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| "Buffalo Bill" Cody. |
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, June 21, 1901.
OUR LADY REPORTER.
Many Little Things Picked Up Which the Editor Overlooks.
"Old Sol" has been very good to us the past week, unrelenting in his goodness in dispensing a goodly share of his most saffron rays upon us, and the annual kicks on the humidity and warm weather have already been heard. But there is hardly anybody, even the pessimist, who has any kick coming (as mighty man would say) as the mercury and quicksilver will tell you the weather has not as yet been oppressively warm. Of course this was sufficient on Buffalo Bill day to cause linen to wilt, icemen to work, buds to blossom, shirt waists to appear and fat men to swear. But the only man who is really putting up much of a kick is he who has made prognostications of 50, 60 or 70 days of rain.
The advent of the Wild West show in town last Friday morning entirely disproved the belief that Cortland people cannot on occasions get up early. It was really a wonderful scene at about five o'clock, when hundreds of men, women and children were seen wending their way down towards the Lehigh Valley depot, intent upon viewing the whole thing. As early as 4:45 o'clock I saw five women and girls coming down Court house hill on a keen run, and as the train bearing the renowned Buffalo Bill did not arrive until between six and seven o'clock, I mistrust there was a late breakfast up on Prospect-st.
What fools men will make of themselves! Who but a fool would pay twenty-five cents for a single match? Last Saturday evening two fakirs, or perhaps I should say a fakir and a vendor of medicine, held forth in Court-st., near Main, and many dollars poured into the pockets of each—money which was needed for the necessaries of life by some of the victims. The fakir announced that he should sell matches at twenty-five cents each, and he did it, too. He then sold spoons, probably worth three cents a dozen for one dollar. The whole performance was one of the greatest fakes ever operated in Cortland.
Two ladies riding on bicycles came into collision in Railroad-st. last Friday afternoon, both being thrown to the pavement. The great interest taken in the welfare of the collisionists by the numerous men standing about was enough to bring tears from a dog.
Some of the Democrat's correspondents seem to be possessed with the absurd idea that I—the Lady Reporter—am not what I claim to be, and the same impression seems to be quite prevalent elsewhere than with the scribes. It is really a reflection upon [those] of the gentler sex when the insinuation is thrown out that a young and handsome woman like myself (see last week's South Cortland correspondence) is not capable of writing a few notes for a newspaper. I am informed by the editor that a majority of the excellent correspondents for the Democrat are ladies. Then why cannot I indict a few items for the same paper without resting under a cloud of suspicion that I am not what I seem? I feel so thankful to the South Cortland correspondent for taking up the cudgel in my behalf last week that I have felt more like a fairy ever since than a twenty-dollar-a-week newspaper writer. And now comes the East Homer scribe with another libel this week. Bah!
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| William McKinley. |
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From Our Regular Correspondent.)
Washington, June 17.—It has always been understood that Mr. McKinley was absolutely lacking a sense of humor. That understanding no longer holds good. Whether it was the wording of some of the congratulations showered upon him for his declaration that he would not be a third term candidate that aroused the sense of humor in him, doesn't matter. The fact remains that he now has it. His first exhibition of it almost frightened several members of the cabinet, but they have become accustomed to it now and find it an agreeable change. The exhibition was in connection with some of the congratulations Mr. McKinley received during the past week. He has a little bunch of them on his desk from his would-be Republican successors that are particularly fulsome in tone. The first man he showed them to, with a perceptible chuckle, was Secretary Hay who loves a joke as well as the next man, notwithstanding his dignified and frowning looks, but who could not hide his astonishment at Mr. McKinley's quiet enjoyment of the congratulations of these men for having taken himself out of their way. However, it soon spreads and no one of those congratulators will meet Mr. McKinley or any member of his cabinet for a long time without arousing an inward laugh.
Has the administration promised the Chinese minister to use its influence to prevent a re-enactment by congress of the Chinese exclusion law, which will expire next May? That question is deeply interesting the labor organizations and others who are working in favor of a prompt re-enactment of the law by congress. There are several suspicious circumstances. The Chinese Minister, who has more pull with the administration than any other member of the diplomatic corps, is openly working against re-enactment, and officials connected with the administration have been saying that the sentiment on the Pacific coast is much more favorable to the Chinese than it was when the exclusion law was enacted. It is not probable that the administration would dare to openly favor throwing our doors open to Chinese immigration, but it is feared by the friends of re-enactment, that it may allow senators and representatives to infer that failure to re-enact the Chinese exclusion law would not be displeasing.
Boss Platt's new commission of patents has evidently taken "public office as to a private snap" for his motto and thereby he is likely to get himself and the administration in hot water, unless some of his superiors in office are wise enough to make him withdraw his outrageous order, suspending hearings before himself and the assistant commissioner of patents for the months of July and August, thereby delaying for two months the business of every inventor whose case requires a hearing. The business of the United States patent office is conducted at a large profit to the government and the idea that any official, even the president himself should assume the right to suspend any branch of that business for long sixth of a year [sic], is ridiculous, and this arrogant commissioner of patents cannot be taught too soon that the United States patent office is not his private property run for his personal comfort and convenience.
Senator Martin of Virginia, who is in Washington on official business, said of the work of the state constitutional convention, now sitting in Richmond: "The question of suffrage is a difficult problem, but I feel that the convention will be able to solve it to the satisfaction of the greater portion of conservative Virginians. Teddy has made a bid for the support of 'nigger' delegates to the Republican National convention by appointing a 'nigger' his messenger—this is the only appointment at the disposal of the vice-president, although senators told him that it was against precedent to have a 'nigger' messenger around the senate. Those who know the sort of arguments required to get the 'nigger' votes in a Republican National convention regard 'Teddy's' bid as a joke."
The tariff fight in the Republican party is already on. Senator Aldrich, chairman of the finance committee and of the Republican steering committee, and who wields a greater influence with the Republican senators than any other man in the senate, led the fight which resulted in hanging up all the administration reciprocity treaties in the last congress, and he is leading the new fight. He has served notice on Mr. McKinley that no treaty with the new government of Cuba, which is to be established as a result of the unconditional acceptance of the Platt amendment by the Cuban Constitutional convention providing for tariff concessions on Cuban tobacco and sugar, will be ratified by the senate; also that the fight against the ratification of the reciprocity treaties already negotiated would be continued. This is flying directly in the face of Mr. McKinley's constantly repeated declarations in favor of reciprocity and means a hot fight in the senate, which may later figure in the congressional campaign of next year. Mr. Aldrich is not the sort of man to go off half cocked; hence the belief that he is assured of strong Republican backing.
A. M. E. Zion Conference.
The annual session of the A. M. E. Zion conference held at Auburn last week, closed with the reading of the appointment by Bishop Small.
Rev. Geo. C. Smith, recently of Cortland, goes to Towanda as he had anticipated. At his own request Rev. B. F. Wheeler, who has frequently visited Cortland, was relieved from the office of presiding elder and appointed to the Oneida and Canastota pastorate, one of the smallest in this conference district. Rev. M. H. Ross, D. D., of Oneida, was appointed presiding elder.
This action on the part of Dr. Wheeler called forth words of praise from Bishop Small, who characterized him as a true Christian man and one of the ablest men in the church who was willing and anxious to give up the important office of presiding elder to accept a small pastorate. In conclusion he agreed to contribute $1 a month toward Dr. Wheeler's support and he said he hoped the other pastors would see fit to do the same thing. A purse was given the bishop and a like donation was made to Dr. Wheeler next morning.
The Cortland church is to be supplied later. Rev. Isaac Stewart, formerly of Cortland, has returned to Waverly.
PERSONALS.
Miss Emily Hammond is visiting her sister Mrs. John W. Yaple in Slaterville Springs, N. Y.
Among the Cortland people at the Pan-American this week are Mr. and Mrs. Geo. L. Warren and Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Peck.
Henry B. Hubbard and Geo. J. Mager left Wednesday for Oneida to attend the consecration of the St. John s Episcopal church.
Mr. G. J. Mager, president of the Second National bank, is in Buffalo attending the annual meeting of the New York State Bankers' association, held at the Niagara hotel June 20, 21 and 22. The Chinese Minister to the U. S., Wu Ting Fang, addressed the association yesterday on "The Banking System of China.''
Next Presidential Election.
The third term nonsense being silenced, and the next presidential election being so far off that it is impossible to arouse a more than languid interest in it at present, the time seems favorable for calm consideration of the facts Leslie's Weekly has grouped together as follows:
It will take fifteen more votes to elect the next President than were required at the last election of McKinley. Under the reapportionment act, which goes into operation on March 4, 1903, the membership of the House of Representatives and the electoral college is increased to the extent of twenty-nine. There were 447 members in the electoral college which chose President McKinley. There will be 476 in the body which will choose his successor in 1904, and this number will be further increased if any of the territories should be admitted to Statehood in the interval. The States of the North Atlantic seaboard gain nine votes in the electoral college by the new allotment (three of which go to New York) the sixteen ex-slave States gain ten, and the middle West and far West also gain ten.
Though the East's relative strength in Congress and the electoral college shrinks from decade to decade, its falling off in the past ten years was comparatively slight. New York will have thirty-nine members in the next electoral college, as compared with thirty-six for many years past. For ten years, however, in the apportionment based on the census of 1830, New York has forty-two electoral votes, but the number was cut to thirty-six in the next decade, then to thirty-five, and then to thirty-three, which it had in the Civil War and reconstruction period. These reductions were due to the large increase made in the ratio, there was an increase in New York's representation, culminating in the thirty-nine of the recent allotment.
Of course, most of the older States (except those which had only one member in the House and three electoral votes) had their representation reduced at the same time as New York, though not to the same numerical extent. In 1832, when Jackson was chosen the second time, New York contributed more than a seventh of the whole electoral college. It will furnish less than a twelfth of the body which will choose President McKinley's successor.
As the states increase and the electoral college expands, the chance for the dominance of any particular state grows less and less. New York was "pivotal" in 1844, 1848, 1880, 1884 and 1888, but Cleveland in 1892 and McKinley in 1896 and 1900 would have been elected if New York, which they carried, had gone against them. In 1876, however when Hayes had a lead of only one vote in the electoral college, and when Tilden carried New York, the little state of Colorado, which was admitted that year—which the Democrats could easily have kept out, and which they probably would have kept out if they had thought it would be on the other side in the election—may be said to have been "pivotal." The electoral college had 369 members in 1876. It had 447 in 1900. It will have 476 in 1904 while if Oklahoma or any other territory be admitted to Statehood before then the number will be greater. Manifestly as the electoral college increases in size the margins for the successful candidates for President will have a tendency to broaden and no single state however large will ordinarily be able to claim for itself any especial dominance in dictating the result.
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| Judge Alton B. Parker. |
Judge Parker on Reform.
At the one hundred and fourth commencement of Union college at Schenectady last week, Chief Judge Alton B. Parker, whom Cortland delights to honor, delivered the honorary chancellor's address, that portion referring to reform in governmental affairs being of such unusual interest that we are pleased to give it space in the Democrat:
Superficial observers of present political conditions, which too often disclose local leadership to be in the hands of selfish men who use the power they possess to accomplish results hostile to the public interests, frequently assert that there is no opportunity for the educated, thoughtful, unselfish and independent man in politics, but if such persons would only sound the depths of political history the fact would be revealed to them that whenever a great question of public importance has arisen it has been presented and championed through the press and on rostrum by the educated thinkers of the country. who for the time being are the real leaders, and under whose banner the organization leaders hasten to marshal their forces lest their power shall be overthrown by the impelling force of an idea.
It is just as much the duty of a patriot to contribute of his effort so far as practicable toward improving government conditions in a government of the people, by the people and for the people as it is his duty to bear arms in defense of his country against an enemy in time of war. I do not mean by that of course, that the citizen should sacrifice his vital business interests and the claim of his family upon him for the public, save in great emergencies, or that he should submit his own judgment as to the direction his public services should take, or as to their extent, to the judgment of others, however numerous, but simply that he [missing segment of text, CC ed.] of local conditions as circumstances and his environment permit.
The inquiry follows whether a movement to improve local government can be undertaken and carried on within party lines or without. My observation persuades me that as a general rule useful measures can be more promptly and effectively put in operation within party lines. But there are exceptions to the rule, notable in the great cities of the country, where often times the power incident to many official places and the disbursements on large sums of money makes it possible to build up an organization that, if unwisely led, may refuse to institute reforms in local government, because such reforms are proposed by strong men within the organization who might be unpleasantly affected by their adoption as the settled policy of the party. In such situation independent movement often times afford the only method of bringing about much needed improvements. Nevertheless, in a majority of towns, cities, villages and counties a wise measure boldly and persistently presented by unselfish public spirited citizens in whose sincerity of purpose the people interested have confidence, until a healthy public sentiment has been built up in favor of it, will find one or both party organizations ready to adopt it and to nominate men for local positions who will carry it out.
PAGE FOUR—BRIEF EDITORIALS.
With President McKinley definitely out of the running for a third term, we may now expect a revival of the [Mark] Hanna boom.
Seven states will hold elections this fall. Happy are the other thirty-eight that will have nothing to do but shell corn and drink cider.
Mr. Carnegie says he is holding his wealth in trust for others. The lavish hand the old man has been showing makes this assertion a little doubtful.
Up in St. Lawrence county, the Republicans are already making legislative nominations. Midsummer politics is largely confined to Northern New York.
The grocery clerks of Cortland would be extremely thankful if they could have about four evenings in each week to themselves. But there seems to be a hitch somewhere.
Philippine judges are not to be sworn to support the constitution of the United States. There is not much of it left to support, so far as our insular possessions are concerned.
A white man was hanged by a mob in Tennessee last Thursday for stealing a horse. It is distressing to think what would have been done to him if he had stolen a bicycle.
Who is to prevent the aldermen voting themselves telephones at public expense? No one just now but the taxpayers can have something to say about it at the next aldermanic election.
Out west they have a new drink called ''stretch.'' It is composed of water, hard cider and whiskey. As a short cut to a picturesque jag "stretch," ought to be among the prize winners.
President McKinley has said, "No third term." But will he stick to it? It has come to be quite the custom nowadays for politicians to "play off" in the matter of nominations, and perhaps President McKinley is afflicted that way.
The progress of invention bids fair to abolish all kinds of manual labor. It is now announced that a machine is to be manufactured to polish shoes by electricity. Thus does another humble industry suffer by the introduction of a labor saving device.
The mantles of all the prophets have fallen upon the Denver Christian. It says: ''Theodore Roosevelt will be the next President of the United States. He will serve two full terms. His immediate successor will be a Republican and will serve one full term.'' Teddy's slaughter of mountain lions has done this.
A member of the common council of McKeesport, Pa., has resigned because he finds that he cannot be a member of that body and be a Christian at the same time. If this man lived in a Kansas town his awe would not be very strange, but when a Pennsylvanian gives up office for such a reason there is occasion for astonishment. By the way, how can our Cortland aldermen reconcile the telephone grab with Christianity?
HERE AND THERE.
Many people will be pleased to reflect that this is the last month in which the tax stamps on checks and many other documents will be retained.
At the commencement exercises of Union college at Schenectady last week, honorary degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred on Chief Judge Alton B. Parker.
It is predicted that congress next year will appropriate $5,000,000 for [postal] rural free delivery. Neighborhoods with bad roads are barred out of this procession and can give no good reason why they should be included.
A change in the election law provides that hereafter inspectors of election will be nominated by the political parties as heretofore, but the names will not appear on the election tickets. Instead, the town board will appoint them to office.
Mrs. Charles Geweye, who resides at 133 Railroad-st., was run down by an unknown driver at the corner of Railroad and Hubbard-sts. Saturday morning. She was seriously injured, five bones being broken, the right wrist, the right leg above the ankle, one rib, and two fingers.
Benjamin Elmer Walradt and Arthur G. Cole, charged with stealing cigars and candy from the Traction company's building at the park, had a hearing before Justice Kelley Monday, with the result that Walradt was sent to the Industrial school at Rochester, and Cole was fined $15.
Owing to a large reduction made by the last legislature in the appropriation for the schools the department of public instruction has been compelled to reduce expenses for the coming year. Out of a total of one hundred and fourteen teachers' training classes in the state forty-three have been refused re-appointment.
Main-st. in Homer is in a very unsatisfactory condition, and can be put in good condition only by the expenditure of considerable money in putting on to it good road building material. An offer of one thousand loads of gravel in exchange for the old fire engine has been made to the board of village trustees. The engine is valueless for use as it stands, and if the gravel offered is of good quality for road purposes, it would seem that it would be good policy to accept the offer and repair the street.—Homer Republican.
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