davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-14
NEGROES AND HAYTI.

Some leading colored men are evolv-
ing scheme to capture the island of
Hayti and establish an Afro American
empire. The plan of the leaders is to
enlist interest enough in the enter
prise to buy warship and man it
with colored soldiers and capture
Port-au-P Prince, the capital of the is
land, and eventually place the island
under the protection of the United
States. The government they pro-
pose to establish will be republican in
its political formation, but will be adj
ministered by a gigantic corporation,
with all the citizens as stockholders.
All land titles and franchises are to be
vested in the state. There will be
no penitentiary or jails, but all dan
gerous and incorrigible criminals will
be prorisioned and set adrift on the
sea to seek other Shores. Agriculture,
manufacture and all other profitable
industries are to be encouraged. Pub
lie schools are to be established and
liberty is to be universal, but the
rights of each are to be bounded by
the equal right of every other person.
Hayti is the largest one of the West
India islands. 1t is 400 miles long
is republican in form, with a presi-
dent, senate and house of representa-
tives. The population of the island is
about 10000, mostly colored people.
The exports consist Of coffee, cotton
and logwood, and the bulk of the trade
is with the United States. Any effort
to secure the island by forcible means
must inevitably fail.
1t would be better were it possible
for the progressive colored people in
the United States to get possession
of the island by peaeeable means and
aid the people already there to a high
err civilization. The island presents
many opportunities for intelligent col
onization and wise government. Ii is
doubtful whether the corporation plan
Of ownership will appeal to the color
ed people of this country who are
taught different style of government.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-14
THE FIGHT is ON.

mere is now in course of incuba.
| tlon one OF the queerest things ever
witnessed in American politics. There
is no longer any doubt about Grover
cleveland being candidate for nom
lnation. When he announces in his sly
way that he is not seeking it he is do.
ing everything possible to encourage
1t to seek him. His trip to st. Louis
was for the purpose of sizing up the
situation with his own eyes and the
opportunity was exceptionally good
Mr.. Cleveland would not find much
trouble controlling the votes in the
convention of eastern democrats. but
what worries him is to handle western
and southern democrats who are dom.
mated by Mr.. Bryan who will do ey-
erything in his power to control the
convention against the former presi-
dent
1t is current rumor in Washington
mat MI. Cleveland is demanding that
the democratic party come to him as
the Moses to lead it out of the desert.
because of the way the western demo
Gratis have abused him since 1896 He
is mad at last. and proposes to nut
lldJ
ne is not too old to play at politics.
Ihey way that Bryan jumped on to
MIN at Kansas City, caused him to
leave his seclusion and put up one of
his old time fights.
The western democrats will not so
to MIN in sufficient numbers to give
him undisputed sway of the conven-
ton. What he gets he will earn
through a struggle. 1t now seems to
be a fight to the finish between Cleve-
land and Bryan, and while a united
democratic party could not elect one
OF them or any man, they might com
promise on, the squabble for power
has something new in politics. The
party will be more divided than ever
and republican prospects correspond
ingly better for some years to come
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-14
mlssouRrs FAvoRITE SONS.

There was time several months
ago when Senator w. j. Stone of Mis-
souri, was being groomed by Bryan and
others for president. At that time he
was supposed to be pretty good com.
promise timber. But, he is no longer
considered in that connection and his
former boomers are getting away from
him as fast as they can make respect
able retreat without creating undue
suspicion.
The cause of all this is the alum
dust that is embedded in the senator's
clothes. Either purposely or awkward.
ly he became mixed up in a baking
powder boodling scandal, and he has
not been able to deny or swear himself
out of the suspicious surroundings and
stand before the people as an honest
though muchly abused man. He has
even been asked to resign as senator,
but he fatty refuses to turn the job
over to peter man. The same odium
attaches to Senator Stone that forced
Lieutenant Governor Lee into oblivion,
and the senator seems to be headed
that way at pretty good gait.
But Missourians do not propose to
be deprived of candidate, and since
the downfall of Senator Stone they
are basing their hopes on Ex-Governor
D. r. Francis. man of good ability
and clean record. Francis is not a
free silver democrat, and naturally
would not be acceptable to Mr.. Bryan.
In 1896 he supported Palmer & Buck
ner. Four years later he gave Bryan
only a lukewarm support. The chances
are, however that he would not ac-
cept a nomination when the chances
of election are so poor and the dem
ocratic party SO badly divided Now
that the fight is on between the two
wings of the party for leadership there
is little hope of agreeing on man
who will be able to harmonic the fac
lions.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-14
THE PEOPLE ARE ANXIOUS.

1t is safe to say that large major
ity of the American people do not be-
lieve in tariff revision that would par
alyze the industries of this country.
They are so vitality interested in a
continuance of present prosperity that
they watch with intense concern what
the leaders in the republican party
say on the subject, of economics. They
know what the democrats would do
We're they given the power and natur,
ally look with suspicion an anything
republicans do or say in favor of re-
modelling single schedule in our pres
ent tariff. M
History of tariff changes along free
trade lines is too recent to be misread.
People remember 1893 and the indus
trial gloom which followed, and they
do not want any more OF it, What
seems strange to very large major
ity OF the republican party is that
within the party there are some men
who play politics to the dangerous
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-14
PLAYING FOR POWER.

When Mr.. Bryan brought about CO.
alition between democrats and popu-
lists and let the latter have more to
say than their numbers entitled them
to, he drove from him the sound mon
ey democrats. Now he has taken an
other turn at the political wheel and
says that Grover Cleveland was the
cause of the partys defeat, the part
nership 1T had with populists or the
platform Mr.. Bryan's aim seems to be
to get out from under the onus of two
defeats by making Grover Cleveland
bear all the blame.
The Nebraskan has a double pur-
pose in the fight he is making on Grow
er Cleveland He recognizes the for
mer president as the leader by common
consent of the wing that is putting up
a fight to get control of the party. Mr.
Bryan cannot afford any reorganiza-
ton at this time, especially with Grow
err Cleveland at the helm, so he is busy
sidetracking him. If Mr.. Bryan can
lay the accidents which befell him in
his campaigns on the broad shoulders
of Grover Cleveland, he will be able to
square himself in measure for associ-
ating with the populists. 1t must be
admitted that Mr.. Bryan is playing a
pretty shrewd game of politics. 1t is
for Bryan and not for the success of
the party, and he will be able, from
present appearances, to keep up con-
tention for years.
The contest insures an easy repub-
lican victory in 1904, and a continu-
ance of present economic conditions.
From republican standpoint the out
look is full of good cheer.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-14
WHAT II SHOWS.

AS an evidence of how good the cred
it and promise to pay of this country
is, the case of the Philippine bond
sale is cited. The last congress pass.
ed law authorizing the issuance OF
bonds. or more properly certificates,
of Indebtedness. to the amount of So,
100000 to aid the people in the Phil
ippine islands. These certificates are
dated May 1, and draw interest at the
rate of per cent. and are redeemable
in one year in gold coin Of the United
States.
One firm of financiers bid 102.513 for
whole Or part of the loan. The certifi
Gates were oversubscribed eight
times. Thus had the loan been $24,
100000 it could have been sold at a
profit to the government. Every bid
received was from American ffnanciers
which shows the implicit faith our
people have in the stability of the
government. our present financial pol
icies and the continuance OF prosperi-
ty.
Were there possibility of business
stagnation in the near future, finan-
ciers would not tie up their money
in investments which draw small in
terest but hold il to take advantage
of conditions which would bring larger
returns. The recent bids on the Phil
ippine certificates is healthy sign
form any point it is viewed 1t shows
an mistaken confidence in present con-
ditions and a cheerful glance into the
future.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-14
REPUBLICAN SENTIMENT.

The decision in the Northern Securi-
ties case has not only demonstrated
to the public the sincerity of the re-
publican party's crusade against the
great combinations and trusts, but it
has also shown the people that it is
not necessary to change the tariff to
control the trusts. Even some repub-
licans had grown hopeless as to just
what measures to apply to the control
of these powerful organizations Of
capital. They wondered where all
this would end and what the country
would be able to do toward controlling
dangerous monopolies.
But since the decision we are no
longer told that we must smash the
tariff in order to prevent the country
from being gobbled up by the trusts.
1t is significant that the American
Protective Tariff League is sending
out pamphlet which contains the
Minneapolis speech of President
Roosevelt and the Peoria speech OF
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-14
WILL BE AMPLE MONEY.

| When there was furry in the east
ern money market last fall New Yorl
bankers said the stringency was due
to the demands from the west for croI
moving currency. This was true to {
certain extent, but conditions will be
different this year. The treasury de
partment says that the April call on
national banks shows that the west
and southwest will be able to take care
of their crops. Western bankers write
the treasury that they have ample
money for the purpose unless there is
radical change from existing con
ditions.
A Washington dispatch says the
west can provide the harvest money
beyond doubt this year if times contin
ue as they are at this time. The comp
troller of the currency in late report
says that on April the banks of the
middle west held $9,295,00O less specie
and legal tenders than in the preceding
April, the banks of the Missouri valley
district $1,631 900 more and the south.
ern banks almost exactly the same as
last year. AS to liabilities. the ratio OF
reserve to deposits at Chicago was 3 1s
per cent below that of April, 1902; OF
Louisville, about 2 per cent lower; of
Cleveland 2@ per cent lower. At St
Louis, ST. Paul, Minneapolis and Lin,
coin the ratio was / to per cent high
er; at Kansas City and Omaha it was
substantially the same.
Commenting on this the Washington
correspondent says that on the face
of the returns. therefore, it would ap.
pear that the west is not in much bet
ter shape than it was year ago. But
there are conditions that do not figure
in the bank returns which will mate
rally improve the outlook. Bankers
and men interested in the financial
conditions have been keeping pretty
close watch upon the live stock inter.
ests in the west and are more than
pleased with the situation. Reports
show that the ranges are filled with
fattening cattle, which will be sent to
the market in June and July. Prices
promise to remain high, and millions
in ready cash will be turned into west
ern- banks in repayment of loans and
advances as soon as the shipping sea-
son opens. This sum, which will be
larger than any from the same source
in years, will become available just in
time to aid in moving the grain crop.
and will very materially reduce the
amount that will be demanded from
eastern reserve banks for the grain
moving period.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-14
way you can hurt them only by the
government owning those industries,
will treat o,;c porId;nu

way you can hurt them only by the
government owning those industries,
will treat. Louis Paulding.
AS our correspondent is an advocate
OF government ownership of everything
from a cattleyard to railroad there
is no use burdening space with an eX-
tended discussion of that phase of the
subject. All reasonable men believe
that recent developments show our
present laws to be ample to control
trusts and combinations, and that the
present administration proposes lin the
broadcast sense, to protect the people.
The ruling of the court was that the
packing companies could not combine
on the price of cattle or what they
would charge dealers. Domesti COM
petition will regulate the price of cat
tie on the hoof and on the block A
great deal of faultfinding is more mag
mary than real, and it is very easy to
reach wrong conclusions, and these err
rors too often form the foundation for
untenable propositions. The main
thought of our correspondent is that
the government own and control pask-
ing houses and meat markets. Well,
we'll what next?
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-14
WHEN THINGS ARE DEMOCRATIC

Inc trouble has always been that
When this country went democratic.
business went democratic and there
was nothing doing. In 1893 every
thlns was democratic. The men who
voted year before for Grover Cleve.
land were given an opportunity to
rest, and wage earners were in dire
STRAITS. Investments in manufactures
went democratic at that time. and
combinations or trusts bought up these
plants at loss to the original invest
ors, and would repeat the deal were
the country to go democratic again.
1t will be remembered that in the
presidential campaign of 1892 the dem
ocrats announced that if they were
given the power they would wipe the
tariff entirely out. They were given
that power and came pretty near keep
ing their promise. Everything was
democratic for four years and the peo.
pie had all the trouble they wanted
They always do when things are dem
ocratic
The democratic party will not keep
its fingers off of protection to Ameri.
can producers and laborers. The par
" does not disguise the fact that it
favors free trade and industrial calam-
1ty and it is strange that it has any
following outside of the rich who in
crease their fortunes by pinching the
weak. At this time the very men who
are pushing the Cleveland boom for
the presidency are such monopolists
as j. P. Morgan, J. ]. Hill and that
coterie of spectators. They want
the country TO po Democratic aooip co
that they can because government
brokers as they were during Cleye
lands last administration.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-14
THREATENS SERIOUS INJURY.

The yellow journals of New York
City, all OF which are democratic, were
quick to take up Jud Wellivers fake
dispatch to the Chicago Record-Herald,
to the effect that the tariff reform idea
is rampant in Iowa, and that Governor
Cummins is not only it's chief apostle
but has won over both President
Roosevelt and Senator Allison on the
side of tariff revision.
The whole thing would be laughably
absurd, but for the fact that there are
many, especially throughout the east,
who believe these foolish statements,
with reference to Iowa republicanism.
The result, unless the effect is at once
counteracted, will be serious injury to
the national republican cause, and may
even endanger the denomination and
reelection of President Roosevelt. Let
the idea once become prevalent
throughout the east that Iowa re-
publicans are in favor of general tar
III revision, and Immediately republi-
can success in the national campaign
next year is seriously endangered. The
really serious work before the next re-
publican state convention, is the MAX
ing oil platform, especially with refer
ence to the tariff, that can not be mis-
construed or misunderstood by any
body
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-14
STRICTLY DEMOCRATIC,

The CreSton American has the shiy.
ers every time Grover Cleveland is
mentioned in connection with a presi-
dental nomination. The American
says:
Our recollection of recent campaigns
is that every republican stump speak
er from the merest novice to the ablest
orator has held up Mr.. Cleyeland's ad.
mlnistration as a fearful example OF
what the democracy does for the coun-
try when it gets into power, and it is
a well known fact that democrats ev-
erywhere have had their hands full OF
apologizlng and explaining that it was
not democratic administration.
The American is right when it says
that the Cleveland administration was
fearful example of what the democ-
racy does for the country when it gets
into power, and wrong when it says,
his was not democratic administra-
ton. 1t was free trade administra,
ton from start to finish,an that is
all there is to democratic supremacy
when there are no other opportunities
open to give the country the worst OF
it.
Results would have been the same
and probably worse had Bryan won,
as he is not only free trader, but an
advocate of fiat money. while Grover
Cleveland believed in sound money,
but advocated economics which made
it impossible for man to earn tWhen
a man undertakes to prove that either
wing of the democratic party works
in the interest of prosperity he tackles
a heavier burden than he can lift. Up
to the present time that party has new
er delivered the goods.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-14
A HARD TIMES PAST.

The democrtic friends of Grover
Cleveland have been making a study
of the gentleman's health and temper
ament and have begun to bulletin the
fact that he is in every way fitted tc
make the race for president a yea
hence. They point to the fact with
no little pride that he is the only dem
ocrat who has been elected president
since James Buchanan, and they have
history TO back them. OF course they
know that his candidacy would be
backed by trusts and Wall street spec
ulators, but they are careful not IL
bulletin this part of his strength, b,
far the most important at this time.
The only feature in Grover Cleve
lands past that the democrats use
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-14
TO BOYCOTT MEN.

The old maids conference which re-
Gently held a session at Pittsfield, N.
Y, adopted batch of strong resolu-
lions against men in which the male
contingent of humanity is held respon-
ible for every evil featured in the cata-
logue of crime. According to the pre-.
amble and resolutions nothing on earth
quite equals in perfection the old maid
who has never lacked the courage to
decline matrimonial propositions if
any ever came her way.
The members of the congress SUBJ
scribed their names to pledge to for
ward to the secretary details of every
case of domestic infelicity, wife beat
ing, deception, separation and divorce
coming to their notice. This feature
of what they did cannot be criticised.
ii an investigation of each Individual
case gives both sides of the trouble
and is not colored to belittle the men
where they are not the guilty parties.
There are plenty of bad men, entirely
too many, it must be admitted, who do
not deserve wives because they do not
know how to treat them. But all wives
are not perfection. Many women nag
nou " luiH, anu even ooHe Wi'SS We
ceive their husbands, fact the spin
sters' congress did not touch in its
resolutions.
OF course the members of that asso-
citation do not like the men-at least
they claim they do not-and are natu-
rally unhappy. But their early asso-
Citations may have been disappointing
and they no doubt acted wisely in
choosing to remain single. They are
going little too far, however, in de-
claring a boycott on all men because
a few do not reach their ideal of per-
feet manhood.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-14
TROUBLE IN MEXICO.

1t seems impossible fer the people
OF Mexico to reach a plane where the
ballot instead of the bullet is permit
ted to settle presidential elections.
The study they give of the way things
are done in the United States does
them no good when they try to make
local application. Soon successor
to Diaz is to be elected He is grow
ing old and does not want the Office
another term. Minister Limantour
and Gen. Bernardo Reyes are seeking
the place, and the people are lining
up for their favorites
1t is reported from tie City of Mex.
leo that troops, known 10 be favorable
to Diaz and Limantour, are being
rushed to Monterey the capital of
Neuon Leon, the state of which Gen.
Reyes is governor, and this will arouse
Indignation and strife. The object
seems to be to crush Gen. Reyes be-
fore he can bring to his aid a strong
military following. The presence of
government troops in the state of
Neuon Leon will naturally anger it's
governor, and a revolution is probable
if they are not withdrawn.
Mexico lacks considerable yet of be-
ing in touch with modern civilization
The people believe more in force than
arbitration. Americans will hope
that a revolution may be averted, as
great deal of their capital is invest
ed in railroads and mines and lands
in Mexico. A revolution would make
investments insecure and cause that
country to take a backward step. And
further than this, other complications
might arise which would involve this
country in the trouble
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-14
year hence as every indication

= =. i p
year hence as every Indication
points to the fact that the
Bryanites will control it and he
viii dictate anything he desires.
The men who bolted the democratic
platform in 1896 rendered the country
a good service. They aided in causing
a change of administrations which in
turn wiped out bad tariff law and
brought back prosperity. They de-
serve credit for their independence.
The same feelings which prompted
their course then and four years later
are operative today. No abuse that
Mr.Bryan can hurl at them will change
their minds in the money question or
whip them into that wing of the party.
The breach in the party is growing
wider, and there is less hope of har-
mony than at any time since 1896.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-14
ENeLAND's FREE TRADE LOSS.

Walter J. Ballard, the noted statis-
tlclan and writer on protection, in a
late communication to the American
economist, presents some interesting
ngures on what England has lost
through free trade. That country
adopted free trade as a fiscal policy in
1916. From 1915 to that year she had
protection and prospered, but through
blind leadership became a free trade
country In 1854 the trade balance
turned against Great Britain. In
blocks of five years Mr.. Ballard shows
her loss of national wealth since 1853,
when balances began going the wrong
W2E as follows.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-14
COPIES OUR DOCTRINE

There was a time when Great Brit
ain did not have much respect for a GER
tain doctrine promulgated by President
Monroe. Englishmen used great
deal OF eloquence trying to pick flaws
and find some loophole to crawl in
and gobble up a few acres of land, but
all their buster. did not jolt the doc
trine, At the time President Monroe
warned the world what the United