Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-12-15

wish to deceive the people, very
natural presumption. But why Is
there such a widespread demand for
the publication of the proceedings
of the board of supervisors while
there is apparently very little de-
mand for the publication of the
proceedings of city councils and
school boards. Here in Webster City
in years past the newspapers agreed
to publish the proceedings of the
council free of charge, but never yet
has an authentic report been fur
nished the newspapers for publica-
ton of the proceeds of that body.
Statute permits the council to pub
lish it's proceedings and the people
have reason to fear that all is not
as it should be or such persistent at
tempts at secrecy would not be re-
sorted to. Publicity is the best de-
terent to official wastefulness and
wrongdoing and when the legisla-
ture requires the publication Of all
proceedings of all boards handling
public monies and doing public bus
mess the interests of taxpayers will
be conserved.
MEXICO.
Golfers: 1t is a pity that consid-
erations OF propriety compel many
persons and papers which earnestly
disagree with Wilson about his Mex
lean course to keep silent on the
subject. Affairs in Mexico are in a
very bad way. They are likely to
grow worse. When man expresses
the belief that Wilson's course in
Mexico has been wrong, it is instant
| " assumed that the critic faVors
armed Intervention. In the case of
thoughtful critics that is exactly the
opposite truth. 1t is just because
Wilson's course was sure to bring
| intervention that we regard it as
wrong. 1t is intervention to tell a
nation whom it shall not have and
whom it shall have as its ruler. Will
son came into Office and found a
government in Mexico. Within two
weeks he set about destroying that
government. Necessarily, this plac-
, ed upon him the responsibility for
what happened after the existing
government was destroyed. His pur-
nose to drive Huerta and the exist
! ing government out Of power prov
ed to be less easy to accomplish than
The hoped for in the beginning. Al
ter months passed, and he was still
i
bad to worse. Wilson was driven tc
make an alliance with Villa; in oul
/ Judgment, historians will describe
this alliance with Villa as an appal-
ling act. Through Wilson's aid Viii
la was raised to power. What Villa
has done with his power-the whole
record of murder and rapine in Mex
leo during the past few months
has not been told. American news
papers have refrained largely out OF
consideration for the administra'
ton: moreover, as news, the events
lin Mexico have been overshadoweC
by the events in Europe. Why no,
admit frankly that the administra
tons course was mistake? 1t was
an honest mistake. At the time
when it first promised success, it was
extravagantIy praised The defect II
it, as it now turns out, was an ANA
teurishness in craftsmanship. Wh!
" doouhO eAAos VAN >S"N"'
chosen by the administration coult
have only one outcome, and that the
perfect one? Why not admit that Il
had to be a gamble, that there wa:
a chance OF it's ending badly, ant
that, in the cast of the die, 1t die
turn out badly?
WHERE MR.. BRYAN FAILS.
New York World: 1t is on thu
administrative side that Mr.. Bryan
has proved a sorry disappointment
He is poor secretary of state be
cause he has lost his capacity FOL
hard, plodding, continuous effort. HI
has lectured and speechitied ant
rear platformed and junketet
around for so many years that he /: