422 



NEW YORK. 



dated in September, 1778. On many points of 

 historical interest these papers throw much light, 

 an^ they add greatly to our knowledge of the 

 participation by the Empire State in the great 

 events of the time of the Revolution. Of corre- 

 sponding value are the three volumes entitled 

 New York at Gettysburg, by William F. Fox, 

 which constitute the final report of the State's 

 Monument Commission. Illustrations of the monu- 

 ments are given, and it tells .how the New York 

 State monument cost $60,000. Prior to 1890 

 $140,000 had been appropriated for monuments and 

 tablets, together with $10,000 for sites. In 1890 

 an appropriation of $1,525 was made; in 1893-'94, 

 $77,034; and in 1894 and 1895, $7,500. 



The Palisades. The commission appointed at 

 the instance of Gov. Roosevelt by the Hon. A. H. 



Green, president of 

 the Society for the 

 Preservation of 

 Scenic and His- 

 toric Places and 

 Objects, to act in 

 behalf of New York 

 State in conjunc- 

 tion with a like 

 commission of New 

 Jersey, appointed 

 by act of Legisla- 

 ture, for the pres- 

 ervation of the 

 Palisades, has ac- 

 complished its pur- 

 pose, and its action 

 is thus reported by 

 Gov. Odell: "I de- 

 sire to commend to 

 your careful atten- 

 tion the report of 

 the commissioners 



of the Palisades Interstate Park, and urge your 

 action on their request for financial support 

 in a spirit of liberality commensurate with the 

 importance of the undertaking and the great 

 public interest therein. I am able to say that 

 the $10,000 appropriated for the purpose of de- 

 fraying the expenses of the commissioners and 

 perfecting surveys and maps have been used en- 

 tirely as the nucleus of a fund for acquiring and 

 closing down the most destructive of the quar- 

 ries. Blasting at these quarries stopped on Christ- 

 mas eve, in accordance with the provisions of op- 

 tion contracts binding until June 1 next [1901]. 

 The commissioners are securing options on several 

 miles of the Palisades, and have obtained sub- 

 scriptions amounting to more than $120,000." 



Lake George Battle Park. In accordance 

 with an act of the Legislature, the State Comp- 

 troller, on Sept. 12, completed the purchase of 25 

 acres at Lake George. This property includes the 

 site of the old battlefield of the French and Indian 

 War, and is to be added to a plot in the same 

 locality, purchased in 1898 for the purpose of es- 

 tablishing a State park on the historic ground. 

 That property covered about 10 acres, and a sub- 

 stantial house, to be used as a museum, stands 

 upon it. The new purchase transferred to the 

 State cost $12,100, which amount was covered by 

 an appropriation of $14,000. A monument in 

 memory of the troops who fell on that field will 

 be erected by the Society of Colonial Wars. 



Political. A Republican State convention was 

 held in Saratoga Springs, Sept. 4-5, which was 

 called to order by Benjamin B. Odell, Jr., who 

 nominated Timothy L. Woodruff as temporary 

 chairman, while for permanent chairman Nevada 

 N. Stranahan was chosen later. The platform 



BENJAMIN B. ODELL, 

 GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK. 



called attention to the continued prosperity of the 

 nation, denied that imperialism was an issue, called 

 attention to the lower tax rate, referred to the 

 advantage of the Raines liquor tax law and of the 

 franchise tax law. The condition of the canals 

 and proposed improvements were discussed; the 

 laws enacted for the just protection of the work- 

 man were indicated, the methods by which the 

 interests of the farmers had been fostered were 

 mentioned, and civil service reform, the National 

 Guard, and militia received consideration. The 

 administration of President McKinley and the 

 nomination of Gov. Roosevelt were approved. In 

 closing it contended that, covering the whole pe- 

 riod of the seven years of its control of the State 

 Government, the Republican party " points to a 

 record during which the charge of maladminis- 

 tration can not be brought successfully against 

 any of its officials. It is a record of progress and 

 good government; of promises kept, not of pledges 

 broken." The following candidates were then 

 nominated and were chosen by acclamation: For 

 Governor, Benjamin B. Odell, Jr., of Orange; 

 Lieutenant Governor, Timothy L. Woodruff, of 

 Kings; Secretary of State, John T. McDonough, 

 of Albany; Comptroller, William J. Morgan, of 

 Erie; Treasurer, John P. Jaeckel, of Cayuga; At- 

 torney-General, John C. Davies, of Oneida; State 

 Engineer and Surveyor, E. A. Bond, of Jefferson. 



A Democratic State convention was held in Sara- 

 toga Springs, Sept. 11, 12, for selecting candidates 

 for State officers. The meeting was called to order 

 by Frank Campbell, who presented the name of 

 Patrick H. McCarren as temporary chairman. 

 Later George Raines was named as permanent 

 chairman. The platform ratified the nomination 

 for the presidency of William J. Bryan, condemned 

 the ice trust, opposed the increase of State commis- 

 sions, favored the taxing of probate franchises, 

 denounced the Raines law, condemned the Repub- 

 lican canal policy, urged repeal of the election 

 law for New York city, favored a practical civil 

 service law with preference for veterans, and 

 closed with an appeal to the patriotism and in- 

 telligence of the voting population to support, in 

 State and nation, the party whose cardinal prin- 

 ciples have ever been " equal and exact justice 

 to all, special privileges to none ; peace, commerce, 

 and honest friendship with all nations, entangling 

 alliances with none; home rule, individual liberty, 

 common sense civil service, honest pay for honest 

 toil, and the lowest possible taxation consistent 

 with efficient administration." The nominations 

 for Governor were: John B. Stanchfield, of Che- 

 mung, Bird S. Coler, and William F. Mackey, and 

 a ballot showed the following vote: Stanchfield, 

 294; Coler, 154; and Mackey, 1. The remaining 

 nominations were made by acclamation: Lieuten- 

 ant Governor, William F. 'Mackey, of Erie; Secre- 

 tary of State, John T. Norton, of Rensselaer; 

 Comptroller, Edwin S. Atwater, of Dutches : 

 Treasurer, John B. Judson, of Fulton; Attorney- 

 General, Thomas F. Conway, of Clinton: Knjiiiiccr 

 and Surveyor, Russell R. Stuart, of Onondaga. 



The election, Nov. 6, resulted in the success of 

 the ticket containing the Republican presidential 

 electors by a vote of 821,992 against 678,38(5 for 

 the Democratic ticket. On the State ticket, Odell 

 received 804,859 votes against 693,733 votes for 

 Stanchfield. The entire State Republican ticket 

 was elected as nominated except the Comptroller, 

 John J. Morgan, who died on Sept. 5, 1000. and 

 to fill whose place Erastus C. Knight w:is chosen 

 by the Republican State Committee. Thirty-four 

 Representatives to Congress were elected, and of 

 these 21 were Republican. Of the 13 Democrats 

 chosen, 11 were from New York city, 1 was from 



