Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 July 1888 — Page 6

HARRISON AND LABOR.

MIS RELATION TO THE STRIKE? OFIB7T.ANDTO THE LABOR ” QUESTION GENERALLY. The Testimony of Mon Who Were PereoH*Uy Concerned In the Events of Eleven Years Ago, and Who Know Whereof They Speak The General's Advice, Action and Council Were Valuable to Both Sides. Tbaßarnrd of an Hunorabla and Conatotaat Fr.a«.d of American WorkingmenHe to Utth Laboring Men on all Croat laanea. "'.A 1

Indlaaapolii Journal. In calling attention to General Harrison’s connection to the great railroad strike of 1877 his political opponents have rendered him essential service. Although a minor incident of his life there is nothing in his whole honorable career more honorable to him than his conduct during that affair. It was eminently characteristic of the man, of his good" citizenship, of his loyalty to dutv, and devotion to law and order, and of his unwavering friendship for the working classes. The Journal takes pleasun* in recalling this passage in Genend Harrison’s career, and in order that honor may be given to whom honor is due, the main facts of the event are herewith presented. They ought to win liitn thousands of votes among good citizens of all classes, and especially among workingmen. The great rSilroad strike of 1877, the most extensive and memorable on record, became local in this city on the 23d of July, in that year. It was based on an apparently just demand of the employes tor an increase of wages, but the strike had pit beyond their control and assumed alarming proportions. Starting in a labor strike it threatened to become a popular insurrection. Already business was paralyzed, many of the leading railroads of the country were tied up, factories were closing by the scores, rioting and bloodshed had occurred at Baltimore, Pittsburg, ami other places, millions of dollars’ worth of property had been destroyed, a reign" of terror inaugurated and the scenes of the French Commune seemed on the point of being repeated, This diabolical work was not done by the workingmen nor mainly by the strikers, but by an uncontrollable mob which seized the opportunity to do mischief. The situation was full iff peril.

The strike in this city resulted in the immediate steppage of all trains and a general cessation of railroad traffic. This was accompanied by acts of violence and demonstrations of force which, in view of the recent riots at Pittsburg and elsewhere, caused great alarm. Mobs were parading the streets in Chicago and Louisville, and there were fears of trouble here. In this situation Mayor Caven, ou July 24, issued a call for a meeting of citizens “to consult as to measures for the public safety," stating in the call that “me sures for organization, for the protection of life and property would be adopted.” In response to the call a mass-meeting of citizens was held, at which the Mayor presided. He stated that while he did not think there was anything to be feared from the strikers themselves; “there was a vicious element of population that was ready to do any act of violence, for the purpose of plunder, and there was danger that such might take advantage of the strike to carry out their schemes.” He therefore suggested that a committee of safety be appointed and that the citizens organize for military duty in ease it should become necessary. In accordance with this suggestion, a committee of twentyfive was appointed, among whom were Hon. Joseph E. McDonald, Gen. John Love, a leading Democrat of that day, and other prominent citizens of both parties. Places were also designated for the enrollment of citizens to preserve tin? Saee. At thio meeting, Hon. Franklin nders moved the appointment of a committee of ten “of the most prudent men that could be selected, to confer with the committee of the strikers in a friendly spirit, and ascertain just what their demands are ami what they propose to do,” and’to endeavor to arbitrate matters between them and the railroads. Gen. Benjamin Harrison was appointed oh this committee of ten. On the next day. July 25, this committee met a committee of the strikers in the Council chamber, the grand secretarv of the Brotherhood of ■ Locomotive "Engineers acting as chairman of the strikers' committee, A free discussion of the situation was had, in which, according to the press reports of that day, “Gen. Harrison made an eloquent and logical speech of some length. He counseled obedience to law, but at the same time very strongly expressed the opinion that the'wages stated were too low, and desired very much that they should be raised. He was willing to use his influence with those in authority in favor of this desired increase, , Meanwhile the threatening asjiect of affairs continued, and the danger of the situation was in no wise undiminished. On the afternoon of the 26th of July a meeting of citizens was held, at which it was unanimously decided that, ‘’although there might be no danger of mob violence, the city should at once be placed in a condition that would make any riotous demonstrations impossible.” Judge Gresham spoke at this meeting, and urged prompt and vigorous action. An executive committee was appointed, of which Judge Gresham, Senator McDonald, Gen. Harrison and others were members. - Governor James D. Williams (“Blue Jeans") issued the following: The State of Indiana, ) — —Executive Department. L A Proclamation by the Governor relative to certain disturbanceaof the peace 1 by striking employes of railroad com-

T« ihe People o< Indian*: Many disaffected, employes of railroad companies doing business in this State have renounced their employments "because Of alleged 'grievances, aud have conspired to enfbree their demands by detaining trains of tneir late employers, seizing’ andcontrolling their property." intimidating their managers, prohibiting by violence sberr attempts to conduct their business, and driving away passengers and freight offe red ion. The peace of the community is seriously disturbed by these lawless acts. Every class of society is made to suffer. The comfort and happiness of many families not parties to grievances are sacrificed. A controversy which belongs to our courts, or to the province of peaceful arbitration or negotiation is made the

excuse for an olwtruetibn of trade and travel oyer the cliartered commercial highways of our State. The commerce of tne entire country is interfered with and the reputation of our community is threatened with dishonor among. our neighbonk This disregard of law ami the rights and privileges of our citizens and those of sister States cannot be tolerated. The machinery' provided by law' for the adjustment of private grievances must be used as the only resort against debtors, individual or corporate. The j process of the court is deemed sufficient j for the enforcement of civil remedies, as well as the penaltiesof the criminal code, and must be.executed equally in each casei To the end that the existing combination be dissolved and destroyed in its lawless form I invoke the aid of all the law-abiding citizens of our State. I ask that they denounce and condemn this infraction'of public order, and endeavor to dissuade these offenders against the peace and dignity of our State from further acta of lawlessness. ■*-

To the Judiciary: I appeal for the prompt and rigid administration of justice in proceedings of this nature. To the Sheriffs of the Several Counties: I commend a careful study of the duties imposed upon them by statute, which they have sworn to discharge. 1 admonish each to use the full power of his county in the preservation of order and the suppression of breaches of the peace, assuring them of mv hearty co-operation with the power of the State at my command when satisfied that occasion requires its exercise. To those who have arrayed themselves against government and are subverting law and order and the best interests of society by the waste and destruction of property, the derangement of trains and the ruin of all classes of labor, I appeal for an immediate abandonment of tiieir unwise and unlawful confederation. I convey to them the voice of the law, which they,cannot afford to disregard. I trust that its admonition may be so promptly heeded that a resort to extreme measures will be unnecessary and that the authority of the law and the dignity of the State, against which they have so grievously offended, mav be restored and dulv- respected hereafter. Given at Indianapolis this 26th day of July, 18</. Witness the seal of the State and the signature of the Governor. James D. Williams.

• After issuing this proclamation, Governor Williams decided to appoint a commander of the volunteer militia, and at the suggestion of the committee of public safety selected General Benjamin Harrison as that commander. The following letter was accordingly sent to General Harrison:

State of Indiana, I Execitive Department, > Indianapolis, July 26, 1877. J Dea’s Sir—l have to request that you will assume command of all the military forces organized and to be organized at the eapitol for the preservation of order and the protection of life and property during the existing emergency. Jam rs D. Williams, Governor.

To Gen. Benjamin Harrison: In reply General Harrison declined the commission with thanks, as he was already lucaptain of one of the volunteer militia companies, organized to prevent rioting. He recommended the appointment of Gen. Daniel Macauley to command the militia. Governor Williams adopted General Harrison’s suggestion, and issued the following commission to ■Macauley. The State of Indiana.

To AH Who Shull See These Presents, Greeting. Whereas, I have been officially informed of the existence in Marion and adjoining counties of an unlawful Combination of disaffected employes of railroad companies whose lines center at the capital, which threatens the property and the lives of the community, and is beyond the power of the civil authorities to control, and may require the use of the militia.

Therefore, Know ye that in the name and by the authority of the State aforesaid, I do hereby appoint and commission Daniel Macauley, of Marion county, a Brigadier.,G£iieral of the Indiana Legion, do command the organized m ilitia, to serve as such from the- 26thday of July, 1877, and until the emergency requiring appointment shall have TkksedV ~ .——-

witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused to be affixed the seal of the State, at the city of Indianapolis, this 26th day of July, in the year of our Lord, 1877, the sixty-first of the State, and of the independence of the United States the one hundred and second. James D; Williams. Pursuant to this commission General Macauley issued an order calling on “all law-abiding citizens to report for the defense of law and the protection of society against lawless combination.” They were to -report at certain designated places. General Harrison being placed in command at one, Gen. W. Q. Gresham at another, and other wellknown citizen-soldiers at others. The citizens that reported for duty were enrolled, partiallv equipped and drilled for a dav or two, but happily were not required to perform any active service. During the next two days General Harrison served in the double capacity as captain of one of the companies and as a member of the committee to confer with committee. At a second conference held on the 27th of July, a report was presented which developed a conciliatory spirit,and paved the way for the settlement of the trouble. He recognized the substantial justice of the strikers,dem'aud for an increase of wages, but insisted that all unlawful means jor obtaining redress must lie abandoned before lawful efforts could be expected to prevail. This done, the conference committee pledged themselves to do all in their power to s&ure redress of $ the strikers’ grievances, and especially an increase of wages. By this' time the back-bone of the strike was broken, and things were quieting down. Railroad traffic was resumed, and the danger point wjis passed. On the 29th of July the committee of public safety issued an address to the public, announcing the restoration of order and congratulating them that it had been done without bloodshed. The committee, said the \ ’strikera'did not const itut eTile dangerous element of the situation, “but they were ! surrounded by a multitude of lawless and reckless men, who were ready to take advantage of any eommotion.” Tbe addressconcluded by sayuy “Feeling that our duties are now- endetl, and earnestly hoping that an occasion for calling into existence any similar committee may never again arise in the history of Indianapolis, we now dissolve our organization as your committee of public safetv.” The address was signed by T.

A. Morris. Benjamin Harrison, John Ix>ve. Joseph E. McDonald, Walter Q. Gresham, Connyl Baker and A. W. Hendricks.

The foregoing statement presents the main.features of the great strike as they were developed in this city without any’ attempt to give details. It shows Conclusively that General Harrison was prompt tO' recognize the essential justice lof the strikers’ aemarify and to pledge j his assistance in trying to.obtainredress for them; that he was one of the most active members of the citizens’ committee of safety and of the committee to confer with the strikers; that his course and counselweye at all times conservative; that when placed in command of a company of citizen volunteers he did not shirk that dtfty; that he at no time counseled violence, and bv no won! or act show ed the least ill-will agkinst the cause of labor or the strikers themselves; in short, that he simply discharged the duty of a good citizen in the preservation of law and order, showing himself at every stage of the affair as true a friend of the striker as he w’as of good government. That his connection with and conduct during this affair are not disapproved by prominent representatives of the workingmen is shown by the following telegram from Cleveland, O.: “P. M. Arthur, head of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, in an interview to-day expressed his satisfaction with the nomination of Harrison for President. ‘He is a first-class man,’ said Mr. Arthur, ‘and the workingmert of the country will support him. I have had dealings with him, and always found him courteous, liberal and disposed to be fair to all interests. His record on the Chinese question will not lose hint any votes among the laboring classes, because all workingmen-understand very well that General Harrison voted conscientiously in the matter, and that the antiChinese cry at that time was raised by demagogues.’’ “ ‘How will the labor organizations re-, gard General Harrison?’ “ ‘I have no doubt but they will give him a strong support. They’ recognize him as a safe man, and he stands on a sound platform.’ ” There is no more intelligent representative of the workingmen in the country than Chief Arthur. • The strike of 1877 was a strike of railroad employes, and yet the distinguished chief of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers now says General Harrison “Is a first-class man, and the workingmen of the country will support him.” Another special from Cleveland gives a still further interview with Chief Arthur, - in which he says: “General Harrison has nothing in his record that should prevent any Republican workingman from, voting for him. I regard his nomination as a strong one, and know his friendly attitude toward organized labor. Some t>me ago I went to Indianapolis to straighten out a difficulty between our men and one of the local roads, and it was principally through the good offices of General Harrison that a strike was prevented and matters were adjusted.”

T[?]stimony to General Harrison’s Position.

Hon. John Caven, who was Mayor of the city at the time of the railroad trouble, yesterday stated that the militia called out by Governor Williams on that occasion had no part in settling the difficulties. “It was moral force that did it.” he continued, ••although a blow would have precipitated a riot. I did not even send a policeman to the Union Depot, which was the center of the disturbance, but I swore in a number of railroad employes as special officers. I was censured a great deal by manv leading citizens and was called a coward for the bourse I pursued, but only a few weeks before I had applied the same methods to what are known as the bread riots and brought around a peaceable adjustment of the difficulties.” “Did you favor the appointment of a committee of safety?” “I appointed that committee myself. It was at a meeting of citizens when the committee was provided for. and it was decided that I should -select it. Its E”cy and mine in the main agreed.—l a conference with the superintendents of the various roads and then with the strikers. On Thursdayewening preceding the abandoinent of the strike tlie.'strikers.held a secret meeting in.the Etna Building. I went there and made a speech of an hour or more to the men. I told them they were violating the law, and appealed to’ them to desist, as I had assurances that the difficulties could be adjusted. I told them that they had no law to support them in what they, were doing and that a persistence in.their course would lead to grievous results. I was assisted by conservative mm among the strikers. At the close of my speech 1 left the hall, and within tea minutes a committee came to me stating that the strike had been abandoned. It was too late for a notice to that effect to appear in the morning papers, but it was published in the News of Friday afternoon. The next day the militia was disbanded.” “Were the militia at any time at the depot?” -* “They were at the Arsenal all the time, except on the day following the abandonment of the strike, when they were brought into the citv and disbanded. I did not see General Hairisom nor anyone else at the head of any men during the strike.” . "Did you approve the calling out of the militia?” “That was all right. It, was right to keep men in readiness for whatever might happen. They were called out by the Governor of the State, but as it happily oeeured, their services were not needed. fV ‘ - - “ What du vou, recollect about tire railroad strike of 1877?” asked a Journal reporter of Gen. Fred Kneffer. “I was one of the captains in the militia,” replied the General. “I was sent for one day to come to the old citv hall building, now Maennerchor Hall. I went an formed an organized .meeting, with Senator Joseph E. McDonald in the chair. The question before the meeting was the raising of a militia force to protect the city. My opinion was asked as ; to the matter, and I flatly said I could do nothing unless the authorities look steps ; to commission us as officers; otherwise I } would not stir.” “There was some talk about putting i down mobs, and- they virtually wanted ins to make another mob to suppress it. i I said that unless the Governor of-the j State, Governor Williams, a Democrat, ; would give me a commission I couldn’t j move in the matter at all; that I didn’t i propose to expose myself to prosecuItion." 1 “Another meeting was held shortly

afterwards in the office”of Judge GreAham, United States district judge, at which Senator McDonald and Governor Williams were present. Adjutant-general George W. Ruas was also present. The matter was talked over. The Governor and Adjutant-general said they wanted tip* militia, and would issue the commissions. The commissions were issued,and my commission bears the name of Governor'Williams. The militia were no more fit for fighting than I am for flying. They were |ittle better than Falataff’s recruits when it came to fighting. “The absurd Sentipel apjiears to have exclusive information as to the ferocious spirit it attributes to General Harrison. I was of the opinion at the time of the strike that it was the mildest-mannered militia that I ever saw in my life.\ It was a farce and a humbug from beginning to end. All this'talk about General Harrison in connection with the strike is simply hog-wash, gotten up for partisan use. Some of those who went into the movement were reluctant to do so because they thought that Governor Williams, Adjutant-General Russ and Senator McDonald .would turn the whole thing into political thunder, and we were all gentle as sucking doves. We were in the movement simply to protect the city and nothing else.”

When several bf the strikers were tried before Judge Drummond on an attachment for contempt, in interfering with property in charge of the United States Court, General Harrison made an appeal to the Judge in behalf of the men, W. H. H. Miller, when asked yesterday, if he recollected this occasion, replied: “Perfectly. The incident is as vivid in my remembrance? as if it hail occurred yesterday. Gen. Harrison told Judge Drummond that the men on trial were all good men, that they had merit on their side, and only erred as to means nsed in getting recognition of their claims. The General did not w ish them punished. He believed they had been ■oppressed and the only mistake made by them was in the course pursued. This influenced the Judge in remitting the sentences, and at the close of the trial the defendants came forward, took General Harrison’s hand, shook it cordially and thanked him for the appeal he had made in their behalf. They told him that if they had followed his advice no trouble would have occurred. As a member of the committee of safety, General Harrison was extremely moderate. When .others counseled force in settling the difficulties he strenouslv opposed such a course. He advised throughout a peaceable settlement, and when others wanted to lead the militia to the scene of the trouble he said emphatically, ‘I don’t propose to go out and shoot down my neighbors when there is no necessity for it.’ He then spoke in behalf of the strikers much as he did to Judge Drummond in his appeal to have their sentences remitted.”

The fact is, no part of General Harrison’s record is more consistent and more invulnerable than his record on the labor question. It is not that of a demagogue,or of a man seeking to make votes, or win applause, but that of a man of sincere convictions and friendly feelings for the cause. General Harrison has been all his life a hard worker. While in college he toiled during vacations to earn money to pav his way. As a young lawyer he began life as poor as the poorest,, without a dollar of patrimony and nothing but his hqad and hands and brave heart to depend upon. He knows what it is to struggle against adverse circumstances. He knows what it is to strive hard to make both ends meet on a slow and uncertain income. He knows what it is to labor assiduously, early and late, to meet the necessary expertises of a young and growing family. He was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth, though he inherited that which is infinitely better—a mental and moral equipment that’ have enabled him to make himself a man among men. If he had started in life as a locomotive engineer, a molder, a type setter or a day laborer, he wquld have taken the head of the class and kept it, just as he has in the law. The same qualities of character, and the same persrsteiitp hard, untiring labor that have carried him to the front in the legal profession would have done so in any other calling or trade. Do American workingmen despise a man becaufee he rises by his own honest, unaided efforts? Do they think less of a man because he fairly achieves distinction in his chosen profession? It is an insult to American workingm.en to impute such mean and groveling motives to them. General Harrison’s record on the labor question is honorable alike to him and the cause of American industry. It does not contain a sigle act, utterance or expression that lie or his friends should wish changed.

Afraid of that Fan.

Ch’eago Special. Lynch, the colored ex-Congressman from Mississippi, who also seconded the Gresham nomination, stepped on a tack about half way through. He mentioned the name of Harrison, and quick as though his voice had been reflected on a mirror an enthusiastic Hoosier in a proscenium box flashed out a gigantic red fan with his favorite candidate’s name upon it big enough for to read. Everybody did, and the tumult of yells for Harrison quite drowned the scattering cries for Gresham. Indiana stood up in a solid block and cheered. One fat little man in the front row of the delegation was alone equal to an ovation. He had a fan in one hand, a flag in the other, and he waved them both. He had a mouth built to fit a large building and he opened it until his wisdom teeth took part in the display of his enthusiasm and his trim side-whiskers were the mere parenthesis of a yell. It was .a great occasion for everybody but Lynch, who stumbled ineffectively through the the remainder of his speech in nervous expectation that the man with the overwhelming fan would spring it on him again. McCall, of Massachusetts, and -freetor, of Texas, -also seconded-Judge. Gresham’s nomination, but Mr. McCall did not say anything and nobedy could hear what Rector said. ,

Strong Enough to Hold Two.

New York Sun. 6 Young Lady (to dealer) —I want to look at some hammocks. Dealer—Yes, miss. You want one for your own use? Young Lady—Ye-es, partly; but it must be very strong.

FARM AND GARDEN.

Allow- nd cobwebs in your stables. , Lima beans like a rich, warm soil. Milk for pigs and calves should be fed warm. 1 Grass’ without manure is an injury to the orchard. Lady-bugs are said to be great destroyers of animal lice. The iris is bne of the prettiest of all herljaceous plants. _— It takes only one Reason to grow horseradish tb perfection. Plant pumpkins with corn and beans with the potatoes. A little grass seed sown on thin places in the lawn will much improve the aj>pearance of a place. Successful bee-keepers will feed with a view to getting strong colonies in readiness for the honey harvest. , Gut the w inter killed wood out of small fruits and straighten and tie up the canes of blackberries and raspberries. Liberal manuring for small fruits makes the difference between a profitable and an unprofitable crop, says one authority. Beans being not so hardy as some other garden vegetables," their planting is a little delayed. For profit, however, many gardeners make small early plantings. A heifer that does not after good feeding respond in a liberal product of milk and butter is presumably not worth keeping as a cow, and should be fattened as soon as possible. " The first time that a heifer gives milk is very important in determining its after value for the dairy. It will pay to stimulate milk production in heifers,and try to keep it up as long as possible. It would be better generally, perhaps, if cows were left farrow’ for a longer time. With good feeding a farrow cowmay be made to give milk two or three years longer without dropping a calf within that time.

Southern cow peas, so valued in the Southern States as a renovator of the soil, while they will not ripen their seed in the Northern States, will make a heavy crop of vines of great value for turning under as a green manure. Excellent results are claimed for the dry method of feeding ■ chickens, j. e., beginning with boiled egg and bread crumbs, changing this diet in a few days to oatmeal, fine cracked corn and fine cracked wheat', afterwards substituting whole grain. Unusually large eggs denote that the hens are in an overfat condition. It is. not the large hen that lays large eggs, for some of the breeds that lay large eggs are of small or medium size, such as the Black Spanish or Minorca. Evep the little Leghorn lays an egg larger in proportion than would be expected by onp not familiar with them. The Black Spanish lay thb largest eggs as a breed, and they are of a beautiful white color. All of the non-sitting breeds lay white eggs.

NEGLECTED INDUSTRIES. Des Moines Register. „ Sheep art? dear because for years owners have been disposing of them by all means in their power, and sheep are becoming comparatively scarce. Mutton sheep, well fed, are now the most profitable farm product. It always pays the farmer to keep some for home use. In along the line of a railro'ad can put early lambs aboard of a refrigerator car as butter tubs are now shipped. One dairyman can not load a car, nor can one farmer send a carload of lambs to market. Gov. Sherman’s idea in putting a farmer on the Bailroad Commission was to bring the farmers and carriers into sympathy with regard, not only the present actualities, but for future possibilities. The farmer in lowa depends altogether on' the great staples. There are many paying things, like early lambs, that lowa can produce cheaper than any other State outside of the great corn and grass belt. It would be well worth the time of our farmer’s institutes to arrange for say 50 or 100 farmers along a line of railroad to prepare this valuable article and secure the co-operation of the railroad company to take it to market, whether to Chicago or farther East, as soon as ready. There is a class of industry which we have neglected in lowa. This is an instance. Vegetables often sell high. lowa could supply the world with potatoes, cabbages and other staple vegetables. But one farmer can not go at it. Fifty could. It looks silly for Americans to send to Nova Scotia or Europe for vegetables. No country can produce those things as cheaply as can. Arrangements are necessary so that when the product is ready the carrying is ready. As our Methodist friends say, “We do not live up to our privileges.” There are many thousands of farmers who would jump at the chance of contributing in these directions if arrangements were made. The money we pay to foreigners for vegetables would be a grateful addition to lowa farmers’ incomes, who find little profit in many farm staples.

SUMMER DIET FOR PIGS.

Practical Tanner. There is no better food for young pigs after wanning good skimmed milk, with a little sweet, moderately fine wheat bran and cornmeal stirred into it. There should not be a large proportion of meal in the mixture at first, nor so long as the pig is making growth, though corn-meal is excellent to finish off fat-

tening with. Many a young pig has lieen spoiled by overfeeding'with corn or good growth on such food alone. Clear milk would be better, but milk will pay a larger profit when given in connection with some grain. Milk alone is rather to bulky for a sole diet; it distends' the stomach too much and gives the animal to much to do to get rid of the surplus water. Many young pigs are spoiled by overfeed. I When first weaned they should be given a little at a time and often. They always will put a foot in the trough, and food left before them a loqg time gets so dirty that it may be entirely unfit to be eaton. But one of the worst methods of feeding milk to pigslstohave it stand in a sour swi:l barrel, mixed in along w-ith cucumber parings, sweet corn cobs and other kitchen w astes, till the whole mass is far advanced in the fermentation stage. Sweet milk is good, and milk that is slightly sour may be better. It may be even more easily digested, but milk that has soured till it bubbles, till the sugar in it has turned into alcohol or into vinegar, it is not fit food for sw-ine of any age, and certainly not for young pigs that have just been taken from their mother. A hog will endure considerable abuse, will live in wet and filthy pens, will eat almost every sort of food, and often thrive fairly well, but a pig that is kept in comfortable quarters and fed upon wholesome food will pay a much better profit to the owner and furnish much.sweeter pork for the barrel. Nearly all the diseases which hogs are subject to are caused by cold, wet pens, qt by sour, inferior swill. Better throw surplus milk away than to keep it till it rots and then force it down the throats of swine. Farmers should keep enough swine to take all the wastes of the farm while in a fresh condition, and then supplement it with good wheat middlings and corn meal. Our own practice has been to keep pigs enough to take the skimmed milk each day from the dairy room, without the use of a swill barrel to store and sour it in. A swill barrel in summer is a nuisance on any farm. We could never find a good place to keep it—where it would not draw fles or breed flies. In winter it would be less objectionable, but it is a nuisance at all times and in all places.

alfalfa and mamoth clover. A Sanborn county (Da.) correspondent to the Prairie Farmer writes: “During the last two years I haveexperimented quite extensively in the above grasses and with highly satisfactory results. On or about May 15, 1887, I sowed five acres of alfalfa and mammoth clover. The g ro u n dwas: pio wedrdfeepffyaniTth o roughly before we sowed the seed. After seeding we gave it a fine harrowing and finished off . with a good heavy rolling. It came up seasonably, and seventy-two days from date of seeding I had samples of the alfalfa and clover. The latter wasvery nice, while the alfalfa showed a growth of top of 10 inches, and roots 22 inches long. The year 1887 will long be remembered by the people of South Dakota as a bad, dry season to start grasses of any kind, and the only wonder is that the grass lived at all. • We had no - rains to speak of in the fall of 1887, and I almost eicpected, in view of all this, to meet with a failure, or, at best, a very poor stand of grass. But, to my stir-' prise-, both the alfalfa and clover- camethrough the winter in nice shape, and all growing finely. Many heads of the alfalfa are now 10 inches high. The clover shows equally as fine a growth. It is my opinion the reason why so many farmers fail in raising these grasses is that the soil is too shallow and poorly prepared, and the young, tender roots can not penetrate the hard ground. I have no doubt but if the farmers of South Dakota will plow deeply and prepare the soil fit for the seed, they will have no failure with either of the abovenamed grasses. I sow 17 pounds of alfalfa seed and 20 pounds of clover seed to the acre.

An Anti-Collision Invention.

A most wonderful invention is reported from Vienim. An Austrian engineer has, it is said, designed a truck to be run before every railway train, being maintained always at a fixed (but adjustable) distance in front by the force of an electric current transmitted along the metals from a dynamoson the engine. The current is conducted in glass tubes on the pilot truck. If, therefore, the truck comes into collision the tubes are broken and the contact necessarily destroyed. The interruption of the current instantly and automatically applies the brakes on the following train. It is claimed by the inventor that two expresses, fitted with this system, might with impunity'be set to run fuHstilt at each other. The collision of both pilot trucks would arrest, “file progress of both trains before they could meet.

More Than He Could Stand.

New York Sun. Grocer—How it it, Mr. Swartman.that you are so particular to pay cash nowadays? You used to pay a weekly bill. Customer—l know I did, and you would always give me a cigar when I squared up Saturday night. Grocer —Yes. Customer—Well. it was smoking that cigar that impelled me to pay cash. Beauty and sadness always go together. Nature thought beauty Tod rich to go forth upon the earth without a meet alloy. —[George Macdonald.