THE CAMERON COUNTY PRESS.
ESTABLISHED BY C. B. GOUI.D, MARCH, 1866.
VOL. 42
HON. JOHN BROOKS.
Earliest Champion of Local Option.
Peiladelphia Evening Star.
If the latest developments at
Harrisburg in connection with the
proceedings of the Legislature,
anent the Local Option agitation,
are to be taken as a criterion, the
relations of the State to the liquor
traffic will not be seriously disturb
ed during the present session.
Rev. S. W. Nicholson, head of the
anti-saloon League, has taken a
practical view of the situation and
made friends with United States
Senator Penrose, Speaker Oox and
the other leaders of the Republi
an Party on the Ilill, instead of
casting his fortunes with the ene
mies of the dominent political ele
ment in the State, as represented
by the bellicose Van Valkenburg
and the disgruntled but powerless
element which he represents.
In adopting this obviously sensi
ble course the Rev. Nicholson and
his associates in the Local Option
movement are in all probability ac
tuated by the idea that it is up to
them to get all they can in the way
of legislation in favor of the cause
temperance, even if the} r cannot
bring about the enactment of a
straight Local Option law. And
along this line the bill which is
fathered by State Senator Tustin,
of the West Philadelphia district is
very favorably regarded by the
temperance advocates of this city.
The bill is purely a local measure
and provides for the restriction of
the liquor selling privilege in resi
dential sections in a manner which
meets the approval of the Judges
of the Court of Common Pleas, who
are charged with the duty of ad
ministering the existing license
law including the renewal of pre
vailing licenses and the granting
and refusing of new ones,
Should the Tustin bill go through
both branches of the General As
sembly and obtain the approba
tion of the Governor, no new orad
ditional licenses to sell intoxica
ting beverages either at wholesale
or retail, will or can be permitted
in any locality whose residents to
the number of sixty per cent, with
in a certain area, shall protest.
This is somewhat drastic and in
the opinion of many good citizens,
might be properly amended so as to
work both ways. That is, it would
be much fairer if it contained a
clause permitting sixty per cent,
of the citizens in a similar locality
to have a petition for the establish
ing of a saloon favorably acted
upon by the License Court Judges.
However, it is not my province,
nor is it my intention to upon
the merits or point out any de
merits that may exist in the Tus
tin bill, in advance of the action
of the learned law-makers at the
State capitol, hence I shall not
pose as a critic in this matter at
his time.
The temperance question lias
been an issue before the Legisla
ture at different times for more
than fifty years. Senator Quay,
when he was the commanding in
fluence dominating the political af
fairs of the State, headed off a
strong movement in behalf of pro
hibition by giving his support to
the high license idea, and as a re
sult the liquor traffic in Pennsyl
vania is now regulated by an Act,
which is commonly known as the
Brooks High License Law. The
gentleman whose name is attached
to the Act is William 11. Brooks, a
Philadelphia!!, who in ISB7. when
it vvas passed, was a member of the
House of Representatives from the
Germantown district. Later on
he was Chief of the Bureau of
Highways and now fills with credit
to himself and the city the posi
tion of Assistant Highway Com
missioner. It is only just to say
of 11. Brooks that in
every capacity in which has ap
peared in public life, Ire has made
good, and it gives me pleasure to
testify to this fact.
But Brooks of Philadelphia is
not the ouly man of that name
who ever championed the cause of
temperance in the Legislature of
Pennsylvania. Before the Quaker
City man assumed the dignity, and
the honors of a Solon there was a
Brooks in the Legislative halls of
the Commonwealth, whose opposi
tion to the "power of rum" as he
styled it, was rampant. More than
thirty years ago lie stood in the
House of Representatives and
shouted aloud his denunciation of
the evils of the liquor. traffic and
demanded Local Option as the
oulv fair and adequate remedy for
the conditions brought about l>v
the existence of the saloon in the
surban districts, anil the country
tavern with a bar, in the rural sec
tions.
This was John Brooks, of Cam
eron county. I do not know
whether or not he is still in the
land of the living, but I do know
that when he served as a member
of the House of Representatives at
the sessions of 1877 and 1879, he
was a prominent figure, at Harris
burg. The general campaign for
the total abolition of the saloon,
which has of late been waged in all
parts of the United States, had
then not yet been heard of, but
Brooks, of Cameron was an anti
saloonist for fair. He was the ad
vance agent in Pennsylvania for
Prohibition. He was willing to
talk against the liquor traffic in
the House or out of it at any time
of the day or night and he taxed
his persuavive powers to the ut
most in this direction.' And many
of his colleagues listened to him in
tently, but the fact must be chron
icled in justice to the truth of his
tory, that most of them did not
take either him or his "issue" seri
ously.
Brooks was a man of peculiar
appearance. He was tall and slen
der, angular in build and the most
striking thing about him was a
long white beard which reached
almost to his waist line and made
him look venerable and impres
sive. At each of the two sessions
during which he represented Cam
eron County in the House, he pre
sented a bill providing for"Local
Option" throughout the Common
wealth. He supported it with
great vigor and a single-minded
earnestness that attracted atten
tion and to humor him. his fellow
members cheerfully voted to put
the measure through the llrst and
second readings. But when it
came to the third reading and final
passage, things were different. In
cidentally it may be mentioned
that Brooks of Cameron was an
orator, at least from his own point
ol' view and that of his enthusias
tic admirers, and when he made a
speech in favor of his Local Op
tion bill, it was an event in Har
risburg. He made two such
speeches, one at each session, in
which he served. The second
sounded very much like the first,
but as two years had elapsed be
tween them no one paid any par
ticular attention to a . little thiug
like that.
If a sonorous voice, an impas
sioned delivery and violent and en
tirely unconventional gestures
could prevail, Brooks, of Cameron,
would have easily commanded a
majority of the Iloifee and this he
expected to do without difficulty
when he called up his little Local
Option bill, a day or two before the
close of the session of 1N79. There
was a full attendance for the
Brooks performance at the previous
session and his oft-expressed deter
mination to outdo himself this
time in the cause that, was
to his heart—''the wiping out of
the rum business"—gave promise
of a rare entertainment. Every
member was present and the gal
leries were packed with an expect
ant throng. It was the most im
portant occasion of the session.
The l>ill at the request of Mr.
Brooks was called up for final pas
sage, and it.s sponsor, venerable,
imposing and very serious took
the floor to advocate his daring
measure.
"There are," he said as a start
er, "40,000,000 drunkards in the
United States." This startling
statistical assertion made his audi
tors sit up and take notice at once.
And, ho went on, "no drunkard
can ever enter the kingdom of
heaven." lie had a peculiar
swinging motion of the right arm,
which was similar to the action of
a pump handle when vigorously
operated, and this gesture he em
ployed with much frequency and
great force throughout his entire
remarks. It is hardly necessary
for rue to reproduce his speech
here. Anyone who desires to read
it will find it recorded in the Jour
nal of the House of Representa
tives for that particular session.
A prominent Philadelphia, mem
ber of the House hi those days
was Hugh Maekin, a Democrat,
who represented the little Sixth
"Liberty and Union, One and Inseparable."— WEßSTEß.
EMPORIUM, PA., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1909
Ward. Perhaps it might be well
for the purpose of this narrative to
mention that "Hughey" was en
gaged in some capacity in the li
quor business. When the gentle
man from Cameron county had
concluded his remarks, his fellow
members crowded around him and
tendered him their congratulations
in the warmest terms and his face
fairly beamed with joy. "Hugh
ey" Mack in stepped up to him
bearing a monster bouquet of beau
tiful roses and presented them as a
fitting tribute from the Ladies*
Christian Temperance Societies of
Pennsylvania—there was no such
organization in existence at the
time but that made no difference
with Mackin, who was one of the
wags of the General Assembly and
never lost an opportunity to per
petrate a practical joke.
Representative Brooks took the
flowers with a profound Chester
fieldian bow and proceeded to de
liver a speech i> 'banks. In doing
so he got that pump handle right
arm to work and as he held the
bouquet in his right hand, he wav
ed it arourd, regardlessly. As he
did so the roses threw out a lively
shower of liquid drops, and mem
bers in the vicinity of the speaker
were liberally sprinkled. At the
same time an aroma, distinctly al
coholic arose in the atmosphere.
The beautiful roses had been
drenched with whiskey before they
were handed to the legislative tem
perance apostle. Poor Brooks, he
threw away the bouquet in dis
gust, and stalked maje-tically out
of the House. And his pet Local
Option bill was ingloriously beat
en.
It is hardly likely that any prac
tical jokes will be played in con
nection with temperance legisla
tion this session.
TUE BYSTANDER.
Apology.
The PRESS is up against it proper
this week and we are forced to run an
uuusnally short paper, leaving out a
large amount of news, on account of
being short of compositors, owing to
sickness. We hope our readers will
excuse this misfortune. Misfortunes
will happen, in the best regulated fami
lies.
BEST PORTRAIT OF ABRAHAM
LINCOLN.
TUB PRESS this issue presents to its
readers the best portrait of Abraham
Lincoln, purchased from the pubLiaher
at no small oost, because we feel that
nothing would be more acceptable, at
this time, when the entire world is do
ing honor the name of Abraham Lin
coln, the World's Greatest Emancipa
tor.
The portrait was made in March,
1864, at the time of Grant's visit to
Washington to receive his commission
as L'eutenant-General and his appoint
ment to the command of the armies of
the United States.
Grant reached Washington on the
evening of March Bth, was given his
commission from the hand of Presi
dent Lincoln on March Bth, visited the
headquarters of the Army of the
Potomac on the 10th, and left Wash
ing for the West on the 11. From the
recorded details of the visit, which he
has given in his "Memoirs," we may
almost with certainty fix March 9th as
the day the picture was taken.
The occasion was momentous iu its
relation to the conduct and outcome of
the war; and bcyoud this, Grant's visit
had peculiar personal interest for
President and General, because this
was their first meeting. It was quite
in keeping, then, with Lincoln's pen
chant for having his picture taken that
he should suggest to Grant a visit to
the photographer's to commemorate
the meeting and the event of the day.
| They accordingly repaired to the
i studio of Brady, on Pennsylvania
avenue, and the photographs then
| taken—both that of Lincoln and the
j one of Grant—are considered the best
j portraits of them extant. Lincoln's is
; full-face, the eyes looking into ours,
; and revealing the soul of the man.
Emmanuel Church Notice.
Sunday, Feb. 14, .Sexagesimal 10:30
i a. in., morning prayer and sermon,
i Subject: The Alaska Mission. 7:30 p.
i ni., evening prayer and sermon. Sub
i ject: The Historic Ministry.
Cameron Sheriff Here.
Sheriff John W. Norris, of Cameron
county, came over from Emporium
Wednesday to attend qo some official
business with Sheriff Kenneda.- -Potter
j Enterprise.
DEATH'S DOINGS.
MURRAY
Albert Murray, died at his home on
Seventh street, on Wednesday, Feb.
10th at 4:30 p. m., from pneumonia.
Deceased was 64 years of age and is
survived by a wife and eleven chil
dren, four of whom are small. Tho
funeral will be held on Saturday after
noon at 2:30 o'clock at the M. E.
Church, the Rev. J. F. Anderson will
officiate.
Owing to the illness of Mr. Mullin
Mr. Murray's obituary will appear in
our next issue.
EASTERBROOKS.
The remains of Mrs. Mary !■ aster
brooks, aged 59, who died at Corry,
Pa., last Sunday, were brought to Em
porium on Tuesday for burial. Fun
eral services were conducted at the
Baptist Church, after which the re
mains were taken to West Creek Ceme
tery for burial, in family lot. De
ceased will be remembered as the
widow of Edward Easterbrooks, who
died at this place about nine years ago.
Two children survive—one son and one
daughter—Frank and Mrs. Gillson.
Mrs. Easterbrooks while suffering lor a
long time with Bright'e disease, only a
short time ago became seriously ill.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gilson and Mr.
and Mrs. Frank Easterbrooks accom
panied the remains to Emporium.
CHAPMAN.
MRS. VINIA CHAPMAN, aged 62 years,
died at Spokane, Wash., Monday, Feb.
Ist, 1909. Deceased leaves a husband,
Mr. Almeron Chapman, and three
children, viz: Clark, Georgia, (Mrs.
Othmer), and Sadie, all being present
at the time of her death; also Mrs. Geo.
W. Gentry and Mrs. Chas. A. Van Lew,
who reside in that state.
The death of this excellent lady will
be a great shock to her many friends
in this county, especially her only
brother, Mr. H. C. Taylor and family,
of Emporium. Deceased had been in
Jpoor health for more than a year, after
locating in Spokane, and underwent
an operation for the removal of a
tumor one week before her death.
This information is furnished us by
Mr. H. C. Taylor, who received the sad
intelligence on Sunday last, by postal
from Mr. Chapman.
The PRESS and the many friends of
the family extend to the deeply
bereaved husband and children their
sympathy in their great loss.
LEWIS.
EMELINE LEWIS, wife of Lyman
Lovvis, died at the family residence, at
Rich Valley, last Thursday, Feb. 4th,
aged 55 years and tfcree months. De
ceased suffered a stroke of of apoplexy
last January and died from the effect.
For the past 18 years Mrs. Lewis has
been a member of tho Wesleyan Meth
odist Church and was one of its most
active members. She was one of the
first members of the Women's Home
and Foreign Missionary Society and
will be sadly missed both in the church
and society. Deceased is survived by
her husband, two daughters and one
son, Mrs. Vernie Lewis, Mrs. Murdock
McNeil and Clyde Lswis, also nine
grand-children, three brothers and two
sisters, John and Frank Lewis, of Rich
Valley and Charles, of California, Mrs.
Hannah Latin, of Jersey City, and
Mrs. Mina Ballard, of Gardeau. All
were present at the funeral excepting
her brother Charles. Services were
conducted by the Rev. Wm. Osgood,
pastor of the Rich Valley Church, on
Saturday morning and interment was
made in the Rich Valley Cemetery.
The family have the sympathy of the
PRESS and their many friends.
A Trip Abroad.
The Misses Thressa, Helen and
Francos Blumle are contemplating a
I trip to the old world. Their visit will
i include places of interest in Germany,
| Italy and Switzerland. The young
j ladies expect to sail about the 25th of
j April.
From Old Friends.
Mr. Oscar H. Havens, of Missoula,
| Montana, a former resident of Cam-
I eron county, writea the PRESS, under
: date of Jan. 28th, enclosing a money
; order for his renewal at the same time
remarking, "I like to hear from my
i old home."
Card of Thanks.
Wo wish to extend our thanks to the
neighbors and friends who so kindly
assisted ue during the sickness and
; death of our wife and mother also to
1 the Free Methodist choir for their
, beautiful music, and to the ladies of
the Woman's Home and Foreign Mis
sionary Society for the floral tribute.
LYMAN LEWIS AND FAMILY.
Class of 1909.
The class of 1909 were entertained by
j Harold Seger last Thursday evening.
A new stunt in the line of entertain
, ment, in Emporium, was that of a
J theatre party, the entire class witnes3-
| ing the performance of 'Tempest and
Sunshine." After the play the class
j was given an elaborate luncheon by
Mr. Segrr at his home on Fourth street.
Prof, and Mrs. C. E. Plasterer and Miss
Lora McQnav, teachers of the class,
; were present.
Friendly Society Doings.
The Friendly Society held its regular
monthly meeting last Friday evening,
at the eome of Miss Bessie McQuay.
After the business was transacted the
meeting was turned into a valentine
party and was enjoyed by all present.
A pie social will be given on Thursday
evening, February 18, 1909, in the base
ment! of the Presbyterian Church for
the benefit of the Society. Ice cream
and coffee will also be berved. A
cordial invitation is extended to all to
be present.
Birthday Party.
A birthday party in honor of the
62nd anniversary of the birth of Mrs.
M. H. Dodge, was given last Saturday
evening, at her home on Walnutstreet.
Mrs. Dodge, is one of Emporium's
most estimable ladies and is held in the
highest regard, by all who know her.
Those present were* Mesdames O. P.
Warner, M. M. Larrabee, M. A. Beck,
J. D. Swope, Orville Proudfoot, E. H.
Gregory, W. H. Cramer, Henry Bliss,
Thomas Cleary, R. Robinson, Dennis
Donovon, S. McDonough, Wm.
Dalrymple, Ella McSwan, Gilbert
Morse, Belle Beattie, P. R. Beattie,
James Farrel, Wm. Swartz, M. C. Tulis,
Henry Klees, James Fetter, B. F.
Phalon, El wood Ness, John Koehler,
Ira Good, and Miss Lena Evans.
Burning Mid-Night Oil.
A neat cartoon entitled "Burning
Mid-Night Oil" was found on our desk
this morning. It is the work of our
popular townsman,, Pose T Ov n rturf,
The picture portrays a lamp burning
brightly and a very patient father
holding a baby evidently in the height
of a very boisterous time. A little
note occotupanitig the cartoon an
nounces the fact that a bright little
daughter arrived at the home of Ross
T. Overture and wife last Sunday. Of
course Ross is wearing "the smile that
won't come off." May the little one
iive to be a joy and comfort to her
| proud parents, is the wish of the PRESS.
I _ . _ _
It Pays to Use the Press.
"Last fall I placed an adv. in the
PRESS, offering for sale a stove. The
third day after the adv. appeared I
sold the stove to a man at St. Marys;
the adv. was continued for two weeks
and I could have sold a car load."—W.
W. Weiman.
"Newerf, Pa.- Last fall I had a little
adv. in the PRESS about Shepshire
sheep and was well pleased with re
sults. I inserted same in two other
publications, but your publication sold
more sheep for me than both the
others. You may send me price for
two insertions."— E W. Wilcox .
A word to the wise is sufficient.
The Sick.
Typhoid fever has appeared again in
this section. Up to the present time
two cases have bean reported. Miss
Leathea Victory, one of the public
school teachers in Shippen township,
is a victim of tho disease. Harry, son
of Mr. and Mrs. Arch Andrews, of East
Emporium, is also down with the fever.
Little of Everything.
The Pennsylvania R. R. Co., are
arranging lo lay the fourth rail track
between Altoona and Pittsburg.
O. E. Nellis agent for the Grand
Union Tea Co. All orders promptly
attended to.
Remember the Hamilton Hose Com
pany, ball, supper and reception,
Wednesday evening, Feb. 17th,. Tick
ets, §1.00; supper tickets, 25c.
The Mountaineer Minstrels give an
entertainment at Port Allegany this
i evaning, for benefit of Star Ilose Com-
I pany.
Slaughtering Prices.
We call the attention of tho PRESS
! readers to the advertisement of Mr. N.
Seger, the pioneer clothing merchant,
who is offering a big reduction in the
prices of clothing, from Feb. 16th to
27th. Be sure that you read his adv.
and then call and see tho big bargains.
Itch cured in 30 minutes by Wopo
j ford's Sanitary Lotion. Never fails
| gold by L. Taggart,druggist. 32-tlm.
TERMS: $2.00 —$1.501N ADVANCE.
THE WEATHER.
FRIDAY, Pair.
SATURDAY, Fair.
SUNDAY, Rain or Snow.
ASSETS
First National Bank,
EMPORIUM, PA.
At tlie close of business, Feb. 10,1909,
$808,514.96.
Lincoln's First Political Speech,
Gemtlemen anU Fellow Citizens:
I presume you all know who I am.
lam humble Abraham Lincoln. I
have been ioliciteo" by my friends to
become a candidate for the Legisla
ture. My Poiltics are short and
and aweet. 1 am in favor of a
national bank, i am in favor of the
internal improvement system * *
These are my sentiments and
political principles. If elected, I
shall be thankful, if not, it will be
all the sarna.
SI.OO Starts an Account.
30 INTEREST PAID ON CERTIFICATES
"O OF DEPOSIT.
DR. LEON REX FELT,
DENTIST.
Rockwell Block, Emporium, Pa.
DR. H. W. MITCHELL,
DENTIST,
(Successor to Dr A. B. Mead.)
Office over A. P. Vogt's Shoe Store,
Emporium, Pa 12y
Religious—Lincoln Sermon.
In the Methodist Episcopal Church,
on next Sunday evening, the pastor.
Rev. J. F. Anderson, will take as his
discourse, "Lincoln, the Liberator."—
To this service are cordially invited
members of the G A. R. Post, Patri
otic and Fraternal Orders, High School
and Grammar School students, and
patriotic citizens in general, where it
will not interfere with their other du
ties and obligations.
Th. Revival Services.
Tho special revival services which
have been going on in tiie Methodist
Episcopal Church, of this place, during
the past month, were well attended all
through, and resulted in much good.
About lifty persons tillered upon the
Christian life and about forty of these
united with the church on probation.
On last Sunday morning, fifteen per
sons received the sacrament of baptism.
While the members of this church were
very faithful and were greatly helped,
many persons from other denomina
tions, as well found it convenient to be
present and take part in these services
ana hence shared in the meeting's beu
fits.
Eighteenth Annual Ball.
Hamilton Hose Company, No. 3, will
next Wednesday evening, Feb. 17th,
give their eighteenth annual ball, sup
per and reception, "i?ie boys will give
their many admiring friends a jolly
good time, at tho opera house. This
company was organized in 1881 and is
composed of an active membership that
never fails to respond promptly when
called and always does good work, fre
quently risking themselves to save
property. See that they have a rous
ing attendance. Purchase tickets at
once. Keating's popular orchestra, of
Olean, has been engaged and all pat
rons can rest assured of most excellent
music and a fine program of dances,
now being prepared at the PRESS job
rooms.
Get on the Band Wagon.
Be sure you secure seats early—do it
now—for the Mountaineer Minstrels,
to take place at the opera house Fri
day evening, Feb. 12th. Their menu
this year excels any ever given here—
amateur or professional. No old chest
nuts. All the latest songs, jokes and
stunts. A new departur., that will
tako with the audience, the adding ol
several ladies to their circle. Don't
you ever think of missing it. Pur
chase your seat at once.
The Caleb Power's Lecture.
The chart for tho sale of reserved
seat tickets for the Caleb Power's lec
ture—the noted Kentucbyan—to be
given at tho courthouse, Tuesday
evening, Feb. 23rd, at 8 p m., will be
ready at li. H. Loyd's store, Monday
morning, at 9 o'clock. Lecture under
the auspices of Presbyterian church.
Tickets : Reserved seats, 75c ; gen
eral admission, 50c.; children, 2oc.
Fair.
On Saturday evening, February 20,
1909, a Fair will be held at the Swesev
school house. The main feature of the
evening will be a Necktie and Apron
Supper. Candy and other notions will
be on sale. Come brinpr your friends,
enjoy the overling, and help a good
cause.
NO. 52.