breach of promise.
the suit against congress
man BRECKENRIDGE.
th, sensational Trial Now on In Tall
Force—Case of tho Plaintiff Bat Forth
-Mrs. Lake Blackburn a Strong Wlt
„„ for Mile Pollard—Sha Teatlflea
|liat Mr. BreckenridBa Introduced Bet
}J. i|is Intended Wife—Food for Gos
slpere. '
-:
rollard n. Breckeorldee.
Washington, March 10.—One of the
grst persons to enter the circuit court
this morning was Madeline
-A,;lard, the plaintiff in the suit against
I'nngressraan W. C. P. Breckinridge of
Kent iK'h’.v. This was the first sight
„[ her allowed to the great crowd in
a,„l ni.out the room and she was the
target of all eyes and the subject of
tli:lny comments. She is an attractive
looking young woman whose appear
ance would not indicate that she has
attained 30 years, with a slender girl
ish tig-ure which was enveloped in a
long black ulster. Her face was
nearh- colorless, with a small mouth,
unturned nose, black eyes and heavy
dark brown hair. She wore a small
bonn-’t.. Two women accompanied
her and sat beside her at the table
with her counsel directly in front of
the judge. One of them, elderly,
dressco in black, was one of the sisters
of the Episcopalian House of Refuge
in which Miss Pollard is sheltered.
The other was a well dressed woman
of middle age,who figured as a friend,
but whose identity no one could dis
cover. Miss Pollard seemed quite at
her ciisc. Her face was covered with
a thin veil which in no way concealed
her features. She talked with her
lawyers most of the time prior to
court convening.
Mr. Breckinridge was late in put
• ting in his appearance. Finally he
came with a small sachelof documents
uniter his arm, accompanied by his
son Desha. The number of lawyers
made it necessary to have two rows
of tables—the front line devoted to
the Bollard forces and the second occu
pied by the Breckinridge party,so that
the white haired defendant sat almost
directly back of his young antagonist.
THE IT.ATNTIFF’S CASK SET FORTH.
The trial was really commenced
whm Calderon Carlisle faced the jury,
leaning heavily against the table and,
in conversational tones, outlined the
matters which the plaintiff would
endeavor to prove. He contrasted
the positions of the two parties—
une a man of family, of political
prominence, high in the councils
of the Presbyterian church, famous
throughout the country as an orator;
the other a friendless young woman.
Something was said about the legal
aspect of the case. Then he began to
read the declaration which was pub
lished in full when the suit was
brought. During this reading Miss
Pollard flushed crimson, trembled vio
lently and buried her face in a hand
kerchief while Mr. Breckinridge chat
ted in a matter-of-fact way with his
lawyers.
"J’liat, gentlemen,” Mr. Carlisle
said, "is the story of my client. She
does not come here saying that she is
devoid of fault or blame, but there is
flu- promise of marriage andits breach,
the issue of this case.”
Sketching briefly the evidence, Mr.
Carlisle spoke of Miss Pollard as the
brilliant daughter of a saddler, always
endeavoring to rise above her station.
He said that when she was a
young girl John C. Rhodes, a man of
means, but not of high position, at
traeted by her charms, offered to edu
cate her if she would marry him,
and she signed an agreement to
that effect. Afterward, when she
was in trouble because Rhodes was
pressing her to fulfill her promise,
and she believed he could invoke the
law in his aid, she had written Mr.
Hreek nridge, asking his advice, a
letter which was answered in person.
Then, according to the attorney, Mr.
Kreckinridge introduced her as his
promised wife into the first families
of the city.
first move of the i.awyers.
Attorney Phil Thompson announced
that the defendant's opening state
ment would be reserved until the con
clusion of the plaintiff's testimony.
'ihen Attorney Wilson for the plain
tiff complained that certain books
"'hieh had figured in the affidavits and
weiv important to the case had been
taken by the defendant's counsel and
asked that they be returned.
■Mr. Butterworth read a notice
which had been served on the de
tcn.lant for the production of four
volumes of “Washington Irving” given
to Attorney Stoll at Cincinnati and in
sisted that a more definite description
of the books should be given.
-hist as Mr. Carlisle was rising to
Miss Pollard broke out hyster
. ,*.v to her counsel, sobbing and
... c <uaiuvui aio CAuauianuuo,
wiilf the sister of charity and her at
,,t.p,' s e''deavored to calm her.
!‘i lu'y know what those books are,”
I?1" Mr. Wilson, emphatically, “and if
lev want closer description 1 will say
they. are the four volumes given
n.m t,y sister Augustine, from one of
n vh they took a Christmas card
."-'h the defendant had placed in
evidence.-’
Judye liradley declared that if only
•”Jr v,,lumes had been taken from the
s ees the demand for closer identifi
ution must be untenable.
Ml!s- BLACKBURN’S story strong.
’^ul'a O. Blackburn, widow of
J1'' late Governor Luke Blackburn of
entucky, was the first witness called.
‘he testified that on Good Friday of
_ 4 |. in the Portland flats here, Colonel
teekinridge and Miss Pollard called
?n her and persisted in sending for
_tr three times when she pleaded
'''■avinpss. She was induced to re
tithem. She spoke firmly and con
brnn f1 Breckinridge said: “I have
h uKht this young lady to ask for
I r.',iur kind care and protection, for
9 that in the future she will be
tat ^eal to me. As soon as a suf
h„ en,t time after the death of my wife
Hi. . Psed I intend to marry her.”
said; “You may consider this fool
ish.
“• ion may constaer inis iuur
. I replied that there was always
lsk >n these things. ” ”
He said: “J am
old enough to be her father. 8he la
tnirty-oue years younger than I ”
On another occasion he said: “I saw
that you were greatly shocked at the
l ot my engagement.”
1 replied. It seems to me a very poor
"V™ *or. «» devotion of y£S
wife, who has so recently died.” He
1 W,il tel1 you 'vhat I never
expected would pass my lips. I dis
covered recently what Miss Pollard’s
feelings toward me were and as a man
or honor I considered it my duty to
offer to marry her." I said: “You
S ?hTn£/-e a very hi*h Tlew °*
Afterwards Colonel Breckinridge
came to me asking me to allay Miss
Poyard’s jealosy. I asked, "Have you
given her any reason?" He replied,
not*”my honor as a gentleman, I have
Then I told him that Miss Pollard
had come to me the day before telling
me of her fears.
Continuing Mrs. Blackburn told how
Mr. Breckinridge had denied,when she
tola him that he had no right to pav
“eynted attention to another woman,
that he had any affection for Mrs.
Wing, but thought it would be well
for the report of his engagement to
reach his family, that they might be
come familiarized with the thought of
his becoming married.
OUNGRE88MAN CALLED “WILLIE.”
Mrs. Blackburn related how Miss
Pollard-once urged Mr. Breckinridge
to fix the day for the marriage, how he
had said that circumstances prevented
it just then, but that he would fix a
date and communicate it to Mrs.
Blackburn. Going to his side Miss
Pollard laid her arm affectionately on
Colonel Breckinridge’s shoulder, call
ing him “Willie,” and he stroked her
hand and patted it affectionately.
Mrs. Blackburn told Miss Pollard to
go away and Colonel Breckinridge
said: “Let us have no more demon
strations here.”
■ Colonel Thompson cross-examined
Mrs. Blackburn. She said that the
bearing of Miss Pollard upon social
occasions had been that of a lady.
Mr. Thompson became more press
ing in his inquiries regarding the feel
ing of Mrs. Blackburn for Miss Pol
lard, and the witness replied that she
felt a sorrow for any woman compelled
to fight her own way in the world.
With flashing eyes and facing the
white bearded congressman she de
clared: “Just as I am compelled to ap
pear here, when, if I had the defense
of a husband, it would never have
been necessary.”
Mr. Thompson asked for the dates
of various calls and the witness re
plied: “I had no occasion to charge
my mind with them, as Colonel
Breckinridge came on his own busi
ness and not on mine. I presume he
can tell you.”
SALVATION ARMY WORK.
Facts Concerning the Good Done by the
Order—Relief for the Needy.
New York, March 10.—Commander
Ballington Booth of the Salvation
Army auxilliary league presided last
night at a monster meeting. He said
the strong hold the work of the army
had upon the public was evidenced
by the following statistics: Total at
tendance in the central or New
York city division for February,
162,376; including Sunday meetings,
179,379; northwestei-n or Chicago di
vision, week nights, 126,107; number
of conversions in the United States for
February, 5,279. Statistics for the
slums for tiie rear ending January 1,
1894, in New York, Boston, Philadel
phia and Chicago, show that 60,007
families had been visited and 18,037
garments distributed, 56,993 saloons
and dives visited and 121,559 persons
dealt with by the members of the
army. At the food and shelter build
ings in Buffalo, New York and San
Francisco 73,860 beds had been pro
vided and 148,739 meals given.
THE BLUE FIELDS INCIDENT.
The President Preparing for a Vigorons
Assertion of American Rights.
Washington, March 10.—The presi
dent has turned over to the secretary
of state the preparation of au answer
to the Morgan resolution calling for
information relative to the landing of
British troops at Bluefields, Nic
aragua. The matter is already under
way, and when the answer is com
plete it will be submitted to the pres
ident and carefully considered by
himself and Secretary Gresham.
No additional advices from Nica
ragua have been given out at the
state department, but there is reason
to believe the president is preparing
for a vigorous and unmistakable as
sertion of the rights of the United
States in Central America, and that
the correspondence will contain mat
ter of later date than the brief report
from Minister Baker of the landing of
the British troons.
A. P. A. IN TEXAS.
Lecturer Hile Has a Narrow Escape
Four Shota Flrcil, bat all Missed.
Dallas, Texas, March 10.—An A. P.
A. organizer named Hile from Kansas
City, reached here yesterday and dis
tributed a lot of anti-Catholic litera
ture. Hast night at the Auditorium
Hile attempted to spealc. After the
audience had assembled and the hall
well-filled with all sorts of citizens, a
man named Tom Duffy, before Hile
had gotten far on his speed), sprang
to his feet and, drawing a revolver,
fired four times in rapid succession.
The shots went wild, and all missed
Hile, but one struck a man in the
audience named John Russell in the
neck, slightly wounding him. A panic
ensued in the audience, but in the
stampede down the stairway no one
was hurt. Hale loudly pounded the
floor with his cane and succeeded in
restoring order. He then proceeded
with his speech. Duffy was arrested
and put in jail.
♦‘Sooner” Oueation Decision.
Guthrie, Ok., March 1 0.—A decision
of the “sooner” question just received
from the general land office causes
consternation among thousands of
claim-holders in Oklahoma and the
Cherokee strip. The decision is in a
Payne county contest, and is that the
man who crossed the country prior to
the opening, and even though he did
not select a claim nor pass near the
claim he afterward took, the fact of
his crossing any portion of the land
made him a “sooner,” and he conse
quently loses his rights to take a
homestead.
*
KANSAS BANK LOOTED.
* Nh BIowb Open with Dfimltt It*
Glycerine.
PiMiMios, Kan., March 0.—Some
time between 1 and 4 o'clock yester
day morning the vault and'safe of the
Bank of Pleasanton were blown open
with dynamite and nitro-glycerine and
•3,470 taken therefrom in currreney.
silver, gold and postage stamps. A
hole was drilled into the door of the
vault between the dial and handle,'
and by the use of a punch the connec
tion between the combination and
handle was broken and the bolts could
then be thrown without any effort.
The door of the safe was sprung with
wedges, the seams puttied up around
the door and nitro-glyeerlne poured
in. Dynamite was then plaoed under
the safe, and touched off with fuse.
This caused the glycerine to explode,
throwing the safe, which weighed two
tons, from one side of the vault to the
other. The front and bottom of the
safe is one mass of twisted and broken
iron.
In the safe outside the chest was
•1,350 in currency, 8200 In silver and
$100 in gold, which was all taken ex
cept $38 in silver dollars. The burglar
proof chest or department withstood
the shock of the explosion. This box
contained $10,000 m currency and
gold. The burglars made an effort to
force an entrance to this wealth, but
undoubtedly were frightened away or
time was^too short.
The books, papers, notes, etc., of
the bank and those kept in private
boxes are all mixed and in a bad con
dition. The 6afe has been in use
about seven years and was supposed
to be burglar proof. The expert says
it is the' same kind as the one blown
open at Liberty, Mo., about one year
ago, and he believes the operators are
the same ones. There is no clue as
yet to the guilty parties. A reward of
3500 has been offered.
RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSY.
Free Thinker* Combat the Recognition
of the Dlety In the Constitution.
Washington, March 9.—Much feel
ing has been aroused in religious
circles, and among free thinkers as
well, over the resolution of Repre
sentative Morse of Massachusetts, to
secure recognition of the Die ty in the
constitution.
While petitions in favor of the
measure have been received from
many religious bodies, other petitions
equally strong in their terms have
been presented against the proposition
by organized bodies of free thinkers.
Having heard the statements of the
church people, the committee is con
fronted with the question whether it
shall afford a hearing to the antago
nists of the resolution. Requests for
an audience have been made by free
thought societies of New York, Chi
cago and Washington. There is an
apprehension on the one hand
that these people may present
their views in a manner which
would lay them open to the charge of
sacrilege from the churches and bring
down criticism upon the committee
for listening to speeches reflecting on
the Christian religion, and on the
other hand that a refusal to listen to
both sides of the case would involve a
charge of prejudice and illiberality.
The question whether the free think
ers will be accorded a hearing will
probably be decided by the committee
at its next meeting.
PENSION BILL PASSED.
It Carries *151,000,000 for the Veterans
of Uncle Sam's Wars.
Washington, March 9.—After five
days of debate the pension appropria
tion bill carrying $151,000,000 passed
without division. Throughout the de
bate there had been no criticism of the
amount carried by the bill, debate
being confined on the one hand to an
assault upon the manner in which the
previous commissioner of pensions
had administered the office, and his
alleged unauthorized suspension of
pensions, and on the other to a defense
of the attempt of the commis
sioner to purge the rolls of
those who were not entitled to pen
sions. Yesterday there were several
very spirited speeches, those by Gen
eral Henderson of Iowa, Mr. O’Neill
in closing the debate, and ex-Speaker
Grow. All the amendments to the
bill save one, that of Mr. Pickier, to
make the reports of the examining sur
geons open to the inspection of the
applicant or his attorneys, were de
feated. They all fell under points of
order that they were not germane.
Nearly Eaten Up by a Farmer.
Pottstown, Pa., March 9.—While
William Brunst of New Hanover
township, was driving home last
night he was attached by a highway
man two miles north of Pottstown.
Mr. Erimst refused to hand over his
money and a terrible struggle fol
lowed, the robber using a heavy sand
bag. The fight was a long one and
the robber gave it up after the farmer
had bitten a big piece but of one of
his cheeks and chewed one of his
fingers nearly off.
Mrs. Moonlight at Rest.
Leavenworth, Kan., March 9.—
Mrs. Ellen E. Moonlight, wife of
Colonel Thomas Moonlight, recently
appointed minister to Bolivia, died
yesterday afternoon at the family
home on Fourth street. Colonel Moon
light is in New York and had arranged
to sail Saturday for Bolivia. He has
been telegraphed the news. Mrs.
Moonlight left five children, four
daughters and a son.
To Push Woman Suffrage.
Topeka, Kas., March 9.—Mrs. Laura
M. Johns and her associate managers
of the equal suffrage campaign have
planned to hold two day meetings in
each of the lO.'i counties in the state,
commencing May 4 and ft at Kansas
City in Wyandotte county. Among
the speakers engaged are Susan B.
Anthony, Annie H. Shaw, Therese
Jenkins, Carrie Lane Chapman, Annie
L. Diggs and Laura M. Johns.,
Protected by the American Flag.
Nicaragua, March 9.—The United
States steamship Ranger passed
through this port yesterday morning
with ex-President Villega and six
other refugees from Honduras. In
the treaty General Villega was giren
a guarantee for his personal safety
but he preferred to embark for Quata
mala. ]
REPUBLICAN MATTERS;
PILING BLUNDER ON BLUNDER.
Senator Lodge Presents the Country'*
Indictment Against Democracy.
When It became known that the
Democrats had secured the senate
and were in full possession of the
government, the pubho mind was
ohllled. The change, which looked
so roseate before eleetion, seemed
more serious .**nd lets' entrancing
after it 'had been accomplished.
Men began to doubt the future, and
business men began to hesitate.
This state of publlo sentiment was
keenly felt by the Democratic leaders
and by the newspapers devoted to
their fortunes.
They wiohed to dispol tho idea
that this general anxiety had any
thing to do with their return to
power, and they therefore sot about
proclaiming in season and out of
season, with loud cries and much
lamentation, that tho doubt and un
certainty which existed wero duo
solely to the dangers to be appre
hended from the purchasing clauses
of the Sherman aot.
The outcry against the Sherman
act did muon more than turn atten
tion from Democratic sunremanv. It.
produced a condition o( extreme ner
vousness and anxiety In the business
world, and with the business world
in this dangerously sensitive condi
tion Mr. Cleveland came into power.
The country, keenly alarmed and
excited about the operations of the
Sherman aot, was allowed to drift
helplessly and trust to the chapter
of accidents. It was understood at
the time that Mr. Cleveland thought
and said that this course would fur
nish a good object lessen. Whether
he said so or not, there can be no
question that an object lesson was
furnished. In the existing condition
of public opinion very little was
needed to bring the catastrophe. Con
gress, under the Irresistible pressure
of public demand, was at last called
together on the 7th of August
After a bitter strugglo of three
months the administration, with a
majority of its own party against it
and only by the aid of the Repub
licans, succeeded in repealing the
purchasing clauses.
The fact is that the country had
been alarmed at the beginning by
fear of what the Democrats might
do. The cause of this fear remained
not only undlmlnished, but was much
increased by the incompetenoy dis
played by the ruling party in dealing
with repeal.
The fear was now still further
quickened by the fact that the Dem
ocrats still proposed, with business
prostrate, to go on with their work
of destroying the protective tariff.
After the storm which had swept
over the country during the summer,
the only chance for revival was m a
period of rest, and instead of rest
the Democrats entered on a policy
of industrial revolution. They had
proposod in their platform to over
throw protection and take up freo
trade.
They had announced }othe country
that they intended to force upon the
United States the outworn policy of
a brokendown theory, without any
regard to the later facts and teach
ings of history or to existing condi
tions.
Yet, despite their brave words,
they were afraid of themselves when
they really got to work, and the re
sult has beeu the Wilson bill. That
measure is not free trade and is not
protection. It embodies no theory
and is guiltless of system or
principle. It is not a tariff for
revenue, but a tariff for deficit. It
does not dare to raise money on free
trade principles bv placing duties on
tea and coffee and sugar, but resorts
to the last expedient of war times—
direct taxes. It is thoroughly vicious
in construction, utterly unscientific
and carries Inequality and injustice
in every line. It offers no hope of
rest, for no such statute could stand.
The administration which doubted
its power in law to maintain the
gold reserves last March has now
issued bonds to pay current ex
penditures from that very reserve,
which it is alone authorized by law
to maintain. The refusal of a Demo
cratic house and a Democratic senate
to give the treasury nroner authority
to issue bonds, such as the Republi
cans offered to join in giving when
silver repeal passed, has forced the
secretary to issue bonds under a
doubtful power in the law of 1875.
But this is not all. Hardly has the
secretary of the treasury announced
this issue of bonds, and while he is
actually receiving bids for them, a
committee of the house, controlled
by his own party, reports a resolu
tion declaring his action unlawful,
thereby tainting the security of the
bonds. Anv credit, less strong than
that of the United States would be
shaken by such action; and what can
lie expected in the way of intelligent
government from a party so inco
herent and so divided against itself
as this performance shows them to
bo?
Afraid to repeal the pension legis
lation. which they have denounced,
they have stricken pensioners from
the roll and then instituted inquiries
as to the justness of their action.
The departments of the treasury and
the interior furnish countless exam
ples of the manner in which they
maintain the principles of civil ser
vice reform. Even the classified ser
vice has not been safe and removals,
reductions and promotions show not
only political, but sectional and race
discrimination. The most conspicu
ous fact about the party in power,
however, is the bitter division which
they exhibit on almost every sub
ject But in simple justice it must
bo said that there is one question
on which they are cordially united.
They were all in favor of destroying
every safeguard of national elections,
and; tills toot In the face of the- fraud;
of McKano. They were determined
to sweep away every vestige of na
tional authority in. protecting the
ballot. This is a reform on which
there arO no Democratic differences
of opinion.
Our foreign policy at present can
be summed up in the word "Hawaii.’1
In justice to the Democratic party
let it be said that, so far as our his
tory teaches us, the Sandwich
island performance is neither Demo
cratic nor Republican. Still less is
it American; it is purely personal.
It has also been a failure, and, our
good name has been dragged in' the
dust without even the poor reward
of a success more disgraceful than
defeat. The crusade preached by
the administration in behalf of a
savage queen has humiliated the
United States, and has had absolute
ly no other result.
Such in brief is the political situ
ation. It is not pleasing from any
point of view, and it is causing un
told suffering. It cannot, however,
be said with equal truth that wo
were entitled to expect anything
else from the change of • party con
trol made by the election of 1892.
But few words are needed to show
that while we may be angry or in
dignant or unhappy about the pres
ent situation of the oountiy, wo have
no good reason, to. be surprised —
Harper's Weekly.
THE PEOPLE’S PROTEST.
They Have Had a Year of the Wee Trade
‘ Party and Don’t Like It.
Pennsylvania Is a Republican stato.
At the last presidential election, in a
total vote of over a million, there
was a plurality of 63,000 for the Re
publican party and protection.
At the recent Pennsylvania elec
tion the protest against Democratic
free trade was more than 11(0,000
groater, with a total vote that was
not so largo by at least one-fifth.
Every Demooratio paper in the
land says that this uprising of the
people is of no political significance.
I hoy say that the rosult was brought
about by the Hepublloan political
leaders as an object lesson.
l'uey ignore the fact that the peo
ple of that state were confronted by
the same dangers in. 1091 that
threaten them now. The difference
is that they huve had a year's ex
pcrionco with the free trade party.
They have had a taste of the medi
cine that the Republican party told
them they would have to take in
case the Democratic party should
come into power.
They don't like Ik
They have had ample time to think
the matter over and to talk about it
—in fact, they have had nothing
else to do. In comparing notes they
have come to the conclusion that
their interests are identical, one
with the other.
It will not answer to say that the
result means nothing as to'the effect
of Democratic tariff “reform" upon
the people of the country at large.
It will not do to say that the acces
sion of more than lOJ.O )0 votes to
the side of protection was brought
about by the party managers.
Tho Democratic political mana
gers were as deeply interested in re
ducing the majority as those on the
other side wore in its increase. Docs
anybody suppose that they did not
do their best and use all the means
in their power to do so? asks the
Kansas City Journal
But the people know what the
vote moans, and the congressional
[ elections of next fall will show that
condemnation of the old party of de
struction is general throughout the
country.
Where Is That Dollar Whnl?
Wheat, which was to sell for a dol
lar a bushel under the new adminis
tration, has gone down to a point
never before reached in tho experi
ence of the present generation. This
drop entails a heavy loss on the pro
ducer without any corresponding
gain to the consumer. - The price of
a loaf of bread rules just about the
same and the size remains the same
as a year ago. The profit, if any,
has gone to the middlemen and wheat
gamblers, and not to the farmers in
the country and the bread-eaters in
tho cities, who make up the great
bulk of the population.
Evidently He Does.
What does Minister Terrell mean
by forcing the Turkish authorities to
release two American citizens. Does
he fancy he is serving under a Ke
publican administration:'' — Kansas
City Journal.
McKInleylemi.
The past year has been one of com
pulsory education.
We are attending upon the school
of experience, and while the scholar
ship is free theexpenso is enormous.
The true American sentiment can
not be trampled upon with impunity,
and when so trampled upon the
national spirit swiftly asserts its
mastery.
Congress is professedly reducing
taxation to relievo the pcoplo of
burdens, anc. Cleveland is adding to
their burdens by fastening upon them
a bonded debt of $50,000,0 JO.
The theory of the government is
| that the people are supremo and the
officers their servants. The situa
tion now is one where the servant is
supreme and the master is temporar
ily helpless.
It is a singular anomaly that the
people, the source of all power in
this country, are powerless to help
themselves, and have been since the
election of* 1802. It is a condition
where the people’s representatives
are legislating against the interests
and opinions of the people, and the
latter have no immediate power to
revoke their commissions or dis
charge them from their service.
Tka Rnulm Thlatle In Nebraska.
| This Is the title of a modest produo
tton bp Dr. Charles E. Bessey of the V.
8. experiment station connected with
the State University of Nebraska. II
was printed with the thought of aroua-.
ing the people of the state to the dan* '
ger of the presence of this weed along
our northern border and at various
other points in the state. In all about
twenty-four counties are infected to a ,
greater or less extent. Subsequint In*
formation increases the number soma*
what
Governor Crounse has been Impor
tuned by the ohlef executive of each of
hio iwo mkKuiu ana on*
or two other states to
oo-operate in the sup
pression of this rile pest
that finds its lodgement
in fields and appropri
ates the use of the soil
to the exclusion of near- ■,
ly all else. We insert a
cut of. a mature plant ‘
and also of a sprig so
that those who may be
unfamiliar with it, or at
least be suspicious of
any plant which has a
similar appearance, can
compare ft, or better
still, send a specimen to
Jl HAMri.g
BRANCH.
the United
Statue expert* '
ment station at
the State Uni
versity at Lin
coln, where Dr.
Bosscy or hie
assistant will
determine the
name nitd In
form persons os
to whether
they have this
or some other
bad weed need- /
1 n g destruc
tion. For al- ■
most two den
udes this plant
has been a con
tinual source of
annoyance to
our farmers In
the districts In
fected bv It and
the time has come when something1
must be done to check its career.
MAIN POINTS.
1. It was introduced into Dakota
about seventeen years ago, probably
with flax seed from Russia, hence its*
name.
2. It has now spread so that in Da*
kota alone the damage in 1893 was es* '
timatcd conservatively at 84,000,090.
3. It is not a true thistle but a plant
allied to our common tumble weeds.
4. Bulletin 31 gives a complete and
accurate description of the plant and
is illustrated by three photogravures
and three other cuts, making very
plain all the points in its description;
so accurately is it described and Ulus*
trated one could scarcely mistake it.
5. In general the plant is nearly'
spherical in shape (see cut) and is cov
ered with hard stout prickles which
are sharp and very irritating. Its seeds
number thousands in each mature
plant and when it rolls before the
wind it sows its seeds broadcast in
lines that are shown by young plants
the following year.
ITS DEVELOPMENT.
The young plant, which appears in
May or June, appears harmless. It is
then a soft smooth looking plant with
narrow fleshy leaves an inch long. It
blossoms in .luly and August ana ma
tures in seeds in September, or in fa
vorable seasons as late as November.
The seeds are about a twelfth to a
sixteenth of an inch in diameter and
of a dull grayish or greenish gray
color. tVlien the thin covering is
rubbed off they are seen to have a-'
spiral structure.
SUGGESTIONS FOB DESTRUCTION.
1. Interest everyone in the cause
and make general war upon it wher*'
ever found. Let parents, school chil
dren and all people be taught to know
it a) sight, then Interest township and
county officers, especially the road, or
highway commissioners. It will do
VEXERAT, APPEARANCE OP RUSSIAN
THISTLE AT MATURITY.
but little pood for a few active public*
spirited citizens to try to do the work
alone—all must co-operate.
2. The newspapers, as in all good
causes, will do the lion’s share of the
work by printing brief extracts and
thus practically reaching nearly every
home in the state.
3. There is a summary of points of
which a brief digest of the more im
portant is as follows:
All must see to their own land and
then co-operate in destoying the plants.
on lands outside and in the highways.
Cultivate the land until August first
and it will not have time to mature '
seed, and as it is an annual it will be
cleaned from the land unless fresh'
seed are deposited. Cut down all plants
that escape cultivation on or before
September 10th. Burn all mature
plants. Examine carefully the seed of
millet and flax you obtain for sowing.
Finally, if iu doubt or needing more
information, fortify yohrselves by ob
taining and preserving a copy of bulle
tin 31 of the IT. S. experiment station;
read it carefully and often consult it
until thoroughly familiar with the sub
ject. For this and all other bulletins
address Experiment Station, Lincoln.
Neb., when prompt and full reply will
be sent on all matters pertaining to
this and all other subjects of agricul
ture (including live stock interests)
and horticulture.
A large polecat walked into a store
at Swanton through the back door.
The proprietor went out the opposite
entrance and called forthe police.
