s flic ISlccMg Jta. f A SENS ATONAL TRIAL. P B ISHKD AT WILMINGTON. AT- $1.00 A YEAR IN ADVANCE. 85J5S5i5S588S55Se r SS3SSS888888S888? . ' S3SS8S888S8S8888? lWiTS88888f8lt ; .. . t "2?5SSS33&SSSS8es. 328S8S8828S8888SS ' fgS888S88il8888lf ' U Tfl8Sf8lS88l8888f ri . 8888888888888? ll we ioee- aook o -o s g o : 'i' v - - j : -" t . !; ' - ' - 3 be foil Ofhce at ilmtgton, N. C SUBSCRIPTION P CE. i he subscription price of the "We Ij Star It !-.., n'.r Copy 1 v-ar. pc-nage paid ,$J fO " fl month " , 60 " wk. - 80 COMMERCIALISM R N SING RIOT ur i v.a .. - . 1 J3 :i to iiuiu iitu uur agea ui, guiu, Bu yer, iron, brass,"" etc., and now we have what might be called the com mercial age, when commercialism is, us Ponlteney Bigelowsays, "running riot," notOBly in this, but in other , countries. There isn't a leading na tion on this earth to-day which is not more or less influenced by the spirit of grab, and commercialism is behind that. Where they have the power they do the grabbing. The grabbing is not for grab's sake sim ply, bat becanse it may give some commercial advantage and prove commercially profitable. This country was the last of the great powers to be carried away by the lust for grab and gain, but we are in it'now about as deeply and apparently as hopelessly 'as any of them. For a-century we went along in the even tenor of our way, pro gressing and growing strong, rich and powerful without any aggres sions upon others, without arousiDg any antagonism or getting into any tangling alliances. We were content with acknowledged supremacy in the Western hemisphere, and did not aspire to be a "world power" as that is now defined and understood. But we were a world power, and recog niz d as such, without any great navy or army to assert it, a world power in the moral sense, which the nations respected because they knew that while we did not go out hunting provocation for disputes, we had the 'courage and resources to maintain the position we took in the event of diiT-jrences with other powers or at tempts at aggression upon upon us, or upon those of whom we became the voluntary protectors. We were world p wer enough to have the na tions of the t-arth accept and recog nize the Monroe doctrine, in which t here was no commercialism, but the broad spirit of true Republicanism, which thus deglartd that this hemis phere was dedicated to freedom and that no monarch's flag should float upon it. In those days the dollar or dollar pursuing was not, in the estimation of the men who shaped national policies, the chief end of man, nor the prime object in national legisla tion. The man- was thought more of than the dollar, and principle was too much respected to have a price put upon itr. ;sot so now, for everything is meanured by the gauge of the dollar and the question-is asked, as Sena tor Carter said, when speaking of the McKinley policy of expansion, "Will it pay?" If itpays we'll adopt it; if not, we will txoAt. The commercialism that stands upon and succeeds by honest effort i3 all right. That kind of com mercialism at one time sent our ships to the four corners of the earth and made us the second maritime nation on the globe, with out encroaching upon the rights of a single human being or robbing any people of a foot of territory. There was nothing sordid, nothing disreputable in that. It was honest lhere was no false pretence, no hypocrisy in it. A different com mercialism rules this day, different in itself and different in its results. Mr. Poulteney Bigelow may bo some what extreme in his view of the effects of this commercialism, but he i3n't very" wide of the mark when he , says: . "Uommerclaush is running Jiot in toe Uaued States The Yankees are coining their ideas and energies into money. Tbe trust builders are, doing the rest. These money kings neces sarily exercise a blighting influence on the morals of public servants: they create all manner of temptations and brefdall manner of iobberv. "In Washington I found cynical contempt tor trie constitution. Uor ruptioo Htalfes through the govern mem. ii uist;racP8 the balls of COn- press, wmcn are little more than a brokerage shop for ibtysale of author ity to fleece the people. Legislators, aepartment officials and petty public servants or ait kiuds neglect no op ynuniiy to turn their official pre rogatives to profit. ''I learned many specific instances "l lugrant jobbery, especially in con "'-non with the Philippine war. -mere are a thousand officials who it stealings rangiDg from very aon t want the struggle to come to an They would much prefer to see .uucuniieiy prolonged. .. resident Hadley, I see, denies mat he said that, a continuance of present tendencies would land an m eror in Washington in twenty-five VOL. XXXII. years, I don't see why he should de sire to deny such a statement We ! would better have an emperor some one to take a firm stand against the rising tide of official immorality than to have rulers who have no in terest in the government beyond the outcome of the next election. "Commercialism running riot," or the spirit of grab rampant. Trusts, combines, corporations robbing the people, and the men who as legisla tors and administrators of the law help them rob the people, robbing omer neipiess people lor tne com mercial gain it may bring to us. ' At the bottom of all the pretences justifying the policy of the so-called McKinley expansion is commercial ism. Invariably where this policy is attempted to be justified and de fended, we find commercialism figur ing. It is asserted that it "will pay," and therefore it is a good thing to do and we should all be in favor of it, leaving what should be the basic question, "is" it right or wrong?" entirely out of considera tion. That is a kind of commercial ism that sacrifices national honor and national faith and is too dearly purchased whatever the commercial ism might bring. That kind of commercialism not only hurts our reputation as a "just and upright people, but it is demoralizing, for it begets a widespread spirit of greed that seeks wealth without being scrupulous as to the means of ac quiring it, and it demoralizes legis lators who make the laws and makes them the agents or the purchased tools of the interests seeking their services. As a result we have class legisla tion, favoring combines , and schem ers who study plans for enriching themselves at the expense of others through the legislation which they inspire, dictate or buy. as an illus tration, we have class-favoring tariff legislation, the expansion policy, which is for the benefit of the men who seek concessions and find fields for investment in the territory ap propriated, and we have bounty and subsidy schemes to put millions in the pockets of a few men under pretence of helping oar commerce along.. And the result of all this is that the people are plundered for the few, and the few combined and acting together, drawn together by the cohesive power of the dollar, role the many with despotic power, and exact tribute that would revolu tionize a kingdom. Verily, "com mercialism is runningriot." HOT SETTLED YET. j There are some people who fancy that taking the oath of allegiance by Aguinaldo, and his apparently - sin- core efforts to brine peace to the Philippines will settle the problem. But this, even if Aguinaldo's influ ence should bring about the laying down of arms, will not be all, for there are other new and troublsome questions to be : solved, after the shooting ceases. The .Washington Post is an expansion paper, it holds that we are in the Philippines and and are thereto stay; that we can't get out of their honorably if we would, but it. dosen t take tne rosy view of the future that some of the rainbow chasers do, on which it thus comments: The Post is not disposed to minimize any factor which may tend to that haDDV consummation, tsui is mere reallv anv ground on which to base tho belief that we are close up to any "satisfactory solution of the Pnilip- uiuM problem t agumaiao was ine leader of one faction, comprising but a small minority of the total popula tion of the Philippine and Sum is lands. It is conceded by .all author ities that the world presents no more difficult governmental problem or Droblrms than we took off the incapable hands of Spain in acquir ing sovereignty of that archipelago. We bave and we shall bold that sov ereignitv. It has cost us great sac rifii e of life and treasure, and it will cootiuue that draft on our resources even if entire pacification is effected in the immediate future. But if we were willing or desirous to withdraw after so great a sacrifice, there is no honorable exit. We must stay. There fore it is best to face the facts of the situation and not run tbe risk of bitter r1im tin intment bv accenting Aguin aldo't, proclamation lor more - man us . - r value. It will doubtless bave a favor able influence upon some of his fol lowers, but it were vain to hope that it will usher in an era of good feeling toward the United States among all the ten millions of the most heteroge neous aud antagonistic races, tribes, and religions that exist anywhere on earth. ''Aguinaldo has not decided what relations must exist between tbe Phil mnines and tne unuea states, ana that, we imagine, has much to do with the "solution of . tbe Fmlippine prob lem." Our nag is there; our authority is there; but is the Constitution in its entirety there? Tnat is "the para mount Issue," as tbe Hepublie will probably admit. The administration aod Congress are acting on the as sumption that this question admits onlv of a negative answer. They know, and we all know, that millions of the Filipinos are as unfit to govern themselves as are our Sioux and Co manche Indians. Bat, supposing the Supreme Court should say that the Filipinos, one and all, are under the Constitution and cannot be denied any of its guarantees? Tnat is what all Democrats and many Republicans, including statesmen and jurists, ex pect the court to say. But lr sucn a decision as that breaks in upon the programme of the legislative and ex ecutive departments of our govern ment where will that "early and satifactory solution" find itself? "Tbe problem of the friars nas not been settled; only put off for a time. It is as full of difficulty as any question our government has ever been called unon to consider. We are bound by treaty to respect and defend the title of the friars to the immense landed estates they acauired under Spanish rule We cannot send the friars baek without bringing on the most aaDguinarv strife. We are in no condition to buv meir lands. This is one of tbe troubles that we have in store, and it will soon demand settlement. "There is no doubt that in takine the Philippines we got a gold brick of huge dimensions. But we got it sure and fast enough. It is ours and we must make th best of it. Our true policy is to face all tbe difficulties of tbe situation frankly, with so excess of t-ither pessimism or optimism. Tbe past of this republic affords assurance (bat we shall not fail in anv honest at tempt to do our duty." Is there no honorable way out? Is there anything to prevent us from recognizing the independence of those islands after the people have agreed to refund to ua the money paid for them and to indemnify us for the money expended in "estab lishing law and order and stable government?" They iave expressed a willingness to do that, and there is no reason why we cannot deal with the Filipinos as we propose to deal with Cuba. The fact that we bought the islands does not make it incum bent to hold on to them forever, whatever it may cost. . THE CIGARETTB AS A CIV ILIZER. Some people are not aware of- the part the cigarette is playing as a oivilizer in pagan lands. The part it is playing in China was thus told by a missionary in a discourse in Charlotte a few days ago: "Almost every day I hear people speak of civilizing China. The Chi nese ao no want our civilization and I doubt much whether they need it, at least some parts of it 'On some of the streets in China I have seen them selling Duke's cigar ettes, made in Durham, N. O , each package containing the picture of a nude woman, and the natives say that that is tbe way women dress in America." We sympathize with the good mis sionary who undertakes to convert people who are as much wedded to their own beliefs as the Chinese are, especially when he has to combat not only paganism but the demoraliza tion caused by these seductive, bru talizing cigarettes. It is bad enough in itself, without the nude accom paniment, and both together must give the average Chinaman a unique conception of this land of Christian civilization. From force of habit a Connecticut woman went through her husband's pock ets, but found nothing but a little dynamite cartridge. She didn't know what it was, got to fooling with it and came out minus several fingers. She-jumped on her husband for putting up a job on her, but he protested his inno cence, declaring that the cartridge must have been in the pocket of the coat when he bought it, (a sort of prize package) and then she jumped on the man who sold the coat with a suit for damages. It is said that eight out of the ten men who have been ki Mr. Mc- Kinley's cabinets began life as poor boys, but two of them having been well enough off to get collegiate edu cations. So did Mr. McKinley, for that matter, start life a poor boy. He shucked corn and did chores on his father's little farm. John Belder, of Mahony, Pa., has a freak and he isn't sure whether it is a chicken or a cat. It has a head like a cat, four legs and two well formed wings. It was hatched out by the old hen and came in with her brood of chickens. Pshaw. It's a cat whose ancestors had been feeding on chickens. An Oklahoma postmaster who wanted to go "bar" hunting notified the Department that the office would be "shet" for several days. They might "fire" him if they wanted to, but he gave them a "pinter" that he was the only man around there that could 'rede or rite." Dr. Gatlin, the gun man, who migrated from North Carolina, in early life, is working on an auto mobile plow. He expects to rele gate the mule. Imagine the colored sovereign navigating an automobile plow. The experiment of importing ne groes into Hawaii is a failure. The majority of the negroes are no good. They don't like work, they don't like the. natives and the natives don't like them. The late Collis P. Huntington scrimmaged until he accumulated $20,000,000, and now his heirs are scrimmaging in the courts over his will. The Chicago Telphone Company is worried by thieves cutting and stealing their wire. They haven't got to stealing the posts yet. It is said that Archbishop Ireland is so familiar with the Bible that he can in an instant put his finger on any passage he wants. WILMINGTON, N. C, DEATH AT MAXTON. Dr. Daniel B. McNeill, of Bruns wick County, Passed Away Wednesday Night. , He Never Recovered Prom Aa Attack of , Pneumonia Experienced Early in January at Raleigh A Native of Richmond County. Dr. Daniel Benjamin McNeill, one one of tbe best and most favorably known citizens of Brunswick and three times elected representative to the General Assembly from that county, died Wednesday night at the home of his nephew, Dr. D. D. Mo Bride, of Maxton, N. C, after an ill ness with pneumonia and complica tions since about the first of January. The news came hi -a telegram from Maxton early yesterday morning to Mr. R. V. Leonard and brought genuine sorrow to the many friends in this city. Dr. McNeill became very ill within a few days after he went to Raleigh to attend the last session of the General Assembly and remained for some time in the Rex Hospital of that city. When the Legislature adjourned, he was taken to the home of his nephew at Maxton, where he lingered for many weeks until the end came Wed nesday night as related. Dr. McNeill's home is at Lock" wood's Folly and probably no man in Brunswick county was morehighly es teemed than he. His life was one of charity and abounding in good deeds. He was never married but is sur vived by a brother and sister, Dr. J. A. McNeill and Mrs. W. H. Phillips, of Shallotte. He was a cousin of the Hon. Franklin McNeill, Chairman of the Corporation Commission,' and late of this city. Dr. McNeill was born at Rocking - ham, Richmond county, N. C, in the year 1852. He lost his parents when quite young and was raised by his uncle, Dr. McBride, of Maxton, N. C Hss early education was received in the academic schools of Rockingham and Robeson county. Dr. McNeill chose medicine for a profession and bent every energy to this end. His first medical learning was secured at Edenboro Medical College, a chartered institution i at that time under the presidency McLean. ' of his uncle. Dr. Hector After graduating at this he began practicing, but institution afterwards attended lectures at the South Carolina Charleston, a C. Medical College, Although not re quired to do so, Dr. McNeill went before the State Board of North Caro lina in 1883, and passed a creditable ex amination, though he had been en gaged in practice before that time. While attending strictly to the duties of his profession. Dr. McNeill always took a lively interest in governmental and political affairs and was alligned with the Democratic party until bis death. His clientelage in Brunswick county, to which he removed when a young man,, was large and he num bered his friends by the hundreds. In 1885 his party called upon him to represent it in the General Assembly, which he did with signal ability and usefulness. For years he was Chairman of his county Democratic Executive Committee and held various positions of that character and responsibility. He took an active interest in the pro ceedings of the Legislatures of 1886 and 1899, but upon returning in 1901, bis illness with pneumonia confined him to his room during the entire session. In the legis lature of 1899 he was chairman of the Committee on Institutions for the Insane and was a member of sev- eral other important committees of that body During the session just ended, he was also chairman of one or more committees and a member of several, but was prevented from an active dis charge of his duties upon the same by his critical illness. The news of Dr. McNeill's death was telegraphed to South port by Messrs. Brooks & Taylor yesterday morning and the Court House there was promptly closed and suitably draped out of respect to the distinguished citi zen and representative. Th'e Southport Standard of yester - day in speaking of the death says: "So passes away Bunswick county's member of the House of Representa tives, a man loved and esteemed by his countrymen, a sturdy character, a worthy man." THE DICKINSON PROPERTY. Mr. H. A. Knre Has Purchased Buildings and is Tearing Them Away. Mr. Hans A. Kure has bought the handsome Dickinson dwelling on the lot recently purchased by the Mur- chison National Bank and Contractor D. Hanna vesterdav began tearing it away for him, preparatory to the erec tion of the handsome banking house by the Murchison people. The 8tab learns that Mr. Kure will sell much of the material in the splen did residence and will use the re mainder in the building of a hand some residence for himself on a lot which he has recently purchased on Nun between Third and Fourth streets. . Will Return to Fayettevllle. The Rev. W. H. Tomlins, of Fay etteville. who has served veryaccept ably as temporary rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, of this city, during the past month, will leave tomorrow morning, returning to his home. The Rev. Mr. Tomlins has made many friends in Wilmington during his short stay here, and all of them will bid him a regretful farewelL FRIDAY, MAY 3, 1901. M'MULLENMILLER LUMBER CO. Mammoth Plant Doing Tremendous Bnsi esa at Bowden's, Dnplla County. Mr. Leroy B. Rogers, of the D. L. Gore Company, who returned this week from a trip up the Wilmington and Weldon railroad, had occasion while away to go over the extensive plant of the McMullen-Miller Lumber Company at Bowden's, N. C , estab ushed a little less than two years ago. Mr. Rogers says the plant is easily the best adapted and most up to date in the South Atlantic States. From SCO to 400 men find employment there and from seventy-five to one hundred thousand feet of timber are cut per day. The shipments average from five to ten cars per , ay and the establishment of the mill at that point has done wonders for the surrounding country. Practically a new town has been made of Bowden's and the A. C. L. station has been moved nearer to the mill for convenience sake. The company operates a large sup ply store and a hotel in connection with the extensive plant and every thing is as systematic as a government department office. Mr. W. H. Mc Mullen, of Minneapolis, Minn., is the clever and attentive manager and treasurer of the company, and is a man of wonderful executive and busi ness ability. The company is now constructing a railroad from . Bowden's to Newton Grove, a distance of about 17 miles, and this is now practically completed. It is laid with substantial ir,on and a regular locomotive is run over the track. THE ANTI'GtMBLlMO LAW. Mayor Waddeil Swore Policemen List Night to Enforce Its Provisions. In conformity to the requirements of the Aycock anti-gambling law passed by the Legislature, just ad journed, Mayor Waddeil last night as the night force reported for duty and the day force came up for relief, ad ministered to each member of the Wil mington police force the following oath : "I solemnly swear that I bave made diligent inquiry and have exercised constant'- watchfulness to discover whether any keeper of a house of en tertainment or house wherein liquors ar9 retailed, has knowingly suffered any game at which money or property or anything of value is bet, whether in stake or not, to be paid in such house or any part of the premises occupied therewith, or has furnished the persons so betting, either on said premises or otherwise, with drink or other things for their comfort or subsistence during the time of playing, and that I have truly reported to the Mayor or Chief of Police whether such offences have been committed and all of the facts within my knowledge, or of which I have information relative thereto." Mayor Waddeil, after administer ing the oath, explained the new law now in force and informed them that the oath as above would be adminis tered each week hereafter and they would be rigidly questioned as to the existence of any of the misdemeanors set forth in the law. This oath, he said, would be administered either by himself or by Chief Furlong. All the members of the force took the oath last evening, but were not subjected to the questioning that will come later. D7. BLACK WELL WILL REMAIN. Definite Decision As to Newport News Call Announced Last Night. At the prayer meeting service at the First Baptist Church last night, the Rev. Dr. Calvin S. Blackwell, pastor of the congregation, announced defi nitely that he would remain in Wil mington and that his declination of the call to the Newport News church had been forwarded. This will be good news, though half way expected for the past week, to Dr. Black well's numerous friends in Wil mington and in the State, where he is deservedly such a decided favorite. Graduated With Honorable Mention. The Baltimore Medical College,' which is a member of the Medical Association of Colleges, which de mands, a four years' term of its stu dents, on the 23rd inst, out of 108 applicants, graduated 97. Among the graduates was Dr. T. V. Moore, son of Mr. F. M. Moore, of Bruns wick county. Seven of the graduates received honorable mention, and of these Dr. Moore stood first. Some time ago, a college mate of Dr. Moore was heard to say that he was a very apt and diligent student, and surpass ed any member of his class in the special field of anatomy. To be deep ly grounded in anatomy, one ? must necessarily possess a fine memory and it is pleasant to see Brunswick forging to the front with her bright and splen didly equipped young men. Seashore Hotel Improvements. Contractor F. A. Applegate expects to complete the new annex to the Seashore Hotel at Wrightsville Beach within about ten days. The weather- boarding is now all on and the parti tions in.' The painters have already commenced work, and by the opening of the season Manager Hinton will have one of the prettiest and most commodious retreats on the South At lantic Coast Besides tne hotel build ing the grounds are being greatly im proved and other houses on the hotel property put In nrst class oraer. The hearing of the petition of certain creditors to have Mr. W. H. Carr, of Red Springs, N. 0., adjudged a bankrupt was continued from u riaay, April 25th to May 7th. Star SPIRITS TURPENTINE Mount Olive 'Advertiser: At the graded school election in Enfield 218 votes were cast for the school and only three votes against the same. Carthage Blade: We -are in formed that the peach crop about Southern Pines bids fair to be heavy this year. This means a great deal for that vicinity. Columbus Netos: Will Bardin, colored, of Fair Bluff, was found dead in the woods one mile 'east of Fair Bluff, near Mr. Ras Meare's residence, on Tuesday morning last We were unable to learn further particulars. Salisbury Sun; Mr. J. Henry Goodman showed us yesterday a col lection of twelve eggs laid by a large Plymouth Rock hen belonging to Mr. Jack Goodman, of Cleveland. None of the eggs were larger than a par tridge egg and the dozen of them only weighed five ounces. Goldsboro Headlight : Court came to a close Saturday evening after, disposing of some sixty criminal cases and about a dozen civil actions. It is noteworthy that in so rr-any criminal cases, not a single convict ?as sent to the penitentiary. Those b6 could not pay fines and costs were sentenced to road service. Tarboro Southerner: Mr. Webb, a switchman on the (shifting engine. waa caught Friday morning between a car and the cotton yard platform. Sev eral times his body was turned and probably some ribs broken, but this could not be ascertained, as he was taken to the depot, where he was soon carried to Rocky Mount to tbe A. C L. hospital there. Elizabeth City Ucono?mst: Mrs. E F. Whitson. relict of Rev. Samuel Whitson, deceased, departed this life on Tuesday, April 23rd, in the 69th year of her age. To all who knew Mr. Thomas, his death by paralysis, on Friday, fell as a bereavement, and he was one of our oldest and best citizens and everybody esteemed and loved him. He was in his 75th year and all the Judications of health promised him many years of robust and active life. Hardy Gaskins, sentenced to be hanged at the last Superior Court for burglary, has had his sentence commuted to life impris onment by Governor Aycock in the penitentiary. Newborn Journal: An unus ually large sturgeon for these waters was brought in yesterday by two colored fishermen. Bill Anderson and G. R. Nelson. The huge fish was 8 feet long and weighed about 350 pounds. It was sold to Fernie Gaskill & Co. This huge fish was caught down the Neuse, near Slocum's Creek, in a sturgeon net The fish was got ten into the small boat after hard work, by means of a boat book in the fish's gills. Tne roe is much the most valuable part of the sturgeon and it was estimated that this one would furnish a keg of roe weighing 60 pounds. Roe is used in making caviar a dish now much in demand in this country and a staple article of food in Kussia. Raleigh Hews and Observer: J. C. Moser & Co., of Harrisburg, Pa., Tuesday bought the rich gold mine recently discovered near Troy. N. C, on the lands of Currie and Jones, for $24,000 The output of this mine last week, working five hands and two Chilian mills, was six and a ha f pouods of gold in amal- gum, ranted at f4U. ine expenses for the week were $30, leaving a net profit of 1810. Vance Pearson, an employe of the Laura Glenn cot ton mills, was killed at Shelby Tues day evening.' He was working in the race cleaning out the water wheel When some one turned on the water, which hurled him against the wheel. causing death instantly. The turning on of tbe water on a man under a wheel while at work seems to have been a culpable piece of negligence. Wadesboro Messenger-Intelli gencer: Jenny Kirby, wife of Kit Kir by i colored, of Lilesville township, was the victim of a fatal accident Tues day afternoon. The woman's husband was running the engine at tbe mill of Mr. B. F. Covington, of Lilesville township, on the day in question, and she carried his dinner to him. After giving him the dinner she started to return home, and while stepping across the shafting from the engine to tbe mill her dress was caught bv it, and she was jerked down, whirled over and over and instantly killed, her neck being broken. John Lilly Ingram, colored, who lives at isiscoe, Montgomery county, shot and killed his wife Monday morning. The couple had a fuss, and the wife, to escape the fury of her husband, ran into the house and closed the door. The man fired at her through the door with a double barrel shotgun, and the load of large shot took effect in her groin. The woman bled to death in a short time. Ingram has not been arrested. Both the negroes were from the Pow- elton neighborhood, in Richmond county. ARRESTED IN MACON. Man Suspected of Being One of the South' ern Express Car Robbers. Bv Teieurapn to tne Morning' Btar. Maoom, Ga., April 27. A man has been arrested here under the name of Frank Fairfax, who is strongly sus pected of being one of the men who robbed the Southern Express car on the Central train between this city and Gordon on Thursday night Fair fax, who has given several other names, was arrested on a charge of stealing an umbrella, and is held in the city barracks under $300 bond on that charge. Just what evidence mere is against the man the police decline at this time to state, but they regard the case against him as practically conclusive. Important developments in the case which may lead to the ar rest of the other robber are expected at any time. COMPANY ORGANIZED. To Control Output of Poplar and White Pine Lumber In the South. By Telegraph to tbe Moraine Btar. Columbus, O., April 27. The W. M. Bitter Lumber Company, which it is claimed will controLthe output of poplar lumber and fifty per cent of the output of white pine in the South, was organized here to-day with a capi tal of $1,000,000. The company will control 200,000 acres of timber lands and will absorb the following plants: Panther Hardwood Lumber Com pany, and W. M. Ritter's operations in McDowell county, West Virginia; the Knox Creek Lumber Company, operating largely in Buchanan county. West Virginia, Pike county, Ken tucky and Mingo county. West Vir-. ginia, and the Ritter Lumber Com- Kny, which is operating in white pine Mitchell, Burke and Caldwell coun ties, North Carolina. NO. 27 BAVE COMPLETED THEIR LABORS. The Cuban Commissioners Took Leave of the President in Washington Yesterday. FINAL AND DECISIVE TALK. President Tells Them He Can Do Nothing for Cuba On Economic Lines Until Political Questions Are Settled. Cohans Pavorablylmpressed. By Telegraph to tbe Moral nK star. Washington, April 27. The Cuban delegation completed its labors in Washington to day. In the morn ing tbe delegates met Secretary Root who escorted them to the White House, where they had a final and decisive talk with the President Then they paid visits of courtesy to each of the officials whom they have met, and finally they started for New York at 11 o'clock to-night homeward bound. They will sail for Havana Wednes day. The proceedings at the White House were interesting and impor tant. Senor Capote acted as spokesman for the delegation. He thanked the President for the many courtesies shown them, which they accepted as an expression of good will to the Cuban people. He invited the Pres ident to visit Cuba, to see for himself the conditions in theiisland and learn from contact with inhabitants of the love and affection which the Cubans have for the United States and their appreciation of what had been done for them by this government in their struggle for freedom. Senor Uapote asked the President to do something for the Cubans upon an economic line, especially in the matter of reciprocal trade relations. He said that it was especially desirable to have something of this kind done before the next crop was harvested in order that tbe Uubans might realize the ad van tages to them of closer political and economic relations with the United States. In reply, the President said it was impossible to settle economic questions until tne political questions were dis posed of. He told the delegates to first form their government and then they would oe in a position to enter into negotiations with tbe United States as to trade relations. Senor Capote responded that some thing ought to be done while the Cuban government was forming. He thought that while the United States was exer cising control there might be arrangements-perfected similar to those under contemplation by the Secretary of War in 1898, when, the government first passed under control or the United States. He told the President that the Cnban republic did not wish to be born in poverty and rags, and if it could not be wealthy it would at least prefer to have something with which to support itself and to have its people in prosperous conditions immediately before them. Tne President again reverted to the fact that under the present conditions, as the Secretary of War bad advised them, he did not see how it was possi ble to settle any economic questions before the Cuban government was formed. He would . appoint commis sioners immediately a government was organized, to negotiate with similar commissioners from the Cuban govern ment for reciprocal trade relations, and he believed that the United States would be ready to deal in a man ner which would be beneficial to both countries. He thanked the delegation for an invitation to visit the island and told them to assure the Cuban people of bis friendly interest in them and his desire to see them contented and pros perous. ? Senor Uapote, speaking to Secretary Root, expressed the hope that in the interviews that had been held he had said nothing, in his earnestness of ar gument which was in any way offen sive. The secretary replied that on the contrary he highly appreciated the arguments of Benor Capote, and his knowledge of the questions had in creased his admiration and respect for the legal abilities and keenness of the Cuban people. Tbe delegates then shook hands with the President and departed. Ueneral Uapote later said to an As sociated Press reporter: "We have concluded our business here. We have had two interviews with the President and four with the - Sec retary of War, during which all matters that we came here to dis cuss have naa tne luiiest ana most minute consideration. We came to consider tbe relations be tween Cuba and the United States, and these, both political and econom ical, have had the most careful atten tion. We return to Cuba and will de liver to the constitutional convention all tbe information we have obtained information which is highly important and interesting." General Capote spoke in high terms of Secretary Root He said that the questions were of national importance and that the conferences were con ducted with the care that the serious matters under consideration demand ed. General Wood also left to-night for Florida, whence he will sail on a gov ernment vessel for Cuba. Mrs. Wood, who came on with the governor gen eral to visit her sister, who was for merly Miss Condit Smith, whom she had not seen since the latter's experi ence in Pekin during the seige there, returned with her husband. General Wood had an hour's talk with the President to-day before bis departure. He did not care to speak for publica tion of his opinion of the result of the visit of the Cuban commission. There has been a mutual understanding be tween the parties to the conferences that have been held that no specific statement as to results should be given out on either side in advance of the commission's report to the constitu tional convention. There are many political jealousies among the Cubans at home and General Wood said that anything made public at this time might be liable to misconstruction and lead to friction. General Wood, how ever, does not hesitate to state that the Cubans have been impressed with the treatment they have received and the attentions shown them and to say that undoubtedly they return with a more correct understanding of the meaning of the terms of the Piatt amendment and of the sincere desire of the American government to put Cuba on her feet as an independent government than they had before. Eighteen miners were killed by an explosion of fire damp in a coal mine at Hornu, Belgium, and seven were injured. Count Coranlier, Who Shot and Killed His Wife, Was Acquitted by a Paris Jury. By Cable to tbe Morning star. Pabis, April 27. Count Cornulier, after two day's trial for the murder of his wife, November 17th, by shooting her three times as she was leaving the house of a lawyer, M. Leroux, an ad mirer of the countess before her mar riage, was acquitted to-night amidst the applause of those in court ' The count made a speech, in which he thanked the jurors in the name of his three children. The Countess Coriulier was a woman of unusual beauty and thirtyone years of age. She was a daughter of Count Vianney "and married Count Charles Cornulier, who is forty-three years of age, fourteen years ago. The eldest of their-three children is thir teen years old. The marriage proved unhappy and on the advice of her father the countess separated from her husband about four years ago. Last year she was given a decree by which she obtained possession of her children. The count, discovered that the countess frequently visit ed M. Leroux, who is said to have actea as the legal adviser of the countess. The count. November 17th, secreted himself on the stairway of M. Leroux'8 home, after having ascer tained that his wife had en tered the house, and when she descended the stairs, with out a word, he fired at her three times with a revolver, each shot taking effect. She died in an ambulance without regaining consciousness. The count surrendered himself to the police, saying: "I did it. I am her husband." He was the first to give aid to his wife after she fell, and asked that a priest be sent for. AUSTRIA AND MEXICO. The International Estrangement Between . the Two Countries Brought to An End. By Telegraph to tne Marnlna Btar. Washington, April 27. A complete reapproachment between the govern ments of Austria and Mexico has been brought about, and as a result each country is about to send a minister to the other. This terminates an inter national estrangement dating from the days when young Maximilian of Aus tria sought to gain a foothold in Mex ico and lost bis life in the adventure. Ever since then Austria and Mexico have suspended all intercourse with each other, commercially and politi cally. Recently, however, friendly overtures have been made to terminate the estrangement between them, by which the old relations of friendship will be resumed. A bill has passed the Mexican congress reciting the fact of a reapproachment.and providing for a minister to Austria at a salary of $15,000 annually. Austria will take similar action by sending a minister to Mexico, and this will close the long and historic separation. FIGHTING IN CHINA. Imperial Troops Attacked by Qerman and French Forces and Forced to Re tire The Losses. By Cable to the Morninn Btar. Berlin, April 27. The Cologne Gazette's Pekin correspondent says the headquarters staff has received in formation that a German mounted force which proceeded beyond Kalgan found the country quiet No garri sons were encountered. The Germans only saw Chinese police. London, April 27. A Reuter dis patch, from Pekin, says the headquar ters staff has received a telegram from a British officer accompanying - the FrancoGerman expedition, to the effect that April 23rd the Germans crossed into Shan-Si, through the Kuk Nau and Chang Cben Liu passes, in pursuit of the retiring Chinese, whom they followed eighteen miles, fighting a sharp action. The French troops remained in occupation of the passes. The Germans returned April 25th and the French banded over the passes to them and returned to their pre vious outposts. The Germans are said" to have had four men killed and five officers and eighty men wounded. The Chinese loss is not known. COACH OVERTURNED. All the Occupants Injured and One In a Critical Condition. By Telegraph to the Morning star. Philadelphia, Pa., April 27. Joseph E. Widener, aged 30 years, son of P. A. B. Widener, the traction magnate, was badly injured to-day by ' the overturning of a coach on which he and a number of friends were ;rid ing. Mr. Widener's skull was frac tured, and he is now in a hospital in a critical condition. The party, consist ing of ten of the wealthiest and best known . young men in the city, started from the Bellevue hotel to Pine Run farm, the country seat of H. B. McKean at Pen Lyn, a suburb of this city. In turning a street corner at 15th and Spring Garden streets, one of the wheels of the coach caught in the car track and the vehicle capsized. The entire party was thrown violently to the ground and Mr. Widener's head struck tbe pavement Harrison K. Caner, who was driving, had his left leg badly in jured and was otherwise hurt The others in the party, all of whom; were more or less bruised were: Edward Brooke, H. B. McKean, William L. Elkins, Jr., Edward Browning, Wil liam E. Caner and E. Rittenhouse Miller. A REAL TRAGEDY. Student Killed in the Closing Exercises of a School at Burnsville, N. C. By Teiegxapa to tne Morning Btar. Chattanooga, Tenn., A special from Burnsville, N. C, says: While playing the tragedy "Last Upon the World," in the closing ex ercises of the Stanley McCormick High School, at Burnsville last night, a real tragedy waa enacted when R. N. Mclnturf, one of the students, was shot and killed by Raccus Bailey, a student, both representing characters in the play. When it became neces sary for Bailey in his ' role to defend himself with a revolver against a drawn knife in the hands of Mcln turf. he used by mistake a loaded pis tol instead of the one with blanks. and in the presence of several hun dred people Mclnturf waa shot dead on the stage. The boys were room ¬ mates and special mends. The amount of the alleged shortage of W. W. Lee, book keeper of the First National bank, Nashville, Tenn., who disappeared last July and waa subsequently arrested, is said to be i $23,076.