Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-11-22

idea by the immediate inauguration
of an aggressive and relentless policy
that shall give them to understand
once for all that there shall be no
more parlying with armed rebels. If
Aguinaldo now persists in carrying on
his rebellion the quickest and most
humane way to end it is a general
movement all along the line. Let lie
peace commissioners and all other
civil agencies stand aside until the
army prepares the way for an uncon-
ditional surrender.-Cedar Rapids Re-
publican.
Editor-Freacher.-Harry Sperry, erst.
while of this city, now publisher of
TIE Hedrick Herald, occupied the pull
pit of the Methodist church at What
Cheer last Sunday and the Patriot
says lie did it well. Go it, Harry
Iowa City Republican
Novel Marriage LaW.-Novel use is
made in Wisconsin of a law which re-
quires that at least five days elapse
between the issuing of a marriage IL
censc and the performing of the mar
riage ceremony. The purpose of the
law was to discourage the coming into
Wisconsin of couples from other states
on marriage bent, and in that particu-
lar the law is working we'll. But it is
REGARDED as a nuisance by the resi-
dents. Records of licenses issued are
open TIC public inspection, and are dali
ly sGlutinized by representatives Of
firms dealing in household wares. Then
for the intervening five days the mar
|rying parties are besieged to leave
their orders for furniture and the like,
en- the installment plan or otherwise.
-keohuk Gate City.
Unclaimed Corpses.-A man was re.
Gently run over and killed by train
near Alton and the Star Enterprise
says: There is no dishonor or dis.
grace i'll Being poor but occasionally
poverty brings about circumstances
that are most revolving We are re.
minded of this fact by the death of
McMullen. He was a stranger in a
strange land and even his first name
lis still unknown. When killed by the
cars, twenty-five cents was all his
earthly possessions. Our big hearted
citizens took the best care of him dur.
ing the few hours that he lived but af.
ter death closed his eyes he was put
in a box and shipped to medical col
legeS where medical students would
carve him up like butcher would
beef. The law of Iowa compels such
bodies to be sent to medical colleges.
1t Is perhaps wise law but there is
certainly something about it that is
most revolving. This unfortunate man
was one day some mothers darling
baby boy but d. chain of circumstances
brought him to poverty and as a re-
suit he does not even receive a, Chris.
tan burial" 5hattj&
National Irrigation Scheme The
Register is in receipt of letter from
the National Irrigation Association in.
forming us that the ninth annual SEES
sion of the National Irrigation con.
gress will be held in Chicago on No.
yember 81, %, 23 and "a, and that at
that time there will be a general dis
cussion Of the conservation of the wat.
er resources of the west by forest pres.
eryation and the construction of feder.
al storage reservoirs, the motto of the
congress to be Save Tie Forests and
Store the Floods" Secretary Mitch.
ell says in his letter that water is the
key to western prosperity, and that the
congress of the United States practi.
,cally controls the question of water de.
velopment. He then proceeds to fiat.
ter the newspapers of the west and to
say that it has been thru the vigor--
GUS and concerted demands of the
newspapers of the arid region that the
question of irrigation has been forced
to the front" He adds that the ques-
ton is now recognized as one which
must be reckoned with by chairmen of
committees at each session of con-
gress, and which cannot be suppressed
or pigeonholed. The letter says: 'In
this session of the National Irrigation
congress all controversy should be
eliminated. It's deliberations should
be guided by a high patriotic purpose
and a united determination to arouse
the whole people of the nation to re,
alization of the national Importance of
Transforming the western deserts from
uninhabitable wastes into fertile and
populous territory" All of this
sounds very well, Mr.. Mitchell, but
why should the people of the United
States foot the desert irrigation bill?
Irrigation will make the deserts fertile
and the schemers rich, SO why should
not the schemers pay the expense?
Iowa is in favor of saving the forests,
and adding to their area, but digging
irrigation canals, at the expense of the
government, is9not favored by the PEG.
pie of this state.-Des Moines Regis-
ter.
A Question of Honesty-It hardly
seems reasonable that any American
citizen worthy of the name would at
tempt to hold onto an office after his
successor had been elected, when he
would simply have to hold on by
technically. There ought to be hon
or enough left among men for all to
refuse to attempt to take advantage
of what is known to be mistake. 1t
hardly seems possible that any man
with proper conception of right and
duty would attempt to take advantage
of the present mix-up. There ought to
be list made of the men who are
willing to attempt to hold office on
plain technicality and jumbling of
dates. Is it not time that the decis-
ions of courts be less technical and
ha In arpord with what ic lpo,,,,, ~