davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-23
MUST PAY FINE.

Bachelors who do not live in the Ar
gentine Republic may we'll congratu-
late themselves. In that country fail
ure to marry has been deemed worthy
of legislative action and laws have
been enacted in this connection. For
some time bachelors in that land
have been subject to taxation as pen
atty for remaining in the single state.
The amount of the tax exacted varies
with the age and is levied with such
vengeance as to indicate that the peo-
pie of that country have little use for
the bachelor. According to the law a
man should get married when he is
twenty years old, and those who do
not do SO are subject to a fine of SIS
per month between the ages of twenty
and thirty years. After thirty and up
to thirty-five years the tax is increased
to $40 month. If man persists in
remaining single after thirty-five, he
must pay tax of 500 per month until
lie is fifty. Then single blessedness
begins to be real luxury, as between
fifty and seventy-five the bachelor
rust pay tax of $50 per month.
Should man remain single until he
is seventy-fye years of age the govern
ment doubtless considers the proba-
bllity of a change in his life as very
meager and is satisfied with the pay
ment of $40 per year.
However, it is not probable that
such plan could be operated in the
United States with any degree of sue
cess.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-23
OF THE MERIT SYSTEM.

1t should be a matter of gratifica-
ton to every loyal American citizen
that the merit system has been inau-
gurated in the administration of the
governmental affairs in the Philip
pines. Reports received from time to
time as the results of it's operations
tend to yindicate it's adoption and the
enforcement Of it's details. BY it's pro-
yisions,me are secured for the duties
of public office who are best adapted by
experience, personal temperament and
just motives, to the conduct of the
civil affairs of the islands. The merit
system of the choice of insular Off
Gals was inaugurated almost as soon
as the Philippine commission took
charge of the affairs of the archipeI-
ago. and the success that has been at
tanned in the administration of the af-
fairs of the islands, is largely due to
the effectiveness of it's working.
An unofficial statement of DR.. Wash
burn, who is in charge of the civil SER
vice of the archipelago received re-
Gently points to the justice and sue
cess of the merit system. In his state
ment he says:
"The civil service law has been in
operation since our last report, and we
see no reason to change our conclu-
sion as to the absolute necessity for
its existence and strict enforcement.
Without this law. American govern
ment in these islands, in our opinion,
foredoomed to humiliating failure.
Even if all its provisions are enforced
it is likely to be very difficult to Sc
cure and keep in the service, honest
competent Americans who will enter
into the spirit of the missionary task
involved in the successful government
of these islands,"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-23
GENERAL STAFF FOR THE ARMY.

The creation of general staff is a
matter of vital Importance in securing
the efficiency of the army of the Uni
ted States. Though there has been
a great divergency of opinion among
the leading generals Of the army dur
ing the history of the United States,
as to this proposition for a general
staff, that the majority of opinion has
favored its Inauguration. 1t has been
the history of the military of this coun-
try that the army has attained the
greatest degree of efficiency when it
has had at it's head a man who has
conducted its affairs on the plan that
would necessarily be adopted by gem
eral staff.
In a part of his report referring to
the organization of a general staff,
Secretary Root makes mention of the
organization OF the working of the
German army and says: Neither our
political or military system makes it
suitable that we should have a gener-
al staff like the German general staff
or like the French general staff; but
the common experience of mankind
is that the things which those general
STATS do. have to be done by body
of men especially assigned to do them.
We should have such body of men
selected and organized in our own way
and in accordance with our own sys-
tenn to do those essential things
Had we such an organization in our
military system at the Santiago cam
paign all the disorder and delay of get
ting the troops off for Cuba would
have been eliminated. 1t was easy for
the general commanding to order that
$4,000 or 100000 troops proceed to Gu
ba.
But to make an order that would
stand some chance of execution he
must do more than that "He must de-
termine how many must be sent from
each branch OF the service, how they
shall be armed and equipped. To do
this information must be had concern
ing the defenses of the place to be cap
tured, strength and character of the
forces to be met He must determine
at what points and by what routes the
place shall be attacked; where the
troops shall land; depth of the chan
nels; what facilities there are for
landing; quantity and kind of supplies
and hundreds of other small though
important details. This it would be
the duty Of the general staff to pro-
cure and present to the chief of staff,
or the general commanding. At home
the preparation for the expedition
must be made entailing an equal
amount of detail and investigation.
That such an organization would be
of practical benefit to the army is rec
organized by military men. Already a
bill has been introduced in the house
by Congressman Hull chairman of the
committee on military affairs, which
contains a provision for the organiza-
ton of a general staff. This bill is now
before the committee for considera-
ton. In his recommendations to the
committee Secretary Root suggested
that the bill be made effective August
10, 1903. At that time General Young
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-23

Congressman Hepburn's amendment
appropriating 100000 for the use of
the attorney general to fight the trusts
is the fultilment of the first pledge
made by the republicans to the effect
that it was their purpose to eradicate
whatever evi1Esthere might be in the
commercial and Industrial combina-.
tions. The fact that the amendment
was carried unanimously is probably.
due to, the decision of the democratic
members Of the house that the most
practical method for accomplishing
something in this matter is to use the
power already given by the constitu-
ton and laws of the country. instead
of trying to inaugurate some new and
scheme.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-23

edge of results, or the mature judg-
ment Of the latter.
The late Henry Drummond, in
speaking of boys once said, "You can
do little with bad boy, while you
call him a boy, which he is. Call him
soldier, which he is not ,put wooden
gun in his hands and he becomes at
tentive and obedient." How much of
the philosophy of boyhood ethics is
contained in these few words. The
boy does not value boyhood, for it is
a transitory and preparatory state of
life. He looks forward to the time
when he will be grown up and can en-
gage in the activities of manhood. He
anticipates this time at every oppor-
tunity and is continuously striving to
emulate the deeds and actions of his
seniors. Drilling as a soldier is mans
work; where is the man, who when a
boy, did not delight in Initiating the
soldier and dreamed with joyous an
tlclpauon OF the time when he should
be grown to the stature of soldier. The
man athelete is a hero to the boy.
Wise direction of boyish activity,
which leads to it's direction rather than
repression, is especially needed. An
apparently casual though real interest
in the activities of the boys with few
wise suggestions, will do more to
mould and direct their activities than
will all the rules or prohibitions ever
enacted by those who have
in charge, these young lives. Treat
the boys with consideration; listen to
their plans; treat them like men; make
men Of the boys.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-23
RIPPLEs.

Edward Beaupre, who is visiting rel
atives in Kankakee, H.. is said to be
the largest man in the world. He is
8 feet 35a inches tall, weighs $40
pounds, wears No. 10 hat, No. 90
shoe and a No. 81 collar. His chest
measure is Sc inches. He is Fl years
old and was born near Winnipeg of
French-Canadian parents whose stat
ures were not above the average. Am
! strong in proportion to my size?"
Beaupre said once "Well, you may
decide" With the remark he walked
out of the local restaurant into the
street threw his arm around the body
OF farmers horse and lifted the ami
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-23
TEMPERANCE sERMoNErrEs.

(By Hon. John Mahin, in the Muscatine
Journal)
A conscience stricken saloon keep.
er at Creston feeling satisfied" that
he has received money during the
year that should have gone to furnish
food and clothing to a number of FAM
ilies,' now deposits 500 to the cred
it of the Ladies' Benevolent society
for the benefit of the poor of Creston.
What commentary is this upon the
saloon system! This saloon keeper is
no doubt one of the best of his class,
as he says he has always done all he
could to live up to the requirements
of the mulct law and will close his
doors if the courts find him guilty of
violating its. provisions, and yet this
law, according to the statement of one
of its beneficiaries, upholds system
that tends to poverty and suffering
and makes it necessity to have char
liable organizations to look after the
wants of the needy. What blot on our
civilization is the system of legalizing
institutions to sell intoxicating beyer-
ages!
A CERTAIN brand of whisky is extens
sively advertised with statement add.
ed That's ALL" 1t is stated that the
distilling firm making this whisky was
established in 1S23-nearly 80 years
ago. II that's all" it would be well.
But to contemplate the untold misery
that has been caused by this wretch
ed stuff in those eighty years and that
will inevitably result from 1t in years
to come makes the heart sick. Why
will such otherwise reputable news
papers as the Chicago Record-Herald
give place to advertisements of this
brand OF any other brand of intoxi-
eating drinks? In its issue of Decem-
Der the R.-H. had a four-column
wide advertisement Of this whisky.
Truly, as the prophet Isaiah said, hell
must enlarge itself when men do these
things.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-23
Iowa has gained a place

Iowa has gained place pre.eml-
nent in the councils of the nation.
Iowa has gained the confidence of the
nation on account Of the conservative,
sound and wise principles for which
her sons, who have gone to the nation
al legislative halls, have always stood.
Would Iowa keep it's enviable place,
would it still retain the confidence of
the people, of the country, would it's
people be true to their own best in
terests? If SO, they must guard jeal-
ously the sound doctrines that have
proven to be the foundation of their
success and see to it that in the COM
ing years their representatives and
senators are men who stand squarely
upon these principles.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-23
VALUE OF cHEERFuLNEss.

! Cheerfulness and good nature have
a value in the market. The lack of
them explains the slow progress of
the downfall Of persons otherwise
sufficiently endowed A good sale
has often been missed because the
salesman repealed by his unfortunate
manner, though he may have been a
good fellow at heart. The CHEEKY
clerk establishes clientage and holds
his place because he is skilled in the
fine art of friendliness. One is will
ing to pay a good price for cheerful
service. 1t is not quite enough to do
a thing we'll 1t should be done
graciously.
Those who sing at their tasks as
many workmen do, have learned the
secret of getting on in the world and
making the best of it. A gracious
manner, all the world knows, explains
the rise Of many men in political and
official life, SO that mere good fellow
ship is often accepted for statesman4
ship. The popular politician almost
invariably has a sunny greeting for
all sorts and conditions of men. This
is the philosophy of his success. I'd
would have served him well in any
calling in which he might have been
engaged, Here and there one may
advance to great heights OF success
and fame who has pushed his way
upward despite cold and forbidding
manner. We speak of the rule of sue
cess, not its exception
The value of sunny disposition is
evident in all occupations which bring
persons in contact with the public.
The man who presides in the ticket
Office Of the railway station, the COM
ductor on a railroad train or a street
car, the clerk behind the counter and
others who serve the public daily
have need for this great endowment
They may be serving angles unawares, |
Wherever found cheerful mani or
woman lis better thing to find thai
five-pound note. He or she fs Cd
focus Of goodwill: and theifi
entrance into a room is as thoughl
another candle has been lighted. Wal
need not care whether they can solyasI
the forty-seyenth propositions they9
do better thing than that, theSg
practically demonstrate THE greaM
theorem OF the lovableness AZ life"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-23
EPocHAL PERIOD.

Christmas day promises to mark an
epoch in the history of the United
States. The first link in the Pacific
cable will probably be completed by
that time and communication estab-
lished between San Francisco and Hon
olulu. 1t is proposed that on this day,
when good fellowship is generally
prevalent among the people OF the
globe, the first message shall be trans
mitted, bearing greetings from the
the people of the United States to
those islands Of the Pacific.
Already the work of laying the sub
marine cable has been begun and every
day brings word of the success of it's
progress. With the cable completed to
Honolulu, the United States will be
placed in instantaneous communicate
with that part of her island territory.
Heretofore communication could be
had with those islands only by YES
sells, and by the use of the fastest
steamers, seven days were required to
carry a message one direction. With
the cable communication established
| it is reasonable to suppose that the
results will beSmutually beneficial to
the United States and the isands com.
mercially and in every other way.
Only few weeks or months at most
will then be required to complete the
laying of the cable and establish sim
iliar communication with the islands
and the countries of the far east. That
the establishment of direct commune
cation with the Philippines will be OF
great advantage to this country, is uni
versially recognized. The. world has
waited long for the laying of such a
line and the completion of the first
link will indeed be an epochal time
and one that will be long recognized as
such.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-23
MlsDlREcTED ACTIVITY.

The tendency to destructiveness in
the activities of the boys play is fact
deplored by all parents. 1t takes a
leading part in the news of the day.
In Brooklyn boy is accused of the
murder of his employer. Angered be-
cause one of their number was exclu-
ded from pool room a gang" of lads
in New York wreck it. In New Jer-
sey five boys kill a mate by hazing
Lads of ten years attack the home of
a teacher in Manhattan, because he re-
proved one of their number. The
strikes of the school children in Chi
cago are more than joke.
In the normal boy badness is gener-
ally misdirected activity. He is cap
able of taking an interest in things
that attract the attention of his SEMI
ors, if given the proper encourage
ment. A boys club fitted with athe-
letic apparatus, where the youth can
spend his leisure hours, leaves him no
time to read about notorious poison
Eng cases, murders, suicides and rob-
berries. If he has access to a pool table
in his own home there will be no oc-
casion for his raiding public room.
The boy is the embryo man. The boy
as just as human; in him are embodied
all the tendencies and traits of charac-
ter that are developed in later life.
There is trait in human nature that
leads mankind to desire the forbidden
fruit" In boyhood this tendency is
just as strong as in men, though in the
formsTit is not tempered by the knowl-
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-23
HOW ONE EMPLOYER TREATS
HIS EMPLOYEES.
FULLERTON Waldo, in the Worlds
WOrk.)

A large manufacturing firm in Wor-
cester .Massachuse employing ma
ny Swedes, has likewise found a man.
agerial regard for local sentiment CON
ducive to good feeling between opera
tlves and employers. within a year
or two after we became established
here we adopted the custom of dis
tributing turkeys among our employees
lat Christmas time), giving every
body, man, woman or child, good
sized turkey. For several years, also,
a Christmas entertainment was given
"a portion OF the expenses being paid
for by us and portion by the en-
ployes, and sometimes outside talent
was employed. Often we had a din
ner or a lunch either before or after
The entertainment. These entertain
ments were always very successful
and seemed to create a friendly feel
ing. After awhile, however, the num-
Der of employees increased to such an
extent that there was no suitable
place in which to have these enter
tainments; SO we adopted the plan of
having shop picnic about Midsum-
mer's day, June "a. Seventy-five of
eighty per cent of our employees are
Swedish. and they make great deal
Of Midsummer's Day as well as
Christmas. 1t was, perhaps, their SEN
timent in regard to this, as much as
anything. that led us, in the first place
to arrange for these entertainments.
1.-THE other day, when President
Roosevelt visited Worcester, he land.
ed at the station opposite our office
entrance. We erected grand. stand
on the green in front of our office
building large enough to accommo-
date seven or eight hundred people,
which was just about sufficient for
our employees and their families, and
gave them a good opportunity to see
the Prt sident. To show you
the interest that our men took in
the visit of the President, about
eighty of them went out into the
woods and got greens to nelp on the
decorating, and they worked nearly
all day Monday, Labor Day. making
preparations. Last Christmas time
they went out into the woods AMI
gathered green's and trees and deco
rated the interior Of the factory SO
that it looked ver7 rretty. This is a
Swedish custom and we think very
nice one, and we like to encourage
it."
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-23
Knoxville BaIks at "Dipsy,n

Knoxville does not want an inebri.
ate asylum established in the state
buildings there, and the Mt. Ayr Rec
ord asks: us it possible that such
an asylum can find no place to rest
the soles of the feet? 1t smells too
loud and no place wants it. The state
hospitals are overlooking. What are
we to do? Quit manufacturing inc
briates? That seems to be the only
feasible plan left"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-23
SUBSCRIPTION RATES.
Daily Courier, year. by mail. $500
Semi-Weekly Courier, 1 year. -. 1.50
THE MOST INTERESTING PART.

The most interesting part of the
newspaper nowadays is found in the
holiday announcements Of the retail
merchants. With the Courier this is
especially true, because the Courier
consistently pursues the policy of pub
fishing only fresh and readable adver-
tisements. This paper would just as
soon think of publishing stale news
and uninteresting advertisements,
The policy of the Courier is to have
every advertiser change the copy of
his advertisement each issue, and the
reading public have come to realize
this fact. The result is that the adj
vertisements in the Courier are read
just as closely as the news and edi-
torial columns. The people know that
these advertisements contain informa-
ton about matters in which they are
vitality interested; they recognize the
advertisements as direct message
to them from the live and progressive
dealer, and recognizing this fact it
goes without saying that the Ottumwa
public are constantly on the qui yive
for bargains. There is not one of the
Courier's more than twelve thousand
subscribers who cannot and but few
who do not save many times over the
cost of his annual subscription by TAX
ing advantage of some of the numerous
bargain offers that are published in
its columns from day to day. The
Courier resets it's entire paper each
day, advertisements as well as news.
This takes an immense amount of
worksand costs great deal of money,
but it pays because it makes. the Cou-
rier a newspaper in the best sense.
Another feature that makes the Cou-
rier especially interesting and valu-
able from the advertising standpoint
is the unusually large number of adj
vertisers that are found in it's columns.
If we take yesterdays Courier as an
example, We find therein the announce
ments of ninety-three different Ottum-
wa advertisers, not counting profess
sional cards, medical or want column
advertisements. There wasn't a.
stale or undressing advertisement
in the entire lot and it goes without
saying that what these ninety-three
business houses of Ottumwa had to
say to the public through the columns
of the Courier comprises a literature
more interesting than any other read
ing matter that goes into the homes.
Especially is this true at this season
of the year. The Courier not only
carries these advertisements into nine
ty per cent of the homes of Ottumwa,
but it also distributes them to ma
jority of the people in Eldon, He'd
rick, Sigourney, Abba, Agency, Bata-
via and over one hundred other cities
and towns within fifty miles of Ottum-
wa. The service rendered by the Cou-
rier in this respect is factor in build
ing up the business interests of OF
tunwa thai deserves special consider
ton.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-23
WILL YOU FIGHT THE BATTLEsq

The strained conditions that have
existed during the past few day in
Venezuela has attracted the attention
of the American people. Information
as to the developments have been
eagerly sought for and the whole Incl
dent has caused the people of the Uni
ted States to carefully investigate the
isituation. That the situation at times
appeared to be exceedingly serious
is recognized, but that the United
States was in immediate danger of be-
ing drawn into the imbroglio as bel
ligerent was hardly to be expected. That
there was possibility of the United
States becoming involved, however,
had the parties remained immovable
in their positions. cannot be denied,
and this possibility has given rise to
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-23
Spiced Charity.

isi The young woman was all right so
far as she went, says the Cedar Rap
ids Gazette, referring to the street
car incident at Omaha, wherein an
aristocratic matron wrapped her petit
coat about a baby's bare legs. 'If,
after wrapping the baby in the silken
garment , the Gazette continues, 'she
had wrapped the street car stove polk
err about the head of the father and
taken the baby from him, the drama
would have had the proper ending"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-23

1t is announced that many Ameri-
cans are hocking to Venezuela for the
purpose of aiding that country in its
fight against the allies. Dislike of the
usurpation of power in the western
is a natural characteristic
of the people of the United States and
as long as European powers show a
tendency to display authority, so long
will Americans unite in resistance.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-23
Joke on Editor Mahin.

The Muscatine Journal has been
recipes for making dishes
for table use in which wine, brandy,
etc., have been recommended as adj
but the responsible editor
of the Journal explains that the pa
per is still of the same mind, that the
was an inadvertence, and
that the error will be guarded against
in the future.