davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01
COMMISSION PLAN BEST.

Some of the striking 2uVaHlaseo VI
the commission form of city govern
ment over the system in common
vogue are set forth briefly but conVinc-
ingly by Hon. Late Young OF Des
Moines in letter 10 the ST. PAU DIS
patch. Mr.. Young SCOTS a. the aping
of the machinery of republic lor
managing city's business, which ne
says, and says truly, is not political al
all. but Just plain business like rum
ming a newspaper or factory Why
mot abolish some of the useless
machinery? Mr.. Young writes:
Recently / was in a city in the
Northwest and on looking thro Agh the
telephone l found the names OF
sufficient number of heads of bureaus
and chairman of commissions to make
two pages of the book. In that city,
! if all the members Of the city govern
ment. each with separate authority,
should be awaw from home on any one
day. there would not be able bodied
men enough left at home to do the
milking of the neighborhood COWS.
HOW absurd. it is. You can not run
THE st. Paul Dispatch with any such
organization. Formerly in printing
offices and in factories 40 per cent OF
the mower was wasted in running the
shafting and betting. without turning q
wheel otherwise Now we have
j. attached the electric motor dlrect ane
do not have any shafting ana peitins
Why not cut out the shafting and pelt
ling on municipal government?
The comparison is an apt one ant
it carries good lesson. Another ,reaf
on WHY the commission plan Is best |
, that when you reduce a city govern
Iment to FIVE men you have somethln
!. trangible:
oYou know who to scold or who t
, nraise The responsibility is fxec
I Suppose YOU start out in ST. Paul te
2 day to find out who is to blame for
!. had niece of work somewhere. HOY
s would YOU succeed? Every ma
a would deny having anv responsibility
:. II would be Just as difficult as to di:
:. cover who broke dish in ktche
y where there are several servants.
Mr.. Young tells the people OF s
Paul that il they want the commit
sion plan they will have to fight for !
The ward bosses and their follower
VIII fight and fght hard to kee
u what they have. But having mao
such a fight in Des Moines, M
% Young assures the people of st. Pa
S that they can win If they fight hal
u and right They will be charged WI
le trying to take nower from the peopl
at but as matter of fact they will be pla
ne ing all the power in the hands of t
% neonle. inasmuch as 25 per cent
" the voters can put man ut of offit
10 There is plenty of food for thong
80 for Keoluk people in Mr. Youn,
- arguments.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01
The Daily Gate City

with the house of representatives he
has been the only President with the
courage to take Destiny by the SLACK
OF the pants and the nape of the neck
and heave it over among the rubbish.
He goes out of office respected OF
feared by almost every man connected
with the federal government.
Roosevelt has made wonderful
President OF wonderful nation, to
which has contributed much.
Laying aside political prejudice and
looking with unbeamed eye, one can
but admire the man for his courage
and his cleanness. OF course he has
made mistakes-some of them quite
serious. But it is no boys joL to pre-
side over the destinies Of a great
republic made up of the conglomera
ton of sheep and goats which goes te
comprise the land of the free and the
home of the brave.
So, here's to Teddy. May he live
long and prosper.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01

The good roads proportion does not
appear to be making much headwa.- in
the legislature. Theoretically all the
legislators are in favor of good roads,
in common with everybody else, but
they are chary about voting additional
taxes on their constituents for the
purpose. And their constituents.
tough recognizing the Importance OF
better highways, are averse to the
necessary expense And there you are.
Everybody is in favor of good roads
theoretically and opposed to good
roads practically as far as he is per
sonally concerned. and it doesn't look
as though 1t would be at all becoming
for anybody to throw stones at any
body.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01
NAMES MockERY OF PRoHlBl


In the issue of Harper's Weekly for
February u Holman Day describes
the manner in which the anti-liquor
laws have been consistently violated
in Maine. During the past four years,
he says, arrests for intoxication have
increased from six hundred to more
than one thousand annually, and yet
Lewistown is the only city in the
state where the enforcement deputies
have been On duty at all times. There
are several hundred Kitchen bar
rooms" vile places where cheap liz
uor is sold. A dodge that worked we'll
for long time was to deposit bot
tie of whiskey and tumbler in long
distance telephone booth. One man
paraded the streets of Portland for
months. carrying a tray loaded with
ink-bottles, which contained whishey
i Milkmen have been caught delivcring
"longnecker," or sealed quart con
cealed in a two-quart can of milk
i But the worst element in the case
is the law which permits stat
agent to sell alcoholic liquors at a dis
pensary for "medicinal or mechanical
purposes" or for use in the ARTS
These liquors are often of the mos
injurious quality. A favorite bever
age, called split consists of alcoho
diluted with an equal volume OF water
the whole sweetened and favored
The impression left by this article /
that, far from prohibiting, prohibition
makes for drunkenness.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01
GIVE rHE ROADS a RESI-.

Vice President Daniel Willard of
the Burlington road has written a
pamphlet that is now being mailed to
the $4,000 employees of that great sys-
TEN, asking their cooperation in an
effort to secure the cessation of hostile
legislation. Mr. Willard says that
there are now in congress and in the
legislatures of the eleven states
traversed by the Burlington 272 pro-
posed laws regulating the railroads.
He says that the railroads have been
legislated against to such an extent
that practically all railroad improve
ment work has been discontinued and
that the pay rolls of the Burlington
system have been greatly reduced by
i reason of his fact. He points out that
during the legislative season OF 1867
over eight hundred bills concerning
railroads were introduced In the
eleven legislatures and in congress,
nearly all of which, he says, were re-
garded by railroad men as hostile, and
that many of these measures operated
to reduce the railroads revenues
During this period he says the rail
road increased wages in the sum OF
S3,000,000 per annum. He says furth
er that as a result of this Legislation
the money for extraordinary expendi
lures, such S double track, new sta
lions, extensions, ETC., was reduced b,
more than SO per cent thu
first year and by about 81
per cent the second year
the result being that employment wa
given to $4,000 less men than formerly
> Mr.. Willard pleads that the road
be given rest from further legisls
: ton for a time. In his opinion tn
railroad business, (which really mean
:. all business will recover its forme
: proportions when the influences an
forces at work during the last two G
three years refrain from doing tn
things which have contributed $
largely to bring about the depression
which we all deplore. He explain
: that he does not mean that laws a
~ ready made must necessarily be u
:, made, that wages must be reduce
., but that the roads must have res
II In this connection he says:
IN I'VE must be given time and oppc
u. tunity to work out the new problem
S: that have been forced upon us. v
of must be given an opportunity to fiji
er out what it is going to cost to me
err the new requirements, and also to s
81. how our revenues are going to be
!. fected by reduction of rates.
Perhaps it will be found that,
Oh new methods growing out of the e
ne gencies of the case, we will still
I'M able to earn surplus sufficien
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01


parently there is disposition to re-
spond If the need is found to exist,
and the mechanism can be perfected
without interfering with other I'M
portant functions of government
The possibilities OF reform that can
be brought about under local option
and regulation have not been ex
hausted in Iowa. Until this plan OF
reform has been perfected, or &C
knowledged worse failure than pro
hibition, work upon II should not be
abandoned. The attainment Of prac
tical results along this plane, still
looks more promising than under pro
hibition as it is understood in Iowa II
the light of experience.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01

Bishop Charles B. Anderson talked
70 a crowd of suffragettes in Evanston
the other night. He said: When men
have an afternoon off they go to a
ball game or circus. When women
have an afternoon to spend, they go
to meeting of the Browning club.
The women come home loaded with
ideas. The men come home simply
loaded" And then the bishop de-
clared that there was as much reason
why the women should get together
and refuse the men an opportunity to
vote as there was for the men to ex
Guide the women from the polls
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01
Tn. RETIREMENT of Roosevelt.

Jacksonville, Qll.) Courier DEM
MT, Mr. Taft. Farewell, Mr.. Roose-
veltl This may seem little early7-a
little premature. But the Courier ue
sires to be in the van OF those Weicoiir
ing our big new President ana d. .he
forefront of those wishing the retlring
executive good morrow
After seven years of executive siren
Mostly Mr.. Roosevelt retires 10 give
wav to the big Ohioan who II to pre-
side over the nation for the next four
wears While many of us will not re-
sret to see Mr.. Roosevelt step down
and out few of US will need to worry
about what the future may nave ~
/ stora for him. He cannot be rele
gated. He will refuse to retire IRON
the public eye and the public ear
No matter what events may bring
forth, there can be no doubling ina
Mr. Roosevelt will remain a prominen
figure in American politics.
And why shouldn't he?
AS a public figure the world ha
never produced the equal OF Roosevel'
las President the United States ha
never before seen his kind. His ute
disregard for precedent has made hir
La marked man in the country's MS
tory. His strong contention for tn
power of the executive department c
government has resulted in his stant
ing out singular. His catch as cate
can, rough and tumble diplomacy ha
placed the United States on plan
never before occupied plane muc
higher than many Americans had eve
expected to see their country occup
Today the world respects the Unite
States as the first power-and large
J through Roosevelt's direction of a
: fairs along lines of aggression and a
tivity. He has had splendid aid at tt
hands of the able men who nave mac
up his cabinet-many Of them me
who will compare favorably with son
E of the great statesmen who wrestlt
with the questions constructing the n
ton in its infancy.
President Roosevelt has done nu,
Ito put an end to the spoils system
although some may see selfish mott
in this. He has tanned the wild Fl
pino, he has taught the Cuba' to &C
ern. He has twisted the tail of t.
s. judiciary. He has slapped the face
the staid senate and has run aw
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01
The Panama Canal Problem.

To The Editor of The Gate City:
When this government purchaser
the interest of the French syndicate
bond holders it was estimated, with
the purchase price added, that Win
American push, power and energy, Tue
canal could be completed in aoouI
five years for sum of about mlilloh
and half dollars, and now that sun
has all. or nearly so, been expenaeo
and the last estimate or guess OF the
committee composed of eminent en-
gineers and statesmen including Pres
ident Taft is that it will require
five more years longer time anu
that the total cost will be about three
hundred and thirty-five millions Oh
dollars. But if the final cost snoulu
reach. say, five hundred millions OF
dollars. / believe it will prove to nave
been a wise thing for the united
States to have done in the interest
of all the people and especially the
citizens of the west and more espec-
ially those Of the great Mississippi
/ Valley.
/, But the labor question has been ana
will be a serious problem on the ism
mus. as we have to oepehu
mostly on the lazy, ignorant labor from
the islands. In this connection an idea
itself to me which believe
is practicable and would help to solve
the common labor problem on the
rsthmian canal. We now have thous
ands of idle, able-bodied crlmihais
, in orr state and military prisons sen
. there for long terms; why not utiilze
them for work on this great enter
nrise9 Taere could be no jealousy IRON
orr labor organizations, as l unoer
stand there are very few common
+ American .aborers engaged on Sni'
n work 1t would relieve the TAXPAYER
Of great expense for the maintenance
!. and care of these prisoners and Woui'
$ ba much better for the prisoners =
{ he ont in the open air and much NOR
$ humane than to be housed up in thei
p small dungeons as they now are. IN
e government has plenty OF ldie 80
r. diers TO take charge and guard ines
=, prisoners. er,o>
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01

The Gate City suggested recently
that if we get much more such weather
as we had lately we will likely have
less of it later in the season. Tie
Waterloo Reporter takes judicial
notice of the remark to say that
of The Gate City can give guarantee
the weather man will be good when he
gets this crouch out of his system the
suggestion of consolation will be &C
ceptel with unwonted cheerfu!iness.
The Gate City isn't in the guarant!
business, least of all where the
weather is concerned The undertak
ing would be as hazardous as guar
anteeing bank deposits in Oklahoma
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01

A feature of the inaugural souve-
mir" issued by the committee in
charge of the inauguration, is biog-
raphy Ct the President elect by Presi-
dent Roosevelt. This seems to con-
tradict the recent story about friction
existing between Roosevelt and Taft.
In this sketch the President says:
mo man of better training no man OF
more dauntless courage, of soundeI
common sense, Of higher or finer
character has ever come to the presi
dency than William Howard Taft
In another place he says it is one Of
Tafts great gifts to stand by the
right = As seas 1t, with the minimum
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01

The New York Telephone Co. has
been asked to adopt the title "phonist'
as the official designation of tele-
phone operator. They now have the
matter under consideration. Frank
A. Burrelle, the press clipping man
of New York, Who created the word
and applied for the usual govern
mental protection mas volunteered to
relinquish all rights in case of its Off
cial adoption.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01
The Love Letter.

She took 1t from the postman with a
nervous trembling hand,
A sort of trepidation she could hardly
understand;
OF course she knew he loved her, so
why falter in this way
When a valentine was due her and
she knew just what 'twould say :!
She took it to her boudotr, not be-
cause she cared to hide
The postmark or the writing or the
verse or two inside,
But because she was woman with
gentle womans heart;
She yearned to feel the ranking, by
herself, of Cupid's dart.
Alone beside the window she OBJ
served the dainty square,
Addressed, as is the custom, with al
eye deluding care;
She smiled to think how useless was
this effort of his hand
When of course, the sweet inclosuT'
was by him and for her planned
with thrillings still reluctant she
last removed the seal,
Observing how ecstatic such me
ment makes one feel,
Then she spread the page before ne
and her head spun like top
! 1t was only an announcement from
| swell new butcher shop.
Il. s. Warehouse.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01
The Chicago Tribune has a wor

The Chicago Tribune has word
concerning pneumonia that is timely
and true: Pneumonia is classed as
one of the infectious diseases. The
germs that cause it are among the
commonest known. They are found
in the threats of most people that
are suffering from colds, sore threats,
and influenza. They develop into
pneumonia when the person is of low
vitality and has little or no resisting
pow err. Pneumonia is one of the bad
air diseases, and the best prevention
IS plenty of good. fresh air and sun
shine all the time" These means are
within the reach of all and no one
can afford to neglect them.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01

Report has it that w. S. Kenyon.
formerly of Fort Dodge, will become
general counsel for the Illinois Cen
trail railroad, succeeding ]. M. Dickin-
son. who is to be secretary of war in
President Taft's cabinet Mr.. Ken
yea has been assistant to Mr. Dick
irson for some time He was long one
of Iowa's strong men at the bar and
in public confidence
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01

Governor Wilson of Kentucky, in
granting a pardon to the Louisville
Herald, convicted of libeling judge
and prosecutor, made spirited de-
Tense of the liberty of the press to
criticise public officials. The alleged
offense occurred in the night-rider sec
ton of the state, and the paper had
voiced the popular distrust In the off
cials who nad failed to bring the
guilty parties to justice.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01

paid for working up the raw logs i'm.
ported under such a reasonable rate
as Mr.. Collins proposes.
The study Of the tariff is profitable
occupation, and II everybody would
take 1t up earnestly congress might
not have SO much trouble arriving Al
conclusions as is now anticipated.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01
of offensiveness toward those who
do not see as he does.

The movement on foot to organize
a humane society in Keokuk should
have the encouragement of every
good citizen. This city has been with
out such an organization in recent
years and the eed of one has at times
been seriously felt. "A good man Is
merciful to his beast" All others
should be compelled by public senti-
ment and law enforcement to be equal
ly considerate.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01
DAILY GATE. CITY.
PUBLISHED BY
TIiE GAIE CAY COMF AN
en,pu,M Manage
DAILY BY MAIL.

DAILY B1 NAL. 81. 90
One year. ...... $500 tour naoIS 20
Six months 49,. LOU One month .econ1.
Entered IN keoNuA postolAes
class matter IL, ADVANCE
Postage prepaid; terms IN Az Eve the
All subscription orders sh .'.,n.r IL is a
r, o. ADDRESS and state wnelh ls,, of au-
new or renewal oroer. II chane niu Luz
dress is desired, STATE poth eAs
Remit by postoiiice money ol later or
press money order. resAsteis
DRAFT at our risk. asrsss of each
The date printed on the addrss ss,,nn eN
paper notes when the suosei
pires. ,,,o their pa
Subscribers failing to receive favor by
pers promptly Will confer
giving notice Of the TACT 70
Address all cominuncaIons mpANY
THE GATE CITY SO. Mh iowa
No. IL. North sixth ST.. heokeA' AZ
THE GATE CITY is on sale q. ~
Hotel Keokuk. cor. Third , and Street
G. II. Rollins q Coz ~ Man
Ward Bros, 525 Main Street
Depot News Stand
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01

Judge William Logan, as everybody
will regret to learn, is confined to his
room and his bed with q severe at
tack Of intiammatory rheumatism. He
suffers excruciating pain at times, as
do all victims of rheumatic arthritis,
but he manages to preserve his cheer
full optimism and good humor through
1t all. Paraphrasing Goldsmith, sym
pathetic friends who come to condole
remain to laugh The spirit that
makes such philosophy possible to a
man ought be worth great deal
especially to one with inflammatory
rheumatism!
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01

Alex Miller of the Washington Dem
ocrat says he can pick UP bunch Of
kids from almost any of the country
schools of Washington county who can
spell the pants off" the legislators
at Des Moines, who are trying to re-
form the school laws of Iowa. But
who wants legislator without any
"pants" on?
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01

Hoarse coughs and stuffy colds that
may develop into pneumonia over
night are quickly cured by Fcleys
Honey and Tar, and it .oothes in.
famed membranes, heals the lungs.
and expels the cold from the system.
Wilkinson & Co. and ]. F. Kiedaisch a.
Son.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01
All Iowa reioices that Hon. James

All Iowa rejoices that Hon. James
Wilson is to be retained as secretary
of agriculture in President Taft's
cabinet. This is signal honor worth
lily bestowe.. az d the compliment does
not fail of appreciation at its true
value. Mr.. Wilson in turn will honor
the Taft administration as he has done
that of Pre~ident Roosevelt,
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01
keokuk, Iowa. $50. March 1, 1909.

The papers are remarking that Pres
ident Roosevelt will soon be an lex"
but not has been" The distinction
is one 18th noteworthy difference.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01

The statesman does the speaking,
The editor booms the town,
The lover does the popping,
The damsel turns him down.
The poet does the dreaming,
The farmer clears the woods,
The eagle does the screaming,
But the stork delivers the goods.
Cherokee Democrat.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01

Elderly people cannot afford to trine
with their health. II constipeted or
dyspeptic take DR.. Caldwells Syrup
Pepsin. y There are SO cent and 81 bot
ties. All druggists sell 1t.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01
Mamma, did God make

Sam. Mamma, did God make
your"
Mother. Eyes, dear"
Sam. "And father, too?"
Mother. YES"
Sam. And sister, too?"
Mother Certainly"
Sam. "And me, too?"
Mother Certainly, foolish"
Sam. Hes improving right along,
isn't he?"-Harper's Weekly.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01
NOTES AND COMMENT.

The ice man Is using hay as saw
dust. That's nothing" remarks the
Waterloo Reporter; some breakfast
food makers use sawdust as hay"
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01

"All state legislatures look pretty
much alike when 1t comes to enact
ing laws that are either superfiuors
or unconstitutional or both,'' says the
Council Bluffs Nonpareil.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01

1t was during the third act OF the
melodrama.
Aha" cried the villain, the
plot thickens!"
Good" cried the gallery goblet
ut has been awfully thin SO far"
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-01

The vinton Eagle says that John
Cownie has served twelve years on
tho board of control, and if new man
should be appointed to succeed him
it would not harm Mr.. Cownie nor the
board.