davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-06-23
THE BEST PLANK YET.

Cedar Rapids Republican,: One of
the best platforms that has been
adopted this year has emanated from
Calhoun county, where the Hon. Henry
Young of Manson, has been permitted
to select his delegates to the senate
rial convention. The tariff resolution,
the gem of the platform, in full, is as
follows:
THAT the present wealth of our
country and the great prosperity of our
people are the result of the policy of
the republican party in establishing
and adhering to the principle of pro-
lection, and the gold standard of mon
etary value, and we deem it unwise at
this time, to inaugurate any system of
changes in the tariff when we would
endanger the element of protection on
which we believe our prosperity has
been built. We believe the business
world should be assured that for the
present our time-honored and proved
policy will be adhered to and that there
will be no change in the fiscal policy
for the reason that it is the experience
of mankind that it is important that
the fiscal policy be settled"
This may be called the essence of
SOunQ TGpuDicduiSll, DIS dneCliuS Liz
tariff. 1t is to be regretted, greatly to
be regretted. that the republicans Of
Iowa, instead of putting in miserable
compromise, can not go before the
country this year with some such ring
ing utterance.
Iowa has never before been placed
in the humiliating attitude it now Is
where it is compelled to adopt a strad-
die, in order to prevent bastard
form of free trade from finding lodg-
ment in the platform. Would that the
republicans of the state were still free
to express their honest convictions on
this fiscal policy--if they were they
would adopt something like the Cal
houn county resolutions.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-06-23
SMALLER HoMEsTEADS AND
BETTER FARMING.

st. Paul Pioneer Press: The reduc
ton of the amount of land to be Sc
cured under the homestead law from
100 to so acres would be wise on sew
eral accounts.
First, the country is SO rapidly filing
up that, even with the smaller allot
ment, all available lands will soon be
exhausted.
Second, all such lands are now with
in such short distance from mar.
ket, as compared with conditions exist
ing when the homestead law was pass
ed, that 80 acres is, on an average
fully as valuable gift from the nation
to the settler as 100 acres was in
1862. Indeed, as much might be
claimed, in many districts, of 40
acres.
Third, a great deal less land is now
required to enable man to make .
good living, even If he does no better
farming, than was formerly the case
Hardly any farmer does as many
things for himself" or expects as many
things from his land. as in days when
individualism was SO pronounced that
he was almost independent of the city
store and even of his neighbors. Com.
munal IDEAS and the distribution and
specialization Of industries have done
their share in lessening the need for
expansive farms.
Fourth, 1t has been demonstrated
that the great fault Of American farm.
ing hitherto has lain in the general
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-06-23
THERE is NO DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Des Moines Capital: The Capital has
been criticised for making the asser--
ton that there is no democratic party
in Iowa. But there are some evidences
of the truth of the statement. Mr..
Samuel Strauss, principal owner of the
Des Moines Register-L has been
appointed delegate to the next re-
publican state convention by Gov. Cum
Minis Mr.. Strauss has been a life
long democrat. He owned the Leader
when that paper made it's famous per.
sonal fight on General F. M. Drake,
when he was the republican nominee
for governor. He owned the Leader
when that paper made its tremendous
fight on Leslie M. Shaw, republican
nominee for governor and he owned it
when the same paper made it's famous
fight on numerous other leading repub-
licans, his fight not being political, but
personal. Now, Mr.. Strauss, being the
principal owner of republican news
paper, comes into camp and promises
to be a good Indian. He is bright
man, and there is already talk of max
ing him chairman of the Polk county
delegation. When such things can be,
are there not evidences that there is
no democratic party in Iowa?
When Mr.. Strauss owned the Leader,
that paper never made an attack upon
a democrat, but confined its attacks
to republicans. 1t is pretty hard for
some of us, who have been in these
fights defending republicanism for a
good many years, to see the new con.
verts at the head of the table, but it
only emphasizes the changing events
and the vicissitudes of politics. Per-
sonally, Mr.. Strauss is a worthy man
and gentleman, man of education
and refinement, but when we needed
him most in all our close fights in the
past ten years he was not with us.
Whether the usual terms Of probation
are to be required remains to be seen
or possibly, he is at once to be a
leader,
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-06-23
PROOF OF ITS souNDNEss.

Oskaloosa Herald. THE greatest
compliment to Major Laceys Grant
club speech" says the Colfax Clipper,
lis being paid by the so-called progress
sive republican papers in taking issue
with him on the tariff PROPOSITION
which he enunciated in previous utter
ances some time ago in less forcible
language. His former utterances had
been tortured by the Register and
Leader into an endorsement of the pro.
gressives' position regarding the tariff
revision, and the major made his re-
marks at the Grant club so plainly in
opposition to tariff revision, either as
means of regulating the trusts or
giving the consumer the benefit of com.
petition to the detriment of the produc.
er, that his misrepresenter had moth
ing to stand upon. In this connection
1t is not out of place for us to say
that the advocates of the Iowa idea
have builded much on the fictitious
strength they now claim through
Misrepresentation of the positions OF
President Roosevelt, Secretary Root
and other prominent protection men,
who have deemed it unwise to mako
explanations that might complicate ex,
listing differences in the party on tho
tariff"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-06-23

vention composed of doubtful MAORI
ty of gold men. The deliberations OF
the convention being nearly closed a.
number of silver men lett the nan.
Then it was that Judge Wade who
had hitherto not felt of the pulse of the
assemblage, struck his blow. ~
G.. M. Wagner, chosen because ne
was from one of the rural precincts
arose and offered his resolution grant
ing the delegation power to fill all va
cancies and Judge Wade power to vote
the delegation as he pleases. to best
defeat the cause of Bryan. In an in
slant the convention was thrown into
a turmoil. For few minutes sarcasm
and innuendo was hurled back and
forth, but on a vote SO supported the
resolutions while 43 were opposed. TWO
prominent Bryan men Immediately re-
signed and two gold men were prompt
ly appointed to their places.
Without any apparent effort the
Wade men carried their point and will
go to the state convention to fight
against re-affirmation.
Although the silver men under G.
W. Rinehart have been working to
perfect an organization since the
Jackson banquet, it is now beginning
to be apparent that the men, who were
at that time left out in the cold, are
prepared to take hand in the fight.
Headed by Boies and Wade the gold
men will undoubtedly command a
hearing in the convention and may be
the cause of an unexpected surprise in
the final outcome of it's deliberations.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-06-23

editor of Belgrade. Visited by some of
the conspirators, he seemed at once to
forget the cause he had espoused and
is now in charge of the portfolio of
Justice
Furthermore, it is doubtful il the es-
adjustment of republic in Servia
would have been permitted by Russia
and Austria. Such procedure would
have meant a most troublesome neigh
Dor for those nations.
Peace is at considerable premium
among the nations in that part of the
world at best, and with a republic set
down among the turbulent little coun-
tries. of the Turkish peninsula, contin-
uous outbreaks could only have been
expected.
The people of that country do not
know what they want, only that they
want something different. Might is
the only authority the people of Ser
via Will recognize SO that it seems en-
tirely fitting that military despotism
should have been formed there.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-06-23
LET JUSTICE BE DONE.

President Roosevelt is brave and
courageous man. He is brave enough
to punish the evil doer and he is brave
enough to right wrong, if wrong
has been done to an honest man.
Those who know James T. Metcalf,
late superintendent of the money or
der system of the United States, who
was SUNNI arily dismissed from his po-
sition this week, will refuse to believe,
in the light of any evidence so far
. made public, that he was guilty Of any
actual OF intended wrong doing. They
will accept his statement when he says
he has given his best service for 21
years to the government, that there
has never before been suspicion
against him and that he has never
committed an official act of which he
is ashamed and that he is absolutely
innocent of any wrong doing in this
case. To Mr.. Metcalf belongs largely
the credit for the marvellous develop
ment of the money order system in
the United States, a system that is of
such immense convenience and value
to the masses of the people. For 81
years he has devoted his life to this
work. 1t is possible that he commit
ted an indiscretion in his action with
reference to bidder for a government
contract, whom he regarded as ire
sponsible and unable to comply with
the conditions of the contract without
embarrassment to the service as well
as loss to the bidder and others who
would have to guarantee the perform
ance of the contract. But that James
T. Metcalf had any Interior motive for
his action in this matter, those who
know his life, his character and his
conscientious work for the government
refuse to believe. If one act of non.
criminal indiscretion is to outweigh
and overbalance a life time of honest
effort and faithful service, then indeed
will such honest effort and such faith
full service be discouraged and the pub
lie business will suffer thereby.
1t is greatly to te hoped that further
Investigation will show that Mr.. Met.
iii IS fully entitled to reinstatement
IN the position, which he has so ably
filed, and tllet slch action will be or.
dered by the postmaster general
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-06-23
SECRETARY HITCHCOCK AND
THE CATTLEMEN.

The cattlemen of the west have re-
Gently been making emphatic objec-
ticns to the treatment they have been
receiving from Secretary Hitchcock of
the department of the interior. Ac-
cordtng to reports received from the
western country it seemed that the
ground for their objections has been
The fact that he was strictly enforc-
ms the law for the preservation of the
forest preserves. If this be the condi-
ton of affairs he is in no way entitled
to censure but ought rather be COM
mended for his close adherence to
duty. Recently the question of the
reservation of forests in the United
States and the restoration of the re.
serves, that have been devastated by
the ak of the pioneer, lumberer and by
the destructive forest fires, as far as
shall be practical has come prominent
ly before the people of the United
States. On this point public opinion
is very decided and the govern
ment is to take steps to accomplish
this work.
That the cattlemen should object to
being excluded from the great expanse
of public lands that they have for
years used as ranges free is to be ex-
pected. However, if the conditions as
they exist at present demand this ac-
lion that the good of the general pub
lie be conserved the cattlemen should
go and the official that shall enforce
the laws to this end will receive the
hearty cooperation and endorsement of
the people
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-06-23
OUR HENS OUTLAY THE WORLD.

Chicago er-Ocean.- Dispatches
from Sydney, Australia, show that the
American hen, in trial now in pro-
gress there is fully sustaining the
American reputation for superior pro-
ductivity.
The government agricultural college
at Sydney determined to institute tests
with a view to ascertaining what hens
are the most prolific egg producers.
Now the Australian poultrymen have
great confidence in their hens, and in
their pride they issued a general chal-
lenge to the world for laying compe-
tition.
The American poultrymen took up
the challenge and invited breeders who
make a speciality of hens that lay
much and set little to enter the con.
test. Under the rules the American
entries were limited to three coops Of
six hens each
Six White Wyandottes, bred by w.
d. Candee OF Fayetteville, N. Y, six
of the same breed from the yards of
NV. K. Hays, Henleyville, Cal, and six
single-comb Brown Leghorns, reared
by Mrs. A. H. Hansel of Loup City,
Neb., were selected. Thus, the east,
the middle west, and the west of the
United States were representa-.
The eighteen hens were shipped to
Sydney last February so as to give
them little time to become acclimat-
ed before the trial was formally be.
gun. The result is told in the follow
ing extract from the Sydney dis.
patches.
$50 rapidly grew the pile of white
eggs from the three American COZ IS
when the word go was given that in.
side of week the other nationalities
We're left hopelessly in the rear"
The dispatches indicate that the
best layers Of France, England, Ger
many and several other countries, as
well as the native Australians, were
entered in the contest, but according to
the latest advices all were hopelessly
outclassed by their American Compel
itors.
If the American BOOSTERS are not now
privileged to crow their loudest, we
might as well shut up the coops.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-06-23

dent has pleasant relations with all
races that he divided his compliments
Monday between the Jews at Washing
ton and the Germans at Baltimore
and that he must have a fund of per-
sonal anecdotes concerning the Ger
mans and every people throughout the
list of our wonderfully varied popula-
ton, it is obvious that the campaign
autobiography would rank with the En-
cyclopedia Britannica in bulkiness and
completely crush the conscientious
campaign orator. But let us be thank
full at any rate that we have the in
spring excerpts and that we have them
because we have a President who is
not slave of official conventionalities.
How dull would be the mere report
that there was nothing doing" with
Russia; how pleasant and stimulating
was the mingling of race appreciation
with the Presidents "reminiscences OF
himself?
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-06-23
TOO MUCH FOR NOTHING.

Council Bluffs Nonpareil: 1t takes
many qualities to make a successful
school teacher-so very many, in fact,
that it almost bewilders one to contem-
plate them and it brings blush of
shame to the cheek when it is remem-
Dered how little the men and women
OF whom they are required receive for
their varied abilities.
Good health, good looks, religion
and diplomacy are the chief requisites
for teacher who would be an artist
in the teaching profession" said one of
the prominent lecturers before the
teachers institute now in session in
this city. And he added by way of
explanation that good looks as he used
1t, meant "a face that expresses char
acter, sympathy for humanity, and in
telligence."
| Another instructor declared that a
teacher must put music in her voice.
Put music into your voice when talk
| ing" she declared in an address before
the institute. IF you say good morn
ing, say it in way that expresses
happiness or interest, or else do not
say it at ALL She meant that the
teacher should do this whether it be
sunshiney or cloudy, cheerful or
gloomy, whether she feels bright or
blue
| Still another instructor declared that
the teacher must have an abundance of
love for all her pupils because love is
one of the great forces in the school
room. The teacher must dispose of it
upon all. Not on the neat, sweet
child alone, whom it is easy to love,
but on the poor, unkempt, poorly fed
and hayward boy as well, whose starv-
| ing little heart is craving for love, yet
who, by his actions, is constantly re-
polling it,
| These are only few of the things
a teacher must have in her make up.
| She must be educated, she must have
tact, she must be enterprising, she
must be resourceful, she must be stu
dious, she must be masterful, she must
be gentle, she must be devoted to her
wcrk-in this way one mught go on
without end to describe the nee
essary qualities of successful
| teacher.
And for all this Iowa school boards
expect to pay no more than an average
of about $43 per month for men and
$31 per month for women. They should
be heartily ashamed of themselves.
The bargain is one-sided and it should
be made more equitable and just to
| the teacher
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-06-23
wADE,s COUP p'ETAT.

With the approach of the democratic
state convention it becomes more diff
cult to foretel with any degree of GER
tainty what will be the action of that
body with regard to the party platform
Since the victory of Ex-Governor Boies
and his sound money forces at the con-
vention last summer the old line demo-
Gratis have taken heart with the evil
dent hope that they would be able to
bring the democratic party in Iowa
into line with the conservatives. Added
to this encouragement was the cleo
ton of M. j. Wade of Iowa City, as
congressman of the second district
last fall. But the followers of Bryan
refused to yield to these two victories
OF the gold men. During the past win
ter a number OF silver leaders conceiv-
ed the idea of bringing enough of the
democrats into line with their ideas to
gain control of the party organization.
With this in view the Jackson ban
quet was arranged under the. leader
ship OF Editor Rinehart of Newton,
professedly in the interest of harmony.
Harmony there was for the free silver
men had everything their own way.
Since that occasion the Bryan demo
Gratis have seemed to be in the ascend
ancy. But While they have been work
ing in confidence that the convention
would be theirs prominent reorganiz-
ers have been busy. First in Black
hawk county Ex-Governor Boies was
selected to head the delegation to the
state meeting. 1t was largely through
the work of Governor Boies last year
that the Iowa democrats turned the
cold shoulder to the Kansas City plat
form and his selection to head his
county delegation is taken as evidence
that he will again wage battle against
the Bryan idea.
Now comes the intelligence that
Congressman M. J. Wade of the second
district, pronounced gold man, has
been put at the head of the Johnson
county delegation. Not only this, but
he has secured authority to vote his
delegation as he may desire in con-
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-06-23
ADOPT 1T.

Des Moines Capital: Here is tho
Ohio republican platform. Iowa
should adopt it. The platform says1
THE protective tariff policy of tha
republican party has made the United
States the greatest industrial nation
and astonishes the world with the ire
mendous development of our bound,
less resources; added vastly to our for
eign commerce; greatly increased tho
prosperity of the farmer, and has ad.
yanced American labor to the best
scale of living ever attained. We CD.
pose all attacks upon this policy, what
ever the pretext, as tending to bring
back the disastrous day of democratic
tariff revision and free trade. Chang
ing conditions and the possible bene.
fits of reciprocity may call for timely
reimbursement of schedules, but protec-
ton as principle and as a policy must
be administered by the friends of
American prosperity and must not be
sacrificed"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-06-23
THE PRESIDENTS AU7
OGRAPHY.
AUToRI.
THE

Chicago Record Herald :-President
Roosevelt was not able to give the Wis
iting committee of the B'nai Birth any
Illuminating communication on the sub
ject of Russia, but his conference with
its members was by no means barren
of results. 1t is well-known fact that
a campaign biography is one of the in
dispensable requisites of every presi-
dental candidate. So far as we are
Informed no free American citizen ev-
er read one of these productions, but
that OF itself is provocation to dar-
ing adventurous spirit, and it is ev-
ident that it has acted upon the Presi-
dent like the challenging notes of
Spanish guns at San Juan hill Hence
that vivid autobiography of which ex-
TRACTS We're delivered to the Jewish del
egatlon while the empire of the car
was kept upon side track.
the personal note in these excerpts,
the direct and simple language with it's
conversational turn, the glimpses that
are given of a perennial strenousity
in the simple incidents that are related
with such wealth of detail, tempt one
TO say that the effort is already justi-
ned. There was no such light and life
IN the old campaign books, which sim
ply Wrestled on with overworked SUI
perlatlyes and sloppy sentiment and a
feeble sickly humor, if humor were al.
lowed to invade the sacred subject.
They were all dreadfully artificial, while
the martial procession of the Presi-
dents capital rs" is as fresh and nat
ural and characteristic as the Growing
OF the lusty chanticleer.
Nevertheless we have our doubts
doubts doubts due solely to the limita-
tons OF time and space. For we find
that the wealth of detail is likely to de-
velop perfectly amazing embar.
rassment of riches.
This difficulty may be illustrated by
a reference to the extracts which con-
Vey the intelligence that the President
met General Howard once upon a time
that ne was present at meeting OF
Grand Army men to welcome the re-
turned veterans of the Spamsh-Ameri-
can war; that he served at Santiago,
and that he was commissioner of po-
lice IN New York. Such is the mere
outline, but two experiences of the po-
lice commissioners with the Jews fill
two plump paragraphs, and what were
they IN that swirl Of activity which
went on with a ceaseless rush from
morn till night?
When We remember that the PreSi-