Evening Star Newspaper, July 2, 1896, Page 1

———— THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY, AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, ae — — Cor. 1th — by 0 Evening Star New: Buy SH. KAUFFMANN, Prost. ee Few York OFoe, 49 Potter Building, The Evening Star is served to subscribers in the city by carriers, on their own account, at 10 cents per meek, or 44 cents per mouth. Copies at the ¢cunter 2 cents each. By mail—snywhere in the United States or Canada—postage prepald—50 cents per month. Saturday Quinteple Sheet Star, $1 per year, with foreign postage udded, $8.00. Entered at the Post Osice at Washington, D. O., econd-class mail matter.) £7-All mall subscriptions must be paid in advance. Rates of advertising made known on application. Che Zvening Star. No. 13,520. TROUBLE AHEAD Difficulty Likely in Making a Nom- ination at Chicaga. THE TWO-THIRDS RULE IN THE WAY How It May Be Impossible to Get the Required Votes. ALTGELD’S SHREWDNESS If the two-thirds rule ts not abrogated at Chicago, there is a chance of a prolonged contest over the nomination of candidates. While the prospect is that the silver men will have close to 600 votes, this is not two-thirds of the convention. The remain- ing 328 votes are suffictent to tle the con- yention in a streng knot. The vote as it stands, giving the silver men few less than the coveted two-thirds, does not include the vote of Michigan, which is placed in the gold column. The prediction of Don M. Dickinscn that the Michigan delegation will not be tampered with would, if it proves true, place the silver men in the tantalizing position of ability to do as they please if they only had a few more votes. ssuming, however, that Mr. Dickinson is rrect. and that the silver men will not two-thirds of the convention, a great on. 0 votes of the silver men will be divided between a number of candidates, with Bland and Boies the leaders. It w :possible to nominate either of these men_ or anybody else under the two-thirds so long as the asherents of one other so long as the gold men fit to vote for their own men and not © any help to their silver antagonis 5! it come down to a final fight be- tween Bland and Boies, with the gold men porting one or other of the two, would sull be no prospect of a nomi- A two-thirds majority of the con- | will be 620 votes. As an example, | give Bland and Boies an equal number of silver votes on the ballot just before a sed . Vote is to be taken. Say that mafority of the gold men go to Boies ause of his moderate views, but that a li portion of it goes to Bland, or that a of Boies’ silver votes go to him. i would be sure, under the present ok, to hold more than 310 votes, and sary two-thirds would be lacking. . it can be argued that the gold er men can unite on one candidate give him over two-thirds, and the ination, but the man who argues this deesn't know the situation at Chicago. The silver man who is voted for by the gold men will be deserted by his silver friends. All shrewd politicians admit that the gold men will not be allowed to cut any figure in the convention. They will not be per- | mitted to hold the balance of power be- | tween candidates, as is hypothetically sug- ed above. Leave Out the Gold Men. Leaving out consideration of the gold and taking the vote of the silver men asis, the difficulty of their making a ion is almost as strong as the diffi-| with the gold men as a_ factor. h or without a two-thirds re- © difficulty may be almost as ve the silver men 628 votes in nvention, and figure out the possi- of a speedy nomination on that basis. Plan? the lead in the course of a few Say he has 35) votes, Boies 200 the balance scatiered among ates. Is there any possibility lowers of either man deserting »ing to the other? For instance, hirds rule, as long as a man + votes, he has as much right to hope that he will be concentrated upon as any other man. Bland will not want to pull out of the race and give his votes to Boles. The latter will not want to give his to Bland or any other man. jer a majority rule, unless con- . it may be hard to effect a This would make 465 votes a y of the conventi Should the gold ”) votes and Holes keep as many have Be mi as silver friends with him at all bal- lots this would prevent a nomination unde a majority rule. Boles and the gold men could prevent a nomination, and it is not believed that Boles would be blamed for asking that many of his supporters not to go to his opponents. He would stand as ™m chance of the nomination in the end as the man with nearly twice as much Strength. Altgeld's Shrewd Game. The decision of the Illinois delegation to advocate the immediate repeal of the two- thirds rule is believed to have the Bland followers behind it. The decision was ar- rived at immediately after Altgeld had Iked with Gov. Stone of Missouri. The nd forces, who now appear to be In the majority, naturally want a majority rule. With it they stand many times a better chance to nominate than under the other e. Altgeld wants Bland, and those who know the shrewd governor of Illinois do rot belicve that tt is his purpose to have e rule repealed because he patriotically thinks the majority ought to rule. He wants it repealed because he thinks {t will beat Boies and nominate Bland, giving the Ilinois delegation great honor in bringing that end around. It Won't Be Repealed at Once. There are two courses open at Chicago for the silver men to get around repealing the two-thirds rule. One is to unseat enough gold delegates from Michigan to give them the necessary two-thirds. The other is to trust to picking up enough con- servative gold votes to make the two-thirds. If they do not do this the abrogation of the rule is a certainty, provided the gold nd firm on one or more candidates. y and tradition, it is believed, will vent the silver men doing anything egainst the rule for several days. Altgeld, T'llman and others will be in for dispatch- ing it the first thing, but the old-line demo- crats of the south won't follow them. They Ibe in favor of waiting and seeing if ¥ concessions will be made by their op- t last, if the gold men remain firm, all silver men will join in repealing the rule. men Histe Pr Advocates a Caucus. One other plan to defeat the aims of the gold men has been suggested and is being urged by no less eminent authority than ‘incinnati paper of John R. McLean. ‘This plan fs for the silver men to nominate their man in caucus and support him fully convention. This plan aiso originated the Bland men, and there is much ance In the fact that Mr. McLean's ly supports it. Enquirer has the following al on the subject: one other danger to he votes of the eastern gold gates stand ready to aid in non.ination of any man who can be through divisions among silver If the silver men cannot be duped to the nomination of a weakling or of one who weuld betray them, the next and final effort of the gold men will be to nominate & man offensive to the silver men outside of the democratic party. They will appeal to pay splri:, to the undoing of the party itself if possible. Beware of the councils ot the eremy. Among the candidates who are perfectly reliable on the silver ques- tion there are some who would recelve only democratic support to the exclusion of the Breat body of the populists and of the sil- is stilt The ver republicins. No matter how sincere such a man would be, his nomination would mean defeat. The only way to prevent the 200 gold delegates from so using their power as to elect McKinley (which is their aim) will be for the 600 sound free coinage men of the convention to dccide in friendly conferences between themselves who shail be the nominee. A candidate put forward by nearly all the gold vote and enough sil- ver votes to make the requisite number would not be likely to receive the support of the populists cr the Teller republicans. The silver cause ts in no danger from weak- ness of numbers, or the sincerity of the silver delegates; but, in a struggle between men, beware of the man for whom the gold delegates are willing to vote. Whoever he may be, a nomination so obtained would be defeated at the polls, because he would not command the votes of the millions of silver men outsile cf the existing demo- cratic party organization.’ BARRACKS AT SANDY HOOK. Secretary Lamont Will Proceed With Their Construction at Once. Secretary Lamont has determined to pro- ceed immediately to the construction of barracks and quarters for a permanent artillery garrison at Sandy Hook in con- necticn with the fortifications at Fort Han- cock. For this purpose Congress authorized the application of $100,000 of the totak.appro- priation for the fortification and equipment of the new fort. It is expected that this money will suffice to provide what is known as a two-battery post, and that will mean a garrison large enough to man the de- fensive works already constructed, al- though not sufficient for all future needs. Therefore it is likely that the plans will be so projected as to permit of a ready extension of the quarters at any time. They have been already outlined so far as pos- sible in advance of actual surveys of the grounds, and the quartermaster’s depart- ment will at once take steps to procure all the information of this nature that may be necessary. This work will not interfere in any manner with the completion of the defensive works of the fort itself, which is to be pressed as rapidly as the resources of the engineer's department and the ca- pacity of the army ordnance work will permit. Much has already been accom- plished at Sandy Hook that is unknown to the public in the matter of placing mortar batteries, and there are also several heavy -aliber modern rifles there mounted on dis- ppearing carriages. The ordnance shops are making rapid progress with other heavy guns, and it is expected that considerable additions will be made to the Fort Han- cock defenses as soon as the engineers can prepare the emplacements, which should be done this summer. ——___-e+______ GUARDING THE WORKMEN Police Around the Brown Hoisting Works at Cleveland. CLEVELAND, Ohio, July 2.—Everything was quiet this morning around the Brown Hoisting Works, the scene of last even- irg’s rlot. A large number of police are on guard around the plant. It is believed, however, that trouble will again occur to- night when the non-union men start to leave the works, when an enormous crowd of workingmen will undoubtedly gather and an outbreak of some sort is almost certain te follow. So far there has been no further outbreak today at the Berea stone quarries, at West View. Sheriff Leek with 150 deputies and two companies of the fifth regiment are guarding the quarries and the non-union men. Vincent Marchinski, the striker who was shot through the lungs in the conflict between the strikers and deputy sheriffs at West View yesterday, died as a result of his wound late last night. One hundred and twenty-five workmen left the Brown Hoisting Company's works in Cleveland yesterday afternoon, under the escort of 175 policemen. Strikers and on- lookers to the number of 6,0) hooted and jeered them. Squads of g{rikers went in both directions on St. Clair sreet and took possession of every car that cume along, filling them so fuil that the workmen could not get on. By force the police succeeded in getting a number of the workmen on cars and sent them home under guard. The rest were marched to the central police station, followed by the howling mob, and frcm there sent home in patrol wagoris. THE BERMUDA CASE. Inability of the Jury to Reach an Agreemen:. NEW YORK, July 2—The jury in the cese of John D. Hart, Capt. John O’Briea, Mate Edward Murphy and Col. Emilio Nunez of the steamship Bermuda, charged with violation of the neutrality laws in aiding and abetting a military expedition to Cuba, today rendered a sealed statement of disagreement to Judge Brown in the United States circuit court. The jury was discharged, and on the motion of United States District Attorney MacFarlane, the rien were placed in the custody of the United States marshal to have their rezog- uizances renewed. mei SPEEDING TOWARD WASHINGTON. Some Distant Christian Endeavorers Already on Their Way. Some of the delegates from this country who expect to attend the Christian En- deavor convention next week have already started for this city. About two months ago one of the speakers from the west coast of Africa began his journey, but dele- gates in the United States who have made the first start are undoubtedly those from California. Those from the southern part of the state left Tuesday evening, and picked up excurstonists all yesterday morning while traveling through the state. ‘The special party are now coming this way as fast as steam and machinery can bring them. These delegates from the other bor- der of the continent pay $99.75 each for their round-trip tickets, which are good for use until August 2, a liberal extension of time, compared with the restricted tickets sold by lines in the Eastern Trunk Line Association. Another of the three tents was erected on the White Lot today. Tent Endeavor was up and strongly braced at 6 o’ciock last evening. Tent Williston was raised this morning. It may be possible to put up Tent Washington before nightfall, but in cas2 of delay it will almost surely be in position with its companions tomorrow mi rnirg. «chairman Church of the hall committee hes been superintendimg the work for the pest three or four days, and is well sat- isfled with the progress being made by the contractor and his men. Under his super- vision a large force of carpenters is now at work building the platform for Tent Endeavot, and another force is putting together the platform chairs, which have been shipped in compact form. The seats for the audience have already been made end will be placed in position within a few days. There is to be no flooring in the tents, but the settees will be fastened directly to the grass-covered ground. Consequently there can be no disturbance or annoyance when persons crowd down the aisles, and quiet can be maintained at all times. The platform seats are to be slightly elevated, and the chairs for the chorus will be raised tier on tier. The level portion will be reserved for ministers and others holding platform tickets, while a special section will be reserved exclusively for the speakers. ————— The Convention Visitors. Secretary Lamont today directed that the War Department be kept open to visitors from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, except Sunday, during the fifteenth International Chris- tian Endeavor convention. ‘This actton is taken solely for the accommodation of the delegates to the convention and their friends who may desire to visit the de- partment. The usual hours for visitors are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. WASHINGTON, D. 0, THURSDAY, JULY 2 1896-SIXTEEN PAGES. MR. HOLMEAD TALKS|C°L. McK'88IN DEAD| NEW GOMPLICATIONS Opposed to Free and Unlimited Silver Coinage. WOULD USE THE AMERICAN PRODUCT Announcements of Morgan and Killeen Being Discussed. CREATED SURPRISE Holmead Manor, the home of Mr. William Holmead. one of the six delegates from the District to the Chicago convention, will be the scene of an enthusiastic gathering to- night, when his friends assemble to show him what they think of him and wish him good luck on his coming journey to the west. For the time being Mr. Holmead will not be the master of his ancestral home. It will be taken possession of com- pletely, and even the game chickens will crow lustily as the red fire burns and sky rockets go sizzling into the firmament. It will be an occasion of unique and interest- ing features, and the invited guest who sends his regrets will experience a deeper sentiment of the same sort when he hears what he missed. Mr. Holmead was met at the entrance to the Citizens’ National Bank, of which he is a director, by a Star reporter this morn- ing and asked what he was going to do at Chicago. : Will Vote Against Free Silver. “There will be, in my opinicn, a free sil- ver platform presented at the convention, and I shall vote against it. I am a bi- meiallist and believe in the generous use of both gold and silver as money by the United States, but I am opposed to the free and unlimited coinage of silver at a ratio of 16 to 1. I would support a proposition providing for the coinage of the product of the United States, however, with much willingness.” “Who will you vote for for presidential nominee?” asked the reporter, with a di- rectness that would have startled an aver- age delegate. Mr. Holmead, however, was not phased. “I won't have a chance to vote for the mai I want,” he replied. “Who Is he?” queried the reporter. “Oh, there sre twenty of them,” was the diplomatic .response. He Will Not Bolt. “Accepting the adoption of an absolutely free silver plank as a fact,” continued Mr. Holmead, “I shall vote for the man among the nominees who will be conservative and who will best care for the interests of the country in its present unsettled and prob- lematical state. I do not know, now,who he will be, but will be governed by the names presented for selection. But I can tell you one thing. If everybody else in the con- yention bolts I will stick.” : A Hill button with “I am a democrat” on it could not have accentuated Mr. Hol- mead’s earnest determination when he said that. “Who will be named as national commit- teeman from the District “I can't answer that question,” he re- plied. “It looks as though the place lay between Norris, Gardner and Jordan. Iam not a candidate for that position and would not accept it if chosen. But it may be some one not yet mentioned.” “Is it true that your delegation has de- termined to secure a declaration of their financial views from the aspirants for the place on the national committee?’ “I have not heard of any such intention except that I've seen it rumored in the newspapers. I don't believe it’s true, though.” Messrs. Morgan and Killeen. The positive announcements of Delegates Frank P. Morgan and George Killeen, made through The Star, that they would support Mr. James L. Norris for the national com- mittee, are still being talked about in demo- eratic circles. Mr. M. I. Weller, who with- drew from the central committee in Mr. Morgan’s favor last spring, is understood to have told the latter that he would not represent in any manner the people of East Washington, who made him a delegate, if he voted for Mr. Norris, and other demo- cratic leaders in that section are said to have told him the same thing. Mr. Killeen’s declaration has been the cause of general surprise among men fa- miliar with local democratic affairs, and few people could make themselves belicve that Mr. Killeen’s statement was authori- tative, as it was. It was recalled by such well-informed democrats as Mr. Frank P. Madigan and others that Mr. Killeen and Mr. Norris had a very serious controversy four years ago, when democratic delegates were to be chosen, in which mutual re- criminations were indulged in, Mr. Killeen being especially emphatic in his, and con- sequently the ardent support tendered now by the lattcr to Mr. Norris has been pro- ductive of much astonishment. ———_—_—— ‘West Point Cadets Appointed. The following appointments as cadets at the Military Academy were announced at the War Department today: Paul A. Dens- more, San Jose, Cal.; Creed F. Cox, Saddle, Va., with Marion N. Scales, Byrdville, Va., as alternate; James B. Stubbs, Galveston, Tex.; Errest D. Peek, Oshkosh, Wis., with Kerl L. Zander, Mishicot, Wis., as alter- nate; Wayne MclI. Walker, Butler, Pa.; Hugh B. Holman, Rochester, Ind., with John B. Murphy, Notre Dame, Ind., as alternate; Walter H. Lee, Asheville, N.C.; Albert Mueller, Chicego, Ill, with Dvdley W. Lester, Chicago, as alternate; Wi'ilam D. McNell, Waycross, Ga, with H. J. Lanier, Waycross, as alternate; Charles Mulherin, Augusta, Ga., with Fielding Wa: lace, Augusta, Ga., as alternate; Arthur J. Lynch, New York city; Wm. J. Caples, Glesgow, Mo., with J. H. Hall, Sedalia, Mo., as alternate; Chas. L. McGuire, St. Louis, Mo.. with Edward Gottlieb, St. Louis, Mo., as alternate; Harold P. Gray, San Jose, Cal. (alternate); Robert E. Boyer, Heath, Ohio, with Gecrge Helling, Martin’s Ferry, Ohio, as alternate; Wm. D. Flinn, San Francisco, Cal., with Edmund L. Zane, San Francisco, as alternate; Clarendon E. Adams, jr., Superior, Neb.; Melvin C. Har- ner, Paxtonville, Pa. (alternate); Joseph D. Neel, Prestonburg, Ky., wich Joseph Taul- bee, White Oak, Ky., as alternate; Carlos E. Jones, Independence, Iowa; Deane B. Small, Waterville, Me., with Frederick F. Block, Searsport, Me., as alternate; Elliot J, Dent, Brovkland, Pa., with John D. Groves, Coudersport, Pa., as alternate; Gad Morgan, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.: Clarence H. Knight, Gainesville, Fla., with F. M. Van Deman, Jacksonville, Fla., as alternate; John E, Eno, Simsbury, Conn.; Alexander C. McKibben, Buck Valley, Pa.; Edward M. Shindle, Higginsport, Ohio; Sydney Fos- ter, Houston, Tex.; Ralph N. Hayden, Floral Park, N.Y. with Isaac J. Van Shally, Flushing, N.Y., as alternate; Chas. 8. Perry, Sheldon, Iowa, with Francis H. McKeever, Ireton, Iowa, as alternate. —___—_—_-e+____ Called on Secretary Olney, Mr. Grip, Swedish minister to the United States, had an interview with Secretary Olney at the State Department today, pre- paratory to his departure to Bar Harbor for the summer. ——_-e._______ Return of the Charleston. SAN FRANCISCO, July 2—The cruiser Charleston has returned to this port after an abserce of two years in Asiatic water. ‘The Charleston will soon go to Mare Island to receive a general overhauling. TWO OENTS. ‘THE STAR BY MAIL. Persons leaving the city for any period can have The Ster mailed to them to any address in the United States or Canada, by ordering it at this office, in person or by letter, or postal card. Terms: 18 cents per ‘Week; 25 cents for two weeks, or 50 cents per month. Invariably in ade vance. Subscribera changing thelr address from one Post-offlce te another should give the last address as well as the new one. The Well-Known Propristor of Marshall Hall Passes Away. Brief Sketch of His Long, Active and Honorable Career—Quickly Followed His Wife, Col. Joseph C. McKibbin, who had been for many years one of the most prominent figures about the capital, died last night at his home at Marshall Hall. Few men in Washington were known, at least by sight, to so many people as was Col. McKibbin. His stately figure, clad in breadcloth, with a broad-brimmed hat such as is affected by many gentlemen of the old school, was a familiar sight to thousands, while his courteous and rather®stately manner had about it something that was chivalrous and reminiscent of other days. To a certain extent Col, McKibbin be- longed to other days, although he kept in ready touch with the progress of the times. He was a forty-niner, and was a prominent figure on the Pacific coast nearly half a century ago. A complete history of his life would give an admirable story of the troublous and dare-devil days that succeed- ed the discovery of gold in California and the mad rush that set in toward the new Eldorado. Quickly Followed His Wife. For the last ten or fifteen years of his life Col. McKibbin led a rather quiet and retired existence, devoted to his home and to his wife. To those who saw him at his home at Marshall Hall and knew him, he was a model of 2 suave and courtly gentle- man. For more than a year past he had been in bad health, ‘and ‘those who knew him well realized that he was breaking rapidly, and that the end-could not be far off. He was a sufferer from Bright's dis- ease, and for several months past it is thought he welcomed the idea of death. Mrs. McKibbin died less.than*= month be- tere, after°a long illness from which the colonel knew there was no hope of re- cevery, and when she. passed away he ex- pressed the hope that he would not be left behind for very long. Death came shortly before 12 o'clock last night in the guise of welcome relief from suffering. His Active Career. Col. McKibbin was born in Chambers- burg, Pa., May 14, 1824, and was, conse- quently, in the seventy-third year of his age. He was one of six sons, all but one of whom served with credit and distinction in the late war. Four rose to high rank before the war closed. Of them all, one only survives, Col, Chambers McKibbin of the regular army, who has recently been transferred to Plattsburgh, N. Y., and was expected to arrive in this city today. One sister, who lives at the old home in Cham- bersburg, completes the family. For a time Col. J. C. McKibbin was a student at Princeton College, and after- ward studied law. He was a young man when the gold fever broke out in the east, and was one of the first to start for the Pa- cific coast. He was not long in taking a Prominent place among the pioneers, and was very popular during those lively days for his manliness and probity. From min- ing he drifted into other pursuits, and for a time practiced his profession. He also for a time held a federal appointment at San Francisco. Was Second for Senator Broderick. In the famous duel between Judge Terry and Senator Broderick, which was fought near Lake Merced, Cal., in 1809, Col. Mc- Kibbin acted as the second for Senator Broderick. It was one of the most sen- sational meetings ever held on the field of honor, and had much to do with the dis- favor into which dueling. afterward fell. Broderick was one~of the most prominent and respected men in California, and it is the general understanding that the battle was not one of his seeking. He was given a dueling pistol with a very light trigger, and as a result of his nervousness the weapon was discharged prematurely, the bullet striking the ground in front of’ him. Terry, who was never known to be rattled under any circumstances, took deliberate aim and Broderick received a fatal wound. Shortly before the war Col. McKibbin served a term as a Representative in Con- gress from California, and at the breaking out of hostilities he was one of six cavalry officers immediately appointed by President Lincoln. He served on the staff of Gen. Halleck and that of Gen. Thomas. * His Life in This City. After the war Col. McKibbin made his home in this city and was in the business of a general contractor. Years ago he and Capt. Blake took the contract for carrying Passengers to Mount Vernon, and ten or twelve years ago the two purchased the property at Marshall Hall. Here the colonel lived for the last elght years of his life, but he was frequently in town, and kept up his large circle of friends. Col. McKibbin was one of the most active members of the As- sociation of 49ers, and the annual excursion to Marshall Hall is one of the principal events of the year for that Organization. He was also a member of the Union Vet- eran Legion. ' The funeral will probably be ‘held tomor- row afternoon, though the hour will not be fixed until his brother ha’ been con- sulted. He will be given a milftary funeral and the interment will be at Arlington. SS NAVAL REGULATIONS. Officers Forbidden to Interfere With Legislation. One of the results of the active efforts of the line and staff officers of the navy dur- ing the last session of Cohgress to secure legislation favorable to their respective branches is the formulation of a regulation which expressly forbids officers of the navy interfering in legislative matters in any way. The naval regulations have been re- vised throughout by, a special board, com- posed of Judge Advocate General Lemly, Chief Clerk Micou and Liéut. Commander Richardson Clover. This poard was or- ganized last winter, and has been hard at work on the general subject ever since. Attention was particularly directed to the conduct of naval officers during the last session of Congress in their endeavor to secure votes for the various bills provid- ing for a reorganizatiom of the personnel of the navy. The result was the incorpora- tion in the regulations of an article prohib- iting naval officers from attempting to in- fluence legislation. The article has received the approval of Secretary Herbert. Settlement of Metropolitan Road Troubles Seems Further Off PROMISE OF CONFERENCE WITHDRAWN Mr. French Has Something to Say About the Affair. LETTERS FROM CONGRESSMEN President Phillips of the Metropolitan Railway Company has, as will be seen by reading the copy of a communication here printed, indicated what steps the company wants taken before thé directors will con- sider the question of reinstating the dis- charged members of the Street Railway Assembly to their former positions in the service of the company. The letter was addressed to Mr. John W. Hayes, general secretary-treasurer of the Knights of Labor, but as Mr. Hayes ts at this time {n Chicago the letter was opened by Mr. C. A. French of the genera! execu- tive board, who in Mr. Hayes’ absence rep- resents him at the headquarters of the or- der in Washington. Mr. Phillips’ communication was as fol- lows: Since the receipt of your letter of June 29, which states that you were strongly of the opinion that there must have been some misunderstanding of the causes which led the directory of the com certain of its employes on June that you request to be allowed to present the case from your standpoint through your authorized’ representatives, I have communicated with the directors and am instructed by them to write you that they will receive any statement, argument or ¢ fense in writing that either you or the men or their representatives may desire to make in relation to their dismissal, and that the same will receive their careful and impar- tial consideration.” Mr. French Spenks Out. After reading Mr. Phillips’ letter, Mr. French and the other members of the gen- eral executive board who are at present in the city held a lengthy conference, and when it was dissolved, Mr. French said to, a Star reporter: “The unjust tactics of the Metropolitan Railroad Company are clearly shown in Mr. Phillips’ letter. On the 25th of June twelve of the Metropolitan's oldest and best men were discharged without any warning and without any reason being given for such discharge. The men were all members of and officials in the Street Railway Local Assembly, Knights of Labor. “This is a very significant fact, and shows that this company has taken a stand as un-American as it is unjust, as the day has passed when men can be denied the right of organization and association for riutual protection and benefit. “What have these men done to warrant being thrown out of employment? Are they dishonest? Are they mecompetent? Have y neglected their work in any manner? t has not been claimed that they were guilty of any such offense. Since their dis- ckarge have they ordered a strike or taken any action that can be construed by any fair-minded person as being inimical to the interest of the company? No! They have been cool, collected and reasonable; they have refrained from any action that could be construed as being calculated to injure the Metropolitan Railway Company “They have only sought to obtain justice by peaceful methods, and what is the re- sult? Mr. Phillips, the president of the railroad company, after promising Repre- sentative Babcock that he would call the directors together and arrange for a con- ference of the men and the company, has, after unnecessary delay, sent the general secretary-treasurer of the Knights of Labor a letter (above quoted) which is a virtual denial to the men of the conference prom- ised. “The letter is a cleverly laid trap to en- snare them into a denial of what? When men are refused an explanation and given no reason why they are discharged, how can they deny having done a wrong or make an argument against a charge that has not been made? “No. Mr. Phillips cleverly wishes to dodge the responsibility of his despotic ac- tion, and make the men deny some imag- inary charge, so that he may have a chance to defend his unwarranted actions. “The men have nothing to deny; they have no explanations to make; they are not the aggressors in this business; on the contrary it is the officials of the Metro- politan Railroad Company who should de- fend their position, if they can, and not take this way to escape from the responsi- bility of their unjust actions. “The public will sustain the men; they will not be fooled by the tricks of these officials, but will place the responsibility where it belongs.” Letters From Congressmen. Letters relating to the trouble from Con- gressmen continue to reach the headquar- ters of the Knights of Labor, and since the closing of the report in yesterday's Star a large number have arrived there. Among them are the following: Representative W. H. Moody of the sixth Massachusetts district wrote: “I am decidedly opposed to the discharge of employes on account of their membership in labor unions. In the state of Massachusetts such an act is made a punishable offense. I should be glad to see the same law, or substantially the same law, enacted by Congress and applied to the District of Columbia. If, during the ccming winter, I can be of any service in that respect, I shall be glad to do so.” Representative Thomas C. McRae wrote from his home at Prescott, Ark., this: Spon receipt of information, that certain employes of your company had been dis- missed because of membership in the order of the Knights of Labor, I telegraphed you respectfully requesting their reinstate- ment. My reason is that, inasmuch as Congress by the act of June 26, 1856, has wisely recognized the right of lator to organize for mutual protection or benefit, it is a violation of the spirit of at act for a corporation which obtained its right to exist from the same authority to discharge faithful, competent men solely because of their connection with the order ef the Knights of Labor. “Laboring men have an undoubted legal right within the District of Columbia to join together for mutual help and protec- tion, and if for the peaceful exercise of their lawful right they are discharged by @ concern which is confessedly subject to the control and regulation of Congress, an@ which is continually asking for new priv- fleges, then I Shall insist upon such legis- lation at the next session of Congress as will prevent a repetition of this injustice and wrong to organized labor.” Representative A. M. Dockery of Galli- tin, Mo., sent the following: “Your favor of the 25th of June received and contents noted. I have written Mr. Phillips asking just treatment of the men to whom you refer, and hope he will reinstate them.” General Outlook. General Master Workman James R. Sov- ereign and Messrs. Hayes and Martin of the general executive board of the K. of L. are at Chicago, and it is supposed that their visit at this time ha® some connec- tion with the existing railway troubles in Washington, as it was learned from an- swers received to the letter sent to them by Mr. Hayes on the subject of the dis. charges that many of the democratic Con- gressmen’ were already on their way to Chicago when the letters reached their homes. A report today reached the executive board of the Street Railway Assembly whilo it was in session that a high official of the Metropoliten Company last evening made the statement that the company cared nothing whatever for the avalanche of let- ters from Congressmen that have been reaching them during the last few days, end that no attention would be paid to the communications; and Mr. F. N, Thoma: supervisor of trains on the 9th street line, was quoted as saying after a visit to the office last evening “that he was informed by competent authority that no men will be hired by the company for any purpose until after the 4th instant, Saturday next, and that the Knights of Labor men who were discharged will not be reinstated.” The members of the assembly were much gratified at the publication in yesterda: Star of an interview with Mr. T. P. Kane by a Star reporter on the subject of the charge that they had lobbied against the company befcre Congress, and they stated they regarded Mr. Kane's statement as a complete vindication of themselves from the charge that they tried to interfere with the company’s business affairs regarding legislation desired by the latter. The executive board of the assembly was teday notified by a prominent business man that he would take $50 worth of tickets for their excursion on July 30. The Knights’ Reply. The general secretary-treasurer of the K. of L. today sent the following reply to Mr. Phillips’ letter: “WASHINGTON, D. C., July 2, 1596. “Samuel L. Phillips, esq., president Met- ropolitan Railroad Compary, Washington, D.C. “Dear sir: Yours of the Ist instant just to hand, in which you say that the ‘direc- tors will receive any statement, argument or defense in writing’ relative to the dis- mirsal of the men, and the same will re- ceive thelr careful and impartial considere- ticn, “In reply I desire to say that you have evidently misunderstood our position in the matter. Our men are not aware of what, if any, offense they are charged with except what common rumor 1s re- sponsible for. The directors or yoursclf have not officially made any statement as to the cause of dispensing with their sery- ices; the men have good records for effi- ciency, and you yourzelf have testified that they vere among the mcst satisfactory employes of the road. “It is becau: widespread fe charge was ef this uncertainty and the ng existing, that the dis- d merely on account of in a labor organization, aim made by one of your and the further cl. directors, unofficially, on the street in con- versation that the men were held re- for the defeat of legislation i n of Congress just closed, we ‘d for a personal conference £0 that all doubts may be cleared up and all misunderstaniing swept awa: “No charges having been made no de- fense is possible; but we have tried pe>- sistently since the inception of the trouble to ge: some idea cf the position of the company without succes “We are prepared to answer and iis- prove any charge which the company or any of its representatives may bring for- ward, and on behalf of the men I would respectfully ask for a bill of particulars. “We have endeavored by every honorable to arrange for an amicabie adjust- ment of the existing difficulty without an- hoyance to ary one; we have so far failed to get anything definite from yourself cr the comp: and as we have no desire to centinue in suspense or prolong the con- trov we should like to get a definite urderstanding of the position of the com- pany by tomorrow (Friday) evening. “To sum up, we claim that the d scharged men have been faithful and loyal in every respect; that outside of their membership in the Knights of Labor no cause of plaint can successfully be charged a: them, and we therefore respectfully their immediate reinstatement or some satisfactory reason for refusing this re- quest. “With the hopes that the directors will give this their immediate and favora>le consideration, I am,” &c. ee NO ATTACHMENT ISSUED. How Mr. Hutchins W Innocently Brought In the Ambler Case. Through an inadvertence yesterday in describing the character of the paper served on property belonging to Mr. Stil- son Hutchins in a suit by A. J. Ambler against other persons, it was made to appear that an attachment had been served on Mr. Hutchins’ property. As such an announcement concerning the af- fairs of a man of large business interests might do serious injury, The Star hastens to correct the erroneous impression that may have been made. The statement was that an attachment had been served on the real estate of Mr. Stilson Hutchins in ; this city on a judgment of $910,534.21, al- | leged to have been recovered by Augustin J. Ambler against Rodney M. Whipple and Thcmas S. Dickerson about fifteen or twenty years ago. The paper, in fact, was merely a garnishment, and d credits, if any, of the defendants, Whipwic and Dickerson, in the hands of Henry Walsh, James T. Petty, C. A. Rines, Lee Hutchins and Jesse V.'N. Huyck.” The records of the court show that there 1s no judgment in the case against Stilson Hutchins, and that he is not a party de- fendant to the suit in question. Therefore, no attachment was issued against him. and no real estate of any : was atte nen! y person whatever Mr. Clarence A. for Mr. Hutchins, reporter: The decree in favor of Ambler is agai Rodney M. Whipple and Thomas S. Dicker. son, and might have been for a billion dol- lars Instead of a million, so far as its value is concerned. It is not against Mr. Hutch- ins. Mr. Hutchins is hot even a party to the suit. Imagining his judgment would be of greater value if against Mr. Hutchins than if against the real defendants, Mr. Ambler made application about a year ago, and nearly twenty years after his decree was obtained, to have Mr. Hutchins made a party to the suit, but the application was denied by Judge Cox. The marshal has not attached the property of Mr. Hutchins, nor has he attached the credits of Mr. Hutchins. Mr. Ambler has sought to at- tach supposed credits of Whipple and Dick- erson, but of course without result. The only way Mr. Hutchins’ name became con- nected with the transaction was through an unauthorized indorsement made by Mr. Ambler upon the writ after its issuance by the clerk, requesting the marshal to levy upon the property of Mr. Hutchins to sat- isfy the decree against Whipple and Dick- erson, which, of course, the marshal has not done.” Brandenburg, attorney today stated to a Star ey A JERSEY POSTMASTER. To Be Criminally Prosecuted for Violating the Civil Service Law. The recent summary removal of Post- master Samuel A. Laning at Bridgeton, N. J., for violating the federal civil service laws will be followed immediately by crim- {nal prosecution. The removal was the outcome of a joint investigation made by the Post Office Department and the civil service .commission. The charges were filed with the commission about two months ago. It was alleged that Postmaster Lan- ing gave secret information in a civil ser- vice examination to a competitor for a Place in the post office and that in response to his solicitations several letter carriers made contributions in the post office bulld- ing for political purpbses during the cam- paign of 1894-95. The commission immedi- ately instituted an inquiry, which was sup- plemented by an investigation by a post oftice inspector. The reports have resulted in the postmaster’s peremptory dismissal and are now with Attorney General Har- mon, prosecution having been recom- mended. A LONG FIGHT AHEAD The Chicago Convention Will Not Be Cut and Dried. CONTEST OVER THE CANDIDATES Opposition to Abolishing the Two. Thirds Rule. TEMPORARY CHAIRMANSHIP Special From a Staff Correspor dent. CHICAGO, July 2.—It does not now look as if the work being done among the dem- ocratic leaders this week would altogether forestall the action of the Chicago conven- tion. The prospect is not promising for the fulfillment of the suggestion that the silver men should decide upon their candidate as Well as on the platform, so as to have everything cut and dried when the con- vention assembles. The situation found to exist when the big silver leaders arrived ¥as not such as to encourage such a plan. The contest over candidates is active and indications are that it will be protracted. While the delegates are not yet here, the Irincipal leaders are assembled, and the contest ts on almost as actively as if the convention were actually in session. ‘This much is settied—the silver men are in complete coutrol. They will write the platform for free silver 16 to 1, independent- jy of all other nations, and will nominate 4h out-and-out free silver man, whose pout- tion on the question has never in doubt. They do not assemble in any spirit of concihation. No disposition is manifested by the men now here to placate the eastern gcld men. The disposition is to regard the gold delegations as mere lookerson and to treat ther somewhat cavalierly. It is not proposed that they shall have any voice in the convention except the voice of protest, ror that they shall have any share in the organization. been Hill for Temporary Chairman, Even the temporary chairmanship is to be dictated by the Bimetallic League. A few, a very few, of the leaders advise the acceptance of a gcld man for temporary chairman, if the national committee will suggest a man whom they can rely on not to give any trouble. These few have but che hame to suggest in this connection. It is that of Senator Hill. They advise that if Hill's name is proposed it should be ac- cepted on the grounds that he is too strong a partisan to say anything that would be apt to hurt the party, and that he will surely support the ticket when nominated. They add under their breath that Hill is not at heart so much of a gold man any- how, and ihat he must be depended on to preserve the party organization in the est. Even this advice is not received with much favor by a majority of the men who are shaping the course of the convention, The silver men are generally confident of their strength and defiant of the eastern sentiment. It may be that argument will prevail so that they will yield this one point, but they are not at present disposed to do 50. The idea of a possible bolt does not ap- pear to have any terror. Probably a more Sanguine and independent set of men than are the controlling spirits of this conver- tion never got together in a daring enter- prise. Their confidence may carry them so far as to cause them to ignore those men of the two other parties who are their nat- ural allies. They accept the great silver flood tide in the democratic party as in- dicative of the sentiment of the count: and seem to expect it to sweep through the general election this fall as it has through their own party primaries. The Two-Thirds Rule. There is not now the sentiment there was a few weeks ago in favor of abolishing the two-thirds rule. On the contrary, con- siderable crposition has developed to any change. The silver men expect to be able to nominate under that rule, and it is urged that there should be as few departures as possible from time-honored customs of the party. Altgeld is the chief advocate of a majority rule, and those who hold with him that the change should be made do so because they are suspicious of a design on the part of Mr. Whitney to beguile them into adhering to the two-thirds rule for the purpose of preventing a nomination. This fear is gradually giving way, and the indl- cations are that the two-thirds rule will be adhered to. Though there is a clear and effective ma- jority in perfect agreement on the 16 to 1 silver plark, the framing of a platform ts not going to be an easy task. THe prob- lem which perplexes is how to deal with other questions so as to hold together all the silver people from all parties, and at the same time not seem to sacrifice any of the cherished demccratie doctrines. There is a strong sentiment in favor of a one- plank platform, with merely a declaration that the party still adheres to the princi- ples which it has proclaimed as the doc- trine of democracy. Some of the men, however, who have long championed low tariff are greatly op- posed to that question being disposed of in so summary a manner, and the situation has in it the possibility of a considerable contest. In whatever manner it is settled, the platform will so present the financial question as to make it the sole issue of the campaign, so far as the democratic party can contro! it. Silver Cau is Given U The idca of holding a preliminary conven- tion of silver mcn to select from among the candidates one man whom all the silver men shall support in the convention has been abandoned. There is too much riv- alry among the candidates for this, And the wisest leiders are of the opinion that a hasty decision on this question might not result in the nominaticn of a strong ticket. Things are not working out as etsily end sn.octbly in this respect as some anticipated. It is evident that the nomina- tion is not going to be made without # hard struggle, and it is by no means cer- tain that the advice of the men of most Political experience will be followed. The reason that some have for concluding that thé two-thirds rule should stand is that they want to delay the nomination lorg enough for mature consideration of the availability of the candidates. All the conservative leaders are urging that the cnly consideration that should control in the selection of a candidate is to find the man who can secure the mcst votes by be- ing acceptable to all classes of free silver men. Tho more impetuous are sanguine