The Topeka state journal. [volume], June 07, 1900, LAST EDITION, Image 1

About The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kan.) 1892-1980

Image provided by: Kansas State Historical Society; Topeka, KS

                
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LAST EDITION
THURSDAY EVENING.
TOPEKA, KANSAS, JUNE 7, 1900.
THURSDAY EVENING.
TWO CENTS.
r . -
da
Kansas Crop Prospects
Sever So Good.
Were
Condition of Wheat For Whole
State Over 100 Per Cent.
ARE SO CHINCH BUGS
Havaes of Insect Pest
Been Noticeable.
Not
HarTesting Has Already Begun
in Many Sections.
THE 15 BIG COUNTIES.
They Contain Half Wheat Acre
age of Kansas.
Sun Never Shone Upon More
Promising Area of Wheat.
Secretary F. D. Coburn of the Kansas
cfiepnrtment of agriculture today issued
a bulletin giving the results of search
ing inquiry into the state's crop condi
tions on June 2. as learned from exper
lnced reporters growers, millers and
tlevator men in every neighborhood
specially cauUoned in each instance to
make only safe, conservative estimates.
Any occasional local statements ap
pearing extreme or extravagant, sug
gesting a disposition to unduly magnify
tjr minimize in any direction have been
carefully eliminated, and if any differ
ent the situation is even more favorable
than the published figures indicate.
This, in accordance with the depart
ment's invariable rule that Kansas
ehall always be able to show more as
sets and deliver more poods than the in
ventory and advertisements set forth.
The average condition of winter
wheat for the whole state is 100.9 per
cent, ranging from 52 in Cheyenne coun
ty to 111 in Harper. The counties report
ing the highest conditions are Harper,
Ottawa, Leavenworth, Sedgwick, Pratt,
Cloud, Clark. Barton and Bourbon.
Of the 103 counties, 13 in the central
third of the state, or Sumner, Barton,
McPherson, Rice, Rush, Ellis, Pawnee,
Jiussell, Sedgwick. Saline, Stafford, Re
no. Mitchell, Ellsworth and Harper,
named according to their rank in acre
age, have 50 per cent of the entire
wheat area, with an average condition
of ios.4, ranging from 97 in Rush to 111
In Harper. Along with these counties
the 14 having successively the next lars--st
acreages, viz: Dickinson, Marion,
Lincoln, Osborne, Cowley, Ottawa,
Rooks, Harvey, Kingman, Thomas, La
bette, Ness, Smith and Pratt, making
located mostly in the central third
of the state, contain 73 per cent of the
area sown to wheat and show an aver
asje condition of 102.5.
In HZ counties having 95 per cent of
the wheat acreage, or practically the
v heat field of Kansas, the average con
dition is lol.Oi.
Material damage by chinch bugs is
not reported from any county except
Dickinson. In Dickinson, Marion, Mc
Pherson, Ottawa, and Rice counties the
Hessian lly has been doing harm in
many fields, more particularly in those
of Dickinson and McPherson. From
many directions stories are sent of
wheat lields infested with myriads of
small green lice or flies, but from no
wh'Te are there definite statements of
their yet being actually harmful
Harvesting has begun in the earlier
fields of the southern tier of counties
On the whole it is doubtful if the sun
ever shone upon a like area of wheat in
a single state, more promising than that
in Kansas at the beginning of June
19(10.
Generally throughout the state the
condition and prospects of corn are
very encouraging. The acreage is re
ported practically the same as last year
with a condition of lKi.- per cent bein"
S points higher than at the same date
one year ago, and 14 higher than two
years ago. In 27 counties which had 50
ier cent of the corn acreage last year
the conditions averasres !I1 X tnrvin,,
follows: Bourbon 100, Brown 98, Butler
v lay v.ioua Mi, uoriev 88, Cowley
!'8, Decatur 91, Dickinson 91," Franklin 90
l.reenwood 90, Jackson 95, Jefferson loo'
Jewell 94, Linn loo. Lyon 80, Marion 9l"
Marshall 90, McPherson 91. Miami 9o'
Mitchell 97, Nemaha 94. Norton 9'
oaue 97. Phillips Si, Pottawatomie 9i
ti"l Reno 8S.
1 h- following table shows the estima
ted number of acres of wheat in each
., .' 1 I 1 1 "' rank according to its
, . ' "rn's Planted to corn in
' "'e condition of the growing
.- ... ,, ..vclt u.L WHS I
time:
WI1KAT
B X -J ?
COUNTIES. 2 3 "
: p. s-3
CORN
1
ft 2
le4! ;s r29! 88
I07: lsi.79 85
95 liw.7121 ii
I"1''1 9s. 327! SX
97 1T:K, 81
97 13.751 )
l'l I'M 27 90
l"3i 9.lllsl 8s
l"lj 0l.67.2i SX
I'M Sn..-r.l sn
l"8i 11.3 2.8 H",
,,, o-smsj S8
loo iii;,9s:i (7
1"6 54.217! SS
l'KI V '.O.3: 91
1'H 97.33:0 ;i;:
! ;8.0j6' s--
110; 91.831! 87
l'i2i 63.5S61 !'l
99! 110.2231 c.i
111! 78,2 0! ;o
l.'2 U'i.9211 9S
!!! 49.1 :i 07
1 6 75.019 v
107; 5s. 175! 81
17! 192.225' 8'i
9:'i 2'.3.9i.5: lot)
1"1 75.6"! 1-ni
liro s 367 84
86! 25.612' 95
is; 7r.:;::s. 9:
lot; 2". 20'.: m
l'5. 257.11liV 90
1"3 156 3' XI 98
Si, 17J,33: i6
Sumner
Barton
McJ'herson ..
Hiee
Lush
I'jiwnee ......
Kills
Stafford
Saline .-
Kussell
SclRWick
Hetio
Mitchell
Ellsworth ...
1 ieki nson
cis borne
Kinsman ....
Ottawa
Lincolu
-Mi.rt.in
Harper
c'ovvley
"Rooks
Harvey
Praia
cloud
i-mlih
Lab ile
Ness
Thomas
Montr mtry
'"dv-afds ....
Marshall
Prown
rudiijj
296 80
2.2..1 177.66:
162.. 'Sir
157.211
1.-1.276
J34.173,
1...1 7"1
124 S
117.415!
IKi.SMl
11 0.n II;
l"7.7.!rt!
l1.6o2;
101 587;
:"0..6I
'.5.0 111;
i.2i!
I'o.l' '7!
93 4i'l;
91.754i
Sri,;;ini
fir!2 9!
(5 144:
0e.:.7'
59. -Hi
5.1. U'S.
57.410)
47.614!
47.llli.li
452
C9iJ(
Trego
Jewell
Clay
Sheridan
Rawlins
Graham
Decatur
Leavenworth .
Atchison
Doniphan
Neosho
Johnson
Crawford
Knrd
Washington ...
Douglas
Lane
Logan
Ohi-r kee
Chautauqua ..
Butler
Norton
Coffey
Hodgeman ....
Geaiy
Wilson
Cove
Wichita
Jefferson
Republic
Karb r
Kiowa.
Wyandotte
Nemaha
Klk
Sherman
Wabaunsee ...
Linn
Miami
Pottawatomie
Sc tt
Lyon
Franklin
Rilev
Allen
Chase
Meade
Woodson
Osage
Shawnee
Jackson
Bourbon
Anderson
Or. enwood ...
Cray
Cheyenne ....
Morris
S9.T1H) 1U1 R-MO! rJ)
M 1'S 28'.i.4 -12: 9i
34.955 153,27i ')
34,Si,2 71 3". 47-,: ! .
34,5: 8:) 4.1.34 1! SlO
31.512 89 5:i.37'i Si
29.71S 78 101.21s 91
1'lS 66.38s 10)
28,024 M3 80.809 lul
2"5,279 100 82.570 99
25,970 in;; 92,972 98
25,496 101 70,705 95
23,731 88 92.195 98
23. ise ft. g (I7S ss
23.54H li.4 221,376 S
23,164 98 7S.49 95
23,038 99 1 Vrl 91
21,516 100 4,111 9'5
19.MS 90 79,199 9S
19,5X7 96 64.310 93
18.968 108 180.553 98
18.220 82 134,161 91
17.267, lot 124.274 88
16.227 9 3.803 92
15,751 97 47,025 97
15.078 9s 97,409 96
14.974 97 9.003 1(10
14.614 97 3,449 88
12,857 100 119,840 100
12,173 104 210.131 92
111,41 99! 43,28s 90
9,9:8 l.2 10.911 hi
9,518 l4j 13,251 96
9.309 2il 1 218,277 94
8.541) 103 ! 79.150 9s
8.23X 77 23,105 8S
7,852 1 02 111,115 89
7,472 1021 l"2.4b5 100
7,242 93 1 115.712 90
6.868 98j 170.196 92
6,7: 97 1,105 93
6.136 5 116,610 86
,5.4s6 101 105,496 90
5.429 lol 94,339 86
5.165 90 87,631 100
4.614 1'I6 48.076 92
4.448 lo2 1,520 80
4,1rtf lOJ 53.540 96
4,1185 96 152.118 97
3.456 103 117,314 98
3,348 li 147.597 95
2.744 107 107,177 1')
2.696; l'l 97.271 102
2.5x DO 12S.111 91
2.5201 102 903 83
2.362 52 25,326 95
1.556 97 90.S87 100
1.41", (.2 1.002' 92
1.3471 82 5,6931 90
1,) 97 331 98
1,150 85 3,045 81
1,112 107 1,937 91
831 95 717 85
64s 1"2 393 94
6131 99 193 9i)
436i 102 187 100
216 02 217 100
112; lnO 53 84
36 102 407 100
170 75
Greeley
Comanche
Finney
Wallace
Clark
Haskell
Kearney
Morton
Hamilton
Seward
Stanton
Stevens
Grant
The average condition of oats is &S.2.
Most of the counties having the largest
acreages sown report the best condi
tions. Counties having the big acre
ages last year report their present con
dition thus: Atchison 91, Brown 92,
Butler 100, Clay 95, Cloud 93, Crawford
90, Dickinson 95, Doniphan 92, Harvey
99. Jewell 100, Marion 96, McPherson 92,
Marshall 98, Nemaha 97, Reno 90, Re
public 102, Kiley 93, Sedgwick 97, Sum
ner 91, and Washington 100.
In various parts of the state alfalfa
fields are afflicted by worms, in general
appearance much like the well-known
cut worm. These crawl up in the
branches and work destruction by de
vouring the foliage, showing a prefer
ence for the tops and tenderest shoots.
When disturbed they drop to the
ground, curl up and lie as if lifeless.
Their prevalence in such numbers is
something new, and no one has sug
gested any practicable remedy. In some
counties they are reported as having in
jured the first cutting of alfalfa 25 per
cent. Aside from these worms the fields
were never in so good condition, Gen
eral condition 98. Fifty-four counties
show a condition ranging from 100 to
115.
A growing interest in the various
sorghum3 for forage and grain is indi
cated from all portions of the state,
and a considerable larger planting than
ever before. Although too early to re
port with definiteness the condition is
given as 94.
Spring wheat condition 86, rye Po, po
tatoes, increase in acreage, 4 per cent,
condition 65; broom corn, increase in
acreage 5 per cent, condition 90; flax
and barley area same as last year, con
dition 92 and 85 respectively; castor
beans, condition 90: tame grasses 97;
apples 76; peaches 83; grapes 90; cher
ries 75.
Largely owing to the early luxuriance
of the pastures live stock is in unusual
ly good condition, and seem to be ex
ceptionally healthy, there being no al
lusion to serious disease in any direc
tion. CONCENTRATING.
Botha is Massing His Forces
Near Pretoria.
London, June 7. In the absence of
anything from British sources enlight
ening the Boer statement that General
Buller requested a three days' armistice
the military experts here are inclined to
believe a revised version of the story
will show that General Buller sum
moned the federals to surrender or
evacuate their positions within three
days, failing which he will attack them.
According to a dispatch from Lorenzo
Marques under today's date the Boers
under General Botha, are again concen
trating in the neighborhood of Hather
ly, 12 miles east of Pretoria. From the
same source it is reported that the Brit
ish prisoners are being removed to
Nooit Gedacht, an unhealthy spot in the
Elands valley. About 300 men arrived
there June 5 and 700 reached the place
June 6. These probably constitute the
portion of the prisoners which Lord
Roberts reported had been shifted from
Water Val.
The strained relations between the
secretary of state for war, the Marquis
of Lansdowne and the British commander-in-chief
of force. Lord "Wolse-
ley, appeared to have reached such a
pitch that but for the exigencies of
the situation. Lord Wolseley would
have resiirned". It seems that Lord
Lansdowne attempted to usurp some of
the authority always heretofore wielded
by the commander-in-chief and the lat
ter is now said to have laid the whole
matter before Lord Salisbury-
BOERS AT MAJUBA HILL.
New York, June 7 A Herald dispatch
from Newcastle dated Monday says:
Great numbers of the enemy still oc
cupy Majuba Hill, Laings Nek and the
nigwani range as far east as Engle-
brechts pass. On the Ballasberg the
positions they hold are particularly
strong. Generals Christian Botha,
r ourie and Pretorius are in command.
Should they obstinately refuse to yield
and still continue fighting they will in
all probability fall back on Lydenburg
Dy way or Ernoio with prospects of a
safe retreat into the almost inaccessi
ble mountains of the Murchison range.
1 neir task to prevent Bullers entrv in
to the Transvaal by way of Volhurst
can only result in failure and unneces
sary loss of life on both sides.
Weather Indications.
Chicago, June 7. For Kansas: Gen
erally fair and cooler tonight and Fri
day; northwest winds.
GRAVE CHARGES.
Accusation Against National
President Mahon
Of the Amalgamated Associa
tion of Street Car Men.
AFFIDAVITS ON FILE
Which Allege That He Secretly
Counsels "Violence
While Publicly Urging Preserv
ation of Good Order.
St. Louis, June 7. Among the affi
davits filed in the United States circuit
court in connection with the proceed
ings, for an injunction against street
railway strikers is one signed by R. L.
"Wilson and E. A. Drushel, in which
grave charges Are preferred against
National President "Wm. D. Mahon of
the Amalgamated Association of Street
Railway Employes of America, as well
as against the president of division 106.
The affidavit is as follows:
"R. L. Wilson and E. A. Drushel,
formerly residents of Cleveland, O., are
now employed by the St, Louis Transit
company, Wilson as a conductor,
Drushel as a motorman. Wre were resi
dents of Cleveland during the strikes
on the electric car lines there in the
year 1899. During said strikes, we be
came acquainted with W. D. Mahon
and Harry Bryan, Mahon being presi
dent of the National Association of
Street Railway Employes, and Bryan
president of local division No. 106. Each
of said affiants were members of No.
106, and attended most of the meetings
of said division and heard the speeches,
counsel and advice of Bryan and Mahon
and they each say that in such speeches
so made by each of them, the said
Bryan and Mahon, when speaking in
public, or where the public was likely
to know of their utteraices counseled
good order and advised against violence;
but in private or secret meetings, where
the public would not know what tran
spired, said Mahon and Bryan by their
manner, speech, innuendo and conduct,
gave the affiants and the members of
the association to understand they were
at liberty to indulge in any kind of
violence that would interrupt the op
erations of the street railway lines and
prevent other men from operating cars
thereon. That as soon as these private
advices by innuendoes and the like be
came known among the men, pole cut
ting, placing obstructions on the tracks,
assaulting cars and employes with
stones, eggs and other missiles became
general and that said strike lasted for
almost four months with that character
of violence and obstructions to the
tracks prevailing which your affiants
believe was in the manner aforesaid in
cited, counseled and advised by said
Mahon and Bryan and others in col
lusion with them."
Mr. Mahon, when seen in regard to
these charges, said: "I deny complete
ly the charges of Wilson and Drushel.
STRIKE SITUATION.
It is lust one month lacking a day
since 3.325 employes, of the St. Louis
Transit company struck to secure a rec
ognition of their union and an adjust
ment of other grievances, and a settle
ment of their differences does not seem
to be in sight. The Transit company
has agreed to recognize the union and
to allow its employes to belong to it, out
insists on retaining all the men who
have taken the places of strikers.
Last week the company agreed to
take back 1,000 men at once, 800 within
30 days and as many more as there be
came vacancies for. The strikers in
sisted that all or none be taken back
and here the matter rests. Additional
non-union men are daily coming to
town to run the cars and the company
now claims so many places have been
filled that they can only provide posi
tions for less than 1,000 of the old em
ployes. Gradually the Transit com
pany has resumed service on all but two
or three of its lines, but is not running
the usual number of cars on any one of
them and none at night. Six additional
companies of deputies have been organ
ized from among tne posse men sworn
in during the past few days and a plan
to divide the entire force into two di
visions to do duty in North and South
St. Louis is under discussion. About 400
deputies in squads were sent out today
to guard the following places:
Power house.Broaaway ana sausoury
street; power house, Broadway and La
mie streets; power house, Prairie ave
nue and North Market street; power
house, Compton avenue and Papin
street; power house, Vista and Vande
venter avenue; power house, ' Clayton
road and Boyle avenue; car shed,
Broadway and Gano avenue; repair
shop, Jefferson and Gravois avenues;
car shed, Finney and Vandeventer ave
nues; car shed, Newsted and Fairfax
avenues; car shed, Obear and Kossuth
avenues.
Since Sunday there have been more
assaults on women passengers on the
street cars. The police are investigat
ing these affairs and have made several
arrests in consequence. Among those
arrested are three young girls who have
confessed that they took part in the as
sault on Miss Pauline Hesser, at Tenth
and Geyer avenue.
President Mahon of the Amalgamated
Association of Street Car Employes.dis
cussing the efforts to induce Governor
Stephens to call out the militia, said to
day: "I do not think the governor would
be justified in calling out the militia at
present. There is no lawlessness here
but the local authorities can cope
with. The Transit company are run
ning more cars daily. It seems to have
men to run them and the strikers are
not interfering with them. Therefore I
say I do not think that the governor
would be at all justified in calling out
the militia."
Since the strike began numerous
stories of a sensational character have
been sent out by irresponsible persons.
One story to the effect that Maud
Thomas, 17 years of age.astride a mule,
led 5,000 strikers to the Carondelet
power house last night with the object
of destroying that building, is wholly
without foundation, so investigation
made today shows.
After several conferences held today
between Sheriff Pohlman, Chief of Po
lice Campbell, Police Commissioner
Hawes and General Manager Baumhoff
of the Transit company it has been de
cided to run cars tonight for the first
time since the strike was inaugurated.
Chief Campbell says:
"Cars for passenger traffic Will be run
tonight on the Washington avenue line
from Taylor avenue to Third street.
Deputy sheriffs will be stationed along
the line on Finney, Grand and Washing
ton avenues."
.There will be police officers on the
cars. 1
GOV. STEPHENS THREATENED.
Jefferson City, Mo., June 7. Gov
ernor Stephens is annoyed by letters
received from St. Louis threatening
him if he does not call out the militia
to suppress street car strike riots.
This morning he received the following
card:
"St. Louis Mo., June 6, 1900.
"To Mr. Stephens, governor of Missouri,
Jefferson City, Mo.:
"If you do not call out the state
militia in a few days you -will be shot.
"Respectfully, E. EVERMORE."
Governor Stephens says he has not
had the support of the press and citi
zens of St. Louis in his efforts to pre
serve order, and that these letters are
the natural result of the constant at
tacks of the newspapers and others.
Governor Stephens said he expected to
go to St. Louis tonight and answer the
citizens in person in regard to their re
quest to have the militia called out.
The governor then, gave out the fol
lowing: "I have endeavored fearlessly, hon
estly and conscientiously to do my
full duty as the governor of Missouri
since the St. Louis strike was inaugu
rated. Notwithstanding this I have not
had the support of the press of St.
Louis. I have been held up to constant
ridicule by most of the St. Louis news
papers, which, seem to be playing to all
elements. Every movement the state
authorities have made has been dis
credited, every motive has been im
pugned. ' II' dynamite is yet resorted to by the
anarchists and mobs and property is
destroyed and lives are sacrificed the
public will know upon whom to fasten
the responsibility."
TOWN DESTROYED
A Cyclone Blots Faulkner, Kas.'
From the Map.
Chetopa, Kan,, June 7. During a se
vere wind storm at an early hour this
morning the village of Faulkner, seven
miles northeast of here was almost en
tirely demolished. The storm destroy
ed the school house, a church, North
Bros.' hay and storage barn and several
dwellings, burning one and damaging
many others. The buildings were scat
tered over the adjacent country. Sev
eral farm houses in the county were un
roofed, or blown from their foundations
and much damage was done to crops.
No casualties are reported.
COMPLETE AUG. I.
City Building to Be Ready For
Use on That Date.
Work on the auditorium and city
hall is being pushed and the contractors
hope to have the fire, department and
city hall building completed August L
The roof Is partly on the city hall
and the lathers are nearly through.
The plasterers commenced work in the
council chamber yesterday. The sec
ond and third floors have been wired
and the gas connections -will be com
pleted today. For the past week the
work on the auditorium part has been
done on the east side and the east wall
is completed. Work on the Quincy
street side has been delayed on account
of the dressed stone which was late in
arriving. The stone commenced com
lng yesterday and work will now be
pushed on the front part. The stone
carvers are at work.
The steel girders for the roof of the
auditorium have not yet arrived.
FORTY MEN AMBUSHED.
Capt. Crenshaw Badly Wounded
in Philippines.
Manila, June 7. Capt. Frank F. Cren
shaw, with 40 men of the Twenty-eighth
infantry, while scouting near Taal was
led into an ambush by a guide. Captain
Crenshaw was badly wounded in the
head and one private was wounded. The
ambushers were scattered, leaving ten
dead and three wounded on the field
Capt. Flint, while scouting five miles
east ot Biancnabato, Bulacan province,
had a slight brush with the enemy.FIint
ana two privates were wounded.
NEAR A HUNDRED.
Wednesday Was the Hottest Day of
the Season.
Observer Jennings did the best he
could yesterday but despite his efforts
the thermometer on the roof of the
Columbian building climbed to an even
S at tour o clock. It was hot.
The observer flew up to the roof with
a bucket of water and sent down for
wet blankets and ice. He applied the
sun stroke remedy to the mercury but
still it hung' to within one point of a
hundred. Finally his efforts were re
warded and it commenced to drop un
til it got down to 86 just before the
rain. As the rain commenced the mer
cury took a straight shoot down to 6S
but quickly rallied and went up to
The rain amounted to 12 hundredths of
an inch. Wednesday was the hottest
day of the year and had the severest
thunderstorm. The forecast today is
"generally fair and cooler tonight and
Thursday." The maximurri temperature
this morning up to 11 o'clock was S9
the same as yesterday. The minimum
was 68. The wind was southeast blow
ing 6 miles an hour.
REVOLT IN BORNEO,
A Number of British Are Killed
and Wounded.
Chicago, June 7. A Record special
from Victoria, B. C, says: News was
bi ought from the east by the steamer
Empress of Japan that a serious up
rising against the British has again
broken out in ' North Borneo. Many
refugees who arrived in Labuan say
that the cause of the outbreak was
the general dissatisfaction against the
vie of the chartered company. In the
fighting several British were killed and
Fiver: wounded. Twenty-five Chinese
were killed and the environs of the city
were totally destroyed.
DEATH TO ALL
FOREIGNERS.
Inscription Borne by Banners of
the Boxers.
Burning, Pillage and Murder
Still Unchecked.
TROOPS IN TERROR.
Imperial Soldiers Are Afraid of
the Rebels.
Situation at Pekin is Growing
Worse Daily.
London, June 7. Telegraphing from
Tien Tsin under date of June 6, a cor
respondent says:
I left Tien Tsin this morning en
route for Pekin, accompanied by Gen
eral Nieh, supposed to be one of the
best Chinese generals, with 60 troops.
We proceeded to Lofa, a distance of 31
miles. We found the plate-layers' cabins
in flames and telegraph poles cut and
men engaged in destroying others in
villages near the railway, where flags
were seen bearing the Inscription 'Kill
all foreigners.'
I saw smoke, evidently from burn
ing houses in the distance, but General
Nieh refused to proceed further, being
in mortal tear of the boxers, though
the foreigners endeavored to persuade
him . to disentrain his roops. who are
firmly convinced that it is useless to
tight the boxers, as other Chinese say
they have seen boxers hit with bullets
rise and run away.
mere seems to be little prospect of
a resumption of traffic to Pekin unless
the foreign powers assume control of
the railway until the Chinese govern
nient proves itself capable of managing
communications with its capital."
GROWING WORSE.
Pekin, June 7. The situation is grow
ing steadily worse. Events move with
such rapidity and affairs, owing to the
excitement of the natives, are so crit
ical, that the foreign ministers hold fre
quent meetings. They feel the need of
a free hand for energetic action, with
out a peipetual reference to the home
governments.
Sir Claude McDonald, the British
minister, is wiring for seventy-five
more marines.
Native employes who have returned
from Feng Tai say they left the box
ers openly drilling in the adjacent vil
lage. A strong imperial edit, issued
this evening, censures the "cowardli
ness or the imperial troops, and or
ders the viceroy of Pe Chi Li and Gen
eral Jung Luim to suppress the boxers.
The foreign ministers at today's
meeting discussed the demanding of a
special audience or the empress dow'
ager, but 110 decision was reached.
OUTLOOK FOR WAR.
Vancouver, B. C, June 7. Count
von Leyden, German ambassador to the
court of Japan, arrived by the Empress
on his way nome on leave.
"The boxer question," said the count,
"is a most serious one in China. My
own country has sent -troops to Pekin
in co-operation with those of the other
powers, and the outlook is serious.
"The present state of affairs can not
be put up with," continued Count von
Leyden, emphatically, "but it is to be
hoped that the empress dowager will
suppress the lawlessness.
He went on to say that it was not
so much for China s sake that the dip
Iomats feared, but the European na
tions with the United States and Japan,
were so deeply interested that should
strong measures have to be taken with
China no one knew what might hap
pen. When he left the combined forces
from . the represented powers were
sending troops to Pekin merely as
demonstration. "So of course," he
said, " a few hundred men can do very
little, but it may be the beginning
ot greater events.
Admiral Sir E. R. Freemantle. for
years in charge of the Indian and Chi
nese squadrons and now commander
in chief at Davenport, arrived today
on his return from a tour through the
Orient. He said that he thought Japan
and Russia would surely fight. At any
rate Japan would never back down
The feeling was so intense there that
no ministry could or would give in to
Russia. Korea, he said, should belong
to Japan, and the Japanese knew it
and would fight for it.
When questioned as to what part
England would take in the struggle, he
said he could make no statement what
ever as to England's course in the event
of war, but he said that Japan was in
the right, that she would fight and
she would win.
When told of the recent massacre of
British missionaries and of Japanese
protest against Russia sending in more
troops, he said:
"That greatly intensifies the situa
tion, but you can understand why I do
not wish to commit mvself.
ENGLAND'S CHINESE POLICY.
London. June 1. It is understood here
that if the United States expects Great
Britain to take independent or initiative
action in China, as might be gathered
trom special cable dispatches quoting
congressman .Mitt, it is depending on a
contingency which appears verv remote,
indeed. From every continental capital
today comes evidence of how keenly the
powers appreciate the far eastern crisis,
yet the British foreign office retains the
apathetic attitude, which for years ha
distinguished its Chinese policy. Though
tne tioxers movement nas doubled ii
virulence and international complication
have since cropped up, the Marquis of
saiismiry appears to nave taken no ne
steps to meet the emergenev.
A representative of the Associated
Press was informed officially today that
the tsntisn minister at hVkln, Sir Cloude
McDonald, and his assistants are still in
complete charge of the situation and are
relied upon- to meet any circumstances
which may arise.
The government understands that the
diplomatic and naval authorities on the
spot are co-operating harmoniously and
so long as this state of affairs continues.
Lord Salisbury sees no immediate neces
sity for taking steps over the British min
ister's head. In short, the feeling pre
vails in British government circles that
the "Boxers" outbreak is not likely to re
sult more seriously than many former up
risings in that quarter of the globe. More
over Lord Salisbury perhaps moie than
any man in public life in England, realizes
how great are the difficulties with which
Great Britain is hedged in at the present
moment. Replying to a private letter the
other day. which suggested that Great
Britain should show her teeth more. Lord
Salisbury, it is learned by the Associated
Press, replied that "unfortunately F,ng
land's teeth were now in South Africa."
In spite of the fact that the Associated
Press" is officially informed that Great
Britain has neither sounded other powers
with the view of securing co-operation In
new ana vigorous Chinese policy, or
been sounded as to such action by any
ower, tnere are many rumors tnat such
teps are under consideration.
A member ot a foreurn embassy In Lon
don tells the Associated Press tbat it
is certain that the British foreign office is
contemplating sending instructions to its
minister 10 secure the support 01 otner
governments, especially of the United
States, in a plan of action. Though Rus
sia might be invited to join, this concert
wouia nave lor its ulterior ooiect tne
frustration of any designs Russia may
laroor ior maKing capital out 01 tne pres
nt trouble in the state of affairs in China.
This statement the British foreign office
categorically and emphatically denies.
But even If the denial is prompted by mo
tives of policy, it can be said without re
serve that Great Britain will t ake no ac
tion on her own initiative beyond the
mere protection of her endangered sub
jects. No amount of public pressure could
Induce Lord esansoury to enter into tur
ther complications until the South African
war is hnishea. nut tne tone 01 tne Brit
ish press is in acute contrast of the offi
cial attitude.
The afternoon newspaper today are
unanimous in urging a combination of the
powers with a greater object than a mere
temporary suppression of the Boxers.
'tne at. James gazette declares tnere
is "nothing for it but to see what can
be done by a magnified version of the
European concert we saw worked in
Crete by the diplomatic steam roller,
more complicated, less handy and more
arrlnir than the old one. because It in
cludes wheels which are Japanese and
others which are American."
The W estminster Gazette maintains
that Great Britain's choice is either to
wait for a collision between Russia and
Japan in the meanwhile confining her ef
forts to police work and landing parlies.
or to organize joint European intervention
In which all the parties will bind- them
selves to keep the peace and respect the
independence of Pekin.
Later details irom lien 1 sin say tnai
during the engagement at Tung Hu be
tween the "Boxers" and Catholic Chris
tians. Tuesday the Christians captured
nine cannon.
ANOTHER TRUST
Salina Paper Says Grain Compa
ny is Gobbling Up Elevators.
Dealers in Central Kansas Being
Forced to Sell.
The Salina Daily Union has discover
ed another trust which is fastening its
tentacles to Kansas.
'The grain buyers, millers and many
of the farmers of central and western
Kansas are greatly exercised over the
advent of the Peavy Elevator company.
of Minnesota, into the Kansas wheat
belt. 'hey claim that the northern
company is a trust, that it is endeavor
ing to stifle competition, and that when
it succeeds it reduces the price which
it pays farmers for their grain.
To prove these assertions attention
is called to the fact that the company
has secured control of 46 elevators in
central and western Kansas, and is
constantly building more. Several in
stances are cited in which it is alleged
the Peavy company has forced individ
ual elevator men to sell out -to them;
and the matter has progressed so far
that an 'Sppeal has been made to tne
interstate commerce commission for as
sistance. ' ' ' "
"It is further alleged that the Peavy
company has a combination with the
Union Pacific railway company, where
by it is enabled to ship grain more
cheaply than its competitors from
points where it is forced to come into
competition with others, and that it can
therefore oversell them until the com
petitors are forced out of business.
The Peavy Elevator company last
year claimed to have handled one-tenth
of all the grain raised in America. It
is by far the largest grain company in
the world.
"To prove that it is a trust and has
adopted trust principles in forcing
smaller dealers out of business, three
instances are dited within twenty miles
of Salina. At Bavaria, the first station
west of here, there is an elevator which
was owned until a few months ago by
H. Work, a grain deaier of Ellsworth,
and a prominent member of the Kansas
Grain Dealers' association. When the
Peavy company began Its operations on
the Union Pacific it offered to buy
Work out, but he refused the offer. The
company then unloaded the material
for a new elevator in Bavaria and
threatened to put up a new building
and run Work out of business if he re
fused to sell, and he then sold. 4
"The same tactics were used to get
possession of the McCracken elevator
at Solomon. At Mentor the company
recently asked for a new lease of the
Miller elevator. Mr. Miller asked $100
a month for the property, but the
Peavy company refused to pay more
than $50, and threatened to put up a
new elevator if the offer was not ac
cepted." INSTRUCT FOR BRYAN.
Connecticut Democrats Fall Into
Line Cheerfully.
Waterbury, Conn., June 7. The Con
necticut Democratic state convention
has unanimously adopted a platform
naming W. J. Bryan as its candidate
for president, instructing the delegates
for Mr. Bryan and pledging support
to the platform of the Kansas City
convention.
The platform, which follows, was
adopted unanimously:
"The Democracy of Connecticut ap
preciates the services and honors the
sterling character and splendid ability
of William J. Bryan, and the delegates
selected by this convention are hereby
instructed to unite with the Democracy
of the other states of the union in se
curing his nomination for president of
the United States and request them to
advocate the adoption of a platform
embodying the fundamental principles
of the Democracy which he so ably
represents, and we pledge our support
to the platform which shall be adopted
at the national convention to be held
at Kansas City."
The following delegates at large to
the national convention were elected:
Col. E. M. Graves, Hartford; James P.
Pillott, New Haven; Bryan Mahan,
New London; Homer S. Cummings,
Stamford.
A resolution the purpose of which
was to prevent the re-election of Alex
ander Troup as Connecticut's national
committeeman was introduced and
adopted. The resolution practically in
structed the delegates to name Mr.
Cummings, of Stamford, as the com
mitteeman to succeed Mr. Troup.
Mrs. B. What wonderful control Mrs.
"Von Blumer has.
Mr. B. How do you know?
"I was with her an hour yesterday,
and she never mentioned her children
or her servants." Life,
GALL ITOUTRAGE
Topeka Merchants Complain
About Tax Assessment.
Taluations of Some Stocks of
Merchandise Are Doubled.
PROTESTS ARE IN VAIN
No Relief Offered by the City'
Assessor.
Will Call Upon County Commis
sioners in a Body.
WHAT ARE THEY ABOUT
Is Purpose to Drive Business
Men Away I
Hare Little Faith in Talk About
Lowering Rate.
The merchants of Topeka are excited
as a result of the recent city assess
ment. A meeting has been called at
the Commercial club rooms tomorrow
morning at 10 o'clock, and from there
the business men will call on the board
of county commissioners in a body.
The reason for the indignation is the
doubling of valuations on, stocks of
merchandise which has been indulged
in generally. But few of the merchants
along Kansas avenue have' escaped
without the valuation of stocks being
doubled, and in some instances the as
sessment has not stopped at this. One
merchant's assessment amounts to
double the valuation of last year plus
$3,000 and another doubles last year'3
valuation plus $2,000.
All the merchants agree that there
should be some increase in the valua
tion because merchandise in stock this
year represents greater value than it
did a year ago. However, they mean to
protest strongly against what they con-
I sider the unjust' increases made by the
assessment, and declare it to be noth
ing more than a "hold up."
The assessment of the merchants has
been in charge of Mr. S. L. Leavitt,
who for years was engaged in the dry
goods business in this city. Mr. Leavitt
was a partner in the Wiggin . Bros."
store and later in the Warren M. Cros
by company. While a partner in the
latter firm a few years ago Mr. Leavitt
made out the statement of valuation,
placing the stock at $8,000. As assessor
this year he placed the valuation of the
Warren M. Crosby stock at $2;l.O0O.
i"It is preposterous to raise valuations
to the extent they-Have been," said a
prominent merchant today. "Just be
cause we are at present enjoying some
thing like an era of prosperity is no
reason why we should be held up in
this manner. What we make this year
we may lose next year, and for this
reason the only fair way is to consider
an average of several years. It 'is nc
more than right that valuations sould
be increased somewhat because mer
chandise is- worth more than a year
ago, but it is an outrage to double
them."
"Mr. Leavitt refused to accept the
statement of valuation I made." said
another Topeka merchant. "He de
clared that it did not represent my
stock, and proceeded to fix a valuation
in accordance with his ideas. This
amounted to considerably over double
the valuation of last year. I went to
see Col. Burgess, the city assessor, and
he promptly told me that he had noth
ing to do with it, that the assessment
was in the hands ot his deputies. 1 aisa
sew Mayor Drew and the county com
missioners, but could get no satisfac
tion. The only hope is for the merchants-
to lay their grievances before
the board in a body and demand re
lief." "My assessment this year amounts to
double that of last year plus $2,000,"said
another merchant. "The volume of our
stock is practically the same, and the
only increase is the increase in the val
ue of the goods. There is therefore no
reason or justice in the assessment. I
mean to do what I can to have the mat
ter remedied."
"If the rate remains the same as last
year," said another, "my taxes under
the assessment this year will amount u
more than my rent."
The only excuse for the increase in
valuation is the possibility of a reduc
tion in the rate of taxation. The pres
ent rate is 4:85 per cent. Under the
present assessment the merchants say
that the rate would have to be reduced
to 3 per cent to make the action just.
Some of the merchants go so far as to
eay that the county assessors did not
fix their basis of valuation until they
knew what it was intended to do in the
city assessment.
The Topeka business men naturally
feel that under the assessment as it
now stands they will be compelled to
bear an unjust portion of the taxes of
the county. The majority of the mer
chants are expected to meet at the Com
mercial club rooms tomorrow morning,
as the call issued by Secretary Ander
son is addressed to "The business men
who believe the assessor has placed too
high a value'on their property."
The merchants are no particularly
sanguine as regards the conference with
the county commissioners, but at least
will have the satisfaction of making a
determined protest.
BURTON GETS ONE.
His Home Senatorial District
structs For Him.
In-
The Republicans of the Clay-Dickinson
county senatorial district yesterj
day nominated George H. Fullingto"" '
Clay Center, and instructed him to.
the election of J. R. Burton for United
States senator.
Mr. Fullington is ex-treasurer of Clay
county: a prohibitionist and a goo 1
"mixer." The district is now Popuii?t,
being represented in the senate by G.
W. Hanna, of Clay.
Cleveland's Erother-in-Law DeaJ.
Beatrice, Neb., June 7. William E.
Hoyt, brother-in-law of ex-President
Cleveland; died at his home in this city
today o," inflammation of the bladder.
He was 71 years of age. He was born irt
New Tort city, and has been a resi
dent of Neoraska for ten years. His
wifi?, Mary Cleveland Koyt, and two
sons. United States District Clefk R.
C. Hoyc. of Omaha, and C. G. Hoyt, In
dian agent. North Yakima, Washing
ton, survive him.