davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-30
WOMENARE TAKING
TINE BY F0REL0CK
kEOkUk PEOPLE CALL ON COUN.
GILMAN TO ASK FOR A
"SANE FOURTH"

keokuk, March 27.-Steps have been
taken for a sane Fourth of July in keo,
kuk. A committee representing two
hundred of the most influential and
prominent women of keokuk waited
on j. A. M. Collins, commissioner of
public safety, Thursday afternoon,
and asked him to enforce the state law
governing the sale of fire crackers, fire
works and other explosives.
The commissioner during the inter.
view, said that he hoped the law
might be enforced this year. and that
notice would be given at once to all
merchants who handle fireworks, fire
crackers and the like that they must
law or be prosecuted.
The committee which met with the
head of the public safety department
Thursday afternoon was composed OF
members of keokuk chapter, D. A. r.,
and members from the civic league.
They are representative of two hun.
dred Of Keokuk's most prominent and
influential women, and their demands
probably will be needed
The women told the commissioner
that they were well satisfied with the
provisions Of the state law, but that
this was not enforced last year. and
that there was considerable senti-
ment aroused because it was not en-
forced. They asked that the commits
soner take steps in his official capac-
ity to see to it that the state law is
enforced
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-30
WILSON AND TAFT
ARE MAIN SPEAKERS

Washington, d. c., March 81
President Wilson and Former Presi.
dent Taft will be chief figures at cor
nerstone laying ceremonies for the
permanent headquarters Of the Red
Cross here at 8 o'clock this afternoon
President Wilson will lay the stone
and Mr.. Taft will make the principal
address, A tremendous throng-
which will include cabinet members,
justices of the supreme court and
members of the diplomatic corps-is
expected to witness the ceremonies
which will mark one of the final steps
in the work of providing home for
the organization of mercy, which will
also stand as memorial to the wom-
en- of the civil war.
The building, to be erected among
the group of marble structures not far
from the Washington monument and
south Of the white house, was provid-
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-30
GOVERNMENT IS
LOSER IN ACTION
ACTION AGAINST FIVE GREEKS
AT MASON CITY HAS BEEN
DISMISSED NOW.

Mason City, March 27.-Five of
Mason City's Greeks who were up for
deportation have been dismissed by
the circuit court of appeals. This is
the case which has attracted more
than statewide interest. Steve Panza,
Peter Hagee and other Greeks were
operating what was known as the
Main cafe and they were seemingly
doing large amount of business. The
police of the city were appraised that
number of girls between the ages of
sixteen and twenty were frequent visi-
tors of the place. Inspector Whitfield
was called to the city to look into the
matter and he had twenty of the
girls before him for examination, and
according to the report, very immor-
al condition was found to exist An
effort was then made to deport the
men. Judge Henry T. Reed, in the
federal court at Dubuque, heard the
case. The contention, on the part Of
the defense, at this time was that the
Whitfield hearing was of the star
chamber variety and that the men ac-
cused had no opportunity to question
the witnesses or to bring in witnesses
in their defense. After considering
the evidence submitted to him, Judge
Reed dismissed the case without pre-
JUDGE to the right of the immigration
bureau to proceed further. The gov
eminent carried the case to the court
of appeals and they now order that the
case be dismissed and that the i'm
migration bureau is without any jur-
isdiction in the matter
The only thing now left is action on
the part of the state or the ordinances
of the city. In number of instances
in this state the inspector has acted in
such matters and there have been de-
portations but it now appears that all
such action has been contrary to law.
The court of appeals did not endeavor
to touch upon any Of the points at
issue-whether the place was immor
al or not and did not discredit the evil
dence offered, but simply goes on rec
ord that the federal government has
no jurisdiction over such cases. 1t
is the first decision of this kind ever
handed down by the court of appeals
and is therefore of much Importance.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-30
COUNTY CLERKS To
SUFFER FROM BILL
SALARY BILL BEFORE LEGisLA
TURE WILL CUT OFF ALL
"SlDE MONEY!"

Des Moines, March 27.-T"tere is
going to be good deal OF stir among
county officials when they find out
what the legislature is about to do on
the salary question.
According to Joe Wall, chief clerk
of the county accounting department,
the bill, the changes made will Just
balance off in the matter of raises and
reductions. 1t was explained to the
senate that the committee took the
clerk of courts Office as basis. An
effort was made to get these salaries
graded so they will amount for the
entire state to just about what the
clerks are now getting. A fiat salary
was to be provided in every case, and
the fees to be cut off. The increase
in salaries would be Offset by the cut
ting off of fees and extras. But of
course it involved making some re-
auctions and some increases, as there
was lack of uniformity. between the
counties.
The big kick is going to come from
the county clerks who have been get
ting in under the guise Of being made
referees in probate" by appointment
of court, and have been getting from
$500 to $1,000 year on the side. This
will be cut off. It will also hit those
who have been able to get large fees
for naturalization work. The federal
courts hold the clerks could keep these
fees and the state policy Is to regard
them as appertaining to the office. II
the sheriff's bill Is finally passed there
is going to be big kick from some
of the sheriffs who have been Juggling
with the deputyships and making adj
dition to salary in that way.
The general plan adopted is for a
graded salary list, which cannot be
touched by the board Of supervisors
nor the courts, and then to fix deputy
salaries at not over 5000 in the coun-
ties under $4,000 and above that size
deputy pay at half that of the chief
on rigid rule.
Members of the senate who have
worked on this measure believe that
in the long run it will be found econ
omy for the taxpayers Of the state and
be far more satisfactory in every way.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-30
WILSON FOR BUDGET NOW.

President Wilson has declared hill
self in favor of a new budget system
and he promises to take up the matter
for serious consideration before con-
gress shall assemble. This is the lat
est, and most important victory for the
crusade for sane and scientific fed
eral budget, begun two months ago by
Senator Kenyon of Iowa.
This admission by the democratic
president that the pork barrel system
has run away with the national IL
nances was forced by the recent report
of Chairman Fitzgerald of the house
committee on appropriations. F1tz-
gerald complained that it was impos-
sible to- conduct the government econ
omically when eight separate commit
tees had the power to propose approp-
ration bills in congress. Since he saw
deficit of $133,O00000 waiting the
government at the end of the fiscal
year, Fitzgerald was willing to aban-
don his opposition to any change IN
the scheme and to have one commit.
techs own, of course-handle all OF
tho expenditures.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-30
The Commercial Theatre s Failure
BY WALTER PRlCHARD EATON.
Dramatic Critic and Essayist.

where really excellent play, well act
ed, is as rare as the dodo. The mana
gers would now assert, no doubt, that
self preservation compels them to
abandon these cities altogether.
A great many reasons have been put
forward by great many people to ex'
plain the situation. The most common
Is that the movies have knocked the
bottom out" of the spoken drama in
the smaller towns Such an assump
ton is manifestly an absurdity, for the
spoken drama still flourishes in the
large centres, and as a nation we are
not yet reduced to the intellectual
level of children. We must look deep,
er. Why are the movies more popular
in the smaller towns? 1t Is because
they are cheaper, and also because
much of the time they are relatively
better, and all the time more reliable
The commercial theatre, in the first
place, sends it's plays out ION the
road" at much the same prices asked
in New York, Philadelphia and Chica
go, and these prices are too high fol-
the pocketbooks of the smaller towns
In the second place, the commercial
theatre has sent to these towns in re
cent years second, third, even fourth
and fifth companies, which were often
mere parodies of the original produc
ton. In the third place, the public In
the lesser cities have no means of find
ing out in advance whether either the
play or the production is to be worth
while, and they have been "stung" Sc
often that now they prefer not to take
the risk In part, the stupidity of the
commercial managers Is to blame for
this, but in part also-and perhaps in
larger part-the blame is inherent in
our present system. The result, how
ever. Is the same-scores of American
cities of from 10000 to $4,000, or even
100000 inhabitants, are practically
without reliable dramatic entertain,
ment today entertainment worthy OF
the intellectual capacities and better
ideals of the communities
This is not theory, it Is fact. The
hard times of the current year are not
to blame for it; they have only made
the situation a bit worse. The fault
lies in our commercial system OF
theatre management, with the sole
headquarters in New York. And un
less the bulk of the 90,000,0O0 Ameri
cans wish in the future to subsist sole
ly on motion pictures and let the beau
tiful art of the drama remain proper
ty of the larger centres, the remedy
will have to be found outside of our
present system.
Walter p Eaton.
~ tn
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-30
WATERWAY TRAFFIC,

For several years, few men in the
great middle west have been preach
ing Improved waterways" Their
preaching prepared the people for the
stunning information which is now
falling upon their ears and which is
this: it is a question of getting water
ways or losing the world markets.
The Panama canal has proved already
a boon to the east and west coasts,
but it will be calamity to the middle
west unless the middle west gets into
the game and meets waterway COM
petition with waterway rates. That
means improving the inland water
ways, large and small, the building
of RIVER terminals and the installation
of freight barge lines.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-30
FLORiS.

Miss Bertha Ramey returned Tues
day from several weeks visit with
relatives in Oklahoma and Kansas.
! Eugene, the little son Of Mr.. and
Mrs. John ROUGH has been quite sick
with la grippe and tonsilitis, but is re-
covering now.
Chas. Skinner made business trip
to Bloomfield last Thursday.
Funeral services were conducted at
the Christian church on Thursday Of
last week, for the one year old child
Of Mr.. and Mrs. Lawrence Harvard,
by Elder E. A. Hastings.
Mrs. Allie Lyon spent from Thurs
day until Saturday in Eldon, visiting
at the home of her sons, Will and
Cecil.
Mrs. D. w. Tasting is confined to
her bed and suffering greatly from a
dislocated limb, caused by fall.
The little child of Mr.. and Mrs. Jno-
Atwood died on Tuesday of last week
and was buried Wednesday at the Jay
! cemetery.
U. S. Heady and wife were Ottumwa
visitors one day last week.
The Misses Ethel Harvard and Fern
Stark were Ottumwa passengers Sat
urday
Mrs. Morgan and grand daughter of
Ottumwa came Friday for several
days visit with her daughter, Mrs.
Jno ROUGH.
Mrs. Chas. Skinner spent Saturday
and Sunday in Ottumwa with relatives
and called at the Ottumwa hospital to
see her aunt, Mrs Emma GarretsOn,
who is quite i'll.
Everett Adams of Bunch visited sew
eral days here, last week with his
friend, Harry Christy.
Mrs. Clarence Shootman was operat-
ed on at the Ottumwa hospital last
Tuesday.
w. E. and Less Hill and REQ Hast
ings were in Centerville Sunday.
Mrs Lulu Mccormick of Bloomfield
was an over Sunday visitor at the A.
H. Plank home.
shipped out twelve head of horses last
Friday.
The program at school last Friday
afternoon was we'll attended, there be-.
ing fifty-seven visitors present. On the
last day which will be in four weeks
they will give another program and a
cordial invitation is extended to all,
especially the patrons, byt the teach
ers.
Fred Grinstead and wife of Eldon
were Sunday visitors at the home Of
his mother, Mrs. Sarah Grinstead
Miss Lillis Cosper Of Eldon spent
Sunday with home folks.
H. L. Stark and wife and son, Joe,
and daughter Fern, and Miss Gladys
Wilson, Lucille Evans, Joe Denny,
Louise Briggs and Merl Denny, all
spent Sunday at the Lands Griner
home
Dr. Parker made a professional visit
to Belknap Monday in the Stark car
E. N. Davis of Danville called on old
friends here Monday.
Miss Auginette Baker returned to
her home in Bloomfield Monday, after
three wseks visit in this vicinity.
c. E. Swinney was passenger to
Fairfield Sunday returning Monday
noon bringing the body Of the infant
child of Mr.. and Mrs. R. E. Lapper and
was met at the station by numerous
friends and the Stark and Heady cars,
which repaired Immediately to the I.
o. o. F. cemetery where interment was
made.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-30
THE THEATER,

The special editorial feature on
this page today is by Walter P. Eaton,
prominent dramatic critic and essay
list, and the subject is "The CONNER
cial Theater's Failure" Mr.. Eaton
takes severely critical view of Amer
lean theatrical management, and con-
tends that this country is falling be-
hind Europe in the production of good
drama. He further blames the people
for demanding popular stuff" rather
than artistic effort. Mr.. Eaton does
not seem to recognize the fact that
many of the people upon whose pat
ronage the theater depends, look to
the theater for amusement and relaxa-
ton rather than for art which to the
uninitiated is sometimes bore. Re-
garless of how you may look upon the
matter, the editorial is an interesting
one and you should read it.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-30
COURIER LEADS THE FIELD.

The Courier is the first newspaper
In Iowa to install the improved Thomp-
son typecasting machine. No other
paper in the state Is as we'll equipped
to make it's own display type as is The
Courier. In other words, whereas
most papers buy their type font or
two at time, use the type until it is
worn out and then buy more, The
Courier is able to keep itself supplied
with the newest and most attractive
type and in as great quantities as is
needed. For financial reasons this
would be practically an impossibility If
the type had to be bought in fonts and
shipped in from the big type foundries.
The Courier is proud Of its new ma
chine and proud of the fact that it's
constantly growing business makes the
installation of such a machine more
of necessity than luxury. 1t is
merely another instance recording the
progress that The Courier is making.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-30

The commercially conducted theatre
In America is an avowed failure. THIS
season has seen prominent commercial
managers going into bankruptcy
theatres dark or running at loss be-
cause of lack of paying attractions, and
actors and actresses accepting any
thing that is offered in order to Keep
the proverbial wolf from the door. II
the commercial theatre cannot justify
itself by being success from the box
Office standpoint, what else has 1t to
justify itself?
But it's failure has been more COM
plete. It has failed to develop any
body of native drama worthy of COM
parison with our printed literature; 1t
has failed to develop acting which,
save in rare instances, is above medioc,
rity; it has failed utterly to keep pace
with the European stage in mechanical
equipment or in lighting and scene
painting; it has failed to provide stable
occupation for the actors or dignified
conditions for the authors; finally
above all, it has failed to keep the con-
fidence of the public and to furnish
any but the largest cities with worthy
and reliable dramatic entertainment.
The chief reason why the CONNER
, cial theatre has not developed native
drama is because it does not encourage
and does not dare accept, the serious
work Of serious authors. 1t dares &C
cept only work which seems avowediy
popular" This is bound to be the
case so long as the theatre remains
entirely competitive gambling game.
1t has failed to develop acting because
there are no permanent companies
where young players can be adequately
trained. 1t has failed to keep pace with
Europe in scenery, lights and mechani.
cal equipment because these things
cost money, they are risk and in
commerce one takes as few risks as
possible 1t has failed to provide dig
nified conditions for the artists, be,
cause the kind of men who are now at
tracted into theatre management are
for the most part unacquainted with
the meaning of this adjective.
But why should the commercial
theatre fail to keep the confidence of
the public and fail to furnish the best
1t can offer to this public who bring it
it's profits? Self-preservation alone
would seem to dictate the opposite pol
icy. Yet more and more in recent
years, and strikingly this present win
ter, when people have been affected by
the hard times, the theatrical business
in the smaller cities has grown less
anG less profitable. an ever greater
number of the ser cities have been
gradually driftil,, ,oward condition
(COpyright, 1915, by The N
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-30

for the troops ran very short. One
morning, when the general appeared
for breakfast, the cook came before
him. and said in troubled tone:
Pardon me, your lordship, | have
set the table in the dining tent, as
usual but there isn't any bread"
No bread?' roared the general.
why didn't you buy some?"
There isn't any to be had; the
stores are all run out" replied the
cook.
well, don't stand there like a
blooming idiot! Why, under the
sun, don't you get ME some toast?"
J. d. Leckie tells an amusing story
of editorial ingenuity Some years ago
the first three horses in the Lincoln
handicap were OBJ Dean Swift and Ro.
seate Dawn. A press agency in Lon,
don wired the result to an Australian
paper as follows: Lincoln Oh Dean
Swift Roseate Dawn"
The subeditor who was in charge
had never heard of the Lincoln handi.
cap, and for some time puzzled vainly
over the mysterious message. Finally
he came to the conclusion that "Ob
must stand for obit, the Latin word
expressing death notice. He accord
ingly turned out the following para
graph; which duly appeared in print:
I'VE deeply regret to announce the
death at Lincoln Of the celebrated
Dean Swift. the author of that favor
, tie hymn, "The Roseate Hues Of Early
Dawn"
! It is not on record whether he was
promoted for his smartness.
"Then you don't think I practice
what I preach. eh?" queried the minis
| ter in talking with one Of the deacons
at meeting.
"No sir; don't" replied the deacon
you've been preachin on the subject
Of resignation for two years, an We
; haven't resigned yet"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-30
NEW BATTLESHIP
HAS A COLLISION

Philadelphia, Pa, March 27.-The
new Argentina battleship Moreno,
which sailed from here yesterday for
Hampton Roads, collided last night
with barge off Newcastle, Del, thir-
ty miles down the Delaware river from
this city. The barge was sunk and the
Moreno went ashore where she re.
NAMED fast until 1880 a. M, today,
when she foated. The Moreno pro.
ceeded down Delaware bay, appar.
emily uninjured, and is expected to
pass out to sea during the day.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-30

The British army leader shakes his
head gravely and expresses fear that
many of the atrocities charged to the
Germans have been committed. He
qualities this however by saying that
atrocities are committed only by sol
dicrs whose commanders are lax ne
might we'll have added that the same
thing is probably true in all the armies
of all the nations There are black
sheep in every flock that need an iron
hand to hold them down. If the com
mander is without the iron hand atroc
tiles will result There is no reason
to believe that the Germans are any
more atrocious than the soldiers of the
other fighting nations.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-30

Il is stated that $4,000 people have
been killed and a number greater than
that permanently MANNED in the last
ten years as result OF trespasslng on
railroad rights of way. In other words
there were enough accidents OF this
kim alone to practically wipe out the
United States standing army. Evil
IDENTIFY the perils of peace deserve con-
sideration at this time as well as the
perils of war.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-30

Better keep your head inside the
window" advised the brakeman
81 kin look out the winder if want
to-" answered the youth.
IT know you can," warned the brake
man. But if you damage any of the
ironwork on the bridges you'll pay for
It,"
An amusing anecdote is told of
Lord Cardigan, who fought in the
Crimean war, when a coalition Of
England, France, Turkey and Sar-
DINA fought Russia Cardigan was
a choleric old general, whose bursts
of temper were a constant dread of
subordinates.
1t once happened that provisions
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-30
'D1 r. ne T.
s tOri e y

mainly of small boys.
His subject was kindness to ami
mails, and he urged his listeners to
treat our dumb friends with human
ity. Just as he reached the end Of
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-30

his harangue lady walked past
leading two little dogs on a double
leash-one white and the other black.
The speaker seized his oppor-
tunity
Nov, suppose those two dear lit
tie animals began fighting" he said
loudly; latter hearing what l have
said, what is the first thing you
would do?"
A paralyzed silence fell on the
crowd. A very small boy in the front
row eyed the two dogs critically.
"Well, guv'nor," he said at last, 81
fink I'd bet dime on the black one!"
The lanky youth who occupied a
seat in a passenger coach persisted in
sticking his head and shoulders out of
the window The brakeman was pass
ing through the coach, and he touched
the youth on the back.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-30
FRAUD CASE RESTS.

Indianapolis, Ind, March 27.-The
government rested its case in the
Terre Haute election fraud trials short
ly after 10 o'clock today. The defense
was ready with number of witnesses
to begin it's side Of the case.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-30

K. Thaw back within the jurisdiction
Of the state on extradition papers
charging the crime of conspiracy,
and having lost that case, seize him
and recommit him to Mattewan.
Thaw's lawyers hold that the state is
in duty bound to send their client
back to New Hampshire from which
state he was obtained on a charge Of
conspiracy.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-30
INDICTMENTS QUAsHED

Chicago, March 27.-The Indictment
charging julius Rosenwald, million.
aire philanthropist. with evading GER
tain taxes due Cook county was
uuashed today Judge Mcdonald held
that the indictment was under law
of 1872 and that this law was repeal
ed by new law effective in 1898.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-30

French chivalry did not prevent the
execution of a woman who admitted
being spy in the employ of the Ger
mans. Incidently the French woman's
name was Schmitt. Maybe that helped
to convict her.