davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-01-28

invest a small sum Of money pro0-
ably one-tenth what the filter cost
In the sinking Of deep well, from
which to supply water for household
use. and still retain the Blue River
pumping station in operation for sup
plying fire protection. The Durant
Ice q Light Company owns a deep
well from which water for operating
the boilers OF the plant and the ice
machines is taken, and from which
hundreds of families secure drinking
water, and the supply seems never
even diminished. The water is ice
cold the year round, and clear as
crystal, and as sweet as mountain
spring water. Whether or not we'll
or two wells could be drilled that
would provide. sufficient drinking
water for eight thousand people Is
problematical; but the suggestion,
we feel, is food for thought. The
public wants relief, and must have
it. It's up to the city administration
to do something.
Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-01-28
INGRATITUDE

'Ingratitude," as defined in Web
ster's New International Dictionary,
means 'fll return for kindness or
favors received, and the word fits
Durant's City Council to "T'', for
that body, whether purposely or not,
has, figuratively speaking, 'bitten
the hand that fed it, in It's treat
ment of the Water Commission. the
entire membership of which has re-
signed.
One of the first good things that
Durant's new administration did was
to pass an ordinance providing for a
non-salaried board of commissioners
to supervise the operation of the wat
er department, strip off the looping
corners and rough edges of the ex-
pense account, install system where
chaos has reigned for years, and
bring about a real service to the pa
irons. of the water department.
It is not easy to find three men
(who are competent) who will give
enough of their time to the city to
undertake the task that a moderniz-
ing and systemizing of this depart
ment necessitates, but Mayor Var
brough found them and appointed
them, and they accepted the hard.
yet thankless, job, believing that
they could render the city a real ser
vice. Messrs. G. c. Hatchett, G. b.
Malone, and S. w. Stone are. the
three who kindly shouldered the bur-
den. and ,straightway they went to
work, installed some system. cut Off
a lot of useless expense, and in a few
months went a long way toward maxi
ing the department, self-sustaining.
1t is unnecessary to say here that
these three men devoted considerable
time and energy toward the prob
lens facing the department. knew in
finitely more about the departments
Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-01-28

requirements than any member OF
the Council (all Of them together,
for that matter) could possibly
know. Casting about for a compe-
tent man for bookkeeper, the COM
mission recommended a man whom
they had decided was the best man
available. But, lo and behold, the
Council Immediately assumed an at
titude which said palmer than words
What do you know about bookkeep-
ers? We have a man already select
ed. and we mean to hire him whether
you like IL or not. and the Com
mission Immediately resigned, Chair
man Hatchett saying in his letter of
resignation that he could not keep
his self-respect and put up with such
business-and who in the world, with
grain of sand in his craw" COULD
put up with It?
The News does not seek to censure
the Council in its selection. The man
appointed is, doubtless, entirely com
petent. The point we want to make
is that after having the nerve to ask
three business men to devote their
time and energies to the operation of
this department, and then right OFF
the bat having the unmitigated gall
to decline the Commissions first rec
ommendation with contempt, consti-
tutes about the worst case OF ingrati-
tude the writer has ever seen.
Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-01-28
THE WATER SITUATION

Coleridge's pithy lines in "The
Ancient Mariner" of Water, Water,
Everywhere, But Not Drop to
Drink" where the old sailor, the last
survivor of the ill-fated vessels crew,
with an ocean of water about him,
had no water with which to assuage
his thirst, seems particularly appli-
cable to Durant just now. For guam
tity of water supply, Durant is un-
Questionably as well off as any COM
munity anywhere, for old Blue never
runs dry, but for quality we are COM
PEELED to remark that for the past
few days the water pumped from the
river for the consumption of the peo-
pie of Durant has been entirely unfit
for the most ordinary household pur
poses, much less for drinking. 1t is
not a new condition, but a recurrence
Of a condition that exists every time
there is enough rain to cause rise
in the stream, although it is freely
admitted that the condition of the
water the past week has been much
worse than ever before. Meantime,
the people of the city go right on
paying the. exorbitant rates for the
city water, while they are forced to
look to the wells and cisterns of their
neighbors, If they have none of their
own, and these sources'of supply are
incidentally few and far between, for
supply of water that is fit to use,
How long must Durant put up with
this sort of thing (? Will we go on for
ever paying enormous taxes for the
operation and maintenance of the
water department of this city, and
the other departments, buying ouI
water and sewer service on the side
and receiving, at that, service unfit
foi the use of animals, to say nothing
of human beings?
Thousands OF dollars have been
spent on the pumping station, still
more thousands on the filtration
plant. and still more thousands fol
operating both and in the way of def.
icets and losses, and the people who
are paying the taxes thus occasioned
and buying water on the side. are get
ting very little. almost nothing, fol
their money. 1t is an economic con.
dition that cannot last for long, fol
it and similar conditions in : other
branches of the municipal govern
ment are gradually drawing the city
toward the very brink of that dark
abyss-Bankruptcy.
1t has been suggested that the city
Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-01-28
1st insertion Jan. 28, 1916.
2nd insertion Feb. 4. 1916.
NOTICE OF SALE OF CHATTELs
Under Execution.

BY virtue OF an execution to
me directed and delivered, issued
out of the District Court OF
Bryan County. State of Okla
homa, in an action in said Court
wherein Boston g. Maloney are Plain
tiffs, and ]. M. Hardage is Defend
ant, I will, on the Sth day Of Feb
ruary, A. d. 1916, between the hours
of 1000 o'clock a. m. and 2:00
o'clock p. M of said day. at Durant
in the County aforesaid, offer'at pub
lie sale and sell to the highest bid
der, for cash in hand, the following
described property. to-wit:
One Jesse French Upright Piano.
Said property having been levied
on as the property OF said J. M. Har
dage, and taken on execution In fav'
or OF Boston & Aaloney.
Dated this 26th day Of January
A. ID. 1915. JOHN. A. PHILLIPS,
Sheriff
BY Dave Wright, Deputy
RICHARD NICOLDs.
Attorney for Plaintiffs. 4
Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-01-28
Had Lots of Time.

A Baltimore negro was driving a
wagon and in going through street
met funeral. He thought it would
be bad luck to cross behind the flu
neral, so he epdeavored to cross in
front of 1t. but the driver of. the
hearse whipped up his horses, and
the two went neck and neck for a
time. until finally the darkey yelled
out:
Say, dab, pull up youah hossesI
My boss is in hurry an youah's
amt"
Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-01-28
Thought She Was Eve

Archbishop Ryan has kindly wit
which some people misconstrue as
caustic. While attending a dinner
party one evening lady whom he
had been chatting thought she saw
her opportunity and his dessert.
"A fig for you, your grace" she
remarked pointedly. passing him a
plate of figs in their leaves. She'was
wearing very low cut gown.
The archbishop simply smiled po-
litely and taking fig from the plate
said:
"A fig leaf for you, Mrs. Dorr."
Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-01-28
A BIT OF NONSENSE
Knew His Partner

A noted New York politician and
James T. Powers. the comedian. one
eveDlng at the Lambs Club. were
relating tales of individual expert
ences, and II was not long before a
good sized audience had gathered
around. r
Powers. pou and could stump
the country and tel lilies that would
he of constant amazement to our au-
Idiences, couldn't WEI"
''Yes, l think we could" replied
the actor. "and l wouldn't have to
say a word either" 81 nst
Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-01-28
Poor Little Fellow

A Canadian newspaper calls atten-
ton to a nursing bottle advertise
ment, that concludes with the words:
When the baby Is done drinking, It
must be unscrewed and laid in cool
place under tap. If the baby does
not thrive on fresh milk. It should
be boiled" rfl,tA.
Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-01-28
Sounds oil Natnre

The Inhabitants of a frog pond
close at hand awakened two lit
tie girls who were spending their
night in the country. First came the
high piping voice of little "peeper." !"
What's that?" whispered Winnie.
II think it's bird" ventured Susan.
Just then basso profundo frog sang
one Of his lowest tones. What's
Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-01-28
the national joy smoke

that?" came another startled whis-
per. Il amt quite sure,Y came the
answer, "but think it's either cow
or an automobile"
Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-01-28
GREAT AREA FLOODED

Government Ievees along the Col
orado River near Yuma, Arizona,
broke Saturday. flooding thousands
and thousands, OF acres of agricul-
tural lands on both the Arizona and
California sides Of the river to a
depth of four feet, doing millions Of
dollars worth of damage. The city
of Yuma was flooded to a depth of
from one to five feet. and all busi-
ness and traffic was suspended. Mar
tial law was proclaimed.
U. M. Albin was in Madill Wednes-
day of this week on business.
Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-01-28


State of Oklahoma.
County of Bryan,
In the District Court.
HALE-HALSELL GRO
Gerry CO., -. Plaintiff,
VS.. No. 2544
R. C. BRUCE. =. Defendant.
The defendant, r. G. Bruce, will
take notice that he has been sued in
the above named court upon a note
and the foreclosure of a mortgage Sc
curing same and must answer the pc
tition filed by plaintiff, on or before
the 9Th day of March, 1916, or said
petition will be taken as true and
Judgment rendered against defend
ant for the sum of $225.00 on a pro-
missory note assumed by defendant.
with 10 per cent interest from Jan.
7th, 1915. and judgment rendered
for foreclosure of a mortgage secur-
ing said promissory note upon the
following real estate:
Lot 10 in Block 81; in the City
of Durant, Bryan County. Okla
home,
and adjudging that default has been
made in said mortgage to the amount
which judgment will be taken and or
dering said premises sold as the law
provides, and the proceeds applied to
the payment of the amount due plain
tiff and the cost Of this action and
the balance applied or turned over
to the defendant as the court directs.
w. A. JONES,
(Seal) Court Clerk.
II. H. LoDEN, Attorney.
Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-01-28
ANNOUNCEMENTS

This paper is authorized to an
nounee the following candidates for
office, subject to the action OF the
voters at the Democratic Primary of
August i, 1916:
For Sheriff.
EARLY ZION
CLIPPER HAMILTON
Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-01-28

After a period of inertia, the agi-
tation favoring change in the plan
of municipal government for Durapt.
has been revived. This time. strong
er than ever. The tragedy of the
whole business-for it is near akin
TO tragic-is that while we realize
that something is radically wrong.
we have no data and proof to back up
our belief as to a remedy. Many years
of carelessness, Incompetence, and
shiftlessness on the part of officials,
coupled with an almost unanimous
disinterestedness on the part of the
Taxpayers. has brought about con-
dition such as we now face. The
remedy requires cooperative effort,
and just SO soon as the people who
Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-01-28

C. p. Abbott made business trip
to Caddo "Wednesday.
Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-01-28

pay the bills organize themselves in
to corrective committee. there will
be relief, and no sooner.
Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-01-28
LEGAL ADVERTISEMENTS

; > 49, > . - 5000 ;
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-06-02
MONEY FOR GOOD ROADS

The United States Senate has pass
ed a bin appropriating $85,0OO,OO0
for good roads, providing an equal
amount be spent by the states. There
is no question whatever about the
need of good roads. BI the Senate
overlooked one very important mat
ter in conection Herewith.
In the absence of any provision to
the contrary, the federal govern
ment's contribution of S85,000,00O
will be raised, as is all other federal
revenue, by indirect taxes on food,
clothing, and other things used OF
consumed by the people. The great
er part OF the states share will be
raised by taxes that nave practically
the same effect. At the same timc
the roads built will increase to an
enormous extent the value of lands
adjoining them. So that the people
will pay taxes on what they produce
ana consume, in order that landOwn-
ers may be enriched.
That this is a fact has been con
ceded on more than one occasion by
Mr.. Y. COlman DUPONT, president OF
Che National Good Roads Association,
and a candidate for the Republican
nomination for President of the Unit
ed States. Mr.. Dupont once offered
TO build a 2O0-foot road at his own
expense throughout the length OF his
native state of Delaware. AS a large
landowner along the route of his pro
posed road, he would nave been re-
imbursed through increased value.
lie mentioned the reason for this
offer the fact that the state should
build the road rather than a private
individual, but he did not care to wait
for the state to do so. He holds that
the government should not only CON
denim the land needed for the road,
but all the land on both sides of ii,
50 that it might be TecOuped for its
expenditure, with profit besides. He
would not have this land sold, but
held and leased to Users by the gov
ernment
There is still time to include in the
good roads bill the plan advocated
by Mr.. DUPONT. 1t is far superior to
the plan Of putting the entire expense
on taxpayers and giving their entire
gain to landowners.
But a simpler method would be to
levy direct tax on land values, ex-
elusive Of improvements That
would get the money from those who
get the benefit, without burdening
the producers OF wealth 1t may be
said in addition that all public rev
enue should be raised in that way,
since all benefits, beside road build
ing, conferred by the government,
cause increased land values as well.
But the good roads scheme offers a
fine chance for beginning at doing
things in the right way
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-06-02
FOURTH
Continued from First Pase)

however, under the caption, "Mr.
Goecke is Magnanimous," he points
out that while the Wapakoneta man
states that he will run if Cunningham
does, he makes il equally plain that
he will not run if the BluhLon
candidate Withdraws. From that
basis Sullivan launches into an at
tack on the latter, stating that the
Goecke ultimatum offering to con-
centrate on a newsman, leaves Cum
ningham the alternatives of getting
out or admitting the new factor or
personal rather than party interest.
The st. Marys editor also refers to
the Cunningham candidacy as suicid-
al"
The attitude of the Miami county
papers is much the same as that of
those i'm AuglaiZe county, only less
vitrolic in regard 10 Cunningham.
This is natural to this degree: Aug
liaze is Goecke's county while Miami
is a new county in the district and
without either Cunningham or Goe-
ckC as a faVOrite son. The Piqua
Press, Dr.. w J. Princes newly es-
taDiished organ, is conCillatory and
while pr8isinG GOeCke for his 'manly
and straightforward statement urg-
es Cunningham to be as wise and
generous ard come forth with a de-
claTation, declaring himself ready to
yield to the party's welfare" Dr.
Prince is postmaster Of the under
wear metropolis, but as he was APP
pointed by Congressman Post, Of the
old Seventh District, this cannot be
cited as the reason for his attitude.
Tho Plqua Leader Dispatch avoids
direct comment on the article, other
than 10 introduce the Goecke state
mcnt with short summary, 1t
merely commends The statement to
voters as entitled to the fullest con-
at this time" The proc
Of the Wapakoneta man, aC
cording to Editor Henry Kampf, is
characteristic of him and quite
bluntly presents the situation in this
district, and it contains
much that the democrats all over the
district may well take thoroughly in
to consideration before deciding on
whom to support.
The Sidney Daily News offers the
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-06-02

dents foreign policy have consistent
ly arrived after the shooting Is over.
Mr.. Root and Mr. Louge were in the
senate when Belgium was invaded
they discovered Americas duty to
Belgium more than year later.
Mr., Roosevelt discovered II publicly
three months after the invasion. Mr.,
Roots attacks on the President have
all referred 10 the past-they have
told us what should have been done,
Mr. Rooseyelt's magazine articles are
historical essays, not indications of
policy for the future. Not one of
them has defined the Monroe Doc
trine, not one of them has discussed
the future OF Anglo-American rela-
tions, not one of them has explained
to the American peopl eits relation
to the historic events occurring in
China, or the sort Of settlement af-
ter the war which American ought
to desire,
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-06-02
THE WILLIS BoYcoTT ORDER

Wills, first governor to start a boy
colt on business men who pay tax
to support government, school and the
church. He is responsible for the
acts Of his agents.
His administration sent this order
over Ohio:
"PaUonize Republican Business
Houses. Banks and Papers"
This is the A. p. A. policy and or
der. Perhaps the fellow who sent it
out was once a member of the A. p.
A.
Do Congressman Mathews and Sen
ator Cass approve or Tepudiate this
boycott?
Do republicans look with sus-
picion upon Democratic banks and
merchants?
Silence will lend color of approval
to the above order.
A Republican bank, merchant,
newspaper, doctor or lawyer deserve
no consideration or patronage from
Democrats unless this insult is op-
enly repudiated. The columns of the
Sentinel are open.
East Liverpool Republican paper
denOunCes the boycott as cowardly
and silly. It is unlawful.
This order if obeyed would bank
rupt and wreck business men of both
parties The Wreck Crew" has
been rightly named.
Willis drags Ohio honor in dirt.
His cowardly order disgraces his par
ty.
Let Republicans declare their posi-
ton in this matter.
Matthews, Cass, Ogan and other
leaders should speak.-Ottawa Sen
tinel
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-06-02
TOUGH ON HARDING'S
STEEL PLEA

The poor Bethlehem Steel Com
pany has announced that it will now
take the public into its confidence,
since the United States Senate pass
ed a bill for publicly owned armor
plant.
In a countrywide advertisement it
announces that it is NOW ready to
make aTmor at any price the govern
ment shall name and that a govern
mCnt plant cannot make armOr
cheaper than we can do it"
Quoting from figures given by
them to Senator Warren G.. Harding
Republican, of this state, when he
plead in the senate for the poor trust
they show that the United States paid
only the small sum of $425 per ton
for armor plate when France was
paying S460.
But they do not further pursue a
policy Of publicity" in telling the fact
Of record that the steel trust repre-
scntatiyes appeared before a commit
tee Of the House of Representatives
the day after Harding's speech, and
agreed to furnish armor plate at 1895
per ton, mere difference Of $50 a
ton from the present price, or about
100000 on the average vessel.
They used Difference and Devo-
ton" Harding and Topped him, and
now they are trying to get away with
the Dear Peepul."
But it may be said in extenuation
of Bethlehem Steel that is is the chief
Of the war babies" and that its great
dividends are contingent on war sup
plies Hence let us have privately
owned plant, and war In the Ian
guage of Charlie Schwab "Why should
the peoples money be wasted to build
a government plant?" And echo an
swers "Why?"
The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-06-02

HelN-We are authorized 60 announce
the name OF John Helm, OF Jefferson town
ship, ua "a candidate for County Commis-
sioner. subject TO the decision OF the De-
mocr0tic voters of Mercer county, at the
county primary, August 8, 1916.
TINGLEY-We are authorized 10 an
nounce the name Of J. a, I1ngley OF un-
ion township as a candidate Tor county
Commissioner OF Mercer County, subject
10 the decision of the Democratic Not rs
at the county primary, August 8, 1916
STAAIMEN-We are authorized TO an
nounce the name OF Joseph Stammen, OF
Marion township as candidate for Coun-
y Commissioner subject 10 the decision
of the Democratic voters Of Mercer Coun-
ty at the county primary August s, 1916,
HILDBOLD-We are authorized to an
nounce the name of John Hildbod, of
Gibson township, as a candidate for
County Commissioner, subject TO the de-
Cision of the Democratic voters Of Mercer
county at the county primary, August s.,
1916.
HOLE-We are authorized to announce
township. as n candidate for County Com
missioner. subject TO the decision of the
Democratic voters of Mercer county, at
the county primary, August s. 1916,
FRNSINGER-We are authorized to am
nuunCe the name Of Jason Il. Frysinger,
of Jefferson Qormerly HopewelQ town
ship, as a candidate for County Commits
sioner, subject to the decision of the
democratic voters of Mercer County, at
the county primary, August s, 1916.