tlbrarj jljJoro
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ffjSenil--Weekly Founded I
Wayne County Organ
1908
or the
REPUBLICAN PARTY
J:
Weekly Founded, 1844
HONESDALB, WAYNE 00., PA., "WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1909.
66th YEAR.
NO. 6
Cttactt
CIANT LAND FRAUD
More Than $110,000,000
Wrongfully Acquired.
MAINLY BY BIG CORPORATIONS
Some 32,060 Distinct Cases In Twenty-four
States West of Missis
sippi to Be Investigated
and Prosecuted.
Washington, Jan. 10. Information of
a startling character of alleged whole
sale and astounding frauds upon the
public lands has come Into the posses
sion of Secretary of the Interior Gnr
fleld through special agents In the
field.
The serious allegation Is made that
inoro than $110,000,000 worth of lands,
In statos principally west of the Mis
sissippi river, have been fraudulently
acquired within the past two years,
mainly by corporations and also by In
dividuals. With a view of recovering these
lands Secretary Garfield has sent let
ters to Chairmen Hale and Tawney of
the senate and house appropriation
committees respectively, asking for an
additional appropriation of $500,000,
which, if granted, with that already
asked for, will give the department
$1,000,000 for that purpose.
The specific purpose of the appro
priation requested is for preventing
depredations upon public timber, pro
tecting public lands, examining swamp
lands, etc.
It is stated that there Is reasonable
prospect of recovering much of this
alleged fraudulently acquired land If
the appropriation is promptly'made.
It is also pointed out that whlle;'i
million dollars may seem large, It Is
not 1 per cent of the commercial value
of the land which the" government may
hope to recover.
Secretary Garlleld has a statement
from H. H. Schwartz, chief of the
field service, showing over "35Tdflb dis
tinct cases of alleged land frauds de
manding further investigation and
prosecution.
The number of such cases awaiting
investigation by states now pending Is
as follows: Oregon, 1,462; California
and Nevada, 1,409; Washington and
north Idaho, 1,325; Montana, 3.005
Colorado, 8,021; Arizona, 400; Wyom
ing, 21,155; Minnesota, Michigan, Wis
onsIn, North and South Dakota, 5,804;
Missouri. Louisiana and Arkansas
1,593; Utah, 1,482; Oklahoma and Kan
sas, 1,012; New Mtisico, 1,205, and
Florida, Alabama and Mississippi,
LOGO.
The additional appropriation also is
required, the secretary says, on ac-
count of the Increased demands on the
field service of the land office, due to
the transferring to that division of
much work which has been done In
the past by the secret service and the
special service of the department of
justice. '
STEICT JEKSEY LIQUOR LAW.
Excise Commission Submits Radical
Draft to Governor.
Trenton, N. J., Jan. 19. The excise
commission appointed by Governor
Fort to investigate the excise question
has submitted to the governor a draft
of a proposed law which contemplates
a complete revision of the present
nquor laws or tue state.
The bill limits the number of license
places to one for every 500 inhabitants.
The selling of liquor on Sunday un
der all circumstances is absolutely
prohibited.
Alt the essential features of the HI. .
op law, including the screen provi
sion, are enacted.
A special feature of the bill is that
bartenders shall be registered.
The bill also prohibits brewers be
ing Interested in nny licenses.
QUICKEST ELECTROCUTION YET
Current Turned on Only Once to Kill
Murderer Mellillo.
Trenton, N. J., Jan. 10. The electro
cntlon of Sablno Mellillo In the state
prison here was remarkable for the
fact that the current was turned on
but once, the first time In the history
of the state.
Mellillo was convicted of the murder
of Alfonso Telllchlo.
t-
HAERIMAN NEAB TAFT.
But He Hat No Engagement to Talk
With President Elect.
Augusta, Ga., Jan. 10. B. II. Harrl
wan arrived here today. Ho Is at the
Campton Terrace hotel, a winter re
sort on the South Carolina side of the
Savannah river.
lie hns no engagement with Mr.
Tnft. The president elect snld also ho
did not expect to see Mr, Rockefeller,
who has ouartera at the Bon Air hotel.
FINE OF $1,623,000 STANDS.
.
State of Texas Wins Ouster Quit
Against Waters-Pierce Company.
Washington, Jan. 10. The supreme
court of the United States unanimous
ly affirmed the decree of the state
courts of Texas Imposing a fine of
11,023,000 on the Waters-Pierce Oil
company, a branch of the Standard
Oil trust, and ousting it from' the
state on the charge of violating the
antitrust law.
The court also sustained the Texas
courts in the appointment of Robert
J. Kckhardt as receiver of the com
pany and thus again decided against
the company.
Dealing with the contention that the
alleged conspiracy between the Wa-
tcrs-Plerce company and the Standard
Oil company to control the price of oil
in Texas was not within the jurisdic
tion of the Texas state courts, Justice
Day said that the agreement had been
executed within the state. This cir
cumstance was, he said, conclusive
with the court that the conviction was
had for acts inside the state's borders.
On the point that the state's pro
ceedings against the company had not
been just the court held that stale
legislatures have u right to prevent
unlawful combinations to prevent com
petition and in restraint of trade and
to prohibit and punish monopolies.
Justice Day discussed the contention
that the fines Imposed were excessive,
saying that the business done in Texas
by the company was highly profitable,
the property amounting to more than
$40,000,000 and Its dividends as high
ns TOO per cent per annum.
"Assuming," he said, "that the de
fendant was guilty of a violation of
laws over a period of years upon so
large a scale, we are not prepared to
say that there was want of due proc
ess of law in the penalties imposed."
TELLS HIS LOST PAST.
Remarkable Effects of Hypnotic Spell
cn Injured Man.
New Haven, Conn., Jan. 19. What
the physicians of Grace hospital con
sider the most remarkable case of hyp
notic influence that has come to their
notice has developed theie
Following the accident, the mind of
Charles Osten, whose home Is in West
Forty-second Btreet, New York, be
came completely clouded. He had lor-
gottcn even his name, and all the
events In his past life were a blant to
him.
Osten's case has puzzled physicians
In this city for more than a month. He
was picked up wandering In Meadow
street, near the Union station, on the
night of Dec. 10 and was taken to
Grace hospital, where after weeks he
has been found unable to relate the
least scrap of pcrsonnl history.
Dr. Alien It. DIefendorf threw Osten
Into n hypnotic state, and when he
was In it ho wrung from him his name
and life history.
ASK CENS0E FOR SHOWS.
New York Ministers and Mayor to
Stop Improper Moving Pictures.
New York, Jan. 19. Resolutions de
manding the establishment by the
mayor of a censorship on moving pic
ture shows and the strict enforcement
of the Sunday closing law were passed
at a mass meeting of clergymen and
others interested in Sunday observ
ance. The resolutions declare that "Chris
tianity Is part of the common law of
this country" and request the mayor
"to appoint some person of trust
worthy moral judgment without whose
approval no films can be exhibited."
The committee on laws and legisla
tion of the board of aldermen held a
hearing on the proposed ordinance
which prohibits children under sixteen
from attending moving picture shows
unless accompanied by parents.
MEETS TODAY TO BOOM TRADE
National Board of Trade In Convention
In Washington.
Washington, Jan. 19. The national
board of trade, an association of the
commercial bodies of the United States,
opened Its thirty-ninth annual conven
tion today in the Now Willord hotel.
Tho nntlonal board of trade was or
ganized Juno 5, 180S, in Philadelphia
for the purpose of promoting the effi
ciency and extending tho usefulness of
tho various boards of trade and other
chartered bodies organized for general
commercial purposes in tho United
States. It aims to secure unity aud
harmony of action in commercial
usages, customs and laws and the ad
vancement of commercial and Indus
trial Interests of the country at large.
PAIR KEEP SUICIDE PACT.
Husband and Wife Shot Dead In Their
Home In Norfolk.
Norfolk, Vn., Jan. 19. Having evi
dently carried out a prearranged plan
to dlo together, Schuyler O. Carskad
don and wlfo were found dead in their
home.
Both had been shot through the back
of the head, and the revolver was
found on the floor.
Mr, Carskaddon was foreman of the
Wnlwortb-Novtll Manufacturing Dlant.
S'
t
United Workers' Convention
In Indianapolis Today.
DEMAND FOR NEW AGREEMEN1
Eight Hour Day and Complete Rec
ognition of Union as a Party
to Negotiate Wage Con
tracts Also Asked.
Indlannpolls, Jan. 19. Whether the
country is to have another coal strike
or not will probably be decided at the
convention of the United Mine Work
ers of America which began hero this
morning. The miners will ngaln put
forward the demands that have been
rejected by the operators, they will be
rejected by the latter, and the Issue
will be joined.
The demands of the miners read as
follows :
First. That an agreement shall be
negotiated between the representatives
of the miners and the operators of the
anthracite region and all disputes aris-
THOMAS L. LEWIS.
lng under the contract shall be ad
justed as provided for in such agree
ment. .
Second. We demand the complete
recognition of the United Mine Work
ers of America as a party to negotiate
a wage contract and that the United
Mine Workers of America shall bo
recognized In our right to provide any
method we may adopt for the collec
tion of revenues for the organization
Third. That we demand an eight
hour day with no reduction of wages.
Fourth. That all coal shall be mined
and paid for by the ton of 2,000 pounds,
Fifth. That we demand a definite
and more uniform scale of wages and
prices for all classes of labor at all
collieries In the anthracite region and
that all employees paid less than $1.50
per day shall receive n 10 per cent ad-
vance, and all employees paid more
than $1.50 and less than $2 a day shall
receive a 5 per cent advance.
Sixth. That the system whereby a
contract miner hns more than one Job
or employs two or more laborers be
abolished.
Seventh. That the employers be re
quired to issue uniform pay state
ments designating the name of tho
company, tho name of the employee,
the colliery where employed, the
amount of wages and tho class of
work performed.
Eighth. That the contract shall be
made for the period of one year.
The officers of the miners' unions,
headed by tho president, Thomas I
Lewis, the successor of John Mitchell,
nre Insistent upon these demands. The
leading operators have declared their
firm intention not to grant them. As
tho working ngrecmcnt between the
unions and tho operators expires on
March 31 somo basis of agreement
must be reached nt the present conven-
tlon if peace is to be preserved in the
anthracite Industry.
The operators are willing to renew
tho agreement, which is the one made
through the mediation of the Roosevelt
strike commission five years ago, but
the miners' leaders declare that cbang
ed conditions make a readjustment on
more liberal terms to the workers nec
essary. "
Woman Fights Off Five Highwaymen.
Washington, Pa., Jan. 10. With ?400
In her shoe, Mrs. John Itosaro fought
off five negro highwaymen and es
caped with her money. Her husband,
who 'came to her rescue, was knocked
down and robbed.
Dutch Warships Still Patrolling.
The Hngue, Jan. 19. The govern
ment of the Netherlands has decided
to keep Its warships In Venezuelan
waters until the dispute between Tene
tuela and Holland Is settled. '
MINER
TILLMAN CASE DROPPED.
Senate Committee After Examining
Data, So Decides.
Washington, Jan. 19. Charges against
Senator Tillman by President Boosed
volt will not be considered by the spe
cial committee of the senate commit
tee on appropriations, which was ap
pointed to Inquire into the subject of
tho use of special and secret agents of
the government
This special committee, composed of
Senators Oalllngcr, Hemenway and
Clay, examined the data submitted,
and it was found that the Investiga
tion would have to be of an exhaustive
nature;
Inasmuch as the resolution provid
ing for the Investigation was adopted
in advance of the charges against
Tillman the committee decided it was
not charged with the duty of taking
up his case.
ROOT NAMED TODAY.
Secretary of State For Senator of New
York to Succeed Piatt.
Albany, N. Y Jan. 19. As required
by the federal law, the two houses of
the legislature of the state of New
York mot hero today In separate ses
sion to vote for n successor to Thomas
C. Plntt, United States senator from
this state.
The votes today were merely con
firmatory of the choice of the caucuses
of the Republicans of the two houses,
Elihu Root, secretary of state. To
morrow the two houses will meet In
jgint session, according to law. and
vote together for Mr. Root, who will
then bo declared senator from New
York for the six years' term commenc
ing on March 4 next.
New York's new senator is one of
tho country's leading lawyers. He Is
a native of Now York state and Is In
his sixty-fifth year. Mr. Root was sec
retary of war In the cabinet of Presi
dent McKInley and has been secretary
of state since July 1, 1905. ,
Former Lieutenant Governor Chan-
ler was the nominee of the Democratic
caucus and got the strict party vote.
At the Republican caucus Mr. Root
was the unanimous choice for the six
year term. a
NO TRACE 0E SAILORS. v ,
Life Savers Patrol Long Island Const
Near Battered Wreck.
New York, Jan. 10. Though coast
patrols have watched the lonely Long
Island shore fifteen miles east of Fire
Island, no trace has been found of the
skipper und crew of fifteen of the
schooner Swallow, from St. John's,
Newfoundland, which went to pieces
on the bar in the darkness.
One or two hats and a reefer or two
have come ashore, but no bodies have
.been found. Meanwhile the beach
combers nre reaping a rich harvest
from the lumber, hides, deer heads
and barrels of frozen herring which
are constantly washed ashore.
A few hours before the Swallow
struck a steamship was warned away
from the bar by a patrolman, who
fired u rocket when he saw the vessel
beaded In.
PENROSE RE-ELECTED TODAY.
He Will Again Represent Pennsyl
vania In Upper National House.
Harrlsburg, Pa., Jan. 19. Boies Pen
rose will again represent the state of
Pennsylvania in the United States sen
ate, according to the votes of the two
houses of the state legislature, cast
here today. He Is a native and a resl
dent of Philadelphia, a lawyer by pro
fesslon and has been prominent in the
public life of the state since Ills elec
tlon to the state legislature In 1884.
His coining six years' term In the Unit
ed States senate, which will begin
March 4, will be his third term.
The joint election of Senator Penrose
by the two houses of the state leglsla
ture will take place tomorrow, as pro
vided for iu the United States law on
the election of senators.
ELECTION IN CONNECTICUT.
Brandegee Again Chosen Senator by
State's Two Houses.
Hartford, Conn., Jan. 19. By vote of
tho two bouses of the state legislature,
cast today, Frank B. Brandegee will
again bo the junior senator from the
state of Connecticut. He has repre
sented the state In the senate since
Mny, 1005, when he was chosen to sue
ceed the late Orvllle H. Piatt
The election of Mr. Brandegee will
be completed tomorrow by the vote
In Joint session of the state senate and
house of representatives.
HANGED FOR AN INSULT.
Crowd Takes Negro Boy From Jail
and Lynches Him.
nope, Ark., Jon. 10. After attacking
the jail and overpowering the jailers a
party of young men took Gcorgo HI1-
Hard, an eighteen-year-old negro boy,
from his cell and banged him to a tele
graph pole.
The negro bad spoken insultingly to
a woman clerk In a store.
SUICIDE OF NICK. MATHEWSON.
A Brother of Christy, the Famous
Pitcher, Ends his Life With
a Bullet In a Fit of
Insanity.
Those who witnessed the base ball
games last year and the year before on
the Silk Mill grounds, between the
Moosics and locals, in which young
Nicholas Mathewson, brother of the
phenomenal twirler of the New York
Giants, (who was himself for two seasons
a Honesdale player) was pitcher, will be
Bhockcd to learn that he put a bullet in
to his brain nt his home in Factoryville
on Thursday last, and died at 7 o'clock,
on the following morning, in Dr. Reed
Burns's hospital in Scranton.
The Scranton Times gives the follow
ing account of the sad affair :
As the result of a self-inflicted bullet
wound in his right temple, Nicholas
Matliewson, of Factoryville, died at Dr.
Reed Burns's hospital in this city at 7
o'clock this morning. Melancholia, in
duced Dy illness and overstudy, is sup
posed to have been the cause.
The young man was about nineteen
years old, a brother of the famous Christy
Mathewson, pitcher for the New York
(jiants, and himself a pitcher of local
fame. Last season he pitched for the
Moosic team in the Northeastern Penn
sylvania league, and fans who watched
ins work predicted a bright future for
him. Although it was understood that
ho was to play with Nashville in the
Southern League next, summer, his
brother Christy said this morning that
he had not intended playing professional
ball for another year at least.
This year he had attended Lafavette
college and made a record for himself as
a hard student. Hu studied so hard, in
fact, that his health became impaired.
and for the past few weeks had suf
fered much from indigestion and jaun
dice. Finally he relinquished his studies
and returned Home. Tins was about a
week ago, and his enforced absence
from college proved upon Ins mind con
stantly. He was subject to fits of mel
ancholia, and it was while in one of
these yesterday afternoon that lie went
to tne Darn in tne rear oi his home and
fired the bullet into his temple. An
obscure corner in the hay mow was se
lected for the deed, and it was not until
evening, when he was missed from the
house, that his father found him. He
was then unconscious.
Harry I'isk, a friend of vouns Mathew
son's,- who had called to see him, was
aispatcnea to tne oince ot Dr. French.
and' as soon as the physicianI$W" the
wounu ne ordered tne removal ot the
patient to this citv. Dr. Burns was sum
moned and both doctors brought him to
Dr. Burns's hospital in this citv. Hh
did not regain consciousness.
The news of the suicide has created a
profound sensation, as the youth wasof
a good natured disposition and was well
known here, particularly among the
amateur base ball players who played
with him in the Northeastern league
games last summer. With his brother,
Christy, he was a great favorite, and the
coaching he received was responsible in
a large measure for his success. His
reason for not entering the professional
ranks was that he intended playing col
lege base ball during his four years at
j-.aiayette.
Christy waB summoned from New
York, last night, and he has assumed
charge of the funeral arrangements.
.Besides Christy, the survivors are his
mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert
I). Matliewson, two sisters, Jane and
Christine, and Henry, another brother.
The latter has gained some distinction
as an amateur pitcher, also."
The remains were removed.to Factory
ville and the services held on Monday
afternoon last, with interment in the
cemetery of that village. The classmates
of the young man at Lafayette College
sent a delegation of his fraternity, the
Phi Delta Theta, to act as pall -bearers
A delegation of students from Keystone
Academy, which he attended before en
tering college, were also in attendance.
Young Mathewson's first visit to Hones-
dale was on Saturday, July 1((, li!07,
when he pitched for the Moosic's, with
Schucrholz in the box for the home club.
The game was one of the best ever wit
nessed on the Honesdale grounds, the
scoro standing 0 to 0 at the end of the
ninth inning. In the tenth Honesdale
won out by a score of 1 to 0. Matliewson
was then 17 years old. He struck out
11 men, hit 2 and allowed 4 hits. Schuer
holz, his opponent in the box, struck
out 9; gave ono a walk on balls, and al
lowed but 1 hit. The game was such a
well-contested one, the Moosic's agreed
to return and play another on the 3d of
August, the same batteries to contend
for the honors, but Matliewson played
with the Catasauqua club on the 2d,
and didn't feel in form for the fulfill
ment of his engagement. Last year,
However, ho came here as pitcher for
the Moosics, and was again vanquished,
on Saturday, August 22d, by a score of
5 to 2, Hessling being in the box for the
locals. The pitchers' records then were:
Mathewson struck out 10, passed 2 and
allowed 5 hits. Hessling struck out 10,
gave 1 pass and allowed 0 hits.
A Curious Stone.
A curious stone la found In Patago
nia and Uruguay, called the water
stone. Of surpassing whiteness, It con
tains In Its center a few drops of wa
ter, and, while these gradually dry up,
they may bo renewed by soaking the
stone In water.
OBITUARY.
Frederick Werner, aged 49 years, s
merchant of White Mills, died of apo
plexy at two o'clock yesterday (Tuesday)
morning. He drove home from Hawlcy
at 4 o'clock Monday afternoon, and
while alone in his store at 8 o'clock in
the evening fell unconscious from aa
apoplectic seizure. When discovered
shortly afterward he was taken to liis
home and Dr. Gavitte called, but efforta
for his relief proved unavailing, and he
died as stated. He is survived by his
wife and two children, a boy and girl.
R. H. Biddlecomb, of Girdland, died
at the State Hospital, Scranton, on Fri
day, Jan. 15,1909, aged 66 years. About
a week before his death he was taken U
Scranton to receive treatment for in
testinal trouble and submitted to na
operation, but pneumonia supervened
and was tho immediate cause of his
death. He is survived by his wife, a
son, Frank, of Boyd's Mills, and tw
daughters, Mrs. George Schweighofer,
of Girdland, and Mrs. Eliery Bunnell,
of Boyd's Mills. The remains wera
brought to his home in Girdland on Sat
urday, and the funeral was held oa
Tuesday afternoon, with interment at
Calkms.
Henry N. Clark, of 1'aupack, died oa
Saturday last, Jan. 16, 1909, of pneu
monia, aged 57 years. In 1872 he mar
ried MarillaA. Williams, who with threa
children, Mrs. Richard Phillips, of Pan
pack ; Clay S., of Madisonviile, Ky.,
and George H., of Sioux City, Indiana,
survives him. Mr. Clark, whose father
was long connected with the Wayne Co.
Agricultural Society, was himself a di
rector of the Wayne Co. Mutual Fire
Insurance Co., and was re-elected to
that position at the annual meeting on
the 4th inst., which he attended. He
was also a member of the Masonic fra
ternity. The funeral services were held
at his late home in Paupack on Monday
afternoon last, Rev. Walter Peterson of
ficiating. George M. Bidwell died of pneumonia,
at his home in Salem township, at nine
o'clock on Sunday morning last. He
was a prominent farmer and dairyman,
and a descendant of Revolutionary stock,
his grandfather, Ephraim Bidwell, who
fought in the war for the independence
of the colonies, locating at what ie now
known as Bidwell Hill in Salem, in 1800.
Aehbel Bidwell, son of Ephraim, and
father of George M., was born in 1802.
He married Polly Griffin, of Connecticut,
and the result of the union was five chil
dren, of whom the youngest, the sub
ject of this notice, was born Aug. 21,
1838. He was 'brought up on the farm,
with such educational advantages as the
times and circumstances permitted, final
ly, nt the age of twenty-one, engaging
in business on his own account. Nov.
3, 1860, he married Mary Ammerman,
and seven children blessed the union.
During the civil war Mr. Bidwell enlisted
in Battery L, Second Pennsylvania Heavy
Artillery, was under lire at the battle of
tho Wilderness, and from that time until
the close of the war was in all of the en
gagements in which the Army of the
Potomac took part. While fighting in
front of Petersburg, June 17, 1804, he
was wounded and sent to the hospital,
and later to his home. On his recovery
he rejoined his regiment and served in
Virginia for some time after the war
closed, being finally discharged February
7, I860. He was a member of Warren
G. Moore Post, G. A. R., and was at
one time connected with the Grange.
His townsmen appreciated his ability
and trustworthiness, as was made plain
by the fact that he filled the office of
tax collector for five years, was frequent
ly a member of the election board and
served as school director and supervisor.
He was one of the charter members of
the Wayne County Farmers' Mutual
Fire Insurance Co., and the first policy
issued by that Association was made
out to him. He was a director from
the beginning, vice president for a num
ber of years, and always an efficient
agent of the corporation. Personally he
was a niost companionable man, of the
strictest integrity, and enjoyed the con
fidence of all who knew him. Another
illustration of the uncertainty of life is
furnished by the deaths of Mr. Bidwell
and Henry W. Clark, two of the board
of directors of the Farmers' Insurance
Company who both attended the annual
meeting on the 4th of this month, held
in Honesdale, when both were re-elected.
Mr. Bidwell's wife died about a year
ago. The following children survive ;
George and Floyd, of Now York; Helen,
wife of James Noble, and Lulu, at home;
Sylvester, of Carbondale ; and Dora, the
widow of Byron Simons. Hois also sur
vived by one brother, John W. Bidwell.
His wife was a sister of the late Mrs.
George II. Rowland, of Rowlands, Pike
county, mother of O. L. Rowland, of
this borough.