The Leon reporter., January 04, 1900, Image 8

About The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930

Image provided by: State Historical Society of Iowa

                
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ANSOT ESCAPE- IT.
MK^ftEPUBLICANPARTY MUST FACE
FINANCIAL ISSUE.
K$Whe Currency Bills of the Present Con
gress Flxe» the Responsibility for the
Saltish Uold St»nil»rd~aumjt root
(m ffarmetf.
From
the Atlanta Constitution:
WJUle some of the editors are wonder
ing Hf the money question will figure
In the next campaign, Hon. J. G. John
son, vice-chairman of the executive
committee of the Democratic national
committee, calls attention to the fact
that the currency bills of the Repub
lican party in congress h^ve already
fixed the issue. By proposing to fix
the single gold standard upon the
country, the Republicans have shifted
th^ issue from that which was before
the'country in 1896, to a contest over
the gold standard pure and simple. In
the last campaign the discussion was
-between those who favored the free
coinage of silver at the old ratio and
'those who were opposed to the propo
sition.
At. that time the Republicans refused
to make the gold standard the issue.
They fought shy of it and evaded it.
They admitted in their platform that
bj^netallism was better for the people
'than the single gold standard pro
vided it could be reached' as the result
of'international agreement And now
Mr ., McKinley was so keen for the in
trd'ductloin. of international bimetallism
that'he took it upon himself, even be
fore he took the oath of office, to ar
range for a commission whose duty it
would be to visit Europe in order that
the evils of the single gold standard
might be mitigated as promptly as pos
sible.
ft is hardly necessary to say that
many .voters, who were utterly opposed
the single, gold standard were won
over to the Republicans by the con
servative standN^ich they conceived
that party had taken on the money
Question.. ..The impression left upon
Xthp more thoughtful voters by the Re
publican leaders was that these lead
er^ .'were equally opposed to the gold
'standard and to the independent free
coinage of silver they were supposed
jto' occupy the safe and conservative
'ground midway between they, feared
Independent free coinage, and so they
turned to International bimetallism.
For the first time since, the ques
tion of the standards has been agi
tated the people will have an oppor
tunity of deciding whether they want
bimetallism—the free coinage of both
money metals—or the single gold
standard. /Always heretofore, the Is
sue has bepn confused the Republic
ans hav^Been shifty enough to evade
It now thevcannot escape the
Of^bgHHjP^t^malce the
old standardtnepermanffl^heasure
of all the values in this country:-
This Is the question which the peo
ple must decide for themselves, and
they will be given ,an opportunity neit
year
Still a tarter Ar
From the Denver Post
try is Up BS&Aat a new
cording^lacEpt~nair
Sg TOO,000 men, instead
of being reduced, must be materiaily
enlarged, for, says Mr. Hull, the chair
man, the 65,000 men in the Philippine
Islands shoijld not be kept there a year.
Their health would be ruined if they
were forced to serve there for that
length of time. They must be relieved
withi^, .the vyear, and to do that we
need an additional force of at least
60,000 men, which brings the standing
army up to 150,000 from the 25,000 we
had a year ago last March.
No doubt the proposition of Mr. Hull
will be accepted as legal tiricler. We
-^aiyiot let, the troops Jfe- in the Philip
"plnes, .as ^e "will "have need of soldiers
there for centuries to come The war
along the coast is over, no organized
"-force,appearing there, but the interior.
still is unsafe. Spain had something
over 100,000 men stationed there. Mr.
Hull thinks that we can get along with
j6f,000 -provided we renew them at least
H&V.once every nine months. A relief ar
my must therefore be provided for this
Kchange, and an increase of the regu
lar army to 166,000 men is the best
that can be done. As we have con
cluded to expand, it is but natural that
the people thus enlarging the army to
t- six times its former strength, but as
the people .seem perfectly willing to
pay war' taxes in time of peace this
latest -imperialistic movement doubt
less will be allowed to go by default
Trout Defenders.
.From the St. Louis Republic: It
would be well for the United States if
there were absolute truth in the state
ment before a .New. Yprk court by a
prominent Republican: "One man
alone dares stand out today as the de
fender and champion of trusts, and he
is Mark A. Hanna of Ohio." Were
this statement true the end of trusts
jwoiild be nearer.
The words are dramatic, but not
true. There, is a strong element in
the United States which defends trusts.
Every man who profits by the trust
system defends'it.' He' defends ener
getically his particular phase of trust
Ism and must defend the other phases
to keep his own secure. When he
makes his defense of trusts he does
not call the thing he defends a trust.
In fact, he denies that his particular
assault on free competition is a trust,
but he is a defender of trusts never
tneless.
A large part of the wealth of the
United States .pleads on the side „6? the
trusts,1 Every one of the p^if attor
neys of the trusts is a defender.
The .public official who finds fatal de
fects in^Wfederal'iafrs against trusts
which, he is charged with enforcing is
in effect a defender, and so is the fed
eral official who tries to shift from his
own shoulders to those of the state
authorities all the burden of suppress
ing trusts.
Not all of these persons believe that
trusts confer a benefit on the United
States, but they defend them because
their bread is buttered on that side.
The statement would be nearer the
truth were It changed to: "The only
defender of trusts in the country is the
element of which Mark Hanna is the
type."
foreshadowing an economy that means
shivering- thousands Is the dishearten
ing report from the Pennsylvania coal
fields that the dissatisfaction of the
miners may soon result in a general
idleness of the collieries. An unsym
pathetic public, believing itself about
to be victimized, cannot be blamed lor
entertaining certain vague suspicions
concerning the growing complications
in the coal situation. They may be
wrong in their views, but the individ
ual consumer, who has no reason to
expect a munificent assortment of
Christmas gifts from the coal trust, has
a right to his opinions.
As the-greedy trust gathers in the
shekels it might devote a few moments
to deciphering the handwriting on the
wall, for one of these fine days the
average man, who is doing the think
ing on his own account, will suddenly
make some natural deductions. When
that time arrives something is bound
to drop and the opinion is ventured
that the average man. will be in at
tendance to view the debris with un
disturbed complacence, if not with
actual satisfaction.
Congreiimen and Traits.
From the Indianapolis Sentinel:
Senator Kyle and his commission may
report trusts are good things and
ought to be perpetuated, but there is
not a man in the United States who
•does not know that the statement is
false. Nobody of ordinary intelligence
believes anything of the kind or be
lieves that the commission believes it.
Nor is it because the constituents of
congressmen'are favorable to trusts..
Thiey are not The great majority of
the people are opposed to trusts and
would gladly see them suppressed.
Any man not directly or Indirectly
in the pay of a trust would be a sim
pleton if .he were not opposed to trusts.
They hurt him personally and they
hurt the country. Hundreds of men
would refuse to vote for a legislator
who Was favorable to trusts if it were
not for party pressure. The congress
man who favors, trusts, does so know
ing that his constituents do not favor
them and 'thalt if they re-elect him it
will be in spite of his action and not
in consequence of it. The people are
not in favor of trusts.
Always Bleeding the People*
From the Denver Pbst: Not so very
long ago the people were told that a
home market was what was required
to make the manufacturers happy and
.the people contented that in order to
h^ve a good home market we must im
pose a high protective tariff so that
foreign goods could not come in. The
people are 'now'tttld by their chief ex
ecutive and his secretary of the treas
ury that the home market is a delu
sion and a snare. They argue that to
'n a good market abroad and have
•fade follow the flag we must en
rage shipbuilding by offering sub
stantial 'bounties to those who want
to engage in it For a generation our
peoplg have been robbed poor by the
ls
Varies of protection, and now the
proposes that they be robbed
for the benefit of those
illsh a carrying trade to
£feets ..foe
Iilfcnd of Sulphur.
Ie Bay of Plenty, New Zealand,
°ne of
the
land"
*•.. Warrant for Sunptcion.'
From the Washingtoarittmes: Ad
iSed to the accumuiyj^B difficulties
[purse and bim escape. The hint not a bad one.
most extraordinary is­
Vn
tbfir^rld^ is called White
Island,' andconrfsti mainly of sulphur
mixed with gypsum and a few other
tnlnerals. Over the island, which is
about three miles in circumference,
and which rises between 800 and 900
feet above the sea, floats continually
an immense cloud of vapor attaining
an elevation of 10,000 feet. In the cen
ter is a boiling lake of acid-charged
water, covering 50 acres, and sur
rounded with blow-holes from which
steam and sulphurous fumes are emit-,
ted With great force and noise. With
care a boat can be navigated on the
lake. The sulphur from White Island
is very pure, but little effort has yet
been made to procure it systematically.
... .. ..J*--
Hrosrenor Agrees with Grlggii.
From the Chicago Chronicle: Gros
venor agrees with Griggs respecting
the powerlessness of the federal gov
ernment to deal with the trusts.
Grosvenor, however, takes a cheerful
view of the situation and affirms that
the state governments, and especially
that of Ohio, can and will snatch the
trusts baldheaded. Grosvenor himself
comes from Ohio and of course knows
what he is talking about. When we
consider, however, that the Republic
ans of that state enthusiastically
turned down Attorney-General Mon
nett, the only Republican officer who
has ever attacked a trust, there may
be some ground to fear that the trust
smashing campaign in Grosvenor's
State will be rather dilatory. Of course
it would be discourteous to intimate
that Grosvenor is a brazen old hum
bug who would rather jump off the
dome of the capltol than cause a trust
a moment's uneasiness.
How to Overthrow Trusts.
From the Philadelphia Ledger: If
a tariff is so excessive as to promote
domestic monopoly it is unreasonably
applied, even from the orthodox view
of Republicanism, and it should be al
tered in such manner and measure as
to neither create, foster nor apstaln
monopolistic trusts, which control the
conditions of trade, stifle wholesome
competition, decree arbitrary prices by
restricting production and oppressing
labor and cpnsumers by their un
scrupulous.. and, d.lshop^.J-•• pfaqtiees..,
Are thiB president and congress equal
to the situation? Is any other plan for
jtfef, jcQnf uslqji and, c?ye£thr^.w of, .the
trusts feasible or possible? If' so let'
it be tried.
The Philippine Huddle.
From the Minneapolis Times We
are not fighting a government—we are
only pursuing a disturber. It ls a
paper chase over a rather moist coun
try. If we capture him it will be nec
essary to deprive him of his liberty for
a season, and the Tagalos will imagine
we have burned him alive or chopped
his body into zfiincemeat and scattered
it to the four winds. That would mako
a martyr of him and the pacification
of Luzon would thus be rendered in
finitely more difficult Admiral Dew
ey has suggested thatjthe best dispo
sition of Aguinaldo wbuld be to let
Memory Conveniently at Fault,
New York World: It is one of the
commonplaces of medical science that
civilization with its new luxuries
brings new penalties and that diseases
unknown amid simpler conditions of
society obtain luxurious development
amid congenial environment. A strik
ing Illustration of this truth is fur
nished by the evidence of loss of mem
ory which suddenly afflicts the mighti
est intellects of the age when put on
the witness, stand and asked to. tell the
court about events and incidents ac
curately remembered by all except
themselves.
For instance, while the mental fac
ulties of William Rockefeller of the
Standard Oil trust are otherwise unim
paired—as anyone who antagonizes
him In his colossal business enter
prises is certain to' discover—he was
totally unable when put on the witness
stand to remember stock transactions
of recent date involving millions of
dollars. While a cure for this strange
malady is eagerly to be desired, it has
not yet been classified or named. It is
certainly worthy of medical investiga
tion, if only on account of its tem
porary and eratic manifestations. It is
noticeable that its victims immediately
on leaving the witness stand regain
full possession of their memory and
all other mental faculties.
'Ts
W/Ap Trusts and the Tariff. JV
From thf Rochester Herald: Presi
dent McKinley, the chief apostle of
protection, is an example of the pro
tectionist who fears to take up the
only weapon available for attack upon
the trusts. The preservation of his
tariff system is dearer to him than the
destruction of any evil that the tariff
may be fostering. While he is presi
dent and while the clique of Repub
lican's, headed by the president's chief
adviser, are in control of both branches
of congress, nothing in the way of tar
iff reductions need be hoped for, and
the trusts will thrive along with the
smaller protected creatures.
The Crime and the Criminal.
From the Philadelphia North Amer
ican: It is not exaggeration but the
plain truth to say that the govern
ment of Pennsylvania ls an organized
crime—and nobody needs to be told
who is the principal criminal. He is
knocking at the door of the senate
chamber for admission, his credentials
being a commission signed by a subor
dinate confederate, and his plea of
merit services that shame his party
and that should 8epd him to the peni
tentiary—and may' before the people
of this plundered and disgraced state
have done with him.
Close to the Billion Mark,
From the Helena (Mont.) Independ
ent: When the taxpayers of the na
tion were brought to realize the fact,
less than ten yeare ago, that they were
called upon for half a billion yearly
theypromptly cast down the political
Pfcrty responsible for the wasteful
less. Next year they will be called
ipon to vbte for or against a politic^
•\rty which now_hasTnir-liie~s£miaK
ernment expenses up toward the
billion mark and is increasing it year
ly by the hundred million.
Onr Relies of Barbarism.'
From the Buffalo Courier: Besides
slavery we have now polygamy under
our flag. It does not appear in the
shape of an occasional transgressor,
like the representative-elect from Utah,
but it is polygamy as an acknowledged
and tolerated institution in a terri
tory subject to the jurisdiction of the
United States. Is Mr. Roberts to be
condemned and polygamy in the Sulu
Islands to be undisturbed?
W'
In the Fifty-Dollar Class. *y?
A certain writer, entirely unknown
In the literary world, wrote a very
spirited poem, and, more in jest than
otherwise, marked $50 as the price of
it, inclosed it to an editor and calmly
awaited its return. To his great sur
prise, the editor replied, inclosing a
check for ?50: "You come high, but
we must have you!" Of course the
writer thought his fortune was made.
If he got fifty fpr that particular poem
why not fifty for another? He would
keep up the price. And he did. But
the editors didn't! For six months he
labeled his productions "50," but they
came back to him with painful regu
larity. Even the editor who first paid
him that price didn't try it on again.
He had framed the check, for just the
satisfaction of looking at it occasion
ally: But finally he was compelled to
cash it, in order to satisfy the grocery
man, who had no literary leanings.
But he got even at last He sent off
ten poems to different publications,
marking them $5 each. And he sold
the ten at that price. "It's a come
down," he said, "a falling with a dull
thud but ten times five is fifty. I'm
still in the fifty-dollar class!"'—Atlanta
Constitution.
A Real Sportsman
From the Columbia (Pa.) News: A
Columbia gunner went to the farm of
Aaron Herr, at Cordelia, a few days
ago, and tore down a pile of 2,000 rails
in search of a rabbit. He did not get
the rabbit, neither did he place the
rails as he found them. Aaron says
if the fellow returns and piles the rails
he will treat him to a good country
meal.
sI.Real M*naj«f of the Affair-
Fred—I wonder if Charley is going
to ask MISB Solon to marry him. I be
lief I'll .ask him. Uncle George—
You'd better ask her if you really want
to know.—Boston Transcript
'V1
Not a Subject for Talk.
Visitor—Well, Johnnie, what do you
think of your little baby sister? John
nie—I can't tell you, Mr. White." Mam
ma always whips me if I use bad lan
guage.—Somerville Journal.
Good Start In His Profession.
Dasherly—How's that young doctot
getting along in his profession? Flash
erly—Splendidly. He's discovered
three new diseases already.—Kansas
City Independent
epei
won
After wpman lias lived to be 70 sM
still believes that she neYe^Jtgg.
her owiyway, .^
THE LEON BEPORfER, THURSDAY. JANTJAKY .4pl900l
Opposition Will Not Delay Passage
of the Financial Bill.
DEBATE OVER QUAY CONTEST.
The Case Is Liable to Cause Animated
Dlscasalon—Bamotn Treaty to B«
Brought Up—Bunlness In the Houss
Not of Much Importance. ..
Washington, Jan. 2.—With the re
sumption of its sittings Wednesday the
senate'will practically begin the real
work of the session. There is no pres
ent purpose on the part of the opposi
tion to delay the passage of the finan
cial bill unnecessarily, and none on
the part of its supporters to press the
measure to the personal inconvenience
of opposing senators. Those senators
who are antagonistic to the bill freely
confess their Inability to defeat it,
saying that it will get practically the
entire republican vote if needed, and
probably one or two democratic votes.
It now seems probable that there
will be more debate over the Quay con
test than over the financial measure.
Up to date not more than half a dozen
senators have announced a purpose to
make
Bet
financial speeches, while the
probabilities are tnat the Quay case
will call out much animated discussion.
There will be an early effort to get
up the Samoan treaty, and it may fur
nish the basis for discussion of the
foreign policy if one is not found be
fore the treaty is considered.
The coming week in the house does
not give promise of much business.
The committees have not yet begun
active work and no legislation of
pressing importance has been reported.
The appropriations committee has not
yet considered the urgent deficiency
bill, although the measure has been
prepared. This bill may be brought in
during the week if there should be a
request from the executive depart
ments asking its early passage. As
the bill will carry nearly $50,000,000
for the army, most of which is on ac
count of. the Philippines, it is quite
likely there will be considerable dis
cussion of the Philippine policy while
the measure is before the house.
D0WIE "TEILS OF HIS CITY.
Will Found "Zlon la Luke County, North
of WaakegAn*
Chicago,' Jan. 2.—John Alexander
Dowie ,has. announced the site of the
city he says he will build and which
he will call Z4on. Zlon, he says, will
be built on land secured in Benton
township, Lake county, three miles
north of Waukegan. The site is four
and one-half. miles long by one and
one-half miles wide and fronts on
Lake Michigan. Of the land, 5,940 acre3
have been secured, and in a week it
is expected to secure the sixty acres
needed to make the 6,000 wanted.
The plans for the city, as announced
by Dowie, are elaboratp, including a
great park in the center, a wide plais
ance and a shipping harbor. Dowie
promised his followers he would soon
reporf~on Ms Bchelme to raise $1,000,
otrcr
Increase In India Famin*.
London, Jan. 2.—A Daily Mall spe
cial from Calcutta says the famine is
increasing to an alarming extent and
according to the latest published re
turns the scarcity and famine extend
over an area of nearly 400,000 square
miles, with a population of 52,500,000,
of which 200,000 square miles, with a
population of 30,500,000, is British ter
ritory. Of the latter about 2,000,000
have already been relieved by the
state, although only at the outset of
the famine. During the last three
weeks the numbers are increasing at
the rate of a quarter a million a week
and their relief means a monthly ex
penditure of over £35,000.
Sympathies Are with Britain. J,:.'
Moscow, Jan. 2.—The Japanese lega
tion at St Petersburg has received
from Toyko a dispatch which says that
the home government is annoyed and
alarmed by the recent British defeats
in South Africa, and secret cabinet
meetings are being held to consider
Japanese questions in which, directly
or indirectly, Great Britain and Its
power are factors. Japan sympathizes
strongly with -Great Britain in the
Transvaal conflict in connection with
which fact one must consider the grow
ing cordiality of relations between
japan and China.
Masons Pay Tribute to Washington.
New York, Jan. 2.—The members of
the various Masonic lodges in the city
commemorated the 100th anniversary
of the death of Gen. George Washing
ton Sunday by religious services in the
historic churches of the metropolis,
most notably in St. Paul's chapel of
Trinity parish, where the centenary of
the first president's death was recentlv
celebrated witli a patriotic display
Hope to End Miners Strike.
St. Etienne, Jan. 2.—Despite the ex
tensive shutting down of the iron
works and factories in this locality
owing to the shortage of coal the situ
ation is improved in consequence of
the joint decision to arbitrate the min
ing trouble. A hopeful feeling pre
vails that the dispute will be settled
amicably at once. The lace workers
have also agreed to arbitration.
Russian Troop* Moving In Asia. £5-
London, Jan. 2.—A Post special from
St Petersburg says various uncon
firmed reports are current regarding
the alleged movement of Russian
troops in central Asia, but it is be
lieved the only actual movement hith
erto has been that of two battalions
sent a few days ago from Tiflis to the
Transcaspia. -f
Perllihes a Bloolc from Home.
Detroit, Mich., Jan. 2.—Adolph
Hempke was frozen to death here Sat
urday night His body was found only
a block from his home and was frozen
as hard as stone. The man had made
a desperate struggle for life. After
falling and cutting a deep gash in his
head, he evidently crawled forward for
some distance on bis hands and knees,
as lacerations appeared filled with dirt
and slivers of wood. Pools of blood
Showed where he« rested a moment or
two before dragging himself ahead
again.'
ism*
JO SUCCEED GEN. LAWT0N.
"fighting *oe" and tien. Bmte£"prtml
nent'y Mentioned.
Manila, Jaii. 2.—-There Is much spec
ulation here regarding the selection
of Gen. Lawton'B successor to the
southern command of Luzon. Both
Gen. Joseph Wheeler and Gen. Bates
are prominently mentioned, the for
mer being the senior brigadier-general
and lineally entitled to the command.
Gen. Wheeler says, however, that no
selection has as yet been determined
upon.
Gen. Wheeler expects soon to re
turn to the United States, but he does
not want to go as long as there Is
fighting in the Philippines. Regard
ing the present situation, he said:
"I think the fighting will be over
within a .week after the movement to
the south of Manila begins. To north
ward the campaign is practically over,
and I find the friendliness of the na
tives toward us Increasing greatly.
"There are still strong insurgent
forces south of Manila, but I think
our troops will break them up within
a week after we move. I regard it as
possible that Aguinaldo has reached
the southern lines."
The American campaign south of
Manila is soon to be prosecuted, and
the likelihood is that it will be des
perate. It is reported that within tho
last six months the German ship Clara
has landed 18,000 rifles and 10,000,000
rounds of ammunition at Camarines.
It ls believed here that the Americana
will soon overcome opposition, but
there is little confidence that the in
surgents' arms will be capturcd. ,.
Many Claims for Pensions, jg®
Washington, Jan. 2.—Commissioner
of Pensions Evans says claims for
widows and orphans of soldiers in the
civil war, and the claims for pensions
due to the late Spanish war are com
ing in as fast as the pension roll is
diminished by the deaths of veterans
of the civil war. This will be Increased
by the addition of their widows and
the veterans of the late war, so that
the payment of pensions at the rate
of $150,000,000 annually promises to
continue for many years. With the
revenues of the .country swollen by
nearly $200,000,000 from the war-rev
enue tax, expenditures for pensions
still amount to 25 per cent of the gross
annual income of the government, and
more than 100 bills have been intro
duced in congress to provide addition
al special pensions.
Output of Precious Metals*
San Francisco, Jan. 2.—The Chroni
cle's official report gives the year's
production of metals as follows:
"Gold, $15,500,COO silver, $850,000. The
copper production is the greatest ever
known, as the big Keswick smelting
plant has largely increased it, this
company alone paying dividends of
$660,000 during the year. The total
production of copper was 21,000,000
pounds. There are no figures on lead
at hand."
Would Use Italian Troops.
Rome, Jan. 2.—A persistent rumor 13
circulating in Rome governmental cir
cles to the effect that Great Britain is
negotiating with Italy for the garri
soning of Egypt with Italian troops,
so as to leave the London war office
free to draw on the British forces in
garrison for service in South Africa.
It is reported that Italy will receive
compensation in British support in
China and Tripoli.
plague, but the pest mortality obvious
ly is underestimated.
Denies Annexation of Territory.
Cape Town, Dec. ZT.^The Orange
Fee State organ, One Land, declares
positively that the Free Staters have
not annexed one square yard of Cape
Colony territory since -the war began.
They have simply placed the occupied
districts, it says under commando law.
Britain's'Increased Revenue,
London, J.an. 2.—The public revenue
for the nine months ending wfth De
cember reaches £82,777,044, as against
£78,340,468 for the corresponding pe
riod of last year.
Prench Coal Mlaers May Strike.
Paris, Dec. 27.—At a meeting of 2,500
miners held Monday in St Etienne a
resolution was adopted In fevor of de
claring a general strike in the coal ba
sin of Loire. A sympathy movement
Involving 60,000 men Is feared. The
prosperity of the coal trade led the
miners to demand an increase of
wages, shorter hours, and a formal rec
ognition of the miners' federation by
the companies, ne latter made an
"ir of 6 pep' oent increato, bnt this
refused.
Si'
Parties.
1
Land league to Revive.
Omaha, Neb., Jan. 2.—Nearly 200
prominent Irish-Americans assembled,
Sunday in response to a call for a
meeting of those who favored home
rule for Ireland. It developed that a
preliminary committee had been bb
cretly appointed a week ago for the
reorganization of a local branch of
the Irish National Land league. The
organization will be effected next Sun
day. The plan is said to be to
Bend
men and money to aid the Boers and
to threaten an Invasion of Canada to
prevent the sending of troops from
that country to the Transvaal.
fig':. Many' Officer* Are Retired.
ashington, Jan. 2.—The calendar
year 1900 will be marked by the stat
utory retirement of a number of prom
inent officers in the army and navy
and brings equal promotions in both
branches of the military service.
Naturally, because of its greater nu
merical strength, the changes will bo
much more numerous in the army
than in the navy. Among the retire
ments for age in the army are those
of Major-Gen. Wesley Merrltt and
Brig.-Gen. T. M. Anderson.
•r VV,V''
Critish Commander at Ladysmith
Said to Have Given Up Hopet
PREPARING FOR LAST FIGHT.
tt Is Believed the Garrison WW Endeav
or to Cut Its Way Through the Botors
—Sereral Defeats InOloted on Small
London,, Jan. 2.—The following he
liograph .message has been received by
way of Weenen from Ladysmith, dated
Wednesday, Dec. 27:
"The Boers arei actively bombarding
the town. One shell, struck the Devon
shire mess tent, killing Capt Dalzel
and wounding' seven lieutenants. Dent,
Twlss, Tringham, Caffyn, Byrne, Scafe
and l6uie."
A later dispatch from Ladysmith by
way of Weenen, dated Friday, Dec. 29,
says:
"All well. The Boers are still forti
fying their positions and are evidently
determined to make a firm stand."
The report of a reconnoissance north'
of Dordreclit is believed to indicate a
serious reverse for the British. It is
admitted that the troops under Capt.
Montmorency were obliged to retire
after a six hours' battle. No details
of losses are given.
Frere Camp, Natal, Dec. 30.—Ow.lng
to the flooding of the Tugela river a
large party of Boers have been cut off
on the south side. They are reported
to be in the hills to the right of Chiev
eley.
London, Jan. 2.—A dispatch to the
Dally Mall from Lourenco Marques
dated Dec. 29 says:
"It is reported from Ladysmith, by
way of Pretoria, that the British are
destroying their heavy cannon prior to
a final sortie.
"The Transvaal agents here have
bought up all the available milk, su
gar and coffee. They have managed to
get large orders sent for shipment here
by French and German Bteamers.
Prices have advanced 50 per ce?tt in
consequence and the stocks are very
short. Something like a famine is
threatened, as the British government
is stopping all goods consigned here
from coast ports.
"Several members of the volksraad
meet every steamer, doubtless to give
further orders. Portugal is doing her
best-to maintain neutrality, but foreign
.opinion in Lourenco Marques is gen
erally in favor of actively assisting the
Boers to procure food supplies.
"Herr Pott, the Transvaal consul
general here, is losing Lloyd's agency
and the agencies for the Castle, Union
and Bucknail steamship lines In con
sequence of the poeltion he holds."
The Dally Mall publishes the follow
ing dispatch from Cape Town:
"Ninety-five per cent'of the Bechu
ana farmers In the Vryburg dlstrlet"
joined the Boers, helping thetn. to loot,
the stores throughout the country
north of the Orange river. They also
-undertook to invest Mafeklng while
Gen. Cronje's men went south to meet
Lord Methuen. The government of
Bechuanaland ls being administered as
if the Dutch had been in possession for
ages."
A dispatch to the Dally Mall from
Klmberley, dated Friday, Dec. 22, says:
"We have food enough for three
months. Fresh fruits and vegetables
are obtainable daily from Kenilworth,
and water is plentiful and excellent."
No word regarding the Mafeklng
Eortie, reported from Pretoria, has yet
arrived from British sources, and the
feeling pf suspense! is deepening, as it
Is feared that Col. Baden-Powell's sc
ience indicates that his position is be
coming desperate.
The dispatches from the front
breathe a confident spirit which is by
no means echoed here.
All the correspondents are beginning
to hint of a forward movement on the
part of Gen. Buller, the danger oi
which is Indicated In a dispatch to the
Dally Telegraph from Frere, recording
the unfortunate .failure of two reoon
noissances. In one case the Boer lines
1
Earthquake In Callrernla.
Los Angeles, Cal., Jan. 2.—Two
slight earthquakes occurred here early
Sunday morning., The shocks were
felt at nearly all points within 100
miles of this city.
At San Diego a sharp s]hock occurred
at 3 o'clock Sunday morning, and a
second at 1 o'clock in the afternoon.
Plague Grows In Violence.
Bombay, Jan. 2.—Bomfbay again is
in the midst of-a violent plague epi
demic, the extent of which is difficult
to ascertain. The number of deaths
from all causes returned during the
last week ls 1,700. Of these 300 are
declared to be due to the bubonic
at Colenso were to have been bom
barded by night Mounted men drew
the Boer fire, and it was liitended that
the naval guns should bombardV This,
however, the latter failed to do owing
to same misunderstanding, and the re
connolterlng party was compelled to
flounder back to camp through the wet
and stormy night, marching in mud
and water and with-the greatest dis
comfort.
According to the same correspondent
a similar fate awaited another recon
noissance in the opposite direction.
It ls roughly estimated that there
are 25,000 Boers between Ladysmith
and Colenso, some 400 being on the
south side of the Tugela river. At all
points the enemy shows ceaseless ao
tivlty.
Gen. French May Fight.
1
London, Jan. 2.—The Boer force
confronting Gen. French for some time
In the vicinity of Arundel began mov
ing its .guns Thursday, and have since
retired to Colesburg, where It SA ex
ported they can better intrench. Gen.
French has moved his army within
three miles of Colesbiirg, and It is
possible the two forces will come to
gether within a day or two.
Americans F!glit\ In Afrleki
London, Jan. 2.—According to Wins
ton Churchill large numbers of Ameri
can citizens are serving in the British
volunteer regiments in South Africa,
and he cites the case of on corps of
400 containing seventy-five. Churchill
says they make admirable Soldiers, are
daring and alert, and hav® established
binding friendships with the colonists.
Irish for the Bper Army.
New York, Jan.. 2.—Recruiting for
South Africa Is going on secretly, but
with great activity aniong the Irish
volunteers of this and other cities.
That several members of the volun
teers, which ls a branch of the Clan
na-Gael, are already In the Boer coun
try preparing.for the reception of re
cruits ls well understood.
f'ortugal determines to Jarty tfiil
lome financial reforms. The
mentioned only the African pc
-slolM, and originally only the
African. The correspondent thinly
is likely that the treaty later embr
West Africa also, in whlch event
many will probably receive Mo
edes, Fish bay and Tiger Island.'
Army Is Needed In Birypt.
Moscow, Jan. 2.—The Turkish le
tion at St. Petersburg declares t_
Great Britain never has sought T|
key's permission to dispatch troopsf
the Egyptian army to South Afril
According to an Alexandria dlspat
the Egyptian army of occupation
needed where it is, a considerable
tachment having been sent south ..
ready in the event of an Invasion,
the Soudan by Menelik, negus of At
slnia.
Heavy British Loss at Mafeklng.
Pretoria, Dec. 27 (via Lourenco
ques, Dec. 29).—Official reports
the burgher commando before^
king tell of a desperate Britlsl}
from the town, which took placel
25. The British losses in killed!
wounded were more than 100,
the Boer losses were but triflings
Portugal Makes Denial.
New York, Jan. 2.—The New.
Herald prints the following sp^
cablegram from Lisbon: "The
ter of finance declared to a friend
terday that no treaty for the allend
of Delagoa bay existed, nor would]
government propose to the. cor
sale of Portuguese colonies.'-
Recruits Landing at Drl«goa*]
London, Jan. 2.—Mr. Roblif
speech at the recent meeting
directors of Robinson's bank ls
ably commented upon by the Tin
an editorial. The paper pHnts sel
letters, remarking upon the conjifl
landing of foreign recruits at Dela|
bay tor the Boer forces.
British Victory Foretold.
London, Jan. 2.—The Telei
correspondent at Frere camp saysj
Boers between Colenso and Ladys
number between 20,000 and 30,0005
prophesies British success in what
anticipates will be. by far the big$4
and fiercest battle of the war.
Munitions for the Boers.
Cape Town, Dec. 28.—A dispatch to
the Argus from Delagoa bay says that
six large Armstrong guns and six aii
munition wagons, which were recent
landed at Lourenco Marques, have beenj
received in Pretoria.
Kashmir to Aid Great Britain.
Bombay, Jan. 2.—The war office
accepted an offer made by thd
maharajah of Kashmir to furnlsl
eighty trained uattery horses for:
in South Africa.
Refuses Guns to British.
Paris, Jan. 2.—The Eclair says,
Creusot gun works have refused
der from Great Britain on the
that they were obliged to refill]
supply more guns to the Traxuq
Fighting at Kuruman.
Cape Town, Dec. 29.—There
tinued fighting at Kuruman, whe
Englishmen are keeping 800^
bay.
BAVg BEEN ORDERED TO D1
Three German Cruisers Are 8ent
tuguese Port.
London, Jan. 2.—The German
ers Condor, at East London, and
Schwalbe, at Dar-es-Salaam, are|
ing to Delagoa bay.
The Chronicle's Berlin corresjp|_
ent says there is an uneasy feeu
that the cotton goods in ..the Bunde
rath's cargo contained1 war material^
There is not much comment on tt
seizure of the Bundesrath. The B|
lin correspondents agree that her
ure has greatly excited the
phobes, but. authoritative quarter
gard such matters calmly, pot
out the impossibility of deciding
a delicate matter of lnternatloii
without full particulars.
Berlin Owns' to Precedents.
Berlin, Jan. 2.—The respdc
press regards the seizure of the
desrath as a technical matter.
Neuste, Nachrichten points out fl
international law is unable to
definite line between what Is and wb
:'ls not contraband. While it regard
Great Britain's action as an infractio
of the law in this instance, it ac|
knowledges that there are,
precedents. The question is one,
fact, that is bound to arise in
in which a sea power is concer
Is now the subject of diplor
gotlatlons, an\. there is ever,
to expect that Great Britain]
tie the matter without delaj
t»:Ji Hamburg Demands. Int
Prince Hohenlohe, -the
chancellor, had received tel
from Herr Adolph Woermann,"
dent of the Hamburg chamber- of
merce, demanding in the name of
body the government's interventlq
the matter and future protectiq
German trade in all parts of the
Wgo
1
v'
Insists on Portuguese Treaty.
Berlin, Jan. 2.—The Hamburg cor
respondent' resumes Its previously un
dented statement about a German
English secret treaty, imd declares that
the version genwally accepted says
the Weaty jecom» effective only when
Not Contraband.
Hamburg, Jan 2.—Merchants
stick positively to the statement I
the steamer BundeBrath which
seized by, the British off th|
coast of Africa, did not
contraband of war.
Cxar~ Wishes for
Berlin, Jan. 2,-^Vorwl
an important document il
a reliable Russian source
peace manifesto from the
published on the Bubsian Nc
day, Jan. 13. His majesty e3
the hope that the rulers and sta£
of the world will Inaugurate tli
century by addressing ther
the problem of securing and mi
ing peace, of decreasing the/
war preparations which nov
resources of all civilized nattl
New peril for Britain.^
St .Johns, N. F., Jan. 2.—Grail
plications are feared betwe
Britain and France over
tion of the Newfound
modus vivendi. The
ture cannot meet fpr 4
the British parliament"
so that.there is no possiSJ
legislation for son^e wcte
the defect France is thd
to provoke much trouble
lonial office, and it is fear*T