davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13
RAILROAD REFORMS.

President Roosevelt's admirable
views on the railroad questions which
have presented themselves in late
years, have brought out much favor
able comment since the message was
made public. In this connec-
ton, a subject Of great public
interest, is the work of guard
ing against fatal accidents which en-
danger not only trainmen but patrons
of the railroad companies.
In Iowa and in other states many
precautions have been taken from
time to time to prevent fatal railroad
wrecks and it is fact of which
Iowans are proud that rarely do acct
dents occur in the state accompanied
by loss Of life which are not caused
either by carelessness on the part of
the victim or some accident which
could not have been averted and is
not the result of poor equipment or
the incompetence or carelessness of
employees
Nearly all the large railroad COM
panies have for several years followed
the custom of allowing their employees
a period of rest almost equal to the
preceding period of activity, even
when a rush of business made it neces-
sary to employ extra train crews in
order to keep this rule intact The
Northwestern company is taking spe-
cial precautions to guard against
wrecks which may be caused by lack
of rest given trainmen, as is evidenced
by the following circular, sent out by
the general manager Of that system to
all superintendent of divisions, train
masters and yard masters:
See that the minimum time is abso-
lutely afforded train and engine crews
for rest as follows:
Men ten hours or less on duty,
eight hours rest minimum.
Men twelve hours on duty, ten
hours rest minimum.
Men fourteen hours on duty or
more, twelve hours rest minimum.
Keep before the train dispatcher
such record Of movement of crews as
absolutely will prevent an cngineman
or a trainman from going out on his
run without a full allotted time of
rest
Check this matter up personally to
see that the matter is being carried
out, examining reports periodically as
to rest actually allowed"
These provisions are not only hui
name ones where the employees are
concerned but they aim for the safety
of the travelling public. They indi-
cate that the railroad companies are
alive to their duties to the public and
they give reason to hope that the op-
position which is feared to the pro-
posed freight rate reforms will not be
of the stubborn, unreasening kind, but,
if it exist at all, will be open to argu-
ment and persuasion by facts and
figures.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13
REVOLT AGAINST vARpAMANlaM

New York world.-The telegram In
sulttng the President Of the United
States which Governor vardaman, OF
mississippi, sent to President Francis.
OF the Louisiana Purchase exposition.
seems to have been the straw that
broke the back of the patient southern
camel. The revolt against this coarse
demagogue, who makes a business Of
melting race hatred and sectional ani-
mostly, is one Of the most encourag.
ing signs that has appeared for many
day In southern skies. Not only
nave the newspapers Of VHrdaman's
own state denounced him. but q
vardaman issue has been raised BY.
Louisiana newspapers, which are pro.
testing against the action Of the cora-
mittee that selected him to be perman-
ent chairman of the National Cotton
convention. The Shreveport journal
describes him without f1attery. as -
peanut politician and slanderous den-
agogue, seasoned with blackguardisn..
Thomas ID. Watson, who has his
lucid intervals, told an audience at
Charlottesville, Ca, Wednesday night
that this type of southern politicians
keep the negro question alive simply
to sustain their local political monop-
oily. The negro question Is the JOY
of their lives" he said. "They exist on
1t. They fatten on it. With one shout
VI 1issur! tHey caIl run the uatlYo
democrats to their holes at any hour
of the day"
Mr.. Watson's explanation is unques-
tionably the true one. The aVdarmans,
the jeff Davises, the Tillmans and the
Helms exist politically only by their
adroitness in keeping the negro ques-
ton to the front. II the intelligent
people OF the south are preparing to
shake off this oligarchy OF dema-
gogism the new south" will soon have
new meaning In national politics.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13

the. part of the United States officials
which gave the Panama republic life
1t is very important that the Pan
anna canal, one of the greatest pro-
jects this nation has ever launched,
be completed at an early date, and to
that end other less important matters
should be subverted. Thus, il the
United States can remain on friendly
terms with Panama and the people OF
that little baby nation much unpleas-
antness and delay will be avoided dur
ing the construction of the canal.
The agreement as made by Secre-
tary Taft and President Amador is a
very sensible one. No merchandise is
to be received at the ports, Christobal
and Ancona, the canals terminal
points. except such as are to be used
In canal construction and such as are
to pass through the canal zone for
points outside, save fuel for seagoing
vessels. This is to be admitted free
of duty at the ports at each end of
the canal. Panama is to reduce her
tariff from 15 per cent to. 10 per cent
ad valorem, except on spirits and
opium, and also to cut her consular
charges The postal rates IN the re.
public of Panama are to be reduced
to the American level, and Panama
is to adopt the gold standard. Free
trade is to be established between the
republic and the canal zone
1t is now for congress to ratify the
adjustment as conditionally made by
Secretary Taft and the Panama pres
ident. President Roosevelt, whose
word counts for much with congress,
desires such continuation, and as 1t is
easy to see the advantages of the adj
justment as to this nation. and to Pan
anna, congress will in all probability
ratify it.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13
THE AMERICAN MINIS.

Were the compilers of the annual de-
partment reports close followers of the
Shakespeare style they would doubt
less feel impelled to copy his double
superlatiye in telling of the produc-
tiveness of the United States during
the year which is covered by the re-
ports now being made public. Secre-
tary Taft says our army is the best
paid in the world. Secretary Wilson
notes the largest cotton yield and
other record breaking feats which have
come under his official eye Secretary
Shaw is satisfied with the showing
made by the greatest nation on earth
and George e. Roberts, director of the
mint, has now added his contribution
and declares that the output of the
three coinage mints, those at Phila-
delphia, San Francisco and New Or
leans which were in operation through
out the year, was the largest on rec
ord"
Mr.. Roberts report throughout is
in line with those of the other officials
and is of an encouraging tone. One of
| it's notable features is the announce
ment that the exhaustion of the stock
Iof silver purchased under the act of
| 1890. has necessitated a reduction in
the working force at New Orleans.
From February to June the compile
ment there was reduced from 219 to
i97.
The estimate of the gold stock of
the world in use as money is estimated
approximately at $5,OOO,000,00O of
which about one-half is visible in
banks and public treasures The es-
innate of the stock of the United
States is $1,000, 100000 of which $780,
100000 is in the treasury and national
banks. The seigniorage on silver dol
lars coined during the year was 3d.
O32, 495; on subsidiary silver coins. ST.
950,0S6 and on minor coins $1,349, ZIG.
The total expenditures for this depart
ment of governmental service were
i$1,896.834.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13
"ARovE ALL ELSE"

Muscatine Journal.-"Above all else,A
says the President in his ann Il mes
sage, I'VE must strive to keep the
highways of commerce open to all on
equal terms; and to do this it Is me-
cessary to put a complete stop to all
rebates. Whether the shipper or the
railroad is to blame makes no differ
ence; the rebate must be stopped, the
abuses of the private car and private
terminal track and side track system
must be stopped"
The word must occurs at frequent
intervals in this short paragraph and
is characteristic of the executive.
When he is rioht and no one will deny
In this instance his statements are
faultless, he has a habit Of putting
forward his thought in q most direct
style, and following the same up with
action prompt and effective.
Shippers in ali parts Of the country
have felt the effect of the discrimin-
atoms in the way of freight rates, the
smaller shipper to his sorre and his
more influential competitor with kindly
emotion. Action was begun to enforce
the laws framed by congress previously
but the enactments were found by the
supreme court to be faulty. new
law is what the President asks for,
one that will be effective In dealing
with the evils in legal manner.
.i uIluST oIl, III QlScuSSInB the mat
ter, he explains his position in regard
to phase Of the matter which has
been the cause OF much controversy
| In the press Of the country. He says:
While / am of the opinion that at
present 1t would be undesirable IL 1t
were not inprccticable. finally to
clothe the commission with general au-
| thority to fix railroad rates, ! do be-
lieve that, as a fair security to ship
paers, the commission should be vestd
with the power, where given rate
has been challenged, and after full
hearing found to be unreasonable, to
decide, subject to judicial review,
what shall be a reasonable rate to
take It's place; the ruling of the COM
| mission to take effect Immediately. and
to obtain unless and until it is re-
versed by the court of review
| The logic lis sound and the request
reasonable. 1t is now up to congress
| to do its part.
Throughout, the document is In the
same style. The explanation OF the
| work of the new department Of COM
merce and labor, what the agricultural
department is doing for the farmers
! of the country, and recommendations
i for the govern mt of the city of
/ Washington are plain statements Of
facts and common sense advice.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13
THE REPoRTER,s CRITIC.

Some little criticism has been made
of the remark of an actress In Musca-
tine, lecturing before an audience OF
club women, when she spoke In no
complimentary terms of the fifteen
dollar reporter" The exact cause for
her dislike for the genus reporter Is
not made clear in the reports OF her
speech but 1t is safe to say that some
writer has failed to see in her the ar
tiste she considered herself What.
ever the cause, 1t seems little out of
the line Of the regular that one who
depends so much upon the reporter
for fame should take such direct
m cans of expressing her dislike for
him. There are very few writer's, no
matter how high their standing may
now be, who have not at some time In
their lives been fifteen dollar report
ers." or five dollar reporters" or re.
porters who received as their weekly
stipend anything that was left over
after the rest of the force was paid.
These can remember the trials OF their
early days and although they can re-
call a great many things they would
like to forget they cannot remember a
time since their connection with the
newspaper life when the theatre press
agent was not one of those ever mind
full that he owed much to the press.
1t is through the good nature of the
lfteen dollar reporter" that many ac-
tresses are able to draw audiences,
either to the theatre, or to lectures,
and it i'll Ats one of the stage, at
least one whose name is not among
the headliners, to caustically criticise
the very fellow who helps her to earn
her bread and butter Just one more
fact might be mentioned. in passing.
The youth who draws SIS, or any
other amount, as reporter, and contin.
ues to draw it for long, can be re.
garded without error as one Of the
workers who earns his salary. One
paper has said that this is more than
can be said of all the actor folk whose
names appear on programs, but
whether that be true. or not, the
former statement defles all contra.
diction.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13
A QUICK RECOVERY.

Tho stock panic which it seems
was started for the sole purpose of
making money to T. Lawson and those
who are with him on the inside, has
left the stock exchanges in as good
condition, at least. as when it began.
1t is encouraging to note that the
furry in copper, though for time it
affected other industrials. had but a
passing notice either In New York or
Boston. The view taken. of 1t in the
trading centers is shown by the re.
ports of the large com mercial agencies
made public today. Dun's says:
"Wall streets severe reaction was
not due to any setback in the CONNER.
cial world, all measures Of legitimate
trade showing wholesome progress and
confidence in the future is mistaken
Railway earnings in November aver.
age 90 per cent greater than in the
same month of 1908. and the distribu-
ton of merchandise is sufficiently
heavy to produce freight blockades at
several points. Manufacturing plants
report an increased output in almost
every instance Seasonable weather
has stimulated retail trade in wearing
apparel and holiday goods are in great
demand"
The same optimistic sentiment Is
noticeable in Bradstreet's weekly re-
port. which says:
while distribution displays more
irregularity manufacturing Industries
with few exceptions continue very ac-
tive. Western jobbers fail to report
an active recorder movement in stables
but the holiday trade is progressing IA
vorably and promises, with favorable
weather, to reach a large total. Holt.
day specialties in groceries, dry goods
and fancy articles have had a large
sale, and hardware trade east and
west is in excellent shape. The feeling
is one OF optimism in trade and the
country seems to look forward to 1905
with confidence.
Railway earnings returns point to a
very heavy traffic proceeding. Gross
returns for November show an aggre.
gate gain of 1917 per cent over last
year. Clearings are of enormous vol.
ume and compare favorably not only
with last years totals, but with large
transactions of previous years and only
is per cent below the record week
ending May 10, 1901"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13
DEALING WITH CORPORATIONS.

One OF the strongest parts of Presi-
dent Roosevelt's message is the part
devoted to the discussion of the deal
ing of the government with great bust
ness corporations. This is question
that is bound to grow more and more
important as time goes on unless some
means are taken to curb the power Of
corporations which take their every
opportunity to increase that power.
The President views the problem from
the standpoint that the national gov
eminent. through the interstate COM
merce commission, can deal with the
trusts" and that the several separate
states cannot.
This section Of the message is one
which should have the careful perusal
Of every one Although this was pub
lished in this paper in the message,
when it was read before congress, the
Courier herewith republishes it in or
der that those who failed to read the
message cannot miss this section. 1t
follows:
When we come to deal with great
corporations the need for the govern
ment to act directly is far greater than
in the case of labor. because great cor
porations can become such only by
engaging in interstate commerce, and
interstates commerce is peculiarly the
field of the general government 1t is
an absurdity to expect to eliminate
the abuses in great corporations by
state action. 1t is difficult to be patient
with an argument that such matters
should be leE to the states, because
more than one state pursues the policy
of creating on easy terms corporations
which are never operated within that
state at all, but in other states whose
laws they ignore. The national gov
eminent alone can deal adequately
with these great corporations. To try
to deal with them in an Incorporate
destructive. or demagogic spirit would,
in all probability, mean that nothing
whatever would be accomplished and
with absolute certainty, that if any
thing were accomplished 1t would be
of harmful nature. The American
people need to continue to show the
very qualities that they have shown
that is, moderation. good sense, the
earnest desire to avoid doing any dam
age, and yet the quiet determination to
proceed, step by step. without halt and
without hurry. in eliminating or at
least in minimizing whatever of mis-
chief or of evil there is to interstate
commerce in the conduct of great cor
porations. They are acting in no spirit
of hostility to wealth. either individual
or corporate. They are not against the
rich man any more than against the
poor man. On the contrary, they are
friendly alike toward rich man and
toward poor man, provided only that
each acts in spirit of justice and de-
cency toward his fellows. Great corpor-
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13

The Creston American says that
since the election 1t has not heard
anything OF that Impoverished and
unpurchaseable" democrat, Sam
Wright, and It wonders If he ever
got back from his trip to New York to
notify Judge Parker of his nomination.
Can it be possible that the American
has failed to learn Of the marriage of
Mr.. Wright. He has forgotten all
about the adventures at St. Louis by
now.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13

Down in Burlington the officials Of
that city and Of Des Moines county
are considering the purchase of vot-
Ing machines. Ottumwa has already
ordered some of these machines for
the city election and the trial at the
election last month was very salts
factory one. Des Moines Is the only
other Iowa city using them. 1t Is
time for Burlington and others to fall
in line and join the procession led by
the progressive cities Of the state,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13

Ottumwa is growing. The local
postal receipts for this year will pass
the $4,000 mark for the first time in
the city's history. Ottumwa ranks
eighth in the state in this particular,
with Des Moines, Sioux CITY, Daven-
port, Dubuque, Cedar Rapids, Council
Bluffs and Burlington ahead.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13

The arrest of Mrs. Chadwick may
have been, as her lawyers say. on a
"f1imsy pretext," but men have been
sent to the penitentiary on pretexts
much more limsy And beside, the
public doesn't always see case just
as the defendants lawyers try to
make 1t appear.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13

Twenty-six failures of national
banks out of the many institutions of
this kind that exist are shown in the
annual report of the comptroller of
the currency. The small number
cannot but indicate healthy flnan-
cial condition throughout tho country.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13

Mrs. Chadwick says she is not
guilty. Perhaps she thinks Beckwith,
president of the Oberlin bank, is at
fault and should be the prosecuted
one. Well, he let her have the money
on about the most "fimsy pretext"
imaginable.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13
.TAFT's PANAMA SETTLEMENTS.

SECRETARY Tafts SETTLEMENT with
Panama's president, Senior Amador,
regarding the shipments from the
United States to the little isthmian re-
public, is concession both for Amer
lea and for Panama, but it preserves
for this nation the friendship of those
among whom citizens of the United
States must work until the canal is
complete and it preserves as well
for Panama the friendly feeling on
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13
Yf9s4|Se'a,R CHICAGO,
JARaf7S Y.fssA ROCK ISLAND
k3aaal & PACIFIC.
{ Goinc East va Cut or rime

No. Going East Via Cut OFF Time
sa-Washington. Muscatine, Dav-
export and Chicago ...... TOO D. m,
12a-Wa Washington. Muscatine, Dav-
export and Chicago .12:24 a. m.
Going West.
sa-Kansas City and Interme.
dlate 1913 a. m
5a-Seymour. chillicothe. Excel
sior Springs and Kansas City 2:25 a. NJ
Going East Via Marion.
10b-Marion, Cedar Rapids and
intermediate ..... ....... POS a. m,
10Sb--Marion Cedar Rapids and
intermediate .::...:..... 7:20 p. m.
Coming West Via Marion.
ec-Marion Cedar Rapids and
80, Intermedlate 81; ~. 1: 25 a. m.
lob Marion. Cedar Rapids and
-, Intermediate !. ........... 9:55 a. m.
s2b-Darenport freight ........ $40 a. m.
94h-Marion freight ............ $40 a. M
91b-Chillicothe FREIGHT ........ 700 a. m.
61n-Chillicothe freight s........12:3 80 D. M
ee9a-Chilicothe freight 1880. -. .1O:4O a. M
,,a-daily; b--exceDt Sunday; except
Monday
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13

The murder OF the Hughes family
at Trenton, s. O.. calls for a rigid In
vestigation by the authorities. South
Carolina has an opportunity to show
that It deserves better consideration at
the hands Of the public than does
Georgia, the state which will always
have stain on its record since the
Statesboro affair,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13

And now Nan Patterson has gone
to writing poetry that sounds like R.
Kipling's There was a man" If the
signs don't deceive, Nan Is figuring on
putting up plea of insanity.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13

T. If the Russian feet at Port Arthur
doesn't hurry with that promised "last
desperate sortie." there will not be
enough vessels left to fire salute
when Rojestvensky arrives.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13

The Atlanta Journals advice to the
who is suffering from dull
trade is timely and applicable to all
parts of the country. 1t follows: "Ad-
vertise and Yuletide over
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13

Tom Lawson's fling at Amalgamated
Copper furnished no little excitement
for a time. but it did little damage
and left the market more substantial
than when the furry began
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13

whether RoJestvensky will ever be
able to reach Port Arthur. Togo de-
clares he Will not and the world has
tendency to take Togo's word for
good many things now.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13

Russia intends to send another Bal
tic fleet after the one now en- route
to the orient. England had better call
all the fishermen in.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13

Cassie Chadwick and Nan Patter-
son, together with the Lawson panic"
in copper, made New York pretty
busy corner Of the world yesterday.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13

That six-day bicycle race dwindles
almost to insignificance when COM
pared to the real "big doin's' in New
York this week
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13

Corporation Commissioner Garfield
will not commence his active investi-
cations until after congress has pro-
vided funds for the purpose" says the
Sioux City Journal and adds the adj
vice: Now is the time for all bad
trusts to reform
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13
IOWA PRESS COMMENT.

illinois is beginning to acquire the
interurban line building habit" says
the Burlington Hawk-Eye. would it
were a disease that was catching.
Iowa would bunch over closer than
ever to her sister state"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13

Perhaps If the wages of Iowa rural
teachers were raised sufficiently to
make them self-supporting their rush
into matrimony might be stayed" sug-
gests the Marshalltown Times Repub-
lican