davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1916-03-12
BY CHARLES M. PEPPER.

RMENIA is the back door to
A Turkey. Russia's Caucasus
~ campaign has opened TINS
g y back door. Ultimately 1t may
be the means Of opening the gateway
at Constantinople. since the capture OF
Erzerum means that Trebizond. on the
Black sea, comes into the controi OF
Russia.
The tendency at present is to give
more significance to Turkish Armenia
as the highway to Bagdad and 10
speculate on the possibility OF Russia
ousting Germany from her prospective
domination of Mesopotamia.
In the broader field of international
politics it will be seen that with Russia
opening up a way both to Constantine
pie and to Bagdad. che failure of Eng
land and the allies to do either will
enhance Russia's claims to Constanti-
nople when the final settlement comes
and Turkey is dismembered. 1t was
the hope of British statesmen partially
to offset the loss of prestige among
the Mohammedans of the near east
caused by the failure of the Constanti-
nople campaign by gaining possession
Of Bagdad.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-27
THE DAVENPORT PLAN?
IN, -rarnnr. ITfnGg


Some Of the lawyers and others %
Davenport who have been informally
discussing a change Of Davenport
plan Of city government have made the
suggestion Of a city marager plan
which would retain some Of the feat
ures of the present system and add
thereto some features of the city
manager plan. They claim for the plan
they propose the merit that IL would
cot be so revolutionary as would be the
adoption Of the Dayton plan.
The suggestion that has been talked
of here Is that the council and mayor
be retained in it's present form and that
the election be made as now a political
matter instead Of being made nUn-paI-
tisan. The changes would be to have
the councilmen nomited by wards
but all elected at large. The claim il
made that this plan would force each
ward TO put forward its most repre-
sentative man so as TO make sure that
he would get good support in all the
other wards of the city. The resulting
council would be a better council. 1t il
said, because all of the members would
be dependent on the votes of all the
city for their places. The members OF
the council would serve without pay.
The second change would be to take
all committee and other work away
from the members OF the council The
| council would merely legislate and
have nothing whatever to do with ad
ministrative affairs or the execution OF
any contracts or the making OF any
purchases by the city.
~. ...-1l - - $3.50 t.
the mayor, who would be elected in
the usual way, the city manager. He
would have entire charge Of all depart
ments of the city, Of all appointments
without the consent Of the council and
would be responsible to the people for
| carrying out effectively the policies
| that the council would outline. He
would receive a salary sufficiently
large to make it worth the while Of q
| big man to accept the position OF
mayor.
The plan as outlined has advantages
and disadvantages. 1t would tend to
give the city a better administration
because of the higher order Of cSaficir
men that would be elected. But the
council, being made up politically,
might tend to turn groups and
I'D &c divide CT questions poIlticaIlJ
rather than on the merits of the pro-
posals.
Again, the mayor being elected b5
the people, would ave to be made
subject to an easy recall or else the
wrong kind of a mar might be elected
and with such vast poWers in mis- CON
troll might give the city a very pool
administration. The city manager plas
as it is generally understood gives t
the council, whatever its name, tn
authority, both to employ and 70 dis
charge the city manager. This com
pels the city ger at all times 7
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-27

Life is a short journey which peo-
pie are not consulted about until it
is too late to back out.
Under our present rules and regu-
lations nobody is allowed to choose his
birthplace. parents, an~tecedents or fu-
ture prospects. The condition OF affairs
works a great. hardship upon people
who would prefer to have been born
into some home where nobody is re-
quired to perform any manual labor ex-
cept to fill out a bank check eve and
anon. 1t is extremely annoying to a
sensitive young man with a keen intel
lect and bullying feet to be born into
a home of poverty. where everybody
else works. and have to borrow mons
from an old maid sister who dress
makes for a living. The only remedy
for such a young man is to marry some
girl who inherited four or five farms
well stocked whit alfalfa and sorrel
pigs.
Life is very seldom appreciated until
we get where w can peek over the
edge and see the stepping off place.
One of the most dismal sights that can
strike the human eye is that OF an old
man who is sour-tefnpered at eighty
as he was at forty and who has no
idea where he is going when ne gets
through. Life has no boundary me
for the good mother who, after long
wears Of unselfish service to her own,
slips away upon an ~uncharted sea with
q faith as uinshakable as the everlast-
ing hills.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-27
Ripping Rhymes
BY WALT MASON

THEY SAY
They say that Smithman spends his
life in lodging bills he ought to pay.
They say that Biffkin beats his
wife, and feeds His children bran and
hay. They say that Jinx, the dry
goods prince, burned down. This store,
with fell intent. They say that Jasper
julius Ounce held up an orphan for Q
cent. Thus umor, with its evil tongue,
goes drifting thru the busy mart. and
baseless, vicious tales are sprung,
which wreck your fame and break
your heart. The busy scandal-monger
cries, -OI course the yarn may not be
true. but still they say that Reuben
Wise steals chickens every night or
two" Then Reuben, in his native town,
becomes a Stunned and lonely man;
..They Say has ruined his renown,
and made him outcast from his elan.
The scandal monger drifts along, and
makes his old accustomed noise: They
say Jane Juice is going wrong7r-she's
much too friendly with the boys Then
Jane from social scenes is missed, IN
livery siaIlcs she linus itzfTee1e, fHey
Say" has barred her from bridge whist.
and banned her from the Purple Teas.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-27
The STATE OF BUSINESS.

Possibilities of peace and the certain
t. in all minds that the CESSATION Of the
war demand and adjustment to normal
conditions are sure to affect prices
downward have brought signs of yield
ing in most lines except food products
and spectators are making adjust
ments with a view 10 safety first. How
ever. there is no dizziness to business
outside the ~seasonable dizziness between
the two holidays and the Christmas
trade is reported as large and salts
factory from every quarter.
The vear draws TO a close with all
the statistical barometers rejecting the
Ing centers outside New York being
800 per cent. larger this week than
last year. when the exchanges were un-
preccdented for the period.
Recent eastern monetary anxieties
have been ~dispelled by the notable re-
Mobilization of the New York banking
position. with the surpIue rising in a
fortnight. from a low point Of s41, 0OO.-
900 to $g4 900. 600. The receipt OF many
additional millions has added greatly
in rhe strengthening Of the reserves.
which has come at a most Opportune
involved by the approaching annual
settlements. II authorization Of these re-
quirements. interest rates are main
tanned on d comparatively firm ba isis
though further relaxation is expected
in January. Yet financial caution is
spreading and is manifested in the at
ritude Of leading institutions toward
certain Industrial collateral. while
brokerage houses show increased pru-
dence in accepting accounts on mar
gin The year ends with prices of
stocks and Of farm staples materially
under the best levels but with the gen.
eral situation improved by the specu-
lative establishments. In this respect,
International DEVELOPMENTS have beer
productive Of good.
Midwestern trade and midwestern
conditions are excellent. The good
crops and higher prices for agricul-
tural products together with active in
d~ustrial operations combine to present
prosperity in all lines and afford a
confident outlook ahead.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-27
WASTING EN-.

Two young men were legally put to
death in New York the other day whose
manner of leaving the world seems to
be about the only c~ommendable part Of
their biographies. They were to be
killed on Friday and petitioned that
they might be executed Tuesday in
order that the shock of their ignoi-
minious death might be lightened upon
their families at Christmas time. The
authorities did as the boys wished.
They were executed Tuesday.
Tie incident, { iv-s nolnlng else.
c~orroborates the assertion that the
germ of greatness and Of goodness lives
in every human being. But 1t goes
much farther: it argues that these boys
killed in the shameful cloisters of capi-
tai punishment might have been vail
liable men in the world under the right
circumstances and the right training
And saying so much it brings home te
every community and every family the
responsibility as web al the necessit,
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-27

that every child shall have . fair
chance in the world.
The place to begin reformation of So
ciety and elimination of evil is at the
beginning. There is more reform in
keeping one boy out Of Jail than in
sending Il thousand old offenders to
p~enitentiaries and electric chairs. We
must catch them young. Trite II old
as the hills it is but as true as the deca-
logue that when the twig is BEN the
tree is inclined. To kill two such boys
as those who suffered Tuesday may
seem necessary but it was only so. If
1t were so at all, because they had
lacked proper training and environ
ment. 1t is a terrible waste to kill and
imprison those Who might have been
made into valuable men.
The foundation of all training in this
competitive age is that the youth shall
be giver the ability and skill to earn a
decent living. Given that ability he
looks level eyed at other men In the
sturdy strength of his own knowledge
of his own equality. The iails are full
of those who were denied or refused
that training. They furnish the loath-
some fruit of the gallows trees. The
surest way to increase the census OF
criminals is to SEN youth to find a liv-
ing without the equipment necessary to
meet competition. The certain way to
decrease that vicious census is to give
the elementary training that brings
food and clothing and a decent living.
We are destroying too much and
not saving enough. Society needs eff
cheney in dealing with its product as
much as any producing plant. 1t needs
a cost system to show it what it is
wasting. And the junk that goes to the
jails and the death chairs and the pen
itentiaries is waste, pure waste.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-27
Topics of the Times

Only about ninety days until springs
work" on the farms and golf and plen-
t, of fresh eggs and the prospect OF
S .eet corn. And ninety days isn't
lyng when you've borrowed money.
With Switzerland to back us why
should the president be bashful in
talking right up to the war lords?
Aside from II li;t!e snow and a few
loses California hasn't much IN Iowa
weather.
The wicked may stand on slippery
places but It's good advice TO wicked
and righteous alike 10 have a pair of
rubber heels fitted at once.
Down at Hazard, Ky. the postal re-
ceipts amount to a little more than
81, 600 a veal and the p~ostofice depart
ment pays $3.50 rent for a building. But
Hazard. KY is down IN the public
buildings bill for a new $4,000 post
office building for a town with 53T in
habitants. Lewisburg, w. Va, a town
of 500 is TO have an $4,000 building.
Sundance. Wyo, isn't all alone in tho
world.
Looks as tho somebody viii have TO
kill Villa again.
II Billy Sunday gets by in New York
an -, y.,,s. a,I ,E.EN III. A On -, ~
because the job seems 10 be finished.
And while we are ~CUaXing a few
hundred to put on the regular khaki
Villa picks up an army of 100 and
captures a city or SO before breakfast.
We are Liable 10 need the ~nattoral
guard as badly as the Old Texan eX-
planned how much a man needed a re-
rolver in Texas when he does need il.
One thing is suIe, if the war ends the
price Of munitiOn plants will be lower
than the present price Of potatoes.
And now there is talk Of ice being
higher next year. Nothing seems able
to escape the dire effect Of that war.
II is rumored that George Cosson
and Senator Francis, Of Spirit Lake.
will form a law partnership at Des
Moines. The combination would make
a lively team and also make a handy
place Of call for progressive politicians
over the state when in the capital.
Those who cheered he news Of Dew
ey's victory at Manila bay may get a
line upon their own ages by noting
that Dewey was 70 yesterday.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-27

food articles exported the movements
out of the country in September and in
the nine months ending with Scpteln-
Der are less than those of the corrc-
spending periods of last year, so far as
relates to quantity. True, there are
some exceptions TO this. but in a large
proportion OF the articles in question
the exports of September of this year
and of the nine months ending with
September are less than those of last
year. AS | understand the present sit
uation the sudden advance which has
been made within the past few weeks
in many articles is based upon the as
Gertion that there is o a very large
increase of exports over the correspond
ing period of last year. n hence the
necessity for the sudden increase of
prices at the present moment"
The following figures of exports are
from the foreign trade department of
the National City Bank for September,
1915. and the corresponding month Of
1915.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-27
coner.,c neads suiIt.

The construction OF concrete high
ways is going on IN TWENTY-FIVE cities
and towns in Connecticut. ana wben
these contracts have been completed
there Will he about seventy miles ot
concrete surfaced pavement in that
state. The highways are eighteen feet
wide and cost $3.50 Q per mile.
The concrete highways in EpnEecti-
cut are created with the expectation
that no other s%urfac!ng substance VIII
ever be applied TO them. There is said
TO be little complaint from the horse
owners about the roads n as they
are not slippery they are better for au-
tomobiles than asphalt 81 any of the
bituminous pavemer,ts. But the best
feature of all is that they endure with
out constant repair. The reports on
concrete roads in Connecticut in sheir
third year show that they are costing
the state for repairs just $3.50 per mile.
Connecticut has about II, 900 miles Of
highways, of which about 1900 miles
have been improved during the past
t~wenty-one years AT a cost approx
mating $4,000, coo. The legislature
that sat in 1915 made no appropriation
for highway improvements but granted
$500, 900 for trunk line maintenance
and about a quarter Of a million more
for state road repairs. The receipts
from automobile licenses, which
amounted to s750,00O in 1915, and will
probably exceed 100000 this year,
are also applied to the maintenance OF
the improved highways. This gives the
commissioner the means with which to
rebuild macadam roads that have
| proved inadequate to the wear and
tear Of automobile traffic, but not for
undertaking improvements on new
lines.-Boston Transcript.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-27

In view OF statements by packers,
produce dealers and grccers that the
prevailing high prices fer foodstnffs are
due to the marked increase this year in
exports, recent figures have been OBJ
tanned from Oscar Z. Austin, statisti-
cian OF the foreign trade department OF
the National City Bank, New ior5.
Mr.. Austin. who has made a study of
exports, recently denied there is ground
for the extortionate prices because of
shipments from his country. AT the
request OF the New York World he
prepared the following statement,
showing the situation:
$50 far as / can judge from me at
est official figures OF exports o. food
stuffs the sudden increase in prices
which we. have noted within the past
few weeks can scarcely be dine TO an
increase in exports which. as ! urder-
stand. is the chief argument made to
sustain the very recent increase in
prices.
In a very large p~roportieo q the
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-27
Masonic Meetings.
visitors always welcome


SPECIAL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
shall Lodge No. los. A. f. & A. NJ, Dec.
%, -:22n e. e. Wcrs II third degree
John w. Wells, Secretary. Is. u
Frazey, w. NJ.
S,GNET CHAPTER. Nc. IS. r. A. n
Stated convocaGion Monday evening"
Dec. 10, 1880 O'Clock. Regular business
Election Of officers. sSrl Shaffner' H.
p: John w. Wells secretary
STATED ASSEMBLY, King Solo
mo Council No. 20, K. & :. M, mon.
dav. lar %. Regular business. l. l.
Forbes, Recorder: George Gregory
/. NJ.
STATED coNcLAVE, St. Aldemar
conmanderv No 80, X. T. Tuesday
Jan %. 1917. 1. T. Forbes, Recoroel =
II. G Mueller, Commander.
CENTRAL CHAPTER NO. 81. o. &
Especial meeting. Initiation Gu
nesdav, Dec. 90. 100 p. m. t.Ilza .
Battin. secretary; Cora NJ. McDo"ei''
w. NJ.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-27
A IN ILLINOIS.

There is going to be something do
ing in Illinois along the line of per-
manent road Improvement, if the plans
of the Illinois Highway Improvement
association can be put into effect.
They are after a $50. 900. 900 bond issue
for the purpose of improving some
1000 miles of the principal highways,
If they get that done in 1917 then viii!
the state be welcoming hundreds of
thousands of tourists from other
states when she celebrates her centen-
NAL in 1918. Between the attractive
programs and the good roads. the tour
lists will find it impossible TO stay
away.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-27
The Lost Comma.


Messrs. Editors and Printers, men who
really ought to know.
Give, oh. give us back the comma of
the happy long ago.
Comma that divides the sentence SO
that he who runs may read.
Biding suns of sense shine sweetly
thru the clouds that would mis-
lead.
Never did we love the omma, as we
love it now tbs gone,
Letting sentence after sentence. blind
and aimless wander on,
whiie we struggle thru the darkneas,
fitting words to this or that
finding as we muddle, more n
more to wonder at. 4ss
Till we see that small comma. IKE
a bright October moon,
Could clear all in II brief instant,
would the printer grant the boon.
oh. I know full well you hate II. put
please. cruel printer man. 81.
Give lis back the dear old omma, ana
AZ quickly as sou cam !.
Kate upsony Clark in the sew orh
Times.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-27
IOWA OPINION AND NOTES.

The Fort Dodge Chronicle declares
that TO deny the people the right to
amend the constitution il they so de-
sire is subversive of democracy, and
congressman who vote against sub
hitting such issues to the people for
their decision advertise themselves as
opposed to popular rule"
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-27
WORTH TRYINe.

Did you say you have a
II YOU wish to make 1t double,
Just you tell 1t to our neighbor ~ =
confidential way.
Spread it out where foiks San
know 1t,
Let your face n actions SNOW 7,
Do not let a soul forget 1t Q lne
dawn till close Of day.
Would your soul forget its trouble
Make it vanish like a bubble?
Then you put that little trouble IN A
closet out Of sight
Bid 1t stay all ~unheed9a, Il
Say its presence is I'D need{
Then o start to work. somA&
that requires mind and misstj
Set yourself to work fol- othem IN
For your struggling. u -
brothers. fed
you viii find so many burda
than the one you ~
That your trifiing ~littieaa
soon will vanish like AZ
And Your very Self my b
forget twas ever til
Mabel BroM
IN so IEAI
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-27

continues, and the Journal does not
believe that district judges viii suffer
any II they, like the rest of us, have to
curtain their expenses just q little to
make both ends meet"
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-27

1915 1915
Fresh beef (pounds) s.67s,0oo 1866 900
Picked beef
Cpounds) -....... 2.4s1.ooo 4.o22,o 900
Hams and shoulders
Cpounds) ........17,424.oo 900 17.7s2.o 900
Picked pork
tpounds) ........ s.715,ooo $3.50 0
Potatoes bushels. $4,000 72s, 900
Dried apples
pounds, .1o.14s.ooo 27,4se.ooO
Green apples
(pounds) 1900. 604, 900 1856. 900
Wheat tbushels1 -13.i0s,o0 81. 526, 900
No. / in the pictures shows trucks
loaded with food for export before the
French line pier, New York: No. 2,
workmen stacking up barrels and boxes
of food for export: No. q. stransferring
Jour from pier to barge; No. Z. un--
loading crates from railroad to barEcs:
No. 5, truckloads OF eggs for export.
Each load contains $4,000 dozens Of
eggs valued at $1,000.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-27
AND CITY COMMISSIONERS.

dubuque Telegraph-H Herald
The county board of supervisors, the
men who will constitute the board after
the first Of the year, should busy them
selves now with their plans for road
work to be lone during the season of
1917 Contracts should be awarded
during the winter months that con-
tractors may be ready to commence
their work as 500 as the weather Will
permit in the spring.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-27

give the city the very best admins
trat.on he is capable OF giving or he
Viii lose his job.
This proposal is merely outlined as
ar example Of what Davenport mel.
are thinking about,
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-27

There is no reason for abusing
young men who will not enlist at the
present time says the Burlington
Hawkeye. I'm time of real danger
they will be heard from and will not be
found lacking"
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-27

/ odd Booze has scattered woe n sin,
and broken hearts, along his way: but
he plays second violin, often thlnk,
beside They Say"
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-27

TT is more blessed to write peace
totes than 10 make submarine threats"
concludes the Mason City Globe
Gazette.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-12-27
CHANGING THE PRIMARY
fDRS MoineS Regisfer.l

N'T 'alA Nv
The Republican Club Of New YORK
City has started q movement for
the repeal OF the direct primaries law
and q return TO convention nom,na-
tious. Tho report # the committee was
accepted without a dissenting vote
Even tho the legislature should snow
som hesitation. and Governor whit
man should actually interpose a Veto.
still the agitation is bound to lead to
a change Of some kind. and the reac-
ton. once begun. nobody can say where
it viii stop. For in every primary cleo
ton state it is felt that the primary
must undergo some modification. w
Ii would have been fortunate On
every account if Senator Roots snort
ballot reform had been tried in New
York, as undoubtedly it would have
been IL too many other changes had not
been proposed in the state constitution.
The shor ballot has appealed to ran
as a more intelligent solution &c pr!-
mary election troubles than going hacis
TO the old conventions
II the people could nominate i've men
TO manage the, gstate,vand three MGR 10
manage the county, as they now choose
three or five men TO cOfuniis-
sion governed cities. they ought 10 be
able 10 90 10 the polls and make an in
telligent personal choice among the
candidates. They would at lcas; do
enormously better than they IRE 10Y
doing. and sta:e aud county would he
better administered.
II that is not the WAY out. then there
will be a return to convention nomi-
nations for many or the inferior Of
fees, for no matter what anybody may
sar for publication. we shall not forever
make ourselves ridiculous az " are
now doing when w enter The primary
p0lling booth.