New-York tribune. [volume], August 22, 1908, Image 1

About New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924

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ISMAX STIKS TT OSCAR
BUYS BELASCO SITE.
JJammcrstein Says He's Ready to
Turn Over Monkey Cages. v
Representatives of Felix Isman announced late
list night that he had acquired the site of the
"Btl&sco Theatre, but had not as yet come into the
actual possession of the site, on which Hammer
stein s Victoria Theatre is built. Earlier in the day
tt was rumored that Mr. Isman had acquired ' the
retire parcel at Seventh avenue and 42d street.
announcement to that effect brought forth a denial
frdßi agents of the property and a peculiarly
Oscaresque one. from Oscar Hammerstein. That
property is owned by the Davidson estate. The
property which Mr. Isman Is said to have bought
wis owned by the Gerry estate. Mr. Belasco has a
•ta years' lease on it from Mr. Hammerstein. and
jlr. Hammerstein contends that his lease will run for
sixteen years. There Is no doubt that there will be
< lively row if Mr. Isman is the actual owner of the
site cf the B^iasco. Indeed, his representatives said
»»»t slrht that action would be taken at once to
;an!T Hsm=J*rstein'» roof garden to he tor of his
theatre
At present the roof garden is on top of both the
Be'afco and Victoria theatres. Mr. llammeretein
said last r.tg-ht :
"I have never seen, such a deliberate attempt to
deceive the newspapers and the public as this one.
I am the sub-lessee of the land upon which I
erected the Victoria, paying a monthly bonus to a
Mrs. Davidson, who Is the original owner of the
lease. This lease ha* an unexptred term of sixteen
j-ars. The sround is owned by the Gerry estate;
User nave not sold an inch of this ground to Mr.
ißmar or to anybody else, so his claim of a pur
ctase is a deliberate lie. ; , .f;. f ; \
"I am also the lessee of the land upon which I
erected the Belaec^ Theatre; this lease has an un
expired term of thirty-six years.
"3cth Iks Victoria Theatre and the Belasco Thea
ire are my exclusive property, with hardly any in
curobrance*. The pround of the Belasco Theatre
Is owned by Mrs. Davidson, of Saratoga. N. Y.
"For the past four months the representative of
this Mrs. Davidson has pestered me- to purchase
the ground of the Belasco Theatre and the original
fTOund lease of the Victoria Theatre. I have posi
tively refused to purchase- for various reasons:
«ren threats of a contemplated sale to certain par
ties who would take the risk to attempt to break
ir.y leases for mysterious reasons could not change
BS< purpose.
•"Last Friday the representative of one Isman
notifle.-i me that he had bought the ground cf the
Belasc* and also the leased right of the ground or
tie Victoria Theatre. He Informed me that Mr.
Ismar. had discovered that my ground leases con
tained a clause whereby it is prohibited to exhibit
cr keep wild animals on the premises, and that.
having violated this clause, he would proceed to
"have my leases declared null and void, and take
possession of the property, unless I aided him. in
conjunction with Mr. Belasco (my tenant), to get
•square' with the theatrical syndicate in general
End A. L Erlanger In particular.
"It being a very hot night and the representative.
'ailing to state when this evacuation process was
likely to take place, or at what hour I was to hand
over my theatres, costing a million dollars, exclu
sive of the ground. I merely promised my pro
spective, hard hearted and relentless landlord to
'.furnish him with particulars of the status or the
**iid animal' clause.
"These "wild animals* are located on the roof
garden of the Victoria Theatre during the summer
for the purpose of lowering the thermometer in
tot weather. They consist of the following:
"One modern cow. attached during the intenais
e;oti to a dairy maid, swindling her (the cow) out
el a supply Qt milk by ton and coercion.
"One Jackasc. frighten;— the mosquitoes off the
roof by Ma wonderful vocal abilities.
" "One dirigible turkey,
-One male rcoster.
* "Four female hens.
"One large but near-sighted monkey.
' 'Three peanut monkeys with complicated tails—
Salome crrcers.
"Four duckliaps.
"One duck. Esq.
•That's all-**
"I have notified Mr. Isman that in deference to
hi* desire for evacuation I will begin to dispossess
The monkeys from their cage and allow him to
occupy it at or.cc."
What Mr. Isman will do with the site of the
Eelasco is not known. He and Mr. Belasro are
•said to be quite friendly, bat Mr. Belasco had no
Ttimation that the property was to be turned over
•to Isman. if I=man could have Hammerstein's en
tire Mon the property made void, he would
[probably make some w-nsational move that would
•upset the theatrical world. Under the present cir
■cuTjis=tance«= it is not quite clear what his object is
•in acquiring real estate on which a theatre is built
•end the manager of which has a lease that will
•run for ten years at least
"Ben" Roeder. who says rhir.RS for David Be
•Jasco. was not alarmed yesterday when he heard
lot Isznzn'e latest move in the theatrical world. It
has been intimated that Mr. Isman and David Be
lasco are working hand in hand, but Mr. Roeder
it- he was not aware of any such alliance. He
•eaid also that the two men were friendly.
•The Isaac Is another affair," he added. "We
•feEve a lease, too. It doesn't expire for ten years.
s'don-t think we will vacate for a few days, at
least."'
Mr I?mar. cam* to New York with the ole pur
poM of civing the so-called theatrical syndicate a.
Jolt that would make some stir. The "regulars
replied by petting- closer together. Every legitimate
end variety manager of any consequence in the
ttaited States has a seat In the secret conclave of
-the -•»■ organization. As soon as the managers got
Together they agreed to arrange some affairs of
■book^g etc in sue* a fashion that Isman would
iiav* mtto opportunity to exhibit his legitimate
'actors and William Morris still less to permit his
.variety performers to amuse the public. Isman
ismiU appear to have retaliated.
B'.r.ce he began to operate here he came into pos
.'e<sssion of the Broadway Theatre, and still later of
She New Circle. He lost control of the latter a few
Veeks ago. He now conducts the American and the
Broadway theatres. Recently he aided William
Morris In Ma effort to get control of the Lincoln
EvSBSS Theatre. It is to be conducted as a variety
bouse.
OLD STEEZTCAK FOR ME. TTNDERWOOD.
.Values It for Sentimental Seasons and Will
Make It Heading Boom at His Home.
tßy Tfclesrmpb to The Trlbun*. I
Milwaukee. Aug. E.-An old-fashioned streetcar
tax arrived at Wauwatosa on a flat car. It is th*
property of F.-W. Underwood, president of the
Erie Railroad, and it Is one of President Under
wood's most valued possessions. According to
s>resid-nt Underwood, the car wan the fin* to open
fcl* «y*« to the possibility of traffic on street rails.
*W«ld*nt Underwood, th« just plain "Fred- Un
"■««rwood. rode on the car In Ohio. It will be set
sjp on th« grounds of his home and converted Into
■a. reading- room. J _^^____ , — ' '
BLAME RAILROAD FOR AUTO FATALITIES.
Haekensack N. J- Aug. 21-— Coroner Curry, of
Hack*n«ack. In th* fncuest held last night into th«
■•ath of Donald Holmes, the lawyer, of Paterson.
{and his chauffeur, Kobert Shaw, who were killed
by a locomotive while driving across the tracks of
**• Sasqbeoanna & Western Railroad at Bogota
tToeetsg on August 2, held the railroad responsible
*or the accident for not properly protecting the
crossing.
ANOTHER FAILURE TO SWIM CHANNEL.
Dover. England. Ail*. Zl -T. W. Burgees, the
Eaclith swimmer, to-day made, his sixth unsuc
«*ssf«] attempt to swim the Bnsrtit'h Channel. He
•Urted from Dover at 1 o'clock this morning, and
taken out of the water at 11:<S o'clock to
««ht. faarinr remained In the water 22 hours and
■ ainut<-* « n«w record for remaining in the
T» warraß. tmir. meter; vnt vtxU.
DWARFS BIG BUILDINGS.
Work in Start at Once in Make
Whitehall Greatest Structure.
The plans perfected last year by William H.
Ohesebrougrh, president of the Century Realty
Company. for erecting the largest office building
in the ■world, as reg-ards Bquar° foot area, on
a site fronting In West and Washington streets,
are to be carried out immediately. This great
project ■would have been well under way if
there had been no financial disturbances last
fall. It trill represent an Investment of over
$4,000,000 and will furnish steady work for
many months to many hundred skilled work
men.
The decision to begin at once the work of
putting up this big skyscraper is the result of
the marked improvement in the money channels
affecting realty operations, and also reflects the
opinion held by scores of tha leading real es
tate experts of this city that a new and greater
era of commercial prosperity than ever before
Is here.
For many years Mr. Chesebrough. through
the company of which he is the head, has
wrought great arikl beautiful changes in the
ekyiine of the extreme southerly end of Man
hattan Island. Where years ago there stood
old-fashioned brick dwelling houses, some
partly remodelled with stores and lofts, now
rise the Battery Park and the Whitehall build
ings, two splendid types of the modern sky
scraper. The Whitehall Building, towering
twenty stories, fronts in Battery Place between
West and Washington streets. Adjoining and
forming an annex to it the proposed $4,000,000
structure, thirty-five stories high, will be built.
The ground it will rest upon and its floor area
will be much larger than those of any building
now standing in this city.
Some architects who have studied the plans
say that this thirty-five story office building will
completely change the skyline of the lower part
of old New York from steamships in the lower
bay. Now the tower of the Singer Building, the
ornamental roof of the City Investing Building
and the upper stories of the Trinity and the
West Street buildings form the main objects in
that perspective. As they are almost directly
north of the site of the proposed annex to the
Whitehall Building, the view of those structures
from steamships in the lower bay will be cut off
by the annex, it is said. The plot to be im
proved comprises 52.000 square feet.
WOMEN TO RACE IS AIR.
Four Will Sail in Balloon in Effort
to Break Record.
Four women prominent in society, two of
whom are residents of Philadelphia and th«
other two of New York, will make a long dis
tance balloon trip from Huntington Bay. Long
Island, next Saturday afternoon. Accompany
ing the women will b<= Dr. Thomas K. Eldridge
and I>r. Oeorge H. Stmmerman. of Philadelphia.
The ascension will be made under th« auspices
of the Philadelphia Aeronautical Society. The
trip will be made for th« Eldridge-Simraerman
Ladies 1 Aeronautical Oip. which is offered for
the b«*st record for long distance travelled in
one ascension in any air craft. I>r. Eldridge
and Dr. Simmerman will act as pilots on the
trip.
Many New York women are anxious to make
the trip, but as only four women and two pilots
can be carried In the balloon, the Philadelphia
aeronauts are having great difficulty in making
the selections Th*> balloon to be used is called
the Philadelphia. It is hoped that the wind will
be from the south, so that the balloon will be
carried across the Sound and up through Con
necticut.
As thore are no facilities at the starting point
for supplying the gas required by the Philadel
phia, the big balloon will be filled at the Hunt
ington plant, and will then be towed by a tug
through Huntington Harbor to the startins
point, which is to be directly over the water.
The Philadelphia will be equipped with air
tight compartments, which will keep the basket
afloat If it should land in water. The distance
across Long Island Sound from Huntington
shore is about fifteen miles. Should the wind
be blowing in that direction the day of the
ascension It is figured that the balloon will
crons th* Pound in an hour. To provide against
danger several power boats will accompany the
Philadelphia acrosp th» Pound.
FIRE XEAR BUSH DOCKS.
Asbestos Factory in South Brooklyn
Destroyed — Loss $30,000.
Within an hour after the first of the four
alarms had been sounded for a fir* in the flve-
Ftory drying building of the H. W. Johns As
bestos and Roofing Company, in South Brook
lyn, shortly after midnight this morning. the
firemen had control of the situation The loss
is estimated at $30,000. Its origin is a mys
tery. Other buildings In the block along the.
waterfront from 39th to 40th street were in the
path of the flames, swept by a brisk southeast
-wind, which blew flames and sparks across the
street to the warehouses of the Bush Terminal
Docks, where goods valued at several million
dollars were stored, and many steamer* were
moored to wharves.
The fireboats A. S. Hewitt, Seth Low. David A.
Boody and George B. McClellan battled with the
flames from the river and saved the Bush docks.
It was one of the most spectacular fires seen in
the harbor in several years, and thousands of
persons lined the waterfront to witness it. The
reserves from the Fourth avenue, Fifth avenue
and Fort Hamilton stations were rushed to the
scene to protect the. people from possible ex
plosions from the inflammable goods stored in
the asbestos company's warehouses.
The firemen at first worked to save the dry-
Ing building, which Is a five-story brick struct
ure, but when they saw that it was doomed they
turned their attention to the three-story frame
paint shop adjoining the drying building. On
the other side of the paint shop the Marcus
Ward Paper Company occupies a five-story
building, filled with manufactured paper To
the east of the burning building is the slip of
the municipal ferries. Dredges in the slips made
it Impossible for the flreboats to get nearer than
three hundred yards and hampered them in their
work.
Ferryboats were anchored in the middle of the
stream and steamers at the Bush docks were
also towed away from danger.
No lives were lost, as far as known early to
day. The drying building was completely de
stroyed.
AN AMERICAN KILLED IN MEXICO.
Washington. Aug. Zl.-Consui Maxwell K. Moor
head, at Acapulco. Mex., ban Informed the State
Department of th« death of Grant I*. Prtca. of
Winona. Minn, from a gunshot wound inflicted by
a Mexican named Manuel Bahida. at Pie de la
Custa, near Acapulco. Price wm an employe of
the Mexican Pacific Company, of Seattle. He died
last night. The Mexican authorities are making
efforts to capture Saludtu
NEW-YORK, SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, Jims.- FOURTEEN PAGE&
AUBUBN FOli HUGHES
OPPOSITION TO WILCOX.
Governor Sure of Cayuga, Cortland
and Seneca Counties.
rrrom a staff Correspondent of The Tribune/]
Auburn, H. V., Aug. 21. — Auburn is for
Hughes. Cayuga County Is for the Governor.
So are Cortland and Seneca, the counties which.
with Cayuga, make up the district represented
by Senator "Ben" Wilcox, of Auburn, who
voted with the Democrats against the Gov
ernor's anti-gambling bills. Representative
Bereno E. Payne, chairman of the Ways and
Means Committee, will head the delegation in
the state conx-ention. He is for Hughes. While
he will not tak about it, he has satisfied himeelf
that nine out of every ten Republicans in his
Congress district favor the renomlnation of the
Governor. Wilcox stands to win at the pri
maries on Tuesday next, but it will be the fight
of his political career.
If Senator Wilcox is overthrown it will be on
account of his vote against the anti-gambling
bills. The church people all through Cayuga
County certainly are on the trail of Senator
Wilcox. If he can squeeze through at the
primaries and can control the ■. nominating con
vention, he probably will be elected. He will
run behind the regular ticket, but the normal
plurality in Cayuga and Cortland counties prob
ably pull him through.
The Democrats are trying to induce Thomas
M. Osborne. of the Public Service Commission.
2d District, to make the race against Sen
ator Wilcox. Mr. Osborne is a good deal of a
philanthropist, and his friends say he doesn't
care much for money. The salary of a- Public
Service Commissioner is $15,000 a year; that
of a Senator is 51.500 a year. Mr. Osborne has
plenty of money of his own. but local Repub
licans are betting good 10-cent cigars that he
won't give up the $15,000 a year job to run
against Wilcox. with the chances In favor of
the election of Senator Wilcox.
FIGHT AGAINST WILCOX.
Everything indicated easy going for Senator
Wilcox in his canvass for re-election until this
week, when the yeomen, who generally have
mighty little to do with caucuses, got together
and organized a movement against him. The
smile which has hitherto illuminated the hand
some face of the Senator has come off. and he
and his friends are getting down to the serious
task of beating the yeomen. Senator Wilcox
has the advantage of the backing of a well
equipped political machine. His regulars, in a
primary fight, know how to get the votes
quickly. The Senator also has the assistance
of Justice A. P. Rich. <>f the Supreme Court,
and a host of Republicans who have received
favors at his hands in his career as a political
leader and Senator.
The Senate district consists of Cayuga, Cort
land and Seneca Counties. Cayuga has a nor
mal Republican plurality of four thousand. It
gave Roosevelt a plurality of 5,100. Cortland
usually glvess fifteen hundred plurality. Seneca
la evenly balanced, with Democratic tendencies.
Cortland and Seneca, at the meeting of the
state committee, petitioned to have the basis
of representation in this Senate district
changed so as to give Cortland and Seneca equal
voting strength with Cayuga. The vote in the
Senate district- ■■WHivemiuu.-pw' i- fixed on the
basis of representation in the "stale convention,
as follows: Cayuga. 12; Cortland, 6; Seneca,
5. This gives Cayuga the balance of power.
The Wilcox men insist that the representation
stay as it is. It Is understood that the execu
tive committee of the state committee, which
has the controversy in charge, will decide in
favor of leaving the representation as it is. As
suming that, they do this, it will give Cayuga
County control of the Senate district conven
tion.
The Hug-he? men hay*> begun a practical
fight against Senator Wilcox all over Cayuga
County, ss already announced in Th= Tribune.
George Underwood, formerly a county judg*
and a* leading lawyer of Auburn: Truman A.
Mitchell, of Brutus, in the southern part of the
county, and James A. Wright, of Moravia, a
lawyer, in the northern part of the county, have
announced themselves as receptive candidates
for the Sf-natorship nomination. They will run
primary tickets in their respective localities,
and these primary tickets will elect delegates
in favor of the renomination of Governor
Hughes and against the renomination of Sen
ator Wi'.cox. The anti-Hughes people have
issued a small newspaper called "The People's
Advocate," which they are sending to every
voter in the Senate district. The Hughes Re
publican Club of Cayuga County has been or
ganized, with Benjamin C. Mead as president.
Charles A. Wright secretary and Irving Bae.in
treasurer. Anti-Wiicox tickets will be placed
in the hands of even- voter.
STRENGTH OF HUGHES MOVEMENT.
The Hughes, or anti-Wilcox. people are un
der the disadvantage of having made a late
start in the fight against Senator Wilcox He
has been working hard for the last month in
every town and ward in the district, and this
is the reason for assuming that he is in better
shape for the primary fight than his opponents.
The. movement in favor of Governor Hughes
has become so prevailing in Auburn that the
fith Ward organization this week, to hold its
line intact, declared for Hughes and Wilcox.
The organization is controlled by friends of
Senator Wilcox. Representative Sereno E.
Payne is not taking a hand in the fight. His
Congress district takes in Cayuga. Ontario.
Wayne and Yates. Mr. Payne never concerns
himself very much about the control of the or
ganization here. Senator Wilcox has controlled
it, but never has opposed the nomination of
Congressman Payne.
The friends of Senator Wilcox assert that
ex-Judge Underwood and his friends are not
half as anxious to help Governor Hughes as
they are to get square for the defeat admin
istered seven years ago when Mr. Underwood,
■who served as county Judge for twelve years,
desired to be elected to the Supreme Court
bench. It happened that year that the nom
ination was conceded to Cayuga County. Mr.
Underwood lived in the same ward with Sen
ator Wilcox and would have been glad to have
the support of the organization leader, but
Senator WUceoC supported A. P. Rich, now on
the Appfliiit.- bench in Brooklyn, arid Judpt;
Jlich obtained 0M nomination. Whether Mr.
Underwood's disappointment of seven years
ago has anything to do with his attitude to
day is a matter <>f conjecture.
When The Tribune correspondent called on
Senator Wilcox to-day he was busy talking with
variouH ward and town leaders.
"I think I shall carry the county beyond a
doubt." said Senator Wileox. 'These men
against me are not Blncere in their support of
Governor Hughes, but they are Just hiding
under hlf skirtp to get my scalp. AH of the
Hugheß men are so-called antl-or«anixatlon
men. There is opposition to Governor Hughe*
here and there throughout the county, but he
C<dttUiu«d on second P««*.
HUGHES TO BE NAMED
STATE LEADERS AGREE.
Shermav Says Oyster Bay Confer
ence Thought the Same.
"Governor Hughes will be renominated." This
is the word that was being passed around
quietly among the state leaders yesterday. For
publication the declaration is made that no
final decision has been reached: but the lead
ers, or most of them, have reached the de
cision that public sentiment demands the re
nomination of the Governor and that in no other
way can a solution of the problem be found.
No official announcement of the determina
tion to renomlnate the Governor will be made
until after the county primaries next weeek and
the city primaries on September 8; and even
then the leaders who have opposed the Governor
may try to relieve themselves of the embarrass
ment of a reversal of their former position by
acknowledging that the sentiment for the re
nomination of the Governor seems to be strong,
but that they will adhere to their original dec
laration of having the question settled by the
convention. But it will be well understood that
the delegates in the convention will vote for
Governor Hughes.
There was absolutely no doubt left as to the
attitude of the national leaders, and those of
the state leaders present, at the Oyster Bay
conference on Thursday, when Representative
Sherman said yesterday:
HUGHES ONLY NAMED IN CONFERENCE.
"The consensus of opinion at our conference
with the President was In favor of the renomi
nation of Governor Hughes. No other candi
date for the nomination was seriously consid
ered. The evidence presented showed an un
mistakable drift toward the renomination of the
Governor, and the belief of those who discussed
the question was that it would be a decided
mistake not to nominate him."
Representative Sherman wanted it made
clear, however, that it would be an error to say
that the question was settled at the conference.
He indicated that the reason it was discussed
in national councils at all was the bearing it
had on the national campaign.
Frank H. Hitchcock, chairman of the national
committee, said that he did not see how he
could break his determination not to discuss the
state situation. Referring to what had been said
by Representative Sherman, the national chair
man said he did not see that there was any
thing further to say; that the situation had
been well expressed. It was evident that a
considerable weight had been lifted from the
mind of the national chairman, and that he felt
sure that the question which threatened the
success of the Republican ticket in this state
had been settled in the right way.
Congressman Parsons, president of the New
York County Committee, who was a member of
the conference, which included William L. Ward.
of Westchester. which was held on the yacht
corning down from Rye on Thursday night, re
fused to discuss the situation for publication.
District leaders, however, who were at county
headquarters in great numbers yesterday to
get some line on the exact situation, went away
after talking with President Parsons with the
impression that the Governpr would be renomi
nated.
LEADERS GO SLOWLY.
For obvious reasons the individual leaders
are backward about coming out too suddenly
with a change of their views. The problem as
to just how the official announcement of the
'Vnange in sentiment" shall be made will be
left to Timothy L. Woodruff, chairman of the
state committee, who is now deep in the Adi
rondack woods. There was a rumor yesterday
that he had departed immediately for New
York on learning the result of the Oyster Bay
conference. It was stated at state headquar
ters in the afternoon that he was not expected
in the city until Monday morning.
When the state chairman returns he will
find a large mass of letters bearing on the
Hughes situation. They come from all parts
of the state. In addition to these, there are
some five thousand postal cards, returns from
more than twice that number sent out last
week asking the recipients to state their posi
tion on the renomination of the Governor.
It is expected that there will be an influx of
upstate leaders at state headquarters next
week to talk over the situation. When they
departed after the meeting of the Republican
State Committee recently the oomenmm of
opinion among them seemed to be that the hos
tility of some of the more outspoken leaders
might result in the defeat of the Governor for
renomination.
WANT TO KNOW WHERE THEY STAND
Now the leaders want to know just where
they stand, and it will be the duty of Mr. Wood
ruff to tell them. It is understood that he will
try before reaching the city to get into touch
-with on*» of the persons who was present at the
Oyster Bay conference or the second conference
on the yacht trip from Rye.
Michael J. Dady. one of Mr Woodruff' i lieu
tenants in Brooklyn, who is thoroughly con
versant with the situation there, was at Saga
more Hill on Thursday and talked over the
Hughes problem with the others. He said yes
terday he could not disclose what was said or
done. As for his personal opinion, he waj sure
Governor Hughes would be renominated.
"I have been of the opinion that the Governor
should be renominated ever since he made the
declaration that he would accept such an honor."
added Mr. Dad*-. "There is no other candidate
who could be named who measures up to Gov
ernor Hughes in any way. Although It is pos
sible that he might have been more diplomatic
in many things, that i.» only his way. The peo
ple demand the renomination of the Governor,
and unquestionably that is the best thing that
can be done both for the state and national
tickets. The sentiment for the renomination of
the Governor has made itself felt in ever in
creasing strength recently."
It was learned yesterday that at the sugges
tion of the President, who had been much per
plexed by the widely varying reports he re
ceived regarding the Hughes sentiment in cer
tain districts. Chairman Hitchcock made a poll
of such districts. Those selected were ones
which it vu believed would fairly indicate the
.sentiment In various parts of the state.
Mr. Hitchcock had the result of the poll when
he went to Oyster Bay on Thursday. Thi* poll
showed that no other man mentioned as a Gov
ernorship possibility came anywhere near hav
ing as much strength as that shown by Gov
ernor Hughes. The expressions of a*ntiment
thus developed showed clearly. It is said, that
a failure to renominate the Governor would
have a bad effect not only on the state ticket
but also on the national ticket.
Mr. Hitchcock does not intend to make the
result of these polls public, but it is known
that it was surprising to some of the lead
ers who had been decrying th« Hughes senti
ment.
ropvrtrht. 1903. *»T
~"Th« Tribune Association.
BAXKRCPT A SUICIDE.
Isidor Gordon Kills Himself When
He Learns of Petition.
Owing to his troubles with his creditors, with
whom he had been trying to arrange a settle
ment, Isidor Gordon, president of the Gordon
Cloak Company, of No. 83 Spring street, com
mitted suicide by shooting, at his home, Xo.
117-Compton avenue, Brooklyn, late Thursday
evening. Gordon had Just been informed that
an Involuntary petition in bankruptcy had been
filed against him.
He returned home from Manhattan about 6
o'clock on Thursday afternoon and was seen by
Mrs. Talowitz, a neighbor. His wife and
daughter were in Westfield. N. J.. where they
had beer, spending the last two weeks. Gordon
was not seen around the house in the early part
of the night, but Just before midnight Mrs.
Talowltz heard a shot and called a patrolman
of the Liberty avenue station, who forced his
way Into the house and found Gordon lying out
stretched on the floor of his bedroom with a
bullet wound in his forehead and a large re
volver in one hand.
Several weeks ago. it is said. Gucisti told
friends that he had lost heavily in the recent
financial depression, and added that If he were
forced into bankruptcy he would take his
life, as he had no money and saw no. way of
getting any. The bankruptcy proceedings
against the Gordon Cloak Company were begun
on Thursday, when Charles I. Emanuel and
others filed claims for money tart and goods
furnished, amounting to $2,975. Frank J. Wal
deyer was appointed receiver. The stock is
said to be worth $1,000 and the outstanding ac
counts reach S.VX*.
ME. IJTRIGHT 3IAXES A FLIGHT.
Lands Without Mishap — Soldiers Restrain
Curious Crowds.
Le Mans. Aug. 21. — Wilbur Wright made his first
aeroplane flight to-day at Auvours since the acci
dent to his machine. He did not attempt * Ions?
flight, but the evolutions were made with his ac
customed skill. The machine soared to a helgtit
of seventy-five feet and landed without mishap.
Mr. Wright's expectations that the distance to
Auvours would deter spectators from going there
to see the trials were not realized, but soldiers
were posted to keep the crowds out of the way.
One woman eluded the vigilance of the soldiers,
got behind the shed and bored a hole with a
gimlet in order to see the aeroplane and quar
ters. Mr. Wright was warmly congratulated to
day by a French army officer who was present
at the trials which Mr. Wright made Ir> the
United State* in 1505. The postal authorities
have installed a telephone In the shed.
CITY REALTY ASSESSED $6,141,000,000.
Increase in Value Exceeds That of Five
Large States.
■ ■ " : . - -"r":" r ":
President I.awson Purdy and hi" colleagues of
the Tax Department have sent their annual re
port to. Mayor McClellan. Figures phow the
total assessment of real and personal property
for 1908 to be 158. 190.400. The assessed value
of ordinary real estate, exclusive of special fran
chises and real estate of corporations, is 55.H1.
500,119 and the Increase in. the assessed value
of ordinary real estate is $437,490,467.
The Increase In the assessed value r,f ordinary
real estate, the . commissioners say, exceed* the
" aggregate > assessed "Value of real estate of the
five ■ states of Florida. Mississippi. Oklahoma.
Oregon and Wyoming, with an area more than
eight times that of the- whole State of Yew
York.
An interesting table shows the assessment
value of real and personal property and the per
capita assessment in all the cities of the stnte.
In this city the per capita assessment of per
sonal property is $P«. in Buffalo SIS. Niagara
Falls $5. Watervliet $2 and Rensseiaer $1. Tiie
table proves that personal property in New York
City is more fully assessed than elsewhere.
BLOOD POISONING KILLS PHYSICIAN.
Infection from an Operation Causes Death
of Williamsburg Doctor.
Blood poisoning, brought about throueh an in
fection while performing an operation, was respon
sible for the death of Dr. George H. Smith, one of
th» best known homreopathlc practitioners in Kings
County. - The death of Dr. Smith occurred on
Thursday afternoon at his home. No. 531 Reid ave
nue, Illlsilisiwn Dr. Smith, who was aware
that blood poisoning ha.l Ml in, held Us hand in
an antiseptic fluid for a number of hours, and did
not believe that there would be a fatal result. It
was not until the poison had made inroads in his
system that he told friends that he believed his
end was near '
Dr. Smith was born in Miiton. Ulster County.
N*. T.. on November 12. 1543. He came to New York
with the determination to study medicine, and
■worked for his Bring as a streetcar conductor. He
studied when It was convenient, and was graduated
from the Homoeopathic Medical Collere of New
York in 186?. and immediately started a practice in
Brooklyn, which he continued for over thirty-eight
years.
Dr. Smith was for many years an officer and a
consistent member of the Greene iiMM Baptist
Church, and nt ;h<» time of his death was a mem
ber Of the Masonic Veteran Association of Purity
Lodge. Order of Odd Fellows. United States Lodge.
Knights of Honor, and Burnside Council. Royal Ar
canum. He was also a member of the Union
League Club and a director of the Lafayette Trust
Company. He gave his time and money to help
lift the trust company Institution out of Its troubles
In the recent panic. „'..
The funeral will be held at the r,reene Avenue
Baptist Church on Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock.
Dr. Smith leaves a wife, three daughter? and two
sons.
ORIGIN OF "SHALL THE PEOPLE RULE?"
TBy Telegraph ta Th«- TYirrun^. ]
York. Fenn., Auf?. 31.— F*>r his campaign slogan.
•'Shall the people rule?" William J. Bryan is in
debted to the memory of his close friend and ad
mirer, the late Chauncey F. Blpck. a notable Penn
sylvania. Democrat. E. D. Zeiß'.er. YftM Bill
Congressional nominee from this district, has a
pamphlet written several years a*o by Black, en
titled. "Shall the People Rule, or. Shall th*
Be Ruled"'
FREES 551 PRISONERS AT ONCE.
[By Telegraph to Trie Tribune.]
Boston. Aug. 21. — A record for releasing prisoners
■was made in Boston to-day when the Mayor free<i
651 prisoners at once. Because of the wholesale ar
rests of crooks, yeggmen and tramps in the crime
wave that has been sweeping over Massachusetts,
the police stations and city Jails have been packed
to suffocation. Deer Island, with room for !.»«> at
a maximum, had 1.651 prisoners. The released men
nearly swamped the city f»>rry in their exuberatlon.
To-morrow the Mayor says he will take up the
oth«r city penal institutions. The men released
were charged with minor misdemeanor*
PLATFORM FALLS AT BRYAN SPEECH.
Dos MoJnes, lowa. Aug. 2L— While Mr. Bryan
was speaking In th« ball park thl» evening the
temporary platform, on which were seated several
hundred persons, collapsed. Nobody was hurt an.l
there was no panic, but Mr. Bryan was Interrupted
for five minute* white arrangements were made for
him to continue speaking from the grandstand,
where h« finished his address.
The Greatait River Trip and the Finest River
Steamers at your service. Thru rail tickets accept
ed Hud. River Day lan*.. Music. See Stbt. column.
— Advu ■■:-■■: '
PRICE THREE CEXTS.
TAFT REPLIES TO
BRYAN'S QUESTION
THE PEOPLE HAVE RULED,
HE DECLARES.
Their Will Expressed in Republican
P(dict€9 — Enthusiastic Rally
at Hot Springs.
[By Telesxapli to Th* Titti— 1
Hot Springs. Va.. Aug. 2L— th« first tiro*
in the history of the Republican party, one of
Its Presidential candidate* to-day aildiiMfirt •
Virginia audience on Its own soil and appealed
to It for its suffrage. Th« reception gtr-n to
that candidate, William Howard Taft. by the
gathering of upward of four thousand peopl*
was as hearty and enthusiastic as It could pa*»
sibly have been in a rock-ribbed Republican
state In the North.
Virginians and West Virginians from all *«*
tions of the two states had gathered to ares*
and to hear the Republican candidate when, a*
2:."*> o'clock. Mr. Taft and his party arrived.
Representative Slemp made the Introductory
address, and was particularly happy in his ap
peal for a respectful and cordial bearing, for It
was an audience which suggested great possibil
ities. Mr. Slemp was followed by Colon*!
S. Brown Allen, and Just before he finished his
remarks a voice from the audience called,
"Come on. Bill I" Mr. Taft bowed and.laughed.
heartily, and from that time on the feathering*
was absolutely his. When Mr. Taft entered th»
grounds the cheering was enthusiastic, and
when he arose to speak it was renewed with,
redoubled force, and bis efforts to quiet the
crowd only spurred it to increased enthusiasm.
MR. TAFTS ADDRESS.
"The people have ruled through, the Repub
lican party." was Mr. Taft's answer to Hr.
Bryan's question. "Shall the people ruler*
Throughout his address Mr. Taft held the close
attention of the crowd, which manifested Its
pleasure by frequent exclamations. "Amen***
and "Amen, brother." seeming to be the favor
ites. "I came into this beautiful country to
gain rest and strength." said Mr. Taft. In, ex
planation of his presence, and a laugh was
raised by a mountaineer, who exclaimed.
"Gosh! You look healthy." The speaker's first
mention of the name of Theodore Roosevelt
caused a burst of applause, and throughout hfs
remarks the applause and exclamations of.
approval were hearty and numerous.
Mr. Tap reviewed the record of th* Demo
cratic party irom the time the last Democratic
administration came into power, in 1893. saying:
During this period it repealed the McKinley
tariff bill passed in ISM and enacted the Gor
man-Wilson tariff bill of 1593. With the pros
pect of a Democratic tariff for revenue and
under the operation of the Gorman- Wilson tar
iff bill subsequently passed, a period of indus
trial depression set in which continued through,
the next Presidential campaign of 1836. The.
remedy (or this depression, as proposed by th«
Democratic party unu>r it* present leadership.
•was- a. v ßange . frr<u the. g*>M grands* or cur- ;
rency and' values, which was the measure «f an
pecuniary obligations, to a silver standard—
change which would have scaled the debts of
all by quite 50 per • • nt. and would have pro
duced a financial crash In which the business
disaster would only haw been exceeded by the
injury to our national financial honor.
As soon as the Republican party came Into
power, in 1897. he said, it repealed the Gorman-
Wilson tariff and enacted the present Dingley
tariff lav. and with the assurance of an honest
monetary standard confidence v.as restored
and a period of business expansion and pros
perity followed to an extent never before
known in the history of the world. Wa^es were
never higher, and the average standard of liv
ing of the waff earners, of the fanners and,
of the business men. In point of comfort and of
enjoyment of life, was advanced beyond prece
dent] Attending this great prosperity abuses
developed, growing out of the "dishonesty of
some prominent men intrusted with th*» man
agement of the business of others, and of a
greed of financial power of some, stimulated
- ny the enormous successes Incident to the com
bination of capital in large corporations."
EVILS CHECKED BY MR. ROOSEVEI/T.
These abuses, he said, chiefly took the form
of violation of the anti-trust law and the grant
ing of rebates and discriminations by railroads
to large shippers. When the. extent of thes*
evils was brought heme to the people President
Roosevelt called the attention of Congress and
the public to them, and proceeded to enforce
the laws then on the statute books. He added:
It wa3 not until Mr. Roosevelt, realizing to
the full the danger to which cur society was
exposed unless th*» offending corporations, rail
way and industrial, were made to obey and fear
the" law took vigorou." action in the recom
mendation of new legation and hi the en
forcement of the old. that anything very effec
tive was done to check the growing evn.
The Republican Congress elected with Mr.
Roosevelt in 1504. Mr. Taft said, mad* a record
for remedial legislation along the lines recom
mended t^y the President, which, as he has
paid himself, has never been equalled In our
time. Mr Taft referred to the railway rate
bill, the bill creating the bureau of corpora
tions, the pure food bill, and the meat inspec
tion bill, most of which, he declared, encoun
tered the open and bitter opposition of all th«
corporations and failed of passage In the pre
vious Congress. In spite of continued opposi
tion they were finally enacted Into law.
"What has been the result of this legislation
and executive action?" he asked. "Secret re
bates and unlawful discriminations have been
actually abolished. No monopoly of business in
any line is now maintained by a secret reduc
tion of freight rates hi It which Is denied to
competitors.
HOW THE PEOPLG RULE.
"The people have ruled through the Republi ■
ran party," he declared. "I have no hesitation
in saying that not since the beginning of the
government has any other national administra
tion done so much for the cause of labor by the
enactment of remedial legislation as Theodore
Roosevelt and the Republican Congress** elect
ed and fitting during his terms of office."
It is true, he said, that additional legislation
is needed to pfrfect the machinery for enforclr-.g
the principles laid down by Mr. Koo»evt!t and
declared In the remedial statutes already passed,
adding:
Th.' present Congress has re-enacted the em
ployers' liability act. has strengthened the
safety appliance acts, has passed the govern
ment employes compensation act. has directed
investlgaticns into mine disasters, and ha.-*
pass** 1 s model child labor bill. It has not
amended the interstate commerce- law so as to
prevent overissue of stocks and bonds on Inter
state railroads, and it has not amended the
anti-trust law. as suggested by Mr. Rtiusstelt.
Great care, he asserted, would be required In.
the enactment of additional legislation, and **ttM
fact that the Democratic party has bad but
little recent experience in ths respoosCbftttßßa