100 Years Ago in Huntington, 10/26/03
By Brandon Woolum

-The general staff is not satisfied with conditions at Port Arthur. There is no disguising the fact that the opposition of the Russian forces has been a disappointment. It had confidently been expected that long before this the place would have been in the hands of the Japanese and the desperate defense of General Stoessel, while calling for the admiration on the part of the Japanese war office, has caused more or less disarrangement of the plans. The question which is now being given very careful consideration is whether it is better to undertake the reduction of the place by regular sledge operations, diverting all the men not necessary for the carrying out of this purpose to other parts of plan of campaign, or to continue the efforts to carry the place by assault, sending whatever reinforcements in men and guns that may be necessary to the Kwan Tung peninsula. The best information obtainable is that the majority to opinion favors the later course. Japan fully realizes the importance of taking Viadivostok or at least investing that place when the time comes to talk of peace terms. It was the intention to begin the attack on Viadivostok when Port Arthur had been captured. Plans are now practically completed for the undertaking of this work, without waiting for the fall of the southern stronghold.

-Mr. A.T. Proctor returned yesterday from St. Louis where he attended the Photographers Association of America, In the session last week and the world fair. Our now nationally distinguished artist had every reason to congratulate himself upon the honors conferred upon him and distinguished consideration which his work, conspicuously placed, received. By unanimous vote Mr. Proctor was chosen second vie president of the National Association, while he was awarded a silver medal at the exposition. His exhibits in the liberal arts building, at the national association and in the West Virginia building received many flattering commendations aside from the formal recognition of their excellence. Comparatively few prizes were awarded by the exposition and most of these were bronze medals. Mr. Proctor has taken another long step in securing national recognition of is art and of himself as an artist.

-Attention is called to the advertisement of Chase’s in this issue pf The Advertiser. Campaign lawn lanterns, will be very much in demand during the closing days of the campaign and this well known book store has on hand a full supply.

-A party of eighteen laborers left via the C & O this afternoon for Patterson, Louisiana, to work in the swamps owned by the S. B. Williams Cypress Lumber Company.

-London—A dispatch to the Havas News Agency from Tokio says that the emperor today issued a message to the matron, praising the army and navy and the people by whom steady progress has been made, but adding that the prospect of final success is still distant, and expressing the hope that the sincerity of the national sprit will enable the realization of the final object.