COLOR QUESTION, PEACE MONUMENT, BRIEF EDITORIALS, SCHOOL CONTRACTS AWARDED, AND PREACHED ON FOUNTAIN PENS

 

Joe Cannon.

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, April 22, 1902.

"TAINT IN THE BLOOD."

Color Question Again Precipitated In the House.

SOCIAL EQUALITY OF RACES.

Mr. Gillett of Massachusetts Has Argument With Southern Members as to Feeling Toward Negroes North and South—British Camp Discussed.

   Washington, April 22.—Mr. Cannon, chairman of the committee on appropriations, characterized the proposed expenditure at West Point as the "rankest kind of extravagance."

   Mr. Hay agreed with Mr. Hull that the improvement was necessary to accommodate the large increase in the number of cadets (139) which has already been provided for by law.

   Mr. Gilbert took occasion to answer some remarks recently made by Mr. Gillett, Mr. Bromwell and General Funston which he thought reflected upon his state. Mr. Gilbert said that in Kentucky and in fact throughout the South they looked with supreme contempt upon the social equality of the races.

   Gentlemen on the other side could not cry down "the taint in the blood." He recalled the fact that when a colored man sat on the other side not one of his colleagues invited him to his house. The prejudice against social equality was as strong in the North as in the South, he declared, and all talk to the contrary was "hypocritical rot and rant."

   Mr. Gillett said he was willing to admit the prejudice against the negro in New England. He thought that, perhaps, there was a greater physical repugnance toward the negro there than in the South.

Refused Lodging at Hotel.

   Mr. Bartlett interrupted him to ask whether Booker T. Washington was not refused lodging at the hotels of Boston some time ago.

   Mr. Gillett replied that the incident referred to occurred at Springfield, not Boston. He explained that Mr. Washington was refused lodging at two hotels because they were full and could not accommodate him. But he said the proprietor of one of them made every effort to secure lodging for him elsewhere and invited him to come to the hotel for his meals.

   Mr. Gaines asked if the governor of Massachusetts declined to take a member of his staff who was a negro with him when he went to the Nashville Exposition.

   "If he did," replied Mr. Gillett, "it was because he did not want to wound the sensibilities of the people of Nashville." Mr. Gillett explained that in New England they could understand the prejudices in the south against the negro and against the negro domination, but the people of his section insisted that social ostracism should not be visited on those who did not share these prejudices. He objected to making the crime of color unpardonable.

   "Do not dodge the issue," cried Mr. Gilbert. "Did you ever invite a negro to your table?"

   "I never have," replied Mr. Gillett. "But I never have been mean enough to criticize a man who has done so." (Republican applause).

   Mr. Patterson said he blushed for the honor of Massachusetts when he heard a defense of social equality of the negro and the white man.

   Mr. Blackburn made a vehement speech against the constant injection of the race question into politics in the south.

   Mr. Cochran made a speech in which he argued that it was the bounden duty of the government to stop the shipment of war material to South Africa. He declared that the existence of a British camp near New Orleans was notorious.

   Mr. Gillett, answered Mr. Cochran, reading a letter of the sheriff at Chalmette, La., to the governor of Louisiana stating specifically that while mules and horses were being loaded at Chalmette there was no British military camp there.

   Mr. W. W. Kitchen answered the remarks made earlier in the debate by Mr. Blackburn.

   After completing 24 of the 30 pages of the bill the committee rose. The agricultural appropriation bill was reported. The house then adjourned.

 

New York Peace Monument on Lookout Mountain.

New York Peace Monument.

   Chattanooga, Tenn., April 22.—Members of the New York Monument commission arrived in this city and spent the day on Lookout mountain, arranging details for commencing work on the New York Peace monument. Those in the party are General A. S. Webb, General Anson G. McCall, Major C. A. Richardson, Major T. W. Broady, W. W. Armstrong, George L. Maltby, S. Fred Nixon, J. P. Allds, Otto Kelsey, J. T. Rogers, L. F. Goodsell, Colonel J. O. Graham, Colonel R. T. Baxter and George B. Graham. The New York Peace monument will be located at Lookout mountain and will be one of the most imposing of all the monuments to the military park.

 

PAGE FOUR—BRIEF EDITORIALS.

   ◘ Among the seditious proclamations recently circulated in Russia by the students is one addressed especially to workmen, which draws a somber picture of their wretched existence and their moral and physical degradation. The circular declares that the whole existing situation is due to the tyranny of the system of government. It asserts that the people in the eyes of the government represent nothing more than a vile herd of animals, without knowledge, will, rights or worth of any kind. But, says the circular, the students have taken into their own hands the people's cause in order to free the workmen from this sad state, and even though each student should have at his side ten policemen and ten gendarmes threatening him with the lash, he would none the less fulfill the task which he has taken upon himself for the good of the people. The effect of this and similar methods of agitation was clearly observable in the participation of the working classes in the recent student demonstrations.

   ◘ When those 100 American students get to hazing the English students at Oxford, the full significance of Cecil Rhodes' bequest will dawn upon the Britons.

   ◘ Mark Twain's purchase of a $50,000 summer residence on the Hudson would seem to indicate that he is still prospering.

 

THE CONTRACTS AWARDED

For Additions to the Central School Building.

   At the regular meeting of the board of education at the office of the superintendent in [Cortland] Central school building last evening, the contracts for building the additions to Central school were let. The aggregate amount of the bids is $18,522, divided into three amounts, for building, for heating and ventilating and for plumbing.

   The contract for the building was awarded to A. W. Reynolds of Binghamton for $14,848. The heating and ventilating was let to Ridgeway & Tyler of Albany at $2,212. The plumbing was awarded to R. H. Walker of Elmira for $1,462. These are the same parties as were given in a recent issue of The Standard as being the lowest bidders for the work upon which they were bidding.

 

Carpenters' Union.

   The Carpenters' union of Cortland held a meeting last evening and initiated eighteen new members, making a total now of fifty. The charter will be held open until May 5 for the accommodation of some who were unable to be present last evening. After the organization is completed nine hours will constitute a day's work.

 

Music in Marathon School.

   Geo. Oscar Bowen will begin teaching music in the Marathon academy and high school on Friday of this week. Mr. Bowen will teach the Weaver method, which is producing great results under his supervision in the Homer schools.

 

MILITARY WHIST.

To be Held by Daughters of American Revolution April 28.

   The Daughters of the American Revolution will give a reception and military whist in the new rooms of the Gillette skirt factory on Monday evening, April 28, at 8 p. m.

   It is important to sell all tickets in advance in order to know the number of tables required and how much to prepare in the way of refreshments. As the number of tickets is limited, those desiring them are advised to secure them at once. Apply to any member of the D. A. R. The "whist" is the ordinary game, the count being kept with flags and other military accompaniments.

 

William J. Greenman.

THE COUNTY FAIR.

Stockholders Meet and Elect Directors—Officers Chosen.

   At a meeting of the stockholders of the Cortland county Agricultural society last Saturday afternoon the following directors were elected for three years: C. F. Wickwire, L. J. Fitzgerald and W. J. Greenman of Cortland, D. K. Cutler of Scott, and D. N. Hitchcock of Homer.

   At a subsequent meeting of the directors the officers for the year were elected as follows:

   President—F. H. Sears.

   Vice-President—G. P. Squires.

   Treasurer—Charles F. Brown.

   Secretary and General Superintendent—W. J. Greenman.

   The fair will be held Aug. 26, 27, 28, and 29, and a constant effort will be made to make it the best in the history of the association, not excepting even the great success of last year.

 

George J. Mager.

RETURNED FROM WESTERN TRIP.

Mr. and Mrs. G. J. Mager Arrived in Cortland Last Evening.

   Mr. and Mrs. G. J. Mager returned from their Western trip last evening. Mr. Mager is very enthusiastic about the West especially the city of Waterloo, Ia., the former home of Mrs. Mager. He speaks in glowing terms of the state of Iowa, the universal fertility of its soil, the prosperity and thriftiness of its farmers, the beauty and completeness of its county and municipal edifices, the large number of its handsome and substantial school buildings and private residences and the general prosperity which pervades every branch of the agricultural and commercial interests of that section. Waterloo, he says, is a city of about 15,000 inhabitants and is rapidly increasing in population, judging from the large number of dwelling houses and business blocks that are at present in process of erection. It does an extensive wholesale trade and considerable manufacturing, and with the characteristic push, hustle and enterprise of its citizens, is destined to be a large and prosperous city. Many of the residents of Waterloo, Mr. Mager says, are from the East and not a few from this neighborhood. They are proud of their city, take a deep interest in its prosperity, and their cordiality and faculty for courteous entertainment of friends has no bounds.

 

PREACHED ON FOUNTAIN PENS.

Rev. W. W. Way Cautions His Congregation to be Careful.

   Before the sermon at Grace Episcopal church Sunday Rev. W. W. Way, the rector, addressed a few words to his congregation on the subject of the fountain pen craze which is now flooding the mails with letters and causing hundreds of people of Cortland and other places to write ten letters a day to earn a few dollars a week. Mr. Way expressed the belief that something could not be furnished for nothing. He had his doubts as to [where] the fountain pen matter could be continued long as a business proposition and feared that some might be disappointed in some phase of the matter in the end.

 

BREVITIES.

   —A regular meeting of the Royal Arcanum Council will be held tonight at 8 o'clock at G. A. R. hall.

   —Cortland chapter, No. 194, R. A. M. will confer the Royal Arch Mason degree at their regular convocation Wednesday evening at 8 o'clock.

   —The eighty-third anniversary of American Odd Fellowship will be celebrated by Scott lodge, next Sunday evening in Scott. Rev. U. S. Milburn, pastor of the Universalist church of this city, will deliver the address of the evening.

   —Robert H. Graham died in Binghamton yesterday at the age of 66 years. The funeral will be held from the home of his son, Mr. A. W. Graham, who lives near the county house, at 3 o'clock Wednesday afternoon. Burial will be made Thursday forenoon at Ellis, Tompkins county, N. Y.

   —Leader Patrick Conway of the Ithaca band desires to have the band give open air concerts in DeWitt park during the coming season if proper accommodations can be made for the musicians. The first concert of the season will be given on Thursday or Friday evening of this week.

   —New display advertisements today are—M. W. Giles, Special prices, page 8; M. A. Case, Drygoods, page 6; A. S. Burgess, Clothing, page 7; Gas Light Co., Gas ranges, page 7; Corner Grocery, Codfish, page 6; C. F. Brown, Paints, page 6; New York Mutual Life Insurance Co., Life Insurance, page 4.