Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-16
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

Halt century ago it was hoped that
early progress would be made toward
the completion Of the
Washington Washinton Monument.
~A which had remained I'M
A01A "'AASA'' finished for years, this
hope being thwarted by the early out
break Of the civil war. In The Star of
October 8. 1880. was this paragraph on
the subject:
Notwithstanding the disadvantageous
circumstances under which the present
board of directors assumed control Of the
affairs of the Washington Monument.
some two years and half
ago. they have succeeded in effecting
much toward the amelioration Of the
dilapidated condition to which 1t had been
reduced by previous mismanagement
To do this the board have strained every
nerve and expended much energy, their
principal drawback to effective progress
having been want of funds with which
to operate They have, however. succeeded
in preventing any further damage to the
Monument. the outbuildings and the ma
terfal for its construction, by placing
them In a condition to withstand effects
Of the weather and preserving them from
malicious spoliation. Recently still greater
progress has been made in that the
board have caused to be erected a SUBJ
stantial building for the reception for
the valuable blocks of stone of various
kinds which have been received from time
to time to be applied to the construction
of the pile. This building is well con-
structed and made secure from intruding
ho nd W
tect the windows and heavy doors, which
defy surreptitious invasion. In fact the
place has been placed in such a con-
dition that tall the board want now in
order to resume the work OF erection is
funds. The pending national election
seems to be a proper medium through
which do supply tie depleted treasury,
and 1t has been suggested that patriotic
citizens throughout the country form
themselves into associations for the pur-
pose Of perfecting arrangements at the
various voting places for the reception
of contributions. 1t Is an object every
good citizen feels an interest in, and II
every voter at the coming presidential
election would contribute the sum OF
cents toward 1t the amount would be
sufficient, IL not to complete the work,
to well nigh do it."
State elections occurred on the 9th Of
October, 1850, in Pennsylvania, Ohio and
Indiana. They were re-
Political garded with the greatest
interest as indicative of
StA~"S' the trend of popular
sentiment and a possible token of the re-
suit of the presidential balloting in No
vember Especially was the Pennsylva-
MIA election viewed as significant. The
0for ~ IN 1900
See The Stars Geographic and local
columns for the results Of yesterdays
elections and the effect upon the politi-
clans of the four parties congregated here
Of the news OF those results as far as
ascertained up to midnight last night.
This is emphatically a community of
politicians. That is, the men about town
are. almost to a man. politicians. The
ms evidently felt awfully last night;
while the outs wore short countenances.
The prospect of a Characterization
time ont. not far ahead, which was the
quod erat demonstrandum drawn from
the returns received from Pennsylvania,
seemed especially distasteful to those in
Office who have been the most vehement
adherents that to the victors belong the
spoils-a doctrine ever distasteful to us.
Unfortunately for those on the anti-re-
publican side who regard politics as being
little else save scramble for spofls. the
Republican Association of this city is Said
to, have closed its books Thursday night
last. We regret that we have no consola-
ton whatever to offer them; as with
Pennsylvania gone for the republicans we
find it impossible to figure out any theory
the result of the election next
month that promises hope that Lin
coin may not be elected by the people,
The republican state tickets were elect
ed in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana,
House Of Representatives in Pennsylva-
MIA and Indiana. These results were
viewed by Lincoln's supporters through
out the United States as virtual assur-
ances of his election.
The local republicans INDUCED in loud
rejoicings over the election in Pennsylva-
MIA and organized a process
Wide sion which occurred on the
A 18th of October, 1850. The
"AoS' Star of the next day printing
two columns and a half about the pro-
ceedings, which is of interest for the fact
that it includes a description of cam
paign costume once a familiar sight in
American cities, but now never seen:
THE Republican Association and the
Wide Awakes made their demonstration
last night successfully and in imposing
force, though the numbers were not so
large as had been anticipated. The pro-
cession was led off by the Wide Awakes.
100 strong. Differed as follows: Pioneers.
Messrs. ]. r. Cronin and William H. Fra
zier; president, Lewis Clephane: vice pres
ident. George H. Plant; secretary, G. A.
Hall; captain. Henry M. Knight: first
lieutenant. r: X. Elliott: second iieuten-
ant. r. NJ. Downer. The uniform worn
by the Wide Awakes was similar to that
used by the kindred associations else
where. The captain and neutenants' uni
form consisted of an Inverness mantle, or
overcoat with cape. made of black enam-
eled cloth and glazed hat The captain
carried a red and each lieutenant a blue
or green lantern. The privates wore
black enamel circular cape. quite full.
and Of good length, glazed caps and car
ried swinging or f1reman's torch. Two
pioneers. the taIlest men in the company,
very large torches. were sta
toned on the extreme right
A MEAN TRICK.