davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-04-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(Special Correspondence.)

|
Washington, March 30.-With the
selection of Council Bluffs as the
place and July 90 as the date q TIE
democratic state Convention, tl's
party in Iowa has actively organized
for an aggressive campaign that will
be continued until next November.
Next week, it is announced, state
Chairman Reed will open state head
quarters in Des Moines to receive
and file papers of candidates and to
see that all the preliminaries neces-
sary to the filing of the ticket will
be attended to.
Before the meeting of the state
central committee in Des Moines last
week the republican press was filled
With rumors Of ssenticn, but the
outcome of the meeting showed that
it was another case of the wish being
father to the thought The republic
can press has always held to the
opinion that the democratic party
can't stand prosperity, and that, Civ
en- power, it will make enough mis-
takes to lose the advantage it has
gained. Recent events have disprov-
ed this as conclusively as that other
cid libel, that the democratic party
is not constructive party and this
has been disproved.
So far as state politics is concern
ed there is no dissension. There
was entire harmony at the state
committee meeting. With every
prospect of party victory in the
coming campaign the state commit
tee shows no inclination to make any
mistakes" and moreover at the
opening of the campaign it has the
staunch support of the party in the
state, support honestly won by the
start made in taking Iowa from the
republican column by carrying the
state for President Wilson, and by
the ground work laid for completing
the victory with the election of full
state ticket.
In national sense the party has
gone consistently forward in estab-
fishing it's claim to being construc-
tive party. Starting under a serious
handicap, with a currency problem
lodged for half century and with
unfulfilled tariff promises of a gen.
Grafton to carry out, President Will
son and the majority in congress in
the first year of the administration
settled both questions. Another in
heritance of the administration was
the Mexican war and the feeling of
distrust against the United States
formed in the minds of other nations
by what they considered was a viola
ticn of treaty obligations by exempt
ing American coastwise shipping
from payment of Panama canal tolls.
There was division in the party on
this issue in congress, but President
Wilson's supporters believe the peO-
pie of the country at large will in
dorse his course.
The president was urged to move
the repeal of the free tolls provision
of the Panama canal act by the fact
that all the other nations disagree
with the construction the American
congress has placed upon the Hay
Pauncefote treaty and our obligations
under that pact. The press and the
governments Of the re6t az tho world
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-04-02
THE ECONOMIC ARGUMENT.

The president has not only honesty
and straight dealing on his side OF
this canal tolls question; he has the
best of the economic argument also
The canal will have cost vast
sum of money. No one pretends to be-
lieve that the tolls will, for the first
tenance and operation; it will be
some time before we may hope to see
the interest on the canal bonds met
otherwise than out of the federal rev.
enue So every dollar collected in
the form of tolls will mean just so
much lighter taxation upon us all.
Our coastwise shipping has the
highest monopoly in the western
Hemisphere monopoly guaranteed
by the government itself. We permit
no ship under foreign flag to enter
an American port for purposes OF
traffic unless it shall have cleared a
foreign port since leaving the last
American port. We reserve coast
wise trade exclusively for American
bottoms. Now, when we already pro-
tect the coastwise fleet in the enjoy
ment of such a monopoly, why, in
reasons name, should We also tax
ourselves to pay it's expenses in pass
ing through the canal?
If free passage for these ships
would benefit anybody except the
shipowners-which by the way, we
gravely Doubt would benefit the
fringes of our population on the At
lantic and Pacific coasts. So toll ex-
emption, with its inevitable accom-
paniment of increased federal taxa
ton, would mean taxing st. Louis
for something which, while benefit
ing New York and San Francisco,
could by no possibility be of the
slightest use to the Mississippi valley.
Are we going to be bamboozled by
imprisoned appeals to prejudice
and trumpetings about the Monroe
Doctrine into indorsing legislation
which is class legislation on its face
and will be sectional legislation in its
outworkings?
Should not democratic principles
and democratic tradition get hear
ing in this matter somewhere?-St.
Louis Republic.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-04-02
MAKING THOSE ABLE PAY.

That the income tax law will prove
profitable to the United States in the
way of furnishing funds is shown by
the fact that it is estimated that six
teen men and women in the state OF
New York alone will pay approx
mately 100000 in the way of in
come tax. The heaviest contributor
of course, John D. Rockefeller, who
will pay $6,OOO,O00 on his estimated
yearly income of $100,0OO,O 1000, while
Andrew Carnegie, with his small sum
of 100000 per year, will have to
pay some 100000. The others scale
down as low as $4,000 to satisfy
the tax collectors.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-04-02
Notice for Proposals.

Notice is hereby given that the
proposals for the erection of a school
house in sub-district No. 5, Wood
land township, in the county of De-
catur, state of Iowa, will be received
by the undersigned at his place
(where plans and specifications may
be had, also a copy at county super
intendent's office) until l o'clock p.
M, April II, 1914, at which time
the contract will be awarded to the
lowest responsible bidder. The board
reserves the right to reject any or
all bids.
March IA, 1914.
E. H. Carver, Secretary,
31-4t r. F. d. Q, Lineville, Iowa.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-04-02

I'VE can not understand this re-
ported loss of population in Iowa, .
says the Waterloo Courier, when at
the same time reports come from
nearly every community that school
houses are too small, buildings are
being enlarged and at other places
structures for public educational pur-
poses must be erected to accommo-
date the increasing throng of chill
|dren. Where do all the children go?
Do they just vanish like pins and
|pennies?" E
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-04-02

"And there are some Americans
who actually want to annex all OF
Mexico. If we could annex Mexico
without the Mexicans the proposition
would be more alluring to some of
u.s. remarks the Cedar Rapids Re-
publican. But Mexico has 15,OOO,-
600 people in it and why should we
want to add that many ignorant vot-
ers, when we already have more than
we can absorb and digest properly
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-04-02

Commenting on the United States
Express Company going out of bust
ness, the Manson Democrat says:
THE government ownership OF
transportation is coming faster than
anybody ever thought it would. Let
it come. 1t is the only solution of a
vexing and expensive problem
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-04-02

1t is observed by the Cherokee
Democrat that now lot of people
are uneasy through fear that Presi-
dent Wilson will not make any bad
breaks during the next three years.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-04-02

Don't knock congress, says a
Washington bank president. That
man deserves congressional medal.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-12-22
KILLED WOMAN FOF SIS.
Mrs Antoinette Becker So Years
Old Confesses.

Detroit, Dec. 22.-Mrs. Antoinett'
Becker, So years old, confessed Sun
day night according to the police
that she killed Miss Frances Bonn
holt the aged woman who was fount
beaten to death in her home here
last Wednesday
Robbery was the motive. Fifteel
dollars, which Mrs. Becker told the
police she took from, a drawer ir
Miss Bomholdt's house was founc
concealed in the slayer; home.
Half a dozen men had been de
tanned and questioned by the police
before Mrs. Becker's arrest.
Mrs. Becker was a daily caller al
the home of Miss Bonholt. to whom
she sold bread and pastry
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-12-22
STRUCK BY KAISER
German Emperor Refuses to Apollo
gize for his Act.

London, Dec, 22-The true story OF
the delay in sending three AZ cent?,
meter German guns TO the Belgian
coast has just leaked out. 1t is GER
tainly one of the most startling de-
tclopments in the repertoire of the
German emperor's recent doings that
has yet come to light, and fully ex--
plains his quarrel with the Krupps.
An English army officer, who ar
rived in charge of German prisoners
ascertained from one OF them that
he distinguished Krupp engineer,
;Iell Blesner, was specially sent by
The Krupp firm to the charge Of the
fixing and transportation of tlN
..srHlsrsr 5Ius-
Or arriving at Antwerp the engi-
Ieer had dispute with the Grand
Duke Of Wurtternberg IS to the man
ner in which the guns were to be
placed upon the coast. Herr Blesner
appealed in persona. interview to
he kaiser. The emperor supported
the view of the grand duke and told
he engineer that in the future he
mus take his orders without ques-
zion.
Herr Blesner replied in manner
which the kaiser regarded as disre-
.pectful. The emperor in his rage
struck Herr Blesner in the face. The
engineer at once returned to Essey
and handed in his resignation to the
hrnpp firm, declaring he would not
resume his duties unless the kaiser
apologized.
The Krupps asked the emperor to
a apologize, but he declined point blank
ard requested that another engineer
should be sent to take charge Of the
TRANSFORMATION of the howitZers. Up
to the time of this writing no engi--
neer has been found to take Herr
Blesner's place, with the result that
The Germans are still helpless to reply
10 the fire of the British ships off
Cstend. The three monster guns,
are still cooling their
heels in the Krupp factory,
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-12-22
MISS cLEARY vANIsHEs.
She Does Not Care to See Her
Father At Present i

New York. Dec 22.7-Aavlng Oh,
tanned her fathers acquittal at his
trial on a charge of killing his son:
in-law, Mrs. Anna Cleary Newman,
the girl widow Of Eugene N. New
man. after her sacrifice. sought the
seclusion of her home in West 152d
Street while William V. Clearly
town clerk of Haverstraw, was being
congratulated by his friends in
Haverstraw on having been acquit-
ted of the charge of murder.
Although Cleary's daughter went
on the witness stand and did not
spare herself o" the memory of her
young husband of a lew days in Or
der to win her fathers liberty, it
was said that the girl did not care to
see her father until SHE could forgive
his Staying of Newman.
The girl was spirited away, to New
York while Cleary was waiting for
the jury to bring in verdict.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-12-22
BiEAsE MAY EMPTY PRISONS
South Carolina Executive Hints OF
Issuance Of Many Pardons at
Christmas.

Columbia, S. c., Dec 22.-South
Carolina is wondering what Cover
nor Blease will do in the way Of
celebrating Christmas by pardoning
convicts. Following his sensational
rardon of 101 convicts on Thanks
giving he made his record of par
aons and paroles since he entered the
governors Office 1435 during the sum
mer campaign when the governor
was defeated for the nomination for
the United States Senae.
In speaking of pardons he said
that Christmas was coming and if his
Office did not have enough, pardon
blanks the printing Office was up the
street.
There are only about 100 convicts
in the penitentiary and on the State
farm, although the various public
works of the forty, four counties OF
the State have many prisoners serv-
ing short sentences The penitentiary
has room for something over 1000
prisoners, but it is generally believed
that this institution will have fe"
occupants after, Christmas Day OF
January IS, when Richard I. Mann
ing succeeds Blease as governor.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-12-22
EXECUTIONS IN MEXICO
Castuta Baca Millionaire Held for
100000 Ransom.

Esl Paso, Tex, Dec 22-Seventeen
executions of persons of more or less
prominence were held in Mexico City
last week, according to Americans
VINO arrived today from the capital
Among the killed were three gene
rails, Garcia, Hidalgo Morgui, and
Delgardo, all Of whom belonged to
the regular military establishment,
remained in Mexico after the, de-
rarture of Gen. Huerta.
Fourteen persons have been ex-
ecuted in Chihuahua City in the past
week, in addition to about $50 pre-
viously reported killed during the
past month, according to the Amer
cans, who said it is customary to
keep an execution squad ready
I shoot down whomever the officer in
command may point; out. They said
they saw more than one of. these xiii
iiags.
Albert Gonzales, former assistan,
district clerk here, was arrested ir
j Jrarez today by order of Gen. Tomas
| Orrelas, commanding the Villa
forces. He is in Jail, and in fear, Of
execution. 1t is said he is accused Of
T! political activity against the Villa
cause.
|. One hundred thousand dollars il
gold must be paid by Castula Bacs
richest man in the millionaire towr
of Parral, Mexico for his liberty.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-12-22

TOWNS BOMBARDED.
Allies Warships Play Conspicuous
Part at Coast in Forcing Teutons
From Their Positions.

London Dec 22-Foot by foot in
places, yard by yard in others mile oy
mile occasionally, the German forces
all along the 200 mile front in France
and Belgium are being forced back
from their trenches by the concert
ed assaults of the allies.
The general offensive which has
been slowly gathering weight with
the tidal wave of re- endorsements is
slowly but slowly hammering back
the Germans and the official Paris
communique today declares that pro-
gress has been made at every point.
Marked advances have been made
in Flanders. Near La Bassee the
British retrieved their reverses by
4 brilliant attack which recarried the
trenches they had lost. Time and
,rain on the western end the fight
ing the French and British, during
temporary lulls in the violent can
nonading, resort to the bayonets in
charges that each time netted ali
rther gain in the marvellous battle
Of trenches.
Paris Dec 22.-After two weeks
fighting in an effort to MAINTAIN
their hold on the Belgian coast, the
Germans are reported to have evacu,
ated Middlekerke, north of Ostend
today.
IInconfrmed reports declare theil
lire has been thrown ever farther
back, and that Ostend has been evac,
uated.
The coast towns of Zeebrugge ant
Heyst have been vigorously bonn,
barded by the allied warships within
the last two days. This has been in
support of the general movement tc
clear the coast while the French ant
British in the Dixmude and Ypres
region are forcing the enemy baci
upon the :; observation-disclosures
line.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-12-22
+, WILL FIGHT TO A FINISH
French Premier Makes Statement
Before Chamber of Deputies -.

Paris, Dec 22-':To tight without
mercy until Europe is definitely
liberated by fully victorious peace.
This is the only policy considered by
the French government. Frances de-
claration for a war to the finish was
made today by Premier Viviani in
statement before the chamber Of
deputies convening the new session
Of parliament.
The governments statement was
brief Responsibility for the war
YVES placed with Germany, but the
very opening paragraphiof the gov
crnment's pronouncement left no
doubt that France was prepared,
and considered no other policy than a
war to the bitter end. The statement
began: ). ~.
"This communication is no such as
governments usually make in out
lining for the first time its policies.
"At the present hour, there is but
one policy to fight without mercy TN
til Europe is definitely liberated by
a fully victorious peace"
The opening of this war session OF
parliament was under exceedingly
dramatic conditions. Many members
of the chamber of depoties as well
az senator's returned from the front,
where they are serving with the
| army. Three deputies and one mem
ber of the Senate have been killed
| in action.
i Tie session is expected to be short.
Adjournment may be, taken by
Thursday after the bills which will
be presented by the government are
passed These bills include vote
of six months provisional credit
1 suspension of the !: senatorial elec-
/ tons modification Of the aatusali-
tzation laws to meet the situation
growing out of the war IS related
to Germans new in France. ano
parliamentary measures. >'ss&
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-12-22
SEEKS DEATH UNDER ENGINE

Philadelphia. Dec. 22.-Because ne
was out of work and hungry, Tony
Begger. % years old, who said his
home is in Poland, attempted suicide
yesterday by wedging his body be-
tween the huge driving wheels of a
locomotive at the yards of the B.
and O.. Railroad. Thirty-ffth and
Wharton streets The man was res
cued just before the engine was
shout to pull out Of the yard by
Peter Ferriek, q railrsad detective:
Ferriek placed the man under air
rest and he WAS sent to the Houae of
Correction for thres ltonths.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-12-22
BOY ExoNERATES NEGRO.

Newport News. Va. Dec. 22.-Pe-
ter Wright, l6 years old. who, was
shot by James A. Foreman, 3 negro
boy. exonerated the latter before
passing away in St. Francis Hospi-
tai here, after undergoing an ope-
ration in a vain effort to save his
life.
The boys found two old revolvers
"Wednesday afternoon and wera ex,
aHining them when one exploded
the bullet lodging in youns Wright:
stomash and pagossting tbs intes
tinss Wight declared toe shecsin,
WIS seetdnsal.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-12-22
Kaiser's Troops are in Par
tial Control of Rail
roads.
GERMANS REPULSED.
Tcutons Fail in Effort to Drive an
Opening Wedge in the Cars Line
of Defenses.

London, Dec. 22.-The Russian for
ces on the line of defnse before War
saw are today directing a strong
counter attack against the Germans
between Rawa and the Plicia river
Skierniewice the important railroad
point, southeast of Lowicz, has prac-
tically been abandoned by the Rus
slams, according to reports reaching
here
With this backward movement by
the Russians the Germans are in
partial possession of both railroad
lines leading to Warsaw from the
west and southwest, but by their at
tacks beyond Rawa, it is evident that
the Russians are endeavoring to
swing the main point of contract Of
the vast engagement in Poland fur
ther south to avoid all possibility Of
being cornered between the fortress
of Warsaw and Novo Georgievsk and
the Vistula.
Heavy German forces have been
repulsed in their efforts to drive an
opening in the Russian line. The
army of Field Marshal Won Hinden-
burg is declared to have made little
progress in the assaults directed
toward the city of Sochaczew. BY
the counter attacks further south, il
is believed the Russians may force a
shifting o. the German forces. IL,
minishing the power of attack along
the Visbula and the; Bbura
Vienna (Via Berlin and London)
Dec. 22.-"In the upper Latorczt
river district in the Carpathians
northeast of the Lupkodw passes,
we have made progress" the official
statement issued here asserts
"Severe fighting continues on the
Krosno and Tuchow front and on the
lower .Donajec. In Southern Poland
the situation:is unchanged"
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-12-22
ALEXANDRIANS IN COMPANY
Miss Virginia Ale and Josephine
Duffey at Polls This Week

Considerable interest IS being felt
IN Alexandria m the appearance o:
Misses Virginia Ale and Josephin;
Duffey. two popular young Alexan-
drians at Polls Theatre, in Wash
ington this week. Both of these
gifted young people, take part ir
the big production of sOur Cinderel-
la" which is being presented by the
Poll Players. There have been 6
large number Of residents of this
city attending the performances this
week. -
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-12-22

Turkey is following her usual dill
atory tactics in connection with the
Hodeida incident, which is still IN
abeyance. The Turkish authorities
at Hodeida have not needed the or
ders sent from Constantlnople
through the Italian governments m
sistence, and have not released the
British consul nor punisehd the po-
lice who broke into the Italian con-
sulate. 1t is said that the Italian
government is determined not to
permit further delay, and has warn
ed the Turkish Ambassador here
that unless immediate satisfaction rs
given coercive measures will be re-
stored to.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-12-22
HAILSLIDE STOPS TRAINS.
Ore Pcnnsy Track is Covered IN
Spots for IA Miles.

Williamsport. Pa, Dec. 22.--lhe
westbound track of the Pennsylvania
Railroad between Queens Run ana
Ritchie. for about IA miles, was. bar
led to a depsh of from S to 10 inches
Yesterday by an avalanche Of hail
stones which early in morning roi-
led and poured down every gully on
the mountainside along the railroad
quickly covering that part OF the
roadbed.
The billions of little hailstones were
ground fine in their descent, and
formed into an almost solid mass as
they struck the roadbed, so that it
was impossible to push an engine
through the mass. -. 's"-'
Worunen, including 100 Renovu
shop men. attacked the deposit at
both extremities and labored 10
hours before clearing the track al
Queens Run and Ritehie
Norfolk Oysters Daily at the THote,