davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-12
ORIENTAL COMMERCE.

> Commercial Japan in 1904" Com
.mercial Russia in 1904" Commercial
Corea in 1904" and Commercial
China in 1904" are the titles Of mono
graphs pust prepared by the depart
ment of commerce and labor through
it's bureau of statistics. These mono
graphs. which discuss commercial
and other conditions in the countries
in question, are now in the hands OF
the printers and will be published as
part of the monthly summary Of COM
merce and finance. a portion in the is
sue to be made within few days and
the remainder in the issue at the close
of the present month. They discuss
commerce and commercial conditions
in each of the countries in question,
not only at the present time, but the
history of their commerce, their trade
relations with the various parts OF
the world and with each other, the to-
tai value of their present commerce
compared with that of earlier years,
their trade with the United States with
other leading countries of the world,
and with each other. Many other i'm
portant facts regarding conditions in
those countries are also discussed,
such as railways, telegraphs, routes
of communication, manufacturing in
dustries. the class of merchandise i'm
ported and the class of merchandise
exported.
The total commerce Of the territory
front upon and Immediately adjacent
to the scene of present hostilitles ag-
gregates in round terms, about $780,
100000, of which considerably more
than one-half is imports. Japan's COM
merce is about equally divided be-
tween imports and exports, but in the
case of China and Asiatic Russia i'm
ports greatly exceed exports and this
is also true of Honkkong, which
passes most of it's imports on to China
and draws from China most of the az
ticles which become its exports. Prob
ably three-fifths of the total commerce
of the countries in question taken as
whole, is in the form of imports, and
the United States is year by year sup
plying larger share Of these imports
of the countries in question and gain
ing upon other countries in the rela-
tive share which it supplies thereof.
OF the exports from the countries NAM
ed the UHlJeu StdleS Is tile idi SSSt
single purchaser. The tea, raw silk,
the manufactured silk, the rice, the
mattings, and other products of this
character which form the bulk of the
exports of China and Japan go more
largely to the United States than to
any other single country of the world,
while as to Asiatlc Russia and Corea,
their exports are at present so small
as to be Of little Importance in a dis
cussion Of the commerce Of the coun-
tries in question.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-12
OLD TIME REPUBLICAN coNVEN
TInN

Editor Rathbun of the Marion Regis
ter IS a good judge of sound republic
canism and knows a successful republl-
can meeting when he sees it. He has
several good things to say of the re-.
cent county convention in Des Moines
that are exceedingly pertinent at this
time Here it is:
"The republican county convention
held in Des Moines Saturday was an
old fashioned republican convention.
The Iowa idea and Canadian rec
procity reposed quietly in the demo-
Ecratic morgue. Captain Hull was
authorized to name Al delegates to the
congressional convention. The dele
CATION to the state convention con-
tains the names of j. G.. Berryhill, r..
P. Clarkson, Lafayette Young and So
other old time stalwart republicans,
defenders of the principles of Abraham
Lincoln, James G. Blaine, VIM. Nc
Kinley, Nelson Dingley and Theodore
Roosevelt. The administration at
Washington was unqualifiedly endors-
ed, the administration of Governor
Cummins, relating to business methods
and state affairs commended, and the
delegation instructed to vote for Sena-
tors Allison and Deliver, j. w. Blythe
and Governor Cummins for delegates
at large to the national convention.
This courteous and magnanimous
treatment of the governor was in
strange contrast with the course the
managers of the tariff ripping faction
during the past three years. The q. u.
P, will hold state convention in Des
Moines, May IS, for the first time
since the presidential year OF 1900"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-12
1T NEVER PAYS TO soUEAL.

Des Moines Capital.-We once knew
"a young man who went jauntily and
gayly into politics to capture an office.
After long struggle, in which he had
the aid of all his friends, he was de-
Heated. His young political life was
crushed. He had gone into the cam
paign as the colored man said he went
into battle. He said he went in shout
ing 'veni vidi vici," but that he came
out shouting "vice versa" He did
not take his defeat kindly. He said
he had been betrayed in the house of
his friends; had been Inundated in the
presence Of all who knew him. He
public places. AT the prayer meetings
he was silent and solemn. AT the base
ball games he was no longer among
the rooters. For him there was no
longer any sunshine. There was no
place in his Imagination where flowers
were in bloom and children We're at
play. He felt that he stood alone.
When he went home his wife looked
sour and solemn as if to say, Get out,
you have been licked" or as least he
thought she did. For him there was
no longer any liquor in the cup of life.
No friend took him in charge to tell
him that light would come again; that
the sunshine of spring would melt the
SHOWS; that the frozen brook on the
down in it's purity among the leaves;
that the leaves would again come to
the trees, and that the birds would
twitter among the branches. No one
took him through the green pastures
and by the still waters of hope He
plodded his way around in the dis
charge of his daily duties. He fan
cied he read in the face Of every man
with whom he shook hands the express
sion that meant that "as the head buff
falo you have ben driven out of the
herd" to Craze on the green hillsides
and in the verdant valleys alone. His
young lifeSwas in the depth of it's first
sorrow. He published the story of his
wrongs. He lambasted everybody who
had opposed him, and then the SYM
pathy he had received from his friends
was changed to the merry ha-ha. And
his friends finally gave voice to their
feelings; they said, young man, you
embarked in the game of politics with
your eyes wide open. You went into
a battle of give or take; you got it in
the neck. If you are a man take your
medicine. If you are a big baby, con-
tinue to blubber. If you keep on your
numbering, we are ashamed that we
ever, supported you" And the young
man came to himself and never again
Squealed when he was licked. He has
remarked since that it was the most
valuable lesson Of his life. He has
learned since that the public has no
more patience with the candidate who
has been whipped fairly than they have
with the prize fighter who continues to
squeal for several weeks after he has
been Knocked out of the ring. 1t does
not pay to chew the rag after poll
teal battle. re- ID
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-12
REV. Ut. SIMMONS.

In the death Of Rev. John T. Sim
mons, who passed away at his home in
this city Tuesday evening, Ottumwa
has sustained great loss. His life
was life of nobility, high purposes
and Christianity that commanded the
deepest regard and most sincere adj
miration of everyone who knew him.
He was pioneer among the ministers
of the Gospel in Iowa and for nearly
hall century he devoted his life to
had been borne in upon his mind when
a lad of IA years. The story of his
life. as told on another page by Hon.
A. H. Hamilton, an almost life long
friend teens with eloquent facts, de-
plotting career to equal which many
men strive, but few succeed.
Throughout his entire life the aim
of Rev. Simmons was always the up
lifting of his fellows. Though born
in Delaware he spent the greater part
of his early life in what was then al
most wilderness. While yet a boy,
his energies We're directed to the till
ing of the land in the central west
and as the development of the coun-
try progressed he moved farther west,
coming to Iowa with his young wife,.
some fifty years ago.
1t was natural that man like Mr.
Simmons should become a minister Of
the gospel. His nature was one OF high
ideals and grand purposes and the
then new Iowa offered a field for great
religious activity. He plunged into
the work with zeal that soon brought
him recognition as a leader. In 1856
he became connected with the Iowa
conference of the Methodist Episcopal
church and it was through the untiring
efforts of such men as was he that this
splendid body of ministers has been
brought to it's present state of power
in the state.
When the great civil war began Mr..
Simmons offered his services to the
federal government and for three years
he acted as chaplain in the union army
suffering with the soldiers the hard
ships of army life and unselfishly doing
his share to make the hardships the
easier to bear by taking the
burdens of others upon himself. The
war over, he returned to Iowa and de-
voted the remainder of his life to the
work of his Master. He was even
were therefore unusually successful,
and far reaching.
1t is in the lives Of men like Revs
Simmons that the world is given an
example Of the higher standards of liy-
ing. No man. no matter how unassum-
ing. can help but leave his influence
behind him and when that influence is
for the good the world is bettered by
his having lived. Such was the life
Of John T. Simmons. Not one who
knew him but can recall some act or
characteristic which left lasting i'm
preston for good upon the memory.
His work lives after him and though
Ottumwa as a community mourns him
and sympathizes with the relatives he
| leaves behind. it cannot be forgotten
that his life was one of great nobility
and the pain of his going is tempered
by the knowledge that his career was
one than which nothing better could
be wished and he was in the truest
sense a man of God.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-12
IRON AND STEEL TRADE.

The iron and steel trade is the re-
cognized barometer of business. With
it enjoying healthy activity there is
found in other lines of trade and COM
merce prosperous conditions. Such is
the situation that is to be found in this
country at the present time and in
this year of fire disasters and other
calamities the iron and steel trade of
the United States is found to be stead
lily, growing. The imports of iron and
steel which were on the rise for a time
pending the enlargement of the home
mills, fell from $31, 245,9S0 during the
seven months ending January 81, 1903
to ST., 1872, 716 for the corresponding
period ending January 81, 1904, while
the exports rose from $55,997,942 in
the first seven months to $50. 125,7S
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-12
SPEAKER CANNON AND HIS PEN.

New York Tribune.-When Speaker
Cannon takes his pen to sign a few
bills everybody moves away from his
immediate vicinity so as to be beyond
reach of the ink shower he is sure to
distribute. In five minutes the marble
rostrum at which he sits looks like the
back of coach dog. Cannon is always
much afraid of plotting the document
awaiting his signature, so he shakes
the pen vigorously before putting it to
work. On days when the speaker has
much of this work to do, Osher Kinds,
the parliamentary clerk, who sits be-
side him, wears what he calls his
signing trousers" which garments are
about as much soiled as they can be-.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-12
HOW JAPAN MADE. READY.

A story is being told Which sheds an
interesting light on the marvellous
foresight and precaution that charac-
terized the preparations of the Japan
sese for the present war Some years
ago Japanese agent came to Phila-
delphia with letter of introduction to
a prominent Philadelphia who had
travelled in Japan The letter was
written by Japanese officer who
knew the Philadelphia, and it stated
that if he would help the bearer in
what he desired the favor would be
greatly appreciated. The favor was
for the Philadelphia to simply intro.
duce the agent to a first class firm of
detectives, This was done and the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-12
GROWING VERY SERIOUS

The far eastern war news of the
past few days has been somewhat ser
ious from a Russian viewpoint.
Though the Japanese authorities are
surrounding the movements of their
troops and fleets with mystery, there
seems no doubt that the troops have
already been landed in the neighbor-
hood of Vladivostok. While this news
is anything but encouraging to the
Russians, still more serious is the news
that there is possibility that Russia
may attemt to rush the Black sea fleet
past the Dardanelles.
Such movement would be defy
to the Sultan and slap at the powers
of the world, being a direct violation of
an International agreement prohibiting
the passage of war vessels through
the straits. Russia is indeed in sore
straights. Her fleet, which ought to be
in the Yellow sea is cooped up in the
Black sea with no means of getting out
save by running the Dardanelles. 1t
seems improbable that this passage
can be made without the consent of
the sultan, is as much as the straits
are lined with mines and torpedoes in
abundance, with the button for their
explosion within easy reach of the
Turk
1t is also apparent that should Rus
sian war vessels pass the strait with
the consent of the Sultan, they would
Immediately meet England, the latter
country standing as the champion of
the world agreement closing the Oar
danelles to warships. The probability
is that the silence of the past week will
be broken and when the bomb does
burst its echo is likely to be heard
around the globe.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-12
SOBER SECOND THOUGHT.

Chicago Chronicle.-The car has
sent word to the architect at the ST
Louis worlds fair to resume work fon
the Russian building, and this lis the
most sensible thing the car has done
since the war began. There is nothing
like intimate mountaineering to dis
sipate groundless prejudices, and that
Is what Russia needs. Its exhibition
sensibly nearer to the Anglo Saxof
race, and 1t ought not to lose the Sims
lar opportunity offered at st. Louis
This country is not at war with Russ
sia and never will be.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-12
a PATHETIC FIGURE.

Indianapolis Journal. - 1t is reports
ed that former President Kruger Of
the Boer Republic is slowly dying,
mind and body, an exile at Mentona
France. The loss Of his country, hii
wife and his son have proved TOD
much even for his sturdy constitution
and it is when men come to such 1
pass as this that they are said to hi
dying of broken hearts. Poor OLD
"Oom Paul" is one Of the most pathet
ic figures Of present-day history.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-12
DR.. j. G. BONHAM
EIks Block.

century intervening, it might appeal
to them. But since it belongs to to-
day, or at the most to yesterday, why,
the old adage Of distance lends en-
chantment to the view" seems to hold
good. For the great bulk Of readers of
the papers seem to care nothing for
these latest events. They seem to de-
spise their contemporaries. Seldom
have the papers contained SO, much
bigs news, news of vital import to mil
lions of this world and hundreds of
thousands of our own land. And the
plea of ignorance amounts to confess
sion of Indifference which is not cred
itaple to a citizen of such progressive
nation as ours.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-12
STATE CONVENTION CALL.

To the republican electors of the state OF
Iowa:
In accordance with the usage and in pur-
suance of a call of the republican national
committee and by direction of the republic
can. state central committee of Iowa, del
cgate convention of the republicans of
Iowa will he held in the city of Des Moines,
Iowa on Wednesday, May is, 1904, at IL
o'clock a. M, for the purpose of electing
Tour delegates-at-large and four alternate
delegates-at-l large to represent Iowa in the
republican national convention to be held
In the city of Chicago. in the state Of Hi
nois. on Tuesday, June 81, 1904.
All republican and other voters In this
state, without regard to past political affili-
Ations, who believe in republican principles,
and who endorse the policy of the republic
can party, are cordially invited to unite
under this call in the election of delegates
and alternate delegates to said national
convention.
The national committee directs that the
congressional district delegates and alter
nate delegates shall be elected by conven-
tions called by the congressional committee
. of each district in the manner of nominate
ing the candidate for representative in con-
gress in said district. The congressional
committee of each district is empowered
and directed to determine the time and
place of holding it's district convention, ex-
stcept that all such conventions must be held
at least thirty days prior to June 81, 1904,
and due notice thereof shall be given to
the voters Of the several districts
The basis of representation in the state
convention will be as follows: One delegate
for each county and one additional delegate
for each 200 votes or fraction of 100 or over
cast for Albert B. Cummins for governor
at the general election held November 3,
1903, and each county will be entitled to
LII ell,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-12
INDIFFERENCE.

Burlington Hawk Eye.-There seems
to be in some quarters considerable in
difference to the great question Of the
day, such as the war in the far east,
for instance. There have been no end
of stirring times going on, mirrored in
the news and editorial columns of the
papers. And yet there are people a.
plenty who when asked today concern
ing these very things, calmly put up a
plea Of perfect Indifference and blissful
ignorance. And indeed, they seem to
be carelessly indifferent concerning the
history of today.
Now, if it We're all written up in a
volume bound in calf with library
number pasted on it and a decade or
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-12
lowA's COUNTIES.

Deborah Republican.-There are
ninety nine of them. There would have
would have been a round hundred had
Kossuth been divided as were all the
other counties west of her. This left
the largest county with an area Of
9S4 miles. Next to her is Woodbury.
with an area of 1854; then Plymouth
with 500, and Clayton with 745. Seven
others, to-wit: Fayette. Crawford,
Jasper, Benton, Tama, Linn and Web
ster have an area Of 100 square miles.
Winneshiek would have been in this
class but for the loss of a tier of Sec
lions on her northern border. This
reduced our area to sos square miles.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-12
GEN. PFLue WRITES HOME.

Your, Majesty:
Be pfar from pfear;
Your pfleet the pfoe depfes;
They'll pfind. Pfort Arthur danger
pfree,
Pwhile Plugs pfiag plies.
Peel not our pfolks do pfret for plane
Pierce pfighting we despise.
We pfind that pfrays are pfoolish pfun
And Plugs pfiag plies.
Pix pfameski to the Russian name;
/ pfancy 'twere not wise;
IT'S pfifty pfeet too long today
And Plugs pfag plies.
So let our plated pfoemen plight,
We Proxy pfiock of guys
Will pill the pforts and pfoil their pfirt
While Plugs pflag plies.
Faithfully, Plug.
New York Globe
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-12

j. q
Iowa. on the 18th day of June, 1904, at
l O'clock p. M, for the purpose of
nominating candidate for representa-
tive in congress from said district for
the term beginning on the 4th day of
March, 1905.
The sbasis of representation in said
district convention will be as follows:
One delegate for each county and one
additional delegate for each zoos votes
or fraction of 100 or over cast for AL
bert B. Cunrnins for governor at the
general election held November g.,
1903. as follows:
Davis .......... ........ ........ 9
Jasper ....... II
Keokuk -. .......... .......... Is
AanaSka ........ s...s IL
Monroe .......s ......... -
Poweshiek ...... ....t............ IL
Wapello 81
Ellsworth Rominger,
Chairman Con. Com.
William Reece, Secretary.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-12

sion; it believes the state is big enough
and wealthy enough to give the COM
mission this money. and even more, in
view of the splendid result it has al
ready achieved at st. Louis.
The Boone Republican says that any
harm the anti-docking bill would do to
the horse trade in Iowa is entirely inn
aginery. S
The Des Moines Stats Anzeiger be-
lieves Capt. Hull is the best man for
the place. Holding Office" it says, Ifs
a profession and a man who has served
the public as well as Capt. Hull deserve
ed to be retained"
The Mason City Globe Gazette eau
tons the republican papers not to
"butt in" in the Hearst business; it
suggests that it is the business of the
Democratic party to choose it's own
corpse and that the republicans will
take care of the funeral services later
on.
AS to child labor the Cedar Rapids
Republican thinks that SO far as the
boys are concerned the trouble is not
| few.
The Burlington Gazette, democratic,
| is becoming convinced that Hearst is
| making some Roadway.
90 .g.
The Parkersburg Eclipse records the
| prediction that Hearst will be the
| democratic nominees, through and with
the consent of Mr.. Bryan.
o. H
The Rock Rapids Reporter says that
in view of the record established in the
| recent Des Moines primary Congress-
| man Hull has claims that should not
! be overlooked when 1t comes to select
| ing national chairman.
| The Deborah Republican says that
congressional honors would have slight
ATTRACTIONS to the average man if he
had to fight for them as Captain Hull
| is called upon to do.
The Iowa Falls Citizen suggests that
| 1T might not be a bad thing if the rank
and file of the republican party of
Iowa would rise up and knock a few
| factional leaders in the head and do a
little debating on it's own account.
The Nevada Representative says
that the most important rule of the
| Polk county primaries lies in the i'm
plication that Captain Hull is probably
assured of an infinite extension of his
term service. Never" continues the
Representative, has he seemed to be
stronger in Polk county and in the
| Seventh district than at present; and
though there unquestionably remains q
very definite opposition to him arounc
the district, we do not think that any
of the men who constitute this opposi-
ton, see how they can hope to defeat
| htal"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-12
SURRENDER WISE AT TIMES.

st. Louis be-Democrat.-In taxi
ing charge of Port Arthur the New
Russian commander declares: II will
never give an order to surrender" TITS
deeply sworn, but wise generals do not
tie themselves up in that fashion. An
army that capitulates under absolutely
hopeless conditions lives to find an
other day. The men surrendered at
DonneIson and Vicksburg saw plenty
of service later on.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-12
GOOD RIDDANcE!

Philadelphia Record: (dem.) -
Brother Bryan is beginning to show
that he is not altogether wanting in
the prescience of political weather
prophet. He predicts political earth.
quake in case of the nomination Of
Cleveland for president. Yet, after
all. it would not require much of an
upheaval to destroy what remains OF
Organism and populism in the demo.
cratic party .a.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-12

The governor did wise thing in
nominating John Cownie to succeed
himself as a member of the board Of
control and the legislature made an
equally sensible move when it approx
ed the nomination. The people of the
state have come to recognize Mr..
Cownie's ability in handling the affairs
of the state and depend on him to
properly conserve their interests.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-12

Northwestern University has decid-
ed to abandon Thanksgiving football
games. The students of that universe
ty evidently DESIRED to remove all
possibility of making tia day on which
their cause for thanksgiving might be
interfered with.