if- w- THE SCRANTON TRIBUNE-MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1899. 5 &0SC0E CONKLING A BORN FIGHfER BIDE LIGHTS ON A FAMOUS CAREER. Che Giant Struggles of n. Qlnnt Re publican Sketched in Entertninlng Fashion by a Well Known York State Democrat How Conkling Rose and How He Fell. lion. Milton It. Northrup, In tho Syra cuse Post-Hliimlard. Few characters In Aiucrlcun history ire mote Interesting than lloscoe Cotik ilng, the whilom "Great Senator" of New York. Horn October 30, 1829, the 10th day of October last passed would lave witnessed, bad be lived, the com pletion of his threescore years und ten. He died In March, 1SSS, u victim to the memorable blizzard of that spring. 1J. 'lime of proud stock. His father, Alfred Conkling, was In hit day a Judge of the t'nltod States Distil' t court, and Inter t'nlted States minister to Mexico thrf former by the grace of President John Qulney Adams, the latter through President Millard Fillmore. The haughty old gentleman was once upon n time Introduced to an nudlencs -his son having become famous as the "father of Hoscoe Conkling." The form of Introduction roused tlie old gentle man's Ire. Proudly straightening him self up he hurled back this Indignant protest: "Has It come to this, that I, who have sat upon the bench of tho United States court that I, who have been United States minister abroad should rest my rhlef title to . fume on tho faet that I am tho 'father of llos coe Conkling"' It was the truth, nevertheless. Conkllng's precocity In polities Is shown In the fact that ho was district attorney of his county at twenty-one, the vciir he was admitted to the bar. At twenty-nine he was mayor of lltlcn, the city of his residence. He hart gained an enviable reputation as a law yer long hefore. In 1S3S he made hM first canvass for a seat In congress. It was successful. Indeed, Conkllng's only defeats thereafter came In 1S6i, when Francis Kornan was elected over him Kernan, with whom he had studied law and who many years after ward was his colleague In the United States senate and In 1XS1, when, hav ing with Thomas C. Plntt. resigned his seat In the senate, he failed to secure the Indorsement of a re-election from the New York legislature. tu early life Conkling nviriiid the youngest sister of Horatio S'yiuoiir. The Illustrious Oemocri'lj slnt-uman strenuously opposed the match, hut. of .course, without success. In later years only did the two great statesmen of opposite political schools become mutually reconciled. When President (Irani was Conkllng's guest at his home In Utiea. at the dinner given by Conkling to his distinguished guest, Horatio Seymour sat the same table with Orant. hi.? successful rival in the then recent presidential election. And Seymour, whose home was In a suburo of Plica, passed his last Illness and died at the Conkling residence. He was followed two years later by Cink llng himself. It was always inider tood, notwithstanding the apparent re conciliation, that there was no love lost between the two celebrated brothers-in-law. Seymour was too simple and unaffected to like the lordly ways, the turkey "strut." as Hlalne called It. of Conkling. In more ways than one they were antipodes. WAS A BOKN FKiHTKlt. Itosco- Conkling was a born lighter. Had he not been a statesman he might have been a pugilist. One of his dally diversions was to punch a bag in his attic. He was a tremendous hitter and those who received tho brunt of his blows, however given, had good caus'. to remember them. Nature gave him a splendid physique. In the modern college he would have been foremost In athletics captain, prohably, of ,llie foot ball eleven. He was most In h'S clement when he was hardest oppose 1. In conventions of his party he towered above his fellows like a viking. He was cast In heroic mold. The llrst man who in congress had the temerity to throw down tho gauntlet to Conkling was James d. Blaine. It was In the spring of 1SG6, when Provost Marshal Fry, of Ulalne'B state of Maine, was under fire. The consensus of opinion at the time was that Hlalne got decid edly tho better of the scrimmage, but granting that, It was a victory dearly won unquestionably it cost Blaine ths presidency. It cost him the nomination In l.STfi, when that nomination meant election; und it cost him tho election In 1884, Cleveland's slender majority, only 1,000, In tho state of New York, was beyond question due to tho nld of ltoscoc Conkling. Never was a drub bing more significantly revenged. Conkling nnd Blaine, although for yeurs serving together In one or the other branch olf congress, never were reconciled never again spoKe as they passed. The most signal triumphs won by Uoscoo Conkling wcro In the subduing of opposition and trampling out revolt within the ranks of his own party. En joying to the full the confidence of President Grant nnd backed by all the federal patrotuige falling to the share of tho Kmplre fitate, Conkling was a relentless boss. One of his most notable victories was the driving of his sena torial colleague, ex-Governor Reuben 13. Fenton, out of tho Republican state convention In the Wletlng opera house In September, 1871. It left Conkllng's supremacy In the party councils abso lute for years. In the chair of the convention sat Andrew D. White, then president of Cornell university and now ambassador to Berlin Conkling occupied an end seat next to the aisle In about the middle of the hall and personally directed every movement against the enemy. In the end Fenton and his crowd, having been routed fit, horse and dragnon, retreated from the hall and, going elsewhere, formed n rump convention, which proved the nucleus of the "Liberal Re publican" movement and the nomina tion of Horace Greeley for president In 48":!. TI5IUMPH IN HOCHKSTEIt. Six vears later. In 1S77. when Grant had been succeeded by Hayes and he had no longer the backing of the fed eral administration. Hoscoe Conklln repeated In Rochester the role he had enacted In Syracuse. This time It was not Fenton, but George William Curtis whom ho pounded to a Jelly. Ills tti unitih was the greater because It was won, not by the aid of, but In spite of, tho federal administration. A past grand master In Invective and satire, never shone he more brilliantly than on that occasion. Conkling had in directly been the cause of Hayes' ele vation to tho presidency, llrst In tho Republican national convention, where Conkllng's opposition to Hlalne had made Hayes a possibility, and again In congress, where Conkling by helping to frame the electoral commission law paved the way to the seating of Hayes, The reward Conkling asked of Hayes was a seat In the cabinet for Thomas C. Piatt. Hayes treated tho New York senator with .scorn. Hence these tears. Which was tho greater, Conkllng's hatred for Hlalne, or his contempt for Hayes because of his willingness to ac- ept a seat to which another had been elected, would be a nice question for the historian. President Haves' rejec tion of Piatt was coupled with his ac ceptance, as member of his cabinet, of two of Conkllng's opponents, William M. Kvarts nnd Carl Schurz. Lord Ros coe's eup of wrath was full not only to the brim, but running over. He spent the llrst summer of the Hayes admin istration In Kurope. In search of health. His arrival home was the signal for the rally of the antl-admlnlstratlon forces, the objective point being the capture of tho Republican state con vention, then about to be held in Rochester. Conkling went to the con vention with his war paint on. toma hawk in hand, and placed himself at the head of his followers. HOW PI.ATT BKCAMK CHAIRMAN. Alonzo B. Cornell, later governor, who owed all he was, politically, to Conkling, but who In tho days of his power forgot his creator, was chair man of the state committee. As the reddest rag ho could flaunt in the face of the Hayes administration, Conkling1 had selected Thomas C. Piatt for thi convention's temporary chairman. Piatt's speech, on taking the chair, was, for the administration, gall and wormwood. It abounded In flings at Fine Silks and Dress Goods For the Holiday Trade. China Silks, new bright colors for fancy work 25c Bright Roman Stripe Satin 19c Fancy Silks for Waists, very best quality 75c Black Spot and Brocade Taffeta Silks, fiue goods, 24 iuches wide will wear 69c High-class Silks in Checks and Plaids 59c Elegant Neu) Assortment of Silks and Safins For Fine Dresses and Waists. Pean de Soie, 21 inches wide 79c Pean de Soie, 24 inches wide, soft aud plyable 95c Satin Duchesse Pure Silk, 22 inches wide 75c Satin Duchesse Pure Silk, 27 inches wide 95c Haskell's Black Silks guaranteed, hrom $1.00 to $2.00 Dress Goods. Fine Black Crepons , 25c Very Fine Black Crepons $1.25 Highest Grade Black Crepons $1.75 Fine assortments ot Armures, Plaids, Cheviots, Etc., . very desirable at 75c Whip Cords, Pebles, Cheviots, Etc From 50c to $2.00 A new Fabric Worsted Granite in black, royal, dahlia, russet and myrtle, 45 inches wide 75c MEARS & HAGEN, 415-417 Lackawanna Ave. Evarts and Schurz, New York's rep resentatives In tho cabinet, and held up Hayes' civil service policy to ridi cule nnd contempt. The office seek ers, Chairman Piatt declared, shouted the shibboleth of civil service reform till they were hoarse and the press blurted It In tho face of a nauseated public. Piatt, In fact, Bhowed no lit tle Ingenuity In heaping Insults upon the Hayes administration. Keeling was Intense. Chauncey M. Depcw, as chairman of tho committee on per manent organization, reported Uoscoo Conkling for permunent chairman of the convention, the scheme being to put Conkling liors de combat. But It didn't work. Conkling rose In hU place anil, with all the suavity at his command, said that the position of chairman had been so well filled by the temporary presiding ollleer (Mr. Piatt) that he would move to continue him in tho chair permanently. From that moment the light was on! From every side from tho administration's friends were hurled anathemas at Piatt and his speech. On Conkling their energetic protests had no effect except to Intensify his determination to ram the obnoxious chairman down the unwilling throats of his onemlc. When the roll was called Conkling was found to have nearly three to cno of the convention, his motion to make Piatt permanent chairman prevailing by 311 to 110. Conkllng's mastery waa overwhelming. The battle was lcwwod when tho platform was reported by Conkling, as chairman of the commltteu in charge. Conkling called on h junior) member of tho committee ns being more familiar with the handwriting, "to road tho platform to the conven tion." Tho Junior member was "Char lie" Smith, of Albany, editor of the Albany Journal, once Thurlow Weed's paper. He Is today the Hon. Chndcs Emory Smith, postmaster general In the cabinet of President MeKinley. Smith was an unctuous fellow, with .1 good flow of language, und a devoted follower of Conkling. Ho was es pecially nimble In the framing of party platforms, and almost Invar iably headed the platform committee in the state conventions of the Itopub- llcans. Mr. Smith's wonderful versa tility was Illustrated a. llttlo later when, on transferring his talents from Albany to Philadelphia, he became the editor of a Blaine paper, and thence forth served the plumed knight with the same ardor that had characterized his service to f'onkllng vhlh a resi dent of New York. The platform, as reported, studiously ignored Hayes and his administration, bllent disdain was Conkllng's way. HKPUKD TO CURTIS. Cieorge William Curtis, the elegant and polished editor of Harper's Maga zine, Harper's Weekly and Harper's Hazaar, was quickly on his fc"t with an amendment which proved to be a firebrand. It began thus: "Hesolved. That the lawful title of Rutherford B. Hayes to the presidency Is as clear as that ot George Washington." This was followed by emphatic commenda tion of that administration. Then with great deliberation Curtis began his speech: "A Republican, in a Republi can convention, offers a resolution of party commendation for the Republi can president of the United States" a Jab at Conkling for having forgotten that little formality! Conkllng's reply was a string of satire, sneers, scorn, Irony nnd withering contempt. "It was a woman, a thoughtful woman." he started off, "who said that she al ways noticed that if she did not die In February she lived all the year through. 1 have noticed that when the Republican party makes no mis takes In convention it is apt to go safe through a canvass." "Who are these men," roared Conkling. after In had warmed up. "who In the newspa pers and elsewhere are cracking the whip over the Republicans nnd playing school-master to the Republican party and Its conscience and convictions? Some of them are the men-milliners, dllettants and carpet knights of poll tics; men whose efforts have been ex pended In denouncing and ridiculing and accusing honest men who, In storm and sunshine, in war and peace, have clung to the Republican Hag and defended It against those who have triedto trail and trample It In the dust." The reference to "nien-mlllln-ers" was 01 course aimed at Curtis, editor of a fashion periodical. "Some of them," proceeded Conkling, "are men who, when they cnuld work themselves hud conventions, have attempted to he littloarjd befoul Republican administra tions" (referring to Curtis' warfare on urant), "and to parade their own thin veneering of purity. gomo of these worthies masquerade as rel formers. Their vocation and minlstrv Is to lament the sins of other people. 1 heir stock in trade Is rancid and Hat seu-rignteousness. They are wolves in sheep's clothing. Their real object Is office and plunder. When Dr. Johnson delined patriotism ns the last refuge of a scoundrel, he was unconscious of tho then undeveloped capabilities and- ums of the word "erofrm." " Curtis and his dllettant following he described ns "laggards in the battles of the past, they leap forward to the feast. They forget." he declared with startling scorn, "that parties aro not built up by deportment or lady magazines, or gunh." Recalling how the "man-milliner" and bis Ilk reviled the Grant ad ministration, Conkling ndded: "For ex treme license In the criticism of ad ministrations and of everybody con nected with them, broad arguments can no doubt be found. Many might be found In the Hies of the Journal made famous by the pencil of Nast." As If the fame of Harper's Weekly hinged on Tom Nnst. the caricature, rather than on George William Curtis. Its polished editor! Referring to tho Cincinnati convention and the circum stances that led up to Haves' nomina tion, In which the New York delega tion llnally Joined, Conkling said: "Kven the member from Richmond (Curtis) was, I believe. In the end pre vailed upon, after much difficulty, to tourer his unluue and del cate vote. also." Again: "The new president hiw been surrounded and courted by men who have long purred about every new administration, for more years than many of you have lived. Some of theso disinterested patriots and reformers have be'en, since tho days of Pierce, the friends and suitors of nil adminis trations, and tho betrayers of all." NEVKIt RF.COGNI5CKD HAYES. These uro only specimen bricks. Never onco did Conkling recognize Hayes by his title of president It was alwnys "Mr." Hayes, The tight grip be had on tho convention was again shown In the vote on Curtis' amend ment affirming Hayes' title and indors. Ing his administration the vote being, ayes 100, noes L'l)5. Conkling had tho administration at his feet. It was per haps the crowning triumph of his lllus trlous career. Three years later Conkling led to Chicago a third term delegation se lected by a convention presided over by lilt ttllltl KVIllnv Olmrlnu V,rtf CmlO, I... .... ..,,, w,,.4tva ,,,111'u tjfonti to vote for the heio who "rami! tram JONAS LONG'S SONS. TWO YEARS OLD. TWO YEARS OLD. JONAS LONG'S SONS. Store Open Evenings Until Christmas. Prospective and Retrospective Today the Big Store of Jonas Long's Sons enters upon Its third year in Scranton, having bound with rapid strides over two short years making the turning point from an opening presaged with success, to the thorough establishment of a business that is nothing short of phenomenal. Though the store is now a staid and settled institution, it is yet a novelty to those who make their initial visits here, and a source of constant pleasure to the thousand of folk who find re newed enjoyment in frequent calls. While endeavoring to reflect the ideal, there are still many steps to climb. We aim to be the perfect store perfect in con struction, in organization and in every detail. It improves daily and the business grows apace. Measured by the dollars that come in and the goods that go out, the gain is cumulative, enthu thusiastically so. To the credit of our public be it said that no single month has ever shown a retrograde in comparisomwith a corresponding pre vious record. Every foot of ground has been gained by persistency and a general tendency to the betterment of your interests. No record of the store life is as pleasant to record as this one a responsive public is the keynote to honest effort. We feel sure that continued growth confronts.us, and that another year will give basis for even stronger statement. The store lias developed into a necessity. It moulds public opinion of goods and prices and values. It establishes a base of comparison. It converges mercantile problems into simple ex amplesand you profit by the transformation. The store is large, and light, and cheerful; it is your store. Our pride in the celebration of our second anniversary commingles with yours. All we can say is: " Thank you." Today, Monday, and for one week, in celebration of the event, we inaugurate our Second Anniversary Sale, with merchandise at prices that will serve as souvenirs of the occasion. We have chosen -he most seasonable articles so as to conform to your present requirements, and promise a week of great opportunities, because "Sweet s the breath of vernal shower, The bee's collected treasures sweet, Sweet music's melting fall, but sweeter yet The still small voice of gratitude. " Pocketbooks all sorts, io cents. Not one in the lot worth less than a quarter. Strong statement to make but we stake our reputation on its truth. Women's pocketbooks about 300 of them all seal and morocco, nicely made and finished in many different styles. Some perfectly plain, others with silver trimmings. A pretty good souvenir of our second anniver sary, we think. WYOMING AVENUE. Cashmere Gloves. for women. 13c the pair during our anniversary. Hast black, fleeced lined and in all sizes. This is duplicate to a lot we sold a few weeks since on a Friday. That was a one day chance and none were left when night came. Enough of them are here now to make all comers hap py for a week. Woolen mittens at ioc. Price suggests cheapness, though the quality is far from it. MAIN AISLE. Furniture. It'll be a pleasant ride to the fourth floor this week, after these furniture bargains. You'll go up anyway to sec the book cases, the odd pieces in vernis martin and colonial designs, the china and music cabinets and hun dreds of other gift things but of especial interest will be these: Book cases of solid oak, four and one-half feet in height, 26 inch es wide, with four detachable shelves and complete brass attach ments tor curtains. An unprece dented bargain at $2. 50. Jardiniere stands just the thing to hold potted plants. Your choice ol mahogany finish or oak at 19 cents while they last. Bed, spring and mattress the outfit complete for $7.2; a third less than it ought to be. A full sized iron bed, with brass trim mings. A two-piece husk cotton top mattress and solid woven wire springs: Company coming Christmas and no place for them? This will solve the problem tor you. FOURTH FLOOR. Toys, Games and Dolls. Our second birthday and the dolls have yet to see their first one. These at 75 cents are extra large size, full jointed. Hold them up and they laugh at you; lay them down and they go to sleep. Blondes and brunettes you can gather a doll family to suit your fancy. Dressed with silk chemise and shoes and stockings. The regular 1.25 kind. Another sort at 39 cents that al ways have their eyes open; not quite so full grown, either. They have been reduced from 75 cents. And these at 98 cents worth $1.50 are dressed in Jonas Long's Sons' stylishness. Large size, with silk dresses and a hand somely tiimmed hat. Solas at 35c, which is half price. Nicely upholstered in colors. 1 uuiiuitu s tiuuiSp (;.uu sic aiiu strongly made. Paintad red, pret tily decorated and highly polished. 1 0 cents instead of 39 cents. BASEMENT. Bureau Scarfs --Doylies. Roman scarls they're called, a yard and a hall in length. Most ot them are a stylish cut and open work patterns, renaissance desigus. 29 cents lor the 59 cent kind. The doylies at 5 cents. Most of them are made to match the scarfs. Two doylies and a scarf, and you've a dresser set at little cost. In the Art Goods department. NEAR MAIN STAIRCASE. Umbrellas. Two kinds, for every day and for nice. The better one is $1.29 and worth a half more. Tho coverings are heavy silk and lisle which will wear to your satisfaction. Handles are unique in shape, some of buck-horn dog heads and others of fancy carved woods in crooks. Steel Irame, carefully jointed and inclosed in a silk case. The every-day sort at 34c. These are covered in heavy twilled cloth and have natural wood han dles with steel frames If it wasn't our anniversary you'd pay us 59 cents for them. WYOMING AVENUE. Handkerchiefs. For men, for women, for children. We have taken five thousand of our new holiday handkerchiefs and marked them at 5c for this sale, that is about half their actual worth The men's are plain and with colored borders. The women's and children's come in many styles, some plain, others hemstitched and lace edged, and some with delicate fancy borders. Still others are in open work effects. At five cents they are a decidedly interesting proposition. WYOMING AVENUE. Jonas Long's Sons Appomattox and the famous apple tree, but there Ills nag went down in the dust. Conkling met his Waterloo the year following the defeat of thlrd-termlsin. Ho broke with Garfield, as he had broken with Hayes, over tho New York appointments. Accustomed to absolute Kllhsnrvipncp ti hl will nil tho imt'l nf New York Republicans, he threw up his turn It to lilm. Me took ins pltener to senatorial commission with entire con fidence that the legislature would re the well once too often. The grandest, the most heroic figure in the public life of that day disappeared forever. DEWEY'S STKAWBEKRIES. Kvery graduating class at Annapolis leaves behind It the fame of certain heroes In the line of physical prowess or mental endeavor. One of theso heroes was George Dewey, a fine, manly athletic youth, the pride of the boxing and fencing masters, and tho terror of all bullies. In Dewey's class was a youth of an excellent bent for mathematics, but so tender of physique that he often suf fered from tho rough horse play of his elders. Dewey took this boy under his protection and the two became fast friend. They swung their ham mocks In the same watch on their graduation cruise, nnd when the ship touched at Liverpool obtained permis sion to run up to London on a day'? leave. By rigid economy tli- two had scraped together a lUtle more than " apiece, and they landed in the English capital arrayed In spick nnd span new uniforms, Willi the air of financial magnates. A round of sight seeing had reduced their combined capital to two sovereign? and their re turn tickets, when thel- boyish appe tites announced tho hour of noon, says the Saturday Evening Post, With the cautious economy of his ancestors, the Scotchman suggested a. chop house, but. then, as now. noth ing but the best would suit Dewey, and he accoidlngly steered his chum Into 'the best hotel he could tlnd. The two seated themselves at one of the tables and scanned the menu with a magnificent air. The very first Item that caught their ey s was ".Strawberries and Cream," and this, with its reminiscence of home, they proceeded to order. Now, tho time was winter and strawherrles from the hothouse nr expensHe in London, so It wis small wonder that the other juests who had In aid the order linked Inquiringly at these specimens of the jeunesse dorco or the American navy. An Oxford lad who sat next them seemed partic ularly Impressed and turned his large eyes upon them in awe. The straw berries were good, and all went well until tho obsequious waiter returned with a bill for 1. The B-otehman nearly collapsed, but Dewey noticed tho eyes of the Oxonian upon him, and, turning superbly to tho wnlter.or dered two nioro plates. Tho middles left with empty pock ets, but haughtily conscious that they had saved the honor ot tho American navy. Not a Surprise. It will not be a surprise to any who are at all familiar with the good quali ties of Chamberlain's Cough Itemedy, to know that people everywhere take pleasure In relating their experience in the use of that splendid medicine and In telling of the benefit thev have re ceived from It, of bad colds It has cured, of threatened uttacks of pneu nionla It hns averted and of the child ren it has saved from attacks of croup and whooping cough. It Is a grand, tjood medicine. For sale by all drug gists, Matthew Bros,, wholesale and re , tall agents. uiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiingiiiHiniiiiiiiiiiiiiEiiiiiiiiiiiiiisiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiuiiiiHiiiHiiiiiigiiiiiiiiigiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiBiiiiKj s : tv fa Amves in Two weeks 17 A Sterling silver thimbles, hea vy, some elab orately engrav ed, were 50c, 25c SHORTLY after this Christmas we - close forever our two retail stores. We then take an office and do wholesaling exclusively. Every dia mond, every watch, every piece of jewelry, our wholesale samples as well, all go at prices that were never before quoted. Watches. Solid gold watches $15, and up to $90. Gentlemen's solid silver watches, hand engraved cases, fine American movement, a watch always sold for $12, to go for $7.75. Sterling Silver Mounted wisp brooms, handle all sterling silver splen did gift for a small sum a wonder at $1.00. Diamonds. We have one hundred and five diamond rings. As diamonds have gone up, we do not intend to lose on them, but if cost will sell them, take them and welcome. Rings for $10, $45. $90, but how about this little dia mond ring for that girl. A real diamond in a 14k solid gold ring for $2.50. m- i?7 151 Baby Rings. Lots and lots. A cute little band for 25c. Rings with pretty little stones in for $1.00. All at most rea sonable prices. A Thousand Things we have not room to talk about. We are awful busy, and for your own com fort try and come in the morning, and above all don't put off until the last minute you get the leavings. Brush and Comb Sets. Sterling silver - hnir 9 brush, ' I IUII OIC, A fine bris- .m.jui-.mSSj 1 ?lW'r-WttW j u '. J comb backed with solid silver. You can look the city over for four dollars and our price is $1.98. 2-Stores-2 1 132 Wyoming Ave. and 225 Lackawanna Ave. I SmiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiniiiiiiiiMiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiS
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers