alarm system that is now in use in the city and replace it by a telephone system. This he thought could be manipulated by placing telephone boxes at stated intervals throughout the city and let some of the factories blow the signal. He would take the "George Washington bell," that was constantly being mistaken for church bells, down from top of the fire building. The telephones too, would be useful in the police system in keeping a tab on the policemen, for if they were obliged to report through these telephones to headquarters while on duty patrolling the city, it would be easy to locate each man on the force. It was his opinion that the police service in Cortland would never be satisfactory to the people till some plans are perfected whereby the members of the force could be located at any time and a full report of their work could be given.

   It was voted that the sum of $90 be refunded to Mary McKean for rebate surrendered liquor license, pursuant to an order of H. H. Lyman, state excise commissioner.

   Mayor Brown presented the name of Frank E. Price for appointment as commissioner of charities. The confirmation of the appointment was moved by Mr. Richards and seconded by Mr. Scudder. The ayes and nays were called for by Mr. Yager and all the aldermen voted to confirm the appointment.

 

Some One to Sell Little Folks.

   The publisher of Little Folks, that popular children's magazine, would like a bright active boy or girl from 10 to 15 years of age in this city to sell Little Folks each month. There are many people who will not subscribe for a year, but who would gladly pay ten cents each month. A bright boy or girl can easily secure a list of such people. A package of magazines will be sent to the agent each month. A profit of three cents a copy will be allowed the agent. One little boy has a list of fifty customers to whom he sells each month. Write to the publisher for further particulars. Address Little Folks, Boston, Mass.

 

BASEBALL PROSPECTS.

Public Meeting Called for Friday Evening at Fireman's Hall.

   A meeting of the directors of the Baseball association was held last night in the Emerald Hose parlors, at which the baseball situation was discussed. The meeting was marked by the great amount of enthusiasm shown in relation to the support of a team.

   The supporters of baseball in Cortland are anxious to proceed this year, as they did last year, that is to call a public meeting and select a baseball fair committee to arrange for holding a fair for the benefit of the team, then call a subsequent meeting and select the directors of the association. This plan worked admirably last year, and it seems to be the idea of those interested that this is the best way to proceed this year.

   In consequence of this, a public meeting is called for Friday evening, Jan. 11, at 8 o'clock at Fireman's hall, at which time baseball for next season will be fully discussed and plans for a fair brought forth.

 

BREVITIES.

   —A quantity of old muslin is wanted at the Cortland hospital.

   —A special meeting of the Church Protective union is called for to-night at 7 o'clock at 42 Madison-st.

   —Meeting of Woman's Home Missionary society at First M. E. church parlors to-morrow at 2:30 o'clock.

   —Mr. James Murphy has been engaged as manager of the Home Telephone Co., and will begin work to-morrow.

   —The Pastime club will give a private dancing party at Red Men's hall Friday evening, Jan. 11, from 8 till 12 o'clock. Music by Kane's orchestra.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—E. M. Mansur, Corner in the grocery business, page 5; M. W. Giles, Clearing sale, page 8; Glann & Clark, Bargain sale, page 6.

   —The Cortland hospital has occasion to use two or three good sized demijohns. If any of its friends have them to spare the gift would be appreciated.

   —Members of the Cortland fire department are requested to meet at Fireman's hall to-morrow afternoon at 2 o'clock to attend in a body the funeral of Mr. Fay Millen at 2:30 o'clock. 

   —The funeral of Mr. Fay Millen will be held to-morrow afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at his late home, 8 Cleveland-st. The K. O. T. M., and Water Witch Steamer & Hose Co., will attend in a body. Mr. Millen was 41 years old, not 31, as The STANDARD was yesterday erroneously informed.

   —Pecos Tribe, No. 351, Improved Order of Red Men, will confer the adoption degree upon eight candidates and the warriors' degree on seventeen candidates to-morrow evening. The council fire will be kindled at 7:30 o'clock sharp.