Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1913-01-01

tics, In Great Disasters, In
Wars. in Labor Troubles
and Various Ways.
AS we go to press the year 1912 ma.
but a few hours left, and e'er yo,
read this will have passed into his
tory. In many ways it has been q
notable year. 1t has seen a revoiu
tion in politics. such as has not oc
CURED in half century in the Unit
ed States; the greatest maritime dis
aster in the worlds history; the at
tempted assassination of Roosevelt;
labor strikes and trials OF national
character, etc.
The presidential campaign through
which the country passed this year IL
the most notable, perhaps, in Ameri
can history. 1t was the first trial on
an extensive scale of a preferential
primary and re-convention cam.
paign in which for the first time a
president Of the United States was
driven to the stump in his own de-
Tense. Then came the split in the
republican party and the Roosevelt
candidacy and formation of new
party, the long and fierce fight in the
democratic national convention be-
tween Clark and Wilson, the domina-
tion by w. j. Bryan OF the convention
and his swinging of enough support to
Wilson to nominate him on the forty
seventh ballot. Then the strenuous
campaign Of months duration, during
which. the maniac Schranck attempt
ed to assassinate Roosevelt as he was
going to the auditorium in Milwau-
kee to speak, his recovery and sub
sequent direction of his campaign.
Then the election. and the landslide
to Wilson. who carried the election
by over 100000 plurality with $40
votes in the electoral college.
The greatest disaster on the seas
in the worlds history was the COLI
sion of the monster floating palace,
The Titanic" with an iceberg OF the
coast of Newfoundland. and its sink,
ing with 1901 out Of 2,208 souls
aboard. Many of those who perished
were world famous men. including
w. T. Stead, British journalist; c..
n. Hayes. president of the Grand
Trunk ny: Coi~dohn Jacob Astor, Mr..
Ind Mrs. IsadOr Straus. Major w.
Butt. aid to the president; Francis
D. Millett. the artist; and Jacques
Futrelle. the novelist. and many 9TH
rs of fame and distinction. The IT,
anic was the largest vessel afloat.
Ind was on her maiden voayage.
The death of Vice President James
J. Sherman, at his home in Utica. N. |
r. was another occasion of unusual
He was the first vice presi-
lent ever renominated and was uni
beloved.
Other events of national import
lnce were the floating of the wreck
" the Maine In Havana harbor; the
of statehood for New
Mexico and Arizona; the appoint
nent Of Mahlon Pitney of New Jer-
,ey, Justice of the United States SUI
preme Court; resignation of DR.. H.
w. Wiley, pure food crusader; Pas
sage by congress of constitutional
for popular election of
United States Senators; Chicago meat
packers declared not guilty by jury;
expulsion OF William Lorimer of Chi
,ago from United States Senate;
opening of Pulitzer school Of journal
ism in New York: award of Nobel
prize in surgery to DR.. Alexis Carrel
Of New York; resignation of British
James Brice; dissolution
Of bath tub trust; death of Whitelaw
Reid, minister to Great Britain; in
Of money trust; passage
Of parcels post law; conviction of 3S
union officials at Indianapolis on
charges growing out of Mcnamara
case; acquittal OF Charles s. Darrow
on charge of jury bribing in same
case; strike at Lawrence, Mass: an
thracite coal strike ended by arbitra-
tion: the continued lighting in Mex
leo; end of the Turko-Italian war in
Europe; the war of the Balkans. etc..
etc.
These are some Of the most import.
ant happenings of the year. Much
might also be written of other minor
matters Of public interest. History
will write 1t as year of unusual oc-
currences along many lines.
Shankland Bill May Meet Defeat.
Des Moines, Ia, Dec. S0.-The