davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-20
FIRE AND WATER
USED IN BATTLES

London, March lS.--How the Ger
mans employed both fire and water to
destroy the Russians in the campaign
In the Mazurian lake district of East
Prussia. is related in communication
received by the Westminster Gazette
from Gothenburg.
German strategy counted not only
on water and mire. but even fire." the
correspondent at Gothenburg declared.
Their engineers have for many years
been equipped with a peculiar kind of
auger for exacavating the trunks OF
soft trees such as the Mazurian frs.
When the Russian army first advanc-
ed into East Prussia, German en-
gineers quickly excavated numbers Of
trees. When Russian troops reached
the Mazurian district German officers
at once opened the canal locks, drown.
ing the invading troops like flies. Some
ussians reached the forests but Of
course they had no idea that many
trees had been charged with gasoline.
1t was an easy task for the German
artillery to set match to this bonfire
and burn up the Russian regiments
they had entrapped."
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-20
CHARLTON.

The school board met on Monday
evening and organized for the years
work The new members Chas. Hass, O..
D. Harding and Mrs Don E. Lewis,
were sworn in. The retiring members
were A. C. Rebel F. B. Curtis and
Mrs ]. H. Stanton. Mrs. J. G. Copeland
was chosen president, j. II. Curtis, vice
president At this meeting Supt. l., L..
Guernsey and Principal John E. LUX
ems Of the Charlton schools were re-
elected for the ensuing year, at in
creased salaries, which speaks we'll for
their efficiency. The schools at Chari-
ton are in excellent condition and the
reelection Of these gentlemen insures
the same high standard for next year.
A large number Of friends were de-
lightfully entertained at card party
at the home of Mr.. and Mrs. Jerome
Oppenheimer on Monday evening.
Mrs. Jennie Heston Of Lucas return
ed home yesterday after visit Of sew
eral days with her sister Mrs. John
Cross, and other relatives. Her brother
Emory Spencer. accompanied her home
for visit.
Mrs. VIM. Gill and two little sons
went to Lucas yesterday for visit at
the home Of her mother Mrs. John
Pascoe.
Miss Ina Jasper of Rex came yes
terday for visit with Miss Elizabeth
Lescoe
Fl. E. Anspach and wife departed
last evening for Bussey where he has
engaged in the harness business and
where they will reside. The best wishes
of many friends won during their stay
here will go with them.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-20
JUSTICE HUGHES.

The troubles surrounding the al
ministration and the ever Wldenlne
breach in the democratic party nave
caused gossip to reawaken concerning
the possibility of bringing the ola re-
publican party together on one canol
date and a single platform. Colone'
Roosevelt seems to be out OF consul
Grafton as regular republican canol,
date, If he appears in the national
arena in 1916 he is likely to be at Tue
head If war party or party deVoteu
tn active national defense. Among
regular republicans there is just now
much discussion of the POSSIBILITY "
drafting Justice Hughes Tor the hon ,l
nation. The practical difficulty IN the
wav his refusal to be candldale
might be surmounted by bringing ou'
a large bevy of tavorite sons. ms
would make the nomination OF any
one Of them virtual imposs1olllty
After taking a few Intellectual ballots
a committee could then be appointed
to wait upon Justice Hughes with the
request that he allow his name TO De
nsed. One of the most interesting
Of the early discussion
deals with the possibility that ex
President Taft may prove strong
figure in the republican convention;
There is no doubt that he has gained
greatly in popularity in recent months'
ant the demand for his nomination
has vet hardly reached a Whisper
The real call seems to be TOT HUGHES
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-20
National Prohibition
By WILLIAM ALLEN WHITE.
Editor and Author Of "a Certain Rich Man."

Probably the most vital issue before
the people of the United States just
now is prohibition. It is found vigor.
GUS and intelligently active in some
form in the legislature of nearly ev.
cry American state There can be no
question but that the assault on the
liquor traffic in America is persistent
and effective, whether it takes the
shape of local option or state prohibit
ton.
The fact that the vote to restrict
the liquor traffic and to prohibit it is
found almost universally in every
American community in one form or
another has persuaded the national
leaders Of the campaign that national
prohibition is national issue. The
fact that considerable per cent of
the geographical area of the country
is dry has cheered the prohibitionists.
They are also encouraged by the fact
that considerable majority of the
population, numerically seem to be
living in dry territory.
| But this situation is not exactly as
| it seems. While it may be true that
there are more dry square miles than
there are wet square miles, and while
| it may be true that the actual count
of noses indicates that more people
live in dry territory than are living in
wet territory, yet it must not be for.
gotten that this dry area and that
these dry people are found in rural
communities largely. No great Ameri'
can city with cosmopolitan popula.
ton reasonably fresh from Europe
and new To our American institutions
has tried prohibition successfully.
Cities Of 10000 or $4,000 are trying it
now for the first time, and even these
cities are largely filled with people OF
the American stock. These SMALL
cities are largely overgrown country
towns. and while it might be possible
to obtain a constitutional majority of
the states of the union to bring about
national prohibition yet in the other
third of the nation would be found the
great seaboard communities with their
city jewellers who have not been rear
ed under conditions which have made
prohibition reasonably successful in
the rural communities. 1t would be a
serious and perhaps calamitous ex-
pertinent suddenly to prohibit the sale
and manufacture O., liquor in great
city like New York or philadelphia, or
Boston, where there would be practi-
cally a dominant majority angrily cp-
posing the idea.
Another serious consideration must
be met by the advocates of national
Copyright 1915, by The n
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-20
BELGIAN WOMAN
RAISES LARGE SUM

New York, March 1S.-Madame Lalla
Vandervelde, wife of one of the Bel
gian ministers Of state, who has OBJ
tanned in this country nearly 100000
for the relief of war sufferers in Bel
GUM was preparing today to start for
Europe after farewell meeting held
in her honor in Carnegie hall last
night. Joseph H. Choate, James NJ.
Beck and Frederick r. Coudert were
among the speakers at the meeting.
Brand Whitlock, the American min
lister at Brussels, sent word that the
supply of food now in Belgium was
sufficient only to last until April 1.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-20
QUIET IN MEXICO
is OFFICIAL NEWS

Washington, D. c., March 1S.-Con.
tinued quiet in Mexico City was re-
ported in official dispatches today and
it was said progress was being made in
restoring railroad communication be-
tween the Mexican capital and the
American border at Ell Paso.
General Villa and his main body OF
10000 troops are today within fifty
miles of Tampico, at Coco Station, &C
cording to advices received by En-
rique C. Lorente. head Of the Villa
agency here, and the advance guard
of the army is within twenty-five miles
OF Tampico.
Reports to the state department
from Progreso said insurgents of Yu-
catan had met with additional re-
verses.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-20
THE HERO WHO SAVED THE DAY.
The International Sunday School Les.
son for March Fl Is Jonathan and
His Armorbearer."-l Sam. Atlas.
(By William T. Ellis.)

Somebody said 1t couldn't be done,
But he with chuckle replied
That maybe it couldn't, but he would
be one
Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.
50 he buckled right in with trace OF
grin
On his face. II he worried he hid 1t.
He started to sing as he tackled the
thing
That couldn't be done, and he did 1t.
History loves Jonathan, because he
himself was great lover (of which
more in later lesson) and because he
dared to do the deed that daunted his
father and his soldiers. This is hero
tale from Israels history. Intrepid
Jonathan and his armor-bearer per-
formed feat that would have won him
an Iron cross or Victoria cross II
done in the present war These two, by
single brave strategem, an "impos'
sihle" achievement, put to rout the
Philistines and won great victory FOR
Israel.
/ II was dark day with Israel. Many
years had elapsed since the brilliant
/ conquest of the Ammonites by Saul, re
corded in last weeks lesson. A new
foe had come up from the west, almost
irresistably The NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
name by the way, is perpetuated In the
present title of the land PALESTINE
mysterious people from over the sea
and possibly from Crete, had settled
on the maritime plain of Canaan.
A People In Panic.
1t was gloomy company, and a
small one that waited with Saul at the
stronghold of Geba, across deep ra
vine from the Philistine garrison al
Michmash. Terror had been driven in
| to the hearts of the Jews by the op
pressions and triumphs of the Philis
! tines. Some were hiding in caves and
ravines and In the wilderness. Others
had abjectly cast their lot with theil
conquerors, becoming vassals. None
had weapons, save the king and Jon
athan. Dark and desperate indeed was
the outlook for Israel, for that worst
of all calamities had occurred, the
hearts of the people had grown fearful
The heroic spirit seemed to be dor
mant, or to have disappeared.
This discouraged nation needed a
toric Of heroism and faith.
There Is place In the annals of his
time for the man who possesses both
bravery and brains. Courage Is com
moner than wisdom. Jonathan seems
to have had both to rare degree. A
perception of occasions, and the dar
ing to utilize them, were his to an ex
! traordinary degree. He was hero
with horse sense. Apparently this
high hearted youth was favored from
birth with a noble spirit. He had
grown up doing the unselfish and the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-20
In The Religious World
(REvEW OF SUNDAY SCHOOL lie ssoN)

fearless thing His manhood achieve
ments were made possible by his boy
hood habits.
Thus 1t came about that the stoutest
heart in Israel on the dark day OF the
Philistin visitation beat In the breast
of Prince Jonathan. The positions OF
the forces was the factor of first impor-
lance. Between Michmash, the Philis-
tine fortress, on the north and Geba
on the south, where Saul's depleted
and negligible host were encamped,
ran great ravine. The sides of Mich.
mash were precipitous, and presum-
ably unscalable, like the cliff Of Look
out Mountain, Tennessee, where a
somewhat similar feat was performed
during the civil war. So sure were the
enemy of their own strength and the
foes weakness that they left the garri-
son in the possession of handful Of
men while they went out, In three col
umns, on a marauding expedition.
Audacious and reckless, as we'll as
heroic Jonathans strategem seemed.
for he proposed to his armor bearer
that they should scale the cliff and try
the fortunes of their swords upon the
unsuspecting garrison. Nobody, not
even Saul himself, was told Of the
plan. They might prevent 1t, and GER
tainly they would scoff at the young
adventures as fools.
Nothing Is clearer in the history of
the world and of our own day than
that greatest results are secured by In
dividuals who have dared greatly,
despite prudence and self-interest, to
fling themselves fearlessly into nigh
and holy and seemingly hopeless
causes. The cause of Christ today
needs nothing more than consecrated
men and women who will give them.
selves undoubtedly to his service, In
local communities, in public life and In
| world politics. The great battles OF
by those who dare to be devoted for
the twentieth century are to be won
sake of man and God.
Victory For The Valiant.
! Jonathan's ruse worked. Falling un-
expectedly upon the unprepared rem
nant that garrisoned the rock, the two
Hebrews slew twenty of them-a bit
Of strategy not uncommon In warfare.
Others fed and met the returning col
umns. Panic and mad fear took pos
session of all. Philistine fought with
Philistine, and 1t seemed as If the very
earth trembled.
The commotion was seen from the
camp of Saul and, rather belatedly,
his host got into action. Then the
Jews among the Philistines saw that
their hour had come to strike blow
! for their nation, and they did so. Re-
fugees from the hill country, swarmed
into the melee. "And there was very
great discontinue" as the record runs.
The nation was served and saved by
a heroic prince who dared do des.
perate deed for God Along with the
message of patriotism and resource
fulness which we inherit from brave
Jonathan is the other greatest one
"Boldness, yet more boldness, and
ever holiness"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-20
RUSSELL

Joseph e. Dixon, who has been
spending some time at the home of
his brother, Frank, returned to his
home at Newton, Iowa, Tuesday.
Randall House ereturned to his
home at Tingley after a two weeks
visit with the H. G. Hancock family
Asa Price who has been employed
in the A. ]. Woodman store for sew
eral years, has resigned his position
and is thinking Of moving to Wis
consin in the near future
DR.. Carl F. Huston spent Sunday in
Des Moines visiting friends.
Grant Stuart Of Charlton spent
few days the fore part of the week
visiting frieneds in Russell.
Miss Rosan Palmer of Strawberry
Point, who has been principal of the
high school, and who was called home
on account of the serious condition of
her mother, has sent word she can
not return, because of the continued
illness of her mother.
Mack Hall of Lucas was visiting in
Russell Monday.
Sam Foster of Des Moines is visit.
ing in Russell at the home of his
grandparents, Mr.. and Mrs. ]. w.
Foster.
Jess Casteel is spending few days
in Davenport.
Frank Drake has gone to the OF
tumwa hospital, where he will ur,-
dergo an operation for appendicitis.
Fern Jennings of WOODBURY. is
spending few days in Russell
Conrad Baker, who has been an in
valid for several years at the home
Of Ed HILL died Tuesday evening. Mr..
Bader was one Of the early pioneeres
in Lucas county and had been suf-
ferer for many years.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-20
SARCASTIC FRENCH
POET IMPRISONED

Berlin, March 18.-Authorship Of a
poem containing sarcastic references
to Emperor William has resulted in
First Lieutenant Alfred Humbert of
the Thirty-frst regiment of French
rifles, war prisoner in the fortress
at Strassburg. being sentenced to six
months imprisonment. The wife of
the chief surgeon of the hospital in
which Humbert was being treated and
to whom he gave the poem, has been
sentenced to one month in prison for
utterances unfriendly to Germany.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-20
lOWANS ARE CHAMPIONS.

Two Iowa young people will prob
ably rank as the champion boy corn
grower and the champion girl gar
dener and Gamer of the United States
for the year 1914 They are Earle Eel
Ter of Cooper, Greene county, and Eloise
Parsons of Toledo, Tama county, and
they were the winners in the state
contest for corn growing and garden
ing and canning. While they were in
Washington recently, on the trips won
through their excellent work in the
Iowa Boys and Girls clubs, their rec
ords were compared with other state
champions and they were found at the
ton of the list. Zone or two state re-
ports are not complete" says Miss
Kate Logan of the agricultural extern
sion department of Iowa State college,
Who accompanied them, "but it is
hardly likely that they will change the
result"
Eloise Parsons, with her crop of s.
31S pounds of tomatoes from tenth
of an acre Of ground and profit OF
s115.57 was so far in the lead among
the girls of the United States that she
is clearly champion. Her record was
two and one-half times better than
the next best at Washington. Miss
Parsons was sent to Washington by
money secured by Mrs. Maude T. San
ford of Cherokee, chairman of the
Ehome economics committee of the
Iowa Federation of Women's clubs.
Earle Zeller's record of 1879 bush.
els Weld of corn from an acre and
s1s7sO profit is also likely to stand
as the best record for 1914. Some OF
: the boys from southern states had
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-20
DOuDS.LEANDO

Howard Baird Of this vicinity and
Miss Berta Smith Of Chequest were
married last Wednesday at the par
sonage in Leando.
DR.. T. D. Rambo of Chillicothe Wis
ted his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George
Rambo, of Leando, last week.
James Harvard of keosauqua
had business in town Wednesday.
George Hewitt has sold his resi-
.dence in Leando to 7. Nickl1n.
Miss MARIA Stewart visited friendz
in KeosauQua Saturday.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-20

prohibition. The annual revenue rails
ed today from liquor may be placed
fairly at somewhere near $100,000,000.
To cut off that revenue Immediately
would make serious deficit in the
federal income. To attempt to cover
that deficit at one stroke of the legis'
lative pen would create economical
riot. If an attempt was made to raise
the deficit by increasing the income
tax. at once the middle and upper
class people would join forces against
the prohibition law, and the strong
sentiment needed to enforce it, which
heretofore has come from just these
classes, would be lost We must not
forget in this connection that while
men are poor because they drink, 1t
is also true that men drink because
they are poor. One reason why 1t is
possible to enforce the prohibition law
in rural communities is found to some
degree in the fact that economic con-
ditions in rural communities are FAR
more equitable and just than those
found in the great cities. Before pro-
hibition may be easily enforced in the
great cities the economic conditions
of those cities will have to approach
somewhat the economic conditions OF
the rural communities. And the dis
tribution of wealth will have to be so
Just that the economic reason for
drunkenness to a considerable extent
will be taken away from the classes
which fill the saloons.
There are, however, activities ma
tional in their character, to which the
prohibitionists may well turn their
hands. The withdrawal of federal H.
censes to sell liquor in dry territory
should be accomplished. An inter
state law absolutely prohibiting the
shipment of liquor into dry territory
should be enacted, and in every state
the prohibitionists should see to it
that the United States senators and
congressman are so dominated by the
prohibition sentiment that the recon-
mendations for United States marshal
and United States district attorney
and United States district judges made
by senators and congressman should
be in full militant sympathy with the
prohibition idea. Given these three
things, and the enforcement OF the
prohibition law in the various coun-
ties, cities and states will be much
more easy than it is today and the
policy of prohibition will be funda-
mentally strengthened all over the ter
ritory which is now accounted as dry
territory
W. A. WHITE.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-20
DRIVING THE FLAG FROM The
PACIElC,

Not every piece of legislation Is as
Immediately effective as the Larol-
1ette seaman's bill Is proving 10 De'
The Establishments" of broken treatles
with other nations, which the presl-
dent says are to be easily arrahseo'
are still to come, and 1t may De SOME
time before all the superf1uous provl-
sions in the name of safety are carried
ont But it is already clear that the
blow to the American merchant mar
inc engaged in foreign trade mas peen
most scientifically administered. IL
there are any American shlpo"ners
who believed that an opportunity nao
come to f1y the American flag from the
taffrail. they will see the folly OF the
authorization. The new registry law
will not help them in the least. They
must stick to a foreign flag If they ex-
meet to do business at profit. The one
infallible result of the measure which
congress passed and the president
signed at the dictates of union labor
will be the disappearance OF the last
nossible chance of this under the
American flag.
The flag may still wave over a lone
shin or two in the Atlantic. In the
case OF the American Line, Tor ex-
annie the mail subsidy will suffice to
keep it there as long as the present
fleet does not go to the scrap-heap,
even though there is no announcement
to build new ships. But In the Paclhc
It must soon be memory only. One
American company has already IN
nounced that it cannot operate its
ships in these waters under the new
law, and that it will probably seek
Chinese registry. Another predicts
that Japan will obtain practical mo-
nopoly of the trade to the Far East by
the withdrawal of American ships.
There is a limit to the patriotism OF
the hard headed business man, and it
is reached when a very small proht IS
turned into a very large loss. The re-
ouirement in the bill that IS per cent.
If the crew must be Americans is the
coup de grace to trans-pacihc shipping
under the American flag. There are
two reasons for this. One is that a
vessel paying American wages cannot
by any possibility compete with ship
paving Japanese, Chinese or Lascar
wages. The other is that there are not
enough American seamen on the Pa
cific coast to make three-quarters OF
the crew. Either reason Is sufficient.
Meanwhile the secretary of the
treasury continues to lament that the
shin purchase bill was defeated, and to
express a lugubrious hope that private
capital will take advantage Of the
great opportunity of which the govern.
ment was deprived But the competi.
ton of government owned ships could
not have been more fatal than the pro-
visions of the seaman's act Private
capital will have to wait in self de-
tense until 1t sees chance Of profit,
which 1t will never do while the pre-
sent shipping laws are in force.-Phila.
delphia Public Ledger.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-20

trituted In the same proportion as the
prize money-the greatest part among
the officers
A preacher, trying to illustrate the
intensity of the gross darkness men
toned in the scripture, said
my friends, you've been out on a
dark night when you could hardly
see your hand before you, and you've
seen how pitchy dark 1t Is. Well,
pitchy darkness be dark, and, my
friends, you know what gross Is.
II not, I'll tell you. A gross is twelve
dozen; now you'll understand the
darkness that covered the people, for
it was 14O times pitchy dark
"Your hogs are lookin' mighty lean
an angular" observed Farmer Pea
straw.
That's just the way I wants en-"
replied Farmer Oatcake. Il see by
the papers that men in Chicago
make fortunes from getting corners
on pork"
Two colored porters were discussing
the war as they waited for train to
pull out of the Oakland (Cal) mole.
man." said the first dem German
submaroons is sho'ly gwine to sink de
British navy. Vas, stree, dey's sho'ly
gwine to 'splode dem naval boats OATS
waitin' out yonda.' "Sho!" said porter
No. 2. AN what's gwine ter happen
DEM"
"Why dem German submaroons II
come right on cross de ocean an
'splode de rest OBJ de naval boats oh
de world. OATS what'll happen den. .
"Well, looky heah, Gawge. Aain't you
an me better decla' ouahselves a
couple of noot-nootral-noot
"Man," said Gawge, "yo' all kin be a
MORTALITY if 20 wants to. Abs Ger.
man."
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-20
CROWDED PIERS
AWAIT STEAMERS

New York, March 18.-Work is be-
ing rushed today in the loading Of
more than dozen steamers here with
food supplies, ammunition, guns, mo-
tor trucks and other material for the
use of the allies in the war. Several
steamship companies have been COM
PEELED to charter additional vessels to
carry to Europe heavy cargoes wait
ing on New York piers.