davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18

Af the grass has attracted considerable
attention. Yankee push and intelli-
gence has already accomplished great
things in the development of this sec
ton. The prairie swamps that were
to be seen in Iowa in the early days
of its settlement have been trans
formed into the most fertile and pro.
ductive of agricultural lands. The
dry and arid plains of the west are
rapidly being reclaimed and converted
into tillable lands. That portions OF
the great territory of Alaska will be.
come productive of many of the har'
der grains cannot be doubted. The
prophecy of the American agricultur-
list has gone forth and it can only be
a few years when the active interest
CT the farming class will be engaged
to develop the resources of soil of that
northern country.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18
FARMING in ALASKA.

Alaska is bound to become noted for
it's agricultural products. This is the
substance of the report that comes
from Brigadier General A. w. Greeley,
chief of the army signal corps and is
given as coincident with the intelli-
gence that the output of the gold from
the Klondike is likely to be reduced
during the coming season by SO per
cent.
Alaska as an agricultural territory.
And why not? 1t must be remember
ed that while the summer season in
Alaska is considerably shorter than
in the lower ATTITUDES yet the days
are appreciably longer as far as sun
| light is concerned. In fact there is
very little night in the far northwest
during the growing season. Vegeta-
BILE life would have the benefit Of the
longer period Of sunlight which would
be great factor in the perfecting OF
the crops
General Greedy in speaking of the
conditions in Alaska states that the
one thing which is now needed Is leg
I islation regarding lands and timber
He adds that a discharged soldier in
that country cannot secure a title to a
homestead there. The United States
homestead laws apply but have no eff
feet except on what is known as GER
tilted land and there is now no Ger
tilted land of any value from a home
stead point of view.
After all the reclaiming of the great
territory of the northwest and max
ing it productive agricultural land
! is not without reason. There is at the
present time hay grown in the valley
OF the Copper river and other portions
4 of the country and the RIGHTEOUSNESS
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18
EFFECTIVENESS OF ARMY AND
NAVY,

The efficiency of the cavalry arm of
the German military system has called
forth the praise of General Corbin, ad-
jutant general of the United States
army, who is one of the representa-
tives of this country at the German
army maneuvers. He is of the opinion
that the German horses are much SUI.
perior to ours. This may be true, but
it must be remembered that we do not
take military matters as seriously as
does the nation under the sway of the
kaiser. The military of the United
States has elected unlimited praise
from the army experts of foreign coun-
tries. It's great efficiency has been
the wonderment of these men consid.
ering it's small size. The people of this
nation believe in the power and the eff
fectiveness of its army and navy. Not.
withstanding the enviable record that
is now enjoyed by the military and
naval organizations of our country, we
must ever be mindful that these de-
partments of the governments inter
ests must keep pace with the great
strides of advancement which are be
ing taken in every other line of &C
tivity. The United States is to be
congratulated upon the fact that il
numbers among it's officers in both the
army and navy thoroughly progressive
and competent men. All that is now
necessary to maintain the reputation
of the military is for the people of the
land to give to these men, who are il
charge, their most loyal and enthusi
astic support.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18
VIGOROUS souIRMlNe.

There is a lot of squirming among
the free silver newspapers i'll Iowa,
notably the Dubuque Times-Herald.
The TIL. has right to sQuirm if it
wants to and it is nobody's business,
but when its contortions wiggle the
bed clothes it is time to take notice
Just now that staunch adherent of
the free and unlimited coinage Of sill
yer is engaged in an endeavor to con-
vince itself that Horace Boies, the
democratic candidate for congress in
the third district, is ut heart free sill
yer man and only led the forces for re-
pudiation of the Kansas City platform
at Des Moines, well-iust because.
When a newspaper argues with IT.
self to convince itself that it is right
on a proposition there is reasonable
doubt somewhere about the main sub
ject.
The Courier sumbits that the TIL
has a right to convince itself and
when it argues out loud in the editor
ial columns other newspapers have a
right to say things about it.
The TIL makes the broad statement
that Horace Boies is in favor of the
free and unlimited coinage of silver
1t also says: ''He is not and never
has been gold standard man and all
the perversions of the opposition press
will not cause the people to believe
him monometalist. If this journal
even suspected that Mr.. Boies was not
a bimetallist and would not vote for
a law designed to put silver on par
with gold, it would have no hesitancy
in repudiating his nomination
The TIL may know what it is talking
about, but Horace Boies took queer
stand on the floor of the democratic
state convention in Des Mines if that
paper is right.
He said that the silver issue was as
dead as any in the state of Iowa or the
United States and that it would BIZ
rank folly to reaffirm the Kansas City
platform because it is the deadest is
sue of any in the state of Iowa or the
United States.
The TIL has said that Mr.. Boies is
an advocate of the free and unlimited
coinage of silver. 1t may know, but
he talked like gold bug at Des
Moines.
1t is unkind to suggest it, but would
a straddle suit the TIL this year pro
viding Mr.. Boies' convictions were
right?
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18
MIR. BRYAN's Philippe.

William Jennings Bryan, the one
time candidate for the presidency. and
still the political idol OF large mum.
beI of,iowa democrats. lays the lash
on the followers OF his ideas on the
money question and the men who led
them astray recently at Des Moines
He spares neither.
1t takes no great stretch cf the mag
nation to come to the conclusion that
MIR. Bryan IS right in one respect, at
least. He says that Iowa democrats
should have had the courage OF their
conviction and ii bimetallism is not
desirable, they should have been hon
est and should have endorsed the gold
standard without equivocation.
Bryan has been called q demagogue.
He is not. His integrity of purpose
has never been seriously questioned.
His devotion to "the lost cause may
have approached fanaticism, but fanat-
les always believe what they advocate.
Mr.. Bryan needs no defense OF this
line.
With this as starting point his clos.
ing sentence that, "If the democratic
party cannot be trusted to state its po-
sition on the money question it cannot
be trusted to stand by position on
any question" is just what has been
contended by republicans all along.
There is a great deal more to the
attempt to repudiate the Kansas City
platform by Iowa democrats than neg.
lect to reaffirm it. The present posi-.
ton of the party leaves in doubt the
genuineness of it's stand on other ques-
tons.
Mr.. Bryan's philippe is corrobora-
tive evidence, however, and is not
needed as direct proof.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18

The working man of the Sixth dis,
trict have these things presented tc
them: Major Lacey has been theil
representative in congress for severa
years. Whenever his party has been
in power it must be admitted that the
working mans wages have been good
Now do they think they would be do
ing justice to themselves and theil
families if they try the experiment Of
electing a new congressman who is
committed to free silver and new tar
iff? Do they want to exchange a Ger
tainty for an uncertainty? Let then
state the proposition to their wives
and see what they think of it.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18

The tours being made by President
Roosevelt are splendid object lessons
in patriotism and cannot help doing
much good. His pride in being made
an Honorary Locomotive Fireman"
was evident and genuine. Actions of
this character will go far towards COM
batting the democratic endeavors to di-
vide our population into two hostile
camps-into capitals camp and labor's
camp--the camp of the classes and the
camp of the masses.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18
AN IowAN ABROAD.

(Des Moines Leader and Register.)
A. w. Lee, editor of the Ottumwa
Courier is in Newfoundland on Wis.
it. In letter to the Muscatine Jour-
nal he writes entertainingly about this
far off British province, it's scenery,
mineral resources and future pros
pects.. Incidentally he tells of Can
ada and the great development that is
now going on between the boundary
of the United States and the Arctic
seas. and right here" he says:
Comes straight home the realiza-
tion that unless the United States
shows disposition soon to deal gen.
erously with Canada and Newfound--
land by means of liberal reciprocity
treaties the United States will wake
up some day to find that she has lost
industrially far more than she has
gained, and the worst of it is this loss
may prove an irretrievable one"
AS everybody in Iowa knows Mr.. Lee
to be a. thoroughgoing protectionist,
| and his Ottumwa Courier to be pa
per of conservative tendencies, this
statement comes into the present dis
cussion in the state from a source that
will not be questioned, and will bring
ing republicans in way that it would
not from any other source
Canada and the British provinces
adjoining form the greatest open mar.
ket in the world today for the Amer
lean producer and manufacturer.
They lie along our border in the most
favorable location, the lines Of travel
are mainly north and south, they have
| not developed factories that can conn
| pete, they are very great producerq
of raw. products, and great consumer
of imported goods, they are being set
| teld by men of American sympathies,
and their business is doubling and
trebling in these years of rapid devel.
| opment. The United States has the
factories, the mills and the railways to
| handle all the raw products Canada
can supply and needs the market near
| at hand for all the goods Canada
wants to buy. And yet, within thu
month, the country has seen Sir Will
| fred Laurier going to France to ar
range for reciprocity, one feature Of
the agreement being subsidized
steamship line between the French
and Canadian seaports. AS Mr. Lei
suggests, we are likely to wake up too
late to discover what we have lost.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18
WHY DEMOCRATS ARE SAD.

The st. Paul Globe, like other demo-
cratic organs in the west, is dlscour-
aged by the good crops, and good
prices that make the farmers prosper
Gus, and unwilling to listen to the wall
of the calamity bowler The Globe
asks:
SIS the rainfall due to Dirgley tariff
schedules or to New Jersey trust ex-
tortions? If the ballot of the Ameri-
can citizen can be controlled by the
rainfall and the crop yield. where is
the boosted intelligence and independ-
ence of the republic?
The Globe and all other democratic
organs should remember President
Cleveland's maxim: st is condition
and not a theory which confronts us"
The American people arc capable of
Judging theories by conditions, and
while the rainfall has brought forth
good crops this year, the same was
true in 1896 and the farmers were not
prosperous or happy. In that last
year CT democratic administration and
lev tariff schedules III the Wilson-Gor-
man law, the rainfall was good and
the corn crop the largest in the ilisto-
ry ci The county, either before or
since that date, unless this years crop
shall surpass it. We produced 2.283.-
S75165 bushels of corn in 1886 and it
sold ut an average price of 21.5 cents
per bushel at the farm, making the
total farm value Of the crop $491 ,0Q6..
957. In 1901 the corn crop was more
than 750,000,000 bushels less than in
1896 and the value of it nearly double
lhat o: the last democratic tariff year
In 1861 the average price of corn al
The farm was COS cents, and the total
earm value 1921, 555,76S. The rainfall
is not the only agency for prosperity
even on the farm.
The wheat crop was much smaller il
1896 than III 1901 but it did not bring
increased price due to its scarcity, be
cause there was a scarcity OF Labor
and wages to purchase wheat bread
In 1896 the wheat crop amounted Il
427 .6S4,346 bushels and the farm value
of the crop was S310.602, 539. Las
year the wheat crop amounted to 74S,
400,21S bushels and the farm value
was S4G7, 1850 ,156 The oat crop il
1856 amounted to 707,346,4O4 busheI
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18
LACEY WELL INFORMED.

1t is said that there is not member
of congress froyu Iowa, and few from
other states, who give closer attention
to the legislation pending than does
Major Lacey, of the Sixth district
Those who have observed him at
Washington say that he is recognized
as one of the best informed men on
pending matters to be found in con
gress. He is especially strong in the
committee room on account of the
study that he makes of the pending
measures. The ability Of Major Lacey
in keeping track of the maze of bills
that are always pending before con.
gress and in singing out the meritori.
GUS measures has often been the SUBJ
ject of comment.-Des Moines cores
pondent to Burlington HaWk-Eye.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18

and its farm value was s13o,4S5 031a
In 1901 the oat crop amounted to 1856.
SoS,724 bushels and its farm value was
Ss93,65s,717. While the oat crop was
largesby only 100000 bushels last
year the value was more than double
that Of 1895. These are the conditions
on the farm which are embarrassing
10 the calamity howlers. They find
that nature and the Dingley law arc
cooperating this year and giving ca
lamity a back seat.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18
A COVERT THREAT.

(Des Moines Register and Leader.)
The chairman of the democratic
state convention preparing the way for
the action to shelve silver. said:
The increased amount from gold
in our mines, and from the exchange
of our products for the gold of other
nations and the coinage of millions of
silver, have relieved our people from
the evils of limited circulation of
money. 1t remains to be seen whether
this belief is but temporary or shall
prove to be permanent. At any rate
the country has recovered from its
financial illness and is not at present
in need of any doctoring along the line
of sufficient circulating medium with
which to do the business of our coun-
try.
Every one of these influences which
are said to have rendered the free
coinage of silver unnecessary were
present in 1896 when the democratic
party attempted to overturn our mon
etary system. The opponents of free
silver urged that natural causes would
supply the country with an abundance
of money. They pointed to the fact
that the output of gold was increas-
ing and urged that if confidence was
restored, capital called from it's hiding
places and labor given employment the
sale of our products would assure us a
full share of the money supply of the
| world.
| But the advocates of free silver ig
nored these facts. They insisted thai
there was no salvation for the country
but by the free coinage of silver. Corr
would always sell at Is cents per bush
ell, labor would go unemployed, the
farms of Iowa would be sold under the
mortgages, unless silver was coined
without limit
| 1t isnow apparent that it was the
agitation for free silver that caused
the paralysis and low prices of those
years. From the day the country was
relieved of that threat the natura
forces which are finally recognized il
the above extract began to assert
themselves, as the republican party af
| firmed they would, until finally thu
democratic party, long skeptical, i.
forced to admit that the country i.
prosperous.
But there is an ominous suggestion
even in this proposal to lay the silve
issue away for the present ct re-
mains to be seen whether this belle
is but temporary or shall prove perma
nent." If anything should occur tt
cause an apparent scarcity of money
the democratic party would open tn,
closet and lead out its free silver skel
eton at the very time when that appa
ritlon would do the most harm
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18

John P. Reese has issued a circular
to the miners in the Sixth district an
nouncing that he is candidate for
congress and solicits their votes. He
neglects to tell the miners that he is
a candidate Of the democrats running
on free silver platform and for new
tariff. Is it possible that Mr.. Reese is
ashamed of the party which nominated
him?
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18

The Marshalltown Times Republi-
can says the democratic platform was
written by an adroit hand and withal
is "a very mild dose of democracy" in
comparison with past enunciations of
the party in Iowa. Its tariff declara-
tion,' continues the Marshalltown pa
per, "is yelled to conceal and yet as
sert the old tariff for revenue only
position of the party. It's anti-imperi.
alism is sheltered behind denuncia-
ton of the Spanish war and an appeal
for the Filipinos. In fact, it is the
old democratic donkey trying to con-
ceal itself in the lions skin, with its
well recognized ears sticking OUT
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18
For Future Use.

The Des Moines Register and Leader
sees an "ominous suggestion in the
Iowa democrats proposal to law away
the silver issue for the present. 1t in.
terprets the language of the demo
cratic platform as covert threat that
If anything should occur to cause an
apparent scarcity of money the dem.
ocratic party would open the closet
and lead out its free silver skeleton at
the very time when that apparition
would do the most harm"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18
Philosopher PhiIosophizes.

The reason Nine. Bernhardt grieves
because she is growing old, says the
Cedar Rapids Republican, is that she
has lived an artificial life and is worn
out at s. In order to be happy in old
age" continues the Cedar Rapids sage
"one must be able to turn philosopher
gradually. To the philosopher the
years steal upon him sweetly and
gracefully, and every passing year has
its own compensations and it's own
pleasures and benefits
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18

1t is said there are some Iowa repub-
licans who say concerning the tariff
that right too rigid hardens into
wrong. There is no animus in this OBJ
servation.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18
CHARLIE WALSH LEFT OUT.
(Iowa City Citizen

Charlie Walsh, democratic chairman
for Iowa, says that the democrats OF
Iowa have repudiated democracy. He
is not the only democrat that says so,
either. The worst feature Of the stu
alton is that those who were turned
down by the state convention at Des
Moines are the ones who have been
fighting the good fight. Mr.. Walsh
and his friends say that the platform
adopted by the convention is mean
ingless.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18

A million dollars worth of opium re-
Gently arrived at San Francisco. The
democratic leaders might be able to
see victory in November next if they
could only procure that consignment
for use in their own pipes.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18
Four Are Strong Men.

fThere are four members of the
Iowa delegation in congress whose
places cannot be filled by any men in
their districts-Hende Hepburn,
Lacey and Hull. Each has natural
ability supplemented by many years
of experience in congress, and each is
a leader in different fields" This is
the judgment of the Fairfield Ledger.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18
ought to Know Better.

"'Uncle Horace is old enough to
know better than to go up against Col.
Henderson in the third district" says
the Davenport Republican. Even his
son knew better than to tackle the Job.
The colonel will simply mop the
ground with his opponent without ex-
erting himself much in the effort"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18
QeIusion-

The Burlington Gazette, DEM, in its
jubilation over the outcome of the
democratic convention, foresees pros.
poets of united democratic party SO
strong that it will bring the present
republican national administration to
a speedy end. A national platform
like the Des Moines platform, the Bur.
lington paper asserts, will call the
whole country to its advocacy" the
people ARE going to cast their vote
with the party that is pledged to wipe
out" the trust evil, and the only thing
now that can save the people from
this evil is "a democratic congress and
democratic president"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18
Bit of Leuerdemain

The Council Bluffs Nonpareil sug-
gests that Horace Boies ought to be
christened the Foxy Grandpa" of the
Iowa democracy. by some sort of
hocus-pocus,' it says, "he has led the
sound money democrats and the Is to
| democrats to believe that they are
once more united and harmonious, and
they're trying their best to ride along
arm in arm on the same party plat
FORM
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18

~ Il.
farmers have plowed and planted them
to corn. This year the ponds are
again fiourishing with the old time
vigor and the farmer who owns one Is
wondering where he is at. A lively
duck pond isn't worth SIS an acre for
farm land.
Glenwood Opinion: A Wolf River
apple weighing one pound and nine
ounces is on display in Towslee's win.
dow and is attracting much attention
even in this land of apples. 1t was
grown by Henry Husen, who farms on
the Council Bluffs road, about five
miles north of Glenwood Mr.. Husen
has been taking these apples to Coun.
Gil Bluffs, where he sells them at "a
cents bushel. They are bought by
an apple dealer, who in turn makes a
snug sum out of them retailing them
as curiosities at % cents apiece.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18

More American manufactures have
been exported during the past fiscal
year than during the entire period the
democrats controlled the government
of the United States.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18

Free silver democrats in the Sixth
congressional district as well as the
men who stand upon the democratic
state platform demand that Mr.. Reese
show his hand. He cannot serve two
masters. There is no middle ground
In be taken,
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18

first, and might be allowed in the
Sixth during the days that Mr.. Reese
is on the local platform. But it would
never do for him to be seen over in
Judge Wade's bailiwick and if he
should stray into the third Uncle Hor-
ace would never know him."
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-18
The Handicap.

The Storm Lake Vidette, dem,
thinks the support of the Bryan ele-
ment is likely to handicap, rather
than assist Tom l.. Johnson in secur-
ing the democratic presidential nomi-
nation in 1904. The Vidette believes
sit will be impossible for man open
ly supporting that (the Kansas City,
platform to receive the support of
those democrats who favor entering
upon practical and active compaign."