davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-26
President Wilson'S Peace Suggestion

Washington, ID. c., Dec. 22.-FoliOW-
ing is the text Of the note which Pres
ident Wilson addressed tOEthe powers
now at war:
The Secretary of State to Ambassa-
dor Gerard: Department OF State,
Washington, D. c.. Dec. Is:
The president directs me 10 send you
1.-The following communication to be
presented Immediately to the minister
of foreign affairs of the government to
which you are accredited
THE president of the United States
has instructed me to suggest to the
imperial German government course
of action with regard to the present
war which he hopes that the imperial
government will take under consider
alton as susge5ted in the most friendly
spirit and as coming not only from a
friend but also as coming from the
representative of q neutral nation
whose interests have been most seri-
ously affected by the war and whose
!, concern for it's early conclusion arises
out Of a manifest necessity to deter
mine how hest to safeguard those in
terests if the war is to continue.
Request Planned LONG Ago.
"The suggestion which ] am in
structed to make the president has
long had in mind to Offer He is
somewhat embarrassed to offer 1t at
( this particular time because it may
now seer, to have been prompted by a
desire to play a part in connection
with the recent Overtures of the cen
trail powers.
II I,,c Cor in, N r.
gested by them in its origin and the
president would have delayed Offering
it until those oyertures had been in
dependentIy answered but for the fact
that it also concerns the question of
peace and may best be considered in
connection with other proposals which
have the same end in view. The pres
ident can only beg that his suggestion
ne considered entirely on its own mer-
its and as if it had been made in other
circumstances.
Eac, Shout! State Views.
"The president suggests that an
early occasion be sought to call out
+, from all the nations now at war such
an avowal of their respective views as
to the terms uDon which the war
might he concluded and the arrange
ments which would be deemed salts
! factory as a guaranty against it's re-
newal or the kindling of any similar
conflict in the future as would make
| it nossible frankly to compare them.
He is indifferent as to the means
taken to accomnlsh this. He would
be happy himself to serve. or even to
take the initiative in its accomplish
ment. in any way that might prove ac-
lceptable, hut he has no desire to de-
termine the method or the instrument
tally. One way will be as acceptable
to him as another if only the great OBJ
! iect he has in mind be attained.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-26
GAS IN BASEMENT
CAUSES EXPLOSION

Atlantic. Dec. IS --Physicians at the
local hospital today said that all the
eleven persons injured in the explosion
yesterday at Kimball;on near here
probably would recover. The exple
sion. which resulted from defect y
the gas lighting system at the farsn
house of John Faabors, caused the
death of John Nelson, Al. Ida FaahOfs.
IA, and Christina Faaborg, g.
Officials from the coroner's ONCE to-
day began an investigation "a TO the
cause of the explosion. The prevailing
opinion WIS that the gas generatinsy
apparatus in the basement leaked and
that the gas ignited when the door.
leading TO the basement was opened
and the gas reached the FIRE in the
kitchen stove.
All of the injured We're seated at the
dinner table. The explosion complete
" wrecked the house and the diners
were buried in the wreckage.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-26

I He takes the liberty Of calling at
tention to the fact that the objects
which the statesmen of the belliger-
ents on both sides have in mind in this
war are virtually the same, as statedi in
general terms to their own people and
/ to the world. Each side desires to
make the rights and privileges of weak
peoples and small states as secure
against aggression or denial in the fu-
ture as the rights and privileges of the
great and powerful states now at war.
+ Security in the Future.
Each wishes itself to be made Sc
cure in the future. along with all other
nations and peoples, against the re-
currence of wars like this and against
aggression of selfish interference OF
any kind. Each would be jealous of
. the formation OF any more rival
leagues to preserve an uncertain bal
ance of power amidst multiplying sus-
picions, but each is ready to consider
the formation of league of nations
to insure peace and justice through
; out the world
Before the fiscal step can be taken,
however each deems it necessary first
J
upon terms which will certainly safe
guard the independence. the territorial
integrity, and the political and com
mercial freedom of the nations in
volved.
In the measures to be taken to Sc
+, cure the future peace of the world the
people and government of the United
States are as vitality and as directly
interested as the governments now at
war Their interests. moreover, in the
means to be adopted to relieve the
smaller and weaker peoples OF the
world of the peril OF wrong and vio-
| lence is as quick and ardent as that
'of any other people or government.
They stand ready, and even eager, to
cooperate in the accomplishment OF
these ends when the war is over with
every influence and resource at their
command.
War Must End First.
But the war must first be con
, Guided. The terms upon which it is
! to be concluded thew are not at lib.
erty to suggest but the president does
feel that it is his right and his duty
to point out their intimate interest in
its conclusion lest it should presently
he too late to accomplish the greater
things which lie beyond its conclusion
f, lest the situation of neutral nations
now exceedingly hard to endure, be
rendered altogether intolerable. and
lest. more than ALL an injury be done
civilization itself which can never be
atoned for or repaired.
| .sThe president therefore feels alto
gether justified in suggesting an i'm
mediate opportunity for comparison
of views as to the terms which must
precede those ultimate arrangements
for the peace of the world which all
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-26
(DStocrr 100

l..e "a u ~ Z vas giving the nrSt
speech of the campaign in a country
district. >rhe hall at first was pretty
we'll filled, but the audience was not
long in finding out that they did not
like the speakers style of oratory and
began to leave. AT last only one man
remained Still. he represented one
vote. and as he listened with close at
tent on the candidate felt encouraged
to continue. At the end of fifteen
minutes the speaker stopped and po-
litely asked:
Il beg your pardon. l hope am
not trespass ng on your kindness.
shall have finished in ten minutes"
Ten minutes" said the listener.
you can go on as long as you like. for
all care. only don't forget that you
engaged me by the hour"
Then the candidate found that his
earnest audience was the cabman who
had driven him to the hall.
Two English officers in billets were
longing for drink. but dared not in.
dulge. as their landlady was stanch
teetotaler and would probably read
i, them lengthy lecture.
Il know the trek" exclaimed one
in glee, LETS ask her for a drop OF
whisky to clean our pipes with
The good woman was truly sympa
thetic when informed regretfully by
the willy twain that thei rpipes were
too foul to smoke and promptly sup.
piled them with the desired cleans
ing fluid"
Later she asked with kindly smile:
And was the whisky successful"
1T was" replied one of the con
spirAtors. 1T was awfully kind OF
, YOU
Not at ALL replied the landlady
Il was glad to make use of it. only
. bought it the day before yesterday to
wash little Fido in, and the results
were wonderful"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-26
ELDON

Little Mary Shelter is i'll with the
measles.
Ralph Conrad of Ames arrived for
a short vacation visit with relatives.
Mr.. and Mrs. l.. e. Haydock will
leave this week for California where
they expect to make their future home
near Los Angeles.
Mrs. A. J. Mckay and Miss Nora
Kittle were hostesses to the j. Rhe
.Teen club at the formers home We'd
nesday evening. The time was spent
socially and with sewing. Two course
refreshments We're served. after which
a Christmas grab bag of presents was
enjoyed bv the members. The next
party will be held at the home of Miss
Sylvia Crow after the holidays.
The kinsington and l. Rhe Jeen
clubs have received invitations to the
open house at the Van v. Baldwin
, home given by Chapter G. P. f. O.,
January 4.
Miss Cuba Carter was an Ottumwa
visitor Wednesday.
w. d. Davis of Ottumwa is in the
city on case.
The Kensington club has postponed
. -
en- at the Masonic hall Thursday night
on account of the illness of some OF
the members of the committee.
| Grand Hope chapter No. &C will hold
! its REGULAR meeting at the Masonic
hall Monday evening. December %.
E]don high school PLAYED the Eddy.
vile high school at the McHaffey
opera house Wednesday evening. The
game ended successfully for Eldon. the
score being 40 to %. Ralph Weaver
was i'll and not able to play the first
half. John Wrisht filled Viewers
place and Milo Heinz was guard.
Clarence Stephenson Is moving his
| family to the Frank Pence farm.
| Mrs. John O'Dean of Ottumwa spent
the dav with her son. Ruben O'Dean
and wife.
Virgene Connell and Lazetta Stauf
| fer of Ames arrived to spend the
+, Christmas vacation with relatives.
J. w Hall of Ottumwa was visitor
| in the city.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-26

desire and in which the neutral ma
lions as well as those at war are ready
to play their full responsible part
eff the contest must continue to pro-
coed toward underlined ends by slow
attrition until the one group of bellig-
erents or the other is exhausted. II
million after million of human lives
must continue to be offered up until
on one side or the other there are no
more to offer, if resentments must be
kindled that can never cool and des-
pairs engendered from which there
can be no recovery. hopes Of peace
and of the willing concert of free peo'
pies will be rendered vain and idle.
Whole World is Affected.
THE life Of The entire world has
been profoundly affected. Every part
of the great family of mankind has felt
the burden and terror of this unprece-
denied contest of arms. No nation in
the civilized world can he said in truth
to stand outside it's influence or TO be
safe against it's disturbing effects. And
yet the concrete objects for which it
is being waged have never been def
nitely stated.
uC lCdOcio VI luc ScNclSit UclllSCl-
ents have, as has been said. stated
those objects in general terms. But,
stated in general terms, they seem the
same on both sides. Never yet have
the authoritative spokesman of either
side avowed the precise objects which
would. if attained. satisfy them and
their people that the war had been
fought out The world has been left
to conjecture what definite results,
what actual exchange Of guarantees,
what political or territorial changes
or readjustments, what stage of mill
tary success even would bring the war
to an end.
Peace May Be Nearer.
"It may be that peace is nearer than
we know, that the terms which the bel
ligerents on the one side and on the
other would deem it necessary to in
sist upon are not SO irreconcilable as
some have feared; that an interchange
of views would clear the way at least
for conference and make the perman-
ent concord of the nations hope of
the immediate future, concert of ma
tons Immediately practicable.
THE president is not proposing
peace; he is not even Offering media
ton. He is merely proposing that
soundings be taken in order that we
may learn, the neutral nations with
the belligerents, how near the haven
of peace may be for which all mankind
longs with an intense and increasing
longing. He believes that the spirit
in which he speaks and the objects
which he seeks will be understood by
all concerned, and he confidently
hopes for response which will bring
a new light into the affairs of the
! world.
LANSING"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-26

Washington, D. c., Dec. 25. -Switz.
erland is the first of the smaller neu-
trail nations to indorse the peace move
of President Wilson. The text of the
Swiss note addressed to all the bel
ligerent nations was received by the
state department yesterday. It is i'm
portant not so much in itself as in
demonstrating that neutral sentiment
in Europe is identified with neutral
sentiment in the United States as ex-
pressed by President Wilson.
The state department understands
that the following European nations
will follow Switzerland's example:
Holland, Denmark. Norway Sweden.
Spain.
The department also is hopeful that
the republics of Central and South
America will send notes to the bel
ligerents urging compliance with Mr..
Wilson'S suggestion.
Text Of Swiss Note.
Here is the Swiss note:
'.The president of the United States
OF America. with whom the Swiss fed
eral council, guided by its warm desire
that the hostilities may soon come to
an end. has for a considerable time
been in touch. had the kindness TO ap-
prise the federal council of the peace
note sent to the governments of the
central and entente powers.
"In this note President Wilson dis
cusses the great desirability Of inter-
national agreements for the purpose Of
avoiding more effectively and perman-
emily the occurrence of catastrophes
such as the one under which the
peoples are suffering today In this
connection he laws part 'cular stress on
the necessity for bringing about the
end of the. present war.
Without making peace proposals
himself or offering mediation he con-
! fines himself to sounding as to wheth-
err mankind may hope to have APP
preached the haven of peace.
THE most meritorious personal in
itiative of Pres;dent Wilson will find
mighty echo in Switzerland. True
to the obligations arising from observ-
ing the strictest neutrality, united by
The same friendship with the states of
both warning groups of powers. situat-
ed like an island amidst the seething
waves of the terrible world war, with
it's ideal and material interests more
sensibly jeopardized and violated, our
country is filled with deep longing
for peace and ready to assist by its
small means to stop the endless suffer
. ings caused by the war and brought
before it's eyes by daily contact with
the informed. the severely wounded
and those expelled and to establish the
foundations for beneficial coopera-
tion of the peoples.
The Swiss Federal council is there
fore glad to seize the opportunity to
support the efforts of the president OF
the United States. 1t would consider
itself happy if it could act in any way,
no matter how modest, for the rap
proachment CT the people now engag-
ed in the struggle and for reaching a
lasting peace"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-26
rHE cHlLDREN's JOB.

When California gets couple OF cav
loads of some OF its irrigated proouc.s
in the same train, it sends out te.e'
grams all over the country apout Tue
immense shipments that are soinS
over the railroad lines out OF Callfor-
MIA into other states. About once q
season. tney save TIP enough orders So
that they can bunch their sh'rments
and make up train OF twenty OF
TWENTY-FIVE cars of oranges and theh
the whole state rises up in one DIG
movement and flops its wirgs apcnt
train load of its products being shIp'
ped out. - 49,.
Now. it is not the purpose OF TINS
article to cast any reflection on the
neople of California or the state OF CA.
ifornia for letting the world know that
it is sending out short alnky 1,..l'.
freight train filled with oranges. Ihey
advertise it and make big tnlhs OF
II and we are glad they do. IN the
meantime, Iowa is producing more
wealth every day than California ever
heard about. The total orange crop Vi
the United States, east ana West lor
1916 will probably reach about sls'ooo-
900 During the time that California
has been building dams ana pul!piiis
water and changing the channels or
rivers to irrigate it's lands and MIR ny
men and women to pick and wrap ana
mack its little dab Of oranges, this
year the children on the Iowa farms
have gone out around the hay lofts
and straw piles and gathered up s2s.
O0O. 600 worth Of eggs. So you see II
is SO easy for Iowa, with one Of its by
nrod,,cts, to beat CALIFORNIA; NAM
product, that we lust turned the 1oo
over to the children.
California's fruit crop for whole
year would get so badly lost that IL
would never be found If IT "ould see
miyed nm with Iowas corn crop or
live stock.
Iowas crops that grow out OF the
ground tnot live stock in 1916 amount
to s5es 100000 In 1915 the value was
S41S, 000, 900
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-26
FIND FRANK HARDER
WANDERING IN SNOW

Bloomfield, Dec. 25.-Frank Harder,
who lives near here. was found wan
dering in the snow covered fields near
Floris Friday by his l6-yesr-old son.
who had tracked him for almost ten
miles after the man had disappeared
from his home. Harder started to the
pump to draw water for the stock and
when the boy went out to call him
some time later he was gone. BY his
footsteps in the snow he was traced.
When the lad caught UP with him
his father is said to have been threat
ening to him but after some persua-
sion went back home. When ques-
toned Harder said he was on his way
to Bloomfield to buy a pair of over.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-26
CAUGHT INCOUPE,
COUPLE ARE BURNED

Iowa City. Dec. 2o.--Caught inside
the closed portion of burning coupe,
Don Price and Mrs. Edith Stevenson
the latter from Chicago and guest at
the home of the young mans parents
Mr.. and Mrs. NJ. F. Price were barely
able to escape from the automobile
without being burned to death. Both
were severely burned about the face
and hands. Mr. Price had clothing
partly burned from his hack, and lost
almost ali the hair off the top of his
head.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-26
SHEEP OWNERS
OPPOSE DOGS
Convention to Petition the.
Legislature for Law to
Safeguard Flocks

me Iowa Sheep Breeders anG wool
Growers association that is holding
its thirty-fourth annual meeting here,
will petition the legislature to pass
law requiring dogs in the country TO
be registered with the county auditor
and permitting them to be killed as q
trespasser when seen at large during
the night or on the highway unac-
companied by the owner or trainer.
The officers were chosen for the en-
suing year, the entire roster of pres
ent officers being reelected. The place
of holding the next meeting is Ottum-
wa and the time will be fixed BY the
executive committee. ~
The attendance at the convention
this year is somewhat smaller than
usual about forty being here for the
first day of the meeting which opened
Thursday afternoon. The members
come from all over southern Iowa.
The election and committee reports
took upt most of the evening session
while some interesting talks we're giv-l
en- on care of flocks and the depreda-
tons Of dogs among the sheep.
Several instructive papers on the
sheep industry were given at the
day. The convention closed this after
noon
Like Reception.
The sessions have been held in the
dining room of the Commercial club
which affords plenty of room for such
gatherings. The visitors expressed
themselves in complimentary man
ner on the beautiful new club GUAR
tiers and the welcome extended them
and adopted the following resolution
and petition:
The Iowa Sheep Breeders and Wool
Growers association llnanimousls
passed resolutions to extend their
thanks and appreciation for the hearty
welcome and cooperation extended
them by the Commercial club during
their annual meeting (Signed).
Will Michael. president.
V. G. Warner. secretary.
Sec December 81. 1916, OttuHs
wa. Iowa. We. the Iowa Sheep Breed
ers' and Wool Growers association df
Iowa. ~
Do hereby petition the HONORABLE
/, body of representatives and senatoia
of the thirty-seventh general assent
dogs from running at large at nigh
Any dog seen at large during the nigh
time not accompanied by his owner
trainer shall be considered tired
passer whether on the premises d
another or on the public highway ana
may be killed.
Sec. All dogs owned or harbored
by any person in the state OF Iowa.
shall wear collar, and such collar
shall be registered by the county aud
itor. 3,
Sec. . shall exempt all Incorporated
cities of the state of Iowa
Sec 3-The county auditor shall.
charge the sum of twenty-five cents
Is .25) for recording each dog and
said dog shall have number on said
collar. /. N. Shook.
v. N. Cassidy.
T. o. Kinman
| The officers:
President-Wiu Michael, Selma.
Vice president-W. S. Merit. Sey-
mour
Secretary-v. G. Warner. Bloom
field.
Treasurer-E. W. France. osk.loo
ga.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-26
rAE DAY OF DAYS.

Twentv centuries ago, the Christ
child was horn into the world. Today
is the anniversary Of that greatest OF
all events. For in his coming and go
ing. he pointed ont TO man. the PAIN
which leeds to everlasting life.
The divine MESSAGE which accom-
panied Christ to earth. was one wish
| ing peace on earth. good will to men,
n is no fault of Christ or of his teach
ings that the wor'' docs not entov
peace and good will at this time IT
Is the fault of men that thev have not
taken Christ's TEACHINGS more taith'
fully and elevated themselves II a
highe, srir'tual p'a"e Pecause the
st;r retain the nature of brute man.
thew continue to fight among them
selves
While we in Amer ca. may be unable
TO stoD the carnage in Eurone. we cen
at le"-, nra,- for a cessation of hostlE
;ties there and show GOOD will TO the
con, es,a,ts while eninyine orr own
neace to TIE utrost We cen mite IN
retur-'re thanks for the fact that
America is at peace. And we should
this day. observe Chr's'mas as we
have never done before. Give more
thought to the real reason for the OBJ
seryarce-it IS the anniversary OF TIE
birth Of the Prince Of Peace.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-26
ALL OBJECTIONS TO
DITCH TO BE HEARD

A final hearing of all objections to-
the constructing of the Soar Creek
drainage ditch will he held in the Wan;
clio county court house on Friday, Jan
uary 26. 1917. At that time the super
visors OF this county and Davis county
together with the two engineers from
here and Bloomfield will be present
and final disposition of all impede
ments to the progress of the work viii
be disposed of then.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-26
NINE RESCUE HANDBOOK.

In its recently issued handbook on
"Rescue and Recovery Operations in
Mines after Fires and Explosions,
which should be in vhe hands of every
mine Superintendent ard mine fore
man in the country the bareau OF
mines, department of the interior. OF
fers the following important rules
(which should be observed at coal
tmine Immediately following a disaster
u summon assistance from the nearest
mines.
Notify the state Inspector and rescue
crews.
Organize your forces and assign
duties.
Look after the ventilating fan and
repair it Immediately if it has been
damaged.
Place guards at all entrances to keel
a record of all happenings.
Ascertain whether natural ventila
ton is established at any openings
Procure permissible safety lamp:
and electric hand lamps for persons
who are to explore the nine.
Shut off electric power on the troll
lev. power. and light wires enterins
the mine except these used for operat
ing the fan.
Procure brattice material or order
1t for immediate delivery.
Have crew of men enter opening;
that have intake currents of air ane
look for men who may be injured OF
overcome near the entrance
Cali as many doctors as are avail
able.
Procure portable fire extinguishers
ard have them ready for immediate
use in case fire is discovered
After disaster in shaft mine, gel
\ the hosting appliances in the dowr
cast compartment in condition for use
by the explorers.
Keep on hand at all times doze:
safety lamps in good condition To-
emergency use.