davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-04-19
COMING TO GOVERNMENT
OWNERSHIP.

II the sound counsel Of such men as
Willis j. Abbott prevails the Kansas
City Democratic convention will en-
brace strong government ownership
platform. In a recent article entitled
The Issues of 19O0,' Mr.. Abbott
writes:
An issue which believe should and
Will find place in the Democratic
national platform is the demand for
direct legislation, or the initiative and
referendum. This reform is one on
which all the reform elements, which
make up so large a part of the fighting
force of the Democracy as today con-
stituted, are united. 1t is an issue on
which there can be little difference Of
opinion, purposing, as it does, to carry
the theory of Democracy to its logical
conclusion, and to give the people ev-
cry practicable opportunity to legislate
for themselves without the interview
ton Of legislators who have too often
proved treacherous.
And. finally, though not least,
among the issues which should find a
place in this campaign | would put the
government ownership and operation
of railroads and telegraphs. The poll
ticians can seldom be persuaded to dis
cuss this as an actual living, vital is
sue of the moment. They are inclined
to declare it something right enough in
theory, but for which the people are
not yet ripe. In this they are wrong.
The people are in advance of the poll
ticians on this subject The part played
by railroads in building up the trusts
the corruption of which they are per-
sistently guilty in the capitals of our
state and nation-the effect of their
| determinations on the fortunes of
| towns and even of great sections Of
the country, their alliance with mon
opoly in all its forms, the part they
play in politics, and their efforts to
control whole states-as in the case OF
| the Louisville & Nashville road in
| Kentucky-have all been watched by
| the voters, who see clearly enough that
| the day is near when either the gov
eminent must own the railroads or the
railroads will own the government.
The directors of the railroads may be
reckoned upon as antagcnistic to the
Democratic party in any event, for
they are almost to man of that class
which was driven from the party by
it's declaration of independence in 1896.
If the party representatives in con-
vention at Kansas City shall have the
courage and wisdom to declare now
for government ownership they will
estrange no followers, but will gain a
host OF new recruits.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-04-19
STOLEN GOODS.

The use of Lincoln,s writings and
speeches in support of Democracy is a
clear case of stealing the livery of a
saint to serve the devil. Lincolns life
and utterances are an inspiration to
all his countrymen, and Democracy
shows good taste in appropriating any
proportion of it which can be distort-
ed to its case. If Democracy could
only get nearer to the great Republic
an president there might be some hope
for it's ultimate redemption-Om
Bee.
1t is lucky for the Democrats if they
have some good principles even if they
had to steal one-half of them from
Lincoln and the other half from the
Populists. 1t would be we'll for the
Republicans also, if they would get
some good principles, even at the cost
of grand or petit larceny. The pres
ent leaders of the party have travelled
5000 ailes to steal some islands. They
haze stolen untold millions from the
people and given them to the trusts,
but they never have picked UP an hooE-
est principle. although HEY have al
abundant opportunity. And that isn't
the worst of it, either: they have lost
Ill the principles that Lincoln gave
them. How many Republican mem
bers of congress indorse these grand
words of the great emancipator?-
Omaha Nonconformist.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-04-19
SPIRIT OF LIBERTY YET LIVES

The civilized world is WATCHING tb.,
progress OF the conflict in South Afric,
with increasing interest, and the brave
words OF Cronje will intensity sympa-
thy with the defenders of the repub-
lic."
The above is taken from Republic
an paper, and is true, with few slight
exceptions. President Mckinley is A
great big exception, and his cabinet is
another. The Republican majority in
congress has so far killed every reso-
luton of sympathy. The stock job
bers and boards of trade are sympa-
thizing with the British instead of the
Beers. Every prominent banker and
nearly every millionaire is on the side
of the oppressor. They care more for
advancing stocks than they do for dy-
ing patriots. But the great heart of
the common people beats as true to
liberty today as it did with Washing
ton at Valley Forge, with Jackson at
New Orleans or with Grant in the
Wilderness. The American people are
watching with anxious solicitude
Cronje's gallant fight in South Africa,
where 5000 brave farmers are hemmed
in by 10000 British soldiers, and the
earnest prayers of millions of Ameri-
cans are ascending to the God of bat
ties for the success and safety of that
little band of patriots. News that
Cronje had escaped, or that Bobs was
overthrown, would bring joy and
| thanksgiving to nearly every humble
| home in -Nonconformist.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-04-19
THE NATIONAL DEBT.

Never was the insincerity of poll
tlclans more clearly exhibited than in
the course of the Republican leaders
IN connection with the currency ques-
ton. Surely no one of our readers can
nave forgotten that the chief burden of
the anti-Bryan campaign oratory four
years ago was based on the argument
that the free silver coinage, which he
recommended, would lead to expan-
sion Of the currency, and hence ROB
moneyed men. They told the people
mat imitation of the currency was al
ways disastrous to business and in
dustrial interests, and bound sooner or
later to end in terrible panic. 1t was
on these grounds that enough voters
were worked upon to elect President
Mckinley and Republican majority
in both branches of congress. But
think of what these same Republican
leaders have now done in the way of
financial business. They have taken
steps to perpetuate the national debt,
transferred to the national banks the
profit OF making paper money, and,
while removing previous restrictions
which checked to degree national
bank issues of paper money, have ex-
tended the privilege of establishing
such institutions enormously by re-
ducing one-half the minimum required
capitalization Of such banks.
Already many would-be sharers in
the spoils have put in their applica-
tions for the right to establish new
banks, a I'D nearly s2.o0o;ooo in new
paper money has been printed for the
use of the bankers who are expanding
their issue of notes under the more
favorable terms. This is expansion of
the most portentous degree, just what
the Republican leaders proclaimed in
1896 would cause general disaster and
common robbery. What faith can
thoughtful people continue to enter
tain for party leadership thus ex-
posed in all its insincerity and dis
honor?-Springfel (Mass.) News.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-04-19

fsh censor plundered every mail. and,
read every official letter. He came,
thousands of miles to do just what you
say he ought to- have done. and when
he reached Washington he was ignored
and insulted by the administration.
Why, talk about the attitude of neu-
trality when Macrum, is turned down
because he did't want to do the dirty
work of England and the young Mr..
Hay is promoted because he was will
ing to serve Great Britain and was the
llck-spittle son OF toad-eating father.
Macrum Is not the first Republican
who has been ostracized for too faith
fully serving his country. Attorney
General Monet was turned down be-
cause he prosecuted the Standard Oil
thieves in Ohio. Our noble president
VIII punish any man who resists Brit
lsh oppression or opposes the interest
OF Rockefeller and the rest of the kerr
osene crowd.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-04-19
GARFIELD AND MR.. MOODY.
They Looked Alike and Had the Same
Git Of Captivating Friends.

They Looked Alike and Had the Same
Gift of Captivating Friends.
'"There was striking resemblance
between the late Mr.. Moody and Presi-
dent Garfield" said New Orleans
newspaper man the other evening.
Garfield was the taller of the two,
but otherwise they were strangely
alike. They had the same massive
frame, the same suave, smiling cast of
features, the same enthusiastic tenn
permanent, the same facility for anec-
dote, and the same effect of sincerity
in everything that they said or did.
Their style of oratory was almost
identical and both possessed the gift
of captivating people at first sight
One of Mr.. Moody's most ardent at
mirers, for instance, was A. g. Vince,
er, the we'll known New York dramati,
critic, who writes under the nom de-
plume of MIN Crinkle' and it would
be impossible to imagine two men
more utterly dissimilar. Wheeler is
a veteran Bohemian and a maker OF
polished phrases; student, dreamer,
In appearance he is thin, frail, and
trifle sardonic--in every way the anti
thesis of the evangelist, yet the warm
est friendship sprung up between
them, lasting uncooled to the end. i
interviewed Mr.. Moody several times,
continued the speaker, ION the last
occasion about three years ago, and I
asked him among other things, what xafsa,
preparation, if any, he made for his
longer public addresses. Why, l jot
down memorandum of string of
stories,' he replied, with one of his
characteristic, boyish laughs. Then he
explained that he mapped out his gen
.eral line of argument in advance,
thinking up some striking anecdotes
with which to clinch each successive
point. That was all done mentally,
and the only notes he made were few
catch words on a card to remind him
of the stories : in case any of them
should slip his mind. He showed me
one of these memoranda and | have
often regretted that l did not ask him
for it as souvenir. 1t was simply
string of words, unintelligible to any
body except himself-for example,
ocean greyhound .'battle of Water
Loo coral reef insect, first locomo-
tive, breaking in new boots'-those
are few l remember. Each was a
cue to one of his inimitable little
tales. New Orleans Times-Democrat.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-04-19
REPUBLICANS "kuss"MAcRUM.


Let us not get excited about Macrum
or anything Macrum says. The prob
abilities are that he isn't worth it.
1t he were made of the right kind of
stuff for the diplomatic service he
would have entered his protests to his
own government. and no inducement
whatever could have pulled out of him
statements like these, calculated, if
they have any effect at all, to en-
barrass his own government in main
tanning Its proper attitude of neutral
tty Minneapolis Journal.
You are on the right track, brother.
You must blacken the reputation of
Macrum or he will blacken the repu-
,tation Of your corrupt organization.
You say he should have entered the
protests to his own government. He
couldn't do that by mail, Tor the Brit
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-04-19
BAHAMA nescsnaanta

By admitting the possibility of es-
tablishing international bimetallism at
ratio which shall insure permanency
OF relative value between gold and sill
yer the United States senate has made
laughing stock of itself.-Indianapo-
lis Journal.
What did your party make of itself
when II 1895 at St. Louis it de-
ciared for International bimetallism
and solemnly promised to use every
possible means to enforce that declara-
tlon! Were you laughing stock Or
svsneething infinitely worse?
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-04-19

writing this, he would kin me. Tho
man who threw me overheard was
Lemuel Starile. the same one who lie
trying to marry my cousin Elsie. He
Is scoundrel. He is really the son
Of Elvin. He comes here, and i am
afraid he will recognize me. So, as
soon as l get this Off with lot OF let
tiers am writing to other conspirators,
/ am going to slip out Of the window
and go back to the schooner Black
Cat. Captain Torrevo told me to.
come back if was in danger, and l
think l am. could have gone last
night, but wanted to finish the Job
they set me at, SO that could get
this letter of to you. There are three
kinds of letters am writing. and
can only read one. That is the very
one that seems hardest to read. It is
in cipher, but made it out. 1t Is
being sent to several generals and
colonies and captains in Argentina,
and says: Everything is ready. You
will at once assemble your forces and
join me here.-Vin.' The name Vim
means Elvin. Here means house
not far from the river, at spot called
Black Cat Bay. If l get back to the
schooner I will be safe until Elvin
finds me. But hope you will come
after me, OF send someone. I warn
you against Lemuel Starne, whose
name is Elvin. He Is trying to get
Elsie and your money. He tried to
kill me to prevent me from reaching
you. Please try and get me away
from these men. am afraid they will
kill me yet. Your loving nephew,
"ROB CLEVERDALE."
Rob addressed an envelope to DAY
i'd Horton, buenos Ayres," and slipped
the letter, folded neatly, into it. Then
he placed this among the letters of
number one, that he had written the
previous day and which Elvin had
looked over.
(To be continued)
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-04-19
OUR BUDGET OF FUN
SOME GOOD JOKES ORIGINAL
AND SELECTED.
A Variety of Quips, GIbes and Ironiea
to Cause 3 Smile Flotsam and
Jetsam from the Tide OF Rumor-i
Witty Sayings
SLIGHTLY Mixs,f.

Prisoner" said his honor, as the
case was closed, you have been found
guilty of stealing pig belonging to
Col. Childers. Have you anything to
say before l pass sentence?'
L has, sah," answered the prisoner.
as he rose up. 1T was all a mistake.
jedge-all mistake. 1 didn't dun
reckon to steal no pig from Kurnel
Chllders. What 1 was arter was
hawg belonging to Majah Dawson, an
how dem two animals got mixed up
and de constable found de meat in my
cabin am gwine to bodder me till I
come out O. Jail an lick de ole woman
FUR not keepin' better watch at de
doah!"
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-04-19
President Must Be Leader.

The people cannot follow president
VINO does not lead, and they cannot
escape the impression that he is him
self following some one else. He at
first in public message urged free
trade with Puerto Rico; he now in pri-
vate interviews urges tariff between
us and Puerto Rico. Why? This is the
question which the people are asking,
which the presidents best friends and
warmest supporters are asking and to
which he ought to give an answer as
public and as authoritative as his
original message. This is not a ques-
ton for compromise. If it be true
that the president has not changed
his mind, but only his policy, and has
reluctantly become an advocate of a
15 per cent tariff in order to unite his
party, he has made most serious po-
litical mistake. Outlook, New York.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-04-19

tackled number two. The captain went
on again, and Rob's curiosity had
grown SO that now. while he was fresh.
ne 1elt like reading the cipher. But it
was mystery. Such meaningless lot
OF letters he never saw before. Turn
ana twist them as he would he could
make nothing of them. Suddenly it
occurred to him that Il ese letters did
not spell the message at all. They
must, then, stand for other letters in
the alphabet. How was he to learn
what they stood for? He took the first
sentence. FWFSIU, and so on, meant
absolutely nothing, and could not be
made to spell anything. Starting with
A. the first letter of the alphabet, Rob
tried to make stand for it. But there
was no way to fit the same rule to.F,
and make sense. This would be ARA.
1t might lead to something. But when
he had gone through the sentence he
found it would not do, and began on
b. He kept this up, with all the inge-
nulty his young head was capable of,
and tried c and D. He began to de-
SPAR of reaching it, when he tried E.
The first five letters gave the word
Every"
With his heart beating faster now,
Rob kept on his way. Each letter OF
the simple cipher really stood for the
letter that came before it in the alpha
bet. And when he had studied it all
out, the message read Is follows Ilo
everything is ready. You will at
once assemble your forces and join me
here
This meant something, surely. It
meant that a revolutionary afafS was
to assemble under Richard Elyin and
make an attack on the forces OF the
government. This means, perhaps, ruin
to his uncle in Bnenos Ayres. And il
his uncle was killed, perhaps Elyin
would take all his property and
wealth ass :sza en- 81, II ...,,
With his heart filled with boyish
courage. Rob wrote the letters in ci-
pher, as he had been ordered to do.
Then he addressed envelopes from list
number two.
The message in form number three
meant nothing to him The nearest he
could come to a guess was that it in
formed the persons to whom it was
sent that the Black Cat had brought
another cargo of contraband goods.
But what had loyalty to do with SNUG
Cling? No, it was another revolution
airy message, and the BLACK Cat had
perhaps been taken as the symbol OF
the revolutionists
Fortunately, Elvin remained away,
and Rob had an opportunity to carry
out the design he had formed. He
wrote a letter to his uncle.
Dear Uncle David he wrote, 81
was not drowned when was thrown
overheard from the Royal Mail. was
picked up by smusgler, and am now
q prisoner among some men who are
and also conspirators
against the government Of Argentina.
The head mans name is Richard Ell;
vim. and he thinks am the nephew OF |
Torrevo. the captain OF the schooner
that picked me up. i II he knew was
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-04-19
viii Lose indian,

In the presidential election Of 1909
the total vote of Indiana for the two
leading parties was COSBY and the Re-
publican plurality was 25,197. There
was difference of about per cent in
the vote of the Republicans and the
Democrats. This is not great amount
to change, and in view of the pro-
nounced dissatisfaction with the adj
ministration, it is not at all improb-
able that if Mckinley shall be renomi-
mated he will lose Indiana next No
vember.-Albany Argus.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-04-19
CHApT]ER XII

CHAPTER XI.
On the following morning Rob rose
weary and aching from a bed on which
/ he had tossed in wakefulness since he
had heard the words Of Lemuel Starne.
Capt. Elvin nodded to him when he
stepped out into the large room, and
at once led the way to the dining
room.
Eat heartily" he said. "You have a
day Of hard work before you
It seemed to Rob that every bone in
his body ached from the excessive ex-
ertion of his walk the day before. But
he was so thoroughly aroused to the
necessities of his situation that he
grimly bore 1t without word, and fell
s to on the breakfast as IL he was really
happy boy.
Breakfast over, Capt. Elvin lighted q
cigar and offered one to Rob.
Thank you, sir, don't smoke" said
Rob.
Not smoke! A nephew of Torrevo
not smoked"
81 But was not always with my UNI
Gle Ricardo" said Rob.
81. True. Boys in New York do not
learn to smoke as early as they do
here. Well. Ricardo. come. Let's get
to work. .
The Englishman led the way to the
office again, and pointed to desk on
which there were paper and writing
materials.
Il: That is your place. he said. .You
are young for this trust, but Torrevo
spoke highly of you. He said you
could be trusted. But, after all. L am
not going to trust you far. You will
know the names of the men you write
to, and that is all. Now, will give
you three forms of letters. They are in
cipher. and no one except those who
receive them can read them. Then I
will give you a list of names for each
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-04-19

at this. and he resolved to read the
cipher, If possible. There were about
q hundred OF these names. List number
three, to whom the Loyalty letter
was to be sent, were scattered all over
the world, but most of them were civ
ilians in South American countries.
It was clear to Rob that he had more
than one days work before him. He
began at once. He was methodical in
habit, and as he wrote letter from
form number one he would address an
envelope from list number one, and
then check of that name Elvin
watched him do this few times, and
then, with satisfied nod of his head,
he walked out.
OF course, letter number one was not
clear to Rob. 1t was evidently form
previously agreed upon among the con-
spirators, to be sent under certain con-
litions. Rob soon had it word for
word In his memory, and wrote the
letters rapidly. But 1t took him till
late in the afternoon to finish list num-
Der one. He had stopped for lunch, but
ate alone. Capt Elvin did not re-
turn.
1t had begun to grow dark, and Rob
felt tired of the work. So he gave it
up for the day and wandered around to
look at the place. Capt. Elvin APP
peared for supper and looked over the
letters Rob had addressed. Rob noted
with pleasure that he did this care
lessly and did not see half of them,
You finished number one?" said the
captain.
Yes, sir. l got tired, and left the
others till morning."
That's all right. You did well. i
could not do it. l could not sit down
and write an hour at stretch to save
my life"
Rob had good nights rest, and
after his breakfast the next morning
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-04-19

form. Now, take your pen and write
this down.
Y II am ready sir" said Rob, dipping
his pen in the ink
The blue flag waves" said Elvin.
Have you got that?"
The blue flag waves, /" repeated Rob,
writing it down.
81 will go on. The blue flag waves.
La Plata smooth and friends find easy
sailing. Splendid anchorage in Black
Cat bay. Three days from this storm
is expected. Cover your house we'll"
Isl have that down, sir" said Rob.
IS, Very well. Mark that form number
one
1t is marked number one, sill"
Now another. Are you ready?"
Ready, sir
Write these letters, one after an
other, and write them very plainly
Yes, SIR" said Rob.
'tFWFsZUIJOHJTSFBEZ, ZPvxJM
4 Observation-Disclosures
BOEKPJONFIFSF."
This was terrible tumble to Rob,
who knew nothing about writing in
cipher.
Got that all down." asked Elkin.
YES, sir.
READ them oyer"
Rob repeated the letters,
sCorrect," said Elvin. "It Is an easy
cipher, but none of the letters will get
into the hands OF the government, and
even if one did. ! d9p't think there Is. Is.
any, one WHO woHld bother to make it
sont Now take this down"
2 am ready, sir"
Loyalty to loyalty and Black Cat
sends greetings
= SIS that all, SIR
~ 'sThat.s all. You will sign to each
letter you write he name Vim. You
understand, 1t is the last syllable Of
ny 'yy own ma. name.
Now, here are three lists of names.
You have the first letter marked NUM-
Der one. Did you mark the cipher
number two?"
Yes, sir"
The short one is number three
neSe ilStS OF names are numbered one,
two and three. You will send letter
of each number to every person named
in the list bearing the same number.
Do you understand that?"
Yes, SIR
Here are envelopes There are
stamps. Do it all UP in good shape,
and perhaps In week or two you will
have something to remember this oc-
easion by
Rob thought he would, too, If his
own plans did not fail.
Elvin stood over him while he
studied the names on the lists.
List number one was made up OF
names and addresses in cities of South
America, most Of them being In. Ar
gentina. Some were even In New York,
a few in London and Paris. There
were about 300 in all. List number
two, or those to whom the cipher was
TO be sent. were men in the republic,
most of them with some kind OF mil
ltary title. Rob's curiosity was aroused