 |
| SMS Falke. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, December 23, 1902.
FOOD GETTING SCARCE.
Blockade Is Proving Prejudicial to American Trade.
PRESIDENT HAS NOT ACCEPTED.
Can't Understand Why the Powers Would Be Unwilling to Refer Dispute to The Hague Tribunal—President Will Accept if the Powers Insist—Precedents Noted.
Caracas, Dec. 23.—The blockade is proving prejudicial to American trade. Fifteen importing houses in Caracas have stopped placing orders in the United States.
It is estimated that the food supply in Caracas will not last much more than a fortnight.
The Venezuelan gunboat Miranda, the best vessel in the fleet, is still successful in escaping German pursuit. She is now in the most southern part of Lake Maracaibo, near La Ceiba, and beyond the reach of the allies.
The German cruiser Falke made an attempt to cross the bar at Maracaibo without a pilot but desisted in view of the danger. She is now cruising outside the bar.
 |
| Theodore Roosevelt. |
RELUCTANT TO SERVE.
President Will Act as Arbitrator If Necessary.
Washington, Dec. 23.—President Roosevelt has not accepted the position of arbitrator of the Venezuelan controversy. In fact, when the official day closed he had not received, formally nor officially, a request from the European powers that he act as arbitrator of the dispute. These statements are made on the highest authority.
The president and Secretary Hay had a long conference after the former's return from his Virginia trip. They carefully went over the situation as it had developed since Saturday, but it is understood that nothing has arisen during the past 48 hours to warrant the president in changing his opinion as to the undesirability of his acceptance of the position of arbitrator.
So far as can be learned, no specific reasons have been advanced by the European powers for objecting to a reference of the Venezuelan questions to the arbitration of The Hague tribunal.
It is held by the administration that the tribunal at The Hague was constituted to arbitrate just such controversies as that which has arisen between Venezuela and the powers and that it would be desirable from every viewpoint that the present dispute should go to that tribunal for adjudication.
How strong these objections which Great Britain, Germany and Italy have to a reference of the Venezuelan difficulty to The Hague tribunal is not known to the administration at this time.
Even the nature of the objections, if any there be, is not known. The negotiations looking to the selection of an arbitrator have not progressed sufficiently to develop such objections as the powers may have.
The acceptance by the powers of the principle of arbitration as applied to the Venezuelan question is a matter of great gratification to the president and his cabinet. That all the powers have intimated, too, that they would prefer the president should arbitrate the present dispute is taken as a notable compliment to the president personally and to his administration.
It is the hope of both the president and his advisers, however, that while there is precedent for his acceptance of the post of arbitrator, the powers will consent to a reference of the controverted matters in the Venezuelan question to the tribunal at The Hague.
While it is recognized by the president's closest advisers and by the president himself, that some unpleasant possibilities might attend his performance of the duties of arbitrator of the pending Venezuelan difficulty, his friends assert that he will shirk no responsibility that he may deem it his duty to undertake but will accept if the powers should insist on it, though he is very reluctant to do so.
.jpg) |
| USS Massachusetts (BB-2). |
Admiral Dewey's Squadron.
Washington, Dec. 23.—Cabled advice to the navy department shows that the holiday itinerary for the ships of Admiral Dewey's squadron in the Caribbean is being rapidly executed. Christmas eve will find all of the forty vessels in port. The Iowa, Rear Admiral Sumner's flagship, and the Massachusetts have arrived at Santa Lucia; Olympia, Nashville and Machias at St. Kitts; Vixen at St. Thomas; Detroit at Antigua; San Francisco and Culogoa at Mayaguez, and the Chicago, Prairie, Atlanta, Eagle, Dolphin, Leyden, Fortune and the torpedo flotilla at San Juan.
 |
| Guglielmo Marconi. |
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
Ariel Marconi.
"I'll put a girdle round the earth in forty minutes," said Prospero's willing servant with all the resources of magic at his command. Little did Shakespeare think, says the New York Sun, when he allowed his imagination such a flight, that a time would come when an unknown force would enable men of science to work miracles compared with which the exploits of the adepts of the black art would be conjurors' tricks.
Signor Marconi, the last of a long line of experimenters in wireless telegraphy, has conquered the Atlantic. A few ticks of a key at Cornwall, England, and the message is read off at Table Head, Cape Breton. In a short time from now it will be possible to flash a greeting around the world.
The mystery is departing from the ocean. When every steamship has its wireless telegraphy apparatus it will remain in touch with the shore all through a voyage. One of the greatest perils that have confronted those who go down to the sea in ships will be obviated, the helplessness that follows a break-down of machinery.
Even if it takes some time to make the system available for the ordinary uses of commerce, there is no gainsaying the fact that Signor Marconi's success will rank as one of the great scientific events of this twentieth century. May this young man live long to wear the laurels that he wears with real modesty.
◘ No one need be surprised that Mrs. Roosevelt rebuked that part of Washington's official society which snubbed one of her guests who had been a saleswoman before her husband became an influential government official. The Roosevelts believe only in an aristocracy of worth and merit.
AT THE LACKAWANNA.
New Round House and Turn Table Near the Junction.
The Lackawanna Railroad company has purchased of the Randall estate a tract of about four acres of land at the Cortland junction, west of the Lackawanna tracks and south of the Lehigh Valley tracks, and is already building upon it a roundhouse for storing engines. A turntable has also been constructed, and a coal dump for local supply will be added.
The roundhouse is being built to accommodate three engines. It is nearly triangular in shape and is entered from the south side. The building is about 30 feet high and is being constructed of very heavy timbers. The turn table is just a little to the south of the roundhouse, and is crossed by the track that leads to the building. A large force of men is engaged in doing the work, and it will be rushed to completion as soon as is possible.
PENTATHLON CONTEST.
Some Good Work at the Young Men's Christian Association.
At the pentathlon contest of the Y. M. C. A. seniors last Saturday night the following records were obtained:
Standing broad jump—H. Coffin, 8 ft. 9 1/2 in.; T. Clark, 8 ft. 8 1/2 in.
Running high jump—T. Clark, 5 ft.; J. Hogan, 4 ft. 7 in.
Pull-up—G. Wheeler, 15 times; W. Johnson, 13 times.
Push-up—G. Wheeler, 19 times; W. Johnson, 14 times.
Pole vault—G. Wheeler, 8 ft.; J. Hogan, 7 ft. 6 in.
The Y. M. C. A. has two large membership contests on at the present time. One of these is in the senior and one in the junior department. The seniors' contest closes Jan. 12, while that of the juniors closes Dec. 31.
The membership of the senior department is divided into two parts, the blues and the grays. The juniors are divided into bands of the blues and the old gold. At the expiration of the time of each contest a chicken pie supper will be served to the members of either department, and at that time the result of the contest for the department that is feasting will be announced.
Individual prizes are also offered, and the member of either department who secures the greatest number of names for his department will receive a gold watch. A $15 suit of clothes is also offered as a second prize among the seniors.
The Women's Auxiliary will provide the suppers for the members of both departments, and these will be served by Caterer Price.
A large number of new members have already been reported. Many memberships have been given as Christmas presents.
EMPLOYEES ENTERTAINED.
Dancing Party at Red Men's Hall Last Evening.
The employees of the Gillette Skirt company were afforded a very pleasant dancing party at Red Men's hall last evening by their employer, Mr. N. H. Gillette, and Mrs. Gillette. One hundred twenty-live were present and enjoyed the occasion. The hall was specially decorated for the occasion. Supper was taken at the Grand Central restaurant. Kane's orchestra furnished excellent music for the dances.
Presbyterian Church.
The pastor preached at both services Sunday, taking for his text in the morning, Isaiah, xxxv, 7, and in the evening, Luke, ii, 9.
The musical program for the day was especially appropriate for the Christmas season.
Homer Ave. M. E. Church.
The quarterly meeting services in the morning commenced with love feast at 9:30, preaching by the pastor at 10:30. The text was chosen from Luke xxii, 19, 20.
The Junior league temperance meeting at 4 o'clock was conducted by the pastor.
The Epworth league prayer meeting was in charge of Mrs. Julia Ingalls. Topic, "Christmas: Its Message and Motive"—Luke ii, 8-20; John iii, 14-17.
The annual Christmas concert was given in the evening by the Sunday school Missionary society. Much credit is due every one who took part as every number on the program was nicely rendered. All the music of the day was fine.
The church was beautifully and appropriately trimmed by the committee in charge.
Tuesday 7:30 p. m. class meeting.
Wednesday 3:30 p. m., Junior league entertainment at the church. A brief program will be rendered and a Christmas box opened. The parents are invited.
Thursday 7:30 prayer meeting.
BREVITIES.
—Cortland Chapter No. 194, R. A. M. annual convocation and election of officers will be held Wednesday evening at 8 o'clock.
—The regular meeting of the Fortnightly club will be postponed one week, and will be held on Dec. 31, with Miss Carrie D. Halbert, 18 Lincoln-ave.
—The Christmas mail at the New York postoffice is a record-breaker. A double force worked all day yesterday and last night. Incoming steamers brought over 6,000 bags of mail since Saturday noon.
—"David Harum" is about to pass into its one hundred and first edition, which Messrs. D. Appleton & Co. will issue immediately after the Holidays. In the matter of popularity expressed in numbers it now takes first rank in American fiction, "Ben-Hur" and "Uncle Tom's Cabin" being its only rivals.—Mail and Express.
—The new display advertisements today are—A. Mahan, Pianos, organs, sheet music, etc., page 5; W. W. Walters, Shoes for Christmas gifts, page 6; Hollister Hardware & Plumbing Co., ''What you pay and what you get," page 5; Corner grocery, Mixed nuts, etc., page 6; C. F. Thompson, Groceries and meats, page 5; Baker & Angell, Sorosis shoes, page 6.
No comments:
Post a Comment