The Columbus journal., 1900-10-10

complaint. but the contracts are jug.
gled in such a way that II a local mer-
chant secures one he is compelled to
furnish goods Mt almost cost price.
whereas the Lincoln dealers are al
lowed to make one bid on all the sup
plies and in addition are given other
advantages denied to others. Every
body knows that bids on a dozen or
more contracts Mt the same time.
meaning the supplying of goods in car
load lots. can be made at q lower rate
than for only one contract involving
only the supplies for One institution.
This is one advantage.
HOLDING UP VOUCHERS.
Another advantage shown the Lin
coin dealers over the country mer-
chants is the holding back of vouchers
and warrants. 1t is a notorious fact
that bills for groceries from the cOun-
try merchants lay sometimes for
weeks before they are passed upon and
allowed, while those Of the favOrites
are promptly paid. In the mercantile
trade 30 or 60 days credit is the same
us cash and if merchants succeed in
converting their goods into money
within that time they are enabled to
make considerable Of a saving In the
way of discounts. In many instances
the country merchants have lost the
benefit of their discounts through the
failure of the Board to pass upon bills
and remit promptly.
1t is openly stated that this failure
is only part of Il plan to discourage
the local merchants in these towns
from bidding, in order that the pets of
the state house ring may enjoy greater
profits.
Some may infer from this that the
state is deriving benefit from such
manipulatiOns. This is not true. The
records in the auditors Office show
that the expense Of maintaining the
state institutions the last two years
has been greatly increased over what
it was. and is greater now than ut any
time in the states history.
Governor POynter will close his term
with the enormous shortage or defic-
iency of 100000. Not one of the var
iOus institutions has been properly
kept up. The grounds. Outbuildings
and the like have been sadly neglected.
Not a dollar has gone for labor in
this direction. All the money apprO-
priated has been expended. but how.
nothing short Of a legislative investi-
eating committee ear explain.
DR.. Tracy of Milford, the physician
in charge Of the Soldiers Home. who
caught paying house rent and Of
flee rent In groceries taken from the
state, has resigned and left the state.
His resignation promptly followed the
exposure.
ON EXPANSION.
1t is a matter of history that nearly
every Democratic president from JEFF
fersOn to Buchanan expressed a desire
for the annexation of Cuba to the
United States.
Monroe while president expressed
himself in favor of annexing Cuba, so
did Polk and so did Pierce.
In 1910 President Polk made a propo-
sition for the purchase of Cuba from
Spain for 500. O.OOO. Six years be-
fore that. or in 1884. what is known
the Ostend Manifesto was issued,
and that asserted the right of the
United States to take and annex Cuba,
should Spain refuse to sell.
The Ostend Manifesto was nm an
made by President
Pierce's ministers to England. France
and Spain buchanan, Madison and
in which they suggested that
earnest effort be made to purchase
Cuba Mt a price not to exceed $780,
10000. and added that IL this should
be refused by Spain I'VE should be JUS
titled by every law, human and divine.
In wrestling it from Spain If We pos
sess the power" a proposition of
Lassing. the historian. says:
1.-The bald iniQuity of this proposition
amazed honest men In both hemi-
spheres"
The manifesto failed of its purpose,
because the European powers and the
world in general failed to recognize
the justice of acquiring property by
Buchanan. who succeeded Pierce to
the presidency, In three of his annual
messages to congress urged that Cuba
ought to he made by purchase part Of
the United States. During Buchanan's
term a bill for that purpose was intro
duced in congress By Senator Seidell
later Of confederate fame. and that
bill was strongly supported by the
members Of congress from
the southern states.
In 1850 the Democratic national con-
declared in favor Of annexing
and placed the following in the
platform:
Resolved. that the Democratic |
party are in favor Of the acquisition !
the Island Of Cuba upon such terms
shall be honorable to ourselves and
Just to SPAIN"
PRESIDENT Fierce made q strong effort |
10 n Hawaii. The matter was car
Red so far that a treaty for the pur-
pose was drafted. On this point Mr..
Marcy. who was secretary Of state in
cabinet, wrote the following
note to Minister Gregg:
"This government will receive the
transfer of the sovereignty Of the
islands with all proper pro-
relative to existing rights of
he people thereof, such as are usual
Ind proper to territorial sovereignty.
The president directs me to say that
cannot approve of some Of the arti-
les Of the treaty: there are in his
mind some strong objections to the i'm
Mediate Incorporation Of the islands in
heir present condition into the Inicn