davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04
HENDERsoN,s RECEPTION.
from Tuesdays Daily.I

IFrcm Tuesdays Daily.I
The enthusiastic welcome accorded
Speaker Henderson yesterday, Incl
dent to the opening of the House of
Representatives is most significant of
the esteem in which he is held by his
fellow congressman. The applause
which greeted the veteran Iowa legis-
lator as he assembled the platform was
a mark OF respect that is felt among
the members of the house for the man,
who has ably performed the duties of
the speakers Office with fairness and
justice. Now that he is entering upon
these duties for the last session it will
be with regret that the members of
the house will see his term come to a
close. Whatever may be said
of Speaker Henderson, this incident,
small as it may seem, will stand as a
remembrance of the recognition to his
ability by the members of the house,
and a mark of esteem for the veteran
Iowan.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04
PROVISIONS OF NATURE.

1t is natural for the human race to
give to current events and happenings
only casual consideration This is es-
pecially true of the people of the coun-
try with regard to the relation of the
weather conditions to the question of
agriculture. During the summer of
1901 how many people were deploring
the drought. They were lamenting the
fact that the amount of farm products
would be greatly curtailed and some
even went so far as to declare that
there should not be a large enough
yield to supply the wants of the peo-
pie. Then again during the past sum-
mer, when the country was visited
with record breaking rains, many of
these same people We're confident that
the almost unparalleled floods would
cause an immense amount of damage.
But during both Of these seasons there
has been grown sufficiency of farm
products to meet all the demands of
the nation.
Whatever may be the unusual condi-
tions that may exist at different times
during the year nature has made pro-
visions that with the proper efforts of
man, it's yield will be sufficient to meet
the needs of the people. Outside of
those who devote their time especially
to the study of geological questions
Major John F. Lacey is probably one
of the best informed men on these
questions. In an address delivered re-
Gently at meeting of the brotherhood
of9the Trinity Episcopal church at the
home of Major Mahon, Congressman
Lacey gave brief resume of the man
ner in which nature utilities even such
excessive rains as those of last sum-
mer:
Men have been complaining to me
this year about the rainfall, the ire
mendous downpour of water in the
year 1902. Let me tell syoti what God
in his wisdom has done for us; piling
in some 200 feet of drift upon our state
breaking up the joint clay SO that in
the wet season we have exactly enough
moisture and in the dry season wehave
exactly enough, and whenever we have
had exactly enough we have had plen-
ty. Where we sit tonight lies beneath
us three to five thousand feet Of lime
stone, and this year, for the first time
in ten years, the rainfall has been so
great that now if you will go down two
feet in the soil and take dipper of
water you will find it as hard as the
water 200 feet IN depth. Ard this has
been brought up to remain in the soil
when it dries out once more, imparting
perpetual fertility to the soil of Iowa
And nothing can hurt a. country that
has a good soil. So we have a SPLEEN
did soil, delightful and bracing and
variegated climate, the best OF laws,
people gathered from every part of
the American union and every part of
northern Europe, where the best ma
tons have been bred, and so speak
as an optimist."
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04
LACEY ON HENDERSON.
Cedar Rapids Republican. J

Congressman Lacey paid Col. Hen.
derson a fine tribute recently. He
took up the question as to which was
loyal to the administration, Speaker
Henderson, OF Iowa, or Congressman
Littlefeld, of Maine, He said that the
Maine statesman had habit of get.
ting on the democratic side of cues.
lions, probably to attract attention,
while Mr.. Henderson was always ready
to pull off his coat for the policies oA
the administration.
But strange as it may seem, Speaker
Henderson was posed in the newspap.
er correspondence as the man who was
thwarting the administration. How
such a false notion was given curren.
cy, says Major Lacey, is more than he
has been able to account for. Speaker
Henderson was deliberately misrepres
sented before the country and these
Misrepresentation were used in his
own district, especially in places like
Waterloo where a Wondering postof-
fee fight had left sore spots to harass
the speaker at home. Having been
elected to the highest office in the nas
ton, for a foreign born citizen, Col,
Henderson naturally expected some
exemption from the petty annoyances
of partisan politics and as naturally
showed some displeasure when he did
not find such exemption. This led
him to write a letter that only added
to the barking and the yelping at his
heels. On top of that come demands
for money to overcome this opposition,
1t was then that even a speaker of the
national house had to give up and rea
tire.
Major Laceys yindication of the rec.
ord made by the Iowa speaker is times
ly. The more the inside facts leak out
the more is the regret that Col. Heni
derson acted SO hastily in the natter
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04
CHANGES COME SLOWLY.

Innovations in financial circles are
always looked upon with considerable
distrust. 1t is the history of the Unit
ed States that all changes in the mon
ey of the country or alteration of plan
for conducting its finances have been
made over a protest from large part
of the people. This, however, is not
strange when it is remembered that
the financial question is the most vital
to the successful management of the
affairs of the government and the well
being of the people of the nation.
With few exceptions changes that
have effected the fiscal affairs of
the nation have marked periods of
business depression and oftentimes
hardship to the people.
1t was not surprising, therefore. that
the people watched with unusual in
terest the outcome of the plans adopt
ed by the treasury department to re-
lieve the threatened stringency of the
past fall. Even though recent exper-
fences gave evidence of the made
quacy of the present system to auto
matically meet the demands of such
an eXigency, there has been no ex-
preston of willingness on the part OF
the people to any change in our finan.
cial policy. Though some of the meth
DDS inaugurated by Secretary Shaw
were given tardy endorsement, it is
generally conceded that his heroic
treatment of the situation saved the
country from what might have been
a serious condition.
At present the financial situation is
well in hand, and it seems that the pol.
icy Of conservatism VIII prevail in
business transactions for a considera.
BILE time. Business, however, is active
The consumption of merchandise is
heavy by reason of advanced wages
and continued large demand. The
years crops have been generally sat.
isfactory and exports are increasine
But in this firmness there seems to be
something suggestive, which is not re
Elieved by the present labor situation
There is a feeling among those direct,
| ing the financial interests that "bette1
little discomfort now than trouble
later on" In view of this, there is a
tendency among the banks to keep the
situation well in hand for emergencies
In reviewing the financial situation
Henry Clews sums it up briefly when
he says: ''The plain truth is the coun
try has used up all it's available float,
ing capital. and reimbursement As i'm
perative, either through contraction
retrenchment or waiting In patience
until our national savings provide q
fresh supply"
i That there is a certain irresnonsive
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04
SUBSCRIPTION RATES.
Daily Courier, l year. by mail. $500
Semi Weekly Courier, 1 year. -. l.50
PRESIDENT RoosEvELT's MES.
SAGE,

IFrom Tuesdays Dally.l
President Roosevelt's second annu-
al message, read before the senate
and house of representatives today, is
unique in that it is probably the short
est annual message ever written by a
President of the United States and
one of the most comprehensive instru-
nlsnts ever sent to that body. 1t is
thoroughly characteristic of it's author.
Briefly President Roosevelt sketches
some of the considerations that have
placed us in the foremost rank among
the nations of the world. In his fear
, less and forceful manner he then
takes up the discussion of the great
questions that are now pressing for
solution and outlines to congress the
policy which in his opinion will be
most beneficial for the general public.
A consideration of the trusts is first
entered upon by Mr.. Roosevelt. Not
condemning the principle of the union
of capital for the consummation of
large commercial and industrial en-
tcrprises, he does oppose certain
methods and practices INDUCED in by
some concerns and in no uncertain
manner points out to congress meth
cd for eliminating from these combi-
nations the Objectionable features by
amendments to the Sherman anti
trust law.
He opposes the revision of the tariff
as q means for controlling the trusts,
contending that by this method the
small industries would be first touched
If not wholly destroyed and the bust
ness of the country would be gener-
ally disturbed. President Roosevelt
favors as a means for securing what
ever REIMBURSEMENT of the tariff may be
absolutely necessary the negotiation
and adoption of reciprocity treaties.
He advises congress to adopt some
legislation that shall provide neces
sary changes in our financial system
to meet the increasing demands of our
business interests and prevent money
stringencies. He discusses the ques-
ton of the relation of labor and capt.
tai, the organization of department
of commerce. urges the adoption of
the Cuban treaty, reviews the canal
situation and considers many other
important and vital questions.
The message is most concise
and intelligent consideration of the
many important questions that are
now before the American people. The
Courier presents in this issue that in
strument entire and most earnestly
advises its careful perusal by those
who are DESTROYS Of gaining thor
ough knowledge of the great political
questions of the day
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04
AMERICANS AND TEMPERANCE.

The American people are noticeably
temperate in their use of intoxicants.
To prohibitionists this may appear to
be an anomaly, but the business of the
statement is shown by the compari-
son of the reports of the use of liquors
by the people of this and other ma
tons. The temperance of the people
of the United States is noticeable to
the visitors from other nations and in
this connection Lady Somerset, on a
recent visit expressed surprise at 'the
general sobriety Of the American peo-
pie"
1t is fact that the con-
sumption of alcoholic liquors by
the people of the United States COM
pares favorably with the amount used
in the infancy of this nation. In this
connection the New York World asks
what the opinion would be if Presi.
dent Roosevelt owned a distillery?
Yet George Washington owned one
and profited by it's returns in 1897.
We as people drink less beer than
any other great nation except France
There is less wine and spirits consum.
ed in the United States than any 9th.
er nation of equal population. Though
comparisons in the consumption of liu.
uor are difficult to get accurately the
following approximate is Instructive:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04
or NEWSPAPER ARTt.
Giles,

The Marshaltown Times-RepuuIi-
can under the caption "a Newspapers
Public Service" in speaking OF the
great care taken by the average edi-
tor to verify each item of news and
make his reports absolutely accurate
says:
No one who has not served a vet
Grams career behind the scenes in the
business of newspaper publishing can
have any conception OF the u.ligence
and constant care exercised by news
paper men to make their every state
ment absolutely true in fact. BY com
putation it will be found that in an
average issue of the Times Republican
there are news items about people and
events under no less than sixty-fiye
date lines from points outside of Iowa.
In1s news is gathered by the Associ-
ated Press, a great cooperative asso-
citation with trained journalists in
practically every town in every civil
lied country of the world. Besides
this, from the information gathered by
staff of over 200 special Iowa CORE
spondents an average daily issue of
the Times-Republican will contain ev-
cry day news about persons and
events in sixty Iowa towns and the
local pages will appear daily with
news concerning at least 100 different
citizens living in this community. All
of this information, aggregating in
volume every two days the size of an
ordinary $50 page book, has to be fer
reted out, reported, edited, set into
type and published within an average
working day. and yet the percentage
of mistakes to the total number of
accuracies, if known, would make the
average critic of newspaper ashamed
of himself"
After commencing at length upon
lie decision recently rendered by
Judge Burnham In favor Of that paper
in libel suit it says further:
Editors are human and not only
are subject to the average human
lapses in accuracy, but have been
known to abuse their privileges and
proceed from motives of actual malice.
Hence it is we'll to have stringent laws
upon the statute looks to protect the
individual from persecution at the
hands OF the bad editors, but the pub
lie, often prone to sneer at the pro-
verbal fiction ascribed to newspaper
article, should remember that by far
the greater number of newspapers are
edited by men who are constantly
striving to publish things correctly. II
should be remembered, too, that little
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04
Inebriacy a Disease.

The Keokuk Gate City, viewing in
ebriacy as disease, says: Victims
of the drink habit are legitimate sub.
jects for the state care and restraint
1t is entirely proper for the state to
deal with them as individuals, as with
the insane, and in doing so it is not
amenable to the criticism of attempt
ing to make people good by the whole
sale. But the plan of housing them
with the latter is clearly a mistake.
If the state is to persist in its care of
inebriates it must provide a separate
institution for them in order to insure
the best results for all concerned"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04
Power of the West.

The Council Bluffs Nonpareil says
the speakership contest emphasizes
the power Of the "solid west" 'The
solid west will undoubtedly make it
self powerfully felt in the future con-
troll of the republican party reasons
the Nonpareil. In the past 1t has
been somewhat ignored, but it's
strength now makes further slight i'm
possible If the states that make up this
great stronghold of republicanism will
but work together"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04
From Democratic Viewpoint.

The Clinton Age, DEM, says it can
not comprehend why the prohibition
lists should want prohibition ticket
in Iowa. THE republican party" the
Age points out, has enacted both pro-
hibition and mulct, and both laws are
now in the code. If prohibitionists
want anything more, why don't they
go to the republican party and ask for
1t? Thus far in inc history of the pol
itics of the state prohibitionists have
obtained all they have asked for"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04

South American republics will doubt.
less have to answer to European ma
tons for their own misdeeds. 1t is
probable that the United States will
not attempt to interfere with the de-
mands of Great Britain. Germany and
other nations against Venezuela for the
collection of claims of their citizens in.
cident to the rebellion. The primal OBJ.
ject OF Monroeism is that these ma.
lions shall not sieze any American
soil.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04
Iowa Idea Not Tariff Revision.

The Cedar Rapids Republican con-
tends that tariff revision was not the
kernel of the Iowa idea, as all repub-
licans are in favor of tariff revision
whenever such revision is necessary
and timely. "The Iowa idea," explains
the Republican, was that the tariff
was connected with trusts"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04
TWO NEW WAR VESSELS.

HNSiy hmSliCdH clCfZen is interested
in the improvement of the United
States navy, That our fleets may ex-
Gel in speed, our gunners in the ac-
curacy Of their Workmanship, our Off
GERS in their ability to direct the oper-
ations of the vessels, is the ambition
of those directly connected with the
naval affairs of the nation and the
wish of every citizen. Any new ac-
QUESTIONS to any department of the
navy that promises to give added
strength is hailed with delight
throughout the entire country. To
this end the naval engineers are con-
tinually graphing with the problem of
naval construction, the armor and
armament of the war vessels, their
speed and numerous other things little
realized by the layman. 1t is to their
credit that success is continually
browning their efforts.
Two new cruisers are to be built.
These vessels are to be named the
Tennessee and the Washington. When
completed it is the thought of the
board of construction to have them
the best vessels of their class af1oat
Following are the dimensions and
characteristics of these vessels al
ready set down by the board of con-
struction:
Length on load waterline, 502 feet.
Extreme breadth at load waterline,
70 feet 10k inches.
Mean draft on trial displacement, rs
feet
Gross draft, loaded, 27A feet.
Bunker capacity, 1000 tons.
Trial displacement, 14,500 tons.
Minimum speed (on trial displace-
ment), % knots
Steaming radius at 10 knots, $500
knots.
Four ten-inch rifles in turrets.
Sixteen six-inch rifles in armored
classmates.
Twenty-Five three-inch rapid-fre
guns.
Two Cuttings.
| Six Colt automatics.
| Two three-inch field guns (these ar
maments are more powerful than those
of any other cruiser in the worldly
| Main armor belt, 1923 feet long, 5
inches thick, II feet Az inches broad
amidships.
Traverse bulkheads in range of main
battery, inches thick
Turrets for heavy guns will have ar
NOR inches, Z inches and a inches
thick.
| A cofferdam 80 inches thick will be
worked in from end to end between
berth deck and protective deck, the
latter to cover entire vessel and vary
in thickness from " to inches.
| Engines to be vertical, twin screw,
triple expansion.
Sixteen boilers of Babcock & Will
cox type.
When completed the vessel will
show two masts (the foremost mill
| tary mast with two fighting tops) and
| four smoliestacks.
Time of completion, forty-two
months
Here will be two vessels with arma-
ments practically the equal Of any of
our battleships, but with greater
speed. Even with these two features
/ of superiority the question of the pro-
| tective armor and armament governed
the decision of the board of construc-
ton. To say the least these two cruis-
ers will be valuable addition to our
fleets and should occasion ever arise
they will doubtless give good &C
count of themselves.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04

news is published in which there is
not some directly interested party
concerned who would prefer that the
pubic did not learn of his affairs. and
who will not promptly deny the truth
fulness of the publication, although
the newspaper man may have and
probably did receive his information
from unimpeachable sources
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04

Every day the public is treasured
that Millionaire Prick is to make pub
lie improvements in Pittsburg which
will make the gifts of Mr.. Carnegie,
to that city, look like thirty cents"
However, just at present the people
are getting the benefit of Mr.. Carne-
gies gifts.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04
Make Them All Republican.

If Iowa is to be redistricted, the Du-
buque Times says, it is not necessary
Times asserts that a reapportionment
can be made with due respect to popu-
lation, contiguity, geographical area
and transportation facilities which will
leave them all republican on the basis
of the vote cast this fall.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04
Fun in Guessing.

Speaker Morgan, of Alabama,
guesses that President Roosevelt will
be defeated in 1904, and the Council
Bluffs Nonpareil suggests that "if de-
mocracy finds any fun in guessing like
this, let it keep right on; there's no
harm in it,"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04

cussed at the approaching session OF
congress and that zone year from now,
when it comes up in the new congress,
present conditions may have UNDER
gone changes that will very materially
alter the course of tariff discussion and
tariff legislation"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04

There are people in the national
capital who are displeased with Secre-
tary Shaw for having the vestiges of
age removed from the treasury build
ing Perhaps old Washington doesn't
like the change, but the new life
brought to the capital by the energetic
western men, would naturally be ex-
pected to introduce some changes in
the antique customs and surroundings
of that city.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04
Shoes No Cheaper.

The Mason City Globe Gazette
shows that the duty on hides adds
only 4 to cents per pair to the cost of
shoes and that the removal of the
duty would be dead failure" as
means of cheapening shoes.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04
Credit Due Smith.

The Waterloo Courier says the fact
that all the Iowa congressman will ia
vor Cannon now need not rob Mr..
Smith of the ninth district, of the cred
it of being the first of the lot to hear
the boom of his big gun.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04
Silly,

Talk about the speakership of the
next Iowa house, declares the Webster
City Journal. is too silly for serious
consideration, in view of the fact that
the legislature will not ne chosen I'M
til November, 1903. The Journal thinks
the editors had better devote their
spare time to the selection of good
men as members rather than worry
about the presiding officer.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04

Totals !, 742,O00,000 S33,0O0,0O 1,3s5, OO0, 900
1t is noticeable that the quality is
above the average. notwithstanding the
exceedingly wet season that has just
been experienced. The price of the
product continues good and it is esti-
mated that the total value of this
years corn crop cannot fall below ST.
OOO,0O0,O00. In 1895 the corn crop
reached 2,2so,oOO,ooo bushels, but ow-
ing to the lower price paid at that
time for corn, it did not approach the
value that will be reached this year by
at least $25OOOO,OOO
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04
Come Into the Family.

The Clinton Age says the best way
out of the Cuban difficulty is for Uncle
Sam to invite the queen of the Antilles
to become member of his family
at must come to that sooner or later"
the Age predicts, "and the sooner the
better.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04
Try it on the Doa.

The Council Bluffs Nonpareil OBJ
serves that the President, having fin
ished his message, is calling in various
prominent republicans for conference
about it's contents. Perhaps" the
Nonpareil suggests, "the President
merely wants to try it on the dog"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-04
John Mitchell is "It.n

"The best definition of an educated
man." says the Upton Advertiser, sis
'one who is onto his job and John
Mitchell answers to that in every par
ticular."