davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-14

work has been such that even sur
geons regard him as master; as one
who is steady under fire, who at the
critical moments has comprehension
enough to realize what is needed, and
has the nerve to carry it out; who is
not distracted by his sympathies nor
by viewing possible consequences.
And so it is in every walk of life
from teaching children in the prima-
ry grades to preaching funeral SER
mons-to know what is the right
thing to do or say, and when the pro-
per time, and to do or say it at that
time. Schley did the right thing at
the proper time; there need have
been no court Of inquiry to establish
that-but then this court is held at
the instance of the victor tc clear his
reputation of the false charges and
unmerited detractions that had been
unkindly made public against him
through jealousy.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-14
ROOSEVELT IN WHITE ROUSE.

If any man can be declared true
type of Americanism, that man is The
odore Roosevelt. His hair is worn
positively short, and as he lowers his
spectacles upon you, you see behind
them two very bright gray eyes. The
first impressions are not always reas-
surfing, but you begin at once to feel
the sincere consciousness and can
dor of the man. His reserve force and
vigorous courage impress you; finally,
after a few moments of conversation,
you are entirely convinced that he is
man of broad intellectually and
keen student of human nature. His
hand grasp is genuine and inspiring
Not shadow of insincerity is discern,
able. Open, fearless and honest in
every fibre, such is the universal ver-
dict of those who meet Theodore
Roosevelt.-Joe Mitchell Chapple in
1.-The National Magazine" fer Novem-
Der.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-14
LABEL YOUR GASOLINE CAN.

Section 2,505 of our laws provides
that no gasoline shall be sold unless
the vessel containing it has been
marked gasoline" The Iowa SUI.
preme court has just decided that
should any person or firm sell gaso-
line without so marking the can and
any person be injured thereby the
dealer would be liable to the injured
person for the damages sustained.
The case is entitled Ives VS.. Weldon,
and arose in Hardin county. Mr.Ives
took a jug to Mr.. Welden's drug store
and testified he asked for kerosene;
the clerk swore he ordered gasoline.
Be that as it may the clerk filled the
jug with gasoline and failed to put a
label on it as required by law. Mr..
Ives took the jug home and his daugh-
ter proceeded to kindle fire with a
portion Of its contents. The neces-
sarily consequent explosion set fire to
her clothing and injured her, for which
she brought suit against the dealer
Mr.. Weldon. The district court in,
structed the jury that if the father
knew the jug contained gasoline and
was negligent in permitting his daugh.
ter to use it, or in not informing her
of the fact then she could not recover
damages in her suit, and the pury re
The supreme court reversed the de
cision and said no matter what the
father knew, if the injured person
thought she was using kerosene when
it was gasoline and the receptacle had
not been labeled then the dealer must
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-14
for another one. All tributes of re-
spect will be cheerfully granted on all
proper occasions.
MoRToN's TRIBUTE.

]. Sterling Morton, secretary of ag-
riculture in the cabinet of President
Cleveland, is editor of the Conserva-
tive Of Nebraska City, and in re-
cent number of his paper he pays the
following tribute to Mr.. Cortelyou as
we'll as to the former chairman Of the
civil service commission, Theodore
Roosevelt:
During the second administration
of Grover Cleveland, through the class
flied service there was in the post
office department a very efficient and
eminently faithful clerk named George
b. Cortelyou. His abilities and mer-
its were pronounced, and thus he came
to the notice of President Cleveland,
who drafted him into the service OF
the executive of the United States and
Installed him among the secretaries
at the White House, where he has
made most remarkable record for
doing the right thing rightly at the
right time, under all sorts of judg-
ment-testing emergencies.
Mr.. Cortelyou is splendid demon
stration of the enormous value to the
people of the United States of civil
service based upon merit, fitness and
adaptation. He honors the system
and reflects credit upon the position
which he now holds under civil SER
vice reforming President-the former
chairman Of the civil service commits
sion OF the United States-Theodore
Roosevelt
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-14

the brain, deadens that organ before
any sensation can reach it.
The commissioners came to the
conclusion that the condemned crimi-
nal should be doomed from the day
OF his sentence, kept by himself in
prison and the sentence executed with
the least possible display of senti-
ment. The body should not be parad-
ed like that of hero, but belong to
the authorities for dissection or des-
truction, or if given to the family,
they should be forbidden to exhibit it.
The commissioners believe that by
shutting criminal out from the world
from the time of his sentence leaving
him with the knowledge that only
punishment awaited him, capital
crime would be more effectually de-
tered than by any other method
Criminals, they observed, meet death
with bravado when they contemplate
elaborate descriptions and public fun
erals afterward.
"The frs man to die in he electric
chair was William Kemmier in 1891.
After long legal fight, in which his
case was taken to the United States
supreme court on the ground that
electrocution was unconstitutional, as
being cruel and unusual punishment,
he was the first man to die in the
electric chair. The sentence was exc
cuted August 6, 1891, at the Auburn
penitentiary at GAO o'clock in the
morning. Kemmler had been convict
ed of numbering his sweetheart, Til
lie Ziegler, and assumed an air of
bravado while the straps were adjust
ed in the electric chair. The first
shock did not apparently kill the man,
although he was rendered practically
lifeless, and it was necessary to again
turn on the current Since then one
shock has generally performed its
task"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-14

sword or cord; Denmark, the guillo-
tine; Ecuador, the rife; France, the
guillotine; Holland, the gallows; Italy,
sword or gallows; Oldenburg, the
rifle; Portugal, sword; Russia, sword,
musket or gallows; Switzerland, fif-
teen cantons, the sword, two cantons,
the guillotine. The seven countries
requiring that executions be private
are: Bavaria, guillotine; Brunswick,
AK; Hanover, guillotine; Prussia,
sword: Saxony, guillotine. The
chief objections of the New York COM
mission to the guillotine was that it is
too bloody and that it is associated
with the scenes of the French revolu-
ton. The garrote is Objectionable
because physicians say the fatal screw
cannot be depended upon to be so
quick and certain in operation that
there may not be great agony on the
part of the criminal. Shooting. if
used in civil executions, would some
times lack celebrity, would require a
large number of executioners, and
would be demoralizing because of it's
tendency to encourage the populace to
think lightly Of the fatal use of fire.
arms.
The first objection to hanging, the
commissioners reported is that the
effect of giving stimulants to the con-
demned Immediately before the exc
cution is demoralizing. The prevail.
ence of that practice is well known.
Another objection is the danger of an
attempt of the condemned man to COM
NIT suicide. There are four cases re.
corded where men were hanged who
had previously cut their threats
There is also public horror and re.
volution against hanging women. The
electric current is 100 times as rapid
as the resuscitation after the passage
Of such current through the body is
impossible. The current applied to
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-14

Somebody sends the Courier mark
ed copy of the Houston (TeXas)
Chronicle with blue pencil marks
around an editorial entitled President
Roosevelt's Mistake"
The Chronicle explains why the
President made mistake in this fash
ION:
Recognizing the truth that no man,
however, distinguished his character
or exalted his station, is above fair
and legitimate criticism. The Chroni-
Gle does not hesitate to say that Pres
dent Roosevelt, in making Booker T.
Washington his guest at luncheon,
made grievous mistake.
In saying this we would not be un-
derstood as in the slightest degree de-
preciating his high character or the
valuable public service rendered by
Washington in that field in which ne
has been at once the most conspicu.
Gus and the ablest worker. The char.
acter and ability of Washington are
altogether apart from the question
raised by the Presidents action. Crit
icism leveled against that action has
its origin in that which has nothing
to do with the personality of the guest
whom the President meant to honor
Washington is negro-the Presi
dent is white man. This states the
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-14

HOW THERE CAME TO
BE AN ELECTRIC CHAIR


The law under which CzoIgosz was
put to death by electricity went into
effect in New York January /, 1889
1t was framed by commission of
which Elbridge 7. Gerry, the humani-
tartan, was member, named by the
legislature to report upon the most
humane and practical method of exc
cutting death sentences. The commits
sion decided in favor of electrocution.
This was a novelty and occasioned
much discussion among the scientists
which was not allayed until the meth.
cd was successfully tried, states an
exchange.
Under the law the punishment must
be inflicted within the walls, or the
enclosure, of the state penitentiary
by causing a current of electricity to
pass through the body of the convict
until he is dead" The warden is Civ
en- full control of the electrocution and
it is obligatory upon him to invite the
presence of a justice of the supreme
court. the district attorney, the sher.
iff of the county in which the crime
was committed, and twelve reputable
citizens at the execution of the sen
tence. He also has power to appoint
seven assistants, or deputy sheriffs
No other persons are permitted to be
present.
In its inquiries the New York com
mission found many interesting facts
in the prevalent modes of killing by
law. Twenty-six civilized countries
allowed executions Of death sentences
to be public, while seven required
privacy. Austria, uses the gallows,
Belgium, the guillotine; Chine, the
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-14

no more approve it than do their dem
ocratic neighbors.
The President could have honored
Washington and the negro race with
out doing violence TO the SOUND and
deep-seated sentiments of millions of
his countrymen. Washington is not
true representative of the negro race,
but is distinctly abnormal and phe-
nomenal. There are tens of thous-
ands of white men in the United
States who are doing as great work
as Washington, while not one negro
in one hundred thousand could do it.
He deserves praise and honor, but
that honor should have come in such
form as not to have given offense-
we will not say to the prejudices, but
to the convictions of large majority
of the people.
The President is, or should be, too
broad minded man to push an alb
stract theory or individual view, how
ever honestly held, to an impractical
BILE and injurious extreme. He should
remember that statesmen deal with
conditions as they are, not as they
would have them be.
Forgetting this truth or at least in
failing to act upon it, the President
made mistake which is the more to
lie deplored because, while his action
was futile for any possible good, it
was potent for incalculable harm.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-14
FOUND IN THE TALL GRASS.

Land is still advancing in price
One hundred and sixty acres of soil
in this part of the county is small
fortune for the person that is the pos
sessor.-Marcus News.
AS a sample of the boom in Monona
county farm lands, sale made last
week by Ed. S. Cody, of Onawa, will
serve as an object lesson. He sold a
half section in Sherman township for
$4,000. He bought the land less than
two months ago for S90O0.-Castana
Times.
Up in Allamakee county they allow
bounty of "15 cents per- for wood
chuck scalps, and the boys of the
county have been on the trail of the
woodchucks have become a menace
had to be adopted for their destruc-
ton. During the month of September
1,640 scalps were cashed. During the
entire season there were 12,191 scalps
brought in to the county auditor
Manchester Qa.) News.
Now is the time to wrap your arms
around the stovepipe and cuss 1t In
to position: take down the screen
doors and hang them high and dry;
bank up your house with rotten straw
and brickbats, and put hinges on the
cellar door. Hog killing time is now
upon us, and it's high time to be
friendly with our neighbors until the
head cheese is nodded and the bologna
sausage is ground up and made into
beautiful ringlets. Contentment!
Bologna sausage and sauerkraut
abides with us.-Harris Qa.) Bee.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-14

ROMANCE OF THE PRESIDENCY
HenryW lin the LousviL

When we say that truth is strang-
er than fiction" we do not necessarily
pay compliment to history at the
expense Of fiction; but discounting the
falsehoods with which we know that
history abounds, there remains yet
enough of ascertained and established
fact to justify the saying and to imply
the compliment. Nor does the con-
temporary world of what we call
practical affairs" furnish stage less
adapted to melodrama, or a mise en-
scene less vivid and picturesque, or
characters less varied and adventur-
GUS than the theater which affects to
reproduce for our edification the
times of Charlemagne and Cyrano de
Bergerac, of Maurice of SAKE, Don
Caesar de Bazan and Napoleon Bona
parte. There is romance everywhere
even in American politics. Quite as
often with us as with the French, at
is the unexpected that happens"
What stretch of fancy could have
predicted four years ago that Theodore
Roosevelt, talented and rather
bumptious young gentleman, holding
little other than an upper clerkship
in subordinate department of the
government-as a rule, considered a
political cul de sac-would today be
president of the United States? Yet
the experience of Mr. Roosevelt is
not exceptional to that of several of
his predecessors in office. Six weeks
before his nomination for President
in 1874, James K. Polk was a weak
candidate for vice-president, resting
his chief hope upon the nomination of
Martin Van Buren, for President. In
two preceding state elections he had
successfully been beaten for COVER
nor of Tennessee, then regarded as
one Of the pivotal states" In 1843
Franklin Pierce retired from public
life because he could not resist the
convivialism of the national capital
Ten years later, having done nothing
in the interim especially to distinguish
himself he returned to Washington
as President Of the United States.
Take the case at Chester A. Arthur
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-14
TRIBUTES TO SPAIN.

The Pan-American congress now in
session in the city of Mexico has
transacted already quite an amount of
business and among other good things
has passed the usual appropriate res
buttons. 1t is recorded among other
matters, that THE Unite. States join
ed the other delegations in sending a
glowing tribute of respect to the moth
er country, Spain, but the tribute was
in the form of speech not resolu-
ton 1t is stated by way of comment
that 'The pro-Spanish and clerical del
egations are evidently not going to be
found wanting in their efforts to
arouse Spanish-American spirit in
the congress-"
The United States is not Spanish
American country but it has a right to
claim Spain as the mother country in
this respect. Spain at one time owned
OF claimed the greater part of terri
tory now embraced in the United
States; but the United States acquir-
ed possession much in the same way
that Mexico and the Central and South
American countries acquired theirs
by fighting for it,
A greater part of the time we fought
Great Britain but later on we encoun.
tered the Spaniard himself and it is
with no spirit of self-glorification that
we now are saying that neither Spain
nor Great Britain have had any great
interests that conflict with our own or
this continent. We can therefore well
afford at this Pan-American congress
to join in with all the American ma
tons in proper tribute of respect tt
Spain. AS was remarked by certain
redoubtable old warrior: 81 nevel
could properly appreciate the qualitie.
of any gentleman until after | hav,
fought with him" So it is in the cas-,
WIN Spain; we have had our fight
and there will never arise an occasion
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-14
STEADY UNDER FIRE.

The Schley court Of inquiry is draw
sion, Admiral Schley resting his case
after he had been on the stand for
five days standing the most searching
examination into his conduct at the
battle of Santiago. 1t will now devol-
We upon the government to present its
side of the case on behalf of and in
defense of Admiral Sampson. The in
quiry has seemingly resolved itself in
to a question of determining whether
or not Schley was steady under fire;
whether he sought an unexposed place
on the Brooklyn when the shells were
flying; whether he was afraid to close
in on the enemy when in the bay;
whether the famous loop of the Brook
Ign during the engagement was made
through cowardice of Schley when in
command of her and the American
fleet. Many naval officers of the high
est standing and long experience have
testified on behalf of Schley that his
conduct was all that the conduct of a
commanding officer should be during
a sea fight. With due regard for the
safety of the men under him, the
many enormously valuable fighting
vessels following his signals, and with
due regard to the interests of the ma
ton at stake and to the vast response
bility on his shoulders, it has been
clearly demonstrated that his course
was such as to stand approval even
after the excitement was over and the
details were coldly and critically ex-
amined, long after the occasion, by a
board comprised Of men of the most
technical education. The fight made
by Schley the man of action and not
theorist must be approved even by
those officers comprising the theoret
ical branch. Schley sought not shelter
in the fight; his judgment was steady
under fire; and out of those determi.
nations grow the moral elements in
the case. In the world of human life
how many men are steady under fire:
In all branches Of industry and &C
complishment the devotee is not quail
flied to the Characterization of cable
until he can stand steady under the
line Of fire which will certainly be cen
tered upon him. To attain success il
his respective field one must be {
master in his own school. A doctor
is not doctor until he is regarded as
such by doctors. A merchant will no
be a merchant until he is generally
SO regarded by men of his own follow
ing, and that comes only through de
monstration of his ability in the Sc
we're test of experience; until he has
risen above competition and adverse
conditions. A surgeon cannot sound
~ regard himself as such until his
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-14
stand for the damages-the mere fact
of emitting the label would make him
liable. So be careful when you sell
ro cn1ine
is HE CRAZY?
gasoline.

James Eads How, of st. Louis, heir
to fortune of more than $1,OOO,0OO,
and wealthy in his own name, refuses
to use his income and has become a
newsboy, peddling daily papers on the
streets OF St. Louis, saying it is his
duty to live by his own labor. Mr..
How is man with whiskers and in
the prime of life and if he has good
sense is capable of lettering the con
dition Of the classes whom poverty
ignorance or vice may have placed in
need of practical aid; and that field
is SO large as to yield him opportunity
to devote all his time and money to
it. BY serving as day laborer or as
a newsboy as he has done we cannot
see that he benefits anyone. Why not
devote his resources to educating
newsboys if he wants to help them?
Why not found hospitals for the care
of sick, manned and penniless hui
manity if he wants to devote his
wealth to charity. His is but one of
many instances frequently occurring
showing an earnest energy foolishly
wasted in charitable work and show.
ing that even charity or social reform
must need be conducted not alone by
sympathetic heart but perforce by
wise and practical judgment. Mr..
How's grandfather, James B. Eads,
the famous civil engineer, in design
ing the st. Louis bridge, and the jet
ties at the mouth of the Mississippi
river, while giving no funds to char
ity, yet by such practical works did
more for the good Of humanity than
is his crazy grandson with leisure and
millions at his command. He gives
promise of being a fit inmate of an
insane asylum drag instead of an
aid to society.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-14
ORIGIN OF ANARCHY.

The Chicago Tribune neatly takes
the scalp of Godfrey Langtoft, who in
the current issue of the Fortnightly
Review AYERS that anarchy is the
progeny of democracy" and yet in the
same article and almost in the same
breath remarks tina" American anarch-
lists are mostly foreign immigrants,
Italians and German Jews being spe-
cially prominent" Mr.. Langtoft hoists
himself with his own petard in admit
ting that anarchy in America is not a
home product but foreign article
imported from Italy and Germany.
Mr.. Langtoft, however, is guilty of
a SANDER in naming German Jews as
prominent anarchists. The records
do not show this to be true. Jews are
as rule loyal to the government in
which they live; they do not embroil
themselves in revolutions nor take
part in schemes to overthrow the reg
ularly constituted authorities. There
were very few Jews who participated
in the rebellion of the south. 1t is
true that anarchy is born of monarchy
and that the anarchists of this coun,
try are nearly all of foreign birth or
direct foreign lineage but it is untrue
that German Jews are prominent in
revolutionary or anarchistic move
ments.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-14

publicans of the South, who at heart
and this statement applies in large
measure to every southern state.
The social status of no man ever
was or ever can be fixed by law, and
no man, even the President of the Uni
ted States. can reverse or nullify a
rule of social ethics which has its
foundation on a profound and obvious
truth. President Roosevelt is, as The
Chronicle believes, clean, brave,
honest and independent man, but
there are limitations u on his power
as factor in the solution alike of po-
litical an social problems which con,
front him and the country. He, by in.
viting Washington to be his guest, can
no more affect the sentiment of the
South upon the question of social
equality than he could by presidential
proclamation stay the sun in its
march.
Following so soon upon other acts
of the President which had received
warmest commentator at the hands
of his countrymen of the south, and
which acts appeared to presage a
needed change in political conditions
here, his action in violating rule and
regulation engrafted firmly into the so
cial statutes and sanctioned by i'm
memorial tradition came as distinct
painful and disappointing shock, moi
only to democrats, but to the white re