Evening star., 1941-08-10
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Inspired by success. half century
ago, in securing for the coming year,
1892, the annual G. A.
ColIino All r. encampment for
Conventions Washington, there was
talk of the possibility
of holding either or both of the big
political conventions in the Nations
Capital. The phrase Washington, the
Convention City was in the air. The
Star of August 8. 1891, said in part:
That Washington is the proper
place for holding the great nominating
conventions of the political parties of
this country is proposition that evi-
IDENTIFY has the hearty Endorsement of
large numbers of our leading citizens.
1t is evident that all that is needed
is the start of movement to gain the
hearty cooperation of all. The success
which attended the visit of the citizens
committee to the Grand Army encamp-
ment in Detroit is an indication of what
can be done if an effort is made"
There followed the opinions of nu-
merous influential persons on the SUBJ
ject. all in favor of the idea: but it
never yet has borne fruit. No Democratic
or Republican convention mas been held
in Washington.
The Star of the same date. however,
does tell of a convention set for a week
ahead, a meeting of
Sovonts scientists: Next week
Assembling the scientists will begin
to gather in this city and
for the following ten days every train
will bring fresh accesSions to the num-
ber of notable men who are coming
from all parts of the country. The event
that brings them is the meeting of
the American Association for the Ad-
vancement of Science. This is the
great scientific body of this country
and its annual meetings are always oc-
casions of marked interest"
President Harrison. vacationing at
Cape May while the White House was
being redecorated, made
Presidential new plans for the late
Tour summer, according to The
Star of August 8, 1891,
which published the itinerary of his
projected trip to Vermont. Starting
from Saratoga, N. Y. his route was Rut-
land. Burlington, st. Adams. Rouses
Point. N. Y, and Lake Champlain, fol-
lowed by Montpelier, st. Johnsbury, and
White River Junction.
Also on August The Star printed
story of an extraordinary plot con-
cocted by a pair of local conspirators.
The testimony was brought out in a
hearing before the Commissioners. in
session to try policeman, Officer Work,
for making an unwarranted arrest and
assaulting two citizens, Messrs Brad
shaw and Burgess. Says The Star: "It
will be recalled that Officer Work ar
rested these gentlemen as suspicious
characters and fired his pistol at them.
against him, and the trial board after
hearing the evidence recommended his
dismissal from the force
"An effort has since been made to
save the officer and that ACCOUNTS for
the affidavits presented today.
"A. Miller - states that he overheard
a conversation between Burgess and
Bradshaw in which they concocted
scheme to destroy the value of property
in the vicinity of c street northeast
between 9th and 10th by having them
appear haunted and then buy the prop
erty in. He swears that he heard Brad
shaw explain how easy it would be to
get up and walk over the roof of a
certain frame house and thereby make
it appear haunted"
The officer Indignantly denied any
misconduct on his part and threatened
to make it warm in the criminal court"
for his accusers. Thus a new crime,
conspiracy to haunt, was introduced to
the District.
IItonion Perfections2