Evening star., 1944-03-19
Fifty Years Ago
Fifty years ago Neal Dow, the great
temperance crusader, was in town for

Fifty years ago Neal Dow, the great
temperance crusader, was in town for
the celebration of his
Neal Dow's Goth birthday. Ac-
oOth Birthday cording to The Star
of March II, 1894:
'The Goth birthday of Neal Dow is to
be fittingly celebrated in this city Tues
day evening next March 2O). The tenn
perance organizations in the District
have been invited to participate, and
Convention Hall will no doubt present
an impressive spectacle" Mr.. Dow had
colorful career, by no means confined
solely to efforts in behalf Of prohibition.
He had been Mayor of Portland, Me-,
for years, and it was largely through his
endeavors that Maine went dry. When
the Civil War broke out he was ap-
pointed colonel OF volunteers and
fought under Butler at New Orleans.
He was twice wounded at Port Hud-
son and captured there. After eight
months in Libby Prison he was ex-
changed. In 1880 he was the Prohibi-
ton party's candidate for President
and received 10,3o5 votes. He did not
die until October 2, 1897.
District police announced the solution
Of the slasher mystery-the burglar who
habitually damaged
Jack The SIosher property that he
.,- Couuht could not carry
vi away. Said The
Star of March 90, 1894: George Tay-
lor, alias Jones, arrested yesterday at
Tenleytown while engaged In burglariz-
Ing the home of Judge Hunt at the in
tersection of the Rockville and River
roads, Is alleged to be Jack the Slasher.
Evidence of various kinds points to him
as being that much -hunted-for person,
In his pockets were found the tools that
the slasher must have used in his singu-
lar work of Observation-Disclosures and
sharp knives-and all were stuffed with
small pieces of cloth and dress goods,
mementoes of his little trips. If he be
Jack the Slasher though, he will prob
ably never be sent to prison. An insane
asylum will be his future home, for Tay-
lor is undoubtedly crazy man."
X X X
The good roads movement, started
some time before, had advanced to a
more practical stage, al
Good though voluntary co-opera-
Roods tion rather than Federal
control and insistence was
specified. AS noted In The Star of
March 10, 1894: THE Agricultural De-
partment has issued a circular, to be
sent to all railroad presidents in the
United States, offering suggestions for
their cooperation in the good-roads
movement" These suggestions were
that the railroads cffer free or greatly
reduced rates on freight for road ma
terlal and passenger fares for workers.
The Star of March 10, 1894, also re-
ported from Massillon, Ohio, the fiery
words of ]. S. Coxey,
Coxey Reody the leader of Coxeys
To Stort army: II propose to
march forth from this
city at noon on Easter Sunday next at
the head of cavalcade that will strike
terror in the hearts of those who have
been abusing their power by legislating
in favor of the rich against the poor. NV
destination is the Capitol at Washing
ton, D. C. My object Is to demand of
Congress the passage of the nonin-
terest-bearing bond bill prepared by the
j. S. Coxey Good Roads Association of
the United States" Moderate alarm
was felt by local authorities along the
line of march who did not wish hordes
oil vagrants in their bailiwicks. even
though 1t was understood that they
would move on as fast as they could.
Interesting today is an article carried
In the March II, 1894, issue of The Star
urging Army enlistment for
Army the unemployed. comfortable
Life quarters are provided" ran the
story. There has probably
never been time in the history of the
Army when the barrack system was so
perfect in every detail of hygiene and
personal comfort" Young men were
urged to try it. Sounding quaint to
modern ears is the remark: There is
no need to desert. II dissatisfied, the
recruit may purchase his discharge for
the nominal sum of S120, after six
months service"