The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-04-06
THE WEEKS NEWS.
TUESDAY. APRIL 2.

PRESIDENT CLEVELAND, on Monday,re-
ceived the committee OF Chicago cltizens
who came to invite him to visit our city.
w. T. Baker, I. w. Harvey, David kel-
lev. George w. Smith, Henry A. Robbins
and ex- Mayor John A. Roche composed
the committee. After formal introduc-
tions they gave the President a beauti-
fully epgrossed invitation. They ex-
planned to him that this invitation was
intended as personal compliment TO
him and as an Endorsement OF his SOUND
financial policy. The invitation, they
explained, bore the signatures OF many
OF the sound business men of Chicago,
irrespective of party, who had been
proud of an opportunity to thus give ex-
preston to their interest in the financial
policy he had pursued. After the pre-
sentation of the engrossed invitation the
conversation became informal and each
member Of the committee added some
thing in support of their mission.
THE President received the committee
most cordially and assured them OF his
great qualification at securing such an
Endorsement of his financial policy from
the business men of Chicago. Mr. Cleve-
land said his policy had only been the
policy that must have been pursued by
any other man under the same circum-
stances and that he had endeavored to
pursue the course which was the wisest.
He took occasion to pass some compli-
ments on the energy and enthusiasm OF
Chicago and it's people and gave the WIS.,
itors to understand that he doubly ap-
preciated their invitation because it
came from such live, progressive city
as Chicago. Mr.. Cleveland's reply, how
ever, was cautious, for, while he did not
promise that he would accept the invita-
ton, he did not positively decline it.
ADvJoEs from correspondents at every
point of importance in Illinois. Monday,
indicated that rain that was general
throughout the State fell all day Sun
day. At some points the rain had be-
gun the night before. thus securing a
good start in its mission to "break the
drought"
The result of this steady downpour
lasting from twenty-four to thirty SIX
hours is ito make the farmers iubilant.'
At Bloomington and other points there
has been no rain of any consequence for
six months and the spring seeding had
begun in most inauspicious circum-
stances. The ground was very dry and
dusty and in neighborhoods that have
been swept by March gales. the seed was
literally blown out of the soil and car
ried through the air with the dust.
This has made re-seeding necessary in
many cases.
The rain has put an end to this trouble
and has given all crops a good start.
The ground has also been put in excel
lent condition for blowing corn.
In the farming regions the long con-
tinued dry spell has been productive OF
unusual hardships for the farmers. For
several weeks high winds approximate
ing in violence a hurricane have kept
the atmosphere full Of binding dust.
and farmers were obliged to neglect all
but the most urgent outdoor work. At
intervals the terrific gale, in sweeping
over the titled fields, abated long enough
to deposit the dust that it was carrying.
The result of this has been the forma-
ton in the fields of irregular banks OF
dust, similar in form to drifts of snow.
This one rain, coming as it has at
critical moment in the life OF this years
crops, is worth thousands of dollars to
the farmers of this State. We are also
glad to notice that rains have been gen.
eral throughout the West.
A VIGOROUS denial is entered in Adj
ministration circles in Washington OF
the story that Secretary Gresham is
about to resign. The Secretary himself
will not be interviewed on the subject,
not caring, it is explained, to dignity the
raporf hv q danioI TT ia hoUevar a fact