davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-19
The CARS CONCESSIONS.

The Car of Russia is up against an
other spell of reform and if he carries
out what he promises he may yet do
a little good in this world While it is
true his inclinations are not along hui
name lines. he is shrewd enough to
read the signs of the times and OBJ
serve the liberal way other rulers are
treating their subjects 1t is rumored
from st. Petersburg that the car has
issued a decree providing for the free
dom of religious thought throughout
his dominions and establishing to
some extent local self government to
village communities.
1t there is no string 10 the decree it
is the most significant act since the
emancipation of the serfs. For cen
turtles Russian rulers have outrageous
ly abused people of non-orthodox re-
ligious beliefs, especially the Jews,
and it is to be hoped that the late de-
cree embraces in it's scope these down
trodden people.
But SO many reforms are promised
in the decree that people of other
countries will be suspicious until they
see how it is applied. Life in Russia
is far from pleasant for the poorer
classes. 1t has been so for centuries,
and the proposed change is Sc radical
that 1t has created an international
sensation. 1t is safe to say, however,
that the car is not letting loose of
anything that lessons his authority
over his subjects or cuts down the
states income from taxation.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-19

in the district, stating the amount each
tax payer must pay.
Default in the payment of these tax
es will result in their being reported
to the county officers who will proceed
to collect them the same as other tax
es are collected.
At the regular April meeting the
trustees must determine the rate of
property taxation to be levied for road
purposes. which shall not be less than
four mills on the dollar.
Many sections in Iowa are much in
need of better roads. Under the old
law there was too much lodging on
the part of the men who should have
employed men to work their taxes to
keep the roads in passable condition
The new law provides that there is no
more chance to dodge road taxes than
there is county taxes. The taxation
cannot be burdensome under the law
1t is to be hoped that the new law will
bring the desired. results. 1t was nee
essary to make some sort of a move in
favor of better roads. and the new law
is the outcome of careful study and in
yestigation, on the part of the last gen
eral assembly.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-19
FARM LABoRERs SCARCE.

All over the agricultural west the far.
mers are complaining of the scarcity
OF help. Good wages are offered, but
enough men can not be found to half
supply the demand, and the question
is becoming a serious one, and is con.
tinually growing worse Farmers
sons are focking to the cities and Sc
curing other employment. Some OF
them do well while it is safe to say
that large majority would be better
off at the end of a few years if they
had remained at home and become
owners of land
or late years there has become a
great demand for young men in some
lines unknown quarter of a century
ago. The wonderful progress of the
country and the rapid development OF
the vast resources of this nation has
created an unprecedented demand for
ambitious young men and they are
leaving the farms by the thousands to
accept positions open to them, AS a
result, farm help is growing scarcef
While agriculture is increasing. A
student of this subject says that the
!. only eoRs lies " Immigration, but!
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-19
RING DOWN THE CURTAIN.

There is a disposition on the part
of some Iowa editors, probably through
lack of other material to handle, to
try and drag Colonel Henderson back
into politics by suggesting that he
make the race this year for governor.
This is unfair to the distinguished
lowan and wholly without his consent.
He withdrew from the race for con-
gress because politics in his district
had taken on coloring that was dis
tasteful to him. He did not feel that
after his long and useful career he
could afford to compromise with his
conscience and make promises he knew
to be wrong.
The people admired the honesty and
independence of Colonel Henderson
when he stepped aside because he saw
the party in his district drifting from
the Toorings where it had been an
chored for more than a quarter of a
century. Mr.. Henderson was conscien-
tious in his decision, and his subse-
quent acts have done nothing to lower
him in the estimation of the people
of Iowa. His retirement was volunta-
ry on his part, and until he signifies a
desire to return to public life he
should be left in peace to enjoy the
honors he won.
Popular as he is, Colonel Henderson
could not win the gubernatorial nomi-
nation this year, and every time his
name is suggested for the position a
wrong is done to him. The time is at
hand to ring down the curtain for a
year or two.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-19
MANS SAFE GUIDE.

There are men who scott at women
when they take an interest in public
good and labor to elevate human NOR
ais. These narrow critics take the
ground that woman's place is at home,
and that men are capable of taking
care of themselves, and regulating
their own morals. They object to
women asking the enforcement of
laws that their sons and daughters
may be protected, and these fault-find-
ers even go farther and say that a
woman becomes less womanly when
she goes out among men and in her
kindly way points out the wrong they
are doing and the right they can
do.
vast majority of women are good.
Men would err less would they accept
womans standard of morals The boy
who follows his mothers advice can
pick up the responsibilities of man
hood prepared to resist temptation.
The influences of the mothers in the
American homes are building the
characters that are making this nation
great in every way. The young man
makes a mistake who does not copy
his mothers standard OF morals.
What is good for the home ought to
be equally good for the community.
1t is born in some natures to go
wrong, and some mellowing influence
is necessary to point out the wrong
and set the erring to thinking This
women are doing through their Chris
tan organizations and banded efforts
to meet wrong and conquer it. Women
are foremost in nearly all reforms, and
this is why men who do not want to
be reformed or see conditions grow
better criticise them.
Women are mems safest guides
when it comes to question of morals
and right. They conscientiously be-
lieve in people being good. In their
labors OF love they are entitled to the
profoundest respect and the aid of all
right-thinking men in what they are
doing for humanity.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-19
problem is being discussed. A dis
corning people will accept nothing
TIRED OF PROHIBITION.

The people OF New England are
growing tired of prohibition, probably
for the reason that it does not prohibit
Many of the older states have gone
back to licenses or are arranging to
do so. New Hampshire is the latest
state to seek to enact a license law
Unless bill is introduced, provision
is made for board of three members
which will have control of ali licenses
1t is going to have absolute control
and there will be no appeal from their
decisions. One bad feature about the
law is that the board will be composed
oil politicians. There will necessarily
have to be two members of one party
ON the board and there will be great
opportunities for corruption and fav
ortism.
The law also provides for the di
vision of all licenses into seven classes
giving seven direct kinds OF privileges
such as selling liquor to be drunk on
the premises; selling malt liquors, ci.
der and light wines to be drunk on the
premises; licenses to druggists; Ii
censes for railroad restaurants and Ii.
censes for clubs and associations. The
license fee is to be from $3.50 to ST.,
600, and decided between the city and
the county. and only one license for
500 inhabitants will be granted This
will not place the saloons very fan
apart, much closer than they are in
Iowa cities under our present mulct
law. New England states ought to
get a copy of the Iowa law and study
it before trying to build something
new
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-19
MANS INHUMANITY.

The Milwaukee Free Press says edi-
torially OF an outrage perpetrated in
that city one day last week:
Mrs. Josephine Morrison, a widow
who supports herself and three chill
dren by going out to do washing was
incontinently dispossessed of her
apartments during her absence from
home on Thursday because she was
behind in her rent for one week The
rent amounts to $3.50. This hardship
was put upon this poor woman in Mil
waukee. Had news of such an evic--
ton came from the most distressed
country in the world on Friday there
would be mass meetings to condemn
1t in every city in the country by Sun
day at the very latest
The poor and unfortunate are with
us always, but it can be safely said
that cases of cruelty like the one not
ed by the milwaukee, paper are quite
rare in this age. When case of the
kind occurs it cannot be too bitterly
denounced. We're such an eviction to
occur in many cities the human peo-
pie would make it their business to
let the landlord know their opinion of
him.
1t is just such men as the Milwau-
keean who SOW the seeds of opposi--
ton to the rich in the breasts of the
poor and breed eternal turmoil The
brutal grasping of few rich men
does the vast majority of humane
wealthy men an injury and so embit-
tiers the really poor that they make
no distinction between the good and
the Bad in mankind They seem to
feel that every hand is raised against
them. The conclusion, of course, is
wrong. 1t is to be hoped that there
are few men on earth SO heartless
as the grasping Milwaukee landlord.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-19
VALUE OF INTER-uRRAN LINES.

1t is observed that many of Iowa
progressive cities are encouraging the
building OF inter-urban lines, and
where these lines are in operation the
cities are particularly prosperous. The
fact seems to be established beyond
any possibility of contradiction that
interurban railways will play an i'm
portant part in sity building-not only
because they relieve congested condi-
tons and make it possible for men to
locate further away from trade and
manufacturing centers in cities and Sc
cure comfortable homes, but gives
people along the routes greater trade
facilities, and the merchants much bet
ter business. These lines are more con-
venient than steam roads for short
rides and comfort. and become very
popular with the farming communities.
A city provided with inter-urban
lines is sure to expand Every condi-
ton is in favor Of it, People along the
route visit the larger markets oftener,
while the Inhabitants of the smaller
towns and villages do the same thing.
These contribute materially to the larg-
er trade Centers in business and many
ways.
Ottumwa. like other progressive
cities is vitality interested in everything
that will add to its commercial impor-
lance and general growth and ex-
pansion. Several inter-urban lines
would do this. One important and
very valuable line, and probably the
most important of any, would be from
this city to Oskaloosa, making connec-
ton with the Chicago and
Northwestern and Iowa Central rail
roads. The intermediate country is
rich in agricultural resources and an
electric line would be well patronized
by the farmers. Later on it could be
extended to other points.
Few, if any, inter-urban lines fail
to pay good dividends from the start
The same would be true with several
lines out OF Ottumwa, particularly the
line to Oskaloosa. Ottumwa is now a
well built, well located and prosper
Gus city. 1t will not require much eff
fort on the part of our people to organ
ize valuable system of inter-urban
railways and thus make the city larg-
er and more of commercial center
AS most other cities in Iowa, and
many of them much smaller than this
city. are building inter-urbans it Is
to be hoped that Ottumwa will make
a start in that direction this year.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-19
DID NOT KILL THE TRUST.

1t is the contention of the democrat.
ic party and few tariff revisionists
elsewhere Oh earth, that certain SEIZED.
ules in our present tariff law shelter
trusts and monopolies. When the
great coal strike was raging in the
anthracite regions and business was
suffering and the people shiyering, the
cry went up that the duty OF CT cents
a ton on hard coal gave American op
orators a monopoly, and that they used
it to force the consumers to pax eX-
orbitant prices, refusing to ship stocks
until they could get their prices. The
demand was made that the tariff be
removed so that this foreign coal
could be admitted free of duty. The
anti-tariff advocates claimed that free
coal would kill the trust and force it
to sell at competitive prices or go out
of business.
The clamor to have the duty re.
SO loud that it was done. But no re.
lief followed, neither did it give the
gigantic coal trust even the slightest
jolt The changing of that schedule
is a boomerang to free traders. 1t was
one of the luckiest things the friends
OF protection ever did to show free
traders their untenable position, when
they removed the duty on anthracite
COAL 1t points out the truth that the
tariff schedule did not offer shelter
to the gigantic coal trust In fact, ii
did not injure it in the least, and is
so admitted by the operators them,
selves.
No doubt, when the facts in most
other trusts are obtained it will be
found that our protective tariff has
very little if anything to do with their
existence, as was found to be the case
with anthracite coal. The result in
that case should serve as an object les.
son to tariff reyisionists and free trad
ers. There is no going back of the
evidence in this case to seek to estab
fish the contrary. Every one knows
that the anthracite coal trust is as
strong and healthy as it was a year
ago or at any time since it's formation
The facts presented in this short
article are respectfully referred to oul
democratic friends and any others who
believe that the removal of duty or
some class of foreign imports will Kill
trusts. and these gentlemen are aked
to show what monopolies and trusts
are given life BY our present protec
tive tariff 10 the injury of the country
and the harm of the masses. 1t viii get
at facts, when this great economic
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-19
Wants Real Contest.

The Cedar Rapids Republican says
it would afford all men who want to
see a respectable opposition party in
this state much pleasure to see the
democratic party nominate for COVER
nor so clean and able man as John
T. Hamilton of Cedar Rapids. His
nomination. the Republican believes
would lift the Iowa campaign above
the level of the farcicaf' and would
at least give an air of responsibility tc
the democratic campaign" The Re
publican explains that Mr.. Hamilton
is "a democrat of the old school, who
has been loyal to his party, even in
some of its meanderings."
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-19
THE NEW ROAD LAW.

The last general assembly passed a
new road law which goes into effect
next month. The new law abolishes
the old road district and the township
trustees will have jurisdiction and con
troll of the roads in the township. The
trustees will direct all the expendi
lures of the road funds. and labor, and
the work may be let to the lowest bid
der, or a general superintendent may
be employed Poll taxes can be
worked but all others must be paid
in cash. The following are several OF
the important provisions in the law;
Within ten days after receiving the
tax list, trustees are compelled to post
notices in three conspicuous places
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-19
FARMERS AND WAGE FARMERS

During the last two presidential
campaigns democratic editors and
orators sought to prejudice the agri-
culturists against the American sys--
TEN of protection by asserting that
what they bought was more expensive
because of the tariff. They tried to
convince the farmers that the duties
on few articles they named, such as
clothing iron and other commodities
not produced on American farms, was
robbery pure and simple. The whole
song was to catch votes through fla
grant misstatement of facts.
American farmers, fortunately for
the welfare of the country, have a
habit of thinking for themselves and
that is why the agricultural commune
ties vote the republican ticket. Farm
ers to farm at profit must be able to
sell their surplus products on ready
market and at reasonable prices. La
boringmen and their families are the
greatest local consumers, and the
wage Garner must be employed that
he may earn money to buy what
farmers have to sell. Farmers
know that with manufactures idle
and men out of employment there
is no market for their surplus pro-
ducts. They also know that were for
eign goods created by cheap labor to
be admitted into this country free of
duty their profits would dwindle and
farming cease to be profitable. What
farmers want is good times and every
body in the cities employed. They do
not consider the tariff tax or in the
least burdensome, because the aid it
renders them is one hundred fold to
the injury it does Wage earners are
naturally in favor of a measure of pro-
lection that guarantees them employ
ment without crowding down their
wages to what competitive labor is
paid in foreign countries. and most Ia
borers vote with the protection party.
Naturally our farmers take the same
view of this subject and want to see
American wage earners employed be-
cause they are their best customers.
The man who produces must work
along economic lines with the man
who consumes. This is an immutable
| law of trade and reciprocity.
1t is needless for the democrats to
preach free trade to farmers and wage
earners any longer. They remember
what it brought them under the Will
son-Gorman law. But the democrats
will talk it as they always nave, but
the people are less inclined to believe
them than they were some years ago.
The two classes we have mentioned
will never consent to the kind of free
trade the democrats gave in 1893.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-19

The tax levied on the saloonkeeper
in this city, state and municipal, is ST.
500 per year. 1t is the intention of the
law that this tax shall be impartially
levied on all who are liable to the same.
Common fairness demands that the sa-
loonkeeper who pays the tax and who
complies with the provisions OF the
mulct law shall be treated justly and
equitably. 1t is little less than an out.
rage to make one set of men pay the
tax and allow others, who sell enor.
nous quantities of intoxicants at high
prices, to go free or pay less than half
the amount named above. The mulct
law gives the saloonkeeper certain
rights and the public will concede that
he is entitled to fair play.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-19

made mistakes, but who hasn't? Where
is the immaculate one? Starting out
poor boy, he rose to one of the posi-
tons of greatest honor and RESPONSE
bility in the world. In the procession
of commonwealths he has held high
the banner of Iowa, and it is matter
of regret that, as he retires from pub
lie life there is not throughout the state
that unanimity of respect and affec-
tion which should be his. But, in ac-
cordance with the venerable custom,
we will brag about him when he is
gone and say kind words about him
for which at present his tender heart
aches in vain"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-19
SUBSCRIPTION RATES.
Tally Courier, year. by mail. s4.oo
Semi-Weekly Courier, year -. l.50
A RECORD OF BUSINESS FOLLY.


The present city administration of
Otumwa has frittered away invaluable
time and opportunity with reference to
the waterworks problem, until the
whole matter has gotten into an almost
hopeless tangle. When the council
could and should have done something
they did nothing and as a result Of this
senseless folly, the city finds itself at
this time in a most critical situation,
and is practically at the mercy of the
old company. The present city admin
to secure the present water plant or
deal with Mr.. Underwood until they
We're absolutely whipped and beaten
along every other line Had they gone
= to the old company in the first place
with a reasonable and fair proposition,
along the line of that which they have
finally made to Mr.. Underwood, there
is little question but what
satisfactory arrangements could have
been effected with reference to the en-
tire matter with price that would
, hox Fol-, Tn 81 D,,+-
stead of offering what the present wa
ter plant is fairly worth, they told MI.
Underwood that he could take SOS, 600
or nothing, and that if he did not take
S65,000, they would show him thing
or two, and that his plant would soon,
in fact, be worth nothing. Mr.. Under
wood states that he waited five weeks
in this city in an endeavor to get in
touc4 with the city councils
The city council in effect, told him to
sgo to-" and now they are begging him
{ W aSSSpI PSUu,VUV IOI ludl WHICH tuSy
declared few months ago they would
only pay s65,ooO The Courier only
cites these facts to show the folly and
business incompetency of the present
administration in its attempt to handle
this matter. What the people of Ottum-
wa want to do, and what we firmly be-
lieye they are going to do is to place
in power a business council that will
go at this matter in the rightway, and,
if possible, extricate the city from the
deplorable position in which it has
been placed by the present council, by
reason of its failure to act when action
was possible.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-19
EXIT THE so-cALLED IOWA IDEA

Careful reading of the address OF
Governor Cummins, before the Polk
county republican convention, fails to
reveal the free trade DOGGY which
the democratic press has during the
past year industriously endeavored to
associate with the political doctrine
that has been promulgated far and
wide, under the caption of the "Iowa
idea" Certain it is that the so-callet
Iowa idea has been much misrepre-.
scented, or else Governor Cummins,
coming direct from an interview with
President Roosevelt has had new
revelation which has caused him to
define and explain the so-called idea
in a manner that makes it straight re.
publicanism. For example, no advo.
cate OF the high protective tariff could
commit himself more unequivocally to
the tariff principle than does Governor
Cummins in the following paragraph:
We are all profound believers in
the policy of protection. Notwith-,
standing the statement of an eminent
republican, recently made, | venture
to say that protection is not only prac.
tically sound, but theoretically sound
1t is not only vindicated by the expert
ence of our people, but can be defend
ed by the highest and most exact pro
cesses of abstract reason. This policy
has written the brightest and most
glowing pages in the history of the
republic. 1t has contributed more to
the honor and renown of the American
nation than any other policy known
to our institutions. God made us fore
most in natural resources; protection
has made us also foremost in actua
production. 1t has enabled us to pa,
American wages, reward capital with
an American profit, and still occupy
our own markets. The man who says
that the followers of the Iowa plat
form have abated one jot or little O.
their belief in the policy of protection
is the only enemy that protection has
in the ranks of the republican party
The governor states that there are
now, as there always have been, diff
ferences of opinion in the republican
sanks as to the proper amount Of duA