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| Lt. Gen. Nelson A. Miles. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, August 8, 1903.
OFFICE DISCONTINUED.
Rank of Commanding General Ceases With General Miles.
HELD FIRST BY WASHINGTON.
General Miles Retired by Operation of Law at Noon Today—Long Address by General on History of the Army and Suggestions for Its Future Usefulness.
Washington, Aug. 8.—Lieutenant General Nelson A. Miles, commanding the army, retired from active service at noon today, having reached the age limit of 64 years.
The following order was prepared and issued today:
''Washington, Aug. 8.
"The retirement from active service by the president, August 8, 1903, of Lieutenant General Nelson A. Miles, U. S. army, by operation of law, under the provisions of the act of congress approved June 30, 1882, is announced. Lieutenant General Miles will proceed to his home. The travel enjoined is necessary for the public service.
"By order of Secretary of War,
"H. C. CORBIN, Adjutant General."
Several other orders resulting from the retirement of General Miles have been issued, one assigning Lieutenant General Young to the command of the army until August, 15, when he will assume the duties of chief of staff; another assigning Major General Corbin as president of the Soldiers' Home board; another assigning Brigadier General Gillespie as president of the board of ordnance and fortification, and still another assigning Lieutenant General Young as a member of the Sherman statue commission.
General Miles' Address.
General Miles has issued the following address on the occasion of his retirement from active service:
"General Orders No. 116.
"Headquarters of the Army, Washington, Aug. 5, 1903.
"In accordance with the provisions of the act of congress of June 30, 1882, the undersigned will retire from the active service Aug. 8, 1903.
"In relinquishing the command of the army of the United States to which he was assigned by the president Oct. 2, 1895, he hereby acknowledges his appreciation of the fidelity manifested by the officers and soldiers during the past eventful years.
''To those who were his companions and associates during one of the greatest of all wars he takes pleasure in expressing his gratification that they have lived through the trials and dangers of long service to witness the results of their fortitude, heroism and unselfish devotion to the welfare of their country. They have also in a most commendable manner exemplified to the younger generation of soldiers those principles of discipline and patriotism which make the army the protector and defender and never the menace of the nation and its liberties.
"The time and occasion are considered opportune for expressing to the army a few thoughts concerning its past and that which may affect its future welfare. It is from the best impressions and influences of the past that the most desirable results may be realized in the future.
"Unswerving devotion to our government and the principles upon which it was established and has been maintained, is essential to the efficiency of the national forces and especially is this so in a democratic government where the individual, in order to be a perfect soldier, must first be a true citizen. The boast that every soldier of a great nation carried a marshal's baton in his knapsack is in a higher sense more than equaled in significance by the fact that every American soldier personifies sovereign citizenship and may by his own conduct exemplify impartial justice to those who have never experienced it and the results of the highest liberty to those who have been strangers to it, thereby aiding to secure for his country a moral influence not otherwise attainable.
Washington's Words of Wisdom.
"During the darkest hour of our history the first commander of the American forces demonstrated the grandeur and nobility of his character by combating the evil influence then pervading the army and by manifesting the strongest confidence and faith in the ultimate justice and integrity of his government. His words of wisdom uttered at Newburgh 120 years ago had the effect of inspiring 'unexampled patriotism and patient virtue, rising superior to the pressure of the most complicated sufferings.' It is one of the glories of our country that the army has maintained those principles for more than a century.
"The commanders of the army succeeding Washington have by their example, influence and orders engendered and maintained the highest degree of efficiency, discipline and patriotism.
"Since its organization, the army has been charged with a great variety of responsibilities, all subordinate to defending the country and maintaining the rights of its citizens.
"In the discharge of its manifold duties the army has confronted enemies representing every stage of human development from the highest civilization yet obtained to savagery and barbarism. It has ever been its duty to observe in war those chivalric and humane principles by which inevitable horrors are so greatly mitigated, while by unyielding prosecution of warfare against armed forces its valor has been demonstrated.
"All honorable activity and life for the army must exist within the well defended lines of patriotism, untarnished honor, sterling integrity, impartial justice, obedience to rightful authority and incessant warfare against armed enemies. Always to maintain truth, honor and justice requires the highest moral courage, and is equally as important as fortitude in battle. Drill, discipline and instruction are but preparatory for the perfection and efficiency of an army.
"The events of recent years have placed upon the army a new obligation and an opportunity for a broader exemplification of its country's principles. The United States army is now brought into daily communication with millions of people to whom its individual members of every grade are the exponents of American civilization. A serious duty and a great honor are now presented to every officer and soldier, namely, to exemplify to those with whom he comes in contact our country's principles of equal and exact justice, immunity from violence, equality before the law and the peaceful use and possession of his own.
"Marked changes at different times have occurred in the strength and organization of the army resulting from divers influences, and various experiments have been tried. Time has rectified errors in the past and will do so in the future. The lieutenant general has faith that under all circumstances the army will maintain its high character and that its future will be as honorable and glorious as has been its history in the past. His earnest solicitude and best wishes will ever follow the fortunes of the army.
"NELSON A. MILES, Lieutenant General, Commanding."
POSTMEN ASK FOR MORE PAY.
Payne Promises a Committee to Make a Recommendation of Some Kind.
Washington, Aug. 8.—A committee of the executive board of the National Association of Letter Carriers, consisting of M. A. Fitzgerald of New York, E. J. Gainor, secretary of the executive board, and B. J. Cantwell, secretary of the association, called on Postmaster General Payne.
They were introduced by Representative Cromer of Indiana, a member of the house committee on postoffices [sic] and post roads. The purpose of the visit was to urge the postmaster general to recommend in his coming annual report an increase of pay for letter carriers of the country.
Mr. Payne listened for an hour to the arguments of the members of the committee and promised to take the matter under advisement and to make a recommendation of some kind.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
A Race Against Time.
When the railroad was opened from Omaha to San Francisco, and the long journey of thirty days from New York to the Golden Gate by way of the Isthmus of Panama was cut down to six days by the overland route it seemed a marvelous thing. But the railroad time has been gradually lessened from year to year by the constant perfecting of roadbeds, of rolling stock and of conditions generally till the high water mark was reached yesterday when a trip of more than 3,200 miles from New York to Los Angeles was completed in seventy-three hours and twenty-one minutes, surpassing all previous records.
The daughter of Henry P. Lowe, chief engineer of the United States Steel Corporation, was dangerously ill in Los Angeles and the father started from her bedside upon a special train, having given instructions to spare no expense to insure a clear right of way, the only objective point being to get there. The trip cost him $2 a mile.
The child died while the father was half way across the continent, but the race against time was continued, and the train schedule was followed, only it was cut down at almost every point.
From New York to Chicago the trip was over the New York Central and Lake Shore roads. From Chicago the run was made over the lines of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad, a distance of 2,256 miles. The time from Chicago to Los Angeles was fifty two hours and fifty-one minutes, an average of 42.7 miles an hour, including all stops. This run clips five hours and five minutes off all previous records.
The time may come when regular trains will make that sort of a schedule, but it will probably be some years in the future.
UNRIGHTEOUS DISCRIMINATION.
Irving H. Palmer Discusses the Franchise Voted by the Common Council.
To the Editor of The Standard:
Sir—On the 5th inst. the common council of the city of Cortland granted a franchise, unlimited as to time or locality, to "construct, operate and maintain its lines of poles, wires and fixtures, along, over and under the public highways of the city of Cortland," against the advice of the city attorney, the request of the mayor and others present, who desired an opportunity to be heard upon the question, and in utter disregard of the official opinion of the former city attorney submitted at the request of the council on a previous occasion, reversing the action then adopted by the council, without assigning or advancing any reason for such reversal. But what is more remarkable even than this strange conduct the council denied the application of the Cortland Home Telephone Co., a domestic corporation, having its office and principal place of business in our city, and by virtue thereof being taxable on its personal property by the city, which the favored company is not.
Such discrimination against home institutions and home industries is unusual, unjustifiable and inexplicable.
The mayor ought to veto the resolution and will be equally censurable with the council if he does not veto it.
Respectfully, Irving H. Palmer.
[Mr. Palmer was an attorney and was twice elected to the office of mayor of Cortland—CC ed.]
THE CIRCUS AT OSWEGO, N. Y.
Took a Day off to Give Performers a Rest—Pay Day Too.
Even circuses have to take a night off once in a while. Only one exhibition of the Barnum & Bailey circus was given in Oswego Wednesday and that in the afternoon when it was witnessed by over 11,000 people. The evening performance, as advertised, was omitted to give the performers a rest. It was pay day too and the people spent a large quantity of money in that town, according to the Oswego Times. Many took advantage of the breathing spell to visit the stores and to get their meals at hotels instead of at the regular circus meal tent. The money order department at the postoffice took in over $1,000 in money orders sold to the performers who were sending money away to friends.
At Norwich Thursday it rained so hard in the afternoon that the evening exhibition was abandoned. The ground became so soft the managers were afraid the circus could not be pulled out in season to get to Binghamton in time to exhibit on Friday and so gave it up and began to load at once.
THE BIG SHOW
To Arrive in Cortland at an Early Hour Sunday Morning.
Barnum & Bailey's much exploited big circus exhibits in Cortland Monday, and that means a lively local Sunday, not only for the army of circus men, but also for the curious thousands who always find enjoyment in watching the interesting sights incident to a big show in Sunday quarters. Even the small boy, who couldn't be hired to remain away from Monday's performances, realizes that there are a thousand and one things of absorbing interest to be seen on the exhibition grounds on Sunday, and he will be out in force to do honor to the occasion. The show comes from Elmira, and will reach Cortland at an early hour. There will be no delay in unloading the five long trains of cars used for transporting the paraphernalia, and as rapidly as possible the tents will be erected and the exhibition city placed in readiness for Monday's inaugural free street parade and the two performances that are to follow.
This parade, by the way, promises something exceptionally clever and brilliant in the line of processional wealth and pageantry. It is arranged in sections, and is especially notable from the fact that everything is new from beginning to end. Twenty-nine floats, costing on an average of $15,000 each, are utilized in this wonderful street exhibition. Hundreds of gorgeously-caparisoned horses, three herds of elephants, twenty camels and dromedaries and nearly a thousand men, women and children participate in the pageant.
The parade will leave the show grounds between 8 and 9 o'clock Monday morning, and the route will be the usual one over the principal downtown streets. The two performances which are to be given in this city will be complete in every way. The first is at 2 o'clock in the afternoon and the final one at 8 p. m.
The program is an exceptionally varied one. Particular attention has been given to aerial displays. The best of the acrobats, there are nearly a dozen troupes with the show, come from Germany.
The display of "high school" horses has also attracted a great deal of attention. There is also an entire school of leaping horses and ponies.
The comedy part of the show is given under the direction of the famous clowns Spader Johnson and Frank Oakley, and thirty-five "Merry Andrews" keep the rings and hippodrome very much alive during the time they are "on."
The hippodrome races are rendered as exciting and realistic as possible by the use of genuine racing stock, and in the chariot races some of the most daring and dashing driving is performed by wonderfully skilled women.
The menagerie is notable this year from the fact that it presents thirty elephants including the only mother elephant and baby pachyderm in captivity, two towering giant giraffes, twenty camels and dromedaries, and fifty dens of rare caged animals.
"The show is preceded by a splendidly costumed spectacle. This gorgeous display is entitled "The Tribute of Balkis" and it serves to introduce hundreds of men, women, and children, and scores of horses, elephants, dromedaries, and other animals in a magnificent Oriental pageant. The ballet, which is made up of 300 imported English and French dancing girls, is described as brilliant beyond anything ever before presented in a circus.
Local interest in the coming of the big circus has been excited to an unusual degree, and tremendous crowds may be looked for on Monday.
Reserved and box seats will be on sale all day Monday at Watson's drug store, Main and Tompkins-sts., at the same price as on the show lot on Owego-st.
Note the fact that the place of exhibition has been changed from the fair grounds to Owego-st., the former place being too small.
Election of Teachers.
The local board of the Normal school at a meeting yesterday afternoon elected as teacher of History and Civics—to succeed Miss Harriet A. Hamilton, by whose recent death the place was made vacant—Miss Mary L. Jobe of Tappan, O., subject to the approval of the State superintendent of public instruction. Miss Jobe is a graduate of Scio college, O., has taken two years post graduate work at Bryn Mawr college, and for two summers has been an instructor at Chautauqua, besides having had five years experience in teaching elsewhere, including a year at Temple college, Philadelphia.
AN UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT.
L. N. Hopkins Pinned Down Beneath His Gasoline Launch.
L. N. Hopkins was quite painfully injured while engaged in unloading his launch from the [railroad] car on which it was taken to Ithaca, yesterday morning. Mr. Hopkins and others were engaged in jacking up the launch to get it on wheels, in order to take it to the lake. They had succeeded in raising it nearly the required distance, when a sudden gust of wind blew the launch over, pinning Mr. Hopkins down to the platform of the car. A six-inch plank that stood-on end held the launch, saving the unfortunate man from being crushed to death. The boat was raised and Mr. Hopkins removed to Patten's hotel and medical help summoned. The physician found his patient suffering from bruises especially about the hips. No bones were broken and it is not thought that he is injured internally. Mr. Hopkins was removed, later, to the home of his cousin H. C. Fairbanks. It will be several days before he can be around again. Mrs. Hopkins went to Ithaca last night to care for him. A small hole about two inches square was broken through the bottom of the launch. The boat is otherwise uninjured.
Mr. Hopkins was near the bow of the boat at the time of the accident, so did not get the full weight of the launch, which would have crushed him to death.
TRUMAN WARREN.
Died Thursday Night—Funeral on Sunday at 4 o'clock.
At 1 o'clock Thursday evening at his home in Cortlandville, occurred the death of Truman Warren one of Cortland's old and respected residents.
Mr. Warren was born in Coventry, Chenango Co., March 5, 1819. At the age of 25 he moved to Solon and from that time until his death last Thursday evening has resided in Cortland county. He was a shoemaker by trade and lived and worked at his trade in Solon, Cincinnatus, and McGraw, before he moved to Cortland.
About two weeks ago Mr. Warren had a shock [stoke] of paralysis which affected his brain and from which he never entirely rallied. He suffered another shock Thursday evening which proved fatal.
He was married Sept. 6, 1842, to Harriet Wheeler of Solon, daughter of Colonel Elijah Wheeler of that place. They were blessed with five children, three of whom C. H. Warren of Cortland, Mrs. R. D. Buckingham of Chicago, and Mrs. John C. Seager of Cortland, survive him.
The funeral will be held from the home of his daughter, Mrs. John C. Seager, Sunday afternoon at 4 o'clock, and will be in charge of the local Masonic lodge, of which he was a member.
Mr. Warren was a man who possessed a large number of friends, quiet and unassuming himself, with a good word for every one and scarcely ever speaking an ill word of a person. He was a man whose friendship was always in demand.
BREVITIES.
—A circus can pull a sick boy out of bed after three doctors have failed.
—The new display advertisements today are: M. W. Giles, One day sale, page 8.
—The Ithaca band is to play at Ontario Beach all the week of Aug. 13.
—Attention is called to the proposed [Erie] canal resolution which appears on our third page today.
-—Lock up the house at the time of the circus parade Monday and during the entire visit of the show to the city.
—The annual Scotch picnic will be held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Cross in Groton, Wednesday, Aug. 19.
—A. P. McGraw of McGraw will speak upon ''Silk" at the Round Table at Chautauqua park, Tully lake, on Monday forenoon.
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