Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 May 1891 — Page 3

THE DESIRE FOR REFORM

EX-GOV. MORTON ON THE FEELING IN THE WEST. TfrrtfT Reform Still in tlie Fiont—Why the Farmers Are Not Deceivedby Talk About Pauper Labor—Work of the Reform Club and How to Sustain It. Ex-Governor J. Sterling Morton, of Nebraska, has recently spent several -weeks in New York, making his headquarters while there at the Reform Club. It will be remembered that it was this ■club which took so active a part in the •Congress elections last fall in lowa, Michigan, Illinois and other Western States. Governor Morgan showed while in New York a deep interest in the tariff reform propaganda which the club has undertaken. Being himself a non-resi-dent member of the club, he was delighted to find that all the money paid to the club in the way of annual dues by out-of-town members goes directly into the work for tariff reform. To a member of the club ho said on this point: “Evsry earnest tariff reformer in the West ought to bo a member of this club. Every man who can pay #lO a year will have the satisfaction of knowing that every penny of this goes towards supplying the sinews of .war in this fight against an iniquitous tariff system. There are a great many men in the West who are able and willing to pay-this sum, and would gladly do so if their attention were only called to the matter.

“The protectionists have the advantage over us in one important respect. They can ‘fry the fat’ to an almost unlimited extent out of those who have large financial interests in protection. Now with us the case is different. On our side the financial interest in abolishing protection is not so great with any one individual. There are many manufacturers who are interested to the extent of thousands of dollars a year in keeping up protection. The opponents of protection have a financial interest in abolishing the system; but as with them the interest of each man is less than on the protection side there is less disposition to contribute money to carry on your educational campaign. “Now it seems to me that there ought •to be many men who are willing to join this club and give #lO a year to help you to keep up this agitation. The legitimate expenses of your work of organizing meetings at distant points and sending out speakers to thorn and also in supplying tariff-reform matter to a large number of newspapers must be very great. The country should come to your help. ” Gov. Morton was asked whether the desire for tariff reform was growing in Nebraska. “Yes,” he answered, “the yearning for commercial freedom is becoming more and more general and more and more intense among the farmers of the Northwest.

“They find that protection compels them to buy of American manufacturers ’heir farm implements at artificially enhanced prices. The Oliver steel plow, made at South Bend, Ind., sells for less in Canada than in the United States, and so very often —do Diston’s saws. And while the Northwestern farmer buys in a protected he sells in a free trade market His meats and breadstuffs are fixed, as to prices, by the Liverpool and Loudon markets. He sells against all creation, and he buys where all creation is shut out from competing with the pampered protectees of the McKinley tariff. “The farmer sees that the profits of capital are the leavings of wages. After operatives are paid off the dividend fund is left, a? is also a sinking fund, betterments and other increments, for the manufacturer. The farmer knows that under protection millionaires, in manufacturing ventures, have spawned and throve, like skippers in a cheese, all over the Middle and Eastern States. And it follows logically that the great fortunes —made with greater celerity in America than elsewhere on earth—like Carnegie's, must arise from very large leavings of wages for division among the capitalists , “B’or this reason farmers, mechanics, and laborers generally are beginning to discriminate between high wages and high cost of labor. It is plain to them that a skilled laborer in the United States, who gets in steel-rail manufacturing $4 a day, may leave the finished steel rail with less cost of labor m it than a less-skilled, less-alert artisan in England leaves in the steel rail made there by labor costing only #2 a day. “Denominational wages are ono thing, and the cost of labor is another; the former may bo very high and the latter very low. Some farm hands are cheaper at #25 a month than others at #ls. Ihe cost of labor in grain grown by the former is less than that cost in grain grown by the latter sort of labor. One good farm hand will cultivate well forty forty acres of corn in Nebraska, and get from that area 2,000 bushels. But a lazy, inefficient, slovenly man will half tili the same acreage and produce only 1,000 bushels. If the former is paid #2O and the latter #ls a month, the cost of labor in tho 1,000 bushels is much greater than in the 2,000. The Alliance people are now thinking upon this economic question, and will not easily be bamboozled by the McKinley assumptions and assertions about ‘protecting the wage-earners. ’ “Alliance men are among themselves absolute free traders. They sell to the merchants who will pay highest for farm products, and then they buy of those who will give the most commodities for those products, direct or in cash. The farmer and his merchant trade with each other just as long as they each find it advantageous to do so. The moment either finds the exchange unprofitable, trade between them stops—unprofitable commerce always dies. All legitimate exchanges are mutually advantageous, both between persons and between people—nations. “The United States had a growing trade with Europe. Her merchantmen flecked every sea. Transoceanic commerce grew apace. It must have been profitable, or it would have perished of its own unprofitableness. But it grew and grew untii the Morill tariff—and now the McKinley tariff —was enacted to kill it —to, abolish that which was mutually profitable—to eradicate the commercial advantages which —under comparative freedom —were mutual, natural, just an i righteous. ”

Labor Does Not Believe It.

The silk-workers have had hard experience in the matter of wages for the past year. Reductions in wages are very frequent in the silk industry just now, and the Master Workman of the Silk-workers' Association declares that

wages have in some cases been cut down 50 per cent within a year. It is only natural, therefore, that the sjlk-workers in their recent convention should have passed the following resolutions: Whereas, The silk industry of the United Stitos, despite the high protective tariff, is at present in a most deplorable condition, wages being so low that skilled operators are seekiug other occupations, and in viow of the fact that since 1889 the wages of ribbon weavers have been reduced 58 per cent., be it Resolved, That tho representatives of the United States Silk-Workers of North America, now In session, appeal to the frieuds of American labor not to purchase silk fabrics of foreign manufacture, \/hieh are actually inferior to those made here: and be it Resolved, That in our opinion neither protection nor free trade benefits the workman, and we therefore call upon all silkworkers who are unorganized to band themselves together into the national body, and it is our further opinion that the only protection workingmen will ever receive will be that they give themselves. The silk industry is protected by duties of 50 to fiO per cent Why does not this protection secure good wages to the workers?

LET THE POOR USE SHODDY.

So Says Judge 1 awrence, ol Ohio—Carpets ot Shoddy and Cow Hair—Greed of Protective Interests. Judge Lawrence, one of the Ohio political wool-growers, writes to the Boston Journal of Commerce a long letter advocating the total exclusion of carpet wools from this country. “The duties on carpets,” says Judge Lawrence, “are substantially prohibitory; they are entirely so on all carpets of classes made in the United States. The duties on coarse wools should be equally so, even if used only for carpets.” Although we grow almost no carpet wool in this country, for the simple reason that it pays better to grow clothing wool, Judge Lawrence would exclude foreign carpet wools entirely, and thus compel the carpet manufacturers to use in their carpets some of the low grades of wool now going into cloth. This would increase the price of Judge Lawrence’s wool; and that is just what he is striking for. But it would increase the price of carpets, too. Here, however, the Ohio shepherd proposes a.frank and brutal way of making a low grade of carpet for those who are compelled to buy cheap stuff. He says use shoddy. Hero are his words: “If a still cheaper variety of carpets be required, as there always will bo, they can be made from a mixture of Such coarse wool with shoddy and cow hair sufficiently cheap.” Judge Lawrence ought to know that our cheap carpets are already made largely of “shoddy and cow hair.” Recent improvements in shoddy spinning machinery, however, are rapidly increasing tho use of shoddy iu carpets. The frankness and the audacity of Judge Lawrence’s declaration for shoddy carpets for the poorer people should enlighten these people somewhat as to the spirit of protected interests generally. That declaration is but another proof that these protected interests are ready to enrich themselves at whatever cost to the people. Let all tho poorer people in the land use shoddy carpets, but Judge Lawrence must have his wool duty! But tho day of these wool politicians is passing. Even such a dyed-in-the-wool protectionist paper as the Journal of Commerce tells Judge Lawrence something for his benefit which shows how the tide is setting. The Journal says: “It is our impression, from the knowledge we have of the sentiment of woolen manufacturers on tho tariff Question, that the aggressive policy of wool-grow-ers or their representatives will, in time, and that not far distant, arouse an antagonism on the part of manufacturers to all tariff restrictions on the imports of raw materials, regardless of threats concerning the tariff on manufactured articles. ”

A Window-Glass Trust.

There was talk of the formation of a window-gla;s trust last fall during tho campaign. At that time Secretary Foster, who is largely interested in the manufacture of window-glass, was reported to be opposed to tho formation, being then a candidate for Congress. One or more of the other large manufacturers held out against the trust proposal, and the scheme came to nothing then. The talk about a trust has again been revived, and now the trust is considered much more probable. The New York Oil, Paint arid Drug Reporter, which is an organ of the glass trade, has recently pointed out how the difficulties formerly encountered have nnstly disappeared, and then continues: “Another deterring cause has been removed by tho appointment of Mr. Charles Foster to tho Treasury portfolio in the President’s Cabinet. Mr. Foster controls large glass manufacturing Intel ests and at the same time is prominently identified with politics. He was a candidate for Congress when the subject of a consolidation of glass interests was first mooted, and the public outcry against trusts made him at once an enemy of the scheme, because to bo connected with such a movement at tho time might have ruined his chances of political preferment. As he is now placed in a position where condemnation of commercial combinations by the public —under mistaken impressions or otherwise—is likely to do him and bis political aspirations no damage, his co-operation, at least, in the scheme may be expected ” The same journal points out that one of the leading manufacturers has recently put up prices 20 per cent. Such is the working of the high McKinley protection on glass. Trusts and higher prices are the order of the day.

A Hinge Trust.

The Iron Age , a high tariff trade paper, prints the following piece of news: “The negotiations which have bsen in progress for some time between the manufacturers of strap and T hinges have resulted in the formation of a strap and T hinge association, which consists of the following concerns: Stanley works, McKinley Manufacturing Company, E. W. Gilmore & Co., Lindsay & McCutcheon, C. Hager & Sons Hinge Company. A new list has been adopted. The new prices represent an advance on the goods generally ranging from 5 to 10 per cent, on strap hinges and something like 20 per cent on T hinges.” Thus the industries of this country are gradually being consolidated into trusts. It is said by a competent authority that nine-tenths of our industries are already controlled by trusts and combinations to control prices and output. '

The old duty on these hinges was 2>s cents a pound, and was practically prohibitory, only $2,377 worth of bolts, rivets, hinges, and hinge blanks having

been imported last year. McKinley made the trifling reduction of & quarter of » cent per pound, leaving the rate still substantially prohibitory, as may be seen from the fact that this hinge trust is able to raise prices from 5 to 20 per cent There may be some dispute a 9 to whether or not our manufacturers have the right to form trusts. However that may be, our peoplo are great fools to continue to vqte for the high protective duties which give these trusts a defense against outside competition. When industries combine and put up prices, it is time to cut off their protection at a singlo stroke.

IMPORTED INDUSTRIES.

WHY A GERMAN MANUFACTURER DID NOT BUILD HERE. Tho High Tax on Raw Matoriala Fr ghtrit»d Him—This Tax Would Krep Him Out of the World's Market—Pauper Labor and Pauper Goods. The high McKinley duties on many kinds of goods have already compelled somo European manufacturers to set up lactories in the United States to get their part In the tariff spoils, and still others will doubtless be induced to open branch establishments here. Republican organs print news about these imported industries with many expressions of satisfaction, and point to the importation of industries as one of the best effects of tho McKinley tariff law. But they do not reflect that when a mill-owner in Europe goes to the trouble and expense of shipping his machinery to America, building a new factory and putting it into operation, there must be some special hope of gain hold out to him. Protectionists assert that the tariff lowers prices; but clearly the foreign manufacturer does not come hero to get lower prices for his goods. Ho comes for higher prices—for McKinley tariff prices. An interesting case, however, is that of a Germau manufacturer of woolen goods, who came here to look over the ground and went home without deciding to build a plant in America. His reasons for not building here are highly interesting from a tariff standpoint. The manufacturer gives the reasons why, after careful observation in his travels and upon ripe reflection, he concluded not to transfer his industry to this country. The first of these ho declares to be the high duties on raw wool, yarn and dye stuffs, which make it hard for American manufacturers to compote in the home markets with their European rivals, notwithstanding the heavy duties on woolens, and impossible to secure an outlet for their surplus products in neutral markets. While the American manufacturers of woolens are absolutely and inexorably confined to the homo demand, their competitors in England, Germany and France, with free wool, have tho world for their customer. While this manufacturer found the high duties on wool a great hindrance to cheap woolen manufacture in tho United States, he did not find near so great a difference in wages as the protectionists have often asserted to exist between this country and Germany. Ho says that, after personal inquiries in the industrial districts of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, he finds that the average rate is scarcely 25 per cent, higher than in Germany. Ho asks what this amounts to when the woolen products are subject to duties rauging from 80 to 100 per cent. Yet the advocates of protective spoliation incessantly repeat the fiction that the McKinley tariff is so adjusted as only to compensate American manufacturers for tho difference in wages in this country and in Europe. The fact is that when the actual production of a day’s labor is taken fi to jonsideration the wages in the woolen factories of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts are lower than in France and Germany. This ha 3 been conclusively shown by experts who have examined the processes of manufacture in this country and in Europe, and have made comparisons as to tho actual labor cost in a yard of goods. Such a comparison the protectionists will never make. Thoy always take tho wages paid in Europe by the day or by the week, and compare them with the daily or weekly wages in the United States. Yet it must be clear to even a half-intelligent mind that the only valid comparison is that of the labor cost in the yard, the pound, etc. On this point the great contention of the protectionists as to the “pauper labor” of Europe breaks down completely; for if we can make a yard of cloth with less labor than they can in Europe, it is folly to talk longer about the “pauper-mado goods” of Europe.

Truck Farming.

Truck faming is market gardening carried on so far away from centers of consumption as to require railway and vessel carriage te get the products to market. Long lines of railway have made such farming possible, and now North and South Carolina planters can daily send their “truck” to Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. So far the Census Bureau finds that about 600,000 acres of land are devoted to this kind of farming, and that $100,000,000 are invested in the industry, and that the annual products are worth nearly $80,000,000 after paying freights and commissions. These farms employ 217,000 men, 9,000 women, and 15,000 children. Seventy-six thousand horses and mules are employed in the work, and nine million dollars’ worth of implements. This industry has sprung into existence in the past ten years, and is growing very rapidly. It seems like pretty good farming which realizes $l3O gross income an acre on the land tilled.

The bad outlook for the European wheat crop has caused an advance In the price of wheat in our markets. The for eign demand for our wheat, it is thought, will be unusually large this year. As the foreigner buys more largely of our wheat, our farmers learn the importance of their foreign market. Would it not be a good thing to enlarge and extend the foreign market for our farm products by taking foreign goods more freely in change for them. Stowed away in one of the rooms at the Capitol in Montpelier, Vt., are the remains of the first printing press brought to this country. Upon it was printed the freemen's oath for Massachusetts, the first thing printed in British North America. If you want to see jerked beef, come down and watch a Texas cowboy lasso a running steer.

BUDS AND BLOSSOMS

BLOOM IN INDIANA’S FIELD OF FRESH NEWS. Fatal Accident at Eaton—Howard County Murderer I’ar,toned Auclcut Irenolt Coin Unourtlied All Old War Horae Dead—Deaths, Accident'*, and Suicides. —lndiana has 2,878 Knights Templar. —LaPorte's going to have a fino new court house. —Redkey is to have an Ornamontnl tile-works which will employ 500 men. —An unknown man was killed at Osceola, by a Lake Shore fast mail train. —Kokomo made a gain of 104 per cent, in population in tho past ten years, —Mrs. Burnett’s residence at Franklin was destroyed by an incendiary fire. —Fort Wayne Lutherans will build three new churches this summer, costing #IOO,OOO. —Montgomery County Fair will have a building devotod to exhibits made by children. —Michigan City’s fairly frothing at tho mouth ’cause La Porte gets that new court house. —George W. Bennett, Lafayette’s alleged double murderer, is said to be feigning insanity. —Westfield citizens have organized a stock company with #20,000 and will manufacture furniture. —Levi Kessinger, of Galveston, was caught by a Pan Handle train on a trestle, struck and killed. —Washington Frick, a farmer near Waterloo, drank nearly a pint of camphor. He died in twenty-four hours. —Andrew Arnold’s barn near Rensselaer was struck by lightning and burned with three horses and a quantity of grain. —Maud Webber, 9 years old, fell from a railroad trestle, fifteen feet, near Columbus, fractured her skull and may die. —Burglars entered the hardwaro store of Campbell & Ludlum, at Marion, and carried away goods to the amount of #l5O. —Witchcraft is said to prevail in the northwest part of Dearborn Comity. As a consequence, Mrs. Fink has been declared insane. —Geo. Hynes, James Hynes, Joe Hynes, James Cordon, and Bill Gordon, all arrested at Kontland, charged with robbing freight ears. —John Cripe arrested in Lafayette, is said to have executed tho cleverest piece of swindling in the way of forgery ever prepetrated in the State. —Henry Patrick, a bank boss at tho Nickle-Plate, mine, Brazil, was struck by lightning and instantly killed, lie leaves a wife and four children.

—An adjourned meeting of tho Crawfordsville Presbytery will be held at Crawfordsvillo on May 19, to ordain and install J. R. Inglas over tho First Presbyterian Church. —At Crawfordsvillo, Thomas Dobson, 76 years old, while drawing water from a cistern, fell headlong into the water and was drowned before assistance could bo rendered him.

—The talk about piping natural gas to Crawfordsvillo is again being agitated, for about the fifteenth time, but with more prospects of success now than any time heretofore. —Mrs. Benjamin Graft, of Mexico, aged 74 years, and one of tne most highly respected women of Miami Cotinty, died from the effects of a fall received sometime ago. —A minister in Montgomery County, during his remarks at the funeral of a man who had killed himself while drunk, said that “a man dying in intoxication went straight to hell.”

—A cave near Yountsville was explored by a party of hunters—they found a collection of queer arrow heads, bows, clay pots, kettles, etc., which will bo of great interest to antiquarians. —White Caps near New Albany gave Walker Lowe fifty strokes with a hickory gad and ordered him to ieave the county in twenty-four hours. Lowe came from Kentucky a year ago. —Mrs. Stanley, of Campbellsburg, has been at Martinsville for some time taking treatment for epilepsy at one of tho sanitariums. The other day, while alone in her room, she fell, while in a fit, into an open grate and was severely burned about the face.

—Joseph Furnace, one of the leading business men and farmers of Hamilton County, dropped dead at Westfield. He was summoned to Xoblesvillo on the grand jury and was on his way home when death overtook him. The coroner’s verdict was that he came to his death by heart disease and grip. —John Zeitler, night watchman in Bissell's plow works, South Bend, discovered a burglar in the building a few nights ago, and rushed off to sound the alarm. When he got back the burglar was gone. He was so chargrined over tho scoop that he went right home and beat his wife beyond recognition. Fined $39.50. —Perry Owens, aged 71 years, while at work on his farm, near Westport, met with a fatal accident. He was on a load of rails and' in crossing a small ravine was thrown backward to the’ground, breaking his nefck. He was a prominent Mason and a much-respect-ed citizen. He leaves a widow and numerous other relatives. —J. W. Jacobs and Abraham Carr, riding in a funeral procession at Bennettsville, horses ran off and both seriously if not fatally injured. —Matthew Barnes and James Woodruff, burglars in Bichmond jail, knocked the jailer down with a club and broke out but were promptly recaptured. —Farmers in St. Joseph County report that the growing' wheat never looked more promising than it does this season. There will also be an abundance of fruit.

—Rev. If. M. Middleton, presiding elder of theCrawfordsviile district of the Northwest Ind iana Methodist Conference, bae moved to Grocncastle. • —FredFesser, a farmer near Bourbon,, exploded a dynamite cartridge under a stump, while he was standing near it with a basket of dynamite Cartridges on his arm. The cartridges in the basket were also exploded, and the man was instantly killed, being torn to pieces. His dog came to the scene and defied approach to the remains. He was shot bofore the remains could be gathered. —Thomas Ruse, who was sent from Howard County in January, 188!>, to tho Northern Prison for eleven years for manslaughter, has been pardoned by tho Governor. Ruso shot and killed a man named Marks who had seduced his wife. Ho also shot the woman, but not fatally. Hundreds of citizens of Kokomo,togother with the judge, jury, and county oflicials, joined in with the recommendation for his pardon.

—An accident occurred in South Peru, in which Clint Kiser, a young man aged 17 years, and living with his parents, lost his life. Kiser had boon out limiting, having gone before breakfast, and on his return home, and while setting his gun down in a cornor of the room, it was discharged, the shot tearing away almost half his head. Ho died almost instantly. —Mrs. Samuel Hardesty, living ten miles southeast of Muncie, was burned to death. While temporarily absent tho natural gas blew out, the escaping gas lilling tho room. When she returned sho lighted a match, and this caused a terrible explosion, knocking lioiv sonseloss. Her clothing caught iire.jwwl whon sho recovered consciousness she was so badly burned that she lived but a few hours. She was alone in tho house at tho time.

— l Thirty years ago Company G, Tenth Indiana Regiment, was raised at Crawfordsvillo. At the head of tho list was tho name of Gen. M. D. Manson, and tho company consisted of sixty-ono others. Of this number twenty-eight are now dead. This dato was four aays after Fort Sumter was fired upon, and on April 19, Sunday, tho ladies mado tents for tho company, and on tho following day the company started, via Greoncastlo, for Indianapolis, whero they pitched the first tents in Camp Morton.

—Patents have been granted to tho following Hoosior inventors: Franklin B. Hunt, Richmond, assignor of one-half to L. C. Allen, Washington, 1). C., bicycle; Edmund Kuhn, New Albany, assignor to E. Scanlan, Louisville, a device for casting hooks; Samuel 11. Potrp and Ed. Darnell, assiguors of one-third to W. Hunt, Darlington, hay-rack; Tlios. J. Sausaman, Hooversburg, swinging gate; William B. Stover, South Bend two-wheoied vehicle; David E. Vanhorn, Elkhart, wrench. —While making an excavation at Mooresville, Floyd County, G. W. Atkins unearthed an old French coin bearing bearing date of 1701. Tho coin was found throo feet under tho ground at a place where there had not been an excavation of any kind within tho memory of tho oldest resident of that vicinity. That part of Indiana was traveled over by the early French settlers going from Vincennes, Ind., to Fort DuQuesne, now Pittsburgh, and tho coin is believed to have been buried by one of them.

—The boiler at tho, excelsior-works of Philip Klein, in the center of Evansville, exploded, causing damage to tho amount of SI,OOO. Tnc boiler itself tore through the building, and it was only stopped by the heavy timbers in the front end. Tho front plate of the boiler flow across the street and partially demolished two dwellings, the occupants of which had narrow escapes. Other buildings in the vicinity were shaken up by the concussion. James Campbell, the engineer, and Philip Klein. Jr., were badly scalded. —A fatality occurred near Eaton, in wl.Mi David 11. Edwards, residing near that place, lost his life. Mr. Edwards was in tho woods cutting down a tree, i which fell and lodged in another close 1 by. The man succeeded hi dislodging the tree, but was caught under the trunk and, It is supposed, was almost Instantly killed. His little boy, 12 years old, was with him, and seeing his father's helpless condition, and being unable to render any aid himself, ran to the nearest house and told of the accident. They accompanied him with all speed, but found the unfortunate man dead when they arrived. Mr. Edwards was one of Miama County’s prominent farmers, 35 years of age, and leaves a wife and three little children. —At the outbreak of the rebellion Van Rensselaer Morgan was serving In the federal navy, but enlisted In the rebel navy. He owned a residence in Wabash and a fine farm of eight acres north of that place. During the war his property was confiscated by the government and sold at United States Marshal’s sale, Miles Morgan bidding in the town property and T. F. Payne becoming owner of the valuable farm. A late decision of the United States Supreme Court holds that property sold under the confiscation act can be held by the purchaser only as long as the parties from whom it was confiscated live, and the heirs of Van Ronessclaer Morgan, who died at Washington, recently, have begun proceedings for the property valued at SO,OOO. , —Miss Della Keesllng, 17, Avondale, given up to die by her physicians, was restored to health by the prayers of friends —at least, so the story goes. —Henry Moran, aged 11 years, while attempting to get on a moving Big Four freight train at Crawfordsville, fdll to the ground and his |kull was crushdd in. —Mrs. Mary Rutherford, of Vernon, is said to have become insane upon reading letters written to her twenty years ago by the lover who deserted her at the altar.

THE NATIONAL GAME.

ENTHUSIASM MARKS THE ADVENT OF THE SEASON. The Ba e-Ball World Fairly Awake—Xo Clashing Leagues Detract Attent on from Business —A. O. Spalding’s Retirement—The American Association’* New Feesideut. • Never in tho history of the national’ game has a more auspicious start been made. On opening days immense crowds greeted tho contesting dubs, and tho athletos of the diamond rewarded tho enthusiastic spectators by putting up games that elicited hoarty applause an« gave excellent sport. Tho race for tho pennant is<on and in the different associations tho very host talent is straining, every nervo. This year no discordant jangle distracts attention from tho sport. Tho. Brotherhood is a thing of tho past, and, with few exceptions, tho strongest piayers are now at srork with their oldtime associates.

A. G. Spalding is no longer tho President of the Chicago Ball Club. At a recent meeting of tho stockholders ho handed in his resignation. The resignation was acceptod and Mr. Spalding sent a letttr to N. E. Young at Washington notifying him of the fact Mr.

A. G. SPALDING.

retirement of Mr. Spalding, James A. Hart was ehoson President of tho club and Fred Andrus Secretary. Andrus is the very ideal of a secretary besides being an athlote, and Mr. Hart is largely equipped with good sense, shrewdness, and business capacity for his now office. While, porhaps, not filling Mr. Spalding s place, he will come as noar It as any base-ball man in America could. Much new timber has been secured by the different managers. In the ranks of tho National and American Associations will be found tho names of many who last year had not attained such eminence. Most of tho old stagers, 11 ko Anson, Flint, Deacon Wlilto, and others, are at their places. Salaries this year are not soaring so high, but tho coltish ones will only have to behave themselves to escape tho lines, In ordor to pull out of tho season with as much money as over. An excellent picture of Louis Kramer, tho new President of tho American Association, is herewith given. Ho is a baso-Dall admirer and patron, and was Vice President of the ojd Cincinnati Club, and a director of tbo.samo in 188 a,

LOUIS KRAMER.

'B4, ’B7, ’BB, and ’9O. His salary as President will bo $3,000, and he will be allowed to charge for a stenographer and travelingexpen l os. His secretary, should ho need ono, will have to bo paid by himself. ! He will do littlo traveling, however, as be accepted tho office on condition that Its duties should not take him away from his business in Cincinnati

A Doomed Duet.

Singers who “murder” music arc usually considered more guilty than tho music is. Tho provoked Cincinnati judge was not blaming tho music, however, when lie turned the metaphor tho other way. Ills daughter and a young gentleman caller frequently Indulge In tuneful vocal practice over the piano, and when they get together In the parlor the Judge gets in as remote a part of the house as possible in order to avoid what ho terms tho u'proar. One evening last week they had been even fho're demoted than usual to their music, and on the following morning tho judge jnquired of hla daughter: “What on earth was all that racket you and your caller were making in the parlor last evening?” “Why, papa, Sam and I were trying & new duet.” “Trying a new duet, were ybu? Well, from what I heard, i should judge that you found it guilty, and inflicted the heaviest penalty on it.” —New York Times.

A Bible with 168 Pins In It.

It was a Bible, a family Bible, a wellworn family Bible—the Bible of an old lady who read it, and walked by it, and fed on it, and prayed over it for a long life-time. As she grew older, her sight began to fail, and she found it hard to find her favorite verses. But she could not live without them, so what did she do! She stuck a pin In them, one by one, and after her death they counted 168. When people went to see her she would open her Bible, and, feeling over the page after her pin, would say: “Read there,” or “Read here,” and she knew pretty well what verse was struck by that pin. She could, indeed, say of her precious Bible: “I love thy commandments above gold, yea, above fine gold; they are sweeter to me than honey and the honeycomb.” Dice similar to those of our day have been found in Thebes. The Greeks gave the names of their gods and heroes to the different throws. The invention of dice is very anciept, and is variously ascribed to the Greeks and Egyptians, and by Herodotus to the Lydians. Diamonds were found In Brazil in 1728. The diamond was first proved to be combustible in 1694 by the Florentine academicians, who found that when exposed to the heat of the sun in the focua of a large lens '.t burnt away with a blue lambent flam*- i

Spalding’s retirement from baseball is no surprlso. It was understood everywhere that he would taka th s action,and the proceedings were a formal confirmation of tho statement that ho was about to retire .from a field whero lie has been a conspicuous figure so On the