NEGRO MASS MEETING, PROFIT SHARING PLAN, GILLETTE ADDS FACTORY EQUIPMENT, CORNER GROCERY CLOSED, AND MRS. ADALINE M. NORTON

 

Susan B. Anthony.

William D. Crum.

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, February 20, 1903.

NEGRO MASS MEETING.

Earnest Speeches Against Disfranchisement in the South.

LETTER FROM SUSAN B. ANTHONY.

Money to Be Raised to Help In Legal Contest Before Supreme Court on the New Virginia Constitution—Senate Urged to Confirm Dr. Crum. Louisville Convention.

   New York, Feb. 20.—Spirited and earnest speeches were made at a mass meeting of negroes held at Cooper Union. The meeting, which was for the purpose of protesting against the disfranchisement of the negro in the South, was held under the auspices of the 100,000 colored voters in New York state and to raise money for the legal contest of the new constitution of Virginia before the United States supreme court. Among the speakers were Bishops Derrick and Walters, M. D Conway and John E. Milholland.

   When reference was made to President Roosevelt by several of the speakers, the wildest enthusiasm prevailed and the cheers were deafening. Resolutions were passed and a letter from Susan B. Anthony was read. In her letter Miss Anthony said:

   "To refuse to qualified women and colored men the right of suffrage, and to still count them in the basis of representation, is to add insult to injury, and is as unjust as it is unreasonable.

   "The trouble, however, is farther back and deeper than the disfranchisement of the negro. When men deliberately refused to include women in the 14th and 15th amendments to the national constitution they left the way open for all forms of injustice to other and weakened men and peoples. When men fail to be just to their mothers they cannot be expected to be just to each other.

   "The whole evil comes from the failure to apply equal justice to all mankind, male and female alike; therefore I am glad to join with those who are alike sufferers with my sex in a protest against counting in the basis of representation in the congress of the United States or in the state legislature any class or sex who are disfranchised."

   The resolutions in their preamble recited that the South has halted at no [time] to strip from the negro the privileges gained as a result of the civil war, shooting 25,000 black men from 1863 to 1880, and from 1880 to 1890 perpetrating ballot frauds to disenfranchise negroes.

   It further recited that the South after 1890 sought to disenfranchise colored men in various states by constitutional amendments, administered so that illiterate white men are allowed to vote while educated negroes are excluded from the polls.

   The resolutions commend the negroes of Virginia "for contesting before the United States supreme court the revolutionary constitution of Virginia, recently proclaimed a law without having been submitted to the people for ratification;" pledge the Virginia negroes proper support and call upon colored men everywhere to contribute liberally to the cause.

   The National Negro Suffrage convention to be held at Louisville, Ky., July 7, is endorsed and the resolutions call upon towns, cities and states to send full representation to voice the sentiment of the race upon the question of negro suffrage.

   Another paragraph urges the senate "in the name of 100,000 negroes in New York state to confirm the nomination of Dr. Crum, a man of ability, good education and irreproachable character, who is opposed solely on the ground of color of his skin."

   The appointment of a committee of 15 consisting of Dr. C. T. Walker, W. H. Brooks, Bishop Derrick, Bishop Walters, Dr. C. S. Morris, Rev. J. H. Gordon, Rev. Granville Hunt, C. A. Dorsey, S. R. Scottron, W. L. Bulkley, C. W. Anderson, Rev. R. A. Motley, Rev. T. W. Henderson, W. H. Smith and Rev. Dr. J. S. Cooper, is suggested to be empowered to do all acts that in their judgment seem best calculated to bring to the aid of the negroes of Virginia and the disfranchised South the  full political power, prestige and assistance of the negroes of the state of New York.

 

STANDARD OIL CO.

Secures Control of a Large Water Front at Constable Hook.

   New York, Feb. 20.— It was reported in Bayonne yesterday that John D. Rockefeller has obtained control of the Oxford Copper works in Bayonne, adjoining the Standard oil works, and that it was his intention to abandon the oil works in Brooklyn and Long Island and concentrate everything in Bayonne. If the rumor is true, the Standard Oil company has secured the entire water front at Constable Hook.

 

Guest editorials.

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

A Unique Profit Sharing Plan.

   The United States Steel Corporation recently inaugurated the most comprehensive profit sharing scheme yet devised by capitalists, and one that promises splendid results. The plan was worked out with extreme care in secret, and when divulged was received with surprise and delight, not only by the thousands of employees of the corporation by labor generally, but by all who understand the importance of the harmonizing of capital and labor (whose interests are identical) to future industrial stability and prosperity and the welfare of mankind. But it has remained for Philadelphia, says the Elmira Advertiser, to father an unique profit sharing plan, combining the best business principles with genuine philanthropy. The Philadelphia plan, too, appeals more particularly to the public from its personal element—the dominating influence of a single grand personality. It was originated by John B. Stetson, the famous hat manufacturer of the Quaker city—heretofore not unknown to philanthropy, and particularly highly reputed for his splendid treatment of his employees, and who was a pioneer in the furthering of employees' insurance.

   Briefly, the new plan as follows:

   The stockholders of the company recently authorized the issuance of $1,000,000 additional common stock, and by unanimous vote set a part one- half of the amount for distribution by the president among the conspicuously faithful and efficient employees. The common stock is valued at $100 per share—$60 premium—but is to be distributed to the favored employees  at par. For the past two years it has paid 17 per cent dividends. It is the purpose to make the dividends pay for the stock allotted, so that no cash outlay shall be involved. The allotments are not to be delivered until such time as they become fully paid by the accumulating dividends, less five per cent on the sums still remaining due on the stock. The stock, held in trust until that time, then becomes the absolute property of the employees. Previously they may withdraw a certain part of the dividends, if they so will, although thereby prolonging the day of final ownership. In case of death of such employees, or the termination of employment through mental or physical disability, the number of shares represented by the accumulated dividends are to be delivered to his heirs, or to himself if living. If employment is terminated by the company for cause other than mental or physical disability, the employer is to be paid in cash the amount of the accumulated dividends.

   The company's employees number 2,250, who are among the most intelligent and skillful employed by any establishment in the world, owing to the continued policy of kindly liberal treatment.

 

ADDITIONS TO EQUIPMENT.

Gillette Skirt Co. Adds More Machines and Employees.

   The Gillette Skirt Co. is so crowded with orders that it has found it necessary to remove some partitions and fit up the bicycle room and dressing room for a work room, putting in a number of new [sewing] machines and adding about twenty-five new employees to pay roll.

   A new $150 power cutter made by the Childs Acme Cutter and Press Co. of Boston and New York has also been purchased.

   Miss Florence Merkle of New York is now in charge of the ladies' tailoring department and is ready to assure prompt service and complete satisfaction to all patrons.

   It is the plan to build a new bicycle room before the bicycle season opens. and arrangements for new dressing rooms will be made.

   This is proving to be the greatest year the Gillette Skirt company has ever known and there is every prospect that its business will continue to increase and extend itself.

 

CORNER GROCERY CLOSED.

Unfortunate Failure of E. M. Mansur—Goods Sold Feb. 25.

   The Corner grocery, of which E. M. Mansur has been the proprietor for over two years past, was today closed by the sheriff. The cause of this seems almost unaccountable, for this store seemed to have an excellent patronage. Some bad debts will come in for their share of the cause, but there were not a great many of these. A full statement of the liabilities has not yet been prepared and Mr. Mansur himself is out of the city for the day and could not be seen. All who know Mr. Mansur have the utmost confidence in his absolute integrity, and sympathize with him in his loss and in his disappointment at his inability to continue in business. The goods are to be sold on Feb. 25.

 

Closed by the Sheriff.

   ''The Wide Awake," conducted by A. T. Weiss at 9 North Main-st, was closed today by Sheriff A. R. Overton, who will dispose of the goods either Thursday afternoon or Friday forenoon of next week. The store was opened by Mr. Weiss about two years ago.

 

New Automobile Coming.

   The Cortland Automobile Co., which is now fitting up its new quarters in the old rink, has ordered a new Rambler automobile which is expected to reach Cortland about March 15. This is a popular priced machine and is claimed to be a remarkably fine one.

 

Smith Typewriter Co.

   The Smith Premier Typewriter Co. of Syracuse has completed plans for enlarging its plant. A new factory will be built and 400 more men employed, making about 1,000 in all.

 

Sixteen New Cases.

   Sixteen new cases of typhoid fever were reported at Ithaca yesterday. There were no deaths during the twenty-four hours just past.

 

Resigned His Office.

   F. L. Burnham of East Homer has resigned his office of justice of the peace of the town of Homer in anticipation of moving to his farm near Little York soon.

 

Mrs. Adaline M. Norton.

   Mrs. Adaline M. Norton, widow of the late William R. Norton, died Monday afternoon, Feb. 16, at her home, 26 North Greenbush-st., aged 83 years.

   Her health had been failing for a long time and she had been unable to leave the house at all during the winter. On Sunday night last she suffered a severe attack of a stomach disorder which had long troubled her, and early Monday morning she had two slight strokes of paralysis which hastened her death.

   Mrs. Norton had been a resident of Cortland for the last twenty-three years. Owing to the retired life which she led she did not have a large number of acquaintances, but she did enjoy the devotion of the comparatively limited circle of friends who had the privilege of knowing the beauty of her character and the strength and helpfulness of her life. She was a member of the First Congregational church of this city which she had attended from the time of its organization.

   Miss Myra Norton, who lived with her at the family home, Mrs. C. S. Hoag. Miss Claire Norton, her daughters, and Mrs. Anna Norton, her daughter-in-law, were with her at the time of her death. Her son, Mr. A. S. Norton, arrived Monday evening.

   The funeral was held at her late residence, 26 North Greenbush-st., at 2 o'clock on Thursday afternoon, Feb. 10. The burial was at Homer, the former family home.

   Mr. A. S. Norton and the family thank the friends for their kindly remembrances of beautiful flowers.

 

BREVITIES.

   —McDermott's orchestra furnished music at the Odd Fellows' dance in Scott last night.

   —The Binghamton Street Railway company has declared a dividend of 2 per cent on its stock to be paid March 3.

   —John Lynch has bought of Nettie E. Cole, as executrix of the estate of Henry Cole, deceased, the house and lot at 12 Reynolds-ave., Cortland.

   —The Mildred Holland company left this morning for Syracuse to fill an engagement at the Wieting [Opera House] this and tomorrow evenings and afternoon.

   —New display advertisements today are—Perkins & Quick, Razor strops, page 5; Buck & Lane, Plumbing, etc., page 5.

   —The Y. P. S. C. E. of the First Baptist church will hold a Washington birthday social in the church parlors, Monday evening. A cordial invitation is extended to all.

   —The hose-band fair which began at McGraw on Thursday night and continues through Saturday night has started off most auspiciously. Large crowds were in attendance last night and the attractions were all that could be desired. Special attractions are arranged for each evening, and different fire companies will be the guests at stated times. Full particulars are found in the McGraw column.