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ILLINOIS STATE NEWS Mrs. Maty Ogan is dead, aged 60.- She was a pioneer of Kinmundy. THE WILSON TARIFF, of the American agriculturist, who has had no such opportunity to reap a large share of the rewards of labor for years as is now promised him. The farmer was first to feel the'upward tendency,* STRIKE CRISIS REACHED. CONFERENCE HELD. OCCURRENCES DURINQ THE PAST WEEK. DIDN'T INCREASE OMR FOREIGN MARKETS. 300 BRITISH TROOPS BUTCH ERED BY AFRIDIS. [anal Commissioners Say Iilnois Kiver Traffic Is Threatened--Fire at the btate Fair Grounds--Peoria Grain Men Make Merry. Forts in India Taken--Dreaded Event in the Valley War Occurs--Savage Victors Burn the Captured Property and Murder Its Defenders. Trouble Over a Bar. The hearing on the application for an in­ junction against the village of Bast Pe-. oria from turning . the waters of Farm creek canal into the: Illinois river, prayed for by the canal commissioners of the State, was begun before Judge Puter- baugh of the Circuit Court at Peoria, but on motion of the defendants the final hear­ ing, was postponed until a later date. The canal in question was dug for the purpose of turning the course of Farm creek, which overflowed its banks. Naturally, the flow created a bar at the mouth and traffic is impeded. The village disputes the right of the commissioners to inter­ fere. The commissioners ask that the bar be removed and the ditch filled up. Scant 1 etails of the Fight. The much-dreaded event in India has taken place. A massacre has occurred. London is shocked to learn that 300 Se- , poys have been butchered by the Afridis. The affair is said to have taken place near Fort Ali-Musjid, where the Sepoy troops are reported to have been surround­ ed and then savagely cut to pieces. The enemy secured the rifles of their victims and then started to storm the British gar­ rison at Lowgrat. News of the horrible affair was sent from Peshawur and the Government officials would like to believe that the story is unfounded, but it is fear- The Chilkoot Pass evidently is a pretty cold climb. Why not save time by fitting out next year's relief expedition for the Klondyke now? The Macon Telegraph editorially asks: "Shall we eat grass?" Judging from that question we should say yes. Joaquin Miller notices that there are no birds in Alaska. When Joaquin strikes the mosquito belt he won't miss the birds. There is every reason to believe that a hot waffle wagon would do a good busi­ ness this winter on the streets of Daw­ son City. That Kansas man who committed sui­ cide because he couldn't go to the Klon­ dyke evidently was in a hurry to accom­ plish his object. No circus which claims to have a "com­ plete collection of all the dangerous wild animals in existence" henceforth can overlook the Jersey mosquito. A man was found dead the other day in a Baltimore park, with a copy of the Con­ gressional Record clutched in his hand, other cause of death is known. John Brown's grandson, who was * dentist in Seattle, has gone to the Kloa- dyke. Mr. Stewart is the latest member of the United States Senate to take to bicycle riding. Russell Sage has not, within the mem­ ory of the oldest broker, taken a vaca­ tion during the hot weather. Denmau Thompson is living on his farm in New Hampshire, and he says he has ho notion of acting any more. ExrPresident Harrison is identified with a movement among citizens of Indianapo­ lis to restrict saloons to certain sections of that city. Gen. Horace Porter, United States "mia\ ister to France, has taken to the band-' some hotel in the Rue Villejust, Pari*, owned by Mr. Spitzer, an art collector of world-wide reputation. BAKON THIELMAXX. Baron von Thielmann, which was follow­ ed by the official papers from the Ger­ man Government announcing the recall and appointment. „ Small Hope for Depositors. C. N. Travous, one of the assignees of the bank of J. A. Prickett & Son of Ed- wardsville, which failed last December, has returned from a trip to Idaho and Washington, where $300,000 of . the de­ funct bank's money was sent. Hi3 report, filed in the County Court, holds out little hope to depositors, and the more conserva­ tive do not figure on receiving over 35 cents on the dollar. Mr. Travous reports shares of the Spokane Savings Bank in­ ventoried at §25,000 to be worthless, and a number of other large claims are in a similar condition. He shows a considera­ ble decrease from the inventoried value of the assignee. City lots in Spokane are be­ lieved to be a good investment, and it is recommended that they be not sold for another year. Depositors have received a 10 per cent dividend thus' far, and it is clear that most if not all of the future dividends must be realized out of holdings in Edwardsville and vicinity. Peoria Grain Men Make Meiry. Wheat touched the dollar mark on the Peoria Board of Trade Saturday, and for a couple of nours lively times were wit­ nessed. Business was practically sus­ pended and the members of the board gave themselves over to jollification. M. Hanson,' who conducts a brokerage office, informed the members that when wheat reached $1 he would hire a band and give a concert. He was true to his word, and for two hours the band discoursed a con­ cert program, while the members of the board had a generally good time. There were more elated, however, over the ad­ vance of corn and oats than over wheat. For that means copsiderably more to the Peoria market. No great quantity of wheat is handled there, but it is one of the strongest oat and corn markets in the country. Fire on State Fair Ground*. During a heavy storm at Springfield lightning struck the large barn on the State fair grounds, occupied by Frank Wiedlaelier, who supplies feed, etc., dur­ ing the State fair, and destroyed building and contents. The building is the old Sangamon County exposition edifice, and was one of the largest on the fair grounds. Two years ago it was converted into, a feed building. Heroic work of the city fire department alone saved the immense sheep, swine and poultry sheds and other buildings. The loss is $3,000. Priest Turns 44 corcher." Father Francis Neumann, assistant pastor of Holy Trinity Church, Chicago, "scorched" down Michigan boulevard Friday evening, so the South Park police say, and as a result he was bundled un­ ceremoniously, into a patrol wagon and taken to the Fiftieth street police station. Here ho remained nearly an hour before he cpuld establish his identity, and when he did so he was released without being booked and no charge was placed against him. Illinois Farmers Waitinsr. The great boom in wheat has set the Illinois farmers wild with enthusiasm. They come into the towns in the morning to watch the market, and nothing else is talked of. Reports say that very little grain is coining in. The growers have made up their minds that they are to get $1 for their grain, and will sell but little until that price is reached o* there is a general collapse. Mistook Poison for Pepper. M. Hade, Will Smith and Ed Francis, three Areola broomeorn men, in making a kettle of soup mistook a package of red precipitate for red pepper, and seasoned the stew with the deadly drug. All ate heartily, and two of the victims are in a serious condition. Stele News in Brief. William Ellis, a leading Decatur man­ ufacturer, fell dead of heart disease. W. Lange, formerly a prominent archi­ tect of Denver, where his wife is still liv­ ing, was killed by a Rock Island train, near Marseilles. Lange wandered away from his brother's home in Chicago while suffering from brain trouble. The Rockford Sugar Refining Company started up again Thursday with a full force of GOO men, after a shut-down of three weeks. Much was at stake in the injunction which was decided in favor of the glucose company at Peoria. John Feig of Caseyville has filed suit for divorce in the St. Clair County Court. Two weeks ago Feig was married to Miss Emma Weiss, the pretty 17-year-old daughter of a widow. The newly married couple spent, the day in the village, and on the way home the bride suddenly sprang from the. buggy and ran down a line leading to her mother's home. The astonished , bridegroom followed and en­ deavored to persuade her to return home with him. The child wife was obdurate. She said she did not love Feig and that settled it. After two weeks spent in the vain effort to recover his wife Feig lias sued for divorce. The vicinity of Litchfield was visited by a heavy downpour of raiu Saturday evening, which lasted for over two hours. It is of untold value to the cwn. There is great rejoicing among the farmers. This insures the largest yield of corn-ever grown in that: section. The relatives of John and Grover Breese of Aurora held a picnic and family reunion at the-farm of the former, west of Aurora. The event was in honor of the eighty-first birthday of John and Grover. They are the oldest twins in tne vicinity and are the last of a large family of brothers and sisters. It is reported that Charles F. Kinche- loe,ominorit.v member of the Legislature from the Quincy district, is to ,be appoint­ ed to an important position in the office of the Attorney General at Washington, D. C. The salary attached is $3,000 and the duties require legal knowledge of high order. The Third regiment, 800 strong, reach­ ed Camp Lincoln bright and early Satur­ day, and in a short time were snugly en­ sconced for their week's tour of camp duty. With the regiment is the De Molay Band of sixty pieces of Bloomington. Guard mount, close order drills and short work on the rifle range constituted the work of the first day. William Flack of Chicago drank wood alcohol "diluted with root beer and soon after died. .a The Comptroller of the Currency says the 200 national banks in the State are in splendid shape. The large farm house of Henry Berger near Trenton burned. Loss, $4,000; in­ surance, $2,000. Cause of fire is un­ known. At Ramsey, Edmund St. Pierre and wife celebrated, their golden wedding. They have resided at their present home for forty years. After this Mr. Bates of Chicago proba­ bly will do all of his marrying strictly on the tandem plan. It is a mistake to try to dtjve eight matrimonial partners abreast. Cut rates on railways have attracted hundreds of country merchants to Chi­ cago. Many are heavy buyers from whole­ salers, and nearly all think the trade fu­ ture is bright. Gov. Tanner has issued a proclamation calling for a special election, to be held in Calhoun County, Tuesday, Nov. 2, for a county judge to succeed Judge John Zahrli, resigned. John Chambers died at his home, south­ west of Franklin, Morgan County, aged 106 years and 7 months. He was spry and jolly and in excellent health up to a few months ago. L. M. Keller, a traveling salesman for a Chicago firm, has been arrested at Wil­ bur, Neb., and will be brought to Gales- burg to answer to a charge of securing $50 on a forged check. Bigamist Bates of Chicago is to pose as a dime museum attraction. While he is out on bail it is understood that the vari­ ous comic opera companies will lock up their choruses for safe keeping. William Herlan of Chicago held the mangled form of his 5-year-old daughter Ella in his, arms Wednesday night and watched the child die. The little girl wai crushed under the grip of a cable car. Ruth Hultin, 3 years old, was run down by a Chicago electric car. She is in a criti­ cal condition in Augustana Hospital with both thigh bones crushed and broken, a compound fracture of the left ankle and her face and arms cut and bruised. Judge Allen of the United States Dis­ trict Court at Springfield decided four cases involving the validity of railroad bonds, issued by White County in favor of the Cairo and Vineennes Railroad. The judgments will aggregate a good many thousand dollars. Maggie Canten relinquished a good po­ sition as inspector in a Chicago store to associate with dissolute men and women. The .ptlier night she was shot and killed by one of her companions in a saloon. Police believe it was accidental. All the party had been drinking. The present drouth near Carlyle is the most severe of the season. There has been no rainfall for thirty days. The corn crop is badly injured and many fields are fired by the prevailing hpt winds. The peach and apple yield will be-cut short, owing to the fruit dropping. » One thousand people attended the Phares family reunion near Clinton. Sam­ uel C. Phares, with nearly 200 of his de­ scendants, gathered around the family table at* noon, Sunday being his eighty- ninth birthday. Addresses were made by Rev. James Alvin Clark and others., P. White, a well-known attorney oi Carmi and ex-county superintendent of schools of White County, was arrested in Carmi on a charge of larceny and em­ bezzlement.. White was guardian of the Young heirs, and he is accused of misap­ propriating funds belonging to them. The commissioners of the western hos­ pital for the insane at Watertown have awarded the contract for the erection of the pressed brick power house for the hospital to the Edwards & Walsh Con­ struction Company of Davenport, Iowa, for $14,800. The hospital will be ready to accommodate 200 patients in Febru­ ary. The following officers of the Big Bend Veterans' Association were elected at La con: Commander, Samuel McFerley; S. V. C. R., R. C. Golliday; J. V. C., John Cunningham; surgeon, W. O. Ensign; as­ sistant surgeon, William Downing; chap­ lain, Rev. Joseph Bell; quartermaster, G. W. Howe; inspecting officer, T. J. Taylor. A man in a dazed condition, barefooted and without a shirt or hat, was picked up on the streets of Elgin by the police. He said his name was Michael Lawler and that he was a teamster at Sterling. He said he went fishing Monday at that place and remembered nothing more until he found himself in Elgin. His relatives, were notified, and they explained that he was a somnambulist and had frequently been known to walk in his sleep. If the man's story is true he walked about nine­ ty miles to reach Elgin while unconscious. His feet bore evidence of a long tramp. Pleading excuse for his crime on the grounds that he wanted the money to meet a payment for his home, Rudolph Colkline of Chicago, self-confessed ab­ sconding cashier of Phelps, Dodge & Palmer, was apprehended in St. Paul by co-operatives of the Pinkerton detective agency. Expressing willingness to face his employers, whom he had served nearly twenty years, he refrained from demand­ ing requisition. "It was wrong, doubt­ less," Colkline said when arrested, "but I was smarting under the injustice I be­ lieved my employers were subjecting me to in the matter of salary after so many years of faithful service^ The amount of my shortage soon became more than I could hope to refund and when the firm recently began checking up my books I realized my only course to avoid the con­ sequences of my actions lay in flight." Colkline further asserted that he had started to work for the big shoe firm as errand boy for $9 a week. He arose by promotion until he became successively bookkeeper and cashier. His predecessor, he claims, received $3,000 a year, but Colkline's pay was fixed at $1,200 when lie succeeded to the position. Mayor Lagger of Joliet issued an order prohibiting the city fire department from going outside the city limits to fires. There are tliousands^pf residences outside of the limits, ancPfor years they have had fire protection without any expense. Judge A. K. Vickars of Cairo granted an injunction at Murphysboro, command­ ing the itinerant strikers to desist from trespassing on the grounds or interfering in any way with the employes of the Mud­ dy Valley Mining and Manufacturing Company, the Muddy Valley mines, and also from entering on the lands of W. P. Halliday. • ' . . The conl strike may cause a delay in the resumption of work at the Alton glas9 factories and the closing down of other industries. Orders are abundant at the glass works and every plant expectedto resume.^ But at the present price of coaf resumption, the manufacturers now say, will be delayed. 1 he Illinois live stock commission re* ports the following cattle inspection held at the Union stock yards, Chicago, dur­ ing the week: Inspected, 149; passed in the yards, 114; held for post-mortem ex­ amination, 35; passed on post-mortem ex­ amination, 22; condemned us; unfit for i food and ordered tanked, 13. No diseases J were discovered during the week, ' Clfklm of Alleced Increase of Ex­ portation of American Manufactures Controverted by Treasury figures Showing Proportionate Increases Under Wilson and McKinley Laws. Wilson Law Kxamined. Special Washington correspondence: It is now practicable to examine the claim made by the advocates of low tariff that the Wilson tariff law made ap increased market abroad for Ameri­ can manufactures and thus was ad­ vantageous to them. The opportunity which is offered to examine this question comes by way of the publication by the Treasury De­ partment of its monthly summary for June, which covers the fiscal year end­ ing June 30, 1890, and thus practically completes the record of the Wilson law. That the exportation of manufac­ tured articles did increase under the Wilson law is undoubtedly true. But that the importation of manufactured articles increased very much more than the exportation is equally true. The exportation of manufactured goods in the fiscal year 1897 was in round num­ bers $93,000,000 greater than the last year under the McKinley law, 1894, the figures for these two years being re­ spectively: 1894, $183,723,808, and in 1897, $270,357,801. The importation of manufactured goods during the same period increased $140,000,000,' or nearly double the increase of the exportation of manufactured goods, the total im­ ports of manufactured goods in 1894, the last year of the McKiuley law, be­ ing $158,329,130, and in 1897, the last year of the Wilson law, $304,047,104. It is thus apparent that the importa­ tion of manufactured goods practically doubled under the Wilson law since 1894, the last year of the McKinley law, and it is not surprising that the bringing in of over $300,000,000 worth of manufactured goods per annum drove the manufacturers of the United States to seek a market abroad at whatever price they could get, as the only means of escaping the necessity of closing their factories. Another interesting point to be deter­ mined in regard to this question of ex­ portation of manufactured articles un­ der the Wilson law is whether the pro­ portionate increase was more markedly rapid under the Wilson law than it had been under the McKinley law. The fol­ lowing table gives the exportations in the fiscal years 1891, 1894 and 1897 of manufactures of the United States; 1894, it will be remembered, was the last year under the McKinley law, and by comparing the growth from 1894 to 1897, under the Wilson law, three years with the growth from 1891 to 1894, un­ der tile McKinley law, also three years, it is easy to determine whether the pro­ portionate growth in export of manu­ factures was any greater under the Wilson law than under the McKinley law. The exportation of manufactured goods during the fiscal years in ques­ tion are given below. The list includes the important groups, or classes of ar­ ticles exported where the amount iu the end reaches as much as $1,000,000. It will be seen that in many cases the percentage of gain in exportation was much greater during the three years of the operations of the McKinley law than in the three years of the Wilson law. Exports of articles manufactured in the United States in the fiscal years 1891, 1894 and 1897, the period be­ tween 1891 and 1894 being under the operations of the McKinley law; that from 1894 to 1897 under the operations of the Wilson law: li,e Smokinc Chimney Top. Morn after morn the artisan Has watched with longing eye To see the grimy smoke in wreaths Swirl up into the sky; He listened for the whistle shrill-- * Its echoes came not back-- And cold and black and desolate Still stood the chimney stack. He heaved a sigh for days goue by When early rising^5 day "* ' Found him with face to fact'ry turned, Light hearted on the way. And now straight on before his eyes, While on his jour­ ney bent, Behold the smoke-crowned chimney stack, Industry's monument. / The shouts of men give him good cheer When he has reached his goal; The hissing steam, the fact'ry roar Are .music to his soul. The grimy Titans of the shop- Waifs of the wizard's brain-- With deft and skillful hand he leads Submissive in his train; Or with uplifted arm he rains Such sturdy, ringing blows As fashion forms of usefulness, And thrift and wealth bestows; He laughs and sings from morn till night Like the miller of the Dee; His fireside is his sweet delight; ~ Rich in content is he. He hears again the tuneful ring That molds the hammered steel, He hears again the whirring din Of swiftly turning wheel: There are the bustling ranks of men-- Our nation's stalwart prop; The fires are lit and there, above, Is the smoking chimney top. --American Economist. Jones' Doemna, Senator Jones of Nevada lias invent­ ed a new rallying cry for the silver ora­ tors who are to work among the farm­ ers this fall. He says that if we had the free coinage of silver wheat would be worth twice as much as it is now. Yet as it is conceded that the silver dol­ lar would be only worth its bullion value under free coinage, as it is in Mexico to-day, and the farmers would thus be worse off if they got twice the present price of tlieir wheat and got it in dollars worth only 43 cents. Senator Jones lias no means of substantiating his assertion that the price of wheat would double under free coinage ex­ cept by admitting that the dollar which would be paid would be worth only half that which is now being paid. In point of fact, it would be less than half, as is seen by the conditions of Mexico, where a dollar containing more silve? than that in our own dollar Is worth but 43 cents. Senator Jones may be a great financier, but the average farmer is sufficiently well posted in matters of that sort to know that two 43-cent dol­ lars are worth less than one 100-cent dollar. The Olden Times. What nation has a history, upon the sea equal in its glory, and. gfandeur to that of the United States? But that was in the days of discriminating duties-- when it jvas considered both logical aud necessary to protect our ships just as our other industries were protected This nation was made wealthy and powerful by its shipping. Are Getting There. The promised dollar wheat of Democ­ racy never eventuated during the free trade administration. But we are get­ ting nearer to it under protection. The Farmer's Sonir. The farmer's up at dawn of day, har­ vesting wheat or hauling hay; he kuows protection's here again, for mon- Agricultural Implements Books, maps, etc Brass, manufactures of Carriages, cars, etc Chemicals, drugs, etc Clocks and watches Copper ingots, lbs... Copper, values Cotton, manufactures Fibers, vegetable Glass and glassware Gunpowder, etc .. Iudla rubber manufactures....'. Instruments for scientific purposes Iron and steel.. . Sole leather, lbs Illuminating oils, gallons Naphtha, gallons Spirits, distilled Total leather, manufactures Marble, stone, etc., manufactures....... Musical Instruments Vegetable oils Paper Soap Sugar and molasses Tobacco, manufactures Wood, manufactures McKinley law period. Wilson law period. 1S91. . $ 3,219.130 1,820,470 296,340 . 4.001,120 . C,545,354 . 1.580,104 34,554,317 • 4.614.597 13,604.857 1,504.740 8< >8.374 995,546 • 1,236.243 • 1.575,544 • 28,909,614 • 37.501,278 •571,119,805 • 12,171.147 • 1.887,431 • 13.278,847 845,154 • 1,32(5,389 • 4,302,936 • 1.290,169 • 1,137,263 • 7,099.788 • 4,185,703 • 5,887,267 1894. .? 5,027,215 2,620,046 808,427 3,399,675 7,400,953 1.302.813 195,047,642 19,697,140 14,340.886 1,712,744 922,072 1,003,126 1,461,842 1,534,277 29,220.204 42.877,497 703,308.626 15,555,754 5,676,936 14,223,42!! 1.054.814 972,590 6,460,635 1,906,034 1,139.702 2,209,411 4,200,019 6,773,724 ALBERT B. 1897. ? 5,240.680 2,647.558 1,171.431 2,940,710 9,781,4S8 1,770,329 279,393.807 30,711,597 31,014,058 2,210,184 1,208,187 1,555,318 • 1,807,142 3,054,453 57,497,305 38,384,314 772,020,620 14,249.028 1,941,703 * 19,161,446 1,783,480 1,275,717 8.511,618 3,333,157 1,130.880 1.708,962 4,380,301 8.492,410 CAItSON. Shipping Tin Plate to Kurope. The first shipment of American tin plate to Europe, which was made from an Indiana mill on Wednesday, marks an epoch in the development of an in­ dustry which had its birth in the tariff law of 1890, Ever since the McKinley act put a tariff on tin and terne plates the free trade orators have persistently chal­ lenged the existence of a tin plate in­ dustry in this country. They have ridi­ culed the notion that it was possible for this country to supply any consider­ able portion of the home demand for terne plate, although confronted with statistics of domestic production, the accuracy of which was beyond ques­ tion. In the campaign of last fall the si­ lence. of the free trade orators on the tin plate question was ominous and sig­ nificant. It was no longer possible to talk against the towering smokestacks of thirty-four tin plate mills. The growth of the industry since the enact­ ment of the McKinley law in 1890 has been phenomenal.--Chicago Tribune. ey's waiting for liis grain. The mar­ ket's up, his crops are good, he'll buy new clothes, have lots of food; lie'il lieed no more the free-trade "beat," who guyed him once with "dollar wheat." Free Trade in Australia. An advertised meeting of those will­ ing to form a branch'of the Australian Free Trade Democratic League, in the colony of Victoria, resulted in the pres­ ence of exactly three people. One of these was a reporter, who left the other two gazing at each other with every appearance of dejection at the pros­ pects of the cause. Prosoerity for the Farmer. Prosperity continues to haunt the farmer despite the fact that he refused last year to vote for the free and un­ limited coinage of silver. Bradstreet's Review, an extremely conservative and reliable financial journal, in its last is­ sue shows that there was an advance in prices of corn, oats, rye, hay, pota­ toes, wheat, beans, cottonseed oil, hemp, beeves, bacon, lard, rice, eggs, mutton, cotton, tobacco, wool and other articles of farm production during the month of July. Commenting upon this fact, it says: "This is evidence of a healthful ground swell of demand for staple products, and emphasizes the radical improvement in the situation A Good Text. "Here endeth the free-trade lesson" is a phrase likely to pass through the mind of the American wage-earner, as he finds the opportunity to work once more offered to him under a protective tariff. OEX. sin ni.oxDiN BLOOD. English Commander on the Afghan Frontier. ed that later intelligence will prove its truth. Fort Maude, in the Ivhyber Pass, has fallen, but fortunately there has been no massacre at that point. The Afridis cap­ tured the place after desperate fighting. The garrison, which was composed of native levies, retired with but the loss of three men. Fears are expressed, how­ ever, that the exact truth about the strug­ gle <s withheld, though it is given out that the Afridis burned the fort after captur­ ing it. No intelligence had been received touching the fate of Fort Ali-Musjid, but it will create, no surprise should it de­ velop that the fierce Afridis are also in possession of that stronghold. That the Coal Miners and Operators Fail to Astree on Peace Terms. The crisis has been reached in the great coal strike. Attempts at. a peaceful set­ tlement in the Pittsburg district, which is regarded as the key to the situation, have come to naught, and both sides are preparing to resort to drastic measures. The operators say they are determined to reopen their mines at whatever cost. If their men will return to work at the old scale, pending a readjustment of wages, well and good. If not, they say they will import the necessary men and afford them all possible protection. On the other side, the strikers say they , will not yield, and confidently predict that the operators will be forced to grant their demands for living wages. The peace conference between a com­ mittee of Pittsburg district operators and national and district officials of the min­ ers adjourned without date. The repre­ sentatives of the miners will not recede from their original proposition to settle the strike by arbitration and start the mines at the 69-cent rate. This the op­ erators would not grant. President Ratchtfbrd firmly maintained his stand for the payment of the 69-cent rate until the question was settled by arbitration. He suggested President McKinley and Wil­ liam J. Bryan as the arbitrators. The operators offered to divide the dif­ ference between 54 and 09 cent rates, making the price at which the mines should start 01% cents per ton, but, this was rejected. Then additional proposi­ tions; were made. One was to start the mines Without fixing any price for thirty days and then to pay the rate agreed upon by the board of arbitration. This was also refused by the miners. They said they had been fooled too often to trust the operators again. They declined to work for a month, giving the operators the out­ put that length of time, without knowing what wages would be paid. A proposition was made to operate the mines for ten days without fixing the price, allowing a board of arbitration to fix the price for that time. President Ratchford insisted that nothing but the 69-cent rate could possibly be accepted. The operators were firm, but the miners were equally determined, and every argu­ ment of the mine owners was met by the miners' leaders. Neither side would con­ cede another point, and it was decided to end the conference. SLAIN BY WRECKERS. Chicago and Alton Freight Train Ditched Near Mazonia. Train wreckers are responsible for the death of-Engineer James Brennan of Bloomington, III., who was killed in a smashup on the Chicago and Alton Tues­ day night, and the injuring of Fireman Brown in the same disaster, as well as the destruction of ten cars, involving loss KHYBER PASS, "THE GATE OF INDIA." Col. Rend Denounce* Ratchfordf Who Defends Hls Course. . A conference between National Presi­ dent M. D. Ratchford, National Secre­ tary W. C. Pearce and District President j Patrick Dolan, representing the miners, I and the coal operators of the Pittsburg district was called in Pittsburg to Con­ sider some plan of settling the strike. There was considerable preliminary sparring over what both sides were there for. President Ratchford said his idea 7 was that the conference was to arrange for an interstate conference. The opera­ tors told him the main thing was to get the mines started, and if the miners' offi­ cials were satisfied the question of wages would be submitted to arbitration. In the meantime the mines could be started. President Ratchford said they would not agree to anythingiess than 09 cents pend­ ing the settlement of the question by the arbitrators, and if the operators were not willing to pay 69 cents there would be no use of going into a discussion of the mat­ ter. ^ Col. W. P. Rend of Chicago, whose mines are on the Panhandle road, stirred up trouble and made a highly sensational attack on President. Ratchford early in the conference. Ratchford bad referred, to the conference of labor leaders at St. Louis, and said the meeting might result in a general suspension of work all over the country. He said all trades will be affected. Col. Rend claimed this would be an insurrection and said to Ratchford: The circular letter you issued calling for that St Louis meeting was treason. If there is a general strike of wage-earners in all trades it will be an insurrection, and this country will have another civil war. I am satisfied that if this strike continues there will be bloodshed, and the blood of the peo-; pie killed will be upon your head. You don't want to settle the strike; you are an anar­ chist and a traitor to the cause of labor. The, people of this country are ready to hang an­ archists and I am ready to help them pull the rope. While Col. Rend was speaking he was shaking his fist vehemently at President Ratchford, who remained cool and did not attempt to answer the operator. Afterward National President Ratch­ ford made the following statement: There Is a feeling of opposition upon the part of the operators against an interstate conference for certain business reasons. The general feeling among them Is In favor of arbitration. To this we have no objection. We believe In arbitration and favor arbitra­ tion, but insist that this question must be arbitrated upon the basis of living wages. I have been misquoted. I never received a request to come to Pittsburg to go Into con­ ference. They never proposed arbitration until to-day, excepting Col. Rend suggested It some weeks ago on the basis and with the understanding to resume at the former price pending the decision of three United States judges. This we promptly refused without consideration, as it was unfair in the ex­ treme, and its unfairness was manifested more conspicuously because it comes from a man who pretends fairness. If I am a.traitor to the cause of labor, why Should Col. Rend and I disagree? Rend ac­ cused John McBrlde of selling the strike of 1894; he accused Phil Penna, whom I suc­ ceeded, of being a coal operator and working In league with operators. It Is the most nat­ ural thing that he should accuse me after disagreement. I am not the least bit alarm­ ed about Rend's accusation. I would as soon have him accuse me as to have his friend­ ship. 1 GAIN IN OFFICES AND SALARIES. Khyber Pass, in which the fighting is now carried on between the native troops, called the Khyber Rifles, and the Afridis, is the only highway upon the land opening from Europe into ^ie great empire over which Victoria rules. This outlet in the heart of the mountains is called the Gate of India, and the town of Herat is called the key. It has been long said that if England and Russia ever fight the result will be wrought out in this pass. The pass is guarded by several forts, one of which, Fort Maude, has already been destroyed by the Afridis. Through Khyber Pass can be found the only road over which artillery can cross the great wall of mountains between Burmnli and Beloochistan. It runs between walls 600 feet to 1,000 feet high and is about thirty miles long. The English subdued the Afghans in 1878, and placed the preseut ameer, Abdurrahman, on the throne. Eng­ land and her soldiers are hated by the Afghans, and the ameer, though a resolute man, could not restrain his warlike subjects from fighting British power, even had he the desire to do so. For a hundred years the czars have had their eyes upon Khyber Pass, and it is believed that the aid which is now being extended by the Afghans to the rebels in India is quite pleasing to Russia. Britain has a difficult problem in Khyber Pass, and the present uprising may develop into a serious matter for British supremacy in India. British troops received another check in the Khyber is evidenced by an official report from Simla. It states that Col. Waters, who is in command at Jamrud, trained a battery on the enemy and shell­ ed them from a range of about 3,000 yards. The Fourth Dragoons, who at­ tended as support to the artillery, also made a spirited dash at the Afridis, but the latter held their ground and the troops deemed it politic not to engage the enemy further and returned to Jamrud. THE GERMAN EMBASSY. Washington Will Miss Ambassador t and Baroness Thielmann. Baron Max von Thielmann, the imperial German ambassador to the United States, has been recalled to become minister of the treasury in the new government now forming. The baron is a diplomat 1 of world-wide reputation, having filled many important diplomatic positions. He was appointed ambassador to this country three years ago, and has conducted the international affairs with consummate skill. He is about 55 years of age, and is of an old German family which has seen much service in court circles. The ap­ pointment was a great surprise to Baron von Thielmann, who had just settled down for his third season at a beautiful country place at Lenox, where he and Baroness von Thielmann were admitted to the most exclusive society circles and entertained extensively. The first news of the ap­ pointment was a cablegram received by of $10,000. The wreck took place near Mazonia, on the Coal City division of the Alton, a short distance from the main line and within five miles of Gardner sta­ tion. The train was south bound and was running at high speed in a hilly country when it encountered a tie and a rail laid across the track. The engine was overturned and slid down an embankment, followed by ten loaded cars, several of which piled up on the engine. Engineer Brennan was caught under the locomotive • and frightfully crushed and scalded. Fireman Brown jumped, but his injuries are not consid­ ered serious. Brennan was taken from the wreck alive. He was carried to a neighboring farm house, where he died. It is believed by many people that the obstructions were intended to ditch "the hummer," the Alton's fast passenger train, and that the wreckers made a mis­ take in timing their work. The Alton trainmen lately have had a good deal of trouble with men and women who have been stealing coal from cars in their trains dear Mazonia, and it is supposed that the work was done by some of these persons. Appropriations Made During the Last Two Sessions of Congress. •The volume of "appropriations, new offices, etc.," covering the second session of the Fifty-fourth Congress and the first session of the Fifty-fifth Congress, show­ ing in detail and by bills the appropria­ tions made, the new offices created and offices omitted, with their salaries, the number of salaries increased and reduc­ ed, the amount of contracts authorized requiring future appropriations by Con­ gress aud the indefinite appropriations made, has just been completed by T. P. Cleaves stud J. C. Courts, clerks to the Senate and House Committees on Ap­ propriations, respectively. It shows that the appropriations made were as follows: General appropriation acts $397,100,384 Deficiency acts 10,557,417 Miscellaneous acts 909,051, 'Total .....$40S,656,858 The permanent annual appropriations are $120,078,220, making a grand total of appropriations made at. both sessions of $528,735,078. > The number of new offices and employ­ ments specifically authorized is 410, at an annual compensation of $443,439, and the number omitted 134, at an annual compen­ sation of $157,097, making a net increase of 270 in number and $285,742 in amount. The number of salaries increased is twenty at an annual cost Of $0,814, and . the number reduced two, at an annual cost of $400. The total amount of con­ tracts authorized requiring future appro­ priations by Congress is $2,209,375. IMMENSE CROPS IN THE WEST. A Popular Air. Industry has come, the factories hum, the workman draws Ills pay; the turn­ ing wheel, the hammered steel, make music every day. Dun's Review for last week makes radically encouraging remarks on the prospering condition of various sections of the country, the heavy purchases, large deals in stocks, and especially in wheat, and finally intimates that the week has been one of progress not sur­ passed by the great revival upward rush in 1879. If the predictions .of Director Preston of the United States Mint about the in­ crease in gold production. prove true, the silver cause will have difficulty in getting recognition by th^great polit­ ical powers in 1900. State of Nebraska Reports 45,OOO.OCO Busliels of Wheat, The wheat crop of Nebraska has been thrashed. The quality is excellent and the yield is unprecedented, aggregating 45,000,000 bushels. The average is twen­ ty bushels to the acre, and there were in round numbers 2,250,000 acres. It is generally estimated that the yield of corn will be 350,000,000 bushels, or fifty bushels to the acre. The corn pros­ pects are not as good as they were ten days ago. The weather has been too cool since then, registering 3 degrees below the normal all over the State. About three weeks of warm weather is needed to ma­ ture the crop. In South Dakota a close estimate places the wheat yield at 20,000,000 bushels. The average is fifteen bushels to the acre. In corn the yield will be 200,000,000 bushels, an average of forty bushels to the acre. The wheat harvest in South Dakota is finished. Of 100 farmers who have re­ ported only eight say they have a smaller acreage of wheat this year than last. The other ninety-two report an increase of about 20 per cent. With this increase of acreage and the high price of wheat this year the South Dakota farmer will realize about twice as much money from his crop as he did last season. There is an abundance of oats, which averages up to last year's crop. Corn is all right, if the frost will hold off till Sept. 10, but much of it will be out of the way before that time.