Indianapolis Journal, Indianapolis, Marion County, 22 December 1897 — Page 4

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ARMOUR m LEITER ♦ two STORIES ABOI'T THE GREAT DEAL IN DECEMBER WHEAT. From Four to Fifteen Million BuKhela Alleged to Huve Been Delivered to tOe Head of the Ball flliine. * NO FIGHT WITH THE PORK MAN ♦ ARMOUR SIMPLY SOLD WHEAT AND LEITER PU RCHASED IT. v What the Two Principal* in the Big Transaction Say The Provision Dealer's Loss Placed at $1,000,04)0, ♦ CHICAGO, Dec. 21.—“A mere incident, I assure you. We are now practically out of the whole matter. We have a li'tle wheat yet to deliver; the necessary bushels are ready for delivery when the proper time approaches for the filling of these comparatively small outstanding contracts, and there’s an end of the affair in so far as we are concerned.” Thus, with characteristic terseness, does P. D. Armour define his position in these the closing days of one of the biggest wheat deals that has marked the history of the Board of Trade. Joseph Leiter, his youthful opponent, is just as calm and confident in his expressions as the big provision man. “Mr. Armour sold wheat,” he declares, "and I bought of him. That is all. There was no battle. It was a common, almost elementary business transaction. I shall sell the Wheat which I have purchased when the need of the foreign market demands it. I shall sell at a profit, and that’s the closing chapter of;my part of the story.” These statements, coming from the principals in the December wheat deal, have caused much comment in Board of Trade circles. Will Joseph Leiter make a .profit on the round 4,000.000 bushels of real wheat which has been placed in his hands by the provision man? Is/ now the question. The report is going the rounds that the whole affair was productive of results indicating a big Armour-Ijeiter combine. In many minds this rumor was given credence. The manipulation of the local market byvLjdt ’r agents pulling the wires from the Liverpool end was recited over and over. This idea, however, is ridiculed by the majority of traders. Some members of the board say that Leiter has secured 5,000,000 bushels of tfca cereal. Others place the figure as high as 15.000,000, while the more conservative are willing to admit that half the latter amount is nearer the correct estimate. Mr. Letter asserts that Just as much of this will go abroad as the foreign market calls for if they “pay him his price.”

"Some folks on the board think I can’t transport grain eastward by rail without a loss, do they?” said Mr. Leiter. “Well, possibly they can’t, but I’m willing to play out my end of the game along my own lines, and I may differ with these prophets considerably.” Mr. Letter’s father, whose millions are supposed to be back of his son’s deal, is now in Chicago, having arrived from the East yesterday. ARMOUR’S ALLEGED LOSS. The Post prints the following concerning Mkc present situation: "Dec. 31, ‘settlinguay’ on the Board of Trade, will witness the culmination of the gigantic LeiterArmour deadlock. The trade will not be surprised to learn that Armour will lose a clear $1,000,000 on the deal. Throughout he has performed the marvelous feat of bringing 6,000,000 bushels of high-grade cash wheat to this city in defiance of all settled rules of commerce; that act may result in nothing more substantial than glory. It is tk growing belief on ’Change that Mr. Armour had to pay dearly for bringing the big tjoiume of wheat to this city, and that his snort selling will cost him about IS or 20 cents a bushel. By settlement day the deal will have been fought to a finish, and only the formalities will remain to be observed. “The present status of the case is about as follows: In July the Leiter clique began Its operations in a formidable manner by gobbling qp July wheat at 63 cents. The amount in its possession was variously estimated at from 5,000,000 to 10,000,000 bushels. No matter what the actual amount of its holdings, it was large enough to boost the price and emphasize the growing foreign demand. The price of July wheat rose to 73 cents, and between 70 and 73 cents the Leiter’ clique sold out Its stock of July and transferred a portion of it to September, pocketing by the transaction the premium which at that time existed between July and September wheat. When September came around the clique repeated its bullish tactics and accumulated at 67 cents a vast amount of September wheat, estimated as high as 11.000,600 bushels. It was during this month that the foreign situation was brought out more boldly. September skyrocketed in a short time up to CO cents. A large portion of the holding was transferred to December, with another handsome premium to put away, and a considerable bulk was sold outright for a big profit. CHANCE TO SELL AT BIG PROFIT. "The present line of 6.000,000 bushels of December wheat which the Leiter clique is caring for was bought from the elevator people at from 87 to 80 cents a bushel. At one time the clique had an opportunity to sell this immense holding at a profit of nearly 20 cents a bushel. Armour, Seaverns, Peavy and the Central Elevator Company were the people who sold wheat to the Leiter clique. Armour’s shortage was only guessed at intil the great shipments of wheat from Duluth by vessel and rail showed In the sensationally large increase of the contract stocks in store. The amount said to have been brought here is nearly 8,000,000 bushels, and that is regarded as the amount of Armour’s shortage. The other shorts did the same thing that Mr. Armour has accomplished, although not upon so large a scale. "Before Mr. Armour sent out his appeal to bring in wheat sufficient to satisfy his contracts for delivery, he was face to face with a tough problem. Had he been unable to secure tne wheat which he is now credited with having brought here he would have been compelled to pay to Leiter the difference between the price at which he sold the wheat to Leiter and the market price on the day of delivery. Inasmuch as Mr. French, of the Leiter crowd, insists that the December wheat In the clique’s hands did not cost, on an average, more than 90 cents a bushel, and assuming that the market price would be $1 a bushel on the final day of the month, when it is necessary for Armour to deliver what he sold to Leiter, he would have been compelled to pay the latter 10 cents on every bushel he could not actually deliver. The rules of the board are Ironclad on this subject, and there is no recourse. Now that Armour has secured fully as much wheat as he sold for delivery this month, there will be no •uch contingency to face. It was in bringing the wheat to this city when it was scarce, when hardly any was to be had, that the test of HtrAgth came in. That rubicon has been safely crossed by Armour. At what sacrifice he saved his business honor is known only to himself. The costs are mostly rt presented In ■ freight charges, private settlements for cargoes already chartered for other port? and the dlspiacemtnt of great bulks of wheat which were not designed for shipment to this city. The remainder of the shorts who sold to French are generally regarded as safely within cover. It is confidently predicted that the clique will get all Ihe wheat whlph it bought. If Armour had been buying for other houses on the bear side of the market it is not known to the outside tradj, and

the general belief is that Armour bought cash wheat for Armour & Cos., first and last.” ■ ■ ♦ TWO NOTED CHICAGOANS. Philip D. Armour and Levi Ziegler * Leiter, Multi-Millionaires. Philip D. Armour unquestionably deserves a niche beside the greatest of the historic captains of American industry. Asa speculator he has been most successful m the investment of his capital in productive concerns that have been of widespread service to society. He has handled, produced, stored and distributed food stuffs to all America and all Europe, and he has been liberally remunerated for his work, because he has been and is now a xich man. Like many of his kind he began the struggle for life with nothing in the way of capital. The first capital he got he dug out of the ground in the form of gold from the placers of California. His first venture in industry was as a pork packer in Milwaukee. The war wave came along and carried him In a very short time to the possession of great wealth. The foresight that has ever characterized him led him to Chicago and he then began to build up the great business of which he is master to-day. He has bought and sold various properties. As director and owner of producing industries he has been most successful. Asa mere trader—a buyer and seller—he has rare pluck and sagacity, and he has added to his store very largely by this means. He is a financier. Wail street knows and fears him. Mr. Armour is fond of making clever strokes of business, just for the sake of doing the thing, as a hunter likes a well-fiiled bag at the end of a day’s sport. He likes to see his productive industries paying profits, although he does not need profits. He has a reputation for being kind to poor people who can’t get anybody else to help them out. That’s why there is any number of persons in Chicago who stand up for him. Mr. Armour inawes no display of wealth. He dresses simply, lives in a plain house, is interested in education, and has a way of wiping out the debts of small churches of all creeds that amazes the impecunious congregations thereof. As may be imagined, his mail la tremendous and the number of callers on him infinite. He is always in perfect health and is a harder worker than was ’he elder Dumas. Levi Ziegler Leiter, who is now in Chicago spending the Christmas holiday's with his son and incidentally looking over the field of the great Leiter-Armour wheat deal, was a clerk in a country store in Maryland when he was a lad. Mr. Leiter and Marshall Field met in Chicago shortly after the former came west to seek his fortune. The rise of Field and the rise of Leiter were coincident, and in 1895 the pair bought into the business of Potter Palmer. The firm became Field, Palmer & Leiter, and not kng afterward Field, Leiter & Cos. The big West grew. Cities sprang up. Railroad business was thundering over the prairies. Field, Reiter & Cos. bought dry goods and sent them all over the territory tributary to Chicago. Mr. Leiter worked like a horse, and. like his opponent in the wheat deal, had an inordinate appetite for labor. Meanwhile he bought real estate. He didn’t care to sell It, and the values enlarged wonderfully with the influx of population. His income from the profits of the dry goods business went on. But in 18S1 Mr. Leiter thought he would retire. He sold out to his partners. He had real estate to manage and then he wanted to travel. There was another consideration. He liked books and. fortunately, hehad p,enty of money with which to buy them. Books are the most expensive luxury in the world. One can put a fortune in a single volume. He traveled and added many treasures to his superb collection. While Mr. Leiter has never sought or held office, he has taken pains to study politics and social science in a careful way, and has a thorough understanding of the rationale of government, American and otherwise. He is not inactive in a religious life. The American Sun-day-school Union is one of his favorite institutions. In so far as one man can spread his efforts upon civic progress Mr. Leiter has done a good'share of work in pushing Chicago albng. He is one of Chicago's big men. For several years he has lived in Washington,for the benefit of its soft climate, and has not appeared in the field of business of which Mr. Armour is so prominent a figure. Mr. Leiter is now sixty-three old.

REPLY TO OPERATIVES REASONS GIVEN BY COTTON-MILL OWNERS FOR REDUCING W AGES. * . New England Manufacturer* Cannot Compete with the South Because Labor Is Cheaper There. FALL RIVER, Mass., Dec. 21.—After an informal discussion, lasting nearly all of the forenoon, a formal meeting of the manufacturers’ committee was held this afternoon and the answer to the operatives’ proposition was framed. It recites the conditions affecting the industry in Fall River and the reasons for the proposed reductions of wages. The answer says: “The manufacturers have carefully considered the three propositions submitted to them by the representatives of the various labor organizations there assembled. As you very well know, the cotton mills in Fall River find confronting them a condition of things which, to say the least, is startling, and the condition of the cotton cloth trade is such that the mills in Fall River find it impossible to dispose of their output at such prices as w'ill admit of any return whatever on the capital invested. The competition which Fall River mills have to meet has been brought in part by the philanthropy which the good people of Massachusetts have ever shown towards those of her citizens who have appeared to need her sympathy. "The hours of labor in Massachusetts have been shortened more than in neighboring States, and more than her manufacturers can stand. While such laws have apparently relieved the burdens pf the operatives in the factories, they have really worked to their financial disadvantage, because auch laws huve induced undue competition outside of Massachusetts, where hours of labor are longer and where every inducement is offered capitalists to invest. "The South has modern mills containing most improved machinery and a very low cost of labor. Massachusetts is handicapped by the shortest labor hours, an extremely restricted legislation compared with other and competing States. Mills must run and earn dividends for stockholders or there is no inducement for capital to invest in Massachusetts or Fall River. It must be evident to you, as it is to this committee, that there is no money for stockholders nor for employes either when the mills are idle or running short time, and that it is useless for all the Fall River mills to do all the curtailing of production. When we stop our mills every one else runs full time, and if a curtailment of production here brings about better prices it is only temporary and simply offers an inducement tor capital to build more mills, not in Fall River, but outside of Massachusetts. We work against ourselves every time we stop our mills without the co-operation of tlie rest of the spmdles of the country, and in our opinion our competitors would be willing to join with us in curtailing production only when Fall River is able to manufacture cotton cloth at as low a cost as is possible elsewhere. “The facts are that Massachusetts mills work fifty-eight hours per week and other States have sixty-hour laws for labor. The Southern mills run from sixty-six to seven-ty-two hours weekly, and in some cases run day and night. The cost of labor in the Southern mills is very much lower than in New England and they claim advantages in water power, taxes, cheap transportation and cheap cotton, as wed as in longer hours of labor. Their mills are as good, but no betttr than ours, and the fact stares us in the face that they can undersell us in the markets on account of the lower cost of production. But reduction in labor is not all. Some concerted action should, be taken to see if legislation in this State can be made friendly to its industries, so that capital may bo induced to stay here rather than go outside. When it is considered that mills In Fall River and Massachusetts run less hours than in other Slates and that it is necessary for us to meet such a close eompetidon in trade under such adverse conditions it seems to this committee that nothing is to be gained by putting off for two months more the date at which a reduction of wages should go into effect, and Inasmuch as the mills of Fall River have run during the past year or more under conditions so very discouraging and unremunera ivo, during which time we have tried the exper ment of curtailment extensively, the committee of manufacturers feels that the situation is such that they must adhere to their decision that it is absolutely necessary to reduce wages in Fall River mills 11 1-fi per cent., said reduction to go into effect oi\ the 3d day of January. 1898, as voted by the manufacturers at a meeting held oh the Sth day of December, 1897.”

THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL, WEDNESDAY, DECEMRFR 22. 1837.

The sentiment of the employes is said to be In favor of resisting the reduction. PITTSBURG DISTRICT MINERS. They Resolve to Revive the Interstate Agreement. PITTSBURG, Dec. 2L—The joint convention of coal operators and miners of the Pittsburg district, which met here to-day to fix a rate for mining for the ensuing year, decided to postpone the matter of a rate for this district pending the outcome of a movement for an interstate convention, at which a uniform rate for Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois would be fixed. The convention was one of the largest ever held in this city, over one hundred miners and twenty-eight operators being present, besides the miners’ national officers and many miners from surrounding districts. Hon. D. M. Anderson, a Finleyville operator, presided. Miners’ National President Ratchford stated at the opening of the convention that the action taken at yesterday’s meeting of miners declaring for a 49-cent rate for run-of-mine coal should not have been taken. He advocated a revival of the old interstate agreement, which provided for a general price for all districts, and said that ho had assurances from the miners and operators of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois that they would join in the movement. A motion to revive the interstate agreement was then made by Operator F. L. Robbins and seconded by Col. W. P. Rend. A discussion generally favoring the old agreement followed,and when it was put to a vote it was unanimously carried. A committee composed of Operators F. L. Robbins, F. M. Osborne and Alexander Dempster and M. D. Ratchford, W. C. Pearce and Edward McKay, of the miners’ association, was appointee! to arrange the details for an Interstate convention, and a recess was taken until this afternoon. At the afternoon session a committee was appointed, which wil. meet at the Chittenden Hotel, Columbus, 0., on Dec. 27. This committee will have power to fix a temporary rate, to be in force from Jan. 1 to Jan. 15. The committee will also make arrangements for the holding of an interstate convention between the expiration of the temporary scale, to establish a price for the year satisfactory to the several States interested. Notice* of a Cot Posted. SOUTH RIDGE, Mass., Dec. 21.—Notices have been posted at the Fiskdale cotton mills in Sturbridge that, on Jan. 3, the wage scale will be lowered. The notices do not state the amount of the reduction, but it is understood it will be between 10 or 11 per cent., or about the same as that contemplated by Fall River and New Hampshire mills. The Fiskdale mills employ four hundred persons. It is thought the cutdown will be accepted. WHITINSVILLE, Mass., Dec. 21. Notice of a reduction in wages was posted at the Farmirnsville carpet mill to-day, but the amount of decrease was not stated. The cut-down will take place on Dec. 27 and will affect two hundred hands. The mill started up last September, after being idle about a year. WORCESTER. Mass.. Dec. 21.-The Mlllbury cotton mills, following the lead of the Fall River mills, has posted a notice of a cut of 10 per cent., to take effect Jan. 3. This was expected, and the owners say they were forced to make the cut by the condition of business.

National Building- Trade*. ST. LOUIS, Dec. 21.—The National Building Trades Council was permanently organized to-day. The delegates deeply resent the alleged unseemly action of the American Federation of Labor in condemning the object of their meeting, and with the apparent idea of meeting the Federation on a common footing they have decided to hold the next annual meeting in Kansas City in December, 1898, one week before the meeting of the American Federation of Labor in the same city. Officers were elected as follows: President, Edward Carroll, Chicago; vice presidents, Theodore S. Jones, Kansas City; J. P. Healy, Washington; A. J. Franz and J. F. Harvey, Milwaukee; M. P. Carrick, Pittsburg; C. S. Leveling, East St. Louis; secretary and treasurer, W. H. Steinbiss, St. Louis. Mr. Steinbiss was unanimously indorsed for the position of industrial commissioner to be appointed by President McKinley. The position, however, must first be created. All the labor unions are endeavoring to have a bill passed in Congress appointing an industrial commission, which body will adjust difficulties between capital and labor. A petition was forwarded to Secretary Lyman J. Gage, of the Treasury Department, asking him that when the contract for the construction of the new government building at Chicago is let an adequate provision be inserted for the use of material produced by the State of Illinois as far as practicable, and also that the labor unions of Chicago be employed on the building. Political Policy of the A. F. of L. DENVER, Col., Dec. 21.—The Rocky Mountain News to-day sent a telegram to Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, asking him to outline the plans of his organization for independent political action. The following response was received: "The plans for our political action in the interest of labor are only in a tentative state at present. The American Federation of Labor proposes, however, to take such political action as will compel the lawmakers, the executives and the judiciary to enact, to enforce and to define laws in the interest of our people. We shall elect our own representatives wherever possible and at all times defeat the enemies of our cause irrespective of party. To achieve these purposes, however, we realize that it is necessary for the workers of our country East, West, North and South to unite and federate and concentrate our entire efforts to attain tlie greatest success.” Plumber* Will Strike. CLEVELAND, 0., Dec. 21.—The journeymen plumbers of this city will go on strike Jan. 1 and the fight between them and the master plumbers promises to be long and bitter. This year’s contract provides that no helpers or apprentices be employed, thus giving employment to more plumbers and tending to reduce the future number, thus raising wages. The journeymen demand that on Jan. 1 the master plumbers sign a live years’ contract to the same effect. The masters not only refuse to do this, but declare that hereafter they will employ all the helpers they want. Both sides are preparing for the struggle.

Preparing for h Mob. CHARLESTON, W. Va„ Dec, 21.—Gov. Atkinson is in receipt of a telegram from General Spillman, of Parkersburg, informing him tHat a mob is forming in Pomeroy, 0., to cross the river into West Virginia to drive the men out of the mines of the Consumers’ Coal Company, at New Haven. The General wired the sheriff of Mason county to look into the matter and the sheriff wired back that he would be in New Haven with a force of deputies to-morrow and would prevent the trouble. In the meantime, the state militia is ready to move when called upon. Federation of Labor Adjourns. NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 21.—The American Federation of Labor closed its seventeenth annual session to-day. Thomas I. Kidd, of Chicago, was elected fraternal deli egate to the Canadian Labor Congress. The convention spent most of the morning in executive session, considering the reports of the grievance committee. After the matters contained in the report of the committee had been disposed of the convention adjourned. 3.000 Pant'll of Glunm Broken. NEW YORK, Dec. 21.—An eight-pound dynamite cartridge exploded to-night in the rtar of the Arbuckle coffee building in Brooklyn. Nearly five thousand panes of glass in the neighborhood w’ere shattered, and that the explosion was not attended by loss of life is remarkable. The explosion was heard twenty blocks away. The dynamite cartridge was to have been used to-morrow in blasting a huge rock that had obstructed an artesian well drilling. It was frozen and had been placed in an iron pipe, wrapped in paper to thaw it out. John Gallagher, a workman, was thrown fifteen feet in the air. but escaped injury. The entire damage will not exceed $,*,000. „ llnrk Ilnnnu Entertained. PHILADELPHIA, Deo. 21.—Senator Mark A. Hanna, of Ohio, was entertained at dinner at Merlon this evening by President Frank Thomson, of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Mr. Hanna came up from Washington on th*' congressional limited, and was conveyed in a private car from Poweltonavenue station to Merlon. Among the otheT guests were Vice President Pugh, Edward T. Post!ethwuitn and General Agent William J. Latta. The senator left for Cleveland In the evening In Vice President Pugh’s private car. which had come from New York with Mrs. Hanna and her daughter. On Monday evening President Thomson ent ■ T >bp ew am | a party of prominent New Yorker*.

DETAILS OF A BATTLE —♦— CUBAN VERSION OF THE FIGHT AT YACTC FORD ON CAUTO RIVER. < #— General Pando’* Force of Nearly 0,000 Spaniards, Assisted by Six Gunboats, Forced to Retreat. * 400 KILLED AND WOUNDED WHILE THE INSURGENT LOSS WAS 100 SLAIN AND 300 INJURED. ► An Americnn Courier Promoted for Braving the Spunisb Fire—Weyler’s Policy Favored by Conservatives. NEW YORK, Dec. 21.—Below is the Cuban version of the battle fought at Yacta ford on the Cauto river, on Dee. 14 last. The details were received through the mails by Captain Alfredo Rodriguez, a Cuban insurgent officer who is an invalid in this city. It tells of a crushing defeat inflicted on the Spanish general Pando. Captain Rodriguez’s correspondent says: "A part of Gen. Calixto Garcia’s force, under Lieutenant Colonel Salvador Rios, was holding the Yacta ford of the Cauto river. It was important for Pando’s forces to reopen the river in order that reinforcements might be sent to the City of Bayamo, besieged by General-,RolofT. General Garcia’s main force was a little further up the river, protecting a ford threatened by General Pando. General Aldave, in command of two thousand lsh infantry (regulars), a squadron of cavalry and 3,000 guerrilla volunteers, twentytwo cannon and six attacked Rios, Disposing his artillery on the hills commanding the Yacta ford, Aldave opened a hot fire o* the insurgent works on the opposite side of the river. Rios and his 500 Cubans retired into the of the woods, and the ford was open for the Spaniards’ passage.

"Aldave advanced a column of infantry across the ford, holding their rifles and ammunition belts above their heads, the men being protected by a continued artillery lire. Rios, seeing that he could not hold fiis position without help, sent a volunteer courier, Lieut. Charles Hickman, an American, to Gen. Calixto Garcia, up the river. Hickman had to ride directly through the enemy’s fire, but made the passage safely. "Meanwhile General Aldave landed 1,500 men on the farther side, and General Pando with a large force at this time made a feint on the upper ford. General Garcia, deceived by Pando’s movement, decided that he could spare only a small reinforcement to Colonel Rios and sent Col. Carlos Garcia with only 200 mounted men down the river. This reinforcement, small as it was, renewed the hopes of the defenders of the Yacta, and they charged the Spaniards with the bayonet. The Cubans, however, were so largely outnumbered that they were forced to give way. Carlos Garcia’s horse was shot under him and Colonel Rios was wounded slightly in the leg. Colonel Garcia’s escort renewed the charge with machetes this time, and held the Spanish forces in check for a short while. “By then General Calixto Garcia had seen through General Pando’s feints on the upper ford, and dispatched General Jesus Rabi with 1,000 cavalry to their relief. These arrived just as the Spanish were recovering ground from the machete charge, and fell suddenly on their rear, throwing the troops who had crossed the ford into confusion. The Spanish had to give ground, and became exposed to the fire from their own artillery .in the hills, and from the six gunboats which had jQlned ip the bombardment of Rios’s men. General Aldave ordered this destructive fire to cease, reiormed his attacking party and dispatched a message to General Pando for assistance in carrying the Cuban position; But it was too late, the Cubans, relormihg, raised their battle shout of "A1 Machete! Cuba Libre!” ami fell on the Spanish ranks with terrible eiiect. A body of l.ouo guerrillas was cut off from Aluave’s force -and threw down their arms. "General Rabi, knowing the half-hearted loyalty of these volunteers, told them that they must fight their own comrades or be cut to pieces, and they obeyed, and really fought desperately on the Cuban side. General Aldave, seeing that his men would be annihilated, withdrew them across the ford, again protected by the artillery fire. General Pando, with an escort, rode down from the upper ford and directed the Spanish retreat. “The Cuban loss in this .engagement was 106 killed and about 300 wounded. General Rabi’s men found 200 Spanish dead, and General Aldave, in his report to Havana, said his wounded numbered 200. The Cubans believe they inflicted much more damage; that the Spanish troops carried ?_way many of their dead and minimized the number of wounded, reporting only one-fourth. Among the Cubans killed was Major Llenada and Captain Garcia, a son of a rich planter. The Spanish left on the field Lieutenant Colonel Llave, two captains and an assistant surgeon and the standard of arms of the battalion Llanaros. General Garcia promoted Hickman, the daring courier, to the rank of yaptaln on the field. “Pando hai reported to General Blanco that 100,OCO men are needed to break the backbone or the insurgent opposition in the east, and that it is no longer practicable to continue the campaign to relieve Bayamo. This city General Garcia expects to capture early In January, being now able to detach troops from his command to send to Roloff’s aid,” Captain Rodtriguez has also received news that General Maximo Gomez has crossed the Jahonica river, at Ciego de Avila, and has continued on his march to effect a junction with General Rodriguez.

BURDEN IS TOQ HEAVY. Little Probability of Pence ill CnbiiProperty Owners Dishenrtened. Special to thp Indianatiolls Journal. WASHINGTON, Dec. 21.—Prospects for a restoration of peace in Cuba along the lines proposed by Sagasta seem to be growing less favorable as time advances. Information in support of this statement Is being received from reliable and convincing sources by officials of the administration, and by leading senators and representatives. The failure is expected to result from the inability of the property interests to stand the burden which the mother country will seek to put upon them in the adjustment of the war debt. Under arrangements w’hich existed before the war broke out for paying off the indebtedness resulting from the previous election, the property on the island was taxed to the utmost limit of endurance, and now it is proposed to impose a still heavier tax on a country which has been greatly impoverished during the last three years. The enormous drain to which the substantial people of Cuba have been subjected falls on only about ope tenth of the entire population and thus, while the per capita tax appears to be quite moderate, It is really backbreaking to the limited number who have to stand it. Any additional load would serve to crush the spirit and enterprise out of the island and drive away the most desirable pait of the population. Here is where the real danger is believed to lie. and those who are in closest touch with Cuban matters are taking a very gloomy view of the situation. The great part of the Cubnn-Spanish debt is held in Germany, and alarmists are beginning to experience the advance tremors of horror over the possibility of Germany intervention before matters aro finally adjusted in the Antilles. WEYLEH’S POLICY INDORSED. Conservn lives In Cnhu Opposed to SngiiNtn’n tloine-Rnle Scheme. HAVANA, Dec. 21.—At to-day's meeting of the Conservative party over three hundred delegates, said to represent 80 per cent, of the wealth of the island, being present, several of the speakers insisted that the president, the Marquis of Apeztegui, should explain his conduct and r utterances as

published In the newspapers of Madrid. The marquis. In a speech of two hours' duration, satisfactorily explained matters and denied the accuracy of the news published in Madrid. In all twenty-seven speeches were made against autonomy, all the speakers agreeing that autonomy will not bring peace to the island, as proved by the protests of the members of the Cuban Junta of New York and the recent death of Lieutenant Colonel Ruiz and five other Spanish commissioners who have been killed by the insurgents. Senor Santos Guzman, a former president of Congress, touched on the patriotic sentiments of the Spanish people, ahd, referring to President McKinley's recent message to Congress, he protested against It. alleging that it was offensive to Spain, to General Weyler and to the Spanish army, and holding that it indicated probable early intervention. “a warning to a most haughty nation which will not permit such a humiliation.” Senor Guzman succeeded in unifying the opposing factions in the party, thus avoiding the disruption which had been encouraged by the reformists. Senor Guzman submitted a motion, which was unanimously approved, expressing confidence In President Apeztegui and the executive committee and confirming the po itical platform of the party, which is essentially Spanish and Centralist, as against home rule, and withdrawing completely from political struggles, while authorizing the executive committee to determine when the condition of the country and the general-in-chief demand the party’s services. The executive committee was further authorized to cable a message to General Weyler, the substance of which was that at a mass meeting of the reunited Union Constitutional party the policy of his Excellency was indorsed apd the party assured the general that he had its support. rannnlties in Ten Days. HAVANA, I>ec. 21.—1 t was announced from the palace to-day that during the last ten days the insurgents have lost 302 men killed and that, in addition, the Spanish troops have* captured seventeen prisoners, and sixty-nine armed insurgents have surrendered. The troops, it is further announced, have captured ninety-six stands of firearms during this time. Among the killed, the statement continues, are three insurgent leaders and three officers of the Insurgent forces. The Spanish troops, during the same period, according to the official statistics, lost three officers and thir-ty-three soldiers killed and had thirteen officers and 213 soldiers wounded. It is reported here that the insurgent general, Mayra Rodriguez, commanding in the province of Pinar Gel Rio, has been wounded in an engagement near Aranjuez. Sixty officers and 520 soldiers arrived from Spain to-day.

Filibuster Hart In Prison. PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 21.—John D. Hart, the principal owner of the vessels of the Hart Steamship Company, against which vessels there have been many charges of filibustering for the Cuban cause, was this evening taken to the Eastern penitentiary. Hart was convicted in the Unite* States District Court several months ago of aiding a Cuban filibustering expedition on the steamship Laurada and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment in the Eastern penitentiary. Pending decision on an appeal to the United States Court of Appeals from this sentence Hart was allowed his liberty under $7,C00 bail. To-day Jessoi EhJridgey one of Hart’s four bondsmep. notified the court that he desired to be relieved of his security and Hart’s re-arrest followed. Mr. Eldridge made no explanation of his action to the court. Hart can obtain his release on furnishing the required security. The Sliver Heel* Released. WASHINGTON, Dec. 21.—Assistant Secretary Spaulding to-day issued orders for the release of the Silver Heels at Wilmington, N. C. This step was taken on a report by the United States attorney that he could obtain no evidence on which to proceed against the vessel. The master, mate and crew all swore that the vessel left sew, York Oct. 17, and was drifting at sea" for fifty days on account of storms and 'hadi weather until she reached Wilmington. The master and mate swear the vessel had no arms or ammunition aboard, and did not deliver any. Weyler Will Print u Protest. MADRID, Dec. 21. Lieutenant General Weyler is preparing to publish a protest against President McKinley’s message to Congress. “PINK LAW” VALID. All Oleoma rsnirine or Butterlne in Minnesota Must lie Colored.

ST. PAUL, Dec, 21.—Judge Lochren has decided that the Minnesota law (Pink law) providing that all oleomargarine or butterine offered for sale in this State must be colored a bright pink is constitutional. The decision has been filed in Duluth, where the case was brought, and copies were filed with Assistant Attorney Edgarton and Dairy Commissioner Anderson to-day. In 1895 the inspectors of the dairy and food department seized a carload of oleomargarine from Armour & Cos. at Duiuth. The inspectors did not obtain warrants from the court. The Armour people replevined the oleomargarine, and the result was a suit, which finally found its way to the United States court. The State Supreme Court had previously held the pink law to be constitutional, and Judge Lochren sustained that opinion. Armour & Cos. are declared to be rightfully possessed of the car of oleomargarine, however. AN ADRIATIC CHRISTMAS. Nikola Tesla Tells of the Time In His Native Land. New York Herald. Nikola Tesla does not often speak at length about himself or his wonderful electrical inventions, but he sat and talked for an hour or two the other day with a friend about Christmas.in the province of Lika, which is a part of the Austro-Hungarian empire and lies close to the Adriatic sea, near Herzigovina, Dalmatia and Bosnia. Tesla passed much of his boyhood in Smitjan, a town of Lika, where his father was pastor of a Greek church, but went from there while yet a boy. “Christmas festivities in my country,” said Mr. lesla, "differ much from Christinas festivities here, yet there are many similarities, too. We begin the celebration on the day before Christmas by fasting. We do not altogether abstain, being privileged to eat freely’of fish and all vegetable foods, but we may partake of no ttesh meats, nor milk, nor eggs. This day is devoted largely to reflection, and its observance lasts until late on Christmas eve. ''We rise very early in my country on Christmas morning—as early as 3 o’clock at the latest—to go to church and hear mass. All the morning until 11 o’clock is given over to religious &±rvices of one sort or another, and but little if any food is taken until that hour. By that time, however, every one is hungry, and a liberal luncheon >is eaten, no discrimination being made against the heartiest food. "Every ene in my country is fond of coffee, which is generally drunk in large cups, with cream or milk. We may drink eotiee on the day before Christmas, but without miik only, and as we are allowed to resume the use of milk in coffee on the day itself, you may he sure we then indulge freely in the delicious drink. After this breakfast the gentlemen are served with liquors and little cakes. m "The Christmas dinner comes later in the day, and 1 assure you it is always a meal to remember. No. we do not serve turkey there as the chief dish, and I am not sure that I can name any dish that may properly be said to take the turkey’s place, unless it be roasted pig. "I do not remember a Christmas dinner without a roasted pig in my country. The pig selected is always very young and small, and is roasted entire after dressing, the cooking being attended to with great care and prolonged until the skin is crisp and crackling. Besides the Christmas pig there are many other dishes served on the great Christmas festival—all the good things, in fact, that can he devised, the same as in America; and every one eats as heartily as possible, another point in which the people of my country and Americans are alike. "There is always a Christmas tree whereever there are children in my country, and the good house mothers and fathers prepare and decorate them with much loving care, to the great delight of the little ones. There are always present a-plenty on the trees, of course, but, even so, gift giving is not so tnuch’a feature of the holiday time here as there. "Tiie stockings are not hung up on Christmas eve, as here, in my country, but on St. Nicholas day, which falls some days earlier than Christmas. In America the fesval of St. Nicholas, or Santa Claus, and Christmas seem to be combined, but there they are kept separate, and the children have two days of holiday rejoicing and frolic in place of one. “Asa matter of fact, they have more than that, since the observance of Christmas itself lasts two or three days after the day itself, during all of which time the greatest jollity prevails, and family reunions are held. There is much visiting back and forth, and seasonable greetings till the air. “But sometimes,” continued the electrician. musingly if thinking of other days,

STRONG, LEE&COMPANY WHOLESALE DRY GOODS, NOTIONS, UNDERWEAR, HOSIERY, Etc. Announcement extraordinary; TO THE RETAIL MERCHANTS OF MICHIGAN. OHIO and INDIANA: Monday morning, December the twenty-seventh, we will i>egin our Annual Reduction Sale Continuing five days, closing with the old year. Merchants who attended the sale last year were decidely enthusiastic over values and prices, a many inquiries as to the date of the sale this year prove. All goods will be offered at prices that will sell them Quickly. Attend this sale—secure jobs which will enable you to inaugurate a January sale—that, will do you good and at the same time enable you to clean up your stock at a profit. SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE SALE First—Your oar faro to ami from Detroit will be allowed on iMirchnaea amounting to over Four Hundred ($400.1)0) Dollar*. Second—Your term* on general Invoice* will be *iot on*h. March 1. Third—Your terra* on winter good*. *pot cuh. July I, ISDN. Under these conditions, as a w.de-awake retailer, you cannot afford to miss this sale. Our road salesmen will be in the house to wait upon you. This sale is for you —attend it—attend it early Monday—profit by it—enjoy it. Our Slogan for 1898—HIGHEST VALUES, LOWEST PRICES. STRONG,LEE&COMPANY DETROIT, MICHIGAN 134 and 136 Jefferson Ave. 38, 40 and 42 Woodbridge St.

PIANOS MUSIC BOXES MANDOLINS... and all kinds of Musical Instruments for XMAS, at . . . 128 and 130 North Pennsylvania St. J|s Don’t Wait, but Come To-Day to the I Greatest Christmas Sale f IS FOR TO-DAY# *j nil $2.49 The climax of furniture bargains. ; r'/iC't- •'! If If 1 | One hundred of these fancy tables, ti? < wuVii **ll 16x10 top, genuine Mahogany, inlaid 4 m rtil \ m ~*lT \ "ith real marquetry on top, shelf and s sides, piano finish, $2.49 Don’t wait s | ( | " | Also 100 more of our famous $2.98 Rocker 9, in oak aud mahogany finish, jI j \ a regular fo.OO value—sale price, $2.98. 50 Pedestals in oak and mahogany S finish, $1.98. COME EARLY. J Qaiuhr & Reckerl § -J The Old Reliable . .... ® 115, 1.17 and 119 East Washington Street, Opposite Courthouse. Wfl —magazine ciiri.stmtts Cigars 'magazine headquarters 85c upward per box. headquarters yearly Monument Place Cigar and News Stand, yearly SUBSCRIPTIONS | omm , en t Place, just west H. Wood'* Stables

“the reunions are not held, and the visiting exists in the wishes of the people only. That is when the deep snows come. “For you must know.” he went on, that my country is not only cold in the winter, but subject at times to great snowfalls, the like of which I have never seen in the new world— snov/falls so deep that a mans head would be far below the level of the tight and feathery substance in many places; snowfalls that are often accompanied by wild, tierce winds, piling the flakes up into enormous drifts in some places and sweeping the rock-bound soil clean in others; snowfalls that are not well to encounter unless shelter is near, and that have huned many a human victim beneath a milk-white death mantle. . , .. “Not all these terrible storms come in the winter season, either, as I have excellent cause to remember. My country is high above the sea level; my home was 2,000 feet and more straight up from the tide and m&ny th^rc 1 be who live one, two, Hlmost three thousand feet higher.” THE TRAVELER’S ROMANCE. A Tale of Two Flying, Train* and an Engagement to Marry. New York Times. “Talk about your romances,” said a traveling man last night in a Broadway hotel to the clerk as he complacently rested his elbows on the register and passed over a cigar with one hand and a wedding invitation with the other. "The man whose name is on this card runs out from Chicago with a line of cutlery and travels the South. Two years ago we met each other in Louisville, Kv., and as both were working to the southward, and as our lines of goods didn’t conflict, we agreed to accompany each other over our district as far as Atlanta, whence I was to work up through the Carolinas while he meant to cover Florida and Alabama. “We both did a big business In Knoxville and Chattanooga, and proceeded over the Western and .Atlantic road to Dalton, a little town in northern Georgia, where I had to stop over a few hours to collect a bill for my house from a lumber company. Dalton is an insignificant little Southern town, but lHJusting two important railroad lines. The Southern Railroad, but which at the time l speak of was the East Tennessee. Virginia & Georgia Railroad, passes through here on its Brunswick connection. The Western 6c Atlantic, one of the oldest roads iri the South, also passes through the town, and for eleven miles beyond the tracks of the two roads run side by side. “Well, when we took the Western & Atlantic express for Atlanta at 8 o’clock on the June day I’m speaking of. the East Tennessee train was standing on the opposite track, also ready to pull out. It seemed that the entire population of the little town was at the station to see them off. A handsome girl ant at a window in the coach of the other train, which stood within two or three feet of us. She sut in her seat with that uir of patrician elegance that is bred in every girl south of Mason and Dixon’s line, whosoever had to work or think for

a living. Beside her was a middle-aged woman, with a tired look, obviously her chaperon. “The two trains pulled out together, amid the excited yells of :he natives, and when they thumped over the last switch frogs together and began to increase speed it became evident to all on'board/that there was going to be a race along the elevenmile stretch. Great Catsar’s ghost! but we were going. I looked out of the left side windows, and saw the trees, houses and telegraph poles whizzing by at a terrific rate. I looked on my right, and theie was the same coach of the opposite train alongside of us, rocking andsw r aying, but seemingly not moving forward until one glanced down and saw the ground between the two coaches sweeping by in a white ribbon, like water in a mill chute. There, her cheeks flushed with excitement, was the same young lady at my friend’s elbow. “The conductor came in at the front door, steadying himself by the car seats as ho took up tickets. When he came to a redfaced man with a goatee and wliite hat. who sat just in front of us, the latter got up and slapped him on the back. “ ‘By Gad. Bill, but you ah givin’ ’em Hail Columbia. I'm bettin’ on you-ail! Don’t let old W. 6c A. get l?ft. by Gad. sah.’ “The conductor expkiine)l to us that races always occurred when the schedules of the rival roads rendered them possible, and that the present match was particularly exciting to the train hands because 'Button llaskina engineer, who iiad been fired from the W. 6c A., was on the East Tennessee run and had blood in Ills eye.’ “Well, sir. on we flew, somebody said wc were getting near to where our tracks diverged and the race ended. The ct.ach that had haunted us on the other track was still there. The girl’s face w r as at the window. First her window' would drop back a foot or two, and then forge ahead, hut never far. Excitement blazed In her face. Ami here my friend’s gigantic, even if questionable, nerve came into play. He drew his card, scribbled ‘good-bye’ upon it, and passed. It into the opposite window 7 . The tired-looking chaperon was horrified, but she waxed even more so when her charge impulsively took one of her own dainty pasteboards and. scribbling the same words upon it. passed It into our careening coach. A moment later that demon in the t ngiue of her train made a supreme effort, and just as we reached th< divergence of the tracks the ‘East Tennessee.’ with a victorious whistle, shot about ten feet ahead of us. The girl flashed an exulting look at us, and I never saw her again. “Six months after that my friend was in her town—Montgomery, Ala.—and told this story. The girl’s father, u wealthy merchant there, took him around to dinner with him. That settled it. It wasn’t good-bye after all. Now they are going - to .race through life together. 1 haven’t traveled with my friend for a long time now, for I now handle a line of cutlery, also. But I’m going to that wedding, you bet.” The diseases cured by Hood’s Sarsaparilla are many, because irtost ailments disappear as soon as the blood is enriched and purified by It.