Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-11-19

| Will D6 O< DuSHtlS per ttCTc. A1oe yOol
it was 25 bushels The general average
for Iowa in the past ten years has
been 30. 6 bushels, which shows that
the present crop is Ia bushels more
than the ten year average.
A fourth dividend of 5 per cent.
equal to $40, 900, 900. has been sent to
the members of the steel corporation
syndicate by J. p. Morgan & Co. This
syndicate was formed for 5000, 900, 600,
but only s25, 900, 900 was paid in by
the members. This amount was re-
turned to them, and with the fourth
dividend they have received in actual
profits $40, 900, 600, or 100 per cent of
their actual cash contribution.
Farmers, so far as actual wealth is
concerned, are the capitalists of the
United States. The census bureau re-
port on the value of farming property
of the country estimates that the 81
739, ,557 farms of the United States are
worth SIC. .674, 800, 247. OF this
amount. $500, 1884, or ala per
cent, represents the value of build
ings, and $13, ia, 420. Sc or 87.6 per
cent the value of land and improve
ments. Farm implements and ma
chinery are worth $76l, 261 $50, and
live stock is worth $3,O7S. 050, 041,
making the total farming wealth over
$40, ,514, 900, 900.
President Mitchell of the Miners
Union has given another example of
his ability and character in his state
ment of the demands of the Anthracite
miners made to the Strike Commission
last week. In terseness, clearness and
in temper it was model and it puts
the miners case so that it will be
understood not only by the commission,
but by the people at large. And if the
people at large had the say of it,
Mitchell would doubtless get every
thing he asks for.
In some sections of Australia child
rem years old have never seen drop
of rain fall from the heavens, and in
other places no rain has fallen for
over four years. Millions of sheep
have died from the drought and the
island is now being swept by the most
disastrous famine in its history. To
add to the terrors of the situation
earthquakes are now threatening to
rend the island asunder An Iowa man
who is given to complaining, ought
to live in Australia for while.
"Let him who is without sin among
you cast the first stone," quotes a
good preacher in Omaha in sermon
at the funeral of a woman who had
died under peculiarly disgraceful cir
cumstances, after life of good works.
And the crowd of morbid people who
thronged the little church where the
services were held actually hung their
heads in passing shame. Then the
preacher went on and emphasized his
lesson in charity by this pointed re-
mark: "If none but saints are to be
buried from the church, then the
church will never witness funerals. -
waverly Independent.
One feature of the recent election to
which little notice has been given was
the overwhelming majorities which
Illinois gave for three propositions for
direct legislation. Briefly stated the
first question asked whether the voters
favored referendum upon acts of the
legislature whenever five per cent of
their number petitioned therefor and a
referendum upon proposed Legislative.
measures whenever eight per cent of
their number petitioned. The second
question asked whether the voters de-
sired corresponding referendum upon
measures adopted or proposed before
city councils or other local governing
bodies. The third asked for vote on
the popular election of United States
Senators. All three propositions
carried by majorities of three to one.
Another illustration of the way in
which European nations are turning
down established precedent and court
customs to gain the favor of the
United States is shown in the farewell
audience the Cara recently gave tt
Ambassador and Mrs. Tower, who
have been transferred to Berlin. Tht
Gear was at his Lividia Castle, where
formal receptions have long been for
hidden. The most important foreign
delegations have frequently to awai
the czar's return to St. Petersburg
The new French ambassador, M
Bompart, is now awaiting the return
of the czar to st. Petersburg before h
can assume his duties, though he wa
appointed to his position two month
ago. Knowing that Mr.. and Mrs
, | Tower cOuld not wait the cZar Ordere,