SwW Dg Negroes. A GAME OF WHICH THE INGENIOUS BOQUE NEVER TIRES. : Washington. May 14 -Thousands *>f ignoran* colored people in this country ara being induced to believe that they are to be pensioned by the United States Government apo a be ing able to show that they were formerly slaves. The promoters of this scheme which has ail the ear marks of a systematic attempt to extort money from credulous colored people, by holding mi to them false hopes of a Govern ment pension, have been at werk for a somber of years, and it is estimated that over $150,000 bas been collected by the self constituted missionaries -having the project in hand. The subject came to the coriace a few days ago throngh some corres pondance between a colored pieach er, fa one of the Southern States, aad a United States Senator. The preacher wrote to his Senator to in quire into the matter in view of the proposed legislation The Senator, who is one of the most influential members of that body, by reason of is long service (three terms,) and his appropriate committee assign ments, instituted an investigation, aad thia if the unbalance of what he reported to the colored divine who sought information on the subject : It appears that" there has been in existence for boat. len years or more an enterprise under the title of the ex-Slave Mutual Belief Company and Pension Association* of the United States of America." This associa tion has its agents m every State in the Union, for tba parp se of locat ing, if possible, ali former slaves. The latter are told that legislation is now pending before Congress to. pension all former slaves as follows : All persona 70 years of age are to receive $500 and also 156 mor caring their natural lives. Persons 60 years to receive $300 and $126 more. Persons 50 years to receive $100 and $86 more. Persons less than 50 years to receive $46, more, I etc. It is necessary for all of the supposed beneficiaries of the propos- j ed legislation fcc pay into the asso j elation 25 cents as a registration fee. It is claimed that over 600,000 ex slaves have been so registered According to the circular sent out by the association, a copy of which is now in the hands of the senator referred to, the headquarters or main o ce is at No. 708 Gay street. Nashville, Tenn. L H Dickerson is general manager. The circa lar is headed "Onward to Vi story." It also contains a pict are of General Manager Dickerson. It is addressed to "AU local ex-slave associations in the United States We come greet* lng as general manager and promoter cf the movement, which hts had so much opposition and more combats in its own circles than any other organization of the present day." Then follows special mention of the membership fee, 25 cents Also the information that the national delegate in Washington is located at 475 Missouri avenue, and has seenred the services of Attorney W. G Lawson. The circular further ap peals to every ex slave to send his name, with the registration fee of 25 cents It also appeals to every local association to send $2 50 for a charter at once, and every ex slave to send in addition that amount to be used in the movement These assets are to be sent to the office of the national delegate, given above. The circular also aunonnces that tho National Convention at Nashville in 1698 made the weekly publication, tba National Capita , 25 cents for three months, the official organ of the association Another and more recent circular of similar import bears a picture of Senator Wm Mason, of Illinois, 1. H. Dickerson, general manager, 714 Line eire et, Nashville, Tenn. This circular de clares ''it is the only incorporated and chartered movement in the United States, and all others are frauds. It calls attention to the bill to pension ex-slaves introduced in the House of Representatives, Jane 24, 1890, by then Representative Connell, of Nebraska." In the 54th Congress Senator Thurston intro-' doced the Connell bill in the Senate and the circular calls special atten tion to the fact that the bill "passed to two readings and was referred to the pension committee 99 CONGRESSMEN AID SHARPERS. Now, to those who are not familiar with the parliamentary proceedings of the Senate, "passed to a second reading" soon de like making cone id dable progress. As a matter of fact. that bili or a similar measure bas i been introduced at every session of j Congress daring the past ten yeats These bills bave always been intro duced "by request/' and so marked, which means, according to the practice at the Capitol, that the man who introduces a bill "by request" is not personally responsible for it So the bill to pension ex slaves has alwaysJjjfcn introduced "by request," Aw^R^fiffliread by its title, cocsid THE BAIT. consideration by tbtt committee There never WM end there probably never will be tb* slightest prospect of the passage of such a bili, and the promoters of the "25 cents registration scheme" are wei! aware of that fact. There are several rival concerns ecgsged in this busi ness and there have been several disputes as to who should control the registration fees. It appears that I H. Dickerson was deposed aa gen eral manager for a short time, bat he was reinstated. The circular warns ex slaves that there is a difference between the "Vaughn's Club and the Ex-Slaves' Mutual Belief Bounty and Pension Association." "Onr asso ciation/1 says the circular, "is char tered and belongs to the people. The fee of 25 ceuts is merely for the purpose ot defraying the expenses of carrying on the work and the ex penses of the delegate to Washing ton " A BARB FACED SWINDLE. The senator, who has investigated the subject, says the scheme on its face seems to be a delusion and a snare to entrap poor colored people and get their money. These circu lars are distributed among the color ed people all over the country* and in many instances colored preachers are induced to preach io their con gregations the bright hopes of a government pension The last bill on the subject waa introduced in the Senate by Senator Mason, who also took the precaution to insert in brackets, "by request," so that even the rough and ready statesman shied at assuming the responsibility for the measure. Many cf the intelligent colored people have declined to go into the scheme and denounce it as another Freedman's Bank swindle. is quite likely that the subject will be investigated by Congress next winter, now that so many of the hc-aest and intelligent colored men have advised their misguided breth ren of the improbability of the ex slave pension bill becoming a law. R. M. h. in News and Courier. Southern Baptist ConyetlOD. Louisville,. Ky., May 12-The forty fourth Southern Baptist conven tion was called to order ia Warren Memorial church this morning at 10 o'clock by President Jonathan Har* elson, of Alabama dearly a thou sand delegates representing all the southern states were present, and is estimated that there are 10,000 visitors in the city attracted by the convention. Ex-Governor W. J Norton, off Georgia, was elected president. J. P. Eagle, of Arkansas ; R. C. Bookner, of Texas ; F H. Gerrfoot, of Kentucky, and C. L Cooke, of | Virginia, were elected vice presi dent . Dr. Lansing Bar.-ows, of Georgia, and O. T. Gregory, of Maryland, were re elected secretaries. G. W. Norton waB re elected treas orer and Dr. W. P. Harvey was re I elected auditor Louisville, Ky., May 13 -Dr. j John T. Green, of Missouri, was at ! noon today elecled president of the j Southern Baptist Seminary, to sue I ceed Dr. W. H Whitsitt, whose resignation was accepted after a long and bitter struggle, Thursday even ing The election of Dr. Green is considered a victory for the Whitsitt faction. Dr J. H. T. Kerfoot was consid ered the candidate of the anti* Whitsitt faction, but he withdrew his name, as did also Dr. J. R. Sampey. Gen. Gomez Will Not Dis tribute the Money. Habana, May 15 -Geo. Maximo Gomez today informed Governor Gen eral Brooke that be could no longer act ts representative of the Cuban as sembly to the distribution of the $3, 000,000 appropriated for the payment of the Coban troops Geo Gomez added that he had ar rived at this decision with great reluct ance and with the most friendly feeiioga toward Gen. Brooke personally and officially, but be felt he could oolonger represent the Cuban army, beoause a cabal composed of rraoj of the sabordioate commanders existed to oppose, and, if possible, defeat the plans for partitioning the money. He explained that former members of tbe Caban military assembly, led by Mayta Rodriguez, Maoooel Saoguilly, Juan Goaiberto Gomez and other malcon tents, who had organized a majority of the officers against bim apparently, and though he (Gomez) might persist aod possibly carry the payment to a successful oonoiusioo, be wai disgusted and wished to wash bis hands of the whole business. Therefore he thought best to leave Geo. Brooke free, as the latter could act with equal effectiveness Buffalo, N Y , May 15.-Tbe dock situation is worse tonight than at any time since the opening of the seasoo. The monthly meo, the men who work inside of the elevators, are out, and have agreed to remain cut until the grain shovelers and the freight hand j lers strikes are settled. Tomorrow every elevator here wiil be idle unless new men cao be eecured *o take tbe placer ol' tbe monthly meo, which is said to be improbable, owing to the Ll Jiaires considerable expe Some One Blundered as to Gen, Wheeler. Not Assigned to Flaca on Parade. Charleston, May 13.-The charge of want of hospitality to GOT. Candler and his a taff at the Confederate re on io ? falls flat here, as neither tho go?eroor nor his staff were here in tho capacity of Confederate veterans and Gen. C. Irvine Walker, the Sooth Carolina commander of Confederate veterans, though he had received no notification of their cona io? promptly assigned the distinguished Georgia civilians a prom inent place in the procession on Wednesday. Bot, a more serions mat ter is the failure, accidental or designed, to assign Geo. Joseph Wheeler any place io the great procession of Confederate veterans. Gen. Wheeler came here at the invitation of the veterans and was the guest of United States Jodge Brawley, a ooe armed ex Confederate. He was to deliver an address to the convention oo Thursday tod every tongue io Charleston sang bis praises, bot while the procession was ED ovin g o a Wednesday be was waiting at the Brawley residence for a carriage that never came. His absence from the procession was noted by the expeotant thooeaods who the oext day were to giveo bim so m ag ni Scent to ovation at the anditoriom The Hst, giveo by Geo. Walker of those who were to ride io the procession io carriages did not ioc ude the "asme of Gea. Wheeler. The pabilo cannot see why Wheeler's name was overlooked. Gen. Walker claims that the unfortunate blander was doe to his committee., bot the commit teemeo indignantly deny that they were in aoyway connected with the affair. Jodge Brawley, Geo. Wheel er's host, will, io The Sunday News tomorrow, review the whole proceeding and say that Geo. Walker will have to accept the blame unless he cao show that his orders ware oot carried oat. Geo. Walker will reply io the same paper eiaimisg a confusion of orders by two committees. Geo. Walker says that as commander of the parade it was to his interest to make it as great a meeese as passible, that Geo. Wheel er's is tin g ais bed service io two wars entitled him to every consideration. Geo. Walker regrets profoundly that even the semblance of discourtesy should have been shown Geo. Wheeler. How Gen, Wheeler Got Left. Mr. Andrew J. Kiley, chairman of the Reunion committee on horses and carriages, made a statement yesterday regarding the controversy over Gen. Wheeler's having been left ont of the big Confederate parade Wednesday afternoon. Mr. Riley said his commit toe was furnished a typewritteo list of the guests who were to occupy oar riages io the parade. This was hand ed him by Gen. Walker Wednesday morning. The names were given on this list, opposite each was the address to which carriages should be sent. Aocordiog to this Geo. Wheeler was to ride io a carriage with Geo M. C But ler, which, by the iostroctions from Geo. Walker, was to be sent to the Charleston Hotel. Capt. Sinkler, of Gen. Walker's staff/Mr. Riley says, was giveo similar instructions. From this list furnished by Geo. Walker Mr. Riley says it was accepted as a matter of ooaree that Geo. Wheeler was to stop at the hotel, aod the carriage for bim was sect there at 2 30 p. m. Wednesday. Members of the commit tee icqoired at the hotel for Geo. Wheeler j net before the parade was to start to escort him to bis carriage, bul he ooald cot be found. The elerk said he was oot stepping at the hotel, and the committee had oo notification of where he could he foood. The carriage remained et the hotel until after 4 o'clock. Mr. Riley weot on to say that if bis oommittee had koowa io time that Gen Wheeler was at Jodge Brawley's resi dence the carriage woold most certainly have been harried there for bim. "By Jadge Brawley's statement, said Mr. Riley,
  • ates government that the Cuban soldiers re Lquisb their arms before receiving their share in the distribution of the 3,000.000 La Iodepeodecoia and other papers publish excited articles protesting against the acceptance of any such proposal. An ebony tinposrer with ao eye to | business has beeo rakiog in the feh^kc s j in Philadelphia by icprescuticg him- j self asthe sou ot Sam Hose What ; Situation Considered Serious How Tarn of Affairs in Cuba is Regarded in Washing ton. Washington, May 15.-High offi cials in the war department were reluctant to discuss the cuban skua tion this afternoon The dispatch of the Associated Press waa read with interest, but did not cause much surprise among army officers who are well informed about the Cuban?, especially those who are known as "soldiers of fortune,'7 and who have been bitterly disappointed because the island was not turned over to them immediately after the Spanish surrender There is an impression also tba1; the intention of Gen Biocke to see that the $3,000,000 are distributed among the Cuban troops has caused disappointment among the many "generals" (tod other high officers who were evident ly expecting to secure a large share of the money. The belief was expressed that the situation in Cuba is serious and that careful and diplomatic management will be needed. It was stated that no orders would be issued to Gen Brooke, as he had ample authority to deal with any situation which might arise, There teems to be a belief that Gen. Gomez has contributed to the delay in the payment of the money. London, May 15 -The Filipino junta here bas received a mes sage from Aguinaldo via Hong Kong saying the Filipino government has decided to continue the war at all costa until independence is secured. Snake Charmers. It is generally supposed that the ser pents exhibited by snake charmers have oeen deprived of their fangs, and this is doubtless often the case, while one instance at least is recorded in which the mouth of the snake had been sewed together to prevent it from biting. The writer noticed at the Ceylon ex hibition, given some years ago in Lou don, that one of the snake charmers, finding the cobra he was exhibiting be coming too lively and aggressive, seized the reptile by the neck and thmst it hastily into the small round basket in which it was carried, at the same time pushing it with a voluminous white zloth, at which it bit savagely. Having almost closed the lid of the basket, the man drew away the cloth violently, tims doubtless dragging out the fangs which were fastened in it. He then se cured the basket and carried it away. This, of course, required a large amomt of cool courage as well as great quick ness cf hand and eye, all of which quali ties must be doubly necessary in cap turing ^nd taming these deadly reptiles. Bu f we are aston ished at the skill xterity displayed by Indian snake charmers, still more must we marvel at the hardihood of the American Indians, who, in their snake dances, not only handle the deadly rattlesnake with im punity, but absolutely carry it about in their mouths.-Westminster Review. Theater Tickets. The fact that a ticket bought for a theater and not used on the date stamp ed on it is always good for an admit tance is not generally known and prob ably theater managers would take very little trouble to spread knowledge of the fact, but it is nevertheless true. "A man who buys a reserved seat for a theater, " said a theater treasurer who handles more tickets every season than any other in New York, "may not use it on the evening for which he bought it 'Good for this date only' may be stamped on the pasteboard. That would seem to mean that the ticket could be used at no other time. Probably most of the public accept that as proving the impossibility of making use of the tick et, and therefore few make any attempt to get the worth of their money, when they are prevented by any cause from using the ticket on the date marked on it But i fe ctuld be presented at any time and would be good for an admis sion. "Any theater manager would have to recognize the holder's right to enter the theater, although that would, of course, carry with it no right to the seat. It is? that right which is limited by the printed date. Fr all other pur poses the ticket is quite as good as if used on the date it bears."-New York Sun. Grandmother's Cold Cream Jar. A writer in the Germantown Tele graph declares that our grandmothers excelled us in dainty trifles. One of the prettiest ornaments on the dresser was an egg. At first sight it looked exactly like an egg from the pantry, for the shell was unpainted; only as one look ed at it, sbe saw that one end was bro ken This eggshell was used as a cold cream jar. When making cold cream, our grandmothers would pour it into an empty rshell which had been carefully prepared. After the egg was taken out the shell was washed and sweetened with perfumery, with a few drops left in the bottom. The cold cream was pour ed in :?nd left to harden. The result was an eggshell full of lovely white cosmet ic. The best opinion respecting the phys ical condition of Pope Leo XIII is that, while he is bearing up with extraor dinary mental strength, his bodily in firmity may at any moment cut short his career. It is conceded by those nearest to him that his mind, which has suffered no decay of power, is hold ing up a very weak body .Mid that any fatal .t>emocrstie Rti ers. Some of the English Tory newspapers and one or two of the French and Ger man imperialistic sheets are trying to show that the selection of M. Lonbet to be president of France is the latest ex ample of the dire inability of republics to bring great men to the front The Saturday Review points out that the presidents of the United States have all been commonplace men. This is proba bly true from the Matthew Arnold or Carlyle point of view None of them has been great in the academic sense, nor have they been exalted in the same sense that Caesar or Napoleon or Fred erick was, but from the democratic point of view that has been an inesti mable advantage, not only to the coun try that selected them, but to the men themselves. It is hard to imagine what would have been the fate of our coun try if Lincoln bad proved as great as Alaric or even as "William the Conquer or, or if Washington had possessed the particular order of genius that has pre served the name of the first Napoleon in the bloody records of the world. The undoubted merit of the men that the republic has chosen to conduct its affairs has been that commonplace ability that exactly represented the mass of the peo ple themselves and their well being That was the crowning glory of Lincoln and placed him in the front of the group of heroes that the nation will never forget M. Lonbet comes out of the people. He seems to possess just the homely and stealing integrity that thinks more of the public good than of his own personal ambition, and the brilliant men who are scheming for the overthrow of the government and the subjection of the people to an outworn aristocratic legend have for the most part '"uietly folded their tents since he toe ie field. Comparison of the presi dents of the American republic with many of the men that England placed upon the throne and kept there to its own detriment and disgrace would at all times be a healthy educational task, and it would not be out of place to ask if the latest of all her sovereigns has not secured the greatest honor and the most lasting fidelity by refusing to be anything more than a most estimable figurehead. Congressional funerals are attracting unpleasant attention, first- on account of their expense and second on account of the manner of conducting them. It cost |4,500 t. the people to bury Repre sentative Dingley of Maine and $1,178 to bury Representative Milliken. The American people would be slow to ob ject to this outlay if it were shown that it was a suitable method of doing honor to a public servant But it is becoming apparent that a large contingent of shopkeepers and contractors lies in wait for these honors to pocket the surplus of a grateful republic, and the mourn ing congressmen are coming to regard the sad obsequies as an extra opportu nity for cakes and ale, or, to put it plainly, champagne and cigars. This is not a pleasant subject to discuss, and all the more reason why congress itself should regulate it within the bounds of national decorum and respectful grief. Promotion. "Miss Mary, are you sorry that your lister Evelyn is married?" "No, it advances me ene number/' -Chicago Record. r ' i , , A story bas been printed in a Cincin nati paper to the effect that part of an infernal machine which was used in the destruction of the Maine has been found in a prison on the shore of Ha vana harbor. Connected with it were wires and tubing, and there were evi dences that a keyboard and switch had been detached. The story is very cir cumstantial, but has created no sensa tion, for the simple reason that this country long ago made up its mind how the Maine was destroyed and is no longer interested in the details From a purely military point of view the dispersion of the fighting Filipinos is now only a question of time. They have shown extraordinary ability in falling back, but unfortunately for them the country is of snch conforma tion that they cannot fall back much more without being in deep water. Aguinaldo has not issued a proclama tion in a week, and that looks like ex haustion. It has for the most part been a much harder task to stop his mouth than to stop the fire of his men. ^ Sportins: Spirit. Grogan-Billy has got the true sport ing spirit in him. Kilkey-What's the matter with Billy, now? Grogan-He ran against an open door and blacked his eye, and he tells every body he got the black eye in a fight. Boston Transcript. Ventured Xo Opinion. j "What's the matter with you?" ask-1 ed the friend. j "I haven't the least idea," answered the very cynical invalid. "The sur-' geons are going to operate for appendi-J citis. "-Washington Star. j Xo More Credit. Mrs. Spendall-Yen look worried. Is it because you are so deeply in debt? Mr. Spendall (gloomily)-No. It's be cause I can't get any deeper.-New York Weekly. That's All. Bill-Did you ever shoot at clay pi geons ? Gill-Oh, yes, I've shot at them. Yonkers Statesman.