davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mena weekly star., 1909-03-25
HOW IT PAYS KANSAS CITY.

No one will object to any city having and using a boat line when it can pay the bill and make it pay. but when 20 million dollars are taken from the people of the United States to improve the Missouri river, for the sake of enabling Kansas City to thrive on tribute to be paid by those in her trade terri tory. it is not just. To show how the matter of river transportation on the Missouri stands. here is what the Kansas City Star, ever fighting for it's establishment, says:
 "Once it (the boat line) is made question of dividends from direct earnings, the project is lost.
 In other words, it is conseded that the only way the boat line can pay, after having 20 millions of the peoples money spent to make it possible, is from the commercial advantage that Kansas City has over her neighbors- which means that much injury to these neighbors and commercially Mena and Polk county are in thls class,
 And the above shows clearly how the people outside of these favored cities pay, first for the river im- provements, and later to keep them going; how the people drain them selves to fatten the big commission of the big cities through the tribute paid them for handling their products and their necessities.
The Mena weekly star., 1909-03-25
A Congress That Did Little.

The present special session of Con- gress will be devoted entirely to the making of the new tariff. When this is done it will adjourn until next December. Then it will sit again m it's first regular session, which prom ises to be memorable.
 The Sixtieth Congress. which end ed last fourth of March, had two years of life and spent nearly ten months in actual session at Wash ington. On the day it first sat. President Roosevelt sent to it mes- sage which recommended the con- sideration of much important legis- lation:
 An inheritance-tax law.
 An income-tax law.
 Amendments to the Sherman anti trust law.
 Provisions for national waterways.
 Repeal of the tariff on wood pulp.
 A postal-savings-bank law.
 Modification of the right to issue injunctions in labor cases.
 Modification of the employees lia- bility law.
 How much attention the last Con gress gave to the suggestions, the record shows. It no reproach to Congress that it failed to pass these laws. If Congress had voted them down, that might represent merely difference of opinion between Con gress and the President. But the fact is that these measures never came to vote on the floor of Con- gress. For the reason, read this passage from a speech on the floor of the House by the Hon. John NJ. Nelson of Wisconsin:
 ''The President of the United States will send his message to the Congress. as he is directed to do by the constitution. He will tell the Congress of the needs of the coun- try. But 1t will be in the power of a few, in the power of ona. .intrenched in the forms and usagcs. To use the language of Speaker Reed, to defy, to ignore, to defeat these recommen- dations. The policies advocated by the President are of vast importance to the American people. We must remove the barriers, the Obstruc- tions that have been placed in this House by the rules, lest the great reform measures of the country be knocking. knocking at the doors of Congress, and there be little or no re- sponse for years to come. "
 A good deal has been accomplish ed. The rules will be different at the regular session of Congress which .convenes next Decembtr.- Golfers.
The Mena weekly star., 1909-03-25
NOT JUST ONE SIDED.

When the railroad traffic officials met in Chicago and decided" to resume charging three cents mile in Missouri, they overlooked the inn portant detail that Missouri has a real governor. Kansas City Star.
 Yes, Missouri has real governor who is also a real man. When he was attorney general of Missouri, though of opposite political faith with Joe Folk, another real gover- nor, he was man enough to work with him for the people of the state. With a governor of this sort. the people of Missouri are indeed for tunate. and probably will get fair treatment from the railroads and other corporations.
 Incidentally. there is lesson for sll men who seek preferment at the hands of the people in the rapid rise of Mir. Hadley.
The Mena weekly star., 1909-03-25

men are brought together in other departments. would do away with
 waste of time and costly rashes and saye lawmakers as well as the men in other departments and the people millions of dollars. annoying uncer- ,ainty and grievous troubles with out end "
 The Dallas paper says the work of the lawmaking branch could be done carefully. deliberately. wisely and well. and that it cannot be done that way as matters are now ar ranged.
 Much could be said for a plan under which a legislature would consist of few members. but those members well paid. Such a body would work more like a board of directors of business institution or like the commissions that some cities have in lieu of city councils than
 like the legislative bodies of today. In such a body there would be no long speechmaking unless some man chanced to become a member who insisted on running for some other office on the speeches he might make in the legislature. Important mat ters could then be subjected to pa- tient and exhaustive investigation and settled on their their merits and the ascertained facts instead of being settled in the oratorieal ex- citement of some afternoon, with the gallery applauding the speaker or hissing that one.
 A handful of the best men in Ar kansas, with compensation sufficient to reward them for their services and with plenty of time, could have. for instance, made an investigation to determine what would be a just rate for each Arkansas railroad to charge and then fixed rates that would not have been de- clared "confscatory" by the courts. Of course legislatures can fix rates with whoop when the members are fresh from the people and full of fury" but so the courts can enjoin those rates.
 The penitentiary matter, the agri- cultural schools, the great matters of taxation and revenue, the new capitol matter might also be handled to the greatest advantage by small body of the best men in the state, full compensated and with plenty of time for investigation and delibera- tion.
 Of course this plan is revolution ary-probably too revolutionary to be adopted. Arkansas Gazette.
The Mena weekly star., 1909-03-25
TAXED TO MAKE COUNTRY
 LIFE HARDER.

Responding to the pressure brought by few great cities whose existence largely depends upon their power to levy tribute on the people of the territory adjoining. through the handling of the products and the necessities of the people around them, Congress has set aside millions O. dollars of all the peoples money 10 improve the Missouri river on the plea that by so doing, cheaper freight rates can be had by the favored cities from the railroads.
 The Star has before pointed out the wrong that results from giving one city such undue advantage over others-how t makes life harder in the less favored communities and h w 1t makes the producers life such that he ceases to produce and goes 70 the city to become a non- producer and joins the drift toward poverty and woe. In doing this. The Star stated that it was not that the interests of these cities desired to use the river for shipment of freight and that these vast expendi- lures were asked and used solely to force the railroads to favor them over other cities.
 In view of these things. it is inter- esting to see the Kansas City papers containing article after article of complaint because the factories and business houses of that city will not furnish enough river freight to keep a steamboat running. and thus force the railroads to give lower rates.
 A little study along the line of finding out the effect on country life of giving low freight rates to big cities and high freight rates to ! smaller ones would have lead Presi dent Rooseyelt's commission on
The Mena weekly star., 1909-03-25

that day. Bat suppose that the million loaves are divided between half a million people. each receiving two loaves- that reduces to poverty half a million people.
 We arc net arguing that it would cure poverty to take all the wealth of the world and divide it with all of the people of the world. Of course 1t would not; 1t would cure it but for a day. The second day the wise and strong and the resource ful would have more than their share and the weak and foolish would have nothing. To divide all of the wealth of the world with all the peopl. of the world would be but to commence over again, with the result that in a few years at most we should be back where we are now. with poverty stalking thFOAHh the lanu.
 Don't think for moment that we propose to here settle the question of poverty. We are not that foolish. The statement is made that the issue of poverty is the greatest issue the world has ever seen, and until 1t IS settled. no man need believe that all of the great issues have been set tied by the great men of the past.
 If one should rise who was big enough to settle the question of poverty, even as Washington settled the revolutionary war. or as Lincoln settled the question of African slavery, he would at once be recog- nized as a mightier mau than Wash ington and as a better man than Lincoln Southwest American.
The Mena weekly star., 1909-03-25
Legislatures of Few Members.

The regular session of the Texas legislature came to an end Saturday with the general appropriation bill not passed, with the Democratic platform demands not acted upon, with the speaker of the house under fire and a senator expelled for mak- ing certain charges concerning lob bying. At once the body must meet in extra session for 30 days, and at the end of that time another extra session may have to be called.
 In the closing days of the regular session the Dallas News, in an edi- torial headed The Same Old Danger and How to Avoid It." said the grand rush was on at Austin and the worst of it was that no such grand rush was necessary.
 Members of the legislature. !" said the News. "are themselves responsible for the assertion that some time has been wasted in play ing to the galleries, in loud claptrap designed to bring to those indulging therein little cheap political noto- riety. Such cheap notoriety comes high, so far as the people who pay the bills are concerned. Now. wouldn't it be a wise and timely change if the lawmaking body could be relieved entirely from the dis credit, delay and burden of such electioneering stunts, and could be changed from an unwieldy political convention to a sizable deliberatiye body ?"
 The News respectfully submits that reduction of the membership of the legislative body, so that there would be dozen senators and two dozen members of the house. thus rendering deliberation easy and cam paign oratory wholly out of order and bringing together only men of weight and experience, just as such
The Mena weekly star., 1909-03-25
Rational Brevlties.
lIlavIdFlIn

It is truly amusing to see people enjoying the false belief that they are coneealing their true character.
 A wise man makes many mistakes and hastens to correct them, while the fool makes them and hash t sense enough to know it..
 Even the possession of great wealth has it's bad features. The grand jury sometimes gets uncom- fortably inquisitive.
 Truth may be temporarily hidden, but not permanently--it will come forth, So if you do not want to be known to have done a thing, don't do it.
 There are innate facilities in the brain of every sane person capable of development beyond the most sanguine anticipation of the human mind. The live germs of vast knowledge and wisdom are there awaiting freedom.
 Material progress goes smoothly and rapidly forward, but spiritual advances are only by leaps and bounds, being checked(?) by creeds and dogmas, till such time as some progressive heretic succeeds in es- tablishing new stakes further up. or new truths discovered. Every mind must choose between progress and repose. Between these we con tinually osci late like a pendulum and cannot have both--for he in whom the love of progress predomi- mates is an active candidate for truth and is always searching, while those m whom repose holds the highest thought is content with whatever IS first offered, whether it be a reliQ- ous or political creed anything to lay down upon and sleep, or hang on to the pendulum as it swings on forever.
The Mena weekly star., 1909-03-25
The Greatest Issue.

In a discussion the other day a gentleman made the remark that all of the great men of the past had been peculiarly fortunate in the matter of having great issues thrust upon them. He recited the fact that Washington was born at the period of disturbance in this coun- try, and that he was about the right age when the war of the revolution broke out. The gentleman told how had it not been for the war between the north and the south Grant and Lincoln would never have been heard of, and he halfway be- walled the fates that had solved all of the great issues before the arrival of this generation.
 There are probably a lot of people who consider that all of the great issues have been solved, and yet the one great issue of the world-the one issue that has been with us since civilization began, has not been solved. And that is the issue of poverty.
 Beside that issue. all others have been mere details. The issue of African slavery involved four or five million people. The issue of poverty involves the slavery of half the peo- pie of the world.
 The liquor question is a big issue, how to regulate the traffic, how to promote temperance, how to educate the people to the point of temper ance and of tolerance-that is big question. But it is only an incident in the issue of poverty. Solve the problem of poverty and no thought need be given to the question of intemperance. Poverty is not al matter of intemperance; intemper- ance is a matter of poverty. Att least the profoundest scholars of the age believe that if we could elimi- nate poverty we would have solved the problem of intemperance.
 Christ tried to solve the problem, and expounded a doctrine that would unquestionably solve it. but the world has never accepted his teach ings. The statement is r-ade de- liberately the world has never ac- cepted the teachings of Christ. Until all men do unto others as they would that others should do unto them, it is folly to claim that the teaching of the Master are adhered to by those who claim to be his fol- 1 lowers.
 And pray, what is this povertyl which has so troubled the world | since the right of property was Or, to put it different | y, what causes poverty? Simply his. The accumulation of more food in one mans hands than he can to the detriment of some 'ther man who is hungry.
 If there were a million loaves to 'e divided between a million people. here would be no hunger for the lime being-no poverty in bread
The Mena weekly star., 1909-03-25
THE MENA EVENING STAR
THE TARIFE.

To the average onlooker 1t seems pretty clear that the tariff, aside from the element of raising revenue for the government, is more a mat ter of locality and special interest than anything else. The way it is handled. apparently, each district or interest is fully satisfied if 1t can saddle the burden upon some other district or interest and have chance to profit thereby, and of course, the lawmakers are bound to see the issue more or less through the eyes of their constituents. As an ex- ample:
 For years past certain little cor ner in Missouri and Kansas has sought by might and main to get tariff. placed on zinc ore, claiming the industry needed protection, i" despite the fact that twenty years ago this ore was mined and sold at profit at prices around $14 and $l6 ton, while in recent ye ITS 1t has brought $40 and upwards. But the zinc interests were compact, organ ized, and fought for what they wanted, and elected men whom they controlled and who were bound to work as directed. The people, who must pay the increased cost or profit guaranteed by tariff, merely voted and just depended upon the honor of their representatives to care for their interests.
 Result: The proposed tariff re- vision-the Payne bill grants a tariff of cent per pound on zinc contained in zinc ore about SIP a ton or the average of 60 per cent ore.
 Of course, the consumers would pay the bill by a raise of just that proportion on all kinds of zinc pro- duets, but they would scarcely be heard in their own defense.
 But, there is someone kicking. all right for the people, though just for another special interest.
 Over in Kansas where natural gas is plentiful and cheap, big smelters
 zinc smelters- have been estab- lished. If this cent-a-pound tariff goes into effect, foreign ore would be barred out and there would not be enough ore to keep them running proftably. Of course the interest of the e people is but trifle com pared with that of the people-the consumers-bu the shelter men are looking after their own-they are fighting the tariff on zinc declaring it would be ruinous to them.
 Sifted to the bottom, this is mighty near the case in every item covered by the tariff. and the idea that it should be taken out of the hands of politicians and special inter- ests and placed with non-partisan commission--one not bound up by | local or special interests or preju- dices, is worthy of consideration.
The Mena weekly star., 1909-03-25
TO ERADICATE CATTLE TICKS.
Ask Farmers to Assist in Securing
 Passage of Bill for That Purpose.

The following circular has been sent out over the state from { he Agriculture Experiment Station at Fayetteville, and de- serves the consideration or all farmers and stock raistrs over the state:
 Fayetteville, March 19.-Sen- ate Bill 154 (R0wland ) calls for an appropriation of $20, 900 to rid this state of cattle ticks. When this is done, the counties so freed will be placed abt.ye he U. $. quarantine liue and get the benefit of the native market with unrestricted movement all the year round. The federal govern ment will spend in thls state as much or more than the state spends iu this work; ln fact, in the past the U. $. government has spent about ten dollars to the states one.
 During the past two years six counties have been freed from the federal quarantine and placed above the llne, showing that thls work Is practicable and not a theory. The farmers in these six counties - Randolph, Clay, Lawrence, Green, Carroll and Benton-can get more for their cattle than can farmers below the line, and can market them in the native market at any time of the year. Those who have had to hold their cattle till the open season in November and had them shrink on account of drying up of pastures, etc., will realize what this means 10 the cattle industry. When we are free from the cattle tick we can with safety import pure-bred bulls, and then raise better and higher priced animals. Two more counties will be added 10 the list of those above the line if the state appropriates money to protect them from re-iufestation.
 Every man who owns a COW ought to make ii his duty to see that this bill passess.
 Respectfully,
 w. Lentou,
 Veterinary Experiment Station.
The Mena weekly star., 1909-03-25

A. E. Stilwell, who built the Kansas City Southern railway, and is now building a bigger line, the Kansas City, Mexico X Orient, is about due to return from trip to Europe. Here's guessing that he'll bring back a few millions of good cash to balance that taken out by titled foreigners who marry rich Americans who got their money from our railroads.
The Mena weekly star., 1909-03-25

Nervous weakness or palpita- tion of the heart indicates disor- der in the stomach and indlges- ton. Prickly Ash Bitters IS a wonderful remedy in such cases. It cleanses, strengthens and regu- lates the stomach, liver and bowels, removes the cause of the heart symptoms and builds up a strong aud vigorous body. w. c, Vandiver, special agent.
The Mena weekly star., 1909-03-25
DISOUSTED.

MT. Pinchot's labored argument for the high tariff duties on lumber is calculated to disgust many people who have supported his crusade for the preservation of the forests very cordially. Southwest American.
 In the classical language of the times, "ain't that the truthi"
The Mena weekly star., 1909-03-25

country life to some valuable con- clusions.
 It is pretty tough luck for a pe0- pie to be taxed to support a system to make the producers life harder.
The Mena weekly star., 1909-03-25

Where can you invest money more prottably than by buying bottl Of Prickly Ash Bitters- you get four for one. A kidney medicine, liver tonic, stomach strengtheuer and bowel cleanser. Four medicines for one doiler. W.. ~ Vandiver, special agent.
The Mena weekly star., 1909-03-25

Don't think ! Don't worry I Black X Dickson will do your dental work and give you perfect satisfaction in every particular. 260tf 2tf
The Mena weekly star., 1909-03-25

State Auditor lobe says Arkansas is spending nearly a million dollars year more than it's revenues. Would our lawmakers like to con- duct their own business affairs on a similar basis?
The Mena weekly star., 1909-03-25
Wanted for Jansen Park.

One dozen squirrels and one half dozen owls. See Judge J. s. Kelly, park commissioner. d&w
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-14
CHARLES BiDwELL, FACING PEN.
iTENTIARY TERM WITH PA.
RENT, SACRIFICES SELF. u
PAYS EXPENSE OF APPEAL
AS PRICE OF LENiENcY.
Aged inventor of "cold" Motor to Do
Given Freedom After Serving Sem
tence of Ten Days in County Jail.
Ridwelps Promoted Companies to
Exploit Worthless Patent,

Chicago April l4--Charles Bid
wells effort to save his aged father.
Benson BidweIi, from prison at the
cost of his own possible liberty, was
accomplished in Judge chetland's court
today.
Both the Bidwells were sentenced TO
indeterminate terms in The penlten-
tiary for alleged swnding thru tho
medium of a cold" motor invented by
the elder Bidwell. Charles. to save the
father, whose physical condition is
precarious, agreed with the states at
torney to share the states cost OF con-
testing his appeal. in which he had
much faith. II the state would agree
to lenient course with his father.
Today Benson was allowed to plead
guilty to a minor charge under which
he must serve ten days In the county
jail, after which he will be given his
liberty. Charles Bidwel will be taken
to the penitentiary next Friday.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-14
APPLEGATE DENIES
Superintendent of State Hospital for
Insane, Indignant Over Charges
Made by Legislative Committee,
Which Recently Investigated lnsti-
&utinn

Special to Times Republican.
Mt. Pleasant, April 14-Superlntend-
ent Applegate, of the state hospital for
the insane at this place, sent out u
letter yesterday in which he denies
the charges set forth by the committee
which was appointed by the. legisla-
ture. In it he speaks very plainly
of the visit of the committee to the
institution, and expresses his surprise
that they should be so we'll pleased
with the cleanliness of the insttu-
ton, and later issue the "disgraceful
report" He claims no complaints We're
made by any Of the inmates to the
investigating committee, which goes
to show that a great part of the COM
plaint by outsiders was unfounded.
The hospital now has under its care
1865 patients, and it is safe to say
they are receiving better care than at
any time in the previous history of the
institution. The indignation of Mr. APP
plegate Is shared by his friends and
many relatives of the inmates. who
consider it very unjust that such an
erroneous and disgraceful report
should be given consideration by the
people of Iowa