davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-12
IoWA's HORSES AND LAND.

We, in Iowa have been hearing lot
about the great cotton crop of the
south and the country has been asked
to buy a bale of cotton" the banks
Eof the country are asked to help fin
lance the cotton raisers of the south.
Well, the value of the horses in Iowa
is greater than that of the total cot
ton crop of the United States. And
this is hors eless age at that-most
pf the Iowa farmers driving around
with automobiles.
The United States department of
agriculture has just made public an
other bit of statistics that is interest
ing. All of these farmers in Iowa
who have left the state and gone to
cheap lands in Texas and Canada, to
one place or another have done so
&because they anticipated great in
= crease in the value of the cheap farm
Hands and they could not see, where
Fin Iowa farm lands were going to in
crease very much in value. They
left the state in order to make more
money out of land speculation. The
United States department Of agricul-
Fture now comes forward with the very
Interesting statement that the in
crease in the value of farm land in
Iowa has been greater during the last
item years than the increase in any
Estate in the union. Think it over. It
8ameans that wherever these Iowans
have gone, whether it be north or
Wsouth or east or west-they have
&been the losers by leaving Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-12
REAL ECONOMY.

On another page in today's issue
of The Courier will be found the alb
stract of report submitted to con.
gress by w. c. Redfeld, secretary of
commerce. The most striking feature
of this report is it's explanation of
what true economy means. According
to the secretary, true economy does
not confine itself to totals of expendi-
lures but to usefulness and results
obtained from expenditures. In other
words, the secretary believes that the
American people are willing to pay
the money that is necessary to give
them what they want in the way Of
government service and government
regulation. They do not look first to
the cost of federal project, but to
the question of whether or not it will
prove worth the money On the other
hand, says the secretary, they do OBJ
ject to paying out large sums from
which no commensurate benefit is
secured.
The secretary is right, though i
might be added that the totals will not
be so large as to cause protests, il
there is no waste in the expenditures.
1t is the wasted thousands of dollars
that run the totals UP.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-12

Washington, D. c., Dec. 10,-Exporta-
ton of arms and other munitions and
supplies Of war from the United States
to belligerent nations abroad must be
stopped: real neutrality toward all OF
the warning nations must be observed.
the agitation for greater armament
for defense against Germany" or
against Japan" must be talked down.
Such appears to be the prevailing
sentiment on both sides Of the senate
and house at the opening OF the snort
session of congress.
II am not ready to bankrupt the
people of, the United States in getting
ready for war when partial or complete
disarmament abroad is likely to come
of the present European conflict says
Senator Cummins
Let us quit shamming neutrality,
and show Germany that we really are
granting no favors to her enemy says
Rep. Vollmer of Davenport. IF we pro-
long the war by furnishing supplies to
the allies, the end will come only in
general financial collapse, which will
seriously injure ourselves
These views. given to The courier by
the senior republican senator and the
most active democratic representative
from Iowa in congress, fairly represent
the sentiment Of great number In
both parties who have come back to
Washington to protest against bigger
expenditures for war. They reflect the
fear that we shall provoke foreign suS-
picion by departing from our tradition
al policy at this time, and they voice
also the anxiety felt lest the shipment
of horses and guns and ammunition to
England and France may cause end
less embarrassment in years to come.
II am opposed to larger navy said
Rep. Prouty with some emphasis, when
asked his position. I'VE have been an
independent nation more than century
and a quarter. We have not had to fight
a defensive war in the past hundred
years. We never shall have to fight
one The big nations did not attack us
when we were small and they will not
now that we are big. We have made
too little offensive war to provoke de-
fensive one now"
Rep. Towner of Iowa said that he
would support only reasonable" pro-
gram of military and naval appropria-
tions. In this statement Representative
Kirkpatrick of Ottumwa heartily join
ed. The latter saw no need Of doubling
the rate of naval construction.
The opening day of the session saw
the introduction of Rep. Vollmers res
olution to authorize the president to
forbid the expectation of all CONTRA
band except fopdstuffs, as a means of
fastening the end Of the war and of
preserving neutrality. The same day
saw Sen Hitchcock of Nebraska in
troduce his bill forbidding the exporta-
ton of munitions of war, during times
Of war when such shipments might
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-12
EARLY SHOPPING,

For some years past the cry of
shop early" has been rung in the
ears of Christmas buyers and while it's
constant repetition may bore some.
nevertheless it is good motto and
one that every one should adopt. At
ter all the shop early" cry is just say
ing in another way, Don't put off till
tomorrow what you can do today"
Practically everybody has more or
less shopping to do at this time of the
year and it has resulted in holiday
rush upon the stores. Because there
are so many procrastinators in the
world. much of the shopping is put off
until the last minute and then the
buyers have hard work to find what
they want they meet with tired, in
different clerks and rapidly become
Christmas grouches. The way to avoid
worries, anXieties and cares, is to
make start on it and gradually get
it out Of the way so that there will De
no need for a rush at the finish.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-12
MACk'S ABSTAINERS,

Davenport manufacturer, IN
speaking before meeting of high
school boys, told them that he had
heard that Manager Connie Mack Of
the ex-world champion baseball team,
could put an entire team of total alb
stainers in the field at any time he
wanted to. This statement drew an
expression of doubt from one of the
hearers and to assure himself that he
was correct, the manufacturer wrote
to Manager Mack and received the fol
lowing reply:
I'm reply to your letter will say
that you were correct in making the
statement you did when addressing
the young men. | can at any time
put into the field a team OF men who
do not touch liquor in any form, nor
do they know the taste of same, and
will further say that l will have quite
a few men on the bench whose habits
are the same"
Regardless of the fact that the over
confident Athletics were defeated this
fall for the worlds title, it is true
nevertheless that Connie Mack's team
of abstainers have been the sensation
of the baseball world for several years
back
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-12
D1 n n 0T
S + orr q 8

J The wife of the great botanist
beamed at him across the supper
table.
But these" she exclaimed, pointing
to the dish of mushrooms that had
! been set before her, ARE not all for
1 me, are they?''
Eyes, Mabel he nodded II gath.
+, cred them especially for you"
! She beamed upon him gratefully.
What a dear old husband he was! In
five minutes she demolished the lot.
At breakfast next morning he greet
ed her anxiously:
"Sleep all right?" he inquired.
"Splendidly," she smiled.
mot sick at all-no pains % he
pressed.
why, of course, not Archie" she
responded.
! "Hurrah, then" he exclaimed. IT
have discovered another species of
! mushroom that isn't poisonous"
AS Herbert Corey tells it, he went
to dinner once where Andrew Car
negie was guest.
After the eating was over, and the
speech-making had started" said
|
pocket for something and pulled out
handful of small change. A dime
got away from him and fell on the
| floor, and at the first chance Mr..
Carnegie got down under the table
and looked for it,
did he find it," asked one of the
! audience to whom Corey was mar
rating the incident.
did he find it," echoed Corey.
"He found half dollar!"
The Man from Mars: whats that
crowd struggling over-an accident,
a fight, or some unusual attraction %
The native: Nothing of the kind.
They are trying to get to the window
to buy war stamps"
Whereupon the amazed Marian
made this entry in his notebook:
''The earthworms who are far re-
moved from the scenes Of fighting
are so engrossed in the war subject
that they even expend large sums of
money and endure great physical dis
comforts in order to secure copies of
| cheap little pictures which for some
unexplained reason they call war
stamps"
In certain town the local fore
| caster of the weather was SO often
wrong that his predictions became a
standing joke, to his no small annoy
ance, for he was very sensitive. At
length, in despair .of living down his
reputation, he asked headquarters to
transfer him to another station.
A brief correspondence ensued.
why" asked headquarters, "do
you wish to be transferred?"
Because the forecaster promptly
replied, "the climate doesn't agree
with me-"
tWhy don't you go to work." ask
ed the farmer.
Cause no one won't gimme none
in my line replied the tramp. "Ive
applied to several railroads, but they
won't have me-"
Whats your line? Brakeman"
"No; | make tracks," said the
tramp, and then he made few, with
the farmer close second.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-12
BONAPARTE e.

Mrs. r. B. Carnahan has been enjoy
ing a visit with relatives at Adair, I'll.
Mrs. Ina Ropp of Mechanicsville, O.,
is enjoying visit at the J. w. Batch
elor home.
Mr.. and Mrs. Layt ton of Knockaway
Okla, came last week to visit the Geo.
Spence family.
Harold Cox Of Vernon Center, Mimi,
is visiting Bonaparte relatives.
Mrs. Minnie Ryland visited relatives
in Ottumwa recently. Ny
The Bonaparte Poultry assn will
hold their annual exhibition December
Is.
Mr.. and Mrs. Geo, V. Leffler are in
Des Moines attending meeting of the
Iowa Fair association.
Mr.. and Mrs. l.. w. HURLEY of Keo
kuk are visiting here at the A. ]. Cum
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-12
Let THE PUBLIC KNOW.

IN On another page OF today issue Oh
~ The Courier will be found the abstract
II of report submitted to congress by
l.. M. Garrison, secretary of war IN
the presidents official cabinet. This
report, like every other ofhclal COM
munication that has been made upon
the subject, decried the state OF I'M
preparedness of the United States TO
defend itself from attack by another
power of any consequence and calls
for an enlargement of the army ana
j navy. But this report will probably
n draw the same comment from Presl-
n dent Wilson as have other eXposllons
on the state of our national delenses.
The president, in his message to con-
was opposed to enlargement OF the
gress on Tuesday, announced mat ne
army, afraid that such enlargement
might lead to militarism, and unalter-
ABLY opposed to public investigation
of the efficiency and sufticiency OF the
state of the nations defenses. He in
timated that he was fearful OF the
light in which such an investigation
would be viewed by foreign govern
ments.
Reading between the lines of his
speech, one might get the idea that
the president fears a public 1nvestlga-
i ton might bare to the world our mill
tary weakness. Yet 1t is hard to con-
ceive that If we are weak, the foreign
nations with their clever systems OF
espionage, do not know that fact with
out having to learn it through pubic
\ Investigation. By keeping it away
from the public. the only ones VINO
are being deceived are the very ones
: the most interested-the American
people. If we are weak, it won't 40
any harm to admit it to the world; II
we are not weak, it will add to our
prestige to let the other nations knew
about it.
! This antipathy of the president to-
ward public Investigation is at vari-
ance with all his pronouncements
| along this line. Before he was elected
i he called upon the people to 'oreaK
into your own white house and see
for yourself what is going on there,
while since then he has Oftimes pub
licly announced a desire to let the
public know what is being dole.
Nevertheless it is a fact that under
no administration have there been so
many secret party caucuses and be
hind door, meetings as under the Will
|
saw SO directly, he indirectly hints that
an investigation other than that Of
the public kind suggested by Congress
man Gardner, would not meet with his
disapproval
II the president has his way, the
American public must remain in ignor-
ance of its ability to protect itself
&from invasion-that is unless it &C
ioSr fhof q rn
made in reports. OF course there are
#many people who would not be con-
Mvinced one way or another by the re-
#sult of public investigation, but on
the other hand there is huge class
of fair minded, unprejudiced people
who are intimately concerned in the
welfare and prosperity of this country
and who would like to be informed on
the matter. They may we'll wonder
-'what would be the harm in a public
Investigation
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-12

President Wilson, in his annual
message, seems to scott at the idea
that our national defenses are made.
quate. He holds the belief that a
desire for peace will preserve peace.
Apparently he does not recognize the
fact that sometime there is occasion
for war whether country wants it
or not. Possibly he has forgotten how
he, himself, nearly precipitated war
with Mexico by selling the port of
Vera Cruz. And it is more than likely
that there would have been war over
that very incident had it not been that
Dictator Huerta had his hands too full
at the time in the futile effort to quell
the revolt 6f Villa and Carranza and
Zapata
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-12
A MOVE FULL OF MERIT.

In flushing the streets In the bust
ness district to put them in better con-
dition for Christmas shoppers, Com
missioner Bremhorst did creditable
thing. There was vast difference
between Main street on Tuesday morn
ing and Main street on Tuesday night.
With a fire hose, the commissioner
and his employees had swept the
muddy accumulations in the street
into the gutter and thence into the
drains. Instead of having to cross a
street an inch deep in mud as was the
case in the morning, evening shoppers
could cross with dry soles and clean
shoes. 1t should be a recommendation
to out of town buyers that they can
come to Ottumwa and do their shop
ping even in this wet weather, with
out wading in mud.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-12
National Political NeDS

reach belli gerent and be used against
nation with whom the United States
was at peace. The senate called upon
Secretary OF Commerce Redheld to re-
port on the amount Of such munitions
shipped from this country to each one
Of the bellgerents during each month
OF the present struggle in Europe.
The only purely partisan blow struck
on the opening day by the democrats
in the senate was that delivered by
Senator Lewis of Illinois in proposing
an inquiry into the manner in which
| the army and navy appropriations
| regular and emergency--during the
past eighteen years, had been expend-
ed AS the country was under repub-
| lican administration during sixteen
years of that period, Lewis design to
show the republicans to blame for any
"unpreparedness'' of the army and
| navy was evident from the start.
Rep. Prouty introduced on Monday a
bill abolishing the famous 'half-and-
half taxation scheme for the District Of
| Columbia, whereby the district and the
federal government share equally the
cost Of government and public i'm
provements in the district His proposal
| is that the district raise a tax of $1.50
on each 500 of real and personal prop
erty, including moneys and credits, and
| that the federal government then make
| up the balance necessary for the annual
budget. He calculates that this tax
would bring into the treasury between
| 1000. 900 and $11,0O0.O0O leaving ST.
100000 to $3,000,000 to be supplied from
the national funds. At present the dis
| trict pays only 81 on 500, and moneys
| and credits are exempt.
IT am not lame duck, nor am
standing around on one leg like a
goose" says Rep. Kirkpatrick Of OF
| tumwa, in announcing his candidacy
| for a return to the house in 1916. II
have no side lines, no political frills.
| flounces or furbelows. and no bad
| taste in my mouth. l was almost born,
bred and buttered in the sixth district
| of Iowa, and I will be in the running
| for congress in 1916"
Mr. Kirkpatrick adds that he be-
lieves he would have been elected by
| from 1000 to 5000 majority had he
been the democratic nominee in No
| vember AS it was, he says, he had fig
| ured out that the democratic candidate
| would lose by 1900 votes, and the re-
| publican margin of victory was just
1710. He also guessed, before going
home in October, that Senator Cum
| Minis would win by 10000. He was only
| 1000 out of the way.
Senator Cummins Is waiting to see
whether Presid Wilson will use bet
te. Judgment in choosing the powerful
| fc,.eral trade commissGr than he did
| II picking the fererdl reserve beard.
| The wrong selections will provoke 4
! very severe fight against combinations
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-12

The persistent efforts to attract
birds produce results is indicated in
the bird census taken for the depart
ment Of agriculture last summer. The
greatest number of birds to the acre
reported anywhere in the United
States is in a 30-acre tract in Mary
land, whose proprietor removed all
enemies of birds, such as cats, and
provided nesting places and food. The
census also showed that birds are
many times more numerous in farm
lands than in unbroken timber.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-12

apology. In view of the disrupted
condition Of the business of the coun-
try it may well be considered both.
Legislation that was enacted and leg
islation that was threatened during the
last session of congress, scared the
business men of the country and not
only scared them but did them great
injury. They will certainly be glad to
know that the administration has de-
cided to let up on them for time at
least
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-12
ELDON.

Mrs. H. r. Baker returned home Sat
urday from a visit with relatives and
friends in Muscatine and Geneseo, Ill.
MIR. and Mrs. Jack Work and son,
now of Des Moines were visitors this
week with friends here.
Mrs Emma Shelter will be hostess
to the Four M. club Wednesday after
noon at her home on Elm street
The private dancing club held their
first dance in |. O., o. F. hall Tuesday
night.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-12
PROMISE OR APOLOGY?

8 In his address TO congress, PreS1-
Sdent Wilson says:
"The road at last lies clear and firm
gbefore business. 1t is road, which
hat can travel without fear or embar-
Is BASEMENT. It is the road to ungrudg-
I'd, unloaded success In it every hon
sest man, every man who believes that
THE public interest is part of his own
Interest, may walk with perfect con-
ssfidence."
D There might be some question as to
whether this is a promise or an
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-12

Two Italian chemists have perfected
process for depositing metals of any
character permanently upon almost
any insoluble surface by electricity,
zinc, lead and tin being used as easily
as silver, nickle or copper.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-12

For cutting tops from bottles New
York man has patented a tool in which
several cutting wheels are mounted in
side hinged frame, which may be
pressed against bottle and revolved
until the glass is cut.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-12

the end of a year, will be rewarded by
the forestry association of the state
with the planting of fifty acres OF
white pine.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-12

One thing is sure about our coast
defenses. They cannot withstand the
attack of nature when the elements
20 on a rampage.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-12

The town in Massachusetts which
can show the best municipal forest at
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-12
Press Comment

New Orleans Picayune: When the
devoted Belgians are given oppor-
tunity to restore and reorganize their
war torn country they might do well,
first of all, to remove 1t to a safer
and less exposed position on the map.
Burlington Hawk-Eye: People who
object to the election of ex-Speaker
Cannon to congress and Mr.. Penrose
to the senate ought to go to Cannons
district or Mr.. Penrose's state to live
and vote. The residents Of those sec
lions seem to have an idea they have
the right to vote for whom they
please.
La Crosse Tribune: Now that ev-
erybody is we'll stocked with narrow
skirts. Dame Fashion bans them In ia
vor of the ampler garb. 'Tis bit of
frivolity that well might have been
avoided until society had done its
duty to a war-famished world. There
is a helpful cynicism in the comment
of the husband whose better half
pointed out in the evening paper a
picture of gown she intended to
purchase.
'It's out of style, my dear. That's
last nights paper.
Boston Herald There are Bosto-
mans that, wishing to be infallibly
correct. pronounce Cracow Crack-ofr.
This seems to be unnecessary. The
word has been thoroughly anglicized
for many years. Nor is there any
need of pronouncing Berlin as If the
final syllable were spelled "een.' 1t
is not necessary to speak OF Wien or
Muenchen or Venevia or Livorno.
Prairie du Chen in good American
is Prairie doc Cheen, and the word
Des Moines, as pronounced by our fell
low countrymen, would be 1ncompre-
hensible to Frenchman The tough
est word we know is Rheims. Lin
gusts inform us that it should be pro-
nounced nearly as "ranc' in rancid"
Davenport Times: The president
says that unless he has misinterpret-
ed the temper Of the American people
there is to be no large standing army,
nor even dependence on a reserve;
but the country will depend on citl-
zenry trained and familiarized with
the use of arms This drilling and
learning to shoot should be encourage
ed in every way possible, says the
president, but while he hints at some
sort Of a national training system he
makes no suggestion that is specific.
With the restriction of hunting and
with laws such as we have in Iowa
restricting the sale of firearms the
"citizenry familiar with the use OF
arms" is becoming smaller each year.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-12
WE YER CLOSE

Minis home.
Rev. Wilson was called to Wisconsin
last week to preach the funeral of
friend.
Mrs. R. E. Meek has gone to Keosau-
qua for the winter.
Mr.. and Mrs Wallace Bradford have
returned from several months stay
in Canada
Ed CarnaI1an Of Red Cloud, Neb.
came last week to visit his parents.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-12

Senator Cummins Is waiting to see
whether President Wilson viii use bet
te: Judgment in choosing the powerful
fc,'eral trade commiss'GL than he did
l.. picking the fcrerdl reserve beard.
The wrong selections will provoke
very severe fight against combinations
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-12

New Orleans Picayune: When the
devoted Belgans are given oppor-
tunity to restore and reorganiZe their
war torn country they might do well,
first of all, to remove it to a safer
and less exposed position on the map.