davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-02-02
Almost No Potash Now in America.

Almost No Potash Now i'm America.
America bids fair to do without
potash in her commercial fertilizers
in 1915, says the current issue of
Farm and Fireside. "The war in
fiuence has boosted potash prices
from around the $60-per-ton mark
to $3.50 per ton for muriate and
1926 per ton for sulphate of potash,
without much potash in sight even
at these prices.
THE July imports this year of sui
phate of potash were seventeen
times less than in 1914, and thirteen
times less of muriate Of potash.
There is considerable talk and
speculation about developing our
own supply from different kinds Of
seaweed and from deposits that
have been found in arid portions Of
the country. But any supply that is
available and sure seems yet to be
a future proposition"
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-02-02
DEBORAH LADY GETS
CONSCIENCE FUND
Mrs. 8. ID. Stevens, 4. ther Of Mrs.
Ed Grant Of DecOSiA. Received
$25,OO ConsciencSSx, Nd
MONEY SENT FROM y
CITY IN CALIFORN,
Nfss. Stevens Does Not Know the
Sender. Nor Does She Remember
any Circumstances Regarding
the Twenty-Five Dollars.

Quite frequently we read about
people in other cities and towns re-
ceiving conscience fund" money,
and last Friday one Of the cases was
brought right home here in DecOrah.
Mrs. 8. D. Stevens, who lives with
her daughter, Mrs. Ed Grant on the
West Side, received letter and a
check enclosed for $25, signed by q
lady. The sum is conscience
fund.-" but Mrs. Stevens remembers
nothing about any circumstances
where she was the loser in any way
of the money. She does not know
the name signed to the letter, or the
check. Both were signed by the same
woman, and came from California.
Following is the text of the letter:
Mrs. S D. Stevens,
Decorah, Iowa:
My Dear Mrs. Stevens:-It is
my pleasant duty to enclose you
a check for $25 from an un-
known giver. Kindly acknowl-
edge it's receipt so that ! may
pass on to the giver proof that
have obeyed instructions. You
need ask no questions. as
sure you you need not hesitate
to accept the money and use 1t
as you see fit. And there will
be no further communications
on the matter from me or any
body else after / receive your
receipt. All will say is that
the sum is conscience fund
which came into my possession
with the instructions that It be
forwarded to you, for you had
rights to this amount of money.
Yours,
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-02-02
Henry Ford's Canadian Factory.

Henry Ford has an automobile
factory in Detroit. He has another
across the river in Canada. 1t is not
the river that prevents his selling
his made in America" machines in
Canada-it is high tariff wall. So
the Ford Company took its capital
and invested in Canadian factory,
giving employment to Canadian la
Dor, furnishing business for Cana
dian merchants. placing money i'll
Canadian banks and paying taxes to
the Canadian government. Canada
is wise. So will the American PEG
Pile be wise when they reconstruct
the demolished tariff wall which will
keep European and Asiatic products
out of American markets and thus
rebuild and protect ! American il
dustries.-Preston Times.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-02-02
THE AMERICAN HOG.
!. S. Made Stronger by This Animal
Than Amy Other influence.

America has been made strOlg by
the hog more than any other single
influence, according to F. ID. Coburn,
former secretary of the Ohio board
of agriculture in Kansas, who recent
ly addressed the final session Of the
Ohio board of agriculture's annual
meeting on "some Patriotic Consid-
erations of the Hog"
Hogs pay the taxes, clothe the
family, send the children to school,
and make possible the development
Of new homes" said Mr.. Coburh.
They have provided the food for the
Anglo-Saxon race. Without then.
Chicago would be prairie village.
Kansas City barren hill, and Oma-
ha ferry crossing. Take away the
SOW and our banks would close and
the wheels of commerce cease to
turn.
"The pig is quiet, inoffensive,
Christian sort of animal, symbolic to
a greater extent of the peaceful vir-
tues for which our nation is so con-
spicuous than is the rowing piratical
eagle. The snOut inverting the soil
is symbol of peace and industry.
The pig is a thrifty animal, turning
to good account everything which
comes his way, and far better re-
preventative of the American charac-
ter than the rowing, robbing eagle.
The hog is condenser, he is
manufacturer OF hams, hash, and
head cheese, lard, Illuminating oils,
hair brushes, liver pudding, tooth
brushes, glue, buttons. bacon. bris-
ties. fertilizers 'and fats, knife han
dies, whistles, soaps, souse, side
meat, saddle covers and sausage. He
is mint and the yellow coin of our
country is the bullion he trans
mutes into golden coin.
In the American hog we have an
automatic combined machine for re-
ducing the bulk in corn and enhanc-
ing it's value. 1t puts ten bushels Of
corn in a space of less than a bushel
measure and in so doing quadruples
the value Of grain.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-02-02
CONSOLIDATION OF SCHOOLS,
GAINING. &
Continent Is Changing. Year of 1913
Was Most Notable From This
Standpoint in History of
State.

Des Moines Jan. 31.-The last
year has been the most notable one
for school consolidation in the his
tory of the state. There are now las
consolidated schools in the state, as
Iagainst sixty-fiye at the beginning
of 1915.
The state superintendent Office
received word that consolidation was
defeated at Morrison, Grundy coun-
|ty. by one vote at an election held re-
Gently.
Many elections are being held in
many parts of the state. The coun-
ties in central Iowa and in the north
western part of the state are taking
the lead in the matter of consolida-
tion. Buena Vista county and Mar
shall county have practically all of
their schools in consolidated dis
tricts. Buena Vista was one of the
pioneers in the consolidation move
ment.
The law granting state aid, passed
by the thirty-tifth general assembly,
and the increase in the amount of aid
paid as granted by the last legisla-
ture, have been the most potent fac
tors in advancing the cause OF school
consolidation.
The state superintendent's Office
has been pushing consolidation and
Inspector James A. Woodruff gives
all of his time to the work of pro-
motion. organization and inspection
Of consolidated schools.
"The sentiment has greatly chang
ed toward consolidated schools since
1909" said MIR. Woodruff recently.
Then not only the majority of, the
patrons were against school cOnsoli-
dation but many Of the school men.
Now it is recognized as the only sys-
tenn to get good schools in the rural
districts and patrons and school men
who are at all rogressive or up tn
date are for It," s,,N
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-02-02
SUFFRAGE CAMPAIGN
LAUNCHED.
City Votes for Women
League Organized at Charles
City.

The suffrage campaign in Charles
City was launched in real earnest
Thursday, says the Press, when a
number of the leading women met
at the Y. M. C. A. and organized the
Charles City Votes for Women
League.
Mrs. H. A. Schlick was elected
chairman, Mrs. H. H. Amos, treasur-
|er and Mrs. L. H. Henry secretary,
each officer being the unanimous
choice of the meeting.
The conference had been called by
Mrs. Elsie Benedict, state organizer
for the purpose of effecting an or
ganization of all suffrage forces to
work for the amendment which will
be voted on June 5th by the men of
Iowa.
Much enthusiasm was manifested
and the work taken up with deep
earnestness, to which several sub
scribed literally, and plans were laid
for extensive work in Charles City
and the county.
Methods of raising money with
which to carry on the work and vari-
Gus ways of furthering the cause
were discussed at length and every
woman entered the campaign with
the determination that Floyd county
shall not fall behind when the votes
on this big movement are counted
June 9Th.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-02-02
PROBLEMS OF RETAIL TRADE.
Many Cases Of Unjust Demands That
Are Terribly Irritating to
Merchants.

People who were never engaged or
employed in retail trade have little
idea of the pains most merchants
will take to please the public. when
I lock this store up at night" says
one merchant, II feel that at least
my soul is my own, and ! can do
what think is right. But there are
many times when I have to sink my
own sense of fairness and justice in
order to meet the requirements of
the public. In the main people are
reasonable. But there are many cas-
es of unjust demands that are terri
bly, irritating"
For instance" he continued, "a
man came in here one day and want
ed to exchange some collars. They
weren't bought here nor in this
town. He had got them off on some
trip, had brought them home, and
then didn't like them. He thought
he could come in here and get us to
work them off for him and give him
some of our regular goods in ex-
change" "These collars were unlike
anything sold in our store They
were so much cheaper that it would
have hurt our trade to sell them.
We simply could do nothing with
them, and we told him so. He went
off huffy, and has never been inside
our store SINCE"
1--WE were under no obligation to
work off his collars. If we had taken
them for him, the best thing we
could have done would be to throw
them in the rubbish barrel, and
charge their value up to advertising.
And really as pure business propo-
sition. that would have been the
thing to do. The trade of his we
lost was worth much more than a
total loss on those miserable col
lars"
The merchant went ON to say that
this illustrated how he had to deal
with many people who have no ex-
|perience with business methods. A
man familiar with the ordinary ways
and IDEAS or business men would new
er ask for any such exchange. The
merchant is up against it, :,
Whether to yield to people who
make these unbusiness like PROPOSE
|tions, or to take his stand on the es-
tablished standards Of trade, and
thereby secure the dislike of the
many people without business sense,
is a problem which bothers many
stores.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-02-02
East" Colors Disappearing.

Don't be surprised when the dry
goods merchant regretfully informs
you that he can not guarantee any OF
his wash goods If they bear the
made in U. S. A." stamp. 1t is only
another instance of the world war
influencing domestic trade to a large
extent. This time it is the dye stuffs
which are becoming steadily scarcer,
until famine in dyes may be looked
for, according to selling agents. In
other words, fast" colors are no
longer available among ordinary
goods. Red table cloths and towel
ing and napkins with red borders
come home from the wash delicate
pink; blacks in cotton ginghams
wash almost white; black stockings
show a strong tendency to become
lighter, and light goods with blue,
red. or black trimmings. are also
apt to cause trouble.
There is no known method, say
the authorities, whereby these colors
can be washed so that they will not
run, and no way Of knowing wheth-
er they will run until they are wash
ed. so the person with an eye for
color will have to content himself
with plain articles of clothing and
household linen as much as possible
A local laundry has issued circu-
lar stating these facts and urging
customers to use as much white
goods as possible in order that as
little trouble as possible may be ex-
-Marshalltown Times Re-
publican.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-02-02

A CHALLENGE TO IOWANS.

Iowa is wonderful" says Miss
Alice B. Curtis, who has just joined
the staff of organizers of the Iowa
Equal Suffrage association. II come
again to my native state after. twelve
years of work in Wisconsin, Illinois,
Michigan and Colorado, after travel
and touch with people in the eastern
and western parts Of the United
States and Europe, to find a chal-
lenge flung to the men Of Iowa
what will you do with the Votes for
Women Amendment June 5?
1.-The challenge is unique in that
it comes to the state having the high
est general average of intelligence
of any state in the union, only one
and seven-tenths per cent being illit-
crate. That intelligence is now to be
put to the test. Never before has
the issue of full citizenship for wo-
men been placed before so fine a
group of men-men of such high
degree of intelligence and education.
The four eastern states which vot-
ed on the question in 1915 were far
below Iowa in the ability of their
population to read and write. Iowa
has more college students to every
1 900 population than any state but
one She has more college students
than any states except Massachu-
setts and Illinois. The dignity of
every IOwan is at stake. Will the
100000 voters of Iowa stand by
their women and make Iowa's mo.
thers, wives and daughters stand
with the fathers, husbands and sons
on an equal political footing?
Nearly $4,000 women teachers
in Iowa are teaching citizenship to
our children, yet not one of these
teachers is herself full citizen. r W
much more secure our citizenship
will be when it is taught by people
who themselves are citizens. You
have the chance to make these $4,000
teachers voters. We believe you will
help your boys and girls by making
their teachers citizens. Do it on June
Is. G,
Nearly $4,000 women of Iowa
work in it's shops, stores and factor
! les. Add to these two groups the
great army of nurses and profession
al women They need the privileges
of citizenship as much as do the men
in the same lines of work They are
asking you to vote yes on the yell
low ballot June 5.
"The mothers of Iowa--the home
Iwomen-are standing behind this
amendment. Let the men of Iowa
demonstrate their faith in the moth
ers of this state. The home-every'
phase of it's under the control of
government and the voice of the
homemaker should be heard in its
councils.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-02-02

Senator Kenyon RenOunces $4,000.
Senator Kenyon, who bequeathed
$4,000 In the will Of the late I. s.
Coffin. over which legal controversy
Is now being waged, has renOunced
his bequest. Mr.. Coffin willed much
OF his large estate to friends and edu-
cational institutions and the heirs are
making contest of the will. Senator
Kenyon was close friend and legal
adviser Of MIR. Conn during the lat
ter's lifetime.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-02-02
A Blessing in Disguise.

1t will be good thing for Amer
lea if Germany insists on putting an
on her dyestuffs, says the
Mason City Times. That will drive
the American manufacturers to make
their own dyes and surround them
with enough protection to build up
as great an industry as Germany can
ever hope to have. The United States
needs to wake up to such standard
of Americanism that we will be
wholly independent of any country
If necessary in anything that can be
manufactured or invented.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-02-02
President Blasts suffragists' Hopes.

President Blasts Suffragists' Hopes.
President Wilson refused Thurs
day, at New York to support the
movement for an amendment to the
federal constitution providing for
woman suffrage. He spoke briefly to
900 members Of the congressional
Union for Woman Suffrage and told
them that he felt the suffrage ques-
ton should be dealt with by each in
dividual state.
The president received the suf-
fragettes after they had waited for
him for more than an hour at the
Waldorf Astoria hotel, which he
made his headquarters on his arrival
from Washington to make three ad-
dresses during the day.
Efforts made by Mrs. Mary Beard
wife Of a Columbia university pro-
fessor, to cross examine the presi-
dent refused courteously to reply to
her queries.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-02-02

Incomplete reports received by the
state board of health show that in
Iowa during December there were
more than fifty Geathscdue to grip or
influenza. The reports shows that
there were complications In the
most of the fatal cases but the feder-
al system of classification provides
that the grip shall be credited with
all deaths regardless of other diseas-
es which developed.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-02-02

Up at Thief River Falls. Minneso-
ia the presiding Judge presents a silk
American flag to each man who be-
comes naturalized citizen. And
the other day when Austrians and
English men received their final pap
ers they shook hands in friendship,
says the Oelwein Register. And why
not? They had become American citi-
xens and had forswcrn allegiance to
the lands of their birth.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-02-02
AS TO OvERALLs.
Bring the Jeans Back to
Prominence.

A clothing merchant announces
that he has bought the last consign-
ment Of blue overalls he or any 9TH
er will be able to get until the war
is over. The overall makers can not
get the blue goods because the goods
manufacturer cant get the blue dyes
and he can't get the blue dyes be-
cause the war has shut off the sup
ply. And there you are without
your blue overalls. 1t is suggested
that pink dyes are plenty and fast
of color and that pink overaIls would
lend festive air. to the busy scene ;
but the man who wears overalls OBJ
jects to pink. 1t shows dirt and in
most cases fights with his complex
ion. But the good old standard blue
overall, warranted not to run Is a
thing of the past, says the Marshall
town Times-Republican.
All is not lost however. When the
inventive present fails we may drop
back upon the proved past The fact
is that the ancient jeans pants were
some covering for the legs in their
day. They complied fully with the
law against exposure and no blue
overall that ever came from the dye
tub had anything on the jeans
breeches of our boyhood as regards
wearing qualities. The fact is that
the blue overall came in first of all
as a menial to aristocracy and not as
friend and companion of the work
ingman. Its first use was 70 cover
the mauve, spring-bottom pants OF
the rich and purse proud while they
unhitched the horse or creased the
buggy. They were not pants then
as they are not pants now. Their Of
flee was entirely protective. Gradu-
ally they usurped the place of the
jeans breeches. AS luxury grew and
ice cream pants multiplied the over
all gradually supplanted the bifur-
Gated garment of our forefathers. So
rose the blue overall to pre-emin-
ence.
Jeans is always available. We can
make and fnish it right here at
home defying foreign princes, poten-
tates and dyestuffs. And it is good
enough. Many man is still alive
who remembers how mother made
his jeans pants from the pattern the
tailor cut and which was kept to be
brought forth when pride or decen-
cy demanded new breeches. He wore
them to mill and to meeting. There
has been as good sparkling done in
Jeans as ever in doe-skin, and jean
breeches have rubbed the pew seats
as devoutly as any $50 suit of later
and more luxurious days.
At any rate what difference the
color Of overalls? Overalls are not
garments Of adornment. Why perk
noses at pink? Why seek out a blaz
er of colors thar would have driven
Joseph to jealousy for sports and
deny to honest labor overalls that
shame the sunrise? And anyhow
like Lincoln's standard for the
length of mans legs which provid-
ed that they should reach his body
to the ground, why fuss over over
alls SO long as they cover the legs
legally and keep dirt away from
legs and neither garments?
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-02-02

Washington. d. c., Jan. 31.-A
claim of $4,000 for each of the
Americans killed by Mexican ban
dts at Santa Ysabel was received
today by the state department.
The department will press the Car
rama government for payment.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-02-02
Haugen and Kenyon for Park PrOp0.

Haugen and Kenyon for Park PrOpO-
sitiOn.
Washington, Jan. 31.-Charts and
plats of the proposed national park
at McGregOr, Iowa, have been receiv-
ed by Congressman Haugen, of the
Fourth district, and he with Senator
Kenyon will give them careful con-
sideration preparatory to introduc-
ing bills In the two branches Of con-
gress for the establishment of ma
tional park in this beauty spot of
the Hawkeye state. The plans of the
proposed recreation spot were for
warded by organizations interested
In procuring the resort.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-02-02

It's easy to sit around the sawdust
box In country store and solve
great problems Of state because
those who solve problems there are
never called to account for their mis-
takes.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-02-02

When man begins telling that
he,is, Offering as a sacrifice to the peo-
pie, It lis a pretty safe guessethat he
considers himself more than a ma
jority.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-02-02

1t Is quite 3 trick to raise and sup
sort half dozen boys. but not near
" a. much Of q trick a. 1t IL to raise
then 20 they viii support you.
The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-02-12

The idiotic blankness of his expression
changed to acute alarm.
"Stop this cab?" he cried. Nothing
on earth can induce me to stop this
cabp'
"You mustW she insisted, controlling
her voice. "You must stop it at onceW
Chow can II" he asked, excitedly;
'I'm late now; 1 haven't one second to
sparer
"Do you refuse to leave this cab?"
81 beg that you will compose your
SELF
''Wil you go?" she insisted
A iounce sent them flying toward
each other; they collided and recoiled,
regarding one another in breathless
indignation.
''This is simply hideousp said the
young lady, Selling the door handle.
'FPlease don't open that doorW he
said. She tried to wrench it open;
the handle stuck-or perhaps the
strength had left her wrist. But it
was not courage that failed, for she
faced him, head held high, and
The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-02-12

She looked him straight in the eyes,
one hand twisting at the knob.
Don't you suppose that this mistake
of mine is as humilating and unWel-
come to me as it is to your" he said
eff you stop this cab, it will ruin some
body's life. Not mine-if it were my
own life, wouldn't hesitate"
Her hand, still clasping the silver
knob, suddenly fell limp.
''You say that you are in hurry?"
she asked, with dry lips.
ga desperate hurry" he replied.
$50 am l." she said bitterly; "and
thanks to your stupidity, must make
the journey without my brotherP
There was silence, then she turned
toward him again:
''Where do you imagine this cab is
going?"
cts going to Cortlandt Street
isn't it?" Suddenly the recollection
came to him that it was her cab, and
that he had only told the driver to
drive fast.
The color left his face as he pressed
The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-02-12

"You cowardr' she said.
Over his face a deep flush burned
and it was good face, geographically
wilful, perhaps, with a firm, clean-cut
chin and pleasant eyes.
eff I were a coward" he said, ''pd
stop this cab and get out. 1 never
faced anything that frightened me
half as much as you dop'
The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-02-12
'.Soyez tranquilles, n1esdan1es

CIVIL you please stop this cab?"
she said, unsteadily. "You have mis-
taken my cab for yours l was ex-
pecting my brother"
Stunned, he made no movement to
obey. A sudden thrill of fear passed
through her.
81 must ask you to stop this cab,"
she faltered