MR , J , J , HILL
MAKES APPEAL ,
Announces Union Pacific Old-Secure Control
of the Northern Pacific ,
Magnate Explains Purpose of Northren
Securities Co. Is to Make Himself
and Morgan Dominant.
\f \
St. Paul , Minn. , Dec. 24. President
J. , J. Hill of the Great Northern rail
way and of the recently organized
Northern-Securities company , has giv
en out the following statement to the
press :
"I have been absent from Minnesota
more than two months and during
that time there has arisen a wide dis
cussion throughout the state of what
has been generally called a consolida
tion or a merger of the Northern Pa
cific and Great Northern railways and
inj this 'discussion statements have
meen made which are so widely differ
ent from the facts that I feel called
upon to make a conservative state
ment of just what has been done in
the past and what will be done In the
future.
"When the Northern Pacific failed
and the banking house of J. P. Morgan
& Co. reorganized It , myself and my
'friends were holders of a large amount
of that company's securities. After
the reorganization was completed we
bought about $26,000,000 of the North
ern Pacific stock , both common and
preferred. Some of this stock was
afterward sold , but a large amount
has been held from that time to the
present.
"About a year ago the Union Pacific
company bought the Huntington and
other interests in the Northern Pacific
and at the same time made an effort
to get control of the Burlington.
'PRELIMINARY MANEUVERS.
"With these lines in the hands of
the Union Pacific interests both the
Northern Pacific and Great Northern
would be largely shut out of the states
of Nebraska , Kansas , Missouri , South
Dakota , Iowa , Illinois and Wisconsin ,
except by using other lines of railway ,
some of which were in the market for
sale and might at any time pass under
the control of or be combined with
'
the Union Pacific interests. We then ,
with the Northern Pacific , made pro
posals to the directors of the Burling
ton to buy their entire property. When
this transaction was about being clos
ed , the people who represented the
Union Pacific company , and who had
previously tried to buy the Burling
ton , asked to be allowed to share
with us In the purchase of that com
pany. This proposal we refused for the
reason that it would defeat our ob
ject inj buying the Burlington and
further it was against the law of the
several states in which the longest
mileage of the Burlington was locat
ed.
T-J "At that timeagainst 'the opposition
rfcpso ( f the most southern lines , both the
Great Northern and Northern Pacific
had put into effect a low colonization
rate and were carrying daily thou
sands of people into the northwest ,
many of whom were coming from
Kansas and Nebraska , along the lines
of the Union Pacific. This movement
was at its height in the month of
April and after we had closed the deal
for the Burlington , and the Union Pa
cific undertook the boldest effort that'
was ever made in this country and
bought $60,000,000 of the stock of the
Northern Pacific in the markets of
Europe and the United States. I was
In New York at the time and after
Messrs. Morgan & Co. were aware of
the action of the Union" Pacific people
it was found that together we held
about $25,000,000 of Northern Pacific
common stock by right of a contract
made with the preferred stockholders
when the company was reorganizd
and the stock Issued , had the privilege
of paying off the preferred stock at
par on the first day of January of any
year until 1917. Messrs. Morgan & Co.
then bought in London and New York
about $16,000,000 of the common stock
of the Northern Pa.cittc. At the same
time the Union Pacific interests , hav-
' already so large an investment ,
bid the stock up until there was the
largest stock corner ever known , the
common stock in three or four days
went up to $1,000 a share. I explained
to my , friends how that , with control
of th"e' Northerh Pacific , the Union.
Pacific would control the entire north
west and of the west from Mexico
to the Canadian line. So great was
'
the e'ffort to get this control that one
of my friends in London who owned j
two millions yof Northern Pacific comj j
mon was offered and refused $14,000,000
for his stock.
UNION PACIFIC WON.
"The result was that Messrs. Mor
gan & Co. and ourselves owned $42-
000,000 out of $80,000,000 of the Northj j
ern Pacific common , with the privilege
of'paying of $75,000,000 of Northern Pa
cific preferred. The Union Pacific
people owned $37,000,000 of the com
mon and about $42,000,000 of the pre
ferred , which was a clear majority of
all the stock of the Northern Pacific
HAY INTENDS TO HOLD POST.
Washington , D. C. , Dec. 24. In view
of the repeated publications of late to
the general effect that Secretary Hay
is about to 'retire a statement is given
with "full authority touching this sub-
substantially to the effect that
Secretary Hay does not now contem
plate retirement from the cabinet.
This statement applies , not only to the
present moment , but to that Indefinite
Deriod fixed by the conclusion of the
ineffqtiations necessary to the con-
-3
_ \
.and claimed the exclusive control of
the Northern Pacific railway and
through that ownership control of one-
half of the Burlington. When it was
known that these preferred shares
could and would be paid off , and be
fore annual election , mutual negotia
tions resulted In Mr. Morgan giving
them a representative on the North
ern Pacific board. When I was ad
vised of my election I notified them
that I could not legally act.as a di
rector of the Northern Pacific and
Great Northern at the same time , and
I resigned after the first meeting of
the board.
"Several of the gentlemen who have
long been interested in the Great
Northern railway and its predecessor ,
the St. Paul , Minneapolis & Manitoba ,
will be among Its largest sharehold
ers , but not the holders of a majority
of its stock , whose ages .are from 70
to 86 years , have desired to combine
their individual holdings in corporate
form , and in that way secure perma
nent protection for their interests and
ra continuation of the policy and man
agement which has done so much for
the development of the northwest and
the enhancement of their own proper
ty in the northwest and elsewhere.
Out of this desire has grown th
Northern Securities company. It be
came necessary ( in order to prevent
the Northern Pacific from passing un
der the control'of the Union Pacific
interests and with It the Joint control
of the Burlington ) to pay off the $75-
000,000 of Northern Pacific preferred.
The enormous Amount of cash requir
ed for this purpose from a compara
tively small number of men. made it
necessary for them to act together in
a large and permanent manner , thro
the medium of a corporation , and the
Northern Securities company afforded
them the means of accomplishing this
object without the necessity of creat
ing a separate company to finance the
transactions for the Narthern Pacific ;
while , at the same time , the credit of
the Northern Securities company
would'be much stronger , as it would
also hold a considerable amount of
Great Northern and other securities.
OBJECTS OF THE COMPANY.
"The Northern Securities company is
organized to deal in high class securi
ties , to hold the same for the benefit
of its shareholders and to advance the
interests of the corporations whose se-
cutities it owns. Its powers do not
include the operations of railways ,
banking , mining , nor the buying or
selling of securities or properties for
others on commission ; it Is purely an
investment company , and the object
of its organization was simply for
those holding its stock to continue
their irespective interests In association
together and to prevent such Interests
from being scatered by death or oth
erwise ; to provide against attacks as
have been made upon the Northern
Pacific by a rival and competing in
terest , whose main investment was
hundreds of miles from the northwest
and whose only object in buying con
trol of the Northern Pacific was to
benefit its southern properties by re
straining the growth of .the country
between Lake Superior and Puget
Sound and by turning away from the
northern lines the enormous oriental
traffic which must follow placing on
the ocean the largest ships in the
world.
"The foregoing is a brief and abso
lutely correct statement of the whole
subject , and its truth can easily be
verified by the state of Minnesota and
any other state or person having suffi
cient interest to investigate the facts ,
which' are all matters of record.
"Now , as to the effect of what has
been done upon the public interests ;
let me ask a few questions , which I
want every candid and honest man
to answer for himself ?
"Did the Union Pacific people with
their railway lines extending from
Omaha and New Orleans to California
and Oregon through the several states
In the middle west and south purchase
a majority of the stock of the North
ern Pacific company for the purpose
o faiding that company and increasing
the growth and prosperity of th
northern country , or was it for the
purpose of restricting such growth and
aiding the'development of their enor
mous interests hundreds of miles to
the south ?
"Did they purchase the Northern
Pacific and its interests in the Bur
lington for the purpose of building up
the Asiatic trade between the north
ern zone lying from St. Paul and Min
neapolis to the Pacific coast or in
order to control the oriental trade for
their own southern railway lines
through their own seaports over their
awn ships ?
PLEA TO THE NORTHWEST.
"In defeating their control of the
Northern Pacific and regaining it in
the hands of those who had built it
up and with it the entire northwest ,
did we injure or benefit the people of
the northwest ?
"Did I by inducing my friends to
hold their Northern Pacific common
stock and act jointly with. Messrs.
Morgan & Co. , when this stock was
selling at $500 and $1,000 a share , thus
preventing the Union Pacific .from
coritroMng * the northwest , injure or
benefit every interest , agricultural ,
business and otherwise , of the entire
country between Lake Superior and
the Pacific ocean ?
'Had we sold our $20,000,000 of the
structiori of ' 11 Isthmian canal. Also
it is stated with equal positiveness
and authority that President Roose
velt has In the strongest terms ex
pressed to Secretary Hay his earnest
desire that he shall remain in the
cabinet , of which he forms one of the
principal 'props. Thus , according to
the statement , the secretary's inclina
tion and the president's desire run
together , and there is no foundation
for the reports to the effect tbat Sec
retary Hay Is to leave his post.
Northern Pacific even at $300 a share
amounting to $60,000,000 , or nearly $40-
000,000 more than Its present value.anc
transferred to the Union Pacific con
trol of the entire country betweec
Canada and Mexico , what law ol
Minnesota would we have violated
Could wenot legally have put the
money in our pockets and let the
country that it was to be dominated
by a parallel and competing railroad ?
"Why did Governor Van Sant sit
still from May until Novemberwhile
a majority of the stock of the North
ern Pacific company was controlled
by a parallel and competing railroad
company , In clear opposition to law ,
and wait until myself and friends
have by our efforts and with our own
money relieved the northwest , 'not as
a rival parallel or competing railway ,
But doing what we clearly have the
right to do , as individuals , or work
ing together for greater uermanency
and security as a financial corpora
tion ?
"Has there ever been a case in the
history of this country when _ men
have dropped their money profit and
stood as firmly by the interests of the
communities which had grown up with
their own and largely by their own
efforts and capital ?
"The public is Interested in having
a good railway service , and at fair and
reasonable rates. The past is gone
and speaks for itself ; I can speak for
the future , and have no hesitation
whatever In saying that the increased
volume of traffic , both through and
local , will enable the companies to
reduce their rates in proportion to the
volume of such traffic , and that in
the near future the public will have
a chance to see for itself this feature
of what I have said. The development
of the country will increase with a
greater increase in population between
Minnesota and the Pacific. No merger
or consolidation of the Northern Pa
cific and Great Northern Is contem
plated. Each company will be oper
ated separately in the future as in
the past. $
"I greatly dislike to discuss my
matters In the newspapers , but during
my absence an attack has been made
upon myself and friends which has
been persistently supported by both
political and rival interests. All I ask
is fair play , and let time determine
whether the public wil Ibe benefited or
Injured by what we have' done and
will continue to do.
"JAMES J. HILL. "
WESTERN EVENTS IN WASHINGTON.
Washington , D. C. , Dec. 24. The
comptroller of the currency has ap
proved the Western National bank of.
New York and , the Commercial Na
tionalbank of Chicago as reserve
igents for the Farmers' National bank
af Red Cloud , Neb.
A postoffice has been established at
Pollock , Campbell county , S. D. , with
Richard G. Parrott as postmaster.
The following rural free delivery let-
: er carriers have been appointed :
Iowa W. J. Miller , at Pleasantville ;
Dharles B. Sezring , at Boone ; Charles
3. Smith , at Knoxville ; W. M. Squire ,
it Council Bluffs ; Robert Johnson , at
) gden ; Fred H. Hummell , at Nicholas ;
3. S. Henderson , at Paullina ; Fred A.
Bell , at Agency ; Roger H. Ballard , at
? erry ; John Steele , at Portsville ; W.
2. Fuller , at Clareton ; Milo C. Corbett ,
it Gretna.
Postmasters appointed :
Iowa ChillicotheWapello county , A.
3. Bellman , vice J. A. Pinegar , re-
iigned ; Mark , Davis county , R. D.
Andrews , vice D. T. Edwards , remov-
: d.
Nebraska Amherst , Buffalo county ,
N , J. Clark , vice F. B. Beck , removed ;
IVatertown , ' Buffalo county , A. L.
ritch , vice W. E. Dickman , resigned.
South Dakota Ludlow , Ewing coun-
y , Amanda Macy , vice Carrie McCuh-
: e'y , resigned ; Terraville , Lawrence
: ounty , T.H. . O'Connor , vice O. W.
lurlbut , resigned :
Rural free delivery service will xbe
istablished on February 1 as follows :
Iowa Gundy Center , Grundy coun-
y ( additional service ) , with , three car-
iers ; length of routes , sev.enty-seven
niles ; population served , 560 ; carriers ,
Jeorge Hodge , Abram Delong and D.
3. Kirkpatrick ; postoffice at Ivester to
> e supplied by rural carriers.
Nebraska Scribner , Dodge county
additiona Iservice ) , with two carriers ;
ength of routes , fifty-three and a half
niles ; population served , 1,100 ; carri-
irs , oJhn Ziegler and Frank H. Lewis :
) ostoffices at Ridgeley and Webster
o be discontinued. Stanton , Stanton
: ounty , with three carriers ; length of
outes , seventy-seven and one-fourth
niles ; population served , 1,375 ; carri-
irs , Arthur Axen , J. M. Mitchell and
" . H. Banter ; postoffice at Bega to be
liscontinued. West Point , Cuming
: ounty , three carriers ; length of
outes , seventy eight and " three-
ourths miles ; population served , 1,775 ;
: arriers , J. W. Rich , Theodore Krien-
: e and I. E. Gehris ; postoffices at
Jermanville , Aloys and Bismarck to
te discontinued. *
Bob Evans at Navy Department.
Washington , D. C. , Dec. 23. Rear
Ldmiral Evans , who has just returned
rom Tutuila , Samoa , made a short
to the navy department.- ex-
> ects to remain in this city until the
md of February , when 'he will go to
he east toassume command of a di-
ision of the Asiatic squadron. -
Reports Delarey In Dispatr. '
London , Dec.24. The war office has
: ome into possession of a cipher tele-
: ram purporting to have been sent by
he Boer commandant , Delarey , stat-
ng that he could not hold out longer
han January. According to. the corre-
pondent of the Times at Pretoria ,
Jelarey is believed to be forty miles
lorthwest of Klerksdorp , with about
00 men. The war office Is taking a
nore hopeful view of the war than it
ias taken at any previous time.
. A
- - - . . *
t
LONG TURNS
DEWEY DOWN.
Approves Finding of Facts art Opinion of
the Full Schley Inquiry Court ,
Declines Sampson's Application for
an Inquiry as to Who Comman
ded at Battle of Santiago.
Washington , D. C. , Dec. 24. Secre
tary Long has finally disposed of the
Schley case so far as the navy de
partment Is concerned , by acting upon
the 'findings and conclusions of the
court of Inquiry.
He approves the findings of facts
and the opinion of the full court.
He approves the majority opinion
where there Is a difference in the
court.
He holds the court could not have
entered Into the question of command
at the battle of Santiago.
And finally he accepts the recom
mendation that no further proceed
ings shall be had.
The secretary also has declined the
\application of Admiral Sampson's
counsel to enter upon an Inquiry into
the question of command and has
notified Admiral Schley's counsel of
that fact as a reason for declining to
hear them on that point.
Secretary Long's approval of the ma
jority report was as follows :
"The department has read the testi
mony in this case , the arguments of
counsel at the trial ; the court's find
ings of fact , opinion and recommenda
tion ; the individual memorandum of
the presiding member , the statement
of exceptions to the said findings and
opinion by the applicant ; the reply to
said statement by the judge advocate
of the court and his assistant , and
the briefs this day submitted by coun
sel .for Rear Admiral Sampson trav
ersing the presiding member's view as
to who was in command at Santi
ago.
ago."And
"And , after careful consideration , the ,
findings of fact and the opinion ) of the
full court are approved.
"As to the points on which the pre
siding member differs from the irfajoi'-
Ity of the court , the opinion ofthe
majority is approved.
"As to the further expression of his
views by the same member with re
gard to the question of command on
the morning of July 3 , 1898 , and of
the title to credit for the ensuing vic
tory , the conduct of the court in mak
ing no finding and rendering no opin
ion on those questions is approved
indeed , it could with propriety take n6
other course , evidence on these ques
tions , during the inquiry , having been
excluded by the court.
"The department . approves the rec
ommendation of the court that no fur
ther proceedings be had in the prem
ises.
"The department records its appre
ciation of the arduous labors of ' the
whole court , JOHN D. LONG ,
"Secretary of the Navy. "
The text of the secretary's letters to
Admiral Sampson's attorneys and to
Admiral Schley follow :
"Navy Department , Washington , D.
C. , Dee. 20 , 1901. Gentlemen : In view
of the department's approval , this
flay" of the recommendation of the
jourt of inquiry , in the case of Rear
Admiral Schley , that no further pro
ceedings be had , and of the fact that
the question of command was exclud
ed from consideration by the court ,
the department will take no action
upon the brief filed by you in behalf
of Rear Admiral William T. Sampson.
Very respectfully ,
"JOHN D. LONG , Secretary. "
"Navy Department , Dec. 20 , 1901.
Sirf Referring- the department's
etter of the 20th inst. you are advis
ed that action today has been taken
upon the findings of the court of in
quiry in your case and upon the mi
nority opinion of the presiding Tnem-
jer and a copy of the order indorsing
such action is herewith transmitlle'ci. "
" * * J
for your information.
"In response to your request of Ihe
18th inst. , heretofore acknowledged'/
that , if a protest should be filed by-
Rear Admiral W. T. Sampson1 relative
to the question of command of the
naval forces during the battle of San
tiago and credit 'for the victory won
in that battle , you be accorded an op
portunity to present through your
counsel oral arguments against such
protest you are advised that a brief
on this subject has , been this day filed
by Messrs. Stayton , Campbell and
Theill , counsel for Admiral Samps&n.
In view , however , of the department's
approval of the recommendation of
the court of inquiry that no further
proceedings be had and of the fact
that the question of command was ex
cluded from consideration by the
court , no action will be taken on said
brief , and reply to that effect ( copy
inclosed ) .has this day been made to
counsel for Admiral Sampson.
"A copy of the report of the judge
advocate of the court and his. assist
ant upon your communication of ' the
18th inst. objecting to the approval" of
the findings of the court is also here
with transmitted. Very respectfully ,
"JOHN D. LONG , Secretary. "
"Rear Admiral W. S. Schley , U. S. 'N. ,
Retired. "
Forming a Match Trust.
Berlin , Dec. 24. O. C. Barber , W. A.
Smith of Glasgow , vice chairman of
Bryant & May's ; George W. Paton ,
managing director of the Diamond
Match company's Liverpool works ; J.
H. Bartholomew and Mr. Graves , di
rectors of Bryant & May's , met at
Mannheim this week to consider the
reports of theiragents , who have been
negotiating- the absorption of the
match factories of Europe. Some im
portant concerns are not willing to sell
on ttie terms'offered.
. % . . . . ' 'UU ; , * . - . .4-
MONSTER EXPRESS CO. TO ORGANIZE ,
New Tork.Dec. 24. The organization
of a $100,000,000 express company , to
take over all the express business ot
this country is the talk of Wall street ,
of aiding that company and increasing
color is given to the report by re
markable activity in the stock of
the Wells-Forgo company.
The four big1 express companies have
been working in harmony for axlong
time , and since April last J. C. Fargo ,
president of the American Express
company and A. C. Weir , president of
the Adams Express company , have
been members of the board of direct
ors of the United States Express com
pany.
The Adams controls the Southern
Pacific company and the National Ex
press is controlled by the American.
The basis upon which the companies
would be absorbed Is as yet only a
matter of conjecture , butIt has been
pointed out that the present $48,000,000
of stock might be expanded to $100-
MJO.OOO , and still pay 5 per cent divi
dends .while at the same time carry
*
ing the $12,000,000 bonds of the Adams
company.
These bonds represent profit to the
stockholders. They were issued as a
100 per cent dividend in 1898. Before
that time the company had paid divi
*
dends at the rate of 8 per cent per an
num. This was reduced to 6 per cent ,
but profits on investments held by the
company have enabled it to pay an
extra 2 per cent since December , 1900.
Neither the Adams , American , nor
United States company is incorporat
ed. Each was organized as an associ
ation under the laws of the state. The
Adams was thus formed ni 1854 , the
American in 1859 and 1868 and the
United States in 1854.
Wells-Fargo & Co. were incorporat
ed under the laws of Colorado in 1866.
DECLARES TRUSTS ARE A DEAD ISSUE.
Chicago , 111. , Dec. 24. In a speech
before the Bankers' club , Charles M.
Schwab , president of the United States
Steel corporation , declared the "trust
is a dead business proposition , built
on a trinity that would wreck any
thing the restriction of trade , the in
crease of prices and the throttling of
competition. "
In distinction from the trust he de
clared that consolidation had for its
guiding principles the reverse of this
trinity , that instead of restricting it
expanded trade by creating new ave
nues and reducing the prices of com
modities produced. For particulars h'e'
discussed the United States Steel cor
poration , pleadingthat it wa's with
this consolidation that he was most
familiar.
"No one , " ' , lje , said , "has a clearer
appreciation than myself of the evil
that lurked in the trust scheme. I
say lurked advisedly , because the
trust is a dead issue with which we
will never again be troubled. It was
an experiment , and to that extent
served its purpose. But it was found
ed on misconception and promoted on
lines of self-destruction. " *
Mr. Schwab gave an account of the
formation and workings of the United
States Steel corporation , which , he
said , pays to labor approximately
$150,000,000 a year. This is equivalent
to a mortgage debt of $3,000,000,000 up
on the property , which must be paid in
advance of the first mortgage bonds.
He added : "I am heartily in sym
pathy with President Roosevelt when
he says that all the great combina-
nations should be given publicity. "
GENERAL FUNSTON IS A' FATHER.
Oakland , Cal. , Dec. 24. A son has
been born to Mrs. Frederick Funston ,
wife of Brigadier General Funston , of
Kansas.
Mrs. Funston returned from the
Philippines a few weeks ago , and has
been living with her parents here
since. General Funston sailed from
Manila for the United States last Sun
day. He is due here about January S.
Mrs. Funston was formerly Miss
Edna Blankart. She was a music
teacher of this city. Funston met her
while his regiment , the famous "fight-
Ing Twentieth , " was at the Presidio in
1898 , awaiting transportation to the
Philippines. He proposed one day and
they were married three days later.
The next day Funston sailed away.
His bride soon followed him to Ma
nila , where she has been with him
most of the time since.
EDITORS ENTHUSE OVER SCHLEY.
Columbus , Neb. , Dec. 24. Although
his name was jiot mentioned , there
was no question but that a pronounc
ed sentiment for Schley as the next
iemocratic presidential candidate pre
vailed at the banquet of the newly
ifjrmed Democratic Editorial associa
tion last week at the Thurston hotel.
At every reference to the admiral as >
j. presidential possibility , those pres-
snt applauded enthusiastically. Edgar
Boward , who'was one of'the first men
to mention Schley as a possible candi
date , in a speech said that judging
from the present conditions , Nebraska
would have a considerable part , hot
Dnly in shaping the platform , but' In
determining the democratic candidate
for 1904. ' " - '
At the first regular meeting of the
new organizatiorip'to be held at Lin
coln in February , it" is thought some.
action will be taken on the question of
boomirig Schley.- - ' . . . .
Asks For Half A Million. t
' Cleveland , O. , Dec. 24. The McKIn-
[ ey Memorial association is receiving
encouraging reports from all over the
country. Half million dollars is the
sum fixed to be raised. An appor
tionment of the total sum has been
made among the states of the union ,
according .to population and location.
The largest sum is asked of New
i'ork , $150,000 ; Ohio's apportionment is
(100,000 and the other states propor
tionately less. North Carolina will be
asked to raise the last amount , $1,000.
, CDBA HAS
HER TRODBLS.
Maso's Men All Refuse To Enter ElectiH
Day Set By Uncle San ,
Retiring Faction Take Exeptlow t
War Departments Attitude and
Charge Unfair Partisianship.v
Havana , Dec. 24. The * supporters of
General Maso In his candidacy for the
presidency of the republic have decid
ed to take no part in the coming elec
tions , fixed for December 31. All the
candidates of the party have with
drawn and the Maso members of trfe
provincial boards have been request
ed to resign. These steps were decid
ed upon on the receipt of a letter from
Governor General Wood refusing to-
grant the party representation on the
board of scrutiny or an extension of
the time to modify the voting list.
At a meeting of the party leaders
a resolution was adopted declaring
that the central board is a coalition
of partisans and that General Maso ,
after exhausting every means to insure
Impartiality , rectitude and justice at
the coming elections , has become con- .
vinced that neither in official circles In
the United States nor in Cuba does
the Intention exist to see that the
elections are carried out with suffi
cient legality to reflect the real wish
of the Cubans , who are desirous of
independence and anxious lo freely-
elect their first constitutional govern
or.
PRESS APPLAUDS MASO.
It was voted to inform Secretary
Root of the decision arrived at and
also to publish a manifesto to the
country.
La Lucha applauds the withdrawal
of the Maso candidates and says that
without the guarantees asked from
Secretary Root everyone knows that
the election will be a falsification of
the will of the majority.
"The Maso coalition , " says La Lu
cha , "should not lend themselves to
the betrayal of the public will and
should not co-operate in a policy .
which tends to lay the foundation of
the republic in a gigantic fraud. "
Besides having the so-called conser
vatives with him , Maso is said to >
have a strong following among the
blacks in the country districts , and it
is intimated in Havana that this ele
ment may not take kindly to the pres
ent condition of things and may cause
trouble. Maso's conservative leaders ,
however , say they have no fear.
The Discuscion , the Palma organ ,
asserts that the withdrawal of Maso's
supporters is due to the fact that they
are a hopeless minority and the can
didates have no chance of being elect
ed.
MAY TAKE UP THE SCHLEY CASE. .
Washington , D. C. , Dec. 23. Pres
ident Roosevelt is reported to have in
terested himself in the attitude of the-
navy department with regard to Ad
miral Schley.
He is alleged to have said at a cab
inet meeting that while technically , he
might not have a right to review the
verdict of the court , he was of the
opinion that as commander-in-chief of
the army and navy he had a right
f he cared to exercise it.
It is quite certain Schley will carry
his appeal up to the president when ,
Long's approval of the majority opln-
on of the court shall have been offi
cially announced.
NEBRASKA FARMER MANGLED BY H06S.
"
i
.Oakland , Neb. , Dec. 23. Lying un
conscious in his pigpen , with hogs
tearing at his still living body , J.
Sandbloom , a farmer living south of
here , was found by his son.
The animals were apparently made
mad by the taste of human flesh , for
they were driven off with difficulty.
They had eaten the right arm nearly
off.
off.Mr.
Mr. Sandbloom was carried to the
house and medical assistance sum
moned , .but it is thought his Injuries
will prove fatal. He is believed to
have stumbled while on his way thro *
the hog yard , and to have been ren
dered unconscious by the fall. He is
58 years of age.
RUMOR THAT AROUSES THE MASONS.
New York , Dec. 23. The Press says
in a leading news report that Charles
W. Meade , general master of the
grand lodge of Free and Accepted
Masons , is hurrying to this-.city ovej\ .
the New York Central road to take
hold , with other officers , of a ques-- .
tion more important to masonry than ,
any which has confronted it since1
1828 , when William Morgan met his * '
death. This question relates.it is saTd , ' "
to the alleged formation of lodges flby '
expelled and clandestine Masons and'
the alleged sale of Masonic degrees'
to candidates. The grand ' lodge of'
Masons of the state of New York will
institute a rigid investigation of these
reputed frauds , it is said. - - "
Phoenix , A. T. , Dec. 24. A dispatch
received here by United States Mar
shal McCord , tells of the murder of
Corporal Irish on a trail twenty miles
from Fort Grant. Irish was a scout ;
with headquarters at the San Carlos
agency for 'Apache Indians. He was
accompanied by Haskidistal , an In
dian , who was employed by the gov
ernment as a scout. HaskidistaTs
whereabouts are unknown , but nativ *
scouts are on his trail. It Is believed ;
he has taken refuge among his tribe * *
men. - .
