Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, December 23, 1899, Page 6

} | The Arnewood Mystery |.; BY MAURICE H. HERVEY. 3 CUAPTER &. ¢Continued.) Whar matiered the difference be- tween bed and sofa in his muddled state? Now that his r: ng thirst was satisfied, his sole de > Wi to lie down and pa off once more into ob- Mvion. With a weary sigh, that was a Ealf-eroan, he threw himself upon the eouch, and nearly dislodged its occu- pant. “Uncommon odd!” ‘he muttered, grop- ing vaguely at the prostrate figure. “Some other chap here, too!—Perhaps the Johnny—I met in the fog,” he add- , with a dim recollection of recent events. Yet, even in the da ad to his dis: tempered brain, there was something y repellant about that motion- m. He felt impelled to arouse this unknown sharer of his room and i him talk. And -se, with nervous, ing hand, hé pullec the enyelop- , at first .hesitatingly, then but in “Come—T say—wa pleaded, in jerky accents. ve me the jumps!” ce up, will you?” Poor Webb's nerves, badly unstrung, could stand rain no long Trembling fron: head to foot, he groped his way to the mantelpiece, founil a box of matches, and aged to light a candle. Then, Balf-paralyzed with the vague dread of seme impending terror, he returned to the sofa. The pale Light of the candle fel upon the livid, distorted face of a corpsé! The shock of sucha di similar conditions of hc iy tax to the utmost the session of the most iren-nerved of men. Upon brain-weakened, nerve-shattered Tom Webb it was simply overpower- =; he 7 ut; but the vo- were paralyzed by terror, ht but a gurgling sob ed from lips. With a tremendous ef- fort he brought himself to j the cloak so as to cover the dead man’s “ec. and then, as though “ken by a mortal blow, he ed towarils the dco: blank, his one guiding instinct to es- cape n that ghastly presence. His hat chanced to meet his eye, and he pot it on. Then he slunk out of the room, as though fearful of disturbing him who lay upon the sofa, crept to the hail door, and fled forth into the darkness and fog. Fled, he knew not whither. Fled, blindly, in a mad effort to eseajpe the he f} ef two great, protruding eyes, ror, would cer- self-pos: CHAPTER Il. Ralpk Weston Opens the Case, I, Ralph Weston, junior the Grm of Hawkin: inquiry agents, have been requested to set down in narrative form such cir- camstances with the so- called Arnewood Mystery case rame under my own personal observation The task is, in some respects, an easy ene enough, ix e ample notes and an excellent memory to work upon; but my literary experience be- ing by no means on a par with my knowledge of the case, I fear that I must crave an abundant indulgence for inartistic use of the ample r my’ disposal. With which br Ble I now proceed. The night of Thursday, Nov. 19th, was one of the foggiest and bleakest nights I ever was out in. On my way home I ran across a former schoolfel- Tow. Tom Webb, who had given away badly to habits of intemperance, and in whose welfare I was strongly interest- ed. lis teeth were chattering with cold: and, despite the bitter weather, he had no overcoat. i could see he was not) sober; in- steed. he seldom or never was, I fear. Still. I could not well refuse his re- quest for a drink, and took him with me to my chambers. There, in addi tion to helping himself freely to liquor, Be contrived (as I afterwards discoy- ered) to purloin half a bottleful of whisky. He refused absolutely to stay over night. So I lent him a spare overcoat, and he started homeward just as the lock of St. Martin’s church was strik- ing 2 a. m. I felt somewhat uneasy after he had gone, especially when I meticed the disappearance of my whis- ky; but, of course, I could do nothing, -and had to content myself with hoping that he would reach his lodging in safety. He lived at No. 18, Cato street, Soho. The contents bill of the early editions of the evening papers next day made the not very uncommon announcement of a “Tragedy in Soho;’ but I was greatly startled to find that the scene of the said tragedy was the identical heuse in which Tom Webb ledged, The first details published wére very mea- ger. The dead body of a gentleman, unknown, had been discovered in a room rented by a lodger, whose where- abouts were not at present known, and upon. whom, of course, the gravest sus- picion rested. I at once hastened to €ato street. I should here state that although I -was at that time only head clerk to my ‘present partner, Mr. Hawkins, I had frequently come into contact, in the or- dinary course of our business, with nm of the leading Scotland Yard offi- <ials, and could usually count upon se- euring admission to places closed even to the most insinuating of Press report- ers. Upon the present occasion, I hap- pened to be well known to the inspe or in charge, and was promptly passe:1 through the cordon of police stationed im front of the house. A simple question to the landlord -elicited the reply that the name of the missing ledger, in whose room the wody had been found, was Webb; and this information embarrassed me at “Gzst as to the course I should follow. connected ! the police in their efforts to get at the “You |i overy, under | 1 I felt under no Spartatr obligation to volunteer statements as to his céndi- | tion and movements tlie night before, which might do him larga. Yet, upon the other hand, these very statements might be of the utmost inmportance to ‘truth of the unfortunate gentleman's death. I therefore deciited to await) further developments:. The room was pdorty furnished and very untid. as might be expected 1 cccupant of Webb’s bokeinian The bed, I noted, had not been slept in overnight, though the appear- ance of the counterpane indicated that some one wearing very dirty boots hac lain on it. Upon am old-fashioned, bread-seated sofa lay ttie corpse, so en- tirely covered in a long cloak as to leave nothing visible exeept brown leather leggings and ttick-soled boots. A constable was seated a yard or so away, evidently in especial charge of the remains. “No clue yet, I suppose, as to his ’ I remarked to Inspector ho had accompanied me into as I glanced toward the sofa’. “Noy the reply, “except that the style of the clothing seems to indicate -a, foreigner or one recently returned from abroad. The post-mortem tnis afternoon may reveal’ something; but, so far, we only know that a stranger was found here a few fwurs ago strang- led to death.” “Strangled!” I repeated. “That is rather out of the conrmor nowadays, isn’t it?” “Perhaps indication * he rejoined; “but the re too plain to be mistak- en in this So saying, ne made a | sign to the constable, who removed the cloak sutliciently to expose the dead ma face and throat.’ The inspector was clearly right. The unnaturally prominent eyes, the partly-protruding tongue, the discolored skin ‘of the | throat, pointed to the cause of death | plainly enough. The marks upon the throat had for me fn especial interest, and I studied them so long and care- fully that Inspector Traill looked at me inquiringly wher my examination was over. “The man whe effected that job nrust have very large as well as very power- ful hands,” I remarked, “judging from the length and width of his grip.” Inspector Traill pricked up his ears, so to speak. and nodded approvingty. We had often had friendly discussions as the value of deductive methods in difficult cases, and, although he was wont to wax very scornful over the tfic- titious triumphs of Vidoeq and Sher- lock Holmes, he was not above taking waht he termed a “common-sense hint” {upon a point that had escaped his own observation. “That's so,” he said, quietly, produe- ing h ote book. “Anything else?” “Yes,” I continued. “He is a member of the working class, probably an arti- in san of the so-called ‘black trade What makes you think so?” “A well-defined thumb-mark upon the strangled man’s collar,” I explained. “A dirty, coarse-grained thumb-mark, such as could only be produced by a thumb well-stained by iron-tiuings or ) other metallic dust.”! | “H'm!’ growled the inspector. “You are pushing your inference rather too far, I think. However, I'll have a good leok at the mark myself, -presentiy. And now, I'd like to know, Mr. Weston, why you seem to be so interested in this case? Murders are not much in your line, as a rule, are they?” “No,” T answere:, “they are not.’ But I'm an old friend of the missing ten- ant of this room—Tom Webb=”" “The deuce you are!” he interrupted. “Then I'm afraid you're the friend of an extremely bad lot!” “You're wrong!” I protested, warm- ly “There is no radical badness in the man, though he has wrecked himself through drink. I daresay the landlord here has given him an evil character as a frequenter of law pot-houses, and who is always in arrears with his rent. Likely enough; but I'd stake my life he is utterly incapable of hand or part in a crime like this.” “Then why run away like any other guilty man 4 “I don’t believe he was able to find his way back here at all in last night's | fog,” I said, confidently. And, without further preface, I narrated how Tem had left my rooms drunk, and with a further supply of purloined whisky, at 2 a.m. I added my conviction that either some accident had befallen him, or that he was lying in some lock-up, too hopelessly intoxieated to give any account of himself. ¢ Inspector Traill heard me out, and then quietly produced a latch-key. “It was found upon the carpet here this morning, and the landlord identifies it by a private mark as the one used by | Webb. So that, innocent or guilty, it is clear he found his way back here; and, although that scarcely convicts him of having choked a man to death, still, taken in conjunction with his | flight, it looks rather black against him.” : The discovery of the latch-key was certainly a deadly blow to my theory that Tom had never reached his home at all; and I was beginning to realize that the experienced detective’s suspi- j cions were, after, all, in strict accord with all the available evidence. But I jet utterly scouted the idea of Tom having had any active share in the crime. “Tom Webb choke a man!” I ex- claimed, indignantly. ‘Why, he hasn’t one ‘his’ wersiom of the matter. ‘and, moreover, ipapers. So F thanked Inspector Traill ‘and puslied my way, not wittiout some sanxious each time we meti | had, despite the most strenuous efforts, -corsole him by pointing, owt that the | odds against his being alive now. It | | sible for any one (except, perhaps, some | news of her brother, who had long which had overtaken her vagabond strength in his wasted, skinny hands to choke a chicken! And, besides, the marks upon that poor fellow’s: throat indicate the fingers of a giant.” “That's right enough,” assented Trail. “rom your description of this Webb, ie cimply couldn’t have done this job himself. But, as you know well enough, this is one of the worst districts in London for scoundrels of | of a geutleman, believed to be a for- | ~ every sort and race. Your friend’s dvwnken habits seem # lave led bim into ali sorts of low dens; tha® is, all sorts of rascally company, and I’m afraid you'll find he was persuaded er emtrapped into complisity, at - all events, into this affair. Then, E sup pose, he teok fright an@ ran anvay. Hewever, we shall probabdyy soors Iearre He cannot have got very far away, aad a full de- scription of him has already beem cir- culated.” Neftler the exact results of the post- mortem nor the verdict of tiie coroner's jury fad any special interest for me; they would be pub- lislied in. late editions of tiie eveaing: trouble. through the dense: crowd of loafers and disreputables that always. seem te gather around the scene of a crime. ZY had other important inquiry work ow Hand, which I could'not afford twruegleet in erder to indulge’in speeu- Tetion as to the exact causes of Tom Webb's: disappearance, Not until late that night di@ I have om opportunity of scanning ar“‘spee ‘Westrinster,” from which [ learned that’ the inquest had resulted’ in a ver- @ivt' of “Willful murder against Thon as. Weblr and some other nersom ar persons enknewn.” CHAPTER Il.. At Fault. PF saw Inspector Traill several. times during the fellowing week, and he seemed more and more wearied and The vea- sor was simple: The Cato Street aase had! heem intrusted to itis special charge, and had proved to be ome of unexpected difficulty. It Nad! seemed to be 2 feregene conclusion that the missing tenant, Tom Webby. must iimev- itably be traceg and captured within a few hours. Yet, so far, notithe faintest chine to Tks whereabouts Had! beem ob- tained; while, as for hisssupposed ac- complices, they were equaily andiscoy- erable. This, from a detective’s pint of view, was a most aggravating state of affairs; but, perhaps,. worse still, entirely failed to estalilist) the Mentity of the murdered man. I attempted to entire pelice force was equally respon- ible for these failures;; which were due to the stupidity, or laziness of an stables scattered all over but be found no comfort in my words. ‘ “That sounds reasonable enough.” he remarked, blumlx;: “tat it won't *go dewn with my chiefs, nor with the public, either, for the matter of that. The man in charge of the case is the man the chief lvoks to for results. f am in charge off this ease. I have got no results, and FIL be hanged if I see any way of getting: any!” ' “Then you deem this case to be an exceptionally difficult one?” “Yes, now I do; though I did? not think so et first,” he acknowledged. “Webb's capture seemed certain, and I counted on hearing something in the Soho slums; especially as I believed in your theory as to the murderer being a workingman. You ought to know, by this time, Mr. Weston, that im tracking down 2 ecrimina], we rely, almost en- tirely, upon what is officially termed ‘information received.’ And, of course, this simply means information extort- ed by bribes or threats from the sus- pected man’s pals. But very careful inquiries have satisfied me that, fu the present case, ro such information will ever be forthcoming; because the man I want had no pals, at least among the known law-breaking lot.” “Well, but what about Webb?” I asked. “I am convinced he did not leave the house in Cato street by him- self, otherwise he could not possibly (in his drunken condition) have escaped the search that was almost immedi- ately made for him. It was the other man—the man with the strong grip— who got him away; and it’s very !onz stands io reason that the murderer would not intrust the safety of his neck to the keeping of a nervous drunkard, who might, at any moment, blab the fatal secret. No, no! ‘The rea- son Webb has net been found is that he Las been made away with.” There was a ring of conviction in Traill’s voice which, backed up by the obvious force of his reasoning, made me feel very despondent as to poor Webb's fate. Let me frankly admit that it was not from any especial love I-bore the man. I doubt if it were pos- pocr martyr-wife) to care long for a confirmed drunkard, But I was very fond of his youngest sister, Madge. We were tacitly, almost avowedly, en- gaged to be married; and, in every let- ter I received from her, she begged for ceased to correspond with any of his own people, Hitherto I had managed to evade telling her the truth as to Tom's downfall. Why make her, and the kindly old couple, her parents, mis- erable by telling them that the hope and pride of the family had gone ut- terly to the dogs? And so I had kept back the real facts, hoping (almost | against hope) that he would turn over a new leaf and be a man again. I had latterly felt more awkyardly situated than ever with respect to Madge, and had put off writing to her because I simply had not the moral courage even to hint at the disaster brother. I preferred, somehow, to let her get the first news of the trouble through -some other source—say, a chance, newspaper paragraph. Yet .I felt now that I could not well remain silent any longer in the face of Inspect- or Trails conyiction that Tom had amet with foul play. The question sim- ply was, how I could best break the sad news. As so often happens in real life, the problem solved itself. By the last post that night I received two letters, one of them from Madge. It was very short, but very much to the point. She implored me to ascertain, and let her know at once, that the inclosed cut- ting from the ‘Dorset Courier’ had no reference to her brother. The inclosure ran thus: “Another London Mystery--The corpse ! » has been discovered in a Boho I ing house. The medical evidence shows déath t+ have. resulted from strangulation, and! as neither money nor valuables of any sort were foand on deceased, it i¥ inferred that plunder was the motive ofthe erime. The ten- ant of the room ia which the body was found was a maa named Ton Webb, described as a jommalist and as of no- toriously intemperate habits. He, how- ever, has not been’ seen simee the eve of the gruesome diseovery, and the cor- ‘oner’s jury had noKesitation in arriv- ing at a verdict’ of willful murder against him and‘ other persons un- known. The police’are of opinion that several persons must have been con- cerned in the affair,.but are vvery reti- cent as to such clues as they possess. We understand that the deceased has not been identified.” Poor little Madge!"I could quite real- ize her anziety. She knew, of course, that Tom’s profession was that of a journalist, and I daresay she more than suspected his weakness for strong waters. And, now, Here was a man. thus elosely tallying-in description and of the same name, charged with mur- der! Poor Madge! 'My heart Died for her! But what coukf T de to comfort rer? I did my best. I wrote her a long let- ter, stating the case as hepefully as 1 eould. Of Tom's absolute inmocence of any deliberate share in the atrocious erime [ expressed my absofute convic- tion; but there was no blinking the facts that the body was found iu his room, and that he ‘tad himself disap- peared: “Of course,” I’ added, “this was bourd to direct a:eertaim amount of suspicion against Iiim, and, as you must see yourself, justified the verdict of the coroner’s jury, im thre absence of other evidence. ‘But it wil? console you to know that even’tie detective officer in charge of the case mo longer be- lieves in Tom’s guilt, theagh he thinks he was made a too? of. So be a brave girl, Madge, and don’t fret. You know that, from the very mature of my busi- ness, T am in a good position to wateh the course of events; and I need hard- ly ure you that I will leave no effort unmade to clearwp this distressing af- fair. I shall, if I’ possibly can manage it..run down to Derchester within a few days, and itis quite on the cards I g you some good news. Mean- cep up-x brave heart, and be- eadfastiv in poor Tom’s inno- lieve cence.” The other letter was a somewhat bulky one. It was from Inspector Traill, and the contents proved to be of most absorbing interest. Apparent- ly. the inspector had been ver, when he sent his dispatch, w: ined merely a few words, scrawled in pencil, on a scrap of paper, to ex- plain their drift. “See what you can make of inefosed notes,” the message ran, “and let me know results as soon | as possible.” Apparently, Mr. Traill was comitg round to deductive metn- ods, afte all. " The netes were somewhat volumin ous and’ im a very disconnected order: but they included everything that had so far Deen discovered, and amply re- paid perusal. Personally, I was rather methodical in my habits, and, as I read, I took down some more ¢on- densed notes of my own. Neuture of Case—Murder by strangu- lation of man unknown, reported by Constable Dwyer, at 10:20 a. m, Nov. 20¢h, as having cecurred at 18; Cato street, Soho, From statement ef the landlord, George Marsh, it appears that he entered a room on the ground floor cecupied by one Thomas Webb, a journalist, who was in arrear with, his rent. Webb was not there, nor had the hed been slept in; but upon the sofa lay the dead bedy of a stranger eovered by a cloak. Webb’s latch-key was found upon the floor. . Description of deceased.—Length, 5 fect 10 inches. Strong build; well- nourished, apparently about thirty-two years of age. Hair: damk-brown. Eyes: grey. Teeth: sound, regular; somewhat discolored, as by chewing. Dressed in blue serge suit, with brown gaiters and heay boots, all, seemingly, of foreign Linen marked 1, . No valu or papers whatever. ‘Two body- :letters L. A. tattooed upon left rm, with small anchor; on right t a floating spar, also tattoed, with R. N. upon it. The issing Lodger, Webb.—Aged about thirty; but looks older, Average | height, thin, round-shouldered, slouch- ing gait. Dark hair, grey in places. Blue eyes, usually bloodshot. Reputes to be habitually a drunkard, but noth- ing known against him otherwise. Result of Inquiries.—So far, practic- ally nil. Webb has not been traced, nor is there any clue to the identity of the murdered man. Webb would seem to be physically incapable of the crime; and the theory gains ground that he, too, has been made way with by the actual perpetrator. ‘There are very copious notes regard- ing the post-mortem and the inquest, but they did not throw any fresh light upon the subject, so far as I could judge. Lastly, there were two poorly-devel- oped photographs of the murdered man’s ghastly, swollen face, pasted on two pieces of white card board. They might, of course, some day prove of use as a means of identification, al- though I doubted whether the unfor- tunate gentleman’s most intimate friend would ever be very positive in recogn’aing those distorted features. Now, all this was very interesting, but it did not help much towards the elucidation of Tom Webb's fate; and such was the opinion I expressed to Mr. Traili when I took him back his notes and photographs. “H’m! Perhaps not,” he assented, somewhat gruffy. “But I think it im- proves my chances of finding out who the dead man was, and nly only hope of working the case lies through him. It seems most likely, judging from the tattoo marks, that he was, or had been at scme time, a sailor by profession. Indeed, one might almost go to the length of believing him to have been in the Royal navy.” “Why so?” [ inquired. “That's how I interpret the letters R. N. on his right breast,” was the re- ply, given with a certain amount of self-complacency. “How does the idea strike you?” “Jt sounds reasonable enough,” I as- sented, “though they are just as likely to be the initials of his own name.” (fo Be Continued.) “BLOODY HANDS” DECUARED OF THE-ADMINISTRETION,, BY. ANTI-IMPERIALISTS.. Their-League Launebed in Minwesota. Other: Points of National Polities—Sst. Paul Hustlers Rring’ the Repwbilean |) National League Hére, to Add to: the: Camypnign Firewooks— State Potitical Resume —- Board fi Appeal Results. For Sti Paul's Redemption—Ec hess of! ‘cust Prosperity — Wete -and:'Comanent. of tle-Past Week. Reforny Press Bureau. Sr. Pavt;. Dec. 18, 1899. “Look «your hands when blood is shed For lias of land or gold or fame, And if yeu find them dripping red + Think not the patriot’s<honored name: Will cleanse your guilt or purge- your shhme— Look at your hands!” The Minnesota anti-Imperialistsshave opened their campaign, and. the » Min- neapolis-meeting was-one of the~ most interesting, as well as remarkable-ever held imsthat eity of important political events, There is not.room for even. a brief summary of. programmer and events, but the most striking feature was the-courageous spirit shown, in the |: face o£the contumely, and opprobrium |: which.had been cast.on the movement by the-subservient monopolistic: press. The iatter bas preserved an Otis censor-- ship, and no detailed, accurate or even fair report was made by a single: Twin City daily. programme was shown in the faet that all those participating, with a single ex- ception, supported. McKinley in 1896. The exception was- Lieutenant. Martin, E. Tew, of the Thirteenth, who earned his right to speals, by his own, blood shed.in McKinley3s unholy war. aggression” against the Filipinos, abso-- lutely unquestioned, are the following:;; The Filipinos had an organizaed in surrectionary gqvernment more than a year before the- Cuban war, broke out.. Agninaldo, when brought ta Manila fer the purpose, turned this into an active ally of the Americansand had cleared all Luzon of Spanish, up to Manila, by the time of the arxival of the first American itroops. Aguinaldo followed Dewey’s and our genemals’ suggestions in all his movements, our Consul. ‘‘drawing: up the very proclamation ta his people.” Instead of Yeing a bribe-taker, as in- sinuated by Mr. McKinley, he spent the Spanish gold givem him for arms for his men. Instead, of making war (or “‘rebellion”) on the Americans, an American fired the first shot, the strained relations leading therets being caused by the McKinley proclamation of sovereignty, in the face of implied or actually promised independence, on Dec. 21, a month before the treaty with Spain was confirmed, which gave us such sovereignty. = Each and evexy propusition above and much more, was proven absolutely, by the official, governmental records. Our allies, men who had straggled for years for independence, and nearly won it—this liberty loving people, proven by ; Dewey’s own words to be better quali- fied for independence than the Cubans, are shot into subjection, and taken by conquest, by the great American power! No wonder awakened Ameri- can consciences bring the cry of shame, shame! . And no wonder the heart of the re- generated Democracy beats responsive. Governor Lind’s connection with the meeting was asa mere but deeply in- terested spectator. The audience was set wild by the reference of one of the speakers to the governor's sentiment that the volunteer soldier was unfit for the purposes of conquest since he ‘‘car- ries a conscience as well as a gun.” This disclosed the governor’s presence, and hence his brief speech. That the “U” boys are all anti was shown by the fact that the real “Ski U Mah” was lustily given. The ‘Jackson Day Bryan banquet, Jan. 10, is the great political event to usher in the new year and century. The intention is to have 2,000 present to meet our great chieftain, who is now taking a short vacation in Texas, The virtual opening of the 1900 campaign, this will be an event that no prominent member of the reform fogces can afford to resist. While it is to be under Demo- cratic auspices, all allies will be wel- come. Address William Banquet Bald- win, Minneapolis, for particulars. And speaking of a Twin City evening paper’s proneness to use the snake, the “copperhead,” in political cartoons, does it come from the frequency of finding the serpent in the foot gear? And the world do also move, do it not, when Manitoba votes for public ownership? : The political house cleaning promised for St. Paul next spring is foreshadowed by the shameful misrule in the comp- troller’s office. Comptroller McCardy had held the office so long and had been treated with such courtesy (?) by the Republican public examiner, that when Public Examiner Pope sent a deputy to examine the records of the City of St. Paul, and the assistant, Edward Ek- man, found some transactions that seemed to him in violation of the char- ter, McCardy refused to furnish an ex- | planation which was politely asked by the examiner. The examiner's office went on, and now the comptroller is not only floundering about in a sea of in- consistent explanations, to city em- ployes who had to go six weeks without their salaries, but to his contemporaries in municipal office, who not only fear the political effect of the recent dis- closures, but’ are chagrined at ine way |trine as Monroe's, Gs, Thee non-partisany character of the | Making :Ready by the Reform Forces. |, | the comptroller has concecied (he true state of city finances fzom them ail — these years. Bi ah } Clerk of Court Dar Reese and: State Printer Whitney scored for Minnesota -and the Twin Cities, by securing the .couvention of the League of Repubii- ican clubs. It will of course add to the fireworks of the campaign, and stimu- | late-the Reform forces toa brighter and — | ere-penetrating glare. And, speaking of campaigns, they do: ‘say that the inspiration of the St. Paul Dispatch to redoubled meanness, is Senator Nelson’s agreement that its ed- ‘itorshall be Surveyor General, How this-will stimulate the old guard. All reports agree that the boards of’ grain. appeals are proving of great bene- fit to. the state grain interests. The boards, owimg to the reform majorities of each, are thoroughly in sympathy with: the lofty purposes of the adminis-- tration. Tae State Dairymens’ association, in: annual session, passed very cordial ap- proval of the dany department as con- ducted. by Commissioner Bowler. Another Republican governor has: been:installed in Kentucky, but under such. mountains of proof of violations of! the election laws, which, however, the canvassing. board was powerless to go intoy.that there is little doubt that in. the contests which will follow, Goebel \will.be seated. What do those ‘‘Dem- ocrats” wh@aided the Republicans think of their job, anyhow? Q£ course if it was Democracy or Pop-, ulism that was disturbing business as is being. dene by the financial bill, Rome-would howl ail along her seven, hills. The Reform forces of all shades and cennection rejoice that Governor Poyn- ter.of Nebraska sends Senator Allen back. to the senate in the Hayward vacancy.. He will be a great power in: the pending struggles, especially on the banking. bill. Mr. Bryan absolutely re- fused the appointment. Now fora fu- sion legislature, and the return of a : aire | Democrat to sit with Allen, when, with, Among the proofs of our-‘criminal Bryan im the White House, Nebraska will be- well provided for. A British general says that he was led to defeat by treacherous guides. Rather was it the hand of a just God. This is an excellent time, while Eng- land is. busy, for our Canadian brethren across,the border to strike for nation- ality, and Ireland for liberty. What, say our near neighbors, and what the brave sons of the Emerald Isle? With the ticket McKinley and Root, the goppite battle cry will be ‘*Root,, hog or die.” And the G. O. P..will. both root and die. The bill by which the money power is enforcing its mortgage on the Repubr. liean majority of congress, will simply: make every bond, greenback and treas~ ury note of whatever present character, every private debt, all outstanding pub- lic debt, however contracted for,. paya-. ble in gold coin! The effect will be, since most of these are now. payable optionally in gold or silver, to unjustly: add hundreds of millions of dollars to, the wealth of bondholders and. credit- ors, which amount will come. from debtors and taxpayers! The last was a billion. dollar con-. gress. The present is a bankers? and! bondholders’ congress. Bend down your backs,. American toilers, and let the bondholder and the soldier get on. The call for a national, anti-trust con- ference is out, for Lincoln’s birthday, Feb. 12, Chicago, Minnesota is well represented on the official call, which embraces patriotic men from all parts of the Union. This promises to be as great a movement as the Anti-Imperial- ist organization, now at work all over the country. This, like the other move~ ! ment is strictly non partisan. “ Menage of Northwestern Guaranty Loan fame goes Scott free, so that Di- rictor Eustis, who also, ran, has been the only official of that institution to meet with condemnation. And, speaking of Menage, et al, and then again of Sulu’s sultan, Brigham H. Roberts and others—there’s the Brit- ish owner of one of the Twin City after- noon dailies, "Nuff said. The suggestion originally made by the Martin County Sentine! that Judge Severance be the candidate of the Re- form forces for congress in the Man- kato district, has met with a most cor- dial response. There is believed to be no possible doubt but that Judge Sever- ance, if he can be persuaded to accept the call, can skin the Schoolmaster to a finish, Falling stocks, lower produce, higher Wall street interest, Secretary Gouge prepaving interest, large interest bid for deposits inthe tightening money market, gold at the export figure, Canadian gold being withdrawn from New York for loan abroad, coal mine strikes in Iowa, newspaper suspensions in St. Louis from strikes; . and locally, the cutting off of stories from pro- jected blocks, cheaper wages and fewer jobs for laborers, $5 less per month for “lumber jacks,” etc., etc., are among the many pointers of trust prosperity. Goppite comment on the recurrence of Washington’s death anniversary, is very chilly, in contemplating any- thing Washingtonian connected with recent events. Even his warning against “entangling foreign alliances,” strikes all McKinleyites below the belt. Such, like the Minneapolis Journal, can only claim-that tbe country has outgrown its Washingtons, Jefferson and Lincolns, and such puerile docu-— ments as the Declaration of Independ- ence, the Constitution, and such doc. ; 4