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SULTAN HANGS ON
WITH TENACITY
Clings to the Bolkf That the Antes
don Are Kot in Earnest.
THINKS HE MAY HOLD ON YET
Sultan May Defy Them AH an 3 Go
Down with His Empire if the
Worst Comes.
*xm4on. December 3S.—Sultan Abdul Da
nt «i has mar :_g<xl to pa -s a fairly comforta
ble Christmas despite the fact that he is in
the pcstticn of a criminal awaiting sen
tence.
lie h:ri teen told this wok by his dear
fr'cai, M. Neliuoff, the Russian ambassa
dor. that the time has arrived for him to
make tray for somebody more pliant, but
he dings tenaciously to the belief that the
ambasaaders are no n.oro in earnest no*
than upoa aeons of previous occasions
wh-n the situation was, to all appearance,
as «erlous for hint as it is now, end it is
becom ->g daily evident that coercion with
all Its perils will have to l>e applied.
It is alleged-that It is the reality of these
perils that taakca the powers even now at
lhe last moment hesitate to take the ir
-1 < vuci-tle step.
T.’te fleets are re-a-iy and the Russian ar
ri.rs are ready in Europe and Asia. Ku
r -pe’s ultimatum has been delivered and
y«-t decisive action is d< layid.
It wta suggested today that the powers
f ar that Alt-lul Hamid has really resolved
upon the desperate expedient of declaring
1 oly war and of perishing; if n»-ed be. be
n- ath the ruin of his empire, and that they
ere not pt epared tor such a fearful contln
g«ncy.
France Is Standing Firm.
Fran- in particular s sai l to -lisplay
■ < : lii.d MMBOM MM vp- • " -I r< <-
elation and belated distrust, not only of
Kr.-iand. but of ler friend and ally, llus-
n. Another ill-infotmed r- -porrer tele
p-aphs today that Austria and Germany
a.i again raising objections to coercion
cr.4 that they hate notified the other pow
i.. of their inab Hty to take any share
There ’s no truth In any of these re
ports Russia continue! to lead Europe.
r-> is not «>ne single power prepared to
g,- her nay in any course of action who
i y -i . m tt eessary to rn.tka Europe’s*.
•
. •_ h itnid'a mind remain* a <*.- '
i -f h.-p>, fear, f.inati- i-m. mendacity
! f.italiMn, absolutely without th* leaven
. f pialtty cf manliness or of khidnes*.
b - <—lay is undeniable and Inquiries tn
J i elicit no reasonable explanation
Th- Impression seems to prevail, how
*vr. that it is an Integral part of Russia’s
plane to have a Mohammedan rising tn
, - .• .ntiuople : gainst Abdul Hamid, and
»» • • • -• pause H delilierate in order to per
mit the Turkish rvforners to depose the
st.itan and thus obviate the armed inter
v. • •«. It is l-y-:.-! doubt that Frr>f.-ssor
Ahthory Salmon and other refugees In
la ■ -lon. who are In close touch with the
-oung Turkish party, expect a revolution
t<» e- -ur at any moment and at a dinner
of m-mbers of th- same organization in
Ihiris t<o other night everybody ww» ex
citedly expecting what to the few outsiders
. ■■ ■: wis d wrtled vaguely as stirring
.. w— trren -’-m-
Stnmese Attack United States Consul.
New York. Dei mlwr 22—A special cable
•E p. • hto The Herald from Bangkok.
Siam, says:
• \ number of Siamese soldiers attacked
an i wounded Mr. Kellett. United States
• onsntl ireneral here.
■ They demanded the release of a consular
r'-.-rlc who. they allege-!, had been un
justly arrested.
Mr Barrett, ths X*nlte»l States minister.
pr«x--ted. The Siamese government, pur
« ■■ g dilatory taett*a. promises to make
faq-tiry into the In-■'•lent "
Refused To Obey the Boatmen.
T Japan. I* ember 3.—iSfs-ei.il cor
rw-ovslenee of the Southern Ass iated
I'r----.. per steamer Deigic.)—A terrible
n * nt o-eurre-l October 27th on the Full
r--. a stream celebrated for Its rapids.
” . • outtag of whi- hin especially con-
•- -. t • boats Is or* of the delights of
tr. iris’s Eighteen youths who were meni
be-< »•' a touring party hired a bout to
travel down the mptds. When the bout
•M---- iched the Vabuga rapi-1. Which is the
r dam-tcwi’. the boatmen asked the
t " to ‘-.nd nnd to re-emhark below the
r<;< l-« They rvfusrd. tho I-sat was upset
r ■ '• on of tho tourHs arid, three bout-
me- were drowned.
NO DETAILED PLAN.
Cti.alm7.in Hrnna Talks of the Mone
tary Reform Convention.
Ind! vnapidls. Ind . December 2C—The ex
e nt ve committee of the monetary reform
eonv. ptlnn met this afternoon at the liea l
g - -r:*-r» tn the Denison house, and Chair
r !I. I* Hanna laid before it the results
He i- -re than rra'iM at the unl-
• r d interest he found -n the subje t
atr g the best and most Influential men
r-f X w York. Boston. Philadelphia. Pitts
l :r. .el other cities. Daring the session
tho q Mtoo arose ns to what the commit-
spt to do, and Mr. Hanna Ox-
s' it woidd not only be a mla
r . .’ -. : »o. •• but It would he suicidal
• ’!’.<*nt!<*>n io leavor
o;- * dor a detailed plan. White it s ill
I. .< ■ • • r-solut on«. I slri-
• -• it it will leave the matter of
«!• « to a -on that can sit threo
r or six months. If ne.-e--ar>-. to
»o every plan and every sugges-
•! • •' »t Is brought l-efore It and to finally
o • - i curre*- v plan that can meet the
of all classes.
n T she ill ! ke to sc- an rxe-:tb a
o. w-»>- l-’isln* -s shall he to see
.-Aon w.-is ortranlxed. tbit
• , were provided for. that men
n- that it mi—’-t desire -h<»u!d tie
»•- > . ■ • 't f r>. H and af’er tho commission
h«d mu ', ted its work It would b-> th- bus-
< exocut re committee ' n eduroto
- •' intry and congress to th- adoption of
f - ■ it thus crvstaiixe It into law.”
TRTAN MAY LIMIT LECTURES.
Other Business May Interfere with His
Flatform Plans.
"Llncidg, Neb.. De- -nil-cr 56.—W J.
Brvan returned tonight from Atlanta. Ga..
and to a Southern Associated Press n*-
- .rter made the following statement In
connrction with lecture engagements:
’’ ’Mr. V. E. M--He«k with my consent,
transferred his contract to H. Briggs &
rio. of »:ro«-nvllle. S C. Only five m<>m
£•- ’ur - have been arranged for up to this
time, and whether I shall deliver any In
a : turn to that cumber Is as yet unwr
tain. I have some work on hand which
r interfere with the delivery cf ar.y
<•: -r p- tires during this season.’”
:.i- Bryan will remain in Lincoln for an
■ nite period.
l-ri-1 ment of the liver, wllh constipa
tion. 1; jures the complexion. Jn-luce- pim
l-!« e l-.w skin. Remove •••cans, by
'■ nt- . .rteris Little I or P■!! . One a
dose. Try th<m.
i’ « disagreeable ’o live tn th« country
a—l tave ■ leaky reef, ttso the- Aetna r--.-f
Isunt and avoid this auiaance. Guanmteed
1 t gi... sati-factlon. McNcsd Paint and
0,.- «’or;.p*ny, 1U Whitehall suawl* AV-
SHAKEN BY THE HAND.
Recognition of the Greater Republic
of Central America.
Washington, December 23.—President
Cleveland this afternoon formally recog
nised the new greater republic of Central
America, composed of Salvador, Nicaragua,
ar.d Honduras, by receiving tho envoy of
the diet of the new government—Mr. J. D.
Itodriguez, I.uis F. Corea and his attache, J.
D. Itodriguez. Jr. B-cretary Olney present
ed tho Central Americans, who were at
tire! tn fell evening dress.
M Ulster Rodriguix was for a time in
Washington ten years ago, as agent for
Nicaragua in a boundary dispute with
Costa Rica, which the president decided as
arbitrator.
The envoy. In a brief address, presented
his credentials, to which the president re
pl.ed as follows:
“Mr. Minister: I take pleasure In recog
nizing in the name of the United States of
America tho great republic of Central Amer
ica, and in entering into diplomatic rela
tions therewith. Such reeognit on is given
and such relations entered upon in the dis
tinct understanding that the rest»onsi:>!lity
of each of those rcjaiblk-s to the United
States of America remain wholly unaf
fected.
“I discern in tho articles of association
from whi- h the diet derives Its powers a
step toward a closer union of Central Amer
ican states in the interest of their common
defense and general welfare, and I welcome
it as the tw-eeursor of other steps to be
taken In the same direction, and which it
is h<>p«d may eventually result in the con
solidati.m of ull tho states of Central
America as one nation for all the purposes
of thc-lr foreign relations ami Intercourses.
“To you 1 extend a cordial greeting, isuh
personal nnd official, and I trust th it your
renewed r.s clence at the capital of this
country will be as agrr.-able in its personal
relations as I lielleve it will Iki useful and
prohtahie for tho countries you repr- sent,
h-two-n each of which ami the United
States has always existed, and it is hoped
will always exist the closest ties of fr.end
sli p.”
Ttio president expressed hope that the
new repubit.-* would soon include Costa
Rica and Guatemala.
“Mi v| f
IMIAAA
»' -T ’ d /
Av W y
/BWT)
/ ! pVAA ’I-E nn anudder light-
' /V r ./' ’(nxl knot, an’fotch
/A'X/y XxZ / v n>/i dat chunk er tire,
/' '/ / ' i * * ow * t s S*”*’ 1 ’ P ow ’f’*l
{ . '/ Vz ■ / L- col’, and de win’s a risin’
, z x hi ß ,ier -
/ z /• \ / I'icindv, who’s dat callin’? ’Pears
\/ /'i / lac’l hearn er noise
V z K?\/ r ZIP dar in de big woods. ’Spec’it ar’
V / Zde boys
// Feelin’ uv dey Chris’nuis oats, an’ havin’ uv
dey cheer,
\ /J now * s de time ter prance erbout, an’ it
comes but once er year.
x./ ’Feared lac’, how soiheber, dat I hearn somebody
call ;
It mout er bin dat lazy mule er stompin’ in his stall.
De Chris’nuis time done come ergin. an’ I’se a hobblin’ on,
.les’ waitin' fur de summon - when ole ( '.abriel blows de horn.
Ik . 1 da ' ain’t lac’ de d o. • we had, an’ Chris’mus mighty slim
When you sot it side de Chris’musin de days uv Marster Jim.
Seem lac’ it happen’d insiid er to’de wah,
An’ I kin shut my eyes an’ see jes* what 1 uster saw.
1 hear dat bugle tootin’; Ole Isom done gin out
. Dai it’s Chris’mus in de quarter —niggers better git erbout.
Here dev come, a scram’lin’ to de big hous’ mighty swif’,
I e k hite fo’ks an’kotch’em Chris’musgif*.
1 Jal bull-neck Mick lead de gang, an’ (iod rev dos’ bellin’;
i t o>me, fust san am full—jes’pass er down de fine.
< He -Warster come atrottin’ out —his head done hist so high
. < s’mus aigno; f t’rij blazin’ in his eye.
Start dit mu cup dar, I phram; fling dit banjo on yo* knee;
Sing, ‘I Y R ■ ■er r< cas Beats i)e Belle er I ennessee.* ”
Den ole Mi<tL trip out on de porch, tiin d lac’ an’ shy
L. a rabbit in de pea patch when de moon’s a giltin’ high.
An’ she sot dar kinder latli i’, an’ liummin’ uv de tune,
While de t •- c de buzz-rd-’->pe an’ dance de gray-raccoon;
Al! a-Hiouiin’, an’cavortin’, an pa.>hawin’, jes de same
I ■ h cu? lend ban’plays—what’ChCT-namn
But dem davs g* ne, Luncindy; an’ de years am flyin* pas’
Lac* ipc .. d dro i:\ pat’i cs what’s skeered up turn de grass.
■■ ’ no Chris’mus n< »w, an* things am m< mstn ms dim
When vou >"t ’em -ide de d->in’s in de days uv Marster Jim.
Who dat keep er callin’? I boun’ I hearn er yell.
I f dal’s de boys, dcy’s takin’ on a pow’ful spreein’ spell.
Lb’en dar, Lucindy; dar’s dat same soun’ come ergin,
Lac* sun-pin’ at de big road gate, an’ axin’ ter come in.
1 hear de soun* uv liq es’ huffs. Who’s ridin* out ternight?
De wedder’s pow’ful b:\ezv an’ de moon am sca’ce uv light.
D r dey is, Lucindy; dey’s knockin* at de do’!
Fo’ Gord; it’s a white man dat I ne'vr seed befo’!
Sarvant, Marster! Yas, sah; mv name is Uncle liph.
Ole Marster call me dat fur short, an’ udders tuk de lief.
Belonged to Mister Cranston? How come you ax me dat?
Co’>e I’se a Cranston nigger, sum de shoes up to de hat.
Why, bress de Lord! Am dat de truf ? Lucindy, dis am him!
De dead done come ter life ergin—my little Marster Jim!
So’ yo’se’i afo* de tire. Lord, de glory hallelu!
Is de e here eve a-seein* right? Young Marster, am dat you?
Done bin up wid de yankee folks an’ gittin’ pow’ful rich?
1 at what vi ii sax ? In de kingdom-kum, I neber hearn er sich.
Come back bek ise you had a kinder hankerin’ an’ er grief
Ter see de Sous an’ sing ergin a song wid Uncle Eph?
Hear all dat, Lucindy? How come you standin’ dere
< irinnin* lac* er ’possum wid yer mouf sum ear ter ear ?
F<itched all dis truck fur me, vou say ? Young Marster. you’s a sight!
Jes’ lac’ dat ole man Santy Claus, what prowls on Chris’mus night.
Au’ I ’low dal de Cranston blood is runnin’ in yo’ hide
De same ez in ()le Marster’s afo* he tuk an’ died.
Lucindy, bring dat banjo down. 1 iar’s Chris’mus in my soul!
Lac’ dai good ole time reriigi -n uhat makes ole Jordan roll.
An* it’s bleeged ter come er spoutin’. Hist dat halleluja hxmn;
’Kase dis da-, ’s lac’ de Chrii’mus in de days uv Marster Jim!
—ALFRED C- NEWELL.
THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION: ATLANTA, GA., MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1198.
IT SUITS VENEZUELA
Minister Andrade Has Returned with the
Protocol Approved.
GOVERNMENT IS SATISFFED
President Crespo’s Signature Is to the
Agreement and the Ambassador
Moves on to Washington,
New York, December M.—Senor Jose An
drade, Venezuelan minister to the United
States, and Mr. Janies J. Storrow, of Bos
ton, counsel for the Venezuelan govern
ment bt Toro tho boundary commission, Who
went to Caracas a month or so ago with
the proto<«l of tho Venezuelan agreement
for the settlement of the boundary dispute
let ween England and Venezuela and to
st < ure its ratification by President Crespo
and Uio Venezuelan congrt'ss, returned to
this country today on the steamer Caracas.
They were met on their arrival in Brook
lyn by the Venezuelan consul general and an
attache of the location at Washington. They
1- ft shortly after their arrival for the cap
ital.
While l>oth M nister Andrade ami Counsel
Storrow refused to make a definite state
ment. it was gathered that the minister re
turns with tlie protocol approved by Presi
dent Crespo and that lie is ready to nrgo
tiate its ratification with Great Britain.
As to the alleged disapproval by Vene
zuela of tho clause In tho agreement which
falls to recognize the sovereignty of tlie
country by giving it direct representation
on tiie commission and the fifty-year occu
pation provision, it was explained that
these contentions did not arise from tho
government, but from a few sensational
and irr. sponsible newspapers, which were
clearly Ignorant of the true meaning of
the document. > ’
When the agreement was fully under
stood by the people, the most able men of
Venezuela publicly advocated it. and ad
vised its unqualified approval. Then there
was a change of sentiment and a wave of
applause swept through the country.
Minister Andrade Is Satisfied.
Minister Andrade seemed very happy
when lie stepped from tho steamer today.
To a representative of Tho Southern Asso
ciated Press he said:
“I have written and telegraphed all I
have to say ami it has been published in
America. I cannot say anything more on
the question just now."
"Il is said you came hero empowered by
President Crespo to sign the treaty on be
half of Venezuela," said the reporter.
"That is a matter I cannot with propriety
discuss," he replied. “Nor can I tell you
whether or not tho treaty is satisfactory to
my country. There are diplomatic matters
on which I cannot be interviewed.”
“Do you anticipate any objection from
the Venezuelan congress w’lien It meets in
February to receive the treaty?”
“As to that. I will answer that I do not,”
he replleil, smilingly.
Senor Andrado then handed the reporter
a. clipping from a Caracas newspaper which,
he said, represented the ideas and views of
the people of his country. It said:
"In the matter of tiio boundary agree
ment, the unwarranted attacks upon the
government are basted on no solid argu
ments, and we arc surprised to see such
rumors set allont after everything con
cerning Hie boundary question lias been
settled satisfactorily. The Uwtcd States
has been the t’ru-nd and representative of
Venezuela—to put it exactly, Venezuela,
through its friend, the United States, nego
tiated the treaty. It is in all essential parts
tho same treaty as Venezuela offered to
Groat Britain forty years ago, and which
Great Britain refuse<i. Under the fifty-year
clause, the only territory which Great
Britain will have are tho settlements be
tween the Essoqnibo and rhe I’oniaroon
river. Tho fifty-year clause will exclude
Great Britain from the Orotlico country and
the Cuyunl river, which la the portion of
the country Venezuela is especially desirous
of keeping.”
Feeling Is Very Friendly.
Mr. Storrow was not inclined to discuss
tho treaty. “Two or three papers," he
said, “were too quick and wrote articles
against the treaty. Publlo men, jurists
and diplomats wrote Intelligent articles of
the agreement in the newspapt rs and after
a while tho people understood it clearly
and opinion was changed. It was com
mended generally just before wo left the
country, twn examiners to England being
all its advocates.
“As to tho stories of a possible revolu
tion In the country, they are simply non
sense. If any such outbreak was likely to
occur I would certainly not have left."
McKINLEY’S CHRISTMAS QUIET.
President-Elect Took Two Sleigh Rides
and Dined with His Mother.
Canton, 0., December 23.—Major McKin
ley’s Christmas was a very quiet one. Ho
took advantage of the continued good
sleighing weather and took two sleigh
rides this morning. Mrs. McKinley accom
panied him during one ride and a party of
the major's nieces was willt him on the
second.
The major r.nd his wife dined witli Moth
er McKinley, and during tlie afternoon ho
read tho papers and chattetl with personal
friends who railed.
There Were no callers of political impor
tance, and none is expected tomorrow.
THE MISSING WORD CONTEST
The Time Is Growing Short and You
Have Nor. Yet Named the Word.
Tim missing word contest ia-gan Novem
ber Ist and is to run until January 1, 1S1»7.
The prize ef*-red ' r. p-r cent f the sub
scriptions to tho M • ekly Constitution,
received during the s xty days of the con
test, witerein the parties subscribing enter
the. contest. There have been received up
to this date 5.3C2 subscription*: following
the rub-, this makes j53<:.20 to the credit of
tho correct guesser. whoever that may be.
The only condition in tlie contest is that
each and every guess must bo accom
panied by a yearly subscription to The
Weekly Constitution. Tlie fact that you are
now a subserila-r does not entitle you to
guess, but if you want to guess, you may
send in a year’s subscription now and lilts
yotrr guess and your time will Is- extended
one year from tlie expiration of your pres
ent subscription. You may include any of
the premiums shown in our one-dollar offer
or those of higher price, without interfer
ing with your guess in any way.
VOU MIST HIT IT.
The sentence is—
‘•The essential *. , . , .’ of a
book, a review, or a newspaper article,
can often, be stated in a single sen
tence.”
The missing word is tho one th.-it fills
out tho meaning of tlie sentence following
tho word “essential.” It is a plain sen
tence, the idea, in It Is complete and ft
Is a common English word that is missing
one in daily use among tlie plain people,
and there is no catch in it or anything
unusual about it.
Tim wonder is that of all tlie gu--ss<-rs,
agents and subscriliors alike, only one
person has hit upon the correct word. It
was not you. of course, but was a man
liking in Georgia wlto had only one git.-ss
and sent in his own subscription with his
dollar and struck it right. Is it possible
that there is only one man among all Tito
Constitution's r< aders who can tell whnt
the word should lie? As we have stated
frequently la-fore, tho word is a very sim
ple one, the meaning of the sentence Is
not distorted in tho least to bring in an
unusual word, or to make any catch or
trap atxmt it; the idea goes straight
through, making sense as tlie author in
ter-ded.
Now da you propose to lot one mon take
ah tlie money? it you get tlie correct
word and no one else you will get half of
tlie money that Is up. It la strange that
all the ladles who havo guessed have
missed the word.
Indeed, tlie proja-r word is perhaps the
only one tiiat will really curry out the
mcvuilnig of the author. Why can
you not name it? Have you
not read the sentence somew-here
before? Think a minute ami see if you
cannot locate it. If you cannot, you can
do as well as the rest have done, guess
at it and hit it. The way is dear for you
to register your guess, the stun is worth
striving for and we want you to try it.
Surely among Tlie Constitution’s subscrib
ers there is one person who cun supply tlie
word. Do not let the prize go begging be
cause, if you sliould, when we announce
the correct word January Ist there will be
hundreds to say: “Why, is that it? 1 could
have guessed that myself.” We do not want
to keep tlie money; it is up for distribu
tion and it is yours if you strike it right.
Put on your thinking cap and send in your
guess; you may get it. If you do not, you
will add W cents to the prize o«f the man
who does get IL If the others fail, they
will each add 10 cents to your prize- It may
grow to 61,000 or 31,500 before the first day
of January. The fund grew $233.30 last
wetjk. We are ke».-ping a faithful ac
count of it, and the whole matter is to be
decided by a committee of agents and
su bscrihers.
You will barely havo time to get your
guess it after you read this. Better get
your letter off t<alay and have your guess
In by January Ist. All the mail we re
ceive on the Ist will count in the contest,
but none aaiy later.
M'e can make no suggestions as to the
word. Il must be named by the contest
ant. Remember, a simple English word In
a plain sentence. Surely, surely It is your
money. Try It anvhow.
THE CONSTITUTION.
Young mon or old should not fail to read
Thomas Sluter's article, headed “He Sen-U
It Free.’ on pagi ».
AFTER THE A. & W. P.
Petition Filed Tuesday in the Courts by
L. B. Nelson.
CLAIMS CHARTER HAS EXPIRED
Attacks Special Act Providing for Its
Charter’s Extension—Whose Hand
Is Back of the Move?
An upiiUcatlon for a receiver for tlie
Atlanta and West Point railroad was filed
Tuesday morning in the superior court by
Attorneys King and Spalding, representing
Mr. Levi B. Nelson, who owns five shares
of stock in tlie road and is the holder of
a certificate of indebtedness in tho sum
of SSOO, making his total interest in the road
SI,OOO.
As soon as the application was filed it was
presented Judge Bumpkin, -who granted an
order setting the case for a hearing before
him in chambers on Thursday, December
31st, at which tlmo the defendants are to
show cause before him why tlie application
should not lie granted.
After reciting the granting of tlie charter,
its renewal and alleged expiration on De
cember 20th, at midnight, the application
makes the following requests:
“That the Atlanta and West. Point Rail
road Company, its stockholders, directors,
officers, agents and servants be stri tly en
joined from accepting any amendment to
its charter, or legislative a/‘t renewing or
extending the limits of its charter beyond
Ik-ceinb* r 20. ISl<6, and that a temporary
restraining onler be issued immediately.
"That a receiver be appointed to take
charge of the property, to preserve its
property and ass-.ts and that the defendants
deliver to tin- rtsx-iver all tlie assets or
property which they may have in their
possession.
“That a full accounting 1>« bail of tho
debts of tho uompanj- and that a list of
the stoekholders be ascertained to show to
whom tho proceeds should be returned and
that all tho assets bo fully administered
upon by the court.”
Tho application also asks tfiat after nil
payments have been made that the balance
of tho proceeds bo distributed among the
shareholders, pro rata.
It Caused Surprise.
The impression that gu.ned strong ground
among the railroad men was that the move
was merely a continuation of the bitter
warfare between tlie Seaboard Air-lane
and tlie Soutliern, and that it was a move
by the Seaboard. Tills version was vouched
for by railroad authorities who should
know’. Railroad sharps who cun tell every
wind that shakes a reed in railroad circles
said that Mr. St. John's shrewd hand was
back of the play. They declared they could
see it showing through every l.no of tlie pe
eition. They maintained that the St. John
argument which has been presented against
tlie Southern before was prominent in the
petition, it was, in siiort, they declared,
a movement of Mr. St. John aga.nst the
Southern in furtherance of the warfare
which lias been on between them for a long
while.
And how, by striking at the Atlanta and
West I’oint, does Mr. St. Joint a m a blow
at tho Soutliern? To the railroad seers it
is very- clear. Tlie Central is, to all intents
and purposes, a part of the Southern. The
Central Is a large owner in the Atlanta
and West I’olnt. The oetition claims that
the Central is so closely associated with the
West I‘dint road that the latter has many
times to compete with it for busi
ness. The petition charges tiiat the Wtst
Point road is and has been for years under
the domination of the Central road and the
J'ouisville and Nashville, and through this
-tr .g 'ink of int- rest it will . asily be seen
how tl o Southern might be reached and
hurt through the West Pont road.
How the West Point Is Owned.
The Central owns one-eighth of the sto k
of the West Point. The Georgia owns ap
proximately thr-'e-eights of tin? West Point
and this gives these two reads the control
of tiio West Po nt. by reason of their 1.0'.d
--ing a majority of the sto- k. The rema ning
sleek is held by individuals in small divi
sions, there being fully’ 2W> stockholders.
The Georgia road s jointly owned by the
Louisville and Nashville and the Central—
that is, these two roads leased the Georgia
many years ago for a period cf ninety
nine years, each road having an equal in
terest iii tlie 1< ase. So It comes about that
the Central, through tho stock whi< h -t
owns direct In the West Point and tiiat
which it jointly controls with tlie Louisville
and Nashville, through the Georgia road
lease, has a mighty voice in tho manage
ment of the West Point.
Hence, the West Point’s Interests being
the Central’s interests, are to a great ex
tent tho Southern's interests. It offers a
fine point of attack for tho enemies of the
Southern.
Mr. St. John lias been at war with the
Southern. Some months ago he wrote some
letters to the ra.lro.td commission-at the
same me Mr. Sarnu-1 Spencer was doing
some like correspondence—in which he made
a strong attack against combinations of
railroads which would prevent competition.
His argument in those letters was almost
precisely sim lar to th- argument used in
tho petition for a receiver filed yesterday.
Tlie Southern was roundly taken to task
fur lortllng up competing lines, in the p■-
tition yesterday it Is set forth that tho
Southern's line to Birin ngharn and its line
to Columbus are competing lines with the
Atlanta anil West Point, yet through the
Influence which ttlie Southern exercises in
the management of the West Point tlie
patrons of the road are given jne of the
udvantagi-s of competition.
What the Application Charges.
The application is qu.te lengthy, consist
ing of a large number of typewritten pages,
setting fortli a number of allegations.
The petition is brought against the At
lanta and West Point Ra Iroad Company,
whose charter, it is alleged, has expired.
On Dect mber 27th. IM7, a charter was
granted tlie Atlanta and West Point Rail
road Company for a terin of tw* nty years,
which was extended thirty years longer,
which charter expired by llm.tation on
December 20th, 1896, at rnidn ght. The char
ter authoriz'd the issue of capital stock
amounting to $2,232,200 in shares of SPtO
each.
The Liability of Stockholders.
It is shown by the petition that under the
terms of the charter its stockholders were
each liable for the debts of the corporation,
not only for the unpa.d portion of the cap
ital stock held by each, hut also in a sum
equal to the capital stock hi id by each,
and that by tlie provisions of the charter
tho corporation was required to keep and
publish a list of its shareholders and com
ply with divers other regulations in tae
charter.
In July, 1881, tlie petition sets forth that
tho company created an issue of certificates
of indebtedness amounting to $1,232,200,
bearing interest at 6 j»er cent, payable semi
annually, and the petition states that this
entire amount is still outstanding and of
full force.
The Road’s New Charter
Tho suit involving the Atlanta and West
Point railway recalls the recent action of
the legislature in granting a new charter
to that company. Perhaps it Is more proper
to say in granting to the company an ex
tension of its old charter, with the addi
tion of a few new features.
The old charter of the company expired at
midnight the 3>th of December. The new
charter bill was Introduced in the senate
by Senator Golightly, of tho thirty-sixth
senatorial district, and received tlie indorse
ment of tlie committee on corporations of
the senate. When it. came up for its pas
sage, howt-ior objection was raised to some
of the features of the new charter. It was
pointed out tiiat the new charter differed
from the old in tiio matter of liability* of
stockholders. Under tiio old charter stock
holders were liable for double the value of
their stock. Under the new. stockholders
were liable just as stockholders in all other
ra. iroad corporations, for an amount equal
to the face value of their stock. In other
words, it was single liability instead of
double liability.
There was one other change which was
objected to, and that was with regard to
the provision requir ng the publication of
a list ot the stockholders of the company.
This publication was required under the old
charter, but not under the new.
When these points were raised against
tlie new charter Senator Golightly, as chair
man of the committee having it in charge,
moved to table the bill until senators tn ght
have an opportunity of Investigating all
tho facts for themselves.
A few days later the bill was taken from
the table. Among those who had been un
certain about the wisdom, of the bill w hon i
it came up for the first time was Senator
Turner, who was particularly interested
in the measure because of the fact that
the railroad runs through Troup county,
which 13 Ids home, and through other
counties of his senatorial district. Upon
the second consideration ot the measure
Senator Turner strongly advocated the
new charter. He showed that under the
law the company could secure a new
charter through the secretary of state
which would give it not only tlie latitude
of the proposed bill, but even greater lati
tude. In other words tho new charter was
restrictive as compared with such a charter
as the company could secure for the ask
ing from the secretary ot stale —tha; is
the samo sort every other railroad
chartered by the state has. One particular
feature mentioned by Senator Turner was
in tiio matter ot borrowing money. A
charter granted under the general law
gives railway directors the power to bor
row money as they may deem necessary
and there is no restriction upon the rate
of interest paid. A clause of this Atlanta
and West Point charter, however, provided
tiiat the company could not borrow money
except on the request ot the eli«.-kholders
in a regularly called meeting; and it pro
vided also that tlie company could not
pay in excess of the legal rate of interest
in Georgia.
Attacks the Special Act.
In regard to the special act providing
for the extension of the char er, the peti
tions states tlie following:
“Uoupl'vi to this change in tlie statu
tory liability ot such stockholders for
corporate debts, said special a- t a tempts
to grunt to sa.d eon-oration the right to
create mortgages or debts of trust eov< r
ing its entire prop- rty and- franchises and
securing any bonds, debts or sums of
money as may l-<- secured thereby as eaid
corporation shall deem proper.
“i’etitloner charges upon information and
belief that said act. although u special
a- <, was never advertised as requir- d by
tiie constitution and laws of tills state, and
that said legislature treated and pass--d
such act as a public law without any sui h
advertisement being made or required and
is therefore unconstitu ional and void.
“Petitioner shows that said act is a
.special a t for the amendin' nt of a charter
of a railroad by granting to it additional
powers and by ex endittg its corporate life.
.“Petitioner further shows that said a- t
affects ami varies his private rights as a
stockholder of said corporation; that by it
he is at tent! cd to be comp- lied to r-main
a member of said otat : on beyond tlie
term specif!--1 in its charier, to-wit: De
cember 2i>, 1 s :h;, and t iiat tlie ;x»W'rs of said
corporation an- chanced and th-, liabilities
of himself and his co-stockholders greatly
varied as hereinbefore set for it. That
his consent to su- li act was neither sought
nor obtained and petitioner alleges that
said act violates the provisf->ns of the con
stitution which provides that no s-ecial
act varying or affecting private rights as
they exist under general laws shall bo
passed without the consent <<f the perso-is
to be affected thereby and is. for this
cause, unconstitutional and void ”
The Ownership of Stock.
Mr. Nelson, in his- petition, states that
the Central of Georgia Railway Company,
whose stock Is owned by* the Southern
Railway Company, Is dominating t ;e af
fairs of th-- West Point r.-a-l. in which both
■ ■ •<•<■-.-,
rill ? roads are inter--sted by I- -i’-■
Tlie i" tition shows tha the Southern
railway owns a competitive line to N<-w
Mrleans via Birmingham, but notwith
standing tliis, the Southern has been car
rying its trains over the West Point to
New Orleans via Montitomi r>
In paragraph 18 of the petition, the fol
lowing allegations are made:
■'l’otitioner shows that with said personal
liability of shan iiolders withdraw: from,
said charter said corporations voting
said major ties’ sto-t-k.s could, w ithout in
curring any personal liability, create bonds
and mortgages on tlie Atlanta and We-t
Point railroad and under the many manip
ulations whii-li have characterized railroad
managements of late y.-ars, - r ate for their
ow n purposes a volume of indebtedness on
said railroad which would impair and
finally destroy th-- value of tlie sto- k there
of and cause petit on--: an ! the oth< r mi
nority stockholders to lose tiie value of
their hoi-lings."
It is also charged that the Contra! has
re-fused to put in sidetracks betw-en At
lanta and East Point, which is fairly- com
petitive business for the two roads.
Say There Is No Charter.
It is alleged tn paragraph 22 of the peti
tion that tlie charier of the Atlanta and
West Point Railroad Company has ex
pired by the statute of limitations, and that
the business of the road is now being han
dled without any authority of law.
President Smith Talks.
President George C. Smith talked of the
West Point’s ti: in ,al st md ng and other
phases of the case last night. He said:
"I know nothing of tiie proceedings
brough by Mr. 1. B. Nelson against he
Atlanta and Wes’ Point railroad I.eyond
tho statements in his petition. The ex
tension of the company’s charter by a re
cent act of the leg' inure of Georgia was
made under the s i; -r\ - ->n of the general
counsel of the romi-'-ny. M-'ssrs Dorsey,
Brewster & Howell, and pursm-nt to ac
tion l oth of the st-x kl. -r- ind uir
tors. The individual s: -<-kh<-:d'-rs were
specially consulted with r--sp-- I to_ the
provisions of the new - hart.-r, and aetiv. ly
favor<-<l the pas-ag of tl- a t in the leg
islature. Neither of the r.ii.w -v companies
own'ng stock in the We-’ Po nt road to--tc
sp's-ial interest in the | . -vs and the
measures for a r--n* w --f tl.-- - li-irtcr w-re
committed emit -ly to tlie direction of the
president, local directors .i’- ! -neral coun
sel of th-- company. ~ , ...,
“I have no doubt of the entire legality
of the proceed!! g< under '-' the ehart.-r
of ihe compa- - ■ J
prebend no difficulty in establishing their
regularity. _ . ...
“The Atlanta nnd W-st Point railroad
has for many years o'- upied an impor
tant position in tlie transportation system
of the south, and und-r prud. nt con
servative management has 1-—n profitable
to Its owners and has enjoyed the confi
dence of its patrons. Tin- ownership of a
port’on of its stock by o-i r railways has
not dimfnfsh.il its earning capacity or pre
vented it from r ndering satisfactory ser
vice to the public. .
"Its relations to other ra wavs forming
through lines of travel and traffi- are the
growth of many years of eo-opcr:-.t on and
are based on purely bu-iness consid-ra
tlons. in which tho relation of ownership
Is not considered. »
“Its principal owner is not now nnd has
not been for many years Its principal con
nect on for pass.-ng. r jraffic, and it« ex
change of freight traffic Is conduct, d on
the principle of reciprocity w th all eon
npettons. . zxt
“During Hie twelve month'’ end in ar
Tune erros* enrninars of the
comnany were $--M.IH 7.1. an increase of $•«.-
(H‘2.45 over the preceding ve?ir net in
come was s2l9>nv--. m nse of
Its interest charges were $-3,932: taxes,
sl7 T” 73 dividends, ril.'-t? expenditures
for" new’ equiomont. $.7.3FWir» Its surplus
on June 30. I'>?6. was «71.M< 82.
“Forth,- fiv-> months’ period ending No
vember I'K the gross earnings of the
comnauv have been f23\lW.'W. an increase
of «| 1 -1- over t l '-' same i---ri.nl of the pre-
vious year, which included three months of
the \tianta exnos'tion.
“Tile eomi-nnv may justly be sail to be
in a more prosperous condition nt present
than at anv nr ding n*rTd in its his’orv
Its interest taxes and dividends are earned
and paid with regularity: its local territory
is leveloping more rapidly than almost any
Other section of the stat.-: its through
traffic has increased from year to year and
its nhv-icnl ,-ondl'tr.n a"d service is being
cont’nuallv improved. Anv action to em
barrnsa such a property with proceedings
looking to a receivership am--ir *o he -ro
tated rather bv mslice and malevolence
than a desire to subserve the interest of
its security holders or protect th& welfare
of the public.
SPANIARDS MEET
A WATERLOO
Philippine Island Insurgents Drive the
Regulars Back.
FIVE HUNDRED ARE WOUNDED
Gunboats Aided the Army but the
Rebels Defeated the Forces ty
Jaand and Sea Easily.
San Francisco, Cal., December 22.—Pri
vate advices from Manila, Philippine isl
ands, reached here today, and are verified
by an account that appears in the Hong
Kong press received here on the Belgic
tills morning. The news contained in the
communication deals with the attack by
tiie Spanish on the Noveleta isthmus, and
the attempt of the Spanish so dislodge
the insurgents in Cavite and Vlefo.
At the end of the campaign, which lasted
until the Hth of November, the Spanish
authorities sent out dispatches reporting
tiiat the attack had been successful and
that the rebel loss was very heavy. The
Spanish claimed to have lost about thirty
live kill.-d and a hundred wound'd.
It is now learned that the great victory
that the Castilians predicted ended in igno
minious defeat. The rebels held Novelet*,
against warships and troops. The Spanish
forces under General Rios were divided
into two brigades of 7.000 men each, sup
ported by the Spanish gunboats in the
bay. Tho insurgents numbered about 12.-
000, a somewhat smaller force than the
Spanish commanded, but they were strong
ly entrenched in Cavite and Novelets.
At the head of the Novelets peninsula
together was honeycomlie >1 with rifle pits
and the town defended from assault by
earthworks planted with rapid fire cannon
and several pieces of heavy artillery. Rios
a: the head of the first line of recruits of
Nevela and the rebels fell back to the
main line of defense, a mile in the rear
of the picket line. Th- Spanish had their
plans well arranged. They placed the cru
iser Castilla close in shore and with her
guns covered the attack of the royal
troops. Tho cruiser’s shells reached the
outside defenses of the rebels, but had
i■ 1-- ■ ff---. on the f of the city.
The fight began at 9 o’clock Sunday. No
vemi-cr Sth. and by 1 p. m. tlie insurgents
outer works had been evacuated.
Five Hundred Spaniards Wounded.
Then a general attack followed. Rios
throwing the main body of his first bri
gade agaiturt. the rebel entrenchments.
Tlie gunboats opened fire on the enemy,
but owing to bad gunnery failed to cause
anv damage to the d-fens-s.
The Cardela, the closest to Cavite, was
fully six miles from '-he town and all of
her shells fell short. When Rios’s men
reached the insura nts’ works a terrific
lire was opencd on them.
They marched forward resolutely until
the rifle pi’s commenced to beich forth
tire, mowing down the front ranks. The
column faltered, then retreated slowly
under heavy tire.
The Spanish treops w« re in the open and
subjeet.-d to tho fuU effect of the fire. Had
the rebel’s gunnery been good Rios's men
would hove t< en slaughtered. On the morn
ing of tlie 9th the Spanish w-re back in their
camp again and had repaired the remnants
of the first brigade. .
The seeeod brigade had suffered very lit
! tie. The '• -■ ■•; 1 I a sm:tll_
' transport were used to fetch she wounded
to p -rt from the p< t>lnsula. At least UM
wounded w- re- brought from the battlefield.
On W. in- -luy. November 11th Bioa pre
pared and headed a second attack on Nove-
H-- threw his entire army against the re
doubts and was route-1 with heavy loss in
the first attack. The gunloats failed to
; I the troops to any extent, their shot fall
* ing short. The Spanish did not attempt to
renew the attack, but waited until the
morning of the 14th, when a weak effort
was made to flank the rebels, the failure
of which ended the fighting for the time
being-
What Spanish Rule Means.
In private advices received from the
Philippine islands count for anything, the
moral force of the Uniti-1 States in taming
Spanish cruelty in Cuba must be consider
able. There is no hetrodoxy in the Philip
pin- The ra k ami the thumbscrew are
being fi>—ly used to extort confessions.
Natives who ar-- quite innocent of partak
fng In the rebellion ar- shot on sight or
brought tog-ther in squads in the public
squares where their br.iins are blown out
by soldiers holding rifles close to their
heads The worst death of all is being im
prisoned in - i’ia-k h Spaniards seem
to hav- 01-tainc i their id.-a for this from
the famous black hole of Calcutta- The
- • . , . to suffocate fa tho
midst of filth an-1 xermfii. Os put in on
one night it < report-4 that only 150 were
aliv- tlie n« xt morning. Technically, the
black hole is c- rr-s-t. The Spaniards de
s<-rit as a prison where rebels are con
tit.'-d p'-n-ii: tr.al. Tlie 1- -ders of the
r- ta is are for the most part half-breeds,
whi- his th- result ’’ tt. •f - t that Spanish
women seldom go to th ionics. Weli-
i:
Spain will n--v- r be a’ !>• to s ippress the
rvls-llion. The natives hav- been oppressed
for y< ars an-! hav-- worked themselves
die as live under Spanish rule.
/■/ \
ML - ’
Do Yoh Use It?
It’s the best thing for tho
hair under all circumstances.
Just as uo man by taking
thought can add an inch to
his stature, so no preparation
can make hair. The utmost
that can be done is to pro
mote conditions favorable to
growth. This is done by
Ayer’s Hair Vigor. It re
moves dandruff, cleanses the
scalp, nourishes the soil in
which the hair grows, and,
just as a desert will blossom
under rain, so bald heads grow
hair, when the roots are nour
ished. But the roots must be
there. If you wish your hair
to retain its normal color, or
if you wish to restore the lost
tint of gray or faded hair use
Ayer’s Hair Vigor.
7
