davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-26
A PRESIDENT WHO GOVERNS.

minneapolis Tribune: 1t cannot ba
said OF Theodore Roosevelt as Presi.
dent, as 1t is said of the king of Eng,
land, that he rules but does not gov
ern. Roosevelt is governing in very
wide sense. He is not only potent in
executing the laws, but he is more DO,
tent In making them than any Presis
dent We have had for a long time,
Curiously enough, Mckinley, whom he
does not resemble in the least, an.
preached him most nearly in this re.
spect. Cleveland, whom he resembles
most, had least of his power. Cleyes
land couldn't make congress do any,
thing but repeal the silver act, and
that effort ruined him. Roosevelt
makes congress do many things, and
the effort seems to increase his popu.
lar strength. perhaps the difference
is in the party. Roosevelt did the
same thing as governor. When he be.
gan to try to shape legislation as Pres.
ident, people thought the task beyond
his powers; but it seems not
The President has had his way
about trust legislation, and there will
be no extraordinary session. He has
got the bills he wanted, though the
senate did not want them He has
defeated the bill he did not want,
though the house wanted it. He hal
got conservative laws for complete
penalization of railroad discrimination.
for enforcement of publicity, and for
expedition of prosecutions. He will
be able to make very thorough trial
of these in the long recess Of congress.
The new machinery of the bureau of
commerce and the new power of the
department of justice will enable him
to decide by then il more laws are
needed. If he should want more legis-
lation the next congress, meeting
year before election, will not be less
tractable than this. He is making a
pretty good record as man who does
things.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-26
A STRONG NAVY THE GUARANTY
OF PEACE.

Under an old treaty with Great Brit
ain made many years ago, neither the
United States nor the latter power
were permitted to build war vessels
on the Great Lakes, but there is now
hope that the treaty will be modi-
fed SO that war vessels Of a certain
class may be built and launched by the
American government. The result of
this would be encouragement to
ship builders on the lakes which would
be to the advantage OF the government
in the matter of economy as well as in
the training of sailors to their duties.
1t is believed that the consent of Eng
land may be obtained with the stipu-
lation that such vessels are to be trans.
ported to salt water within a specified
time. In view of the friendly feeling
existing between the two govern
ments that own territory adjacent to
the lakes, such an arrangement is pos
sible and very desirable so far as our
country is concerned. Great ship
yards would, in such an event, spring
up in the interior where war vessels
would be built and thus give employ
ment to labor far removed from the
sea coast. Such distribution of gov
eminent works seems to be fair and
justifiable.
The events OF the past few years
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-26
vENEzuELA's MARROW ESCAPE.

Philadelphia Press-Mr. Bowen hax
has had difficult task in reaching an
agreement with Germany, England and
Italy Tor the settlement of their claims
against Venezuela. but the raising OF
the blockade now seems to be assuredn
Ihat Germany was the chief obstacle
TO an agreement has been suspected
from the start, and in the end there
was hardly any room for doubt on that
score. Her allies are reported to BID
dissatisfied with her course. and
whether or not that is true they have
reason for dissatisfaction.
1t was agreed by all of the allies to
refer the dispute to The Hague tribe
unal whenever Venezuela gave satis-
lactofy assurances of the payment Of
the awards. The representatives in
washington OF the allied nations signf
ed this agreement. Later Venezuela
agreed to pay at once $27,5OO to eachi
nation, and CIR Britain presented
her protocol for signature which was
entirely satisfactory to Venezuela's
representative. The Italian ambassa4
dor went to the length of preparing all
pfotocoi for signature when he was inR
formed that Germany insisted on an
immediate payment of $4,000. This
beWlldered all concerned as it was COM
trary to the preliminary agreement
signed for Germany by Count Quadt.
Further delay seemed necessary But
Germany has receded far enough not
to insist on the immediate payment of
this sum. This practically cleared the
way for the reference of the dispute to
The Hague tribunal and the raising OFF
the blockade. Venezuela is to be gfvE
en- back the vessels seized by thG
blockading vessels and peace will probS
ably reign !!
Venezuela should profit by this les,
son, and all the South American coun4
tries can easily appreciate what would
be in store for them if the United
States did not stand firmly in support
OF the Monroe doctrine. Had it not
been Tor the Monroae doctrine main.
tanned by the United States the Vene.
zuelan ports would now be in the
hands OF foreign troops, and Venezu,
Ella would be in situation where she
could only regain independence by ced.
ing territory. But Venezuela was to
blame i'll not earlier recognizing her
debts and making some effort to paw
them.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-26
SUFFERING in A LAND OF PLENTY

The extreme cold that has fallen up-
On us during the past few days carries
with it in every blast an appeal that
sinks deep into the hearts OF charitable
people. Those who live in warm com
ioftable houses and with ample cloth
ing for hel and body still get enough
discomfort when they 20 out into the
open air. but when they return to the
well, heated apartments genial in tenn
perature, and nestle at night beneath
soft clinging blankets and a wealth of
covering, there is experienced lux
ury that can not be found in more
hospitable climate.
Contrast this situation with the con
diticn OF those who by poycry are com.
PEELED to live in old and worn out
dwellings where the wind whistles
through the cracks in the walls and
rafting windows. There is one stove
perhaps, for the two little rooms OF
III there be two, fuel is so scarce that
but one fire can be maintained and that
incapable OF efficient service. The fire
is in the cook stove which is old and
can be kept during the day but when
the night comes and and all have to
go to bed and the meager supply OF
bed clothing is divided between par
ents and children, and the weather
grows colder and colder, then suffer
ing ensues. 1t is terrible thing to
be awakened by the cold, when it
creeps through every part OF the body
and when there is no hope of relief I'M
til morning comes and the fire is kind
led. There are many families in this
city who have experienced these suf-
ferings and yet there are kind-heart-
ed people here who would only be too
glad to aid and bring or send them
some of the comforts of life. The
trouble is that many of these poor citi-
zens are too timid TO ask for assistance
and there is a lack of that systematic
charity that seeks out cases of dis
tress. There is enough to spare if
properly distributed. There should
not be a single family suffer in land
OF plenty
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-26

The late naval maneuyers of the
United States vessels in the Carib--
bean sea have been prolific in disclos-
ing vital flaws in our sea service Of
ficials headed by Admiral Dewey re,
turned with the announcement that
many of the supposedly best ships
were deficient in maneuvering quail,
ties. Supplementing this, Admiral
Dewey declares that our gunners are
remarkably deficient in accuracy of
aim" Since the Spanish war large
percentage of new men has been en-
listed who have been offered but lit
tie opportunity for gun practice. The
ability to hit is the one thing that can
make an efficient gunner. The adj
miral also declares that there are
many serious defects in primers and
charges and in the working of the gun
mechanism. Out of 1872 shots forty
eight were rim-fres These defects he
declared are second only to inacul-
acy of aim. Reports undoubtedly JUS
tify the charges and certainly no one
is better justified to speak upon what
constitutes an effective naval fighting
machine than Admiral Dewey.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-26
THE NEW ROAD LAW.

The new road law goes into effect on
April /, and some county authorities
have been at sea as to what course to
pursue to get the best results out of
a law that all concede to be a good
measure. In Wapello county there is
tacit understanding that the town
ship trustees will act in concert and
decide definitely as to whether the
work shall be let by contract or
whether township supervisors shall
be employed to work out the amount
OF the allotment in each township.
The new law does away with the
old road districts and provides that
every civil township shall be road
district. 1t is further provided that
the road superintendent shall be elect
ed by the township trustees and shall
have supervision of all road work with
in the township 1t is further provided
that the trustees at their April meet
ings shall have power to make an
annual levy of not less than two and
half mills and not to exceed four
mills for road purposes and it is pro-
vided this amount must be paid in the
same as other taxes, that tax payers
will not be permitted to work out their
township road taxes as they have done
in the past. This means that the labor
will be employed and under the super
vision of road supervisor and that
the townships will be expected to get
value received. In the past nearly all
township road levies have been work
ed out and road working has been re-
garded as a holiday, with the result
in q iC,,ff, Nf fl,N =, ,+, ~. l,,%
little good has been derived from town
ship levies.
In Polk county there was recently a
meeting of the township trustees, and
the sentiment seemed to be in favor
of letting of the work by the selection
of supervisor to employ men to
work out the amount of each town
ships allotment of money 1t seems
incumbent, however, on the trustees
to elect township road superintend-
ent, whether the work is let by con-
tract or otherwise.
Almost any plan that differs from
the old system will be an improve
ment and reform, and the further re-
moved from the old methods the bet
ter 1t will be for the public.
In Polk county the general opinion
among trustees seemed to be in favor
of ditching and rolling up the roads
so as to get the water away from them
and then crawling should follow.
There are, however. some localities
where gravel cannot be obtained for
any reasonable price, and this will
have to be considered. The road prob
lem is very important one, and
townships will in measure have to
be guided by the available material
for making a solid bed. 1t is certain,
however, that rolling and ditching is
the first thing in order and the trus-
tees cannot go amiss if they make
this beginning as perfect as possible.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-26
SECRETARY coRTELyou.

The installation of George B. Cor
telyou as the head OF the department
of commerce and labor marked an
epoch in the history OF the United
States government. The large COM
mercial interests heretofore distribute
ed among the various bureaus of the
other departments have been assem-
bled by the action OF congress and
placed under special supervision. AS
the head of the new department Secre-
tary Cortelyou occupies unique po-
to-. in that he will deal with the
est commercial interests OF the
Id.
So thoroughly has the public con-
CURED in the proposition for the or
ganization of the new department. that
its final establishment and the appoint
mont of it's new secretary has occa-
stoned little comment among the
people of the country AS to the abili-
ty of the man chosen to take charge
of the new portfolio there can be no
question. His ability has been recog-
nized by four administrations ire
spective of politics and with the ex-
ception of two intervals he has been
in the service of the government since
attaining his majority.
BY fulfillingethe duties OF the subord-
mate Offices to which he was first APP
pointed he advanced steadily to the
place where he was associated with
the leaders and became the counselor
of presidents. With equal impartiality
and loyalty he served as secretary to
democratic Cleveland and republican
Mckinley. His entire career has been
free from partisan faint and has Civ
en- him an intimate acquaintance with
all classes of public men. He will be
aptly fitted to perform the duties of
the important office to which he has
been chosen in a manner that will be
most beneficial to the commercial in
terests of the nation.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-26
LOST ART OF SPELLING.

New York Tribune Some imper-.
fectly educated parents complain that
their children can't spell or even read
tolerabiy, after years at school. II
the complaint be true, what of it?
We are to assume that things much
more precious than the base mechan-
ical art of spelling are learned by those
children. They learn ito think" they
learn concentration" many of them
can model in clay little and all can
eat sandwiches and try to sing. 1t is
our own modest observation that boys
and girls like to go to school better
than we did in our time. Why? Be.
cause they are better and the schools
are better; and because SO much time
is not wasted on the pitiful drudgery
of spelling and the three RS. What
ever our children learn or fail to learn,
it is great satisfaction to feel that
they are taught in the right manner.
If their unfortunate begetters could
only have had the advantages of the
improved methods!
LET us start out with the idea,'
says our preadamite Boston friend,
"that children can be trained to spell.
if they cannot be taught-spelling can
be made matter of memory, and be
acquired as habit" On the contrary
let us run away from SO atrocious
and antiquated belief Do we want
to make poll-parrots of our children
There are higher faculties than men,
Dry 1t is true that some of us did by
means of hard work, drill and damn
able iteration learn to spell. We
ought to be ashamed instead of being
proud of that force of habit and men,
DRY. Better not learn at all than
learn by the use of an unscientific
method.
Besides, what is the use of learning
to spell? Orthography is fluid, not
fixed. Here are the spelling reform
associations, busy in forcing us to use
new spellings. Every century has It's
idiosyncracies of spelling and pro
nunciation. We have to unlearn in
age much of what we had to learn in
youth. Even under the old rule of
primer and spelling book, some great
and good men never could get high
mark in spelling Everybody knows
that the Father of His Country was
an arbitrary speller, SO bad a speller
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-26
FIRE TRAP HOTELS.

The Cedar Rapids horror adds an
other lesson to the many that have
preceded it in warning against the
criminal folly of building hotels with
no regard to the fearful dangers of
fire City ordinances requiring fire
escapes are treated as joke and the
rattle-trap contrivances that are gem
orally erected and named as fire es-
capes, are so perilous and insecure
that no one but ali acrobat could
safely trust himself on one of them.
The awful sensation of being
awakened from sound sleep by the
shrieks of terrified human beings or
by the roar of flames and suffocatinp
smoke that penetrates the bed cham,
Der, are feelings that can not be
described even by those who have
passed through such perils. Then to
have presented to one the terrible
. alternative of being roasted in the
advancing wall of fire or leap from
! the third story window, as in the case
of John w. Lewis, OF this city, is an
experience to make one shudder even
E to contemplate
No hotel keeper or builder has a
right to expose his guests to the
hazard OF being caught in such a
peril and it is the plain duty of city
councils to enact the most stringent
ordinances requiring that hotel
shall not only be as nearly fire proof
as possible but that easy and safe ac.
cess to the ground may be found at
each window above the first story. If
the cost of running hotel is in.
creased thereby, the travelling public
will gladly pay the small expense
that would be entailed, but whether
or not, city councils should see that
each public house. theater or opera
house, is guarded against the dangers
OF fire. A hotel may glide along for
years without such protection or
safeguards and never meet with an
accident but the very fact that the
owner insures against loss is proof
Z ..
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-26
OUR CORDIAL RELATIONS WITH
GREAT BRITAIN,

AT the opening of parliament on
February IL King Edward made the
customary speech to each house and
IN the house of lords the Duke of RoX-
borough made the reply to the
kings address, the Duke of Devon
shire, lord president of the council.
spoke in behalf of the government
and at considerable length on the
Venezuelan case in which ne said,
Great Britain accepted the Monroe
doctrine unreservedly, but to have alb
stained from enforcing claims which
she believed Just and essential to her
honor would be to make the Monroe
doctrine an object of dislike to every
civilized power" This may be con-
sidered an authoritative declaration
coming as it does from high repre-
sentative of the English government,
endorsing and approving the Monroe
doctrine, and is significant of the cor.
dial and genuine friendship that ex-
lists in England toward our govern
ment. 1T also explains why England
Joined the alliance against Venezuela
1t was from no desire to dispute the
claim of the United States regarding
the South American continent but
from a sense of justice due to British
honor 1t may also be shrewdly
guessed that England was willing to
appear as one of the injured parties in
interest, in order to control the action
OF the alliance in favor of our conten-
ton.
The Duke OF Devonshire was not
the only member of parliament to give
an expression in favor of the Monroe
doctrine. In the house of commons.
Sir Henry Bannerman the liberal
leader said that he was opposed to CO.
operation with Germany in a matter
like the Venezuelan case. Germany
was strong but rough. Germany was
not favorable to the Monroe doctrine.
This was a very plain and strong way
OF putting it, and emphasized tho eX--
preston made in the house of lords
by the Duke of Devonshire. Enough
has been said to Illustrate the kind
feelings existing in Great Britain and
in high places, toward the United
States, a sentiment that is cordially
reciprocated not only by our govern.
ment but by the people of this coun-
try.
1t is scarcely conceivable that an.
situation or condition can arise in the
future to disturb the pleasant rela--
tons that exist between the two great
English speaking nations of the
world
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-26
THE OTTUMWA COURIER

won the commentator of both the
home and foreign press. Editorial
columns of the influential foreign pa
pers almost as unit reflect the idea
that the progress of the negotiations
and the ultimate settlement constitute
another triumph for American diplo-
macy. Correspondent Wellman alone
has claimed to discover flaws of a
most vital nature and has characteriz-
ed the settlement as disgraceful and
dismal failure on the part of Minister
Bowen. However true his criticism
may have been it does not coincide
with the feeling or opinion of the mass
of the people.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-26

that good old Jared Sparks thought
IT would be sacrilegious to let poster.
ity see the honest facts. In spite OF
his early New Hampshire opportuni-
ties, the godlike Daniel spelled to suit
himself. As Emperor Sigsmund was
above grammar, why shouldn't Amer.
lean sovereigns be above spelling?
In time, spelling will be left to col.
leges of proofreaders. Whatever be-.
comes of it, our children can't be ex-
pected to neglect their many nobler
and newer studies for that tedious.
changing and plebian business.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-26

that the danger exists. Money can
restore the building that is burned
but no compensation can avail when
human lives are lost or human be-
ings crippled and made invalids for
life, by injuries to body or shocks to
the nervous system. Those who sur.
vive the Cedar Rapids horror will be
more or less affected the remainder
OF their days by their terrible trials.
The young and vigorous will in a
measure throw off the effects but
there will be many who will never
recover. City authorities should at
once take heed of this appalling
disaster and compel hotels to protect
their guests.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-26

The country can do it, but-sot without
trouble, and not without changing its
present course. 1t is indeed q grave
Crisis we are approaching, though, few
seem to appreciate it, A few years
may see the closing of many factories
and the throwing out of work of hum
dreds OF thousands of men. We have
been reaping the harvest and the re-
verse is coming. How quickly we re.
cover from 1t will depend largely up.
on who is at the head of the country
when the break comes''
Addicks of Delaware-Certainly I'm
not out of the fight in Delaware.
withdrew only from the present con-
test. Next year I'll sweep the state
and will have three-fourths of the leg.
islature. My offer to the regulars
will remain open for the rest of the
season. They can come into the eau.
Gus and elect two of our men, or they
can take our. first proposition and
elect Addicks and man of theip
own"
George M. Smead of San Francisco
Il was in the senate gallery yester-.
day listening to the oratory of Senat4
or Depew. In the course of his re-
marks the brilliant New York states-4
man got off witticism about pressing
the hand off fair Mormon widow.
seventeen of them, and the sally evok.
ed good bit Of merriment All of a
sudden it flashed across me that had
heard or read the same thing before,
and after awhile it came to me that
my notion was correct. The senator
had borrowed from one of Artemus
Wards jokes, perpetrated forty or fiji.
ty years ago. He might have chang,
ed the phraseology bit, but here was
the same old Ward jest. Verify, there
is nothing new under the sun.
d. G. Bailey, United States marshal
OF Colorado-Colorado is undergoing a
period OF prosperity which has about
put an end to the clamor for free sill.
yer coinage. There is but little doubt
in the minds of well-informed people
that Colorado is republican state,
and that her electoral vote in 1904
will be given to the nominees of that
party. 1t is certain, too, that our peo.
pie are great admirers of the Presi.
dent, and his personal popularity
would be sufficient to carry the state
against any man the democrats could
offer.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-26

that have involved the United States
In new and greater responsibilities
compel us to have navy able to cope
with the navy of any of the powers
of Europe
A strong navy is guaranty of peace
and also guaranty of the enlargement
OF the boundaries of liberal institu-
tons and constitutional government
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-26
The Great Dancer.

The time is here" says the Rock
ford Register, when it would con-
serve the best interests of the republi-
can party OF Iowa to have healthy
and well organized democracy to
light, as the party is in more danger
from factional fights within its own
ranks than it would be unitedly oppos
ed to common foe