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THE' ' PITTSBURG- DISPATCH, 'SUNDAY, 'FEBRUARY 10, " 1889.
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T G
REVIEW
Beasons "Why Criticism Bene
fits AU Kinds of Sports.
IT HAS AIDED BASE BALL.
A Britisher's Opinion Abont Mitchell's
Late Beception in This Country.
THE MIERS-M'AULIFFE BATTLE.
A Few Words From an Authority About
Ice Skating".
GEXERAL SPOETIXG KEWS OF THE DAT
Headers of sporting news do not need to
be told that sporting events have been ex
ceedingly scarce. There is an old saying to
the effect that dark is the hour before the
dawn, and this old proverb has some bearing
on sporting matters. The busy season, it is
expected to be the busiest we have had, is
just about to dawn, and, indeed, things are
dark and quiet now. It is some time since
there was such a lull in sporting affairs and
it is not a very easy task to lay hands on mat
ters of sufficient importance and interest to
deal with in this weekly budget. However,
there is one thing on which a ftv words can
be said with interest. I refer to the public
criticisms of sporting events. There is no
doubt whatever that criticism is becoming
inore prevalent every week. Of course I
make a distinction between a mere weekly
resume of the week's doings and a review
that mentions leading events and takes
a definite and clear side on everything or any
thing mentioned in the review. There is really
a wide difference, and for my part I have never
been able to see tbe worth of a weekly resume
in a daily paper entirely devoid of comment.
And it may be said that a renew minus any
definite opinion at all, is almost as worthless.
To recapitulate a fact without adding anything
to it, may be called a waste of time and space.
Tbe object of the sporting reviews in The
Dispatch is tn comment and criticise fairly
wd fearlessly. It takes nerve, however, to do
this, and numerous able writers throughout
tiie country can testify to this fact. To find
fault with any contest, particularly of an
it hie tic kind, means that one may be prepared
jo be dubbed a robber, a liar and a scoundrel:
out if praise is lavished on tbe most barefaced
iwindle, nothing too good and flattering can be
laid of tbe man who praises. This condition of
:hiugs has always existed, no doubt, but the
.nsulting epithets burled at fair criticism seem
x be more numerous now than formerly. Hcw
;vcr, the right to examine and comment freely
in each passing event will, by and by, be freely
idmitted by all concerned, and when that time
:omcs depend upon it things will be better for
he sporting world and for tbe general public
It is interesting to note that the sports which
lourUh most are those that are most freely
niticised. Take baseball for instance. It is
mpossible to lay one's finger on anything that
s put through such an analytical test as base
lalL Everyday bomebody is being criticised
ad if fraud is in tbe slightest ay insinuated
he most searching invest'gation follows. What
maintain is that public criticism of a fearless
rind has bad as much to do with thcremaik
lile popularity of baseball as any other ele
ment. It may have had more because it has
reatcd a confidence in the public mind that
a its absence would certainly not have assisted
t all. Were it to become the business of base
pit writers to bestow notbing but praise on
rery baseball event, v, bether such events wei o
Jod, bad or indifferent, most assuredly base
'Vlnould become, so questionable in many
rs,tbat tha pubiic would soon be inclined to
-ash its hands of it. Public criticism is a
beck to the evils of carelessness dishonesty
nd imposition. The truth of this is so vast
latitisuot confined to baseball, bat we can
nd its effects in the histories of empires and
immunities.
On the other hand almost every sport that
as of recent years died, or almost entirely dis
ppeared, because of popular disfavor would
ave been to the fore to-day had their been a
sneral desire to lay bare all the facts of trick
y as soon as they were discovered. The very
wire to smolder these unpleasant facts, how
er, killed the entire business, because the
ime movers of tbe affairs were prompted
m one success to another with impunity
tat honest contests really degenerateojuito tbe
ost crooked transactions. So much was this
te case that general branches of sport be
Ime so bad that the public turned its back on
jem. Public criticism would have checked all
ds. After all there is much truth in tbesav
g that a man is not necessarily j our enemy
bo tells you of your fault.
Not long ago I had forwarded to me a cutting
Dm a Western sporting paper. The cutting
is a column in length, and at the top the
der was given to understand that what fol
wed was from the pen, or it may have been
mcil, of Harry M. Johnson. Mr. Johnson, 1
ay remark, bas made himself famous as a
jinter, probably more so than as a writer,
'ell, in his column be went on to say that
eorge Smith, the sprinter of this city, had
st returned from the West (Smith was really
England then), and that he had won lots of
pucy ny "jouuing. Air. Johnson then went
l to give advice, and even went so far as to
y that it was such like people as Smith who
id ruined professional sprinting. Ob, jes.
r- Johnson really wrote this. ' He is the
me Johnson who, with Davis and
nirfc, organized what is, or was
lied, the Professional Sprinters' Pro
fctiye Association, and be is the same
bnson w ho last week was accused of being a
nfederate in a fraudulent race with Davis,
lis is the man who accused and lectured
;orge Smith. On the other handnotlongago,
a private conversation with me, Kettlenian
Id me tbat Smith undoubtedly was tbe most
nest fellow that ever went on the cinder
tb. What I want to add is this: The reason
ly Smith was so long doing nothing itasen
Sy because of his honesty and that of bis
ckers. Probably George Smith has behind
ai some of the most honorable men in Amer
t, I know them personally. In every in
tnce they wanted the money up and as a re
ft the other parties would have none of it.
orge Smith certainlv could be as busy in
ztenca as Bcthune, Kettleman, Davis and
bnson had he a desire to emulate them,
byshould we wonder at tin; decline of an
.cresting sport when such a thing as the Pro
sional Sprinters Protective Association
ists or was ever thought of ?
S-ank Van Ness' visit to the city this week
of more importance than was generally
tgined. Tbe interview with him published
ills paper really contained one or ro o state-
uts at least worthy the attention of trotting
i pacing horse owners. He came here to
thoroughbred horses with the intention of
mately devoting all of his time to tbe
uers. He made tbe statement tbat there is
-e money in the runners than in the trotters,
certainly if aujbodv is in a position to
lk with authority on this matter Van Ness
In making this statement he only bears out
it other practical men like George Forbes
e already said. The question suggested by
remarks and intentions of Mr. Van Ness is,
ever, arc running races going to supplant
ting meetings almost entirely? This is an
query, no doubt, but when men like Van
s begin to leave the trotting ranks it would
n that tbe runners are more profitable than
trotters. Of course there are elements
jected with the ownership of trotting
es that will always keep them before tbe
lie as racers: but whether or not they will
itain their present popularity for any great
th of time is another matter. I think they
ana tbe fact that every year finds them
e numerous, stakes and purses bigger.seems
ave nexdoubt about the matter.
e proposed battle between Kilrain and
bran becomes more and, more of a riddle
y day, that is to those jvho have.been con-,
it that a battle between these men would
place. I have always bad my doubts
the battle, and I am more doubtful now
ever. Jem Smith bas challenged Kilrain,
be latter has agreed, or at least stated,
be will fight Smith under any conditions,
most surpnsing statement of Kilrain, bow
is that be will fight Smith before be tights
van. Of course be means to be back to
Tic In time to carry out the requirements
be articles of agreement between himself
Sullivan. Now if this does not mean that
ghtatall will take place between Kilrain
and Sullivan I don't know what It does mean.
I have before argued that the Kilrain-Sultlvau
articles are worthless. Either man can easily
find a way to avoid fighting if he wants to, ei en
at the last moment Kilraln's readiness to go
to Europe to fight Smith before he, Kilrain,
fights Sullivan, seems to indicate tbat all par
ties concerned have an idea of the laxity of tbe
articles. Altogether the proposed .battle be
tween Kilrain and Sullivan looks more Uncer
tain to-day than it ever did.
It is likely that Kilrain and Smith may have
another- encounter. Kilrain's last venture
across the Atlantic was a successful one. He
has also a big following in England and he has
met Smith before. Their previous battle, how.
ever, counts for nothing now. Tbe only opin
ion tbat exists is that it was a burlesque. It
may be, however, that should the men meet
again there will be more earnestness in tbe en
counter, and should the battle be fought on its
merits it would be difficult to say who would
win. Kilrain certainly showed in their last
fiiht that he is a better pugilist than tbe En
glishmen gave him credit for. There was
nothing in the battle, bonev'er, that went to
prove whether or not Kilrain is a stayer amid
heavy punishment. Many good judges think
he is not, and if this is so he will likely be
beaten by more men than Smith.
There have been many reasons assigned for
the ungenerous treatment that Mitchell and
Kilrain lately received from portions of the
American public. The latest, however, is
somewhat original and worthy of note because
of tbe person who advances it. In a recent
issue ot tbe London Referre Mr. Henry Samp
son (.Pendragon) says: "To the same feeling
which enables Irish patriots to pocket heavy
sums of money, and to live on the fat of the
land, while the objects of their supposed sym
pathy starve and die, is due the bursting up of
the Mitchell-Kilrain programme in America.
It seems as though political feeling has got
down to an unearthly depth when we find so
noisome an impostcras John L. Sullivan taking
advantage of it to quell and drive out of the
countrv a "business rival; yet here we have
Mitchell returning to England because it is im-
Eossible tor bira to proceed with the venture
e and Kilrain started."
I quote the above because it comes from
probably tbe greatest and most reliable sport
ing authority in England. I also quote it be
cause it seems tbat for once Pendragon bas
either been misinformed or bas misrepresented
tbe facts of the case. I think the former bas
been the case. That there is such a deep
rooted hatred among the American-Irish
against anything and everything Euglish may
or may not be true. It is not within my prov
ince to argue tbat question; but I do argue the
mere question of nationality was not the cause
of Mitchell's unpleasant reception here. I
pointed this out some time ago. It was his
noise, together with the noise of Kilrain,
Sullivan and others. Theyabused each other
through certain papers in a remarkable degree
entirely for tbe purpose of advertising them
selves previously to going "on the road.'" As a
result mcy auvertiseu meniseives too wen Dy
calling each other cowards, monkeys, liars, etc.
The p-issionsof thegallery pa tronsof the various
vaudeville .halls were aroused whenever any of
the pugilists named appeared. This caused the
veto 01 pnuuc ooxing in many piaces.ana unere
Mitchell's appearance was prohibited so was
that of any other pugilist.
If Irish hatred of men aud things English was
so strong in America as Pendragon has been
led to believe, English artists ol all classes
would certainly not be so popnlar. En
glish singers, actors and actresses night
ly appear all over tbe country
amid unanimous applause English athletes
are general favorites. If any of these persons
just referred to were to land in the country
with the public remark that he was better than
anybody in America and that everybody in the
business bere was a blowhard. it is not likely
tbat be would be tendered an enjoyable recep
tion. Mitchell landed here in that spirit last
time.
About the only pugilistic event of the week
worthy of notice is the 15-round contest be
tween Joe Lannon and George Godfey, tbe
colored fighter. It is worth a word or two, be
cause of what Lannon did not do. He failed to
defeat Godfrey, who was easily defeated by
Peter Jackson some time ago. I was not dis
appointed about the result, because I havo
never had a very high opinion of cannon's pugi
listic abilities. When other people were argu
ing that be was tbe unknown who was to fight
Kilrain, I argued tbe contrary, and I think the
encounter with Godfrey settles entirely any
pret'ensions he or his friends may have had
about first class honors.
Before next Sunday arrives we will know the
result of tbe Myers-McAuliffe battle if all goes
well. The general expectation is that the con
test will be a great one. It is East against
West, and bedes a very large amount of
money, the light weiebt championship title is
at stake. The latent advices from tho West
state tbat tbe betting is even, anil tbat both
men are in good condition. These facts seem to
make the result extremely problematical.
However, I'm not afraid to hazard an opinion
on the matter. If McAuliffe is in good condi
tion, I think be will win. He will bave a hard
task, no doubt, but bis experience, pluck,
heavy bitting powers, and activity will give
liim considerable advantafi orpr Xl rpriL It 1
likely that the contest will be somewhat of the I
slugging Kind, it it is, McAMiffe can stand
punishment probably longer than Myers will.
The officials of tbe local club are not remain
ing idle. They are, indeed, building up the
fences with remarkable vigor, and if we have
not a first-class team next year it won't be be
cause no efforts have been made to have one.
It seems to be certain that Rowe will not play
bere, "but tbelocal officials have been alive to
this result. They have secured a promising
young short from Ohio, It. W. Allen. Hecomes
here cniefly on tbe recommendation of Captain
Dunlap. and tho idea is to try and develop
bim into a first-class man. The bene
fits of a plan like this were pointed
out by tbis paper a few days ago, and it is
now expected that the plan is one of the best.
Manager Phillips bas, indeed, done a wise thing
in signing Lauer, Garfield and Allen. There 19
much of the nature of a lottery about young
ballplayers. Twenty may be signed and all
turn out blanks, and the twenty-first may de
velop into the greatest plaj er in the country.
Of course it is possible that not one of tbe
three young men named may turn out good
men. If they don't. Manager Pnillips will be
none the worse for having tried them. If one
of them becomes a first-class man. I'm certain
tbe officials will be satisfied. One good feature
is that all three at e ambitious young fellows,
and are eager to improve in their business.
During the last day or two a report has been
in circulation which cannot possibly have a
good effect on the prospects of the local club. I
refer to tbe report to the effect that there is a
desire on tbe part of a clique to not give Lauer
a "fair show." Whoever or whatever may have
prompted such a ridiculous and false story is
no friend of tbe local club. Who is there in
the club that would treat Lauer unfairly?
Manager Phillips is "boss of tbe shop" in that
respect, and common sense would tell us that
the very last thing be would thick of doing or
allowing others to do, would be to prevent, the
development of a 3 oung player, why, he has
almost more to gain than anybody else in sign
ing a young plaj er and makingjbim a first-class
man. But it is not necessary to discuss such
questions. The great hope is that tho baseball
public will give no credence at all to such
flimsy little stories that can only be found
among tattlers.
It Is likely that when John Ml Ward returns
there will be a lively time between the Broth
erhood of Players and tbe League. There are
many important questions to discuss, but pro
bably the most important will be tbe question
of permanent reservation of a plajer by the
Le-igue. Rowe will bring this case np. He and
White claim that after not playing for a year
their reservation with the Detroit Club will ex
pire and that they will then be free to
plaj anywhere The League, however,
claims that thev will always be reserved
by tbe League. This is a very important que--tion,
and on general principles Rowe has tbe
best of tbe argument If in the ordinary busi
nesses of life a young man employed by one
firm invested bis money in another, and wanted
to work there, but was compelled to remain
with bis first employer for a lifetime, the com
rounitv would rebel. The desire to hold Rone
and White to tbe League, although their life's
savings are invested in the Buffalo club, is a
similar case. Pkisgle.
Wns Mike Snnbbrdt
Boston, February 9. Mike Kelly advertised
his recent visit to this city by saying that he
was coming here to have an interview with the
Boston Directors, and have the matter of the
captaincy of next year's team settled. Well,
became, saw at least two of the threedirectors,
made no mention of tbe cuptainrv of Boston's
team for 1633, and returned to New York no
wiser than he came. All three of tbe directors
repudiate Kelly's statements made in an in
terview with bim published Wednesday morn
ing. Uudworth called on the Secretary of the late
New England League and reiterated his posi
tion in the controversy w hich had arisen over
him between tbe Lowell club and tbe St Louis
Browns. He emphatically states that under
no circumstances will ha play in Lowell next
season.
It is aserted that Bates, of Harvard, is to
piteh for tbe nine of the new Boston Athletic
Club, and tbat ex-Captain Stewart, of Yale,
will play second base in the same team.
Bmilh.KilrnIn Articles Signed.
Losdox, February 9. Articles bave been
signed for a fight between Jem Smith and Jake
Kilrain, according to the London prize ring
rules, for 1,000 a side. Tbe fight has been
fixed for October, but the gronnil has not yet
been cbosen. Mitchell has made arrangements
to box Smith ten rounds with small gloves.
ABOUT POOLSELLIKG.
A Brookville Writer Mnkes a Few.PoInti In
Favor of It He Shows Why Country
FnlrAnsoclallon-i Become Financial Fail
uresA Reply to Mr. Marshall.
To the Sporting Editor of The Dispatch
In one of the morning dailies some days ago
I read an interview between its representative
and Thomas M. Marshall, Jr., wherein tbe said
Thomas M. aired his view's on the question of
permitting the selling of pools upon race tracks
and the grounds of driving park associations.
A bid having been introduced into the Legisla
ture to permit poolselling at such places only,
Mr. Marshall expressed his opposition to
it, and said that poolselling did not
inure to the advantage financially of such
track associations; that race track associa
tions were conducted prosperously without it,
and be cited as an instance the Franklin track
(of Franklin, Pa.) under the management of
Messrs. Miller & Sibley. It may not be import
ant to enlighten Mr. Marshall on that matter,
but fearing tbat others, who are interested in
races, may bave been mislead by his statement
I write to give the truth in regard to tbe Frank
lin track and refer bun to an article published
in the Oil City Weekly Derrick. February 7,
wherein it states that the Franklin Driving
Park Association is about $6,000 in debt.
Which 1 say is undoubtedly caused by not al
lowing pool selling. To lurther support this
position I will cite vou the Jefferson County
Agricultural and Driving Park Association,
whose grounds are situated in Brookville, Pa.
THE JEFFERSON COUNTY BACES.
This association has been in existence for
about ten j cars and is to-day in debt several
thousand dollars, which I say is the result of
non-poolselling. We had at first some of the
best horses in the State attend our fairs, but
owing to non-poolselling they always refuse to
come back. The horsemen all say that If tho
association will allow poolselling they will
return to our fairs, but otberwise cannot afford
to attend them. Horse racing is the life of the
country fair, and poolselling gives zest and
maintains interest in the races.
People do not go to see a big pumpkin, a
double-headed cabbage or an over-grown calf.
Even the. granger, who brings tbe pumpkin,
cabbage or calf, be he saint or sinner, will at
tbe tap of tbe bell elbow his way through tbe
crowd to tbe fence around tbe track. It is the
race that keens alive the interest in the fair.
It is the race horse which is a thing of beauty,
the trotter becomes tbe model and
standard. Everybody breeds to produce
tbe trotter and becomes ambitious to breed fine
blooded stock of every kind. Ir there were no
racing there wonld be no fine bred horses to
day. A horse would be a horse, just as a mule
is a mule, tbe name of a class or species, with
no individuals and separate families of noble
blood and wonderful performance.
Take the history of the average country fair
one is the history of all. First year, a big
boom, big pursues, good races, lots of people,
lots of money and bright visions of future
prosperity. Isext jear, not so good; next year,
in debt and so on from year to year it goes
down bill and tbe debt piles up, until at last
"close the shutters. Willie's dead." That is
the experience at Brookville, Punxsutawney,
Clearfield and all other towns. And why? Tbe
people lose interest because tbe races are a
failure, set-up jobs, fixed race, poor starving
purses, fourth rate or broken down horses and
ringers.
PUMPKINS 'WON'T DO.
AH the pumpkins in the world won't keep it
up, for the granger will not bring bis pumpkins
if there be no races. And why are the races a
failure? Because poolselling is prohibited.
Hence they cannot afford big purses, have not
the money to bring good first-class horses,
there is no inducement for the owner to trot a
good horse, and so the whole thing is left to
dunghills. If poolselling were allowed upon
the grounds, under proper restrictions, the
horsemen would return, interest in the races
would be renewed, better and finer horses
would come to compete for larire and paying
purses, tbe people would come in flocks, and
crowd and trample each other and break down
tbe fences in their (eagerness to see "real
races," races for blood between horses of noble
blood and breeding, and then the grangers will
come in force and fill the buildings with his
pumpkins, cabbage and squash, and fill the
stans wita came ana sneep, ana prosperity
will hover over the treasurer's box. Public
poolrooms may go. What we want is the privi
lege of selling pools on our own private grounds
during our races. Therefore. I say emphatic
ally, that no racing association can prosper
financially unless they allow poolselling, and
hope all horsemen will support the bill now be
fore tb Legislature. W. J. JOHNS.
Bkookvu.le, Pa., February 8. 1SS9.
A BIG RACE.
Harry Davis Gn-ns-Yon-Flense Contest
Takes Plnce in April.
Manager Harry Davis, of the London
Theater, bas begun in earnest to make arrange
ments, for the six-day go-as-you-pleaso pedes
trian contest, which will take placo in tbis city.
He bas resolved to bave the race during the
the first week in April. A letterreceived from
George D. Noremac yesterday stated that if
tbe race rake place during tbe week, named all
the leading pedestrians in the country will
start
Mr. Davis offers 50 per cent of general admis
sions and 25 per cent of the reserved seats to
tbe contestants, and he guarantees the first
prize will not be less than 1,000. This is a bold
and a new departure, because heretofore the
Madison Square Garden management has only
allowed 50 per cent of the general admission.
The race will be straight away, that is night
and day. Noremac says in bis letter tbat every
professional pedestrian in America is willing to
come to Pittsburg, knowing that what is prom
ised will be given in the way of prizes and
treatment The race will take place in the
Central Rink.
On a Solid Bnsls.
Fred Goodwyn, Secretary of the proposed
natatorium, is going ahead like a house on fire
with tbe great project More than half the
capital stock has been subscribed, and a plan of
family tickets promises to make the venture
donbly certain. These tickets, S50 each, will
admit an entire family for a year, no matter
bow numerous tbe family, to all the privileges
and benefits of the establishment. Already 100
persons have given their names as subscribers
to these tickets. Mr. Goodwyn figures that a
sufficient number of S50 tickets will be sold to
pay the working expenses of the natatorium
fur the first year.
Old Jack Will Fight.
There is another sensational dog fight ar
ranged, but local agents of humane societies,
etc.. need not trouble themselves because, ac
cording to the articles of agreement it will not
take place in this State. The great feature of
tbe match is that old Napoleon Jack, of the
Southside, is tn fight an imported white and
brindle dog. O'd "Nap" is known from Maine
to California, and lie bas been brought out
again to tackle tbe foreigner for $500 a side.
Tne battle will take place on March 25, at a
point 200 miles outside the State linn. A lot of
local money is already bet on the result
Abont no Injnrcd Pnccr.
CixiCAGO. February 9. John Herby, the
owner of the famous pacer, TJ Bet, began suit
in tbe Superior Court to-day against tbe Mis
souri Pacific Railway Company for 5,000. The
horse was on a Missouri Pacific train that was
wrecked in Texas, near the Indian Territory
line, and in the accident was injured. It is not
known that the injuries will permanently dis
able the horse, which his owner claims is tho
fastest in tbe world, but the injuries were at
least severe.
Mnrphy nnd Weir Itlntchrd.
Boston. February 9. Frank Murphy, of
Birmingham, England, and Ike Weir, of
Boston, were matched to-day to fight 25 rounds
in Boston for superiority, on or about March 8,
for JLOOO divided, SS00 to winner S200 to lose j;
winner to become the holder of Police Gazette
feather-weight championship badge.
Ben nnrrlson Bcnten.
Newbuko, N. Y., February 9. The prizes
at the dog show w4re awarded last night Rex
and Wanda, two mastiffs owned by Vice President-elect
Morton, were awarded the first and
special premiums in their class. Lady Harri
son won a prize, but Ben Harrison tailed to
score.
Fnrker Lonvcs Erie.
ISFECIAL TELEGKAM TO THE DISPATCH.J
Erie, February 9. Harry Parker, tbe light
weight wrestler who inaugurated the wrestling
craze In Erie, bas gone back to Batavia, N. Y..
to go into business with his brother. Tbomas
lonnors is about to take up his residence here.
A hliow of Business.
London, February 9. There is some show of
business about the Smith-Kilrain challenge.
Mitchell and Fleming, on behalf of the two
pugilists, meet next week to discuss the pre
liminaries. Riley Signs.
Cincinnati, February 9. John G. Riley bas
signed with tbe Cincinnati?, as first baseman.
Elmer Smith is the only one now who remains
to be signed.
A Good Ulan Gone.
William Rela, the well-known local crick
eter, will leave here in a few days for Salt
Lake City. He will he missed in the local
club. He was a good man. With Reid absent
the team next season may be made up as fol
lows: Messrs. H. Penn. Alex. MacPherson, W.
Pyatt A. Burrows, F. C. Carnegie, Tom Earle,
J. L. Schwartz, F. N. Schwartz, D. Buchan
nan, J. F. Home and J. Hcudee.
ABOUT ICE SKATING.
An Authority Points Ont Why It Has De
clined in Pittsburg.
Too little time and space has been given to
this grand and exhilarating pastime in the
sporting columns of our daily papers.
To anyone who really Appreciates outdoor
exercise and has never experienced the de
lightful feeling of gliding over smooth surface
of the ice on a pair of good steel runners, it
may be well said that he has indeed missed one
half of his life.
The lovers of ice skating in the vicinity of
Pittsburg havo had very little opportunity to
gratify their desires in that direction for quite
a number of seasons.
Some years ago, however, skating was very
popular. There were several first-class ice
riuks, fitted up with all the modern appliances
for comfort, and the pastime was quite a feat
ure in the winter amusements, and promised to
become quite a fixture in tho Smoky City, but
alas for the ice skater's fond expectations, ho
was doomed to disappointment
Owing to the uncertiiuty of the of old Prob.
and the absolute refusal on the part of gentle
men to come to terms with the owners of tho
icerinks, tbe difficulty of obtaining a central
or suitable location w.thout absolutely buying
the ground, the high rate which the city
charged lor water flooding the rinks, and last,
but not least, the fickleness of the public, who
in tbis case, as in many other instances, went
off on some new hobby just as everything bad
been prepared for a successful season of Ice
skating, one of the noblest sports ever in
vented went out of existence and became a
memory of tho past in our dear old Pittsburg.
The gentlemen who were interested in rlnka
retired: from the arena with heavy hearts,
lighter pockets and all experience which would
onl v prove useful to them when they would be
called on in later years.
Bilver Lake is a body of water of about six
acres, situated in a beautiful valley, with all
tbe natural advantages, protected from the
cold winter winds on tbe north, east and sonth
by high hills, and fed by several very strong
springs from the surrounding hillsides. This
lake, although well known to the youths,
voung meu and young ladies of tbe East End.
has been comparatively unheard of bv tbe
majority of the lovers of ice skating. Why.
even the writer, who has been a devotee of
tbe sport for years and bas resided within four
miles of the lake all bis life, never beard or its
existence until one winter nigbt he happened
to come across it in his rambles looking for a
good piece of ice, and he will never forget bis
first night's experience on Silver Lake.
Pamon.
A STRANGE STORY.
Louisville Reported to Have Bargained for
Harry Stnley tbo Pitcher.
rsrrciAL telegram to the dispatcim
Louisville, February 9. It transpired to
day tbat the League pitcher which President
Davidson bad in view was Harry Staley, tho
twirler ot the Pittsburg club. Negotiations
have been going on between the Louisville Pres
dent and Manager Phillips for several weeks
past, and may result In tho transfer of Staley
to the Louisville club. While tbe two baseball
magnates have come to no definite terms the
deal lias been drawing nearer to a close each
day. When tbe Louisville club asked the dif
ferent Association clubs to waive claim to
Hcckcr it was intended that he should be
traded for Staley could a satisfactory arrange
ment be made with tbe Pittsburg team. Mr.
Davidson said:
"Yes, Staley is the pitcher that I am after,
and I may secure him. While I still consider
Hecker a good man, I believe from what I hear
that Staley would make the Louisville club a
valuable pitcher. He is a good little twirler,
and 1 think tbat be would do good work in tbe
Association. The Cincinnati club alone re
fused to waive claim to Hecker, and had I suc
ceeded in getting him through the Association
the deal would most likely have been made at
once, as I didn't expect any trouble from the
League about Staley. Staley is a fine pitcher,
and Louisville came within a few hundred dol
lars of buying bim last season when he was
sold together with Beckley.
Manager Phillips, in speaking of Staley the
other day, said: "I expect Harry to do better
the coming season. Harry was led astray by
some jealous players in the Allegheny club
shortly after he joined the club, and thii, in
my opinion, accounts for his erratic pitching
toward the close. Staley admitted to me tho
day he signed for 1689 that he had been led
into bad company and had not taken care of
himself, but next year he would bo for Staley
alone. It looks to me as if those players who
led him away did so just to effect his ability,
being jealous of him."
Tbe above comes from Louisville and not
Pittsburg, and the attention of the thousands
of TnE Dispatch readers in the eastern and
western part of America is drawn to this
fact. Manager Phillips said last night that the
whole story is a' fabrication.
The Memphis Meetlnc
Memphis, February 9. The annual spring
meeting of the Memphis Jockey Club begins
April 22 and continues eight days.
There are fully 135 horses already on the
track, and the weather has been so favorable
tbat many are already in active training. Tho
entries for the stakes offered by the club closed
February 1, and will be published to-morrow.
The Athletic Club stakes for 2-year old fillies,
one-half mile, has 32 entries.
The Gaston Hotel stakes for2-year-old colts, one
half mile, has 18 entries.
The Merchants1 stake for 2-vear-old colts and
Allies, ttve-elghtsofamile. has 23 entries.
The Tennessee Club stakes for 3-year-olds, one
mile, has 31 entries.
The Cotton Buvcrs' handicap sweepstake for 3-year-olds.
oncand an cljrhtti miles, has 29 entries.
The Chickasaw Club stakes for 3-year-olds and
upward, one and a sixteenth miles, has 43 entries.
The Peabody Hotel handicap for 3-year-olas and
upward, one and an cljrlith miles, has 37 entries.
The l.uehrmann; Hotel stake for all ages, one
mile, has SO entries.
The Montgomery stakes for all ages, mile and a
quarter, has 23 entries.
Mr. James G. Sheridan bas been engaged as
starter for tbe races and everything indicates a
most brilliant meeting.
Gmnbert in CInss B.
rsrZCTAI, TELEGJIAM TO THE DISrATCH.l
Chicago, February 9. Ad Gumbert, of
Pittsburg, has been classed in Class B, and tbis
places his salary at $2,250, or J250 less than the
Chicago club has offered him. He wanted $3,
000, and lie was offered tbe same salary tbat
Tener i to receive. However, if Gumbert will
sign with Chicago he will get J2.500, because tho
offer was made before he was classified.
A Bid for Reporter.
It was reported in local sporting circles yes
terday that J. B. Haggin had made an offer to
Captain Sam Brown to buy Reporter, tbe Cap
tain's promising 3ycarold. It is understood
tbat Mr. Haggin made an offer of aboutS10,000,
but Captain Brown sas that Reporter and his
engagements are worth 515,000.
Svrnrtwood tbe Unstler.
Ed Swartwood, manager of the Hamilton
Baseball Clnb, is a hustler. He signed John
Kearns, of Rochester, N. Y. yesterday to play
second base. He was also in communication
with Ed Soles, of Harrisbnrg. to play short.
Manager Swartwood expects to sign Soles be
tween now and Monday.
Nolnn Will Stnrt.
Manager Burkholdcr, who is promoting tbe
Wheeling three-day contest, was in the city
yesterday. Ke looked in at The Dispatch
office and stated that Nolan, Cox, McClelland.
Heuricks. Courts, and abont seven others will
start in tbe race at Wheeling, commencing
February 2L
Sporting Notes.
Who else is trying to buy Staley?
Duncan Ross defeated Captain Daly in a
wrestling match at Boston, on Friday night for
an alleged stake of $2,000 a side.
Huntek, DiNSMOBE & Co., have purchased
the 2-vear-old Clydesdale stallion. Van Hook,
from 'Robert Halloway, of Alexis, I1L, for
52,000.
Swartwood will get a team, and depend
upon it if he does not turn up a jewel this sea
son. Somebody will get a few good men from
him next fall.
Hahry Spence, the manager of last year's
Indianapolis League club, has applied for tbe
position of manager of tbe Manchester club,
which may be in tbe new Atlantic League.
THE directors of the Kentucky Trotting
Horse Breeders' Association have decided to
give a free-for-all 5,000 stake for tbe 230 class;
S 1. 000 stake each for the 2:25 stallion class and
'the 2-20 stallion class, and tire same amount
each lor x-year-oias ana tor s-year-oids, thus
making $9,000 for the five stakes, all to be
trotted at-tbe next fall meeting.
The starters In tbe stx-dav female bicycle
race at Madison Square Garden, including
Louise Armanido, arc: Miss Jessie Oaks, cham
pion of England; Miss Elsa Von Blumcn, Ro
chester, ex-American champion; Mls Helen
Baldwin, New Jersey: Miss Lulu Hart, New
York City: Miss Maggie McShane, Dublin, Ire
land: Miss Kittle Brown, Pittsburg, Pa.; Miss
Jesslo Wood, Brooklyn: Miss Lottie Stanley,
Auburn. 100-mlle champion; Miss Hilda Swal
low. Allegheny Citv, Pa.; Miss May Allen,
Pittsburg; Mis Louise Fox, Jersey City; Miss
Hattle Lewis, Pittsburg, Pa.; tbe Western Un
known, Lincoln, Neb., and Miss Emily St John,
New Orleans.
THE MUSIC WOBLD.
A 'Critical Review of the Moriz Rosen
thal Piano Recitals.
FINE ALL-ROUND PIANO PLAYING.
An Opportunity Seldom Offered to Students
of the irt Divine Hereabout.
A KEVIEW OP THE WEEK'S EYESTS
While the Eosenthal recitals of last Mon
day and Tuesday evenings were not by any
means "the greatest musical event in Pitts
bure for probably the past 15 years" as as
serted by one critic they certainly did
amount to an occasion of signal importance,
one which has made a deep and lasting im
pression upon our concert-goers. Each
evening from GOO to 700 persons heard what
was for most of them, doubtless, the best
all-round piano playiug they ever listened
to. The educational value of such expe
riences is exceedingly great; it is a pity that
the student class was not better represented.
Pittsburg's patronage was large enough to
lessen considerably the rt'ual deficit to be
charged to advertising account by the New
York piano firm that controls the Rosenthal
tour.
The first concert having b'een fully treated
by this pen on Tuesday morning.cnly the sec
ond programme comes up lor consideration
to-day. It was this:
Nocturne in flat major Chopln-Sarasate
Mazurka ...Henry Wlenlawskl
Krltz Krclslcr.
S onata Appasslonata On. 57, In F minor
Beethoven
Allegro assal. Andante con moto. Allegro ma
non troppo,
Morlz Kostnthal.
"Souvenir de Haydn" Leonard
Fritz Krelsler.
SK3H flat Fred Chopin
"Mnlseau petals." Etude Adolpbe Henselt
"Am Bpringbrunnen, " Davidorr-Koscnthal
Moriz Eosenthal.
Grand Polonaise Mo. 1 Henri Wlenlawskl
Fritz Krelsler.
Rhapsodies Hongrolscs, (arranged by
Rosenthal) F. Liszt.
Morlz Rosenthal.
SECOKD PROGRAMME SUPERIOR.
Having played the Davidoff arrangement
as an encore-piece the night before, Mr.
Rosenthal advanced the Hungarian rhap
sodies to its place on the programme, and
chose for his final number the Liszt-Pag-anini
variations known as"LaCampanella."
The rhapsodies (the 12th, with themes irom
the 10th worked in as a cadenza toward the
close) formed the real climax of the piano
pieces; the variations offered no new or
stronger elements. It would have been
better to reverse the order or, better still, to
have filled the vacant place with a work of
different style. As it stoodj however, the
second programme was musically superior
to the first.
The superiority lay, of course, largely in
the first composition played the most
familiar, perhaps, of Beethoven's greater
souatas. Here Rosenthal's limitations be
gan to appear. His rendition of the master
work was enjoyable and effective in its way,
but it was not altogether Beethoven's way;
it did not approximate the traditional clas
sical ideal as closely as did his interpreta
tion of the more modern and romantic
schools of composition. There was less rev
erence for the notes exactly as written; less
sinking of self in the composer's intentions;
less repose, breadth and imaginative power
than are remembered in the interpretation
of Beethoven by Von Buelow,
D'Albert or Anna Clark-Staninger, ior
example. To instance points: The indis
tinctness of the three-sixteenth notes ending
the trill in the first subject; the excessive
clashing of the syncopated chords woven in
with that first subject; the tendency to hnrry
the time in both the rapid movements, es
pecially the final allegro ma non troppo,
with its presto coda; tho blurring, by over
use of the ff pedal, of the syncopated varia
tion ,iu the andante. The first half of
this rarely beautiful andante suffered
from the lack of that indefinable
something call it soul, .imagination,
genius, or what you will which forms the
finest quality of Beethoven's matchless
slow-movements; but the Iwo later varia
tions were deliciously played. Other points
of high excellence appeared here and there
in the sonata and there was abundant evi
dence of honest artistic purpose throughout.
Few men of 26 have been able to play Beet
hoven; give Mr. Eosenthal another decade
to mature and then note the difference.
A DEFECT POINTED OUT.
In the remainder of his programme the
general tendency to hurry the tempo was
the only point worthy of adverse remark.
From this cause the first subject of the noc
turn lost its dreamy poetic character and
stood out in rather startling contrast from
the other subject-matter. That magnifi
cent climax in the ballade was less broad
and imposing than if taken a bit slower. In
all other respects it wonld be hard to find
any flaw in the Chopin pieces; they
were given with the utmost refine
ment, fanciful elegance, pure feel
ing and superb power. The familiar
Henselt study was played at marvelous
speed and with a degree of perfection that
probably no living player could surpass.
In the Liszt variations, Eosenthal qnite
distanced the really brilliant performance
of the same piece by Mme.Carreno a mouth
or two since. But the Liszt rhapsody was
the display piece of the evening; in it
Rosenthal quite outdid his own work in the
"Don Juan" fantasia the previous evening.
His cleverly written additions increased the
already great difficulties of the work, and
made it the vehicle for an electrifying dis
play of his technique on all sides.
Young Kreisler, the violinist, confirmed
the impression produced by his work on
Monday evening. He did some things bcau
tilullv, excelling particularly in smooth,
flowing melodies, such as KafFs well-known
cavatina,,which he played very prettily as
an encore piece. Wiemawski's "Legende"
fanother encore selection) and polonaise
brought out the best playing the lad has
done bere. But here and there would come
positive faults or negative deficiencies of
such nature as to cause regret that needed
preparatory -work had been interrupted by
premature appearance before the public.
This may be a good training school; but
then, again, it may not.
My idea is that music ought to move the
heart with sweet emotion, which a pianist
will never effect by mere scrambling, thun
dering and arpeggios at least not lrom me.
C. P. E. Bach.
Crotchets nnd Quaver.
Mr. Ad. M. Foeester has again obtained
pictorial and biographical fame through the
columns of a musical ionrnal. This time it is
the Musical Courier, of New York, that pajs
tbe deserved tribute.
Miss Annie D. Flower, organist of the
Sixth Presbyterian Church, played the ."Tann
hauser" overture and selections from Gounod,
Meyerbeer, Weber and Hlller. at the Cunningham-Owen
wedding last Thursday evening.
The Central R. B. Choral Society, a chorus
of about 150 voices, under the direction of Mr.
W. S. Wecden, assisted by the Alpine Quar
tet, will give a concert in the church on San
dusky street, Allegheny, next Friday. evening.
Now that the M. M. P. TJ. seems to get
nearer and nearer to the end of its tether, the
Mendelssohn Club, of tbe East End. will prob
ablv have less trouble iu forming their pro
posed orchestra of amateurs with professional
assistance.
Mr. Ethelbert Kevin's 'The Night Hath
a Thousand Eyes" was sung by tha Cecilia
Club, of Boston, under Mr. B. J. Lang, one day
laot week. Several of tbe same Pittsburg com
poser's songs have been lately sung in high
class concerts at Detroit and Chicago by Mrs.
W-ilter O. Wyman.
Mr. George Rpssell Craio has a flour
ishing piano class at Greensburg Academy tbat
draws bim out tbe Pennsylvania Railroad
twice a week. On account of a strain of Mr.
Craig's wrist be has finally withdrawn from the.
Sost of pianist for tbe May Festival rehearsals.
Ir. J. H. Gittings will carry the good work
along to a brilliant finish, no doubt.
A loo A! weekly Inf ornn the uninitiated that
a "military band," which it declares to be the
kind that flourish in Pittsburg, has not only
brass and wood Instruments, but also "string
instruments, as cellos and double basses."
"When the next procession passes, there will bo
eager eyes in search of the man with a double
bass strung around his neck. But perhaps a
military band is not a military band when on
the march.
The special feature of the Poco-a-Poco Or
chestra's concert next Tuesday evening, at the
East End Gymnasium Hall, will be Mr. Carl
Rettetfs playing of the last two movements of
Mendelssohn's concerts in D minor, with or
chestral accompaniment Mrs: Adah S.
Thomas and Mr. D. M. Bullock are the vocal
ists who will assist Directress Walteis and her
loyal young men in tbis concert.
The Orpheus Club, thestill new male chorus,
organized last Wednesday with the following
officers: President, Joseph T. Speer; Vice Pres
ident, W. C. McCausland; Secretary, H.
White; Treasurer, H. C. Maxwell; Librarian,
Thomas J. Neelcy; Executive Committee. E.
M. Prugh, P. A. Ward. George Russell Craig,
James Laubie and Alex. Ross. George H.
Craig was elected pianist and Charles Davis
Carter musical director.
The Mozart Club concert at Old City Hall
next Friday evening is tbe chief happening of
the week. Conductor McCoIlum and bis forces
are pitted against this excellent pro
gramme: Part I. Overture, "Rosamunde,"
Schubert; ''AI nasio, di chi t'adora"
(Figaro), Mozart, Mrs. Mathilda Henkler:
"Rolling and Foaming Billows" (creation)
Haydn, Mr. John B. Trapn; Part it Henry
Smart's dramatic cantata 'The Bride of Dun
kerron:" Sea Maiden, Mrs. J. Sharp Mc
Donald; Dunkerron, Mr. Paul Zimmerman;
Sea King, Mr. E. H. Dermitt; chorus of sea
maidens and serfs and orchestra, of course.
LOCAL ITEMS, LIMITED.
Incidents of n Dny In Two Cities Condensed
for Ready Heading.
TnE Democratic primaries of the Ninth
ward, Allegheny, will be held Wednesday.
The Allegheny Tariff Club will give a re
ception at the Union Rink on Monday evening.
George Wolf fell from a wagon yester
day at the Black Diamond Works and broke
his arm.
Tiie adoption of Mabel Neely as a daughter
by D. L. and Villa J. Kistler, was ratified by
court yesterday.
A large bar of iron fell on "William Mc
Clelland's band at the Linden Steel Works
yesterday and crushed it.
Robert J. Warren was nominated for
Select Council at the Sixteenth ward Republi
can primary meeting last night
George Lippert was fined $10 and costs by
Mayor Pearson yesterday for insulting the
butchers in tbe Allegheny market
The Republican suggestion meeting in the
Third ward, Allegheny, will be held to-morrow
evening in the North avenue schoolhouse.
Andrew Neal was arrested by Marshal
Chambers, at Dallas station, on a charge of
counterfeiting. He is one of the Butler gang.
Commencing with this month the Pennsyl
vania Railroad will divide tiie receipts from
excess of baggage pro rata among its connec
tions. THE Pittsburg Railroad Coal Asociation
will meet this week and hear the report of the
committee that attended the convention at In
dianapolis. Officer Robert Alexander won the re
volver at the Grand Array fair, which had been
offered to the policeman collecting the largest
sum of money.
The Republicans of the Twenty-ninth ward
met at the school house last night and sug
gested John Benz for Select Council, and Fred
Feiger for assessor.
Gospel Temperance Union No. 1 will
hold its weekly meeting in University Hall,
S.xth street this evening. Captain Barbour
will conduct tbe meeting.
The Democratic primaries of the Eighteenth
ward were held yesterday and the following
names placed in nomination: Michael Dwyer,
Selcet Council; Philip Hutz and James Dunn,
school directors.
THE Republicans of tho Ninth ward, Alle
gheny, held a primary ycsterdny and nomi
nated the following candidates: Select Council,
John Getty: Common Council, F. C. Graham
and Henry Smith.
At at nominating meeting in tbe Twelfth
ward last night Thomas Perry, for Select
Council, received 341, J. K". Clark 173 and Ren
ben Smith 207 votes. For Alderman, J. B.
Nobbs received 350 and Warren 418 votes.
The granite columns for the new Govern
ment building will bo placed in position next
week. They are now at the Baltimore and
Ohio depot The columns ire from the Llth
onia quarries, Georgia, and are said to be very
beautiful.
The Republican primaries of the'Twefth
warrT were held yesterday and the following
gentlemen were the lucSy candidates: J. War
ner, Alderman; Tbomas Perry. Select Council;
John Green and John Patton, School Directors;
John Cramer, Constable.
Rev. George Hodges will deliver his sec
ond sermon of a series of five on "Every Day
Religion," at the Calvary Episcopal Church,
East nd. to-night Tbe subject of this even
ing's sermon wiil be "Friends and Com
panions;" next Snnday evening, "Money."
Division 85 of the Sons of Temperance will
hold a temperance meeting tbis afternoon at
3:30 in the Moorbead building, corner of Sec
ond avenue and Grant street Tbe meeting
will bo addressed by tbe Rev. Mr. Hnghes.
Several councils of tbe Jr. O. U. A. M. have
been invited to attend. The meeting is held in
the interest of Constitutional amendment
During the fair of Post 51S at Wilkinsbnrg,
the committee offered a badge to the lady or
comrade selling tho largest number of range
tickets. Past Adjutant Thomas McCune was
the successful competitorand last nigbt bo was
the recipient of a costly and very handsome
gold badge. Comrade McCune has tbe unani
mous indorsement of bis post as a candidate
for delegate to tbe National Encampment
M'KEESPORT PRIMARIES.
A Very Large Vote Polled nnd Some Warm
Contests.
fSPECIAI. TXLZG11AX TO THE DISrATCH.l
McKeesport, February 9. The largest
vote ever cast at a primary election was
brought out to-day. The Republican pri
maries were held from 2 to 7 P. ar., and the
polling places were constantly crowded.
McClure received 805 votes in the city and
Fillbrook 489. They are the nominees for
Burgess. Deputy Sheriff German had a
hard fight for Council in the'First ward, but
swept the ward in the face of his opposition,
receiving 243 votes to 147 for Taylor.
For Council in the Second ward Stratton
received 207 votes and A. C. Campbell, 91;
Third ward, O. G. Jones, 329; J. Z. Andre,
212; for Tax Collector, Nathan Morgan, 441;
Jacob Everett, 404.
IRELAND APPEALS FOR AID.
Members of Pnrllnmcnt Tclogrnph to the
Nntlonnl Lcncne for Help.
Lincoln, February 9. The following
cablegram was received to-day by Hon. John
Fitzgerald, President of the Irish National
League of America:
Dublin, February 8, ISbO.
John Fitzgerald, Lincoln, Neb., U. S. A.:
Government campaign of eviction and coer
cion going on with greater vigor than ever.
Number of evicted families, especially on plan
of campaign estates, 's now very great and in
creasing weekly. We earnestly appeal to
friends in America tn send aid.
William O'Brien,
John Dillon,
Timothy Harrington.
THE BLUE AND THE GRAY
Unite to Rnlae Fundi for a Confederate
Soldiers' Home.
New York, February 9. A meeting of
old soldiers of both the Conlederate and
Union armies was held to-night at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel, for the purpose of devising
the best method. by which to raise funds for
the permanent establishment of a Confeder
ate soldiers' home at Austin, Tex.
Speeches were made by Major Stewart, of
Texas, and others. A committee was ap
pointed to push the project. It was an
nounced that Chauncey M. Depew had con
sented to act as Treasurer.
Killed by BurstlnuMnchlnery.
New York, February 9. The bursting
of a centrifugal machine in the works of the
New York Tartar Company, Brooklyn,
killed two men and wounded three others
to-day. Emil "Webber, the Superintendent,
had the upper portion of his head cut off,
aud Bobert P. King, an employe, was also
so badly injnred that he lived bnt a few
moments.
NO- STRIKE JUST TET.
Besoliitions Passed by Indignant
Knights of Labor Cokers.
QUESTIONS W1TE 'DIRECT POINTS
Are Asked by Them as a Result of the
Bcottdale Convention.
THE SLIGO MILL TROUBLE EXPLAINED
The following telegram from Scottdale
was received at this office last night, giving
the condition of affairs in the Connelisville
coke regions
There will be no strike forawcekorso.'bnt
como it will on March 1. Tbo Knights of
Labor delegates from works not organized and
others representing.- works where both or
ganizations are in existence, in convention here
to-day decided to take decisive steps in tbe
matter of securing a unifurm scale by a gen
eral demand, and, if necessary, agcneral strike.
Tbe combination scale signed by the Pro
gressive Union with the H. C. Frick Coke Com
pany was denounced as a scheme to cripple a
general movement and to give tbe Progressive
Union a foothold at the works for the express
purpose of killing off the Knigbts. At least
these are the sentiments expressed by tbe dele
gates, among whom were leading members of
the Progressive Union, who havo united with
tbe Knights. A delegate who was at the
National Progressive .Union Convention said
that organization ordered a strike for Febru
ary 1, and voted to sign 110 scale except a gen
eral one. but when ibey found tbe strike would
be a failure they ordered tbat on tbe last day
of January the strike be declared off.
The following resolutions were passed:
WnEREAS, The. operators of the Connelisville
coke reelon haierelused to meet the representa
tives of their employes for the purpose of formu
lating and adopting a uniform scale of wages,
and.
Whereas, The National Progressive Union have
made plain their antagonism to the Kniphtsof
Labor, and their refusal to co-operate in a move
ment to bring about unity of action, and.
Whereas, The National Progressive UMon have,
we believe, entered Into a compact with the 11. C.
Erlck Coke Company by signing a conditional
agreement and voting to compel the employes or
the Standard mines to purchase positions,
thereby settlnz an unheard of and dangerous
precedent and placing the workmen of the coke
regiou at the mercy uf employer, and annulling
their right to protest against unjust exactions,
and.
Whereas, A strike without united action would
inevitably prove a failure, a conditional scale
with the 11. C. Frick Coke Company would be a
great barrier to success, be It
Kesolred, Jiy the convention of Knights of
Labor and representatives of other organized
.bodies of workmen, that we denounce the effort to
make the workmen to purchase positions as un
just and uncalled for: that we favor a uniform
scale of wages, and if necessary, a general sus
pension of work to secure such: that we protest
against any conditional scale that may be offered
or signed that will tend to create discord and act
as a hindrance to general and nnlted action; that
we Instruct our Scale Committee to sign no scale
unless it dates from January 1. 1389, and that they
notify the operators Immediately that thev desire
a conference for the purpose of formulating and
adopting a scale and that they also notify the offi
cers or the National Progressive Union that
Knights of Labor aud other workmen who desire
the advancement and welfare of all. be requested
to remain at work until all co-operate In a gen
eral movement; that a general convention, under
the supervision of tbe Knights of Labor.be held
at Scottdale on Saturday, Februarv23, at which
time delegates wilt report the action or the work
men on the following questions:
'Do you favor a strike while the Frick men are
working under a conditional scale?
"Do you favor a general strike lor a uniform
scale? ,
'Do yon favor Joint action between the Knights
of Labor and the National progressive Union?
If you favor a strike, wheu shall it be?
"If Joint action Is refused by the National
Progressive Union what shall be done, strike or
no strike?
"The delegates in Joint K. of L. Convention
hereby express our disapproval of tho coure
taken by the '. P. U. in conjunction with the
superintendent of the Frick Compiny In enaeav
orfng to force the disunion term of a conditional
scale upon the employes of the said company
Instead of dealing through the organization,
thereby abrogating the work or four years
spent In organizing the coke region, and we again
appeal to all workmen to disavow any connection
with said contract, and hereafter rely solely upon
an effective and permanent organization as the
means whereby justice can and will be had, and
Instead of regardlnir such action as progressive
we emphatically declare it a retrograde move
ment. Kesolved, By the officers of sub-Division 4. N.
T. A. 135, that we deny having any knowledge
whatever pertaining to the cause that brought
the btandard'd employes on strike, and are readv.
If necessary, to make evident the above facts, but
rccret thatanv labor organization should lninoso
I. a fine uporrlts members for tiie privilege. of Jielng
aiiowea to woriu
NOT-A BLACK SHEEP.
President Wcllie Cnlleil Down by nn Amalga
mated AssociiUion ,-ilember Tho Latter
Is Explicltiy-Contrnilictcd.
Thefollowingcommunication was received
at this office'yesterday-" touching on the em
ployment of men ixt'the Clinton mill, re
cently leased to Pliillips; Kimick & Co.:
To tbe KdltororTheDlspatch:
Dear Sin Vill. you pleaso give tho follow
ing a place in your paper: Some months since
Phillips, Ximick & Co. leased the Clinton Iron
Mills for the purpose of making muck bar for
their finishing mills at their Sligo works. Tho
puddling department at Sligo being idle on ac
count of repairs, the puddlers of this depart
ment, who were members of tho Amalgamated
Association, wero sent down to Clin'on to oper
ate the furnaces. To this some of tbe former
employes of the Clinton works objected, claim
ing tbat the old handi bere were entitled to the
work. Our Worthy Warden, Weihe, was seen,
and through whatever advice or information
was given, the report at once became circulated
that tbe Sligo puddlers haa made black mutton
of themselves, or, in other words, were black
sbeeplng. Hence, as the tronlde emanated
through the general office, wo havo repeatedly
requcsieu .wormy tvurucu ewe iu give
the public press the trne inwardness of tho
affair, ia order that Sligo Lodge might bo
freed from the odium of the black list.
However, our Worthy Warden. AVcibe. has
positively refused to give anv of tbe inner
workings of his office to tbe public (In this case
at least) for reasons best known to himself, and
we are left to console ourselves with the knowl
edge that our Worthy Warden was lacking in
sand todo his duty, and his refusal was owing
to a desire to be on the strong side at the com
ing convention.
We can also console ourselves with tho
knowledge that tbe members of Sligo Lodge
have always confined themselves strictly to the
laws of tbe association, and iu this case were
fully justified in going to work at Clinton.
From tbe fact tbat the mill bad changed hand.',
and the so-called old hands were nut included
In the leae, Phillips, Nimick fc Co. certainly
had the right to employ who or whom they de
sired to operate their works.
E. H. McAJiiNcn, Secretary.
"When the above was read to President
"Weihe by a Dispatch reporter he said he
would rather say nothing about it, but
made the following statement:
When Phillips, Nimick Co. leased tbe
Clinton mill, formerly operated by Graff, Ben
nett & Co., thev signed the Amalgamated Asso
ciation scale. The men who had been employed
by Graff. Bennett & Co.. that Is the majority
of them, have been idle since last winter. Be
fore tbe mill started I advised the men con
nected witb the Southside lodges of the asso
ciation not to take a position in tbe Clinton
mill until all the old employes had been given
an opportunity. This was not compulsory,
however, and it a man did not follow this ad
vice ho certainly could not be classified as a
black sheep. I preferred, of course, that the
old men go: the work, but the association could
not interfere until the men had been engaged.
This man wanted me to publish tbis in the
papers, but I refused to do It because the mat
ter should have been brought up in the asso
ciation. He is not a black sheep, and if any
person intimated that he was one, be should
have reported it to his lodge and had the matter
straightened out. He did not follow my advice,
but we cannot condemn a man for that because
when the scale was signed and the mill was
opened any Amalgamated Association man
could work there.
THE TRADES COUNCIL
A Committee Will Inquire Into. the Exposi
tion Strike.
At the meeting of the Trades Council last
night Jacob Dcmmel. of Sub-division 5, N.
T. A., K. ol L., and John Cayle, of Mar
low Lodge, A. A. of I. & S. AV., were ad
mitted as delegates. The council
indorsed the Australian method of
voting bills now before the
Legislature. Conrad Autii was elected a
delegate to the "Washington Centennial
Committee. Furniture "Workers' Union
No. 21 donated 11 50 to the Wood street
sufferers and Cigar Sinkers Assembly, 1374,
K. of L., donated $5.50. A committee wus
appointed to wait on the Exposition Society
and see why union work only was not done
on the bnildings. ,
A Wage Itcductlon Proposed.
. At2 o'clock yesterday notices were posted
in every blastfurnace throughout theMahon
ing Valley, notifying the employes of a re
duction of 10 per cent in wages, to take
effect on Friday, March 1. Last November,
an advance of 10 per cent was mad,. -Tho
men will meet this week and take action on
tbe notices.
A 'EW MILL
The CrMcrnt SteeUWorki Will
Have a
Bessemer Department.
The new Bessemer department of tho
Crescent steel works at Fifty-second street,
will commence operations to-morrow morn
ing. The works have been but recently
constructed and consist of two three-ton
vessels. The building is a large brick
structure.
About 100 men will be givon employ
ment bv the new department. Much of the
preparatory work for the furnaces can lie
done by men now empioyea.
MetcaU will act as manager.
Mr. Charles
Stay Build Another Furnace.
Since the Bellaire Nail "Works began tha
manufacture of steel from pig metal brought
direct from tbe blast furnace, there hare
been mattering of discontent among the 200
workmen. Under the old system the men
made 50 blowings a turn, bnt cannot now
make over 15, and as they are paid by the
ton they have suffered a decrease in wages
equal to one-half. It is thought this cannot
be remedied until tbe nail works. erects an
other blast furnace, which it contemplates
in the spring.
There Aro Two Factions.
The old stockholders of the burnt Ohio
Valley Foundry split in two factions yes
terday. Part of the stockholders, including
John Parks and Henry Lewis, purchased
the old site of the works near Bellaire and
will erect a new foundry at once. The re
maining stockholders have decided to erect
a foundry at Mansfield, O., where they
have been given $7,500 in money and three
acres of land.
HIXME PALMER IN JAIL
The Star of tho Stage Sympathize! With
Prisoners at C'entrnl btntlon.
After the performance at the Bijou Thea
ter last night, Minnie Palmer and a few
members of her company visited Central
station and chatted with the penitents be
hind the bars, each one being introduced to
Miss Palmer, who consoled them and told
them all to be good boys and girls when
they got out.
After a chat with the prisoners, Minnie
took the judge's stand, and one of the com
pany who was placed on trial was sentenced '
to 60 days, for riding a broomstick down
Fifth avenue without a license from tha
Traction company.
A Woman Badly Burned.
Mrs. 'Matchell, who lives on East street,
nedr Madison avenue, Allegheny, was
severely burned by a lamp explosion about
10 o'clock last night. An alarm was
sounded from box 123, bnt the fire was ex
tinguished before the arrival of the depart
ment. The injured woman was taken to the
Allegheny General Hospital.
Another Cable Car Wreck.
Abont 2:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon a
horse and wagon belonging to the Standard
Machine Company was run down by one of
the Butler street traction cars. The wagon
was reduced to splinters and the horse hurt.
THE WEATHER.
For Western Fenn
syhania, West Fir.
ginia and Ohio, fair,
except light local
snows on the lakes,
warmer, winds gen
erally westerly.
PiTTSntTKG. February 9. 1SS9.
The United States Signal Service offleerla
this city furnishes tho following.
Time.
Ther.
fill)
fit
111
Thr.
Mean temp 23
Maximum temp.... 33
Minimum temp..... 24
Kanpe 9
1'rcctpltatlon 00
Taw a. r ,
J0.-C0A. M
1:00 r. 11
4:001 3f ,
7:00 r. i ,
10:00 F. M
JUver at 5 r. M.
last:! hours.
n
27
32
33
K
32
. 3.0 feet, a fall of 0.5 feet la th
Advance New for Monday.
Nine is an odd nnmber. A very odd one,
bnt that's the fignre which we intend shall,
make things lively around onr stores on
Monday. For to-morrow only we place on
our counters about 225 elegant tailor-mads
suits, comprising imported cheviots, fancy
worsteds, globe cassimeres and corkscrew
diagonals, superbly made and lined with
the finest of silk finished serge, at the quick
selling price of $9. In the regular course of
trade these suits would go for $25 and $30,
but we want to sell 'em all to-morrow, and
our price is 9. This is our first suit sale of
the season, and is lor Monday only.
P. C. C. C, cor. Grant and Diamond sts.,
opp. tbe new Court House.
GRAHAM BREAD.
The Phosphates found in Graham Flour art
of great benefit to children, while the bran it
contains should be avoided.
PHOSPHATE HEALTH
Baking Powder restores to bread the phos
phates found in wheat and Io3t by milling. It
contains no Rochelle Salts, nn Cream of Tar
tar, no Alum. 2,000 grocers in Brooklyn sell it.
THOS. C. JENKINS,
PITTSBURG, PA., '
WHOLESALE AGENT.
felO-su
Headquarters for Fresh Drugs, Pro
prietory Medicines and Pure Liquors.
The Oldest Wholesale and Retail Drug
House in Pittsburg.
One of tbe secrets of our success is we aim
to treat our customers as we wish to be treated
onrelves regarding quality and purity of
goods. This course makes permanent custom
ers, besides wi make uniform low price3 to alL
In onr retail department buyers and enstomers
will find a larger and more complete stock than
elsewhere, embracing a full stock of all the old
and new proprietory preparations of the day.
And buyers will not only save money and time,
but annoyance bv calling on us direct. As
wholesalers we offer big inducements to deal
ers. Wc buy all our goods through first hands,
brokers and the manufacturer.
WE MAKE A SPECIALTY
of Pnre "Wines and Liquors for medicinal pur
poses, embracing full lines of both Foreign
and Domestic, at prices for tbe age, and qual
ity of tbe goods that is not, and cannot be met,
some of which we qnote:
Pure eight-vear-old export Guckenbelmer
"Whisky, full qriarts, il 00. or $10 per dozen.
Uverliolt Pure Rye, Uveyearsold, full quarts,
II 00, or 510 per dozen.
Finch's Golden "Wedding, ten years old, full
quarts, SI 25, or S12 per dozen.
Gin, Pure Holland, our own Import, lull
quarts, SI 25, or S12 per dozen.
DunvUle'.i Old Irish Whisky, quarts, $1 SO, or
$15 per dozen.
All of the different varieties of California
"Wines you purchase from us are tho very best,
and only 50 cts. for full quarts, or $5 00 per doz.
Please accompany all orders for Wines ot
Liquors with cash. P. O. order or draft. We
are now declining all C. O. D. orders, owing to
Judge Jleharcl's (of Mercer, Pa.,) late decision.
JOS. FLEMING & SON, Druggists.
felO 412 Market street, Pittsburg, Pa.