davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-20
WHEN NATION CALLS

When the war department ordered
% heavy trucks from a Wisconsin
automobile concern for use in the
Mexican expedition it also requested
the company to furnish drivers and
mechanics with the cars. The COM
pany called for volunteers and within
two hours had 46S applications, 40 of
them by long distance telephone.
The order for the trucks was re-
ceived late that evening, just be-
fore the men quit work. The factory
has been full up with foreign orders,
but the men worked all night assem-
bling the % machines ordered by our
government and in the morning they
were on the cars waiting for the loo
omotive to haul them away, while
the men to man them were dressed
and waiting in the caboose.
Here is an example of the sort of
preparedness America needs, and
which America has. There was no
complaint from the men at the extra
work, no hesitancy by the factory in
putting American ord RS first, and had
there been necessity, 500 expert ma
chinists would have been waiting for
the locomotives to pull their trains,
instead of the % that were called.
There has never been the slightest
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-20
Side1ights on the European War

Berlin.-(Correspondence of The As
ISOLATED ress)-Juvenile crime and
misdemeanor have increased three and
four fold in nearly all cities of Ger
many since the beginning of the war,
according to the societies which spe-
cialize in the care of children.
The absence Of fathers at the front,
the frequent inability of mothers to
oversee their children because they
now have to work to support the fam
lily. and the increased amount of
spending money which boys and girls
have-due to employment ordinarily
not open to them-are given as the
chief causes.
The facts have come as surprise
to Juvenile experts. They had always
held that the mother was the chief
disciplinary factor in the household.
They now are constrained to change
their opinions and to feel that IT has
been the father, after all, who has
made the children toe the line.
The war, with its accounts of battles
and shooting, has inspired countless
boys with the desire to have weapons
of their own, and in many instances
they have been able to secure them
Little groups or gangs" have formed
in most Of the great cities of Germany,
have made unoccupied cellars their
headquarters, and from mock battles
have graduated into actual burglary in
many instances. Many more boys
have comparatively lucrative employ
ment at present than they ever had
before, and consequently have an I'M
precedented amount of money with
which to purchase what they want
including fire arms Many others, not
employed, but DESTROYS of the weapons
just the same, have resorted to crime
to get money with which to purchase
them.
The contraction of school facilities
has also had an effort in increasing
delinquency. In Berlin, for instance,
about one-third of the schoolhouses
have been emptied Of pupils and put
to military uses-as hospitals and the
like. The consequence has been that
classes have been crowded in the re-
naming schools, school hours have
been materially shortened, and female
teachers have had to be employed The
average boy and girl has suddenly
found himself with an increased num-
Der of leisure hours, generally without
a restraining father to chastise him
for misdemeanors, and often without
mother as a substitute. The situa-
ton has been complicated further by
the arrival in German cities of large
number of children from East Prus-
sia-fugitlves driven from their homes
by the Russian invasion.
The shortage of workers in most
branches of trade throughout Ger
many has led TO the employment of
children long before they ought TO go
to work. and 1t has put into children's
hands sums OF money that are direct
temptation TO vice and crime.
! Many lads of 10. IL and is years
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-20
(From the great speech Of Martin Dies
which the newspapers did not
publish.

Every strong nation on earth except
the United States is in war today. The
world has never before witnessed any
thing to equal the immensely, the hor-
ror. the waste, and the devastation Of
this war. The trenches across France
and Russia alone are nearly 1000
miles in length. Twenty million men
are engaged in deadly combat. Three
million men have already been killed
outright. Many million more are Grip
pied for life. More millions are herded
in concentration camps as prisoners OF
war. Millions of those compelled to
live in damp, cold trenches or as pris-
oners of war will come out of 1t physi-
cally unfit for either war or work. The
war has already cost fabulous billions
and the nations are mortgaged al
most to the limit And yet we are
told that some one or more of those
nations mediate war with the power
full United States, the wealthiest and
most powerful nation in the world.
Could England and her allies 60 to
war with us now? No. They are de-
pendent on us for munitions of war,
cotton, wheat, meat, and money. If
the allied powers were to go to war
with us tomorrow, their case In Eur
ope would at once become hopeless.
They know that to be true. We know
it.. It is so apparent that no thoughtful
man can doubt or deny it. But sup
pose we become involved in war with
Germany! Well, suppose the case.
Japan has been in war with Germany
for nearly two years. Have you heard
Of German soldiers invading Japan or
Japanese soldiers invading Germany?
Certainly not. The Germany navy is
bottled up. Her very ports are block
AIDED.
If we were now at war with Ger
many she could not send single man
or single warship against us. The
high seas are completely closed to her
II we were at war with Germany would
we send our navy to Europe? Ger
tainly not. England, France and Italy
have more than three times the navy
of Germany, and they are unable to
get at the German navy, because 1t is
behind the land batteries and mine
fields. Would we send any soldiers
over there? Of course not Japan has
sent neither warships nor soldiers.
The allies are amply supplied with
both. Then, in the event Of war with
Germany, what would we do? Simply
give financial aid to the allies; moth
ing more. And when the general peace
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-20
CEMETERY WORTH MIL
LIONS.

Lack OF American merchant ship
ping on the Pacific coast prevents the
development Of one of the largest ma
tural deposits Of fertilizer known in
the world. These are the vast deposits
of the bones of fur seals and sea-lions
on the Pribolot Islands, Alaska.
The vast accumulation consists Of
the skeletons of fur seals and sea-lions
killed at these islands for their fur
during the last hundred years. In a
recent letter to Representative ]. W.
Alexander Of Missouri. chairman Of the
house committee on merchant marine.
the secretary of commerce, William C.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-20

doubt among military men that should
war come the nation would be in
dustriously unprepared, or that it
would lack men of trades to fight that
part of its battles which are decided
at the forge, the lathe and the foun-
fine organization that is found in
Germany, but with resources infinite
ly greater such an organization is not
immediate and can wait for perfec-
ton. Between this country, with its
unorganized industry, and Englands
lack of organization there is no COM
parison because sheer numbers would
enable us to withstand the first de-
mands of the war on industry without
recourse abroad.
Industrially we are prepared for
almost any emergency. If the next
war were to be one of machinery alone
we could face the world without fear
But science has not yet advanced war
to such state and the human factor
is still predominant We must have
men trained to military duties in the
field, to handling guns and caring for
their feet on long marches, to obey
ing instantly and without question
commands of which they may not see
the necessity. We do not need me-
chanlcs, or courage, or patriotism or
enthusiasm. We need soldiers.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-20
Selected by Tavenner

of Europe came we would make terms
along with the balance. There would
be riots here and there on the part OF
those who were not in favor OF such
war, business and prosperity would
suffer, there would be much unemploy-
ment, and at the end of 1t we would
be saddled with billions Of national
debt and higher taxes. Simply that,
and nothing more But when the war
in Europe is over, even though we keep
out Of it, will not Germany immediate
~ thereafter attack us? My answer
to that is that no nation is likely ever
to attack us without cause, and my
hope is that we will always be too
sensible of our might, justice, and
manhood ever to provoke war with
any nation. Germany, along with the
balance of the nations at war, is being
literally ruined by the war. There is
scarcely home in Germany where the
inmates do not mourn the death of a
member Of the household. The end is
not yet. Every day war claims Its
thousands. The very earth reeks with
the decaying bodies of men-married
men, single men-the very hope and
flower of European manhood.
When this unspeakable cataclysm Is
over, there will be crepe on every door
knob in Europe. Around every fire.
side there will be an empty chair. The
benches in every public park will be
filled with crippled men. Every hospi-
tai and insane asylum will be filled
with the victims of the carnage. And
yet we are told that just as soon as
the war is over the survivors will say
goodbye to their wives, mothers, sis
tiers, children, or sweethearts and sail
for America to begin war all over
again. Was ever a more preposterous
proposition held up before the Ameri-
can people?
l am glad the president said in a
speech the other day that he took nc
stock in the statement that our coun-
try is in danger Of invasion. With
that out Of the way what is all the
scare about? Some of the fright has
been produced by the dealers in wal
munitions, some by sensational jour
nails and magazines, some by the NOV
ing picture campaign, some by army
! and navy officers who want promotion
and some by the Teddy Roosevelts
who are never truly happy unless they
can see blood and below like a bull
at a slaughter pen. The munitior
makers are reaping a harvest of gold
out of manufacturing the instruments
Of death. They know their business is
likely to play out when the European
war is over, and they are fertilizing
American soil with a view to another
| harvest.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-20
MONTH LEAVE GIVEN
TO CANADA SOLDIERS

Winnipeg, Canada, March 13.-(Cor-
of The Associated Press.)
An official order extending to every
non-commissioned officer and man on
active service in Canada leave of alb
sence not exceeding one month to go
out on farms, has solved Western Can
ada's problem of finding help to plant
this years grain crop, in the opinion
Of government officials here
Under the provisions of the order,
the soldiers will receive full pay for
their service in the army in addition
to the payment received from farmers
for their work. Free transportation
from camp to farm will be provided by
the government to the extent of 800
miles and operation of the military or
der will begin as soon as conditions
permit of working the land.
Twenty-seven thousand men are un.
der arms in military district No. 10,
and the proportionate number who can
go out to plant the crop should be ade-
Quate for the provinces of Manitoba
and Saskatchewan. Units further
west will take care of Alberta province
To prevent soldiers taking unfair
advantage Of the order, the authoriti IS
added certain regulations, one Of them
STIMULATING that leave of absence would
be given for no other purpose than to
aid in the agricultural work and that
the man applying for leave must pre-
sent proof that the offer of farm work
has been obtained.
Returning from the field the men
must produce a certificate from the
persons for whom they worked; each
certificate must be countersigned by
the signature of clergyman or two
responsible residents in the vicinity of
the land on which the work was done.
Premier T. C. Norris of Manitoba al
ready has begun active work for car
rying out the order. He said that
western provincial governments would
cooperate In the distribution of men.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-20
LAND PROBLEM NEARING.

The Nebaska State Journal calls at
tention to the fact that Uncle Sans
opening Of a 4.000-acre tract in the
North Platte irrigation district for set
Element practically winds up the free
land distribution" of the nation. 1t
adds:
Free or cheap land has been the
American safety valve. A population
straining for self betterment has had
its own remedy-to go west and grow
up with the country. With the govern
ment reduced to advertising an open
ing of 43 farms, the safety valve may
be considered forever closed. The ex-
pansive energy formerly exerted out
ward, must hereafter work itself out
!intensively. Increasing land specu-
lation, with rapidly rising prices of
land and proportionately increasing
dissatisfaction among the landless
would seem inevitable. The tone of
our politics and the intensity of our
social problems cannot but be vitality
changed under the strain of dealing
internally with social pressure which
hitherto has had the wilderness to vent
itself upon"
Land hunger" will soon become a
reality in this rapidly growing coun-
try and the constant pressure of popu-
lation, increasing higher than the ratio
Of production, is bound to bring us
face to face with economic problems
that we have heretofore considered re-
mote. The far-sighted statesman and
publicist must devote his thought
earnestly to the consideration of these
questions if we are to escape the ex-
tremes which curse the older nations
of the world
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-20
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
TubercIe Bacilli Present.

The family doctor had some sputum
from our little boy examined, and the
report read, Two or three tubercle
bacilli to the slide" The doctor was
astonished. Does that signify any
thing serious?
Answer-It would suggest tubercu-
losis. II tubercle bacilli are present
in the sputum it doesn't matter wheth-
er there are few or a great many
that is. the number of bacilli in no
wise determines the degree of infec-
ton.
Rupture and the Safest Treatment.
My brothers aged 25 years. has had
rupture for years, and every little
while 1t lays him up for a day or two.
He is almost decided to have it op-
Grated on, but first wishes your opin-
ion as to the danger involved.
Answer-It Is dangerous to have a
rupture. 1t is a daily menace to life
itself. The safest, and, for man
under middle age, the only sensible
treatment, is the radical operation for
permanent cure. By all means, II he
must work for living, he should have
the operation done at once.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-20
The Daily Story
Hank Elwoods Conversion-By Edith v. Ross
By Edith v. Ross.

for me to ten you she wasn't the k,,d
of a woman you want? Would Won
pay any attention to me"
Hank admitted that he had cons
dence in himself in knowing what ha
liked and what he didn't like. bnt !,
there was any defect in the girl ba
saw no reason why he should not h.
informed Of it.
There's nothin' the matter with b.,
so far as l know" was the noncon,
initial reply. But Hank did not eon.
slider it noncommittal. He made I'd To
Lizzie, as her aunt called her. and dN
a bit of counting, but he found her eov
and not disposed to permit him to n
familiar.
"She's the gal for me-" said Hank N
the aunt one day. Il tried to kiss her
and she wouldn't let me do It. There's
safety in that kind Of gal After
mans married to her he don't always
feel unsartin about her every time a
good lookin' man comes round"
THAT'S all bosh," said his friend.
Hank, finding that Lizzie would NOT
permit cooling, assumed that he must
first make his intentions known. Hs
was In a hurry to get some one into hIs
homo and was much pleased with her
One evening he called at Mrs. Blake
ley's. The aunt was washing dishes
and the niece was wiping them. On
Hanks arrival Lizzie threw down her
dishcloth, took of her kitchen apron
and Joined the visitor on the porch
Mrs. Blakeley went on with her work
Lizzie had been with Hank a few min
utes when her aunt heard her break
out into q guffaw.
Aunt Molly" she cried, "what dye
think? Mr.. Elwood wants me to mar.
~ him."
The woman went outside. Lizzie had
lifted her skirts above her knees, show.
ing a pair of trousers under them, and
was responding to the proposal by a
clog dance.
Reckon you don't know 50 much
about women, Hank, as you think you
do. Lizzie is boy"
Whereupon Lizzie took off the rest
of her feminine apparel and appeared
as a youth of eighteen.
Hank stood looking on this exhibi-
ton for few minutes appalled,. Then
turning on his heel he went back to
his farm.
1t was weeks before he came to see
his friend Moll Blakeley again; then
he said to her:
~ give In, Mol. don't know nothin'
about women. I'm powerful lonesome
at the farm. Get me wife"
II don't need to git you one. There's
Sallie Perkins, the best woman / know.
has been wantin' you for a couple O.
years"
How do you know thatT
''No matter how l know it. II you
want mighty good wife go for her"
Hank took his friends advice and
has been very happy ever since.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-20

Hank Elwood one evening stood at
the door OF bis house looking out on
his broad acres. There were the farm,
we'll stocked, and crops just springing
from the ground; there was the house,
well furnished for one Of its kind, But
Hank was the only person In 1t.
Hank had always so far fought shy
of women. He was not student OF
feminine human nature, and he thought
all single women did little else than set
snares for unmarried men. But he felt
lonely.
I'D ought to have a woman he
said to himself. "But whar am goin'
to find one? Besides, women are
ADVANTAGEOUS lot, and dunno but II l
should git one I'd wish hadn't"
But Hank was desperate. He went
down to Mrs. Blakeley's, an excellent
friend Of his, and said to her:
"Moll, 1 want you to find me wife.
I'll tell you jist what kind Of a gal l
want She must be-
Hank" interrupted his friend, III
I'm goin' to recommend gal to you
you'd better take her on my say 80.
You don't know anything about wo-
men,"
Don't I? I know enough to keep
clear of one Of the kind to slobber all
over a man before she's married and
after the knots tied to jump on him
and boss the whole job
"Oh, you do, do you? Well, I'll tell
you what I'll DO: I'm expectn' a niece
of mine from the east to visit me next
week. You kin come In here as much
as you like while she's here, and meb-
be you can git her. She wants to git
married powerful bad. But it's my
opinion you'd letter let me pick out
woman for you and 90 in blind on my
recommend"
Reckon I'll come In and see your
niece. If nothin' comes Of it mebbe
I'll try your plan"
When 10 niece came she proved to
be a strapping lass, with pair Of rosy
cheeks, and she made a dead set for
Hank. Her voice was low contralto,
sometimes with the tone Of mans.
She was rather awkward. and her hair
was short, which she explained by
stating that she had had a fever and
it had all come out.
What do you think of herr" asked
Mrs. Blakeley.
IT think she'd make a good farmers
wife," replied Hank. "She isn't one of
the kind to sit round and look purity.
Them hands of hers are specially fitted
for milkin'. and washin' dishes
wouldn't spoil EN-"
How about her Disposition
Il hain't had time yet to make no
observations as to that, but she seems
to be good natured enough. What do
you think of herr"
Il? l thought you was to decide the
matter for yourself, you know so much
about women. What use would it be
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-20
The Year-0Id Baby.
Brady.n.D.

What should baby have to eat when
he is one year old? Here is a menu
upon which he will thrive:
$50 a. m.-Father creeps down
stairs and gets a bottle of certified
tuberculin-tested, pasteurized milk,
warns it up, mixes some barley or
oatmeal Cruel with it, and feeds it to
the baby.
9 a. m.-Mother feeds baby one or
two ounces Of orange juice.
10 a. m.-Aunt Mary Mixes him up
the following: Milk, two parts; oat-
meal or barley cruel, one part; pa
thence and CHEEKY smiles, 80 parts.
Aunt Mary sits down and feeds baby
about 10 or II ounces of this from a
cup-under no circumstances should
he have bottle.
p. m.-Two ounces of beef Juice:
or the white Of one egg, soft-boiled or
poached whole egg after 10 months) ::
OF -FOUR ounces or mutton broth or
chicken broth.
Four to six ounces of milk and Cruel
again.
6 p. m.-Father rides baby on his
knee to get up an appetite. Same bill
OF fare as for 10 a. m.
10 p. Insane bill of fare as for 6
a. m, with this important exception:
Father should not be disturbed-his
pipe might go out-and besides he has
got TO get rested up for the a. m.
duty which hangs over his head like
an evil omen.
This goodnight meal had better not
be given from the bottle. In fact, a
bany at IL months should be made to
take his food from a Gun or snoon AL
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-20

The inventor who has devised gen.
eral-utility golf club to take the place
of the golfers usual outfit of clubs has
a singular idea of the requirements of
the game. The accepted theory has
been that golfers had the collectors
spirit and acquired new clubs as other
collectors acquire firsts editions. To
ask a golfer to sacrifice his aggrega-
ton of pet irons for one makeshift
club for all uses is expecting good
deal
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-20

A Dubuque Civil war veteran, Il
years of age, blind in one eye, deaf in
one ear, lame in one leg and weighing
1872 pounds is being sued for divorce.
His wife is 40 years old, in perfect
health and weighs 200 pounds. She
charges cruel and inhuman treatment.
Her husband denies the charge, and
the court will not have to take the
case under Amusement over week to
reach a decision.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-20
Daily History ClasS-MarCh 70

1727-Sir Isaac Newton, philosopher
died: born 1912.
17S2-End OF the British ministry
headed by Lord North. noted iof
its laundering diplomacy and the
loss Of American colonies TO Grea'
Britain. 1t began Jan. %, lI70
1Sll-Napoleon Francois Charles 10
seph Bonaparte. son Of Napoleon
l. and Maria Louisa, known a.
.LAigion." Duke OF Reichstaot
and king of Rome, born; die@
1882.
19l5-Charles Francis Adams, histe
rian and publicist, died; born 100
The Austrian garrison at Prem
ysl was hemmed in behind It's lile
of fortihcations.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-20
Rock Island-Frcm River to
River.

no NOT litter the
~ streets with waste
paper. Destroy it or place
it in the proper recep-
tacles, thus contributing
to the municipal commits
sion's efforts in behalf of
clean streets.