Indianapolis Journal, Volume 48, Number 41, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 February 1898 — Page 4

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THE DAILY JOURNAL THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10. 1898. Washington Office—lso3 Pennsylvania Avenue Telephone Lull*. Easiness Office 238 [ Editorial Rooms...A 86 TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION, DAILY BY MAIL. Dally only, one month $ .70 Dally only, three months 2.U0 Daily only, one year.... x.OO Daily, including Sunday, one year 10.00 Sunday only, one year 2.00 WHEN FURNISHED BY AGENTS. Dally, per week, by carrier 13 ct* Sunday, single copy '* ets Daily and Sunday, per week, by carrier 20 eta WEEKLY. Per year *I.OO Reduced Rules to Club*. Subscribe with any of our numerous agents or •end subscription, to the JOURNAL NEWSPAPER COMPANY IndiannpMli*, lull. Person* sending the Journal through the mail* In the United State* shouid ;ut on an eight-page paper a ONH-f’ENT postage .stamp: on ;v twelve or sixteen-page paper a TWO-CENT postage •tamp. Foreign postage Is usually double these rates. All communication* intended for publication in this paper must, in order to receive attention, be accompanied by the name and address of the writer. THE INDIANAPOLIS JOl HNAL Can be found at the following places: NEW YORK—Astor House. CHICAGO—PaImer House. P. O. News Cos., 217 Dearborn street, and Great Northern Hotel. CINCINNATI—J. R. Hawley & Cos., 134 Vine street. LOUISVILLE—e. T. Deering. northwest corner of Third and Jefferson streets, and Louisville Book Cos., 236 Fourth avenue. ST. LOUIS— Union News Company, Union Depot. WASHINGTON. D. C.—Riggs House, Kbtvitt House and Willard's Hotel. The French government seems to be on trial as much as M. Zola. Mr. Dupuy de Lome has furnished anew illustration of the duplicity of Spiyiish diplomacy. < If republican government is a good thing, why not extend its benefits to people who are asking for it? What Germany has to say alfbut peace in China is of little imi>ortance compared with the declaration of Russia. The. Spanish minister at Washington has been skating on thin ice for some time. Now he has broken through and gone under. Really, with the Atlanta Constitution's party in the lead in Georgia, there seems -no good reason for the candidacy of Tom Watson as a Populist. The name of republican government was never brought in greater contempt than it is to-day by the attitude of the French government towards Zola. Texas was annexed by a resolution of Congress, and by that annexation the republic of Texas ceased to exist. Why not annex Hawaii in the same way? The “traditional policy of the United States” did not prevent Thomas Jefferson from acquiring the Louisiana territory and favoring the acquisition of Cuba. It Is too bar! that the United States could not have a little real appearance of war to enable a few statesmen like Senator Mason to enlist and get into real fighting clothes. Ex-Governor Boies, of lowa, should not take himseif too seriously. He is not the responsible minister of finance, nor the whole thing regarding currency reform.

Good-bye, Mr. Do Lome. You have served your government weil according to the double-faced code of European diplomacy, but wo have no further use for you. / If the United States should get into war with any other nation, the first to criticise would be such men as Senator Allen, whose only idea in politics is to be hostile to the opposite party. . If there had been any mugwumps a hundred years ago they would have opposed the capture of Vincennes and the creation of Indiana Territory as “a violation of our traditional policy.” if the shoe were on the other foot—if the United States minister to Si>uin had made such a break as that of the Spanish minis- % ter at Washington, what a racket there would be in Madrid! The trouble with Mayor Taggart Is that his machine is geared to general polities rather than to municipal business. He knows all about hut he is ignorant concerning parks. For a man who is confined in an iron cage on a desert island, in a deadly climate, with a military guard around him. Captain Divy- . fus seems to be giving the French government considerable trouble. Gunton's Magazine opposes the postal savings bank on the ground that those who will manage the investing of the funds will in all probability be men of little experience, so that bud investments will be the result. That is an interesting conflict of opinion in Kentucky, where a circuit judge has sent seven Covington councilmen to jail for contempt of court. It is important that the degrees of dignity and contempt should be settled. Judging the British people by the opinions of the London press, they are, about as tickle as are the French. A few days since the government was denounced for an alleged back-down on the China occupation. Yesterday the ministry was applauded for Us bold stand. The French court which is trying M. Zola Is so plainly organized to convict that its judgment will carry no weight with the civilized world. If the great novelist is convicted he will be ‘‘a bigger man” in the estimation of the world than the President of the French republic. . All patriotic Americans will agree that the representative of a foreign government who insults the President of the United States, either publicly or privately, beomes immediately persona non grata, and should leave the country. This is not a question of party, but of national honor. The New York Financial Chronicle says /hat the only way to settle the currency question is to get it out of politics. That is what the monetary tonveinions of business men desired, hut. unfortunately, the Democratic party objects to its settlement upon any basis which does not embrace silver monometallism. As might ltave bent expected, an effort is being made by Democratic papers to create the impression thut the Republican state committee was only organized after a tight between administration and auti-

administration factions of the party, and that the election of Mr. Hernly as chairman is “a slap at the administration.” This is all rubbish, and Republicans in and out of the State will understand it. It is an old trick of politics which attempts to substitute discord for harmony and waiving factions for a united party. There are no factions in the party in this State and no discord among Indiana Republicans. They are all for McKinley because he is the honored head of the party, and they are all for Harrison because he is one of its honored leaders. Whoever attempts to foment jealousy between these distinguished statesmen or to draw an imaginary factional line between their friends in Indiana is no true friend of the party and is ignorant of the spirit of Indiana Republicans. THE ALLEGED DE LOME LETTER. The alleged letter of the Spanish minister, Dupuy Do Lome, furnishes an interesting diversion in Cuban affairs, and, if genuine, is an. important incident. The full text of the letter shows that it was of considerable length and its general tone was such as might have been expected in a confidential communication from the minister to an intimate friend, high in the confidence of the Spanish government. Those who have possession of the document say it was intercepted or stolen in Cuba. The body of the letter treats of the situation in Cuba, the only offensive phrases occurring in one paragraph, as follows: The President’s message has undeceived the Insurgents, who expected something else, and has paralyzed the action of Congress. but I consider it bad. Besides the natural and Inevitable coarseness (groseria) with which he repeats all that the press and public opinion of Spain has said against Weyler, shows once more that McKinley is weak and catering to the rabble, and besides is a low politician who desires to leave a door open to me and to stand well with the jingoes of his party. If the letter Is a forgery It is an adroit one. as these expressions seem quite incidental to the main body of the letter. Photographic copies of it have been given out, and it is said that persons familiar with the minister’s handwriting pronounce it undoubtedly genuine. It was stated at first that the minister had declared the letter to be a forgery, but later dispatches leave the matter in doubt. If its genuineness is established it would undoubtedly cause a change of Spanish ministers at Washington. Ordinarily this would not necessarily involve any strain on the relations between the two countries, but under present circumstances it would be an irritating incident. If the letter is genuine Mr. Dupuy de Lome will have to go, while if it is a forgery somebody has been guilty of a dirty trick. Present indications are that it is genuine and that Mr. De Lome has made a dreadful bad break.

THE LOVERING PROPOSITION. The amendment which Representative Lovering, of Massachusetts, has proposed to the Constitution is likely to attract more attention a few months hence than it has thus far, for the reason that it relates to a very important matter. Indeed, few measures could be more important than one which confers upon Congress the power to regulate the hours of labor for the whole country. And yet. if any regulation of the hours which shall constitute a day’s labor or any limitation of the age of persons who shall work full hours in factories is to be made effective, it must be done by national legislation. As it is at present, the State /which shall legislate regarding hours, factory inspection and child labor will bo sure to send its industries to States which place no limits upon hours and the quality of labor. Massachusetts has led in humane and intelligent legislation in behalf of the people employed in factories. Years ago its Legislature sent many factories to Maine and New Hampshire, which did not hamper the employer of lal>or. Now New England is in danger of losing its cotton industry because its nine or ten-hour days and its positive prohibitions upon child labor make It impossible for the manufacturers of that section to compete with the South, where there is no limit upon hours and age. In time that industry will go to the South. The proclaimed purpose of the leaders of organized labor is to secure an eight-hour day for all employments. Suppose they are able to obtain such a law in Ohio and are unable to secure it in Indiana. Under such conditions two factories, fifty miles apart, in the same business, will come into competition, the one running eight and the other ten hours a day. Such a competition, unless wages should be in proportion to the hours, would result in the bank:up toy of the eight-hour factory. The one result would- !>♦> that competing industries would locate in the States which have no labor laws. Indeed, the valid argument against such laws would be that the State is the better off which has no laws protecting labor. The attitude which labor organizations will assume in regard to the Lovering proposition will be watched with much interest. It would seem that there can be but one side for them to take, and that is to become the champions of the measure, if they are in earnest to secure a shorter work day and the most effective safeguards for labor. If the leaders should, demand the adoption of the Lovering amendment it would become a very important issue. THE PA It K MIDDLE. Park affairs have reached the stage to which the term muddle fitly applies. If the Pogue run tract shall be purchased, with the other land accepted, there will not be a dollar l'or improvements. If the Pogue run tract is not purchased there will be $63,000 or such a matter for expenditure in construction, an altogether Inadequate amount to expend without the certainty of several other quite as large amounts to follow. To leave out the Pogue vun section and use the money to improve other sections will supply the mayor and his board with more trouble than they are needing, for the reason that the mayor has pledged himself to the people of that section that his influence should be directed to securing the purchase of the territory in the nor titeastern part of the city. It is possible for the Council to vote to issue more bonds, but just now the necessary two-thirds required to make a loan cannot be counted. It may be that tinmayor may win the two-thirds to his scheme, but it is reported that some of the Democratic members are afraid to signalize a Democratic administration by pushing the city debt to the constitutional lur.it. The major's conference did not inspirt In the members of the Council the mayor’s confidence in his proposition for a tun Innloan. The Council would have been gladdened If more people had been represented as acquiescing. It may be added that the situ itio j .s as it is because the mayor, after causing an assessment to be made tor the improvement of the park lands, was frightened cut it it and turned to the low-bond scheme. And now that his low-bond scheme la discussed, he seems to luck the nerve to oiner it

THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL THURSDAY, FEBRUARY Ift. 1898.

passed by his Council unless an assured majority of the taxpayers shall certify to him that they will support him. Mr Taggart seems to lack the first elements of resourceful leadership in this matter. Sooner or later the people of Indianapolis will learn that a system of parks such as the park law contemplates call - for the expenditure of a large amount of money, all of which must be raised by taxation. A part of it can be borrowed for a time, but beyond the borrowing capacity of the city a large amount must be raised by annual levy if the system of parks which has been proposed shall be furnished and kept in proper condition. NEW ARGUMENT AGAINST POSTAL SAVINGS BANKS. Anew argument against the establishment of postal savings banks, and, considering its various aspects, a very strong one, is presented in the annual report for 1597 of the bank examiner of Maine. Although savings banks aa-e not numerous in the West, they are an important feature in the Eastern States, and some of the points made in this report in defense of private savings banks apply equally to building and loan associations, which prevail extensively in the West. In the first place, it is argued that while the primary object of savings banks is to assist the industrious poor and teach them lessons of economy, they also minister to the wants of the public and promote private enterprise by carrying a large I portion of the municipal and private indebtedness in States where they exist. The many small sums of money in the possession of individuals are of no special use or advantage to the public while thus held, but when accumulated in a savings institution and invested or loaned out in considerable sums they become in a sense public capital for the promotion of important enterprises and the transaction of all kinds of business. If the savings were deposited in a government institution tliej would no longer be loaned out in this way, and would cease to be a useful factor in local enterprises. The report says: In this State there are $68,906,996.22 in savings. deposited in our various banking institutions. This is nearly one-fifth as much as the entire assessed valuation of the State. At least 50 per cent, of this amount is invested within the State and employed in developing local industries and in transacting local business—nearly $15,000,000 alone beingused by individuals in carrying mortgages on their farms and homes and in their various business enterprises. The withdrawal even of tho amount loaned to individuals w-ould most seriously affect the business prosperity of our people. Another strong point is made in the statement that during the last year the savings banks of Maine, besides paying running expenses and steady dividends to depositors, paid in taxes to the State $382,283, in addition to municipal taxes. By the law of Maine one-half of the amount is set apart for the maintenance of public schools. Dining the last twenty-live years the banks have paid taxes directly to the State amounting to $6,813,002, one-half of which has gone to the support of the schools. On this point tho rciiort says: Never before has the national government proposed to interfere with the inherent light of the States and the municipalities therein to levy taxes on the property of their citizens. Deposits in a postal savings bank would, w r hen received, become a part of the funds of the national govern-* meiit and must, therefore, necessarily be exempt from taxation. If all or any portion of these deposits were diverted from our local institutions by the proposed postal syst( m. our State would he deprived of a materia) portion of its just income. Moreover, to make up the deficiency for revenues thus lost, other property would be subjected to a higher rate of taxation. The injury to our State and the public would be measured by the success of the postal system. Still another point is made in the loss to the people of the State in interest and dividends. During the year 1897 they received in this way $2,510,767, and it is estimated that under the most favorable conditions the government would not pay as much by $1,000,000. This amount, ’then, would represent the loss to individual depositors by the substitution of postal savings banks for private institutions, besides the loss to the State in taxes and to the public at large in the promotion of local business and enterprise. These points apply to every State where savings hanks exist in considerable numbers, and they furnish an unanswerable argument against the government engaging in competition with the people in the savings bank business.

LAIIY SOMERSET’S CONVERSION.

The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union will no doubt rejoice greatly over tlie recent thorough conversion of Lady Henry Somerset to temperance. For a long time the members of that organization were deceived in Lady Henry and thought she was already one of themselves in spirit as she was in official form. For years they looked upon her as second only to Frances Willard in all that pertained to the sacred principles represented by thy white ribbon of purity and the blue ribbon of temperance, to say nothing of the yellow one of equal suffrage. But a few months ago she indiscreetly wrote a letter to the government of India which the dull men composing that body interpreted to mean an approval of licensing certain forms of vice. They lacked the intuition, as well as the experience, which should have informed them that a woman’s letter is extremely apt to mean something quite different from what it says. In consequence of their stupidity Lady Somerset at once lost caste with the W. C. T. IT., which accepted the official reading of the epistle without question and felt that it had cherished a viper in its bosom. After waiting in vain for the error to be corrected by its perpetrators, Lady Somerset writes again to the Indian government, and, expressing a dignified grief at the thought that she should have been interpreted literally and her moral efforts misunderstood, withdraws the letter and closes the Incident. She will, of course, be at once restored to her old standing in the W. C. T. U., and the rejoicing will be two-fold when the news of her further progress is disseminated. This is nothing more nor less than a resolve to discontinue the serving of wine in her own house. The fact that she has been in the habit, up to this time, of setting this soul-destroying beverage before her family and guests will cause the good ladies of the union almost as great a shock as if Frances Willard herself should suddenly announce at this late day that she had resolved to abandon the use of intoxicating drinks. But her determination to have no more wine about the premises will be loss surprising to these ladies than iter reason for doing so at this juncture. She tells her British constituency that now that her son is no longer with her but has a home of his own. she is ready to take a more definite stand in the matter than she. has seen her way clear to do before, and has decided that for the future she "will provide no alcoholic drinks here or elsewhere.” The common attitude of women on this subject is that if total abstinence is to be practiced at till it is while men are in sight, the firm feminine ohvlctkm being that the male of the human siacies needs no more than a single d"ink of intoxicating liquor to have an unquench-

able appetite for more excited in him. To offer him a glass of wine is equivalent in point of danger to touching a match to a powder magazine, though the process of destruction is slower. At all cost he should be prevented front having the first fatal taste of the seductive liquid. As for the effect upon women, that is quite a different thing. It is another article of common feminine belief that an occasional glass of wine or dose of “bitters” for “medicinal purposes” is a very useful thing when consumed by women; the dear souls feel that it does them good and know that they arc not in the least danger of “forming a habit,” but it is far from them to believe in equal selfcontrol in their husbands and sons. Hence they frown upon the very suggestion of things spirituous when those worthies are about. And Lady Somerset has proceeded upon the opposite plan of serving wine while her son was in the family and adopting total abstinence when he went out. It is a course the average temperance woman will not comprehend, bu-t though she will expect Lady Somerset’s son to turn out a toper through his mother's mistaken indulgence she will at least rejoice that the English lady is a brand snatched from the burning while there is yet time. There has bean no bolder break in politics in recent years than the attempt of the Sentinel to defend the free trade policy of the Democratic party, and the Wilson bill as an exponent of it. It argues that the Wilson bill, it' it had not been interfered with, would have proved a national blessing. and declares that “the Democratic party has no need to apologize for its tariff record, and would be standing on it to-day But that the distress caused by the gold standard and the danger of the honest money steal outweigh all other issues.” So far as remembered, the Democratic party has never apologized for any of its blunders, and perhaps it would be standing on its tariff record to-day but for the fact that the American people have jumped onto it with both feet, and there is no room for its supporters. The Orange Judd Farmer says that the country is again on the up-grade in regard to live stock. The shrinkage in its value, which began in 1893, was reversed in 1897, the total value Jan. 1, 1898, being $2,037,012.009, against $1,885,959,000 a year earlier. In spite of the .talk of a, horseless age, the average price advanced from $33.65 Jan. 1, 1897, to $35.96 Jan. 1, 189S. The only item in the whole list that can afford the calamityite a morsel of comfort is the fact that the average price of mules per head is a few cents less now than a year ago. Yielding to the wishes of the Bar Association, Mr. O’Bryan has withdrawn his resignation as probate commissioner and will serve the. remainder of his term. The action of the Bar Association is strong evidence of the opinion held by the legal fraternity as to tlie value of Mr. O’Bryan’s services as commissioner, and both that body and the public is to be congratulated on the fact that the 'resignation has been withdrawn. Stephen Crane was In a shipwreck on the Florida coast; Robert Barr was captured by the Turks and held for twenty-four hours; Mark Twain was in the Reichsrath racket—but oh, how they all turn green with envy at the lot of Zola! No doubt they would willingly take Emile’s chances of being used as a Parisians’ spittoon if they could have his oppbrtunity for gathering literary material.

There seems to be a clamor for war the world over. If the situation were simmered down, however, the number of willin’ Barkises would no doubt diminish. Among those who know' from experience what war is the clamor is confined to that portion of the number too old or too decrepit to take the field. Germany has recovered from her driedapple fright and has begun to worry about American beet sugar. May they be given cause for their advance installment of fright on that subject is the prayer of the American farmer. \ A Kansas court has held that a bicycle Is a tool, and therefore exempt from execution, That is moie than his rider would be if he lived in Oklahoma and offended his neighbors. Germany has explained her taking of the harbor of Kiaochau. The explanation is similar to that given by Bill Nye's Kentucky hotel keeper—Germany needed the harbor. * • *■ * Easy Enough. “What makes the French hate Zola, so?” The eager children cry. “ ’Cause Zola told the truth, you know,” The teacher did reply. Mr. Zola stands about as much show as wouldhi member of the A. P. A. in a Tammany police court. | BUBBLES IN THE AIR. Get Them Together. “If I had my way,” said the young and world-weary boarder, “I would put these talking prize fighters in jail.” “It would be more lit,” suggested the Cheerful Idiot, “to send them to the pound.” The Fly in the Ointment. “This,” said the bystander,, “must be the proudest moment of your life.” “Nit,” sadly ( answered the owner of the winning horse. "It was a great race and I’ve won a fortune, but from now on, 1 see that I shall be known only as owner of the horse that won it.” Mean Tiling. “Before a man is married,” said the minstrel orator, shooting out his cuffs about twenty centimeters, "befifre a man is married, ,he is only half a man.” “There!” said the married women to their escorts, “how do you like that?” “And after he Is married.” continued the orator, “he is nobody at all.” He YVu*. “My friend,” asked the go-as-you-please missionary, “are you traveling the straight and narrow path to the best of your humble ability?” The man in the uvidently-sometimes-slept-in suit said nothing, but handed over his card. The missionary read: SIGNOR BALLANCIO, Champion Tightrope Walker. ABOUT PEOPLE AND THINGS. Mrs. Louisa Jackson Arnold, the only surviving sister of “Stonewall” Jackson, is living in a sanitarium near Columbus, O. Representative Dingley is not an orator. His voice is too nasal to be pleasant and too weak to be heard. This is true even when he speaks with extemporaneous freedom. but when he reads a speech the members have to gather close around him to hear his words. The defense of Captain Dreyfus seems to devolve upon tho literary men. In England the novelist David Christie Murray is giving a free illustrated lecture, with a magiclantern and highly magnified reproductions of Dreyfus's handwriting and of the document attributed to him. After his retirement from the operatic stage, Signor Nicolini invariably dressed in fancy costume when his wife was entertaining at Craig-y-nos. and many amusing stories are told of mistakes made Uv the

diva's guests in taking her husband, thus gaudily attired, for one of the many liveried footmen of the castle. M. Berber, the well-known engineer, has laid before the governments of Spain and Morocco a project for the construction of a tunnel under the Straits of Gibraltar. The execution of this plan would have immense economic consequences, so that its fate will be followed with interest. M. Berber is the inventor of anew method of subterranean boring. “The monkeys'in the vicinity of Hardwar, India,” says Science, “are said to be seriously affected with the bubonic plague, which they are supposed to have contracted through visits to infected rooms in the town of Hurdwar. The proposed extermination of the monkeys, with a view of putting an end to the disease so far as they are concerned, might clash seriously with the religious views of the Hindus.” Mme. Patti, who is in Paris, writes to a friend in London that she is in good health, but greatly depressed by the recent loss of her husband. She has canceled her enengagement at Monte Carlo, and intends avoiding the Riviera this year, as she does not feel equal at present to going into society. She will, in all probability, return to Wales very shortly, and remain there quietly until late in the spring, when she will resume her professional engagements. Don Jaime—with an accent on the “e” —is the heir to the Carlist claims to the throne of Spain, and when he was a schoolboy at Beaumont College, near Windsor, England, a schoolmate was seen kicking him very vigorously. Asked by a master what Den Jaime had done to merit such treatment, the lad answered: "Nothing, sir, but you see he may come to be King of Spain some day, and I should like to be able to say that I once kicked the King of Spain.” Through the efforts of the Glasgow 7 Mauchline Society cottage homes have been erected in Mauchline in memory of Burns. It was the home of his wife, Jean Armour, and is the scene of many of his poems. A Jower and museum are in course of erection, and it is the desire of the promoters to raise £3,'000, so that an endowment fund may be formed to enable the inmates of the homes, which are open to poor and respectable people of any country, to receive a small weekly allowance. Paris is to have anew hippodrome on the Boulevard Clichy. The corner-stone was lai l on Jan. 16, and it will be completed by November. The building will have an area for performances of 88 by 68 meters. The seating capacity will accommodate 6,000 persons, while including the standing room, the building will hold 10,000 persons. The building will have a frame of steel, and will be constructed of stone and brjek. Much attention is to be bestowed upon sanitary arrangements, and it is stated to be the intention of the medical officers to insist on the introduction of an antiseptic and tireproof substance for the linings and seating accommodation,which will give the hippodrome special advantages over any other place of the kind in Paris. The total cost is to be between 4,000.000 and 3,000,000 francs. A song of other days, I’m told, Ran: "Will you love me when I’m old?” Another, as I've heard folks say. Was: “Will you love me when I'm gray?” But as I nurse my straggling locks, My system's thrilled with rending shocks; Wherefore, my song, dear love, is called* "Wilt love me, sweetheart, when I’m bald?” —Philadelphia North American. REPUBLICAN LEAGUE. Date of the 'National Meeting at Ilian hit Changed to July 111-15. CHICAGO, Feb. 9.—The executive committee of the National Republican League met here to-day. Fourteen members of the committee ware present. The report of the finance committee showed that the league had a balance in the treasury, and that the financial condition was good. Secretary Dowling was ordered to have the manual for 1898 published as soon as possible. This manual will contain an outline of the plans of the league for the ensuing year, a list of the county, state and congressional leagues throughout the country and much general information. A communication from the Central Passenger Association requesting the committee to indorse the antiscalping bill that is now before Congress was laid on the table. It was decided no action could be taken in the matter. Maj. Melville Hays, of Kentucky, introduced resolutions, which were adopted by the committee, congratulating the state Republican league of Ohio for the success it had attained and the the Fnited States on the election of M. A. Hanna to the Fnited States Senate. The time for the national convention at Omaha was- changed from June 14-16 to July 13-15. This was in order that it might not interfere with the state conventions.

ON A LONELY REEF. Theodore (iiiiMMinn 11 Maroon* Himself in His Emplo) er*' interest. SAX FRANCISCO, Feb. 9.—Alone on a coral reef in the Pacific, hundreds of miles fiom any other land and out of the course of vessels, Theodore Gussman Is waiting- to' be rescued. A letter to a friend here, Oapt. Charles A. Baettge, which he sent by a French man-of-war that chanced to cruise in his locality, describes the awful solitude in which he has been isolated for months, Gussman might have left his imprisonment by the vessel which brought his letter, but to have done so would have been deserting his post of duty. He is one of three men sent down to Olipperton island last July by the Oceanic Phosphate Company to keep possession of the company’s property and of the island. His companions deserted him at the time the Mexican man-of-war Democrata hauled down the American Hag and hoisted the Mexican standard. Gussman refused to leave then, although an effort was made to “shanghai” him by the Mexican captain. In order to remain at his post of duty Gussman practically marooned himself, swimming ashore from the war ship with evidences of his employers’ titles to the island concealed in one of his shoes. X-RAY EXPERIMENT. Murderer Merry's Head to He l-lxain-ined Before He Is* Hanged. CHICAGO, Feb. 9.—Before mounting the gallows Chris Merry, the peddler, under sentence of death for wife murder, is to undergo an X-ray examination of his brain. Several years ago Merry was struck on the head with a brick which left a pronounced indentation. Merry’s attorneys believe this to be responsible in great part for the violent outbursts of temper which condemned man shows and it is to learn the exact extent of the injury that the X-ray experiment is to I>e made, in hope of obtaining clemency from the Governor. THROWN INTO A COAL BIN. Rev. C. <l. Brown'* Picture TnUen from a Church Wall in Dubuque. DUBUQUE, la., Feb. 9.—Rev. Dr. C. O. Brown’s portrait was taken from among the pictures of former pastors at the First Congregational Church and thrown into the coal bin. This was done by Colonel Lyon, who was his attorney at two conferences of the Dubuque association, which restored Brown to fellowship after the Bay Conference had suspended him. At a meeting of the trustees Lyon was unanimously sustained, hut someone wrote in the vacant place. “Let him who is without sin cast the tlrst stone.” Mrs. Oelricli* Yot Blinded. NEW YORK, Feb. f>.—Mrs. Herman Oelrichs is being overwhelmed with congratulations because she has almost entirely recovered from her painful accident, which at one time threatened the loss of one of her eyes. It is nearly three months since Mrs. Oelriebs, in superintending the hanging of curtains in her residence at Fifty-seventh street and Fifth avenue, met the accident. A tack fell into lief eye. penetrating the retina and produeing a very ugly wound, Vhlch, il was feared, might render hei* blind. Mrs. Otlriohs was .Miss Theresa Fair, daughter of the late Senator Fair, of California. - Balance on Right Side. NEW YORK. Feb. 9.—To-day’s clearing house statement shows a subtreasury balni.ee of tfIfC.HX). instead of the usual debit balance. Tin- reversal of figures is caused by the payment of the third installment of Union Pacific purchase moneys to the government. Only was paid into the clearing house by the depositories to-day. The balance of the installment was sent direct to Washington.

MEETING OF CYCLERS . N.VTIONAI, ASSEMBLY OF LEAGUE OF AMERICAN WHEELMEN. Hoosier* at Work Aiiioiik the Deleantes. Rooming the Coming ••Meet” at Indiana polls. ,—e TALK WITH CHAIRMAN MOTT REGARDING THE 'RACES THAT AYILL HE KIN IN THIS CITY. Mr. Parry's “Sinews of Mar"—President Potter Certain of Ite-Kla#. tion—Good Roads Movement.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal. ST. LOUIS, Feb. 9.—Althoifgh tiie real w r ork of the national assembly of the League of American Wheelmen does not begin until to-morrow, the delegates, who are nearly all here, were probably busier to-day and to-night than they will be during the rest of the week. Many conferences were held to discuss matters that will come before the assembly and league politics also required the attention of many of the delegates. The Indianians are here in force. “I intended to Have a meeting of our boys, this morning,” said Chairman Mott, of the racing board, turning to H. W. Foltz, of Indiana, with whom he was chatting in the Southern Hotel lobby, "but this Indiana crowd is getting in, and l guess we had better sample what they have first.” D. M. Parry, president of the Indianapolis ’9B Meet Club, standing nearby, smiled significantly, for Mr. Parry was intrusted with the sinews of war just before leaving home, and the day was not far advanced before the “sinews” were put into operation. An expense fund of $l5O was raised by the Indianapolis club to entertain members of the national assembly here, but this amount will probably be donated by private contributions of.the delegates the Hoosier capital, £or there is very strong competition in the entertainment line. New York, booming Mr. Potter for the presidency of the league, has opened a hospitable barroom on the parlor floor of the hotel, while Boston, clamoring for the 1899 meet, is not confining itself strictly to Puritan hospitality. By the way, the Indianapolis people are favoring the Massachusetts metropolis, although, like true Hoosier politicians, they are not obtruding this fact on the notice of the assembly, since Indianapolis wants a rousing, enthusiastic crowd at its own affair in August, and is taking few chances on t reating enemies. THE INDIANAPOLIS MEET. “The racing at the Indianapolis meet,” said Chairman Mott to the Journal representative, “will probably awaken more interest than at any previous meet, provided the proposed change in the national championship rules is made, and the board seems agreed on this change. As it is now, we have a half dozen championships, the third mile, half mile, mile and so on. There is no one great championship to distinguish a rider above all others in the country. The change will provide for a series of contests to be graded by points. The series will include all national circuit races, where the winners in both professional and amateur classes will be scored by points. For instance, the winner of a professional race will be given six points and the second man four i>oints. In this way a percehtage table can be maintained and be published each week in the newspapers, thus stimulating public interestr'as in baseball. At the Indianapolis national meet the winner of the great professional race would be scored fifty points, practically assuring the winner of this big race the national championship, and ending the season of racing with a grand climax on which the attention of the entire cycling racing world would be centered. The management of the concluding race, of course, will be in the hands of the Indianapolis committee.” There has been some talk here of the size of the track to be built at Indianapolis. At both the Louisville and Philadelphia meets, the track was a third of a mile, but Mr. Foltz, member of the racing board from Indiana, favors a quarter-mile track. If a cement track is constructed there would he a considerable saving in cost by following Mr. Foltz’s plan. The street-car company, which has agreed to build the track, wants it put at Fair view Park, it is understood, although some members of the local committee think it would be advisable to have it near the city. THE VAN SICKLEN CASE. The national racing committee has one ease before it from Indianapolis, that of Fred Van Sicklen. who has been an ardent worker for the Indianapolis meet, despite the fact that he barred from membership In the L. A. W. He was very active in building up the L. A. W. membership in Indiana during the last year. He was classed as a professional ten years ago for selling a prize won in a race. He admits the fairness of the charge against him, but claims extenuating circumstances. His racing days are over and he wants his amateur status restored so; that he may join the league in the event the national assembly, at its present session, refuses to admit professional riders to membership. Last year the assembly turned down a proposition to open the doors to men who ride for money prize's. The delegates at the national assembly are promising a great attendance for the Indianapolis meet. President Potter, of the league, said he thought It would folly equal that at Philadelphia. Delegate Meats, of Cleveland, {X. prophesied that fully two thousand would come from Ohio. He thought, however, that Pennsylvania would be the banner State, outside of Indiana, in pc'nt of numbers, as the league is strongest in the Keystone State. Delegate Jenkins, of Louisville, Ky., estimated that Kentucky would send a thousand wheelmen, most of them on their wheels. Kentucky cyclists propose to gather at Louisville and wheel in a body to the Hoosier capital, picking up Indiana cyclists on the way. It is hoped by the time Indianapolis is reached an array of dust-covered wheelmen will enter the city in one long column. The attendance from Illinois is problematical. Chicago men do not believe the turnout from that city w.ill be large. There are several odd features to the L. A. \V. management. Secretary Bassett, of Massachusetts, it is said, has never ridden a bicycle in his life, and, for that matter, thefie are several of the high officials who yet have their first ride to take. Mr. Bassett receives a $3,509 annual salary and can pay car fare. There are two delegates here from California. One is a humpbacked man and the other has deformed feet and has but two fingers, instead of two hands. G. L. P. GOOD lIOADX MEETING. I*it pci** It end on Ilia It aa v Improvement*—Potter’* Frleml* t’oiilidcnt. ST. LOUIS, Feb. 9.—The delegates to the national assembly of the league- of American Wheelmen devoted to-day to the question of roads. A number of pap is -on the various branches of highway improvements were read by delegates prominently engaged in the furtherance of the work, aid the meet-

WB one of interne Interest. Chairman Hoerner, of Milwaukee, presided over . e . and in his opening address stated that reports were coming in from ad over the country that the farmers had entered into the good roads movement with an unexpected zeal. Doerncr announced that the committee had offered two lots of cash prizes for the beat collection of photos of bad roads. While a number bail been received, competition was still open. The principal address of the day was that of I lesident John Hamilton, of Harrisburg. 1 a., who Is president of the National Institute < onduetors, and author of the Hamilton road bill which is expected to do much for the improvement of roads in that State. His address was entitled “Good Roads Prospects in Pennsylvania.” Pennsylvania is one of a few States which have given aid to the counties and townships within their borders in the building of good roads. To-morrow tin* actual work of the 1.. A. W. assembly will begin. The report!? off credentials committee, president, treasurer, secretary, and standing and special committees will be presented, and the election of officers will follow. The friends of President Potter are copflcjent of his re-election. They assert that lie will have at least 252 votes out of a total of 364, far more than is necessary. Whatever opposition there is to him wiil develop to-morrow after the convention meets. In the order of new business. which will tome after the election of officers, there will be presented amendments to the constitution and by-laws. There ure thirty-three of these and they wiil take up considerable time in discussion before being acted on. A protracted session of the racing board was held to-day with all the members present. The first thing for consideration was a list of riders, who had been transferred to the professional frum the amateur class, for the infraction of league rules. Among the professionals recommended for transfer to the amateur class were Ernest Duncan, of Franklin, Tnd., und F. Crawley, of Peru. lnd. Everything is now in readiness for the opening session of the assembly to-morrow morning, and with but a very few scattering exceptions the delegates have all arrived. George D. Gideon and twenty-seven Pennsylvania delegates arrived early this evening. To-night several hundred wheelmen sat down to a good roads banquet at the Southern Hotel. After discussing an elaborate in* nu several toasts were rescinded to. Communications were, read from prominent men in public throughout the country commending the good roads improvement work of the league. These letters came front Gov. J. A. Mount, of Indiana, and others. A. C. Morrison, of New York, first vice president of the National L. A. W.. who acted as toastmaster, introduced Mayor Henry Ziegenhein. After a characteristic address of welcome by the mayor. John M. btolil. of Chicago, secretary of the Farmers’ National Congress responded to the toast, ' State Aid for Improving Farm Loads. ’ He was followed by Otto Dorner. of Milwaukee. chairman of the national committee on highway improvement, who in responding to his toast spoke of the progress made in the work of his committee. Robert McMath. president of the St. Louis Board of Public Improvement, spoke of "The Street improvement in St. laiuis.” "The L. A. \Y'. Crusade for Good Roads” was the toast responded to by President Isaac B. Potter, of New York. It was after midnight whfen tlf concluding toast, “Good Roads and Farmers’ Institutes,” was spoken by Prof. John Hamilton, of Harrisburg.

COOLER. CLOUDY WEATHER, With Occasional Sl|ovver*. Predicted by Forecaster N\ a ppeiilinit*. Forecast for Indianapolis and vicinity for the twenty-four hours ending 11 p. m. Feb. 10—Cooler; cloudy weather and occasional showers on Thursday. General Conditions Yesterday The low barometric area, extending from Mexico northeastward to Lake Superior and central over Oklahoma, is moving very slowly northeastward. The temperature fed west and rose east of the Mississippi. Snow fell in the Missouri valley and rain in the Mississippi valley and near the lower lanes. FORECAST FOR THREE STATES. WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.—For Ohio—Local showers; light to fresh southerly winds. For Indiana and Illinois—Showers; east to southeast winds. Local (IbNcrvulioiis M>iln*du)'. Bar. Ther. R. H. Wind. Weather, Fre. 7a. m.. 30.21 46 82 South. Cloudy. 0.01 7 p.m..30.19 56 68 South. Cloudy. 0.00 Maximum temperature, 59; minimum temperature, 44. Following is a comparative statement of the temperature and precipitation on Feb. 9: Tem. Pro. Normal 32 .13 Mean 52 .01 Departure from normal *2O —.12 Departure since Feb. I *76 —I.OB Departure since Jan. 1 *l6l *.BI •Plus. C. F. It. WAPPENHANS. Local Forecast Official. Yesterday’* Temperature*. Stations. Max. Min. 7 p. m. Atlanta, Ga 42 64 <8 Bismarck. N. D 6 22 18 Buffalo 38 is D Calgary, N. W. Ter 24 40 .'4 Cairo, ill 52 62 60 Cheyenne, Wyo 22 36 Chicago 0 46 46 Cincinnati *• ~ 46 56 Concordia. Kan Davenport, la 38 44 Des Moines, la 32 38 36 Dodge City. Kan 32 40 # 34 Ga vestort, Tex 62 66 62 Helena. Mont 18 ,36 Jacksonville. Fla 54 68 Kansas City 46 52 46 Little Rock, Ark 54 > 2 Memphis >4 68 Marquette, Mich 26 Nashville 46 66 New Orleans 32 <0 62 New* York 34 North Platte. Neb 34 Oklahoma City 52 .-6 Omaha •.**' J 1 ’ Pittsburg 58 eS at Qu' Appeile, Assin *l4 Rapid City. S. D 32 36 .v Salt Lake City Vt ■*> St. Louis '>4 St. Paul : J0 •6Springfleld, 111 44 >4 Springfieid, Mo -_>2 64 Vicksburg, Miss >- jd Washington. D. C -3 a4 4•Eelow zero. NEW POLITICAL PARTY. Deb* aiul Bellamy to Combine Tlielr Socialistic* Theories I nder One Name. DENVER. Col., Feb. 9.—Edward Bellamy, author of "Looking Backward.” and Eugene V. Debs, late head of the American Railway Union and leader of the Social Democracy, have united to launch anew political party. The Social Democracy will be taken as the nucleus of the party. I his was decided upon at a meeting held last night iri Mr. Debs’s room in the New Markham Hotel. Among those present were Bellamy. Debs, James Hogan, once a leader in the American Railway Union, and a number of local radicals. It was decided to form a central body for the organization of the new party.* S. P. Leep was chosen chairman of a board of five to have control here. J. D. Kleckner is the secretary of this new board, C. Passover, treasurer; C. L. Davis and J. King the other two members. Suborganizations will be formed in every ward in Denver. Whether the new party would support Bryan in 1900 Debs is not as yet prepared to say. The organization proposes the amelioration of social ills on the lines laid down by Bellamy. George and others. It, advocates community of property interests—pure socialism in its broadest sense. H is believed Mr. Bellamy wiil accord it his approval. In Auril the organization In each State will elect representatives to attend a state convention in May. and this convention will choose delegates to the first national convention of Social Democracy In Chicago in June following. Prof. E. J. James Honored. CHICAGO. Feb. 9.—Prof. Edmund J. James, of the University of Chicago, has been nominated by the Bureau of Education to represent the United States at the International congress of commercial instruction to be held at Antwerp next April. Prof. James has become widely known in connection with flic movement of the foundation of the schools of commerce and industry, and in connection with colleges and universities which hys resulted so fur In the establishment of such schools in the University of Chicago and the University of California. He was for some years at the head <>f the Wharton Sellout of Finance and Economy. University of Pennsylvania, the first of this Kind organized in the United States. Sympathy for l.ndy Somerset. CHICAGO, Feb. A letter has been sent to Lady Henry Somerset, signed by all the national W. C. T. U. officer*, assuring lor of their loyalty and love, expressing much sympathy in her illness and urging her to come to America as soon as her healtyY and strength will permit.