davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-12-31
A Fine Thing.

1t would be fine thing for the
travelling public, the railroad COM
panies and Webster City if a union
depot were built in this city. Such
depot could be located on Des
Moines street between the Chicago
& Northwestern and the Illinois
Central tracks, extending from one
right-of-way to the other. 1t could
be either on the east or west side Of
the street. Another good location
would be between the tracks on
Wilson avenue. There the ground
is much less valuable and for depot
purposes the location is just as good
so far as the public and the town
are concerned, but the railroads
might take a different view when
considering their own interests. But
there will be no disposition to quar-
rel over the location. What Web
ster City would like to have Is a
union depot One that would be
credit to the roads and to the town.
And Webster City is certainly en-
titled to this.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-12-31

fined and subjected to course of
mental and physical calisthenics
which will do for them mentally and
morally what fresh air, good food,
absolutely clean living and serum
treatment will do for the tubercular
patient not too far gone. Then the
Eldora marshal and other peace Of
ficers in the state will simply act as
hooks or parts of a net which
catches these Migrants and forwards
them to state institutions for Con-
finement and cure if cure is possible.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-12-31
WILSON'S BIG JOB.

Sioux City Journal: Woodrow
Wilson will make very good presi-
dent if things can be shaped SO the
task will beft his physical powers.
Mr.. Wilson has not the strength OF
Theodore Roosevelt, or William
Howard Taft, or of William Jen-
nings Bryan. It Is not because he
is too old. He is Sc, while Taft Is
SIS, Roosevelt 54 and Bryan 81. They
are near enough the same age to
make them equals, but it is very
much to be doubted II Mr.. Wilson
has the staying power OF either OF
the others.
A large part of the equipment for
the presidential Office is something
outside of mere intellect. A man
needs to be as strong as an OK with
very much the same kind of nerves.
The American people honor the Of
fee, and are disposed to fall over
one another in presenting their re-
spects. The president hardly has
any privacy; and one reason people
like to see him is to see for them
selves II he looks tired and to judge
for themselves whether or not he Is
democratic. II he Is not careful his
administration will be voted a fall
ure and his standing in history i'm
periled.
One whose nervous system Is be-
hind time can never do his best. He
cannot smile just as he ought to,
and he cannot always reach the soft
pedal. Indeed, he is quite apt to
put In the wrong word with the
wrong man-as. for instance, some
senator who has views and a COM
mittee Craftsmanship. A man Is de-
pendent upon his physical powers to
keep him good natured and to keep
open house; and good nature and
the open house make strong COM
bination in politics. which. for the
purpose of this writing, must be un-
derstood to include diplomacy. The
man who is tired is always wanting
to go home, and SO he is always
creating an impression that the
friends who have honored him with
their presence are not congenial.
First he knows, he will hear. he is
an iceberg, or something equally
disagreeable. Anyone can appear
jolly If he feels that way. There is
such a thing as being too fresh, but
II one is not fresh 1t Is hard to be
all that is expected of president OF
the United States.
Mr.. Cleveland came into the presi-
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-12-31
A CLEAN OF HOPE.

Council Bluffs Nonpareil: Eldora
is going to try an experiment. The
town will work its prisoners on the
streets, alleys, or wherever work
may be found to do. The authorities
are tired of warming and feeding
able bodied louis who have no sense
of shame and are not in the least
concerned about being locked in a
local bastile so long as 1t is comfort
ably warm.
Eldora is right in principle but is
up against real problem in prac-
tical application. To do what Ell
dora proposes requires more time
and more appliances than the town
has or can afford. One town or one
city is not territorially large enough
to cope with this problem. Eldora
understands that large number of
people in this country are afflicted
with hook wormitis without the
worm. They have all the symptoms
of the disease but not the physical
disease itself Their affiiction is
mental. Some years ago when the
Salvation army undertook to shift
lanlless men in the east to man
less land in the west they were adj
vised that the effort would fail. The
critics said: These people will not
go, they will not stay, they will not
work, they will not pay" These
skeptics were right in their refer
ence to the class of people Eldora
proposes to deal with. The Saliva
ton people. however. found some
worthy poor people who did make
good.
The problem with which Eldora Is
graphing is problem which must
be attacked by no less territorial
unit than the state. Take, for illus
tration, any man who drifts into a
town and either holds UP some citi-
zen, breaks into store or bank or
strikes the city marshal for a meal
and q night lodging in the calaboose.
,Analyze his character. Trace his
history back to the cradle. 1t will
be found that these fellows are sick.
II their affiiction was physical 1t
would be akin to tuberculosis. moth
ing but the most scientific care
through several months or possibly
for two or three years would cure
them. They may be incurable. Their
mental afiiiction is equally tenac-
ious. It must receive equally dras-
tic and long continued treatment.
And all the people thus afflicted are
not travellers. Most communities
have resident characters of kindred
texture.
Iowa and other states need insti-
tutions where men OF this class can
be treated--where they will be con-
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-12-31

ing seasons it is quite generally q
quiet and peaceful stream, and It
has reached the place where, in
stead of being terror to the COM
munity, it is the favorite haunt of
the small boy, who seeks, with bent
pin and angle worm, to lure the
bullhead from the tranquil waters of
Bullhead pond on a, hot summer day.
Such has been the regeneration Of
the river that used to be boss Of the
bottoms. H.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-12-31
Real Estate Transfers.

Delos Jones and VT to Eleanor
J. Beatty-wd-se se-19 and WIZ
nw-29 and IL Sc 80, 10 and
S9-23.-$1.0O. ."
Frank Draper and VT to Ben Will
son-wd-lot 70, blk ia, E. & F..
addition, w. C.-$900.O0.
T. Skevington and WI to Bernard
Swanson-wd-lot 6, blk 8, Will
iams.-$7,000.00. ,'.
Elizabeth Beightol and hush to P.
E. Little-wd-lot 2, blk 4, Park
addition, w. C.-$200.OO.
w. c. Pyle and VT to Mrs. Elma
McKay-wd-lots 1 and Q, blk Z,
Jewell unction.-$34.O0.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-12-31

The man who is worthy of being
q leader of men will never complain
OF the stupidity Of his helpers. of the
ingratitude Of mankind, nor OF the
inappreciation of the public. These
things are all a part of the great
game OF life and to meet and not &c
down before them in discourage
ment and defeat is the final proof OF
power. --Elbert Hubbard.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-12-31
Railroad Places Big Order.

Portland, Ore, Dec. 2b.-An'
nouncement was made yesterday by
Assistant General Freight Agent r
p. Gorty of the Northern Pacific
railroad that his company had just
placed, for delivery next season, one
Of the largest orders for power and
equipment ever given by any Ameri'
can railroad at one time. 1t includes
seventy engines and 1856 cars. The
aggregate cost will be 3l0,000,000
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-12-31
REPORTERS LEGAL STATUS.

Boone News-Republ1can: IL mas
been ruled in the Milwaukee circuit
court by Judge Turner that news
paper reporter is not compelled to
disclose the confidential sources of
information upon which he has bas-
ed an article or report.
That the decision will be general
ly approved by those familiar in the
slightest degree with the processes
that converge in the gathering of
news and the making of newspapers
is agreed to by the Atlanta Constitu-
ton, which indorses the stand taken
by The American Press in advising
editors as to their attitude in this re-
spect. The Press says:
1t happens in cases innumerable
that incidents and events that
should in the interests of public pol
icy, see the light Of day are suppress
ed because the man with the infor-
nation fears he will not be protect
ed II he gives it.
For example, the graft exposures
and other publicity chapters that
have so decisively purified the pub
lie life of this country would have
been almost an impossibility had not
the reporter been in the capacity of
privileged witness"
The paper that desires to serve the
public in the broadcast, most import
ant sense should hold the names Of
its confidential informants inviolate
and thus encourage citizens to give
news that, when properly verified,
will work toward the peoples good.
But of course great care should be
taken in avoiding the publication Of
libelous matter.
The reporter, after all, is merely
the agent of the paper. His powers
as an agent in law are limited by
the express or implied authority
granted him. Within these limits
he should not in any event, be held
liable for his writings that appear in
the paper.
BY printing them the paper
adopts the act Of the reporter as its
own.
The conscientious, honest report
err on responsible paper rarely per-
petrates a wrong that warrants his
appearance in court to expose the
identity on informants. We are
glad OF the judgment of the Milwau-
kee court which operates to insure
the freedom Of the press within It's
Jurisdiction and which will serve as
an equitable precedent to be follow
ed elsewhere.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-12-31
Gas We did Unto Them"

So he died. and they said unto
him:
eft is written against you that
you needed not the sorrow and the
want of them that were stricken in
poverty and suffered in illness and
want"
And he said
THAT is unfair, for all my life
long noted especially the suffering
and want of the poor, and not a
Christmas went by that did not
say over and over that I was sorry
for them. No one gave them more
sympathy than,I. no one showed
more commiseration for them. Why.
lots OF times I thought of them on
cold winter nights, and said to my
friends that it was too bad they had
to endure privations."
THAT is correct" they said unto
him. "But 1t Is written that you did
not materialize your sympathy-you
simply sympathized in words, and
words are not eaten, nor are they
worn, nor are they burned In
stoves"
So he was abashed, and stood ST.
lent for a space. Then he said
meekly:
"And I must not come in?"
As to that. they did not answer.
but they said again unto him:
"All those that you sympathized
with are here, and now they will
sympathize with YOU"
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-12-31
the editor Of the Times was post

the editor of the Times was post
master at Ames he was a warm adj
vocate Of Capt. Hull, but soon after
], he was separated from the Office his
ardor for the congressman under
went a cooling-off process. Human
nature is the same the world over.
It has long been regarded as a
breach Of confidence for man
whom the president had appointed
to his cabinet or some other station
of high honor to become candidate
for the presidency against his chief.
! Such officers will not even criticise
the administration no matter what
the provocation may be. If they can
not conscientiously support the adj
ministration they resign before they
condemn it. Who ever heard of an
editor-postmaster fighting for re-
election the congressman to whom he
owed his appointments, while he was
vet holding the postmastership?
Continuing the Ames paper says:
This sounds like break the writ
er heard a fellow make the other
night. He said certain judge
would not be allowed to sit on case
against city, because the aforesaid
Judge was a tax payer in that said
city. If that judge is not compe-
tent to give an unbiased opinion in
such case, then he is out Of his
sphere, and should not be allowed
to sit on the bench at all. Not to-
day
But what If that judges political
Job depended upon his decision in
that case? Suppose he owed his ap-
pointment to congressman and the
congressman could cause his dismiss
sal at the expiration of his term?
What would the judge do in that
case?
There is no getting away from the
truthfulness OF the statement that
editors who hold appointive posi-
lions are not free to criticise those
to whom they are indebted for such
positions. That is such self-evi- |
dent truth that it is remarkable that
anyone should question it.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-12-31
Costly Gossip.

L
Sioux City Tribune: A gossiping
man with mischievous intent pois-
oned the mind of married woman
In California against her husband.
advising her to divorce her husband.
which she did.
Learning afterwards that the.
stories told her by the gossiping
man were lies, either invented by
the man gossip himself, or repeated
to her for the mischief they would
create, she prosecuted the story tel
Ter and got n verdict from the jury
in the lower court for Sic, 900 dam
ages. The Judge in the lower court
overruled the verdict for damages
on the theory that it was the hus-
band alone, and not the wife, who
had been damaged by the false stor-
les. The supreme court there has
recently held the first verdict good,
announcing the doctrine that In
such cases both the husband and
vile or either or them may sue ana
recover damages. The lawyers say
this is new doctrine, so to speak,
such as might be expected from the
court OF progressive state like, CAL
ifornia.
But why not? What are political
parties for II not to broaden the
public view and enlarge the scope Of
government? And what Is state
supreme court for If not to help by
progressive decisions instead of him
dering through reactionary de-
cisions this broader view and pro-
gressiye trend of public opinion?
The gosslpers will have more care
for what they say hereafter in Cali
fornia.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-12-31
THE RIGHT OF THE CHILD.

We are prone to emphasize the
duty OF the child to parents and to
elders. Holy writ commands chill
dren to be obedient and to love and
honor parents. But we are coming
into a larger realization of the
rights of the child. Children come
into the world not of their own vo-
lition. They are creatures of par
ents and environment. They are
trained to habits of industry and
thrift or allowed to drift with time
and tides. They may live in NOR
ally healthfnl atmosphere or be sur
rounded by conditions which stifie
moral and religious sentiments. And
this IL true Of physical as well as the
moral being Of the child.
Now we are coming to realize two
cardinal points with reference to the
child life about us. "a The child
Of today is the citizen Of tomorrow
and under our form Of government
IL to bear some responsibility with
reference to neighbors and the state.
The neighbors and the state, there
fore, have deep and abiding inter-
est In the welfare Of the child. (2)
The right OF the child to a chance
Tor development is now more gen.
orally recognized than ever before.
When crime is committed now we
ask ourselves: Is this man natur-
ally vicious or Is he the victim Of an
absence OF training? In other words,
has he had his chance? Was his
mind stepped In vice and the fur
rows Of his brain cut and scanned
with malevolent ideas before nobler
sentiments had a chance to operate?
A striking illustration of the neg
Ngence OF men along these lines is
noted In recent publication OF a
bulletin by the Michigan state board
Of health. This bulletin notes the
fact that the state board Of health
acting under the law recently con-
demned the Ingham county jail and
the county was obliged to construct
. new one. In the same county is
. school in an lily ventilated base
ment room with fifty-five small chill
dren which was as unsanitary as the
fail. But the health board had no
authority to condemn or compel the
construction of a more modern
building. Nor has any other body
such authority.
These children furnish good
case in point. They are not getting
square deal. They are entitled to
healthful environment and chance
to grow strong physically as well as
mentally. The rights of childhood
ought to be regarded as sacred. Our
duty In this respect has no limita-
tons. Council Bluffs Nonpareil,
And in this connection it is prop
er to drop word in favor Of state
pension for widows with children to
rear. No mother ought to be re-
Quired to neglect her brood in eff
forts to supply bread. Children need
the care and advice OF the mother
and her hand should direct them In
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-12-31
DIRECT VOTE.

Senator Works of California pro-
poses an amendment to the Consti-
tuition providing for the election OF
President and Vice President by d.
rect vote Of the people. Now, as
nearly everybody knows, the people
vote for electors, one elector for
each congressman and senator,-in
the case of Iowa, thirteen--and
these electors, sitting as the Elect
oral College, by ballot elect the
President and Vice President. No
more than moral obligation binds
these electors to vote for the candi-
date of the party which elected
them.
On the chance that one day there
may be a scandal in the Electoral
College and defeat of the expressed
will of the people, the election OF
President and Vice President should
be by the voters themselves. There
is wisdom in prevention. Before
the horse is stolen is the time to
lock the barn door.-Dubuque Tele-
graph Herald.
There will be just opposition to a
direct vote for the election of presi-
dents until the ballot is made secure
in the hands of every citizen en-
titled by the constitution to exercise
the elective franchise. There is a
big section Of our country where
this right is denied to perhaps q
600 900 of citizens. These citizens
thus DISTINGUISHED are largely re-
publicans and as long As the sup
preston of their votes does not re-
suit in the defeat Of that party this
Acknowledgement will be tolerated,
Just as the unjust representation In
republican national conventions has
been tolerated. But let it be under
stood in the great republican states
that the suppression of votes is re-
sponsible for the election of a presi-
dent and there will be trouble. Let
this evil be corrected before presi-
dents are elected by direct vote.
----------------------
what you need and want Is
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-12-31

to- right paths. She cannot do that
if her efforts are required to keep
the wolf from the door. AS the Nom
pareil well says, the child has a
right to fair chance. The state
also has right aye, duty, to pro-
tect its future. 1t can do it only
by creating and maintaining condi-
lions for good citizenship. There is
no sentiment in the proposition for
a widows pension. It is a matter
of public development, an invest
ment that will yield large dividends
in all the days of the future.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-12-31

If 1 were to attempt a divine act,
such as Bellamy, Bernard Shaw, Geo.
w. Wells and other seekers of happy
people would achieve, I should in
clude the dangling hunger of a
stocking that awaits its Christmas
dinner. This would be one of the
Median laws of my universal repub-
lie. Every child must have at least
one stocking, and every stocking
must have it's stuffing at least once
a year.-Philip G.. Davidson.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-12-31

I always think the most perfect
description of happiness that words
can give is: Peace on earth, good
will to men. Darwin.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-12-31

4 dency the second time under trying
circumstances. There were import
ant things to do, but there was such
pressure upon him to get busy civ,
ing out the offices that he lost his
| patience. He exhibited a strong
constitution in the exercise of his
! powers of resistance, but at the end
of his second term there were not
democratic votes enough anywhere
to nominate him for anything.
Mr.. Wilson is of a more delicate
makeup than Mr.. Cleveland was, and
of finer fiber, no doubt, than Mr..
Roosevelt. If things come thick and
fast, and some OF the things appear
to be ragged adjectives hurled in his
direction-whilN he says he is not
afraid of anything-it is not i'm
probable Mr.. Wilson will be grieved,
and maybe have some trouble in 60
ing to sleep in his chair. The presi-
dency calls for a man who can hard
en- his heart, or one who is so easily
subject to timely drowsiness that he
can always dismiss his troubles by
closing his eyes.
The immediate peril to Mr.. Will
son lies in the direction Of the cloud
of officeseekers headed his way.
They are saying to one another,
where their immediate interests do
not conflict, that the party will go
to pieces if honest recompense is not
rendered.
The president-elect has no easy
job before him, and it BELTS the sea-
son to wish him well.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-12-31

What you need and want Is
yours for the taking, not the ask
ing. Ask no man the right to do
your own task. Take-take kind
ly, take rightly, but take-then
smile. for success is yours"
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-12-31

ed, and where once the early settler
and his team OF oxen hunted for
hours In order to find reasonable
safe place to ford a stream, the en-
terprising farmer now breezes alone
the level roads in big. six cylinder
automobile, nor has a single thought
Of the days when Skunk river was
boss OF the bottom lands. Ev-
cry year however, the Skunk grows
tanner. The draining Of Mud lake
its headwater. worked wonders In
tanning the stream. Now 1t gathers
its impetus from the tiles and small
tributaries In the northern part OF
Story county, as general rule, and
when it overflows it goes out Of Its
banks merely because its channel, Is
temporarily gorged and the high
water quickly subsidies.
The bottom lands that used to BIZ
rendered worthless by the high wat
ers are now considered very valuabl,
and are much sought by corn farm
ers in central Iowa, because of thu
stability of the soil. The river that
used to go on terrific rampages II
the log cabin days, has gradually re
generated. In recent years l hav'
seen 1t when there was only a mar
row thread of water, perhaps foo
wide, ripping over the pebbles II
Its course. Throughout the chang