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p* i;il'E 2c!^^--_ AVMEEL1NQ. W VA- FRIDA Y MAY -21 1897._VOL. 35; NO. S1A ;cr the Belligerency of the Cuban Insurgents, xl by the Senate by an Over . . ng Majority—Only Fourv aators Voted Against the tre, of Whom Twelve Were iicans—Cuban Affairs Fur- , the House a Subject, Also, IS -ter Partisan Debate Fol-1 a the Presentation of the -Alleged That McKinley Dicker on Foot to Secure • 1 impendence of Cuba. ■ ::on. May 20.—The lorg and mate on the joint resolution ^ the existence of a state of a and declaring that strict shall be maintained by the S: .tps passed the Senate by .-tv vote of 41 to 14 at a late f afternoon. The announee :he vote was received with tu > applause, which drew from Hawley an emphatic protest mob demonstration.” The n as passed is as follows: • d. etc., that a condition of .tr exists between the govern >pain and the government pro . and for some time maintained . f arms by the people of Cuba, • he United Slates of America main a strict neutrality be • • contending parties, according i' 1 he rights of belligerents in and territory of the United . m the final passage of the a was as follows: M - -r«. Bacon. Bate. Berry. , - Butler. Carter. Chandler. ,rk. Clay. Cockrell. Cul Foraker, G&Uin* Ii ■ sblOUgh. Harris ( Kan Jor»-s (Arkansas). Ken v. M' Bride. .Mantle, Mason. M s'. Pascoe. Pettigrew, ar ! Shoup. Stew-j . . Tinman. Turner. Turple. nil—it. A . Burrows. Cattery. Fair Hale. Hanna. Hawley, S w ■ ingtoa. Wetmoee. \\ .. W.Ison—14. An ana..^.' if the vote shows that u ,:T: . was cast by IS Republi , .as U* 1 ’• in ;ati and 4 Populists, and . . iblicans and 3 >mocrats. ’rior t the fin . vote, the motion of i ir Hale to i fer the resolution to mnjit: e nti foreign reiations was yeas 34, nays 19. Mr. Fair • ct Indiana, proposed a substi provitiing that the President ex : the good offices of the Vnited s to Spain towards securing an . to the conflict a..d the ultimate in p. mi* ace oi the island. This, too, I > tabled, ye. - 35. nays 15. Then wed ;.'.e adoption of the original • dutlon. :.e \ 'ting occurred after an ex g (b >ate. participated in by Sen Thutston, Nebraska; Klkins, •• Virginia; White. California; Fair Indiana; Hale. Maine; Spooner, sin. and Gorman. Maryland. Thurston, who presided over the • an national convention at St. •• •:< ■ ailed the stirring scene when nventiou enthusiastically in Cuban plank in the platform, red that this resolution was al fulfillment of that pledge. Elkina and White urged a •.alive course and an inquiry by a committee. ia;::, the first vote—that on tion to refer. It was a test •i-nii and the defeat of the mo ir ; the passage of the reso Mr.‘ Fairbanks tried to stem ie v offering a compromise .' r;. a somewhat on the lines of Tank adopted at St. Louis, * t the same fate as the Hale E an. •might Mr. Hale forward for test. He spoke with intense ; stuess and feeling and with a •' bitterness in his words. He that the elements opposed to -istration—Democrats and had furnished the bulk of u favor of the resolution and eign policy of the adminis w : s thus to be dictated by its He expressed the fear • the resolution would lead to Spain. Mr. Spooner added against tying the hands of mistrauun. .m. wimou e debate, resenting the sug n *hat party lines were drawn ’•solution, and asserting that k‘ ,,tru nlstration should have dis a war vessel to Cuba to pro - officials on the island. The was then taken and the Pen urned until next Monday. nston spoke of the bloody which had raged during the years. There was ample in B to its extent, from n correspondents who had •' r d spatohes on the field or ’ iro the reports which filled v U of <ne Senate and in the <f the State department. > ' itor referred to the St. Louis over which he presided. r-d the scene when, “with a tout that seemed to lift the \e our heads." the Cuban reso ' passed by the convention. >*‘:.ator spoke at some length nts of International law in >1 closed as follows: the Cnited States of Amer -titutionally do. Let us do ' I us despatch the mightiest ' th Cnited States to Cuba, her in the harbor of Ha r frowning guns m.iy dis • t of tyranny by night and 'hitting stars may cheer the who are struggling to be - •« broke into appltuse at the nee -o a battleship hut the ! tr quickly checked the dem Tiurjt jn spoke the galleries ' overflowing and crowds were ■v-c« awaiting an opportunity M« r... . ' of W-'st Virginia, followed in '* “ r- urging that, the Senate should not act precipitately hut should await the inquiries now being made by the offi cials of the government. He insisted that there was nothing before the Senate to warrant action at this time. There was no Cuban government to recognize, he assert ed. What was the postoffice address of its president, if the recognition was to be s-nt to him? asked Mr. Elkins. It would have to be delivered by General Miles with the army behind him. asserted the Sena tor. He derided the statement of Mr. Ma son that Cuban babies were taxed at birth and Cuban brides taxed at the altar. “What becomes of the grown people?" he asked sarcastically. “Wry few of them grow up.” answered Mr. Mason, amid laughter. Mr. Elkins went on to say that the pos sibilities of war were being treated very lightly. He added: "Spain can declare war and not fire a gun and it will cost this nation $500,000,000.” The Senator urged that the President was as patriotic and as zealous to pro t t our interests as any Senator. Why. he asked, should this Senate see k to coerce the President to action and place him in a false position? Mr. White, of California, opposed the resolution and was led into several lively and amusing exchanges with Mr. Chand ler. When the presiding officer tnnounced the passage of the resolution the pent up feel ing of the spectators found expression in a noisy and long continued demonstration. Mr. Chandler, who was in the chair, pounded hi> gavel, and Mr. Hawley, springing to his feet, exclaimed: "T pro test against the mob.” A moment later the Senate went into x cutlve session and a 5:40 o'clock ad journed until Monday. Cuban affairs furnished the House with a day of bitter partisan debate. The resolution appropriating $50,000 for the relief of American citizens was adopted without a dissenting vote, but the Democrats endeavored to force con sideration also of the Morgan resolu tion for recognition of the belligerency of the insurgents. They accused the Republicans of en deavoring to evade this issue, but the dominant party through its spokesman, Mr. Hitt, made the important state ment that the Republicans desired not to embarrass negotiations which were being projected bv President McKinley to secure the independence of Cuba. While Mr. Hitt disclaimed Presiden tial authority for his statement, it was w< ; known that he had been in con sultation with Mr. McKinley on the question and knew whereof he spoke. The committee on rules presented a report giving two hours' debate on the relief resolution. Mr. Bailey endeav ored to present the views of the minor ity of the committee and to move a re committal. but was declared out of order by Speaker Reed. He made a strong speech and was given the unani mous support of Democrats. Populists and Silverites. while the three Republi cans. Messrs. Cooper, of Wisconsin. Colson, of Kentucky, and Robbins, of Pennsylvania, voted to consider the Senate resolution. The galleries were packed and manifested their usual sym pathv for Cuba. The speeches were made by Messrs. Dalzell. of Pennsyl vania. Bailey. Hitt. Grosvenor, of Ohio. Williams, of Massachusetts. Living stone. of Georgia. Wheeler, of Ala bama. Adams, of Pennsylvania. Clay ton, of Alabama, McMillin, of Tennes see, Bell, of Colorado. Simpson, of Kan sas, Hull, of Iowa, and Brown, of Ohio. Mr. Robbins, of Pennsylvania, gave a graphic description of the situation in Cuba, based on a personal visit. The House rejected the third confer ence report on the opening of the Utah gilsonite lands and instructed its con ferees to support a plan proposed by Mr. Lacey, of Iowa, by which the Sec retary of the Interior would lease the lands, the government receiving a roy alty and provision against a monopoly being made. MAY AMOUNT TO NOTHING. Speaker Kept! Oppose* the Morgan Resolu tion ami lias it in His Rower to Kill it. The President Also Seeks Delay. WASHINGTON, May At—President Mc Klnley is not likely to be. called upon to take action, upon the Cuban resolution passed by the Senate to-day for some time, and perhaps not at all. Th» resolution woud not be sent to him for his approval until it had been adopted by the House, and whether the House take* it up must lie decided hereafter. It is known that Mr. McKinley desires the postponement of final Congressional action on the Cuban question until the report of Mr. Calhoun, who Is on the Island to Investigate condi tions there. has been made. Mr. Hitt, the Republican leader in the House, said guardedly in the debate to day that the adoption of the Morgan reso lution at this time might embarrass ne gotiations which the President has in mind to secure the independence of Cuba, and although Mr. Hitt expressly disclaim ed that he spoke by authority, it was well known that he had been in consultation with the President on Cuban affairs and his utti ranee was taken ts a reflection of the wish of the executive. The Senate resolution can be brought before the House only by a special rule, and Speaker Reeed is known to be opposed to its adop tion at this time. THE KITZ COMMISSION Formally Organized at Havana—Gone to tinanaharoa. I Havana. May 20.—The Ruiz commis sion was formally organized this morn ing and will go to Guauabacoa this at'ternon to commence the inquiry into the death in the jail at that place of Dr. Ricardo Ruiz, a naturalized Amer ican citizen. Senator Enrique Roig. whose uame was presented by Dr. Congosto. the Spanish consul at Phila delphia. who accompanies tlm I'nited States commissioner. W. J. Calhoun, was finally accepted as counsel by Consul General Lee and Mr. Calhoun. Cordial relations prevail among all the parties concerned. Dr. Congosto and General Lee breakfasted together to-day. SPAIN WILL NOT SELL. Madrid. May 20.—A semi-official declaration is issued to the effect that Spain will never agree to the sale of Cuba, or to foreign mediation in “a question which she regards as exclu sively concerning herself.” ----o OIL CITY. Pa.. May 30.—Certificates. 90 cents: credit balances. S9 cents. Ship ments, 7S ts» barrels; runs, 101,bar rels. An Associated Press Correspondent Gives a Picturesque Account Of the Fight of Last Monday Be tween the Turks ancl Greeks. A Confirmation of the Complete Breakdown of AU the Greek Military Organization and the Failure of Their Generalship. Forty Thousand Miserable Refu gees—Soldiers in a Deplorable State of Privation and Distress. Athens. May 20.—The correspondent of the Associated Press who was with the Greek army after its retreat from Domokos, has arrived here. He was unable to transmit his dispatches from Domokos on account of the wire being blocked. He furnishes a picturesque account of the battle of Domokos, fought on Monday last, confirming the stories previously told of the heroic conduct of the Greeks, but also furn ishing confirmation of the complete breakdown of all the Greek military organizations and the failure of their generalship. He says: Un Saturday Crown Prince Constan tine informed the Pritish ambulance doctors (Red Cross Society) that there would be no fighting; that they had better disband the hospital and ambu lance corps. “On my way to the front I found around Lamia 40.000 refugees, miser* able from three days incessant rain, having no shelter except, a few blank ets. Women were giving birth to children on the sodden ground, and the road along the precipitous pass was en cumbered with commissariart trains, composed of rickety country carts drawn by feeble horses. “I heard sad accounts of the state of the army. The men had no tents in the heavy rain, and for days they lay in the trenches or on the open ground. The weather was bitterly cold, the neighboring heights being covered with snow, and there was much fever and • dysentery among the troops.” The correspondent then describes the battle of Domokos. his account agree ing with the stories already cabled. In writing of the bravery of the Greeks he refers especially to the young re cruits and to the Garibaldians. who “in red shirts and caps and green trousers, did splendid work and inspired all.” Continuing the correspondent says: “With the Garibaldians was a Vlvan liere with a rod jacket She fearlessly attended the wounded under a hot fire, and during the confused retreat never lost touch with her wounded until she had them safe in the German ambulance hos pital at Port Marino.” Touching upon the r- treat from Porno kos. the correspondent says: “At about ft o'clock at night (Monday last), when it was evident that the fight was lost, orders were given to retreat, and. although the road to Lamia was of ten blocked by the peasants with flocks, bullock carts and donkeys, and by the belated commissariat carts going to the front and the remount horses for the cavalry and artillery, there was no dis order. The bright moonlight saved the refugees from a panic. “The Crown Prince had watched the battle from the balcony of his head quarters building or from a rock above the town. A carriage with postillions and an escort of cavalry awaited him. At dawn the Trince departed. “Late that afternoon, while T was In the square at Lamia, watching a long siring of carts and carriages bringing in the wounded, or.e of the Prince’s servants appeared and whispered: 'Prince Con stantine is outside the town.' “A little later I saw the Prince, with a large escort, making a detour of the town of Lamia, wisely avoiding .entering that excited place. "On entering Domokos the Turks set fire to many portions of the town.” THE GREEKS TO BLAME. - 1 Efforts to Arrange an Armistice Trove Entile—Shelled the Turks and Ignored the White Flag. Berlin. May 2ft.—A telegram received here from Constantinople this after noon says that the attempt of the Turk ish commander in Epirus to treat with the Greeks for an armistice has result ed in failure, owing to the Greeks hav ing ignored the flag of truce and to their having attempted yesterday with two batallions of troops to make a fresh incursion into Turkish territory. The Greeks, it is further stated, also shelled the Turkish positions. In conclusion the coiiolantinople dis patch says the Turkish government dis claims all responsibility for what may follow. BCT.T.ET'X. ATHENS. May 20.—An nrmirticr be tween the Turkish and Greek troops In Thessaly to extend over a period of sev en^ n days, was formally concluded to day. WILL CONFER DIRECT. C mstantinople. May 20— Although It is not definitely settled, it is thought the peace negotiations will be con ducted between Turkey and Greece direct, and that afterwards following the precedent of the treaty of St. Stefano. the terms will be submitted to a European conference, which will probably meet in Paris. A TOWN DESERTED. Lamia. May 19.—(Night—Delayed in transmission). This town is deserted with the exception of the prefect, the newspaper correspondents, the tele graph operators and a few others. FOR SEVENTEEN DAYS. Constantinople. May 20. nip. m.). An armistice was#also formally in cluded to-day for seventeen days, be tween the Turkish and Greek troops on the frontiers of Epirus. THE^ REPORT CONFIRMED. Chicaeo. May 2ft— D. B. Martin, manaser of passenger traffic of the I Baltimore & Ohio, confirmed this merning the rumor that D. S. Wilder, of the Big Four, would become divis ion passenger agent of the Baltimore & I Ohio at Columbus, Ohio, on June 1. j KHirjm io m Dr. Sheldon Jackson Elected on the First Ballot By a Decisive Majority — There Were but Two Candidates, Dr. Jackson and Dr. Henry C. Min ton; Both of the .Pacific Coast, the Former Representing the Home Missionary Work of the Church and the Latter a Semi nary Frofessor—Claimed to be a Victory for the More Liberal Branches of the. Church—The Re tiring Moderator’s Sermon. Eagle Lake. Inch, May 20.—As was indicated yesterday there were but two candidates for the Moderatorship of the Presbyterian General Assembly— Dr. Sheldon Jackson, the home mis sionary, and Dr. Henry C. Minton, the seminary professor. Both represent the work of the church on the Pacific coast, but the rank and file of the commissioners rallied to the standard bearer of home missions. The politi cians of the assembly were treated to a, great surprise, and the election of Dr. Jackson by a vote of 313 to 23S was characterized by many delegates as a “breaking cf the machine.” It was claimed as a victory for the more lib era branches of the church and was in line with the election of Dr. Withrow last year. The new Moderator, in tak ing the chair, disclaimed any personal elements in his election, hut charged it to the desiro of the church to for ward the home missionary work, of which he is an exponent. The meetings of the assembly have been arranged to begin at. nine a. in., with a half hour devotional service, and to continue till noon. The after noon session will last from half past two until five. To-day’s afternoon ses sion began at 3 o’clock and was occu pied by the roll call and the election of a Moderator. When the call for nominations was made, Dr. J. Wulbur Chapman, of Bethany church, Phila delphia, took the platform and placed Dr. Minton, of the San Francisco The ological Seminary, in nomination. He spoke of the candidate as a par liamentarian. a man of wide experi ence and catholic sympathies; a pastor in former years and now a trainer of pastors, a successful professor and a representative of no faction in the church. Geographical considerations were adduced, and it was stated that he stood for the old bible and the denomi national standards. The nomination was seconded by Dr. Henry Ward, of Buffalo, X. Y.. and by Rev. S. Palmer, of Oakland, Cala. For a moment it looked as though there were to he no further nomina tions, when Elder J. H. Worrison, of Richland Center. Wis., rcse in the rear of the house and nominated Dr. Jack son. After some difficulty, the speaker was induced to take the platform and made a brief speech. The nomination was seconded by Dr. George L. Spining. of Orange. XT. J., in an address that was frequently in terrupted with applause. He began by saying that no man who did not have a message had a right upon the plat form. He said that this highest honor of the church ought to he conferred upon a representative of the cause of home missions, not a representative ot a coast or of a part of the church. He said that Dr. Jackson, too, was loyal to the old bible and the standards and that he was put forward by no faction or clique. The nomination was sec - onded by Rev. Richard M. Hayes, of uregon, wno aeprei-au-n auj which seemed to indicate any sectional feeling. Dr. George M. McMillan, of Richmond, Ohio, also spoke for Dr. Jackson. Nominations were declared closed and the election proceeded, with the result already stated. When the ballot was declared. Dvs. Spining and Hayes were appointed a committee to escort the successful candidate to the platform, where he was welcomed with a few remarks b\ Dr. Witherow. The new Moderator re sponded briefly, and after a few; notices the assembly adjourned until etening, when the sacrament of the Lord's Sup per was celebrated. Dr. W itherow pre sided. He was assisted by Dr. Stephen W. Dana, of Philadelphia, who ad ministered the bread, and Dr. II ilson Phraner. of New York, who served the cup. The elements were distributed hv elders, headed by Lx-President Ben jamin Harrison and Mr. John II ana maker Dr Sheldon Jackson, the Moderator of the Presbvterian General Assembly, was horn at Minavile. N. Y.. in 1834. Ho was graduatod at T mon rollogo in ISao and three years later at Princeton Theological Seminary. With the ex ception of n portion of the period of the civil war. when he was engaged in hospital work In Tennessee, and in the cm pi nr of the Christian Commission in -V.aUama. the whole of his life has been spent in the home mission field in almost every State and terri tory west of the Mississippi river as Preshy ter ial and Synodical missionary. In the course of his labors he has traveled 600.000 miles, three hundred and forty-five thousand having been done In thirteen years. Tn IS,, he went to Alaska and was the father of missions in that reeion. Subsequently he became united commissioner of edn cation for Alaska, and continues to hold this position. In 1892. he was in strumental in effecting the importation of Siberian reindeer into Alaska, thus furnishing means of transportation to ihe natives, and in 1894 he imported some Laps to act as herders. Recently be devoted his pritate means to the founding of a college inUtah. The Assembly was opened on the Winona assembly grounds this forenoon, the retiring moderator, the Rev. Dr. John L. Withrow, of Chicago, presiding and delivering the annual sermon. The subject of Dr. Withrow was “The Chiefest Grace of Christianity,” and he toon as nis text, “And above all things, have fervent charity among your selves.”—I. Peter iv.:8. He first examined the nature of the grrce, saying that not a few confined the idea of charity to almsgiving. But there was more than alms deeds meant bv the Holy Spirit when he bid us “above all tilings have fervent charity among yourselves.” The substantive term in the original, translated charity in the text, was one of two that stood for love in our language. It was not love as defined in Tucker’s philosophy, nor as described in Tennyson's graceful verse. It was not such love that Holy Scripture extolled and called us to have among ourselves. The line of defin ition must be dropped many a fathom lower to touch the bottom sense of tihs divinest term. And when we did take soundings In the depths of Scripture, what riches were found reposing in that one little word "lpve.” Eliminate from the gospel what It had concerning the love of God. and nothing left would serve a human heart more than an i empty cupboard would a hungry man. To make the message of God's love im pressively plain was the supreme re sponsibility of those who knew it, more than to do anything else. “Here, then, was discovered yie source and spring of the charity which the text demanded. It was the deepest pulse of che lire or the cieuy, wno must he kept beating in everyone who would hope to pass the great crises which are yet to come on Christians and the visible church. It was but as we "loved one another” that ‘‘God abideth in us.” Thus th« questions of one's tolerance toward others of oppo site opinion was made a criterion of Christian character.” He next considered the greatness of the need of this grace, and said its pos session alone proved one to be a mem ber of the Lord’s body. Eloquence of Christian profession did not prove the possession of Christian principles. Though he should subscribe his belief in every vowel, point, paragraph anti portion of the Hebrew Scriptures and to every accent and affirmation of the Now Testament, and though he were ready |> drive any who would not agree to such extreme doctrine of inspiration, yet if his heart were not gentle and tol erant and tenderly careful of the faith and feelings of others, then he was nothing—of no account, according to Paul’s estimate of what it took to make a Christian. "We live in the most restless era our earth lias had since Adam came upon it. Everywhere there is disquiet and dissat isfaction with existing evil, economic, so cial and religious conditions. Idolatries ware dying and atheism was succeeding in heathen states because nothing better than the discarded beliefs were offered In their stead. And in the countries where the cross of Christ had a supremacy over all other insignia of religion, there was a withholding of acceptance of Christian ity and a looseness of loyalty in mun> who did accept which might well awaken apprehension for the future. And there was enough evidence to indicate th.it the intelligent and thoughtful were apprehen sive. For what plentiful devices were In vented to induce the unchurched to eomo into the fold. Even the sobriety and sol emn! ios of religion was sacrificed to sen sationalism in hope of catching the care less. But the decoy did not succeed more than fairly well with such as showed a studied shyness of the church. What would draw them? Would wider learning and sharper criticism of creeds multiply the followers of Christ? With al! the service that learning had rendered to Christianity it had never been suffi cient of itself to till empty pews on Sun day, nor greatly multiply names on the sacramental rolls. Still !t was a most common remark that something Is want ing more than they had. to recommend the religion they professed to those who were passing it by. Was there any rea sonable grounds for doubting that the topi-' pointed to the supply of the need? "Above all things have fervent lovo among yourselves.” Could any one esti mate the salutary effect it would have upon those asking no claim to the Chris tian name, if from this day on there, should never he heard one harsh word between those who profess to be brethren in Christ? Divergence or views mere ihum ir.g out of constitutional and educational caus* s. Hut what was needed was such fervent charity among them that conflicts between Christians would be unknown. When such a condition should prevail among Christians men of the world would not mock at the text: “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together In unity.” for they would no longer see faction pulling the hair of faction, as soon as the Amen ended in pious service of prayer and song. In that *;,|.py and halcyon day .which they might hope for, the world outside the church, tossed as the world was with trouhulous thoughts and civil convulsions, would see such conditions of amenity and calm with in the communion of saints as would make multitudes crave admission. Thus could the world he won. and by no other means. The poor heart of humanity nev (•r became so hopeless as not to believe in the power of charity and the felicity of fervent love to lift It to,a better life and make it happy there. And this Is ex pected first and most from those who claimed to he His who said: I com mand you. that ye love one another.” Most of the commis'ioncrs and many vis itors arrived yesterday and the buildings here are crowded, many having to seek quarters In Warsaw, two miles away. Last night a foreign mission meeting was held in the auditorium. THE C. P. ASSEMBLY. The Sixth-Sixth Session Opened With 250 Delegates Present. CHICAGO, May 20.—The sixty-seventh general assembly of the Cumberland Pres byterian church convened to-day, with about 2-'/0 deb gates present, representing twenty-five States and Territories, most of them, however, coming from the South. It is the first time in the history of this denomination that it has come so far north as Chicago to hold its annual as semblage. The convention will last ten | days. Retiring Moderator Rev. A. W. . Coatlnued on Foiirth Page. II IffpifCK. William T. Bryant Says Rev. J. George Gibson is the Murderer t —— Of Blanche Lamont, for the Killing of W horn Theodore Durant is in Jail Under Sentence of Death. Says He Was in Emanuel Church the Night of the Murder and Saw Gibson Carrying the Body Through the Church Toward the Entrance to the St eaple—Bryant an Old Soldier, and a Forty-Niner. Montevista. Co!., Ma\r 20.—William T. Bryant, an aged inmate of the Sol diers’ Home at this place, to-day made a sworn statement to the effect that Theodore Durrant, who is under sent ence of death for the murder of Blanche Lamont in Emanuel Church, San Fran cisco, is not guilty of the crime, but that Rev. J. George Gibson, pastor of the church is the murderer. His state ment is as follows: “My names is William T. Bryant. I am 63 years old. I have lived in Cali fornia since 1849 up to March 1, 1896. I am familiar with the location of the Emanuel Baptist Church in which Blanche Lamont was murdered. I was in the church the night of the murder. I saw Rev. J. George G'bson with a woman in his arms in the body of the .church going toward the south corner of the church. I hear him say: ’This kills that evidence.’ “I know Rev. .1. George Gibson per fectly well. 1 heard the woman groan a number of times as though in mortal agony. “I make this statement as an act ot justice to an innocent man. Theodore. Durrant did not murder Blanche La ment, but Rev. J. George Gibson did. (Signed) “WILLIAM T. BRYANT. PROMISES That Puddlers Wages Should Ba Advanced If McKinley Was Elected. Were Not Kept, Detroit. Mich.. May 20.—The general wage committee of the Amalgamated Iron and Steel Workers’ Association has practically agreed that the puddler rate for the coming year shall be $4.50 per ton, the same as the present rate. There is a strong sentiment for a $5 rate among the puddlers because they say that the Pennsylvania mill owners premised them an increase this year in the event of McKinley’s elec tion, and many of them express sore ness over the poor outlook for any higher rate. It is probable that nc change will be made in the muck men’s rate over last year’s, which was an in crease of 12% per cent over the pud dler’s rate. Detroit will doubtless continue to be the annual meeting place of thf Amalgamated Association. AMONG THE POSTMASTERS. Special to the Register. Washington, D. C., May 20.—G. O. Mosena was to-day appointed postmas ter at Saulsburg, Wood county. West Virginia, vice J. C. McWilliams, re signod, and N. M. Hervey, at Tridel phia. vice Mary Spriggs, removed. II. M. Cox was appointed postmaster at Macksburg. Washington county, Ohio, vice O. S. Gilchrist, removed; and T. S. MeCowan. at Moss Run. Washington county, vice J. W. Shreves, resigned. A GENERAL STRIKE. The Miners in the Pittsburg District to Go Out the First Week in June. Pittsburg, Pa., May 20—In accord ance with the action taken at the Miners’ National Convention, recently held at Columbus. Ohio, the miners of the Pittsburg district are prepar ing for a general strike for the restora tion of the 69 cent rate. The miners’ officials are reticent but it is understood that the strike will take place about the first week in .Tune. There are 23.0CO miners In the district, but it is not believed that all of them wifi strike. Pending the gen oral strike the miners have been noti fied to stop all individual strikers and to return to work until the general strike is ordered. BIG FIRE AT TORONTO. Toronto, Ont., May 20.—The John Eaton Company's departmental store and stock, approximating about 000. went up in flames at 3:30 o’clock this morning. The origin of the fire U unknown and will remain a mystery. thief under the red. I _ Early this morning a man about *> feet 10 Inches high, wearing Prince Albert coat and brown dicer, registered at the Hot-1 Windsor at O. <1. Hearn, ami was assigned to room, 50. T. X. Dick-on. who occupied room 4R. left to go down stairs, and re turned to find Hearn under his bed. about three o'clock this morning. He was or dered ont by the hotel officers and Lieut. 18 ! * e d-pot. Letters found in two of his va lises show th at lie has several aliases. ___o— The Weather. Mr C. Schnepf. the Opera Hou-e dmg Pitt, tna<! the following observation* of the Weather yesterday: 7 a. m.. Cl: 9 a n,.. 67; 12 m.. *). 3 p. m., «; 7 p. m . Weather, fair. WASHINGTON. May 20.—For Westm Pennsylvania—Rain in the morning. fob lowed by clearing weather in the after noon; cooler: brisk to high westerly winds, becoming northwesterly. p w< ■ Virginia -Thieal nl g ■ cr. with occasional showirs; coo.erj northerly winds. For Ohio—Clearing in the rar.y morn ing; generally fair Friday: brisk to higb west of norUiWekt wind* «