davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26
SURVIVAL OF FOLK LORE.

Among motor car drivers in England
there is a curious survival Of bit.
of folk lore. In many cars is suspend.
ed perforated stone, usually sea
rolled flint with a natural bore; this
stone is supposed to act as a protec.
tive amulet. To be efficacious in ward
ing off evil the hole must be natural.
ly-or. as some people maintain, SUI.
pernaturally-forme not artificially
bored. Belief in the stones power is
certainly widespread. 1t is supposed
to confer safety on the fastest trav.
cling motor car, and there is many
speedy driver who in his heart
ascribes his immunity from accidents
to the strange power of the perforated
pebble.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26
LAFE YOUNG AS ORATOR.

This year Ottumwa proposes to have
grand FourthSof July celebration AS
ottumWans are feeling pretty good
and have no fault to find with things
generally, there is every reason why
they should duly and enthusiastically
celebrate the day that it SYNONYMOUS
With the freedom which has made this
the greatest country on earth. To fit
sly celebrate the day the committee ap-
pointed to secure an orator for the oc-
casion wisely decided to engage one
OF the best there is in Iowa The gen
tiemen composing the committee at
x once opened correspondence with Hon.
Lafe Young, editor OF the Des Moines
capital, and fortunately got his con.
sent to come.
Iowa possesses many orators. but
! lew, If any of them, are greater than
= Lafe Young. He has a national rep
utation, which was won outside of the
halls of congress, where opportunities
are usually numerous. In the Phila.
,delphla convention in 1900, Mr.. Young
IN a particularly eloquent speech .plac-
ed Theodore Roosevelt in nomination
ior vice president, and during the cam
palgn which followed, his services
were eagerly sought for in many cities
/ east and west
ottumWa is certainly fortunate in
securing him as orator July 4. His adj
dress will be well worth having. The
people who will celebrate the day in
TINS city will be able to listen to one of
the most polished orators in the state
anu the equal of the best in the coun-
try. -
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26
UNPAID MONEY ORDERS.

New York Press: Every year
thousands of drawn money orders are
not paid. In England last year the
postoffice department realized from
this source nearly 100000. Under the
British law money not claimed reverts
to the government after one year has
elapsed. Under the laws. or postoffice
regulations (the same thing), money
order is regarded as an obligation Of
the government, to be honored when
ever presented. Notwithstanding un-
claimed ;isi:sssieey; orders and postal notes
on hand October Is, 1900, amounted to
$2,500,000 Invalid advices amount to
about $4,000 month, or 100000
year.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26
THE JUDGE IN THE LEAD.

Thus far Judge Van Wagenen has
been able to side track all gubernato-
rial candidates for the democratic
nomination for governor and the job
was an easy one. While the. nominal
ton Offers nothing except some adver-
Using and great deal of fruitless
hustllng, 1T may prove a measurably
entertaining outing to a man of money
and leisure. The judge seems deter
mined to take whirl at it this year.
One object he has in view is to make
himself the logical leader of the min.
GRITTY in 1904 This will give him an
Influence he figures will be worth all
1t costs.
Y But while pushing his campaign at
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26
NEVER SPEAKS TO A WOMAN.

John Mccormick of Willard, Neb..
owns fine farm of over 800 acres, a
fine house and one of the finest rose
gardens in the state. He took the
farm forty years ago and is wealthy
man. The popularity about it is that
SO far as any one knows no woman
has ever stepped over the threshold
of this house and for many years no
woman has come on his land. He'll
have naught to do with the sex. Years
ago when he was a young farm hand
in Ohio he was Tilted for richer man.
He turned his face to the west, with
a VOW that he would never speak to
woman again, and it is the belief of
his neighbors that he has succeeded
in his purpose.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26
IOWA NEWSPAPERS.
Oskaloosa Herald.

Inc writer has recently had the
pleasure OF inspecting the plants of
three OF the successful newspapers of
Iowa. the Des Moines Register and
Leader, the Council Bluffs Nonpareil
and the Ottumwa Courier. Great as
mas been the advancement in all lines
IN Iowa during the past ten years, no
industry has eXcelled, and we serious
ly doubt that it has equaled that of
the newspaper business. Anyone of the
papers named furnish ten times as
much telegraph news as was published
by them decade ago, and at an enor-
nous cost. Present facilities are be-
yond comparison of those only few
years back. and it takes a keener
business insight and harder editorial
work to keep up the advancing stand
ard OF excellence and make ends meet.
The tendency toward cheap newspa-
pers is a sad mistake, and we believe
misinterpretation of the demands of
the public. People want a good, relia-
BILE newspaper, filled with crisp news,
and they are willing to nay for it.
They don't want and will not long
tolerate sheet filled with objection
able advertisements and stuffed with
reprint stories, that may and may not
be reliable. There is no class of peo-
pie who work harder and put in more
hours than newspaper people, and they
deserve and should command good
pay. We are glad to know that the
three papers mentioned are good pay
ing properties. They deserve it in ev-
cry way. We are also glad that they
have the good sense to demand liv-
ing price for their wares, and stand
by it. Any daily newspaper that is
not worth from 40 to so cents month
is not worth anything, and no amount
of boosting can make it popular with
the people for any length of time.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26
THE SCARCITY OF LABOR.

There probably never was a time
when there was greater demand lor
all kinds of labor than there is at the
present. In the United States there
are not men enough to carry on the
various industries. Now comes a COM
plant from Canada that business is
suffering because of the lack of work
ing people. An Ottawa dispatch says
that the manufacturers association OF
Canada estimates that fully 10000
more men are required among the va
rious Industries OF the country. The
farmers of Ontario are calling for TO-
900 farm helpers, but there is no re.
Spouse to any extent. MI. Hays, gen
eral manager of the Grand Trunk Ry
states that as soon as the bill fol
transcontinential project passes the
Canadian parliament construction
work will begin simultaneously in a
dozen places along the proposed route
to the Pacific coast. In view of the
great lack of laborers it is believed that
the promoters of the big railway prop
osition are up against a very difficult
proportion. That there is a vast num-
Der of men required Just now on rail
road construction in the United States
somewhat complexities the labor mar.
ket in Canada. Altogether the prob
lem is engaging the attention of some
of the best minds of the Canadian in
dustrial world.
Canada can scarcely expect TO draw
heavily on the United States for men
to carry on her industries.
Every willing man able to work in
this country can find all he wants to
do at home and at good wages, and can
see nothing to be gained in going to
Canada. The prosperity in the United
States encourages development in Can
ada and business grows in sympathy.
The laborers on this side of the Allan
tic haye no reason to find serious fault
with existing conditions.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26

The Mueller traction bill which Gre
ated such a racket in the Illinois legis-
lature has been signed by Gov. Yates
and is now a law. The measure is
local to the city Of Chicago According
to the Tribune the Mueller bill gives
the city authority to own and operate
or own and lease street car properties.
1t provides the city can raise the nee.
essary money by a general bond issue
or, that being impossible under the
constitution, by selling street railway
certificates" based on the street car
properties acquired. In case of pur-
chasing existing lines these certificates
shall not exceed the value of the tan
gible property and nothing shall be
paid for existing franchises. II the city
does not purchase at the expiration OF
franchise it can authorize a new
company to take the property on the
same terms it could have.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26

MAJOR LAcEYs TARIFF TALK.

ne remarks made by Major Lacey
on the tariff in his Henry Clay speech
before the Grant club in Des MONIES.
tuesday evening, are being read with
great interest throughout the sixth
district. Major Lacey does not he.
( lieye the Dingley law is perfect but
ne does. believe it is the best tariff
law ever enacted in this country and
mat we had better let it alone for some
Time to come. Mr.. Lacey went into
the historical phases of the subject
showing that practically every discus.
sion OF the tariff has been followed by
business depression no matter Wheth-
er the tariff was tackled by its friends
or It's enemies. The Cedar Rapids
Republican, commenting upon Major
Lacey's talk, says:
IhiS paper has never assumed the
ridiculous position that any tariff law
was perfect or that no tariff law ought
to be changed. But from the begin.
ming of the present agitation we have
believed that now is not the time to
take up this matter; that we needed
q longer period of rest from tariff agi,
tation than we have yet enjoyed; that
even IL some of the schedules of the
Dingley tariff are inequitable, it would
be far better to bear with these inc,
qualities for some time yet, before tn.
tering upon any scheme of revision
At least ten years ought to elapse be-
tween tariff laws. And the period OF
rest from such agitation should be
longer if possible.
Itseems to the Courier that there is
one point that should be prominently
emphasized in any discussion of a re
vision of the tariff. All republicans
believe in the protective principle, SO
that any talk of revision, so far as the
republicans are concerned, does not
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26
NINETY MILLION TONS.


The story of American agriculture
has been the story of our growth in
population and of the extension of our
national domain-a record without a
parallel in the history of the world
says writer in Success. A Chicago
man once said that he had lied great
many times about the growth of his
city, but Providence had always quick
ly come to his relief. 1t would take a
gifted liar to overstate the growth of
our agriculture or exaggerate the mar,
vel of it's present proportions. The
difficulty is to prod the imagination to
any appreciation of the simple facts
Uncle Sam already occupies the first
rank among the farmers of the world
in the magnitude and value of his
crops. Although his family constitutes
only one-twentieth of the human race
he produces nearly one-third of the
worlds food supply, while Russia,
which comes next as a food producer
has one-twelfth of the worlds popula
ton and supplies less than one-fifth of
its food. Compare cur wheat crop for
1900 with that of the. other leading
wheat countries of the world.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26
MAY TAKE A VACATION.

The decision of the Lehigh Valley
railroad to change it's program for i'm.
proyements during the present year
and do nothing indicates that some
capital proposes to take rest Work
and wages for thousands was planned
by that company, but the management
has decided to not employ capital in
bettering the road, and thus the wage
earners who should have had that EN-
ployment will have to seek chances
elsewhere
q The New York Sun in discussion of
the subject says that suddenly from
various causes the profits of these
companies are threatened with dim
mutton through an increase of bur-
dens: and in SO pressing, and in many
cases SO authoritative, are the new ex-
actions that the railroads see that, as
far as they are concerned, improve
ment and expansion must stop, and
with them their demands for labor
and material The wave of diminish
ing activity will of necessity run
backward through every road over
which industry travels to the railroads
and, as matter of fact all industrial
roads lead to the railroads."
The Sun further says that cleft to
itself, nothing is so Unsuitable of work
as capital. The more concentrated it
becomes the more tireless and venture
some. The millions that are gotten to-
gether under the control of the Amer
lean captains of industry would like
to work twenty-four hours a day, But
social agitations, strikes and lack of
protection against strikers, and new
tangled influences for interfering with
the usual methods of distributing
wealth are beginning to make capital
think that it had better take some
thing of holiday, and, if it is driven
to that, the result is likely to be more
advantageous to other countries than
to the United States"
But it is to be hoped that capital is
not arranging to take a holiday, as pre-
dicted by the New York Sun. OF
course, with the present era Of strikes
1t is natural for capitalists to wonder
what the outcome will be- Labor
should be careful not TO force capital
to lie idle, because then labor will be
idle
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26
WIND FURNISHES ELECTRICITY.

The old-fashioned windmill stood
Germany, as well as other European
countries is good stead for a long sue
cession of centuries, and though aband-
oned for short time in favor of other
applications of power. is coming back
again to furnish force to drive dyna-
mos For this there is demand enough
to keep all the winds of the Father
land busy for many a year and gener-
alton to come, thus rescuing the
ancient and picturesque windmill from
the obliteration and forgetfulness
which of late seemed to await it.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26

Prof. Ernst Won Halle of the Berlin
university in a late lecture before the
Berlin chamber of commerce made the
following complimentary reference to
American intelligence: One of the most
interesting things about the building
up of American trusts, especially in
their invasion of England, was that it
was done largely by foreign money.
More American bills We're circulated
in Europe than ever before. The Ger
man bourse law by heavily taxing and
thereby limiting transactions was driv-
ing capital abroad, enabling German
capital to be used in foreign undertake
ings to the injury of German business.
The United States, was beginning to
govern the world industrially by sup
plying the intelligence and organizing
capacity while the world supplied the
capital.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26
LOAN MONEY TO THE POOR.

A body of philanthropic New York
ers have formed themselves into per-
sonal protective loan association. with
the purpose of loaning money to the
poor at 6 per cent per annum. The cap
ital of the organization is $4,000 and
me lncorporators are: Thomas M. Null
ny, Edward =. Cragin, Rev. DR.. David
j. Burrell, Father A. p. Doyle and Rob
ert B. Miller. Individual money lend
ers never charge less than 80 per cent
and sometimes a great deal more.
There are 800 pawnshops in New York.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26

The Army and Navy Journal re-
marks that the failure of the canal
treaty through the non-action of the
Colombian congress would be an in
ternational misfortune, but that the
chances are that such failure would
be decidedly more embarrassing to the
present government Of Colombia than
to anybody else. For that reason the
Journal looks for the ratification of the
compact either during the regular ses-
sion of the Colombian congress which
is soon TO end. or at the extra session
which begins in June
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26
Messrs. Rockefeller and Carnegie

Messrs. Rockefeller and Carnegie
are finding some trouble in giving
away their money The benevolent
designs of the latter have been re-
fused by few cities. But the hardest
jolt was received by Mr.. Rockefeller
when he tried to give $4,000 to the
University of Nebraska. BY curious
coincidence few days after the offer
was made oil advanced cent gallon
in Nebraska. This made the people
mad, and while they will have to pay
Mr.. Rockefeller's price for oil, they do
not propose to accommodate him by
aiding him to get rid of his money.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26
FOR THE SUMMER CAMP.
Outfit of Outing Should be Small ane
| lAk


Not Burdensome.
The primary mistake of the novice
at camping is that he takes too much.
The campers wants are few, how few
he realizes only after many trips. So
each succeeding outing finds his outfit
smaller grown until finally he knows
the exact limits of his needs Remem-
Der always that many things make
many cares, and that camp life should
lbe as far as possible care-free life.
For permanent camp much more may
be taken than in the case of the voy-
Iageur but even then the outfit should
be 'held down." My cooking outfit for
two consists of a frying-pan with de-
tachable handle coffee-pot, agate-ware
kettle, large spoon, hunting knife and
fork For our table service we carry
three agate-ware plates or dishes about
an inch and half deep, two large cups
of the same material, two knives, two
forks and two spoons. These are am
|ple for all our needs, and our menu is
always varied one. The plates are
deep enough to hold soup or chowder
and thus serve us in the double capac-
lily Of plates and bowls. The kettle
holds everything else, and in turn fits
into canvas bag This allows of pack
ing the cooking outfit in the duffle bag
with no danger of backing up other
things.
The outfit should always include a
small ditty-bag, containing thread,
needles, pins, court-plaster, buttons,
stout Irvine and small pair of scis-
sors. A flask of good whiskey should
always be available in emergencies.
Remember that in camp a doctor is sell
dom available. and that in case of ac-
|cident strong 4stimulant may be the
decisive factor between life and death.
Further, let your medicine case contain
quinine pills to break colds and ward
off malaria, sulphur-napthol or some
Iother antiseptic for wounds or
scratches, little things of this sort I'M
cared for being often productive of
much discomfort and sometimes seri-
Gus consequences. To these add chol-
era-cure for stomach and bowel
trouble, spirit of nitre for fever and col
llodion to supplement the court plaster.
These will cover all normal demands
ION the camp doctor.
So much for the outfit. In selecting
camp site choose, If choice be grant
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26
keep Bows on the Earn,

The Montezuma Republican believes
with Roosevelt that the boys ought to
be kept on the farm. Farm drudgery
has been banished by machinery, it
points out, and it asserts that the
young man who gets the impression
that the town chap has a soft snap
is greatly mistaken
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26
Some Limitations,

Some of the editorial discussions of
Iowa politics appearing in eastern pa.
pers suggest to the council Bluffs non
parell that the man who knows nothing
about thing may write more glibly
and easily about it than the man who
does; he is not hampered by the limi-
tatlons of what he knows.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26

Hon. George D. Perkins, who is to
be temporary chairman of the repub-
lican state convention, is using the ed
itorial page of the. Sioux City Journal,
of which he is the editor, to the stren-
uous advocacy OF harmony in the par
ty. This shows to some extent what
his speech will contain.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26
The Difference.

Sioux City Journal: And SO Ger
many has been using. the deadly borax
in her sausages all this time. Well, if
our borax isn't good for the Germans,
there is bound to be some difficulty in
showing us that we can wax fat on
German bOraX
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26

II the report of the committee of
officers and doctors who have investi-
gated the Keokuk waterworks tell the
truth, even the most temperate people
for health's sake, will be forced to
change the liquid they drink. People
will balk at swallowing mice and de-
cayed rubber boots.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26
No Denial Necessary,

The Des Moines Leader and Regis
ter says Secretary Shaw's denial was
not needed in Iowa. The secretary
knows what has been going on in Iowa,
the Des Moines paper asserts, and
would be the last man to suggest that
the advocates of the Iowa platform had
"slid down the pole"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26
COMING Too Fact.

Speaking of the old slot machine, the
Clarinda Herald says: Gamblers are
developing fast enough without invit-
ing the people to practice it in a game
that is SO one-sided as to give them no
chance. The Slot machine Is worse
than the bucket shop, because it runs
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26
Not sympathetic.

The Denison Review believes the
South has little in common with the
progress and strength of the nation as
whole, that it has no ideas on great
national questions, and that its whole
political horizon, in fact, is bounded by
the negro question.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26
Ceased to Win Dollars.

Des Moines Capital: Miss Ellen
Stone has filed claim with the state
department for damages. Her action
would have received more general COM
mendation if she had not waited until
apparently at the end of her career as
platform lecture attraction.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26

If ex-President Grover Cleveland
should decide to make his fourth pres
idential farewell tour, he will solve the
problem of what to do with our ex-
presidents. He will at least abolish
himself.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26
Let Well Enough Alone.

The mechanic who has good job
in the country at fair wages says the
Cherokee Democrat, ought to know
enough to keep away from the cities,
where some walking delegates filled
with strike virus can tell him when
to work and when he can't work"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26
IOWA PRESS coh.,IENT.
Do Not Understand

Sioux City Journal: Down east they
do not seem to think it at all surpris-
Ing that an Iowa postmaster should
choose to blow up the postoffice IA.
Their than resign his commission.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26

1t takes a pretty 4mean lie to cause
the Hon. Tom Platt OF New York to
take the time to deny it. But when
some fellow asserted that he is fighting
President Roosevelt, the old politician
got warm and used exceedingly broad
shouldered language.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26

1t is pretty safe to say that Missouri
democrats will never elevate Prosecut-
ing Attorney Folk to the governorship
OF that state. He is making things
warm for a great many distinguished
MiSSourianS
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-26
Political chicanery.

The Cedar Rapids Republican says
the man who conceived the story that
Senator Allison is soon to resign and
that an understanding touching this
matter exists among a few men, is
.'groveling in about as low depths as
political chicanery ever reaches