davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-03-07
WILSON SELECTS
OHIO LAWYER FOR
WAR SECRETARY
NEWTON D. BAKER NOMINATED
FOR POST VACATED ~ LIND.
LEY N. GARRISON.

Washington, D. c., March 6.-Newton
ID. Baker, former mayor of Cleveland,
has been selected by President Wilson
for secretary OF war. The president
and Mr.. Baker have been close friends
for some time. Mr.. Baker Is said to be
In close sympathy with the presidents 8
policies and is known to have had the
support Of some members Of the cab.
met for the war office.
Mr.. Baker is A years old. He was
born in Martinsburg. w. Va, and at
the age of rs was appointed private
secretary of Postmaster General Will
son In President Cleveland's cabinet.
In 1897 he began the practice Of law
at Martinsburg but not long thereafter
moved to Cleveland where he became
city solicitor in 1902 He held this
office for ten years until his election
as mayor. In 1914 he was reelected
mayor for two year term.
For years Mr.. Baker has been close
ly identified with the reform move
ment In Cleveland. He brought about
an adjustment of the street railway
franchises in Cleveland.
At the time of the Baltimore conven.
ton when President Wilson was nom.
mated Mr.. Baker was prominently
mentioned for the vice presidency be-
cause OF the fight he made in support
Of Mr.. Wilson.
Mr.. Baker has been known for years
as a leader of the Ohio bar and is
highly regarded by the president as a
lawyer.
Mr.. Baker was known as the original
Wilson man in Ohio. At the time Of
the Baltimore convention in 1912 Jud.
son Harmon, former governor of Ohio,
was candidate for the presidential
nomination and controlled majority
Of the Ohio delegation, but Baker was
for Wilson and swung with him num-
Der of northern Ohio delegates. The
successful fght, which he personally
led on the floor OF the convention to
prevent the adoption of the unit rule
saved these Ohio votes to Wilson
Mr.. Baker is member Of the Ohio
state democratic committee and chair
man Of the executive committee of his
county committee. He has the record
of having run for public Office in Cleve-
land during fourteen consecutive years
without defeat. He declined to run
for office again in order to devote his
time to private law practice.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-03-07
SIXTEEN KILLED IN 4
MINE EXPLOSION

Davis, w. Va, March 8. The dea&1i
toll resulting from the mine explosiork
1T Kempton last Tuesday was brought
up to sixteen with the death ct local
hospital yesterday of ono OF the hve
men who were brought here badly m
1ured The others will recover. etatG
Mine Inspector William Walters gk
Maryland has posted notice at thu
ofice Of the Davis Coal & Coke Co..
owners Of the mine, saying that n ~
vestigation shows that the explosions
was caused by blowout shot.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-03-07
Pacifist Leader at Capital
to Advocate Resolution
Warning Americans
NATTER COMING TO
VOTE IMMEDIATELY
German Documents Showing
British Abuse of Guns
on Ships Received

Washington, d. c., March 6. The
house rules committee today agreed
upon and will bring into the house to
morrow. special rule for four hours
debate on the McLemore resolution
warning Americans off armed ships vi
the European belligerents. This &C
ton puts the much discussed resolu
ton into parliamentary position
where administration leaders are con.
f1dent they can kill it.
While the rules committee was
meeting Representative Bailey tele.
phoned invitations to senators and rep.
resentatives to lunch with William J,
Bryan at o'clock at a hotel near the
capitol. About twenty members Of con.
gress were invited, most of whom are
strong advocates Of Z warning resolu.
tion.
Mr.. Bailey declined to make public
his entire invitation Its but some of
those invited were Senator'S Kern and
Vardaman and Representatives Gala.
way and Slayden, Texas; Tillman, Ark.
ansas; Helvering and Ayres. Kansas !;
Steele, Pennsylvania; Hensley, Mis-.
souri,; Stephens and Shallenberger,
Nebraska; Dill, Washington; Van
Dyke, Minnesota; sisson, Mississippi
and Tavenner, Illinois.
Efforts were made to invite men re.
garded as particularly friendly to Mr..
Bryan and to draw representatives
from as many different sections of the
country as possible.
When thee senate convened sena-
tor McCumber OF North Dakota. author
Of q pending resolution Of warning,
discussed the subject.
"The country, while ever ready 10
defend the rights Of its citizens, does
not want the citizens to lead US use
lessly into war;" he said. "True Amer.
lean patriotism demands that no
American should jeopardize q peaceful
settlement nor precipitate a grave
Crisis
Man Is Chered.
When Representative Gardner de-
clared in the house that there should
be a clear vote on the subject, Repub-
lican Leader Mann announced he was
against bringing the matter up in the
house at all.
II have believed" said Mr.. Mann,
"in letting the house attend to its
constitutional duties and letting the
president attend to his constitutional
duties."
The house resounded with cheers
when Mr.. Mann took the floor and
assailed Americans who might involve
the country in war by travelling on
armed ships.
II hope our citizens never will be
put to the test Of having to fight be-
cause some fool has involved us by
entering upon Joy ride,' he shouted.
The special rule will provide that
after the four hours debate, the Nc
Lemore resolution will be before the
house for action. The program is to
table it, as was done with the Gore
resolution in the senate, thus express
ing the sentiment of majority of the
house that no legislation whatever
regarding the travelling of Americans
on armed ships shall be enacted.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-03-07
GERMAN DOCUMENTS HERE.

Washington, D. c., March g. The
appendices to Germany's declaration
of the new submarine campaign, upon
which Berlin is relying to prove that
British merchant ships, armed osten.
sibly for defensive purposes, have been
using their armament extensively on
the submersibles, under orders of the
British admiralty, arrived this morn
ing at the state department.
When President Wilson and Secre.
tary Lansing have had opportunity to
go over them very thoroughly they
probably will take the next step in the
negotiations with Germany.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-03-07
NOTED IOWAN is
CALLED BY DEATH

New York, March 6.-vCharles C3
Mott, appointed to the United states
court Of claims by President LincotnS
and chief justice Of the court by Pres:
ident Cleveland. died here today At tho
age OF SO.
Mr.. Mott served in the civil war and
gained the rank Of colonel. He en-
listed as private in an lows cayals
regiment Y
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-03-07
FRENCH STAND FIRM.

Paris, March 6.-Yesterday was a
good day for the French at Verdun
according to information received this
morning, and public confidence Is
greatly strengthened by the news Of
the continued repulses Of the German
attacks. In military and political
circles lively satisfaction is expressed
regarding the situation and the opin
ion now begins to prevail that the
great efforts Of the Germans will be
more easily disposed Of than was at
first expected.
Having failed to make any impress
sion on the Douaumont position and
on vaux to it's right, the German gen
sral staff determined to smash the
French left on the Vacherauville
woodcote du Poivre position. With
out regard to cost the best troops
were hurled forward but with no more
success than elsewhere. Pomeranians
and what was left OF the Branden.
burgers dashed themselves vainly
against the French, who stood as i'm.
movable as rock wall
Heaps Of Dead Left Behind.
AS at vaux the Germans finally fell
back, leaving heaps Of dead on the
ground The French infantry, sup.
ported by their formidable artillery,
which will never henceforth lack am
munition, showed themselves able to
resist every onslaught. On the left
bank Of the Meuse artillery on both
sides Numbered all day. The French
infantry in that section has little to
do, but it remains there ready for any
emergency although the military ex-
perts believe 1t doubtful that the Ger
mans will attempt to storm La Mort
Homme key position, for to do so they
must deploy over q plain mile wide
under cross fire from the heights
around.
It is chiefly the French artillery
which is involved in the Woivre
fighting. The French hold the out
skirts Of the village OF Manheulles
. firmly and have stopped all attempts
AZ the Germans to debouch in that di.
: action.
!. (Centinaoad on page 81
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-03-07
TO-DAY IN CONGRESS

SENATE-Debate on Shields water.
power bill continued.
Indian committee resumed consid-
Grafton Of appropriation bill.
HOUSE-Rules committee considered
rule on McLemore resolution.
Admiral Fletcher testified before
naval affairs comMittoA
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-03-07
u, S. CONSULAR AGENT DIES.

Washington D. c., March 6.-Olney
arnold, American diplomatic agent
and consul general at Cairo, Egypt,
died yesterday in hospital at Lisbon,
Portugal Advices to the state depart
'ment from the American consul there
told of his death but did not state
the cause.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-03-07
CONGESTION ON Il
ROADS DISCUSSED

Washington, D. c., March 6. Con.
sested conditions In freight terminals
Of trunk line railroads entering New
York and other Atlantic coast seaports
and the best way for the carriers and
the shippers to relieve the situation,
were topics for discussion today ut an
informal conference between the inter-
state commerce commission, the rail
roads and all others concerned.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-03-07
Powerful Assaults Upon the
Center Are Repulsed BY
Sol ldiers of France
EFFORTS TURNED
TOWARD FLANKS
Battle for Great Fortress
Still Raging With Big
Loss on Both Sides

London, March 6.-With the French
center in the Douaumont sector appar-
emily still holding Arm against the des-
perate assaults of the crown princes
armies, the Germans are again turning
their attention to the flanks of the
French positions around the strong
hold.
Artillery activity in the Woevre
region was reported in the Paris night
bulletin, the fire centering upon the
regions of Haudamont and Fresnot,
about ten miles southeast of Verdun.
The heavy artillery of the Teutons is
pounding the defenses across the
Meuse river. The French are ready
for an infantry attack there but it is
doubted in Paris If the Germans will
attempt the storming Of the command
ing position to reach which their
troops would have to deploy over q
mile wide plan under destructive
cross fre.
Furious Attacks Made.
Testing Of the French strength by
furious assaults on the main defenses
Is continuing. In yesterdays attack
on the lead of the Douaumont sector,
near the Cote Du Poivre, French lines
also held firm, according to Paris,
while in front of Douaumont German
assaults were temporarily suspended,
the heavy French artillery continuing
its answer to the rain Of giant shells
which the Teuton 42s and similar big
pieces were pouring upon the defens-
i've trenches.
Correspondents who havo been at
the front quote French. military men
as declaring that the German achieve
ments so far in the great battle for
Verdun have resulted merely in re-
storing the lines to the positions they
occupied before the French, In local
attacks, began expanding the defens-
i've area about the fortress. Verdun
itself Is now under German artillery
fire but, according to correspondents,
little damage has been done.
Plan New Offensive?
Indications that the Germans may
be planning another offensive move
ment on the western front are con.
tanned in reports from Dutch sources
that important troops movements are
going on behind the front in Belgium.
Forty thousand German cavalrymen
are said to be on their way to the
battle line near Ypres, in which sector
the famous German attempt to break
through and reach Calais occurred In
April, 1915.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-03-07

Washington, D. c., March 6.-Col. E.
M. House, who returned yesterday af-
ter visiting Berlin, London and Paris
as special envoy Of President Will
son, conferred with the president this
morning on his mission.
/ Col House today parried questions
as to the status of the armed snip
controversy with the statement that
those in Washington knew more about
the subject than he did. He refused
to discuss pending diplomatic ques-
tions. He said he expected to see
members of the cabinet and some per-
sonal friends before leaving for New
York.
When Col. House left for Europe
reports that he went to investigate
the peace situation were denied by the
president and Secretary Lansing.
1t was understood today that Col.
House expressed great admiration for
the way American diplomats abroad
were carrying on their work. He de.
tailed to the president the state Of
public sentiment In Germany, France
and England and is understood to have
had much to say on the feeling in Ger
many in support Of the submarine
policy.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-03-07
COL. HOUSE BACK
TO MAKE REPORT
FRIEND OF PRESIDENT IS RETlc.
CENT IN TALKING ABOUT
EUROPEAN TRIP.

Washington, D. c., March 6. =
Col. e. N. House, who returned
yesterday from Europe, is under
stood to have told President VIII
son today that he found no more
prospects for peace during his re-
cent visit to the capitals Of beili0-,
erent nations than he did on his
visit last spring.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-03-07

.lcontinued on pags 9.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-03-07

VanCt <r.A,.,.. = Z. o.
and - pAee -
,Whan
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-31

steep pack trail year in and year out with
hamper on her back-no cold is too severe, no
way too long for her. Cautiously she gets up
and makes herself ready, takes her crook cane
from the corner by the stove (three feet are
better than two) opens the house door and
carefully closes it again.
Far into the unknown leads the road which
the mother travels. To the right and left, on
the border of the road, are miestones, which
bear big, black numbers. The surface Of the
highway is frozen hard. The grass in the
meadows bordering it is a rusty brown color,
as if horses with fiery hoofs had galloped over
it, The sun, blind, winter morning sun, is
rising still sleepily over the tops of the dark,
silent trees 1t is still not a bird sings.
Mother, will you not go astray?
But no, she follows painfully and consclen-
tiously the big numbers on the stones along the
border of the road, giving only casual glance
at the weather beaten sign posts. The bless
ing of God leads her; it must help her to find
the way to Feres.
Afar off an angry thunder peal rolls heavily
through the dull, gray air and makes the earth
tremble Little mother, it is the battles greet
ing to you When at home in the village
thunderstorm threatens the church bells ring,
and in the room one lights blessed candle and
prays.
Mother, you have almost forgotten about
praying There, on the edge of the road is
crucifx. The right arm of the Saviour hangs
down from the broken cross. The mother
shakes her head. Men will not stop at any
thing. In this accused air they spit death and
destruction, even against the Saviour. The
delicate, bloodess lips of the mother murnrur
a silent prayer. The pearls Of her rosary slip
through her hands.
"Thou who didst die for us on the cross,
lead me on! Thou whom they crowned with
thorns show me the way! Thou, o God, who
art all in ala mother trembles for her son!'
A troop of soldiers advances up the road.
At their head is a man horseback. The
rays of the sun, which is rising brighter
over the woods, glisten on his helmet. The
mother watches the soldiers. But Feres is not
with them. They stamp on the frozen ground
and sing song which thrills like a lark's
carol on this winter morning. The mother lis
tens TO the song and then turns to CO.
She enters village, which stands black and
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-31

and if she sweetened her coffee to-day IT was
with Bohemian beet sugar. and the pinch of
snuff which she took on holy days was also no
longer of Bavarian origin.
But do not believe that the old mother is now
free from care and worry! She folds her hands
and thinks of her only son, who is doing his
duty in the field. She has packed little box
of Christmas gifts for him-some homemade
bacon, loaf of bread, warm stockings,
woollen waistcoat. And she did not forget to
put in also package of Virginia cigars, the
kind that Feres liked so much to smoke. All
the village people did that who had loved one
in the field
The mother had carefully tied and sealed the
little box and had written it in awkward
letters the address, ITO Herr kaserjager
Franz Xaver Reseler," with the field post num-
Der. Then she had taken it to the postofice.
Now the thought torments her: will the pack
age reach Feres or will it not fall into the
enemy's hands," For it contained also let
ter, written in her trembling handwriting, and
a wax candle, blessed by the priest, which was
to bring her son good luck.
She did not dare to go TO the postoffce again,
because the postmaster had roundly abused her
Wnen she Nentured modeSuy 10 express ner
doubts whether the Christmas box would ever
get into Feres's hands. All she had heard him
say was: "Field post service Imperial post
service. How stupid these peasant women
are!'
But the same old problem still troubled her.
Yes, if the Russians should capture the train
with the Christmas presents. what then? Then
Feres must smoke cold pipe Christmas
Eve. Then he can't put on the thick stockings
or slip into the warm wastcoat. He must
freeze and go hungry to bed. And the blessed
wax candle, if it should fall into the hands of
the enemy, who would perhaps desecrate tiff
it's light should burn only to its own shame
So the mother was full of fears
That afternoon, when the first shadows of
sunset were falling the glistenng snow,
the FORTRESS took her troubles with her to the
village church. She was not one Of those self
important peasants who have their places in
the front pews, 20 she knet modestly in the
last row. All was still in the church. The red
hanging lamp, in which the everlasting light
burned, cast mild glow over the gray stone
flags, half covered with planking.
The mother had to-day a grave petition TO
make to the good Lord. Busily the pearls or
her rosary glided through her withered hands.
Nor did she forget a special prayer to Saint
Francis Xavier the patron of her son, for the
safe arrival of her Christmas gift.
wha1 til. old priest came out of the sacristy,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-31

conditions said my host. d little
patronizingly, | thought. But come.
We must start for the blind"
We proceeded to little dock where a
covered gasolene launch was waiting
for us. The launch Immediately began
to chug through the channel to the
duck grounds.
How do we know that there will be
any ducks" | asked, with some mis-
givings.
SHOWS how much some of you fell
lows know about the habits of wild
BIRDS" said my host. "The grounds
have been baited, of course, and they
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-31

rayed in a rather light costume, |
thought.
Say" he began; you're not going to
the North Pole. Why the Commodore
Peary costume
Il went duck hunting once | said,
firmly. land | got pneumonia. This
time, if a germ penetrates as far as my
skin. he will have to go some. Anyhow,
all the duck hunting pictures / ever
saw show the hunter bundled up this
way. | didn't want to appear unusual.
1t might scare the ducks"
81 see that you know very little
about chasing the duck under modern
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-31
ROUGHING 1T ON THE CHESAPEAKE BAY

are sure to come. We bait these ponds
all the year round, and the wild ducks
hardly ever leave them
When we arrived at the blind | was
still further fascinated by the primi-
tiveness of the sport.
The duck blind was a green carpeted
barge masked with green rushes. There
we're two Morris chairs upholstered
with green plush, one for my host and
one for me.
"Sit down and rest" commanded my
host. 'The boys will unpack the guns,
fix up the heaters and set out the
stools"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-31

desolate, with bare high chimneys and low,
ruined house walls. The church tower is de-
molished the heavy clock has fallen and
half buried itself in the soft earth. The torch
was carried through all the village streets, into
living rooms and into bed chambers. Every
thing was given to the flames. And yet the
red cock on the tip of the fallen church tower
is still intact Over everything, over smoking
ruins, over gables and roofs, piled together,
softening, half-concealng mantle Of white
snow has been spread.
The mother goes through the wretched, for
saken streets. Not sound greets her; only
from a distance comes soft murmur and
FLASHING. 1t is the village fountain. The
stream still falls in a saucy curve into the
wooden basin. Fire buckets stand around
But the spring was too weak to quench the
confagration.
The water supply alone remains untouched,
Just as it was before. 1t comes from high up
in the mountains, conveyed through a moss
green pipe. 1t alone is alive and has voice
in this battered, ruined village In the days
of peace the brown cows drank out Of the
BASIN The Saint Florian, who stands on the
top of the fountain, otherwise very serious
person, smiled family when the little boys and
girls dipped out the water with their followed
hands, or when they gave the stream another
direction, so that it wet through their coats and
stockings. The children's laughter was clear
and golden; it lay like sunshine on the water.
But that childish jubiation is long since stiled.
Death has gone through the village with his
cleaning scythe.
The heart of the mother calls to her child.
Has she not nourshed and cherished it? Must
her heart then bleed away?
The mother finds her way back TO the
church, in which no bell any longer peals, no
organ plays. Straw is spread on the stone
floors. A forgotten soldiers cap and some
pieces of saddlery lie on the altar, which is
bare, impoverished and naked, because the
enemy has plundered it. No priest any longer
treads the chancel or breaches the Word OF
God TO believers. The dove with silver wings,
which symbolzed the Holy Ghost, lies shat
tered on the pavement. The mother sorrow
fully bows her head.
Then wrath and resentment fill her cheeks
with fame. Yes, il she stood at this minute
before the mighty Gar of the Russias she,
poor peasant woman, would raise her crook
stick and point to the ravaged church. And
the clock would lift itself from the soft earth
and every peal from its brazen mouth would
strike like an accusation at the heart Of the
proud ruler who wades up to his knees in his
peoples blood.