New-York tribune., 1901-04-29
TOPICS IN CHICAGO.
PREACHERS TO INVESTIGATE FORT
SHERIDAN-SAILING OF THE NORTH
WESTERN FOR LIvERPoOL-NEw
INDUSTRIAL COMBINATIONS.

COMBINATIONS
Chicago. April % CspeciaD.-The widely pub
lished reports of the disorderly conduct of SOL
diers at Fort Sheridan on their last payday and
of the multiplication of saloons just outside the
reservation have stirred the Methodist Min
listers Association of this city to anger. AT a
meeting Of the ministers held Tuesday the
reports were denounced as false, and it
charged that they had been circulated TO create
a sentiment in favor of the repeal Of the anti
canteen law. The association has directed one
of its members the Rev NJ. NJ. Parkhurst. to
make investigation into the conditions. Mr.
Parkhurst has asked the other ministerial BODIES
in Chicago to select representatives TO act Win
him investigating committee, and this
body will begin work soon as it is formed
The Methodist Association declares that there
will be no bias in the inquiry. and that the facts
will be given to the public irrespective of
whether they favor the re-establishment OF the
canteen or not. Meanwhile army officers con-
tent themselves with pointing out that no in
vestigation committee can change the facts, and
that the existence OF groggeries bordering
the reservation cannot be passed over by
specious argument. The work Of the committee
will be watched with interest
For the last two weeks instructors and pu-
pills in all the high schools of the city have been
stirred up by controversy with the Board of
Education concerning graduation exercises. It
has been the custom for several years for the
high school pupils to raise money, principally
by means of entertainments. TO rent a hall
theatre for graduation exercises. These cere-
monies have been invariably accompanied by
gifts of flowers to those among the graduates
whose friends were able TO afford such luxuries.
and by display Of graduating gowns" This
year the Hyde Park High School sought the
rerraSson of the Board of Education to secure
the Auditorium Theatre for its exercises. This
has been refused on the ground principally that
the effort to make display of class graduation
invariably occasions heartburnngs among the
poorer children graduating, and creates last
Ing feelings Of envy and bitterness. The high
schools combined to fight this decision, but they
have finally surrendered, much to the satisfac-
ton Of the great majority of the parents Of
the community. who uphold the stand of the
board.
The departure of the steamer Northwestern
from her wharf in Chicago for Liverpool by the
Canadian Canal route has aroused great inter
est among all classes Of merchants and ship
pers Though the present disadvantages Of such
q route thoroughly understood, heads of
leading business interests believe that the de-
parture means the beginning of a era in
commercial activity. and will bring about
boom in the general use of the present canals,
well the building of better and larger
ones. These merchants declare that Chicago's
chances Of becoming a great international
port not remote as has been supposed
and that the trip OF the Northwestern will lead
the way to inestimable benefits in this drec-
ton. The vessels cargo consists of provisions
of all kinds. timber and harvesting machinery.
Great care has been taken to utilize the entire
space of the hold, so as to place as much mer-
chandiSa ba of will
Thousands of people gathered at the bridges OF
the Chicago River and gave the Northwestern
enthusiastic sendon she steamed out into
Lake Michigan
Evanston, Chicago's model suburb. has just
passed through the throes of hotly contested
election. and the newly elected Mayor has
hastened to accept the resignation of Chief of
Police Wheeler Bartram- He has placed in this
position Newell c. Knight, Chicago stock
broker. and the head of what is known as the
Four Mile League of Evanston an organization
active in the suppression Of the liquor traffic
Mr. knight rendered his services gratis, and
will take the place without pay or perquistes
A vigorous campaign against blind pigs" is
expected.
Prince Kropotkin, who has been in Chicago
for several days. finally out the welcome
that was accorded him when he arrived here
Starting out by declaring at Hull House that
he was law and order agitator he was
quite the vogue for at least forty-eight hours
Then he began to extol the virtues of the
anarchists who suffered death in Chicago after
the riots Of 1856 and in a public address said:
1t is with deep emotion that ! address an
audience on the subject of anarchisn in a CITY
that has been the scene of a tragedy that has
lost to US four Of our excellent comrades whom
we regret not to have with tonight lighting
for the emancipation OF mankind Their names
are not forgotten in Europe In any place
where the fight is being carried on IN the cause
Tor which they bravely died.
This language and much more of the same
general character, brought down on the head
OF the prince a storm of general indignation.
The people Of Chicago still feel much of the
bitterness and horror that were general during
the days Of the riots.
Within the last two weeks conferences having
Tor their object the formation of several trusts
nave been held at the Auditorium Hotel. Plate
glass interests, representatives of the new cereal
trust and heads OF the Western Casket Manu-
facturers' Association. otherwise known as the
colin trust, have all had their turn, and others
have arranged for meetings at the hotel In the
near future. The leading plough makers Of the
west are now in session, and the Rubber Goods
Manufacturing Company an organization said
TO control the field in its particular line has
been holding meetings for some days
blind physician has just been graduated
from the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College
winning the highest honors. He is George s. Dob
bins, young man who has been totally blind
Tor eighteen years. DR.. Dobbins has his
concentration Of his wonderful memory. In the
use OF the stethoscope and other tests of lung
ana chest affections which diagnosed by
sound his refined sense of hearing has been
the wonder and admiration of his classmates
The heads OF the college declare that he is as
well qualified any graduate of the institution
TO take his place among members Of the pro-
fession. and that he should become a refnarka-
in nf fbo