The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-04-10

Department on this radical change of
system.
TURKEY mourns the death Of one
of her greatest military commanders,
O3msn Pashs, the hero Of Plevns,
who had reached nearly threeseore
snd ten years. Osman Pasha came
from the humble walks Of life and b S
real age and place Of nativity ale
questions unsettled. He suddenly
came into prominence when he met
the Russians at Plevns in 1877 and
defeated them in two engagements;
and his past history was so little
known that some of the correspond
euts declared him to be an English
man, others an American, others a
French marshal and still others q
renegade Russian. These victories
gave him such confidence with the
Sultan aud reputation with the peo'
Pile, that he was given the proud Ii
tie of The Victorious" He served
in several wars with distinction, and
for many years was the minister Of
war. Several incidents happened to
him IN his long and busy life that
stained his reputation, but his faith
full and successful services caused
his people to overlook them all. He
was the idol of the Turks, as he was
the confidential adviser Of the Sultar.
THE intents of Attorney General
Montague in respect to gubernstorial
aspirations are the subject of quiet
discussion among political leaders.
Friends Of Mr.. Montague say that his
candidacy for the governorsbip was
superinduced by the promir.eeccGe
which Hon. J. Taylor El!.yyson enjoyed
as a candidate Tor Governor. 1t was
thought that Mr.. Montague's chances
for reelection as Attorney General
would be materially handicapped by
the Majors candidacy for Governor,
as both offices would hardly be given
to sections 80 near together. There.
fore, it is argued, Mr.. Montague
jumped into the gubernatorial fight to
wrest from or divide with Mr.. EllysoD
the strength of Richmond and the
SOuth.side. Now, since it is believed
that Mr.. Ellyson is practically out OF
the race, much interest is aroused in
specializing as to whether Mr.. Mon
tague will continue candidate for the
head of the ticket or become csndi-
date for reelection to the Off which
be now sdorns.
BUILDING associations, all over the
country. are going into the hands Of
receivers to be wound up. In many
cases it is said they are driven to
this course by the excessive tax
placed upon them by the Legislatures
of the various States in which they
do business. This may be the cause
in some cases, but there are probably
other causes that contribute to this
state Of things. One cause was no
doubt loauiug money on property at
fancy prices in the boom times, and
when the collapse came they had to
take the property at double its mar
ket value. This is probably the
cause of the most OF these failures.
And a contributing cause was the
extravagant salaries paid officers of
all kinds from president down, who,
in mauy cases, were incompetent to
discharge the duties assigned them
ACCORDING to the Baltimore Even
ing News the Maryland Legislature
was " out of sight" to an empty
handed lobbyist. 1t charges that
boodle-or budel, as the News
spells it-reigned supreme. Here is
an extract from One of its poetic effu-
sions
THE sPOILs. STRANGLED BANNER.
Obi say, can you see through the
4" budel and blight
What SO proudly we hailed at the ses-
sion's converting,
Fer the lobby descended with ardor
and might.
To jingle the lucre. 80 pregnant with |
meaning
And the lawyers were there, with |
that hypnotic stare,
To give proof they were down to do |
business for fair;