Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-02-23
PEOPLES PULPIT
DO noi submit manuscripts
with requests that they be re-
turned II not used. The Courier
will not return them.
Editor Courier:

Editor Courier:
1t was publicly said last Sunday b,
one of our most prominent citizens
that "The true American does not asl
for referendum on the matter O
peace and war. 1t is little short o
treason to demand it,
| Those who read my article last Sat
urday in The Courier's Peoples Pulpit
will know that am one who firmly be
lieves in the referendum In Australia
conscription was killed by the ballo
box Thousands of women counted II
immoral to vote for CONSUMPTION since
by so doing they would be directly re
fsponsible for the murder Of men, They
voted on CONSUMPTION in Australia
while the senate took the vote away
from the people of the United States
We have that law here because the
fpeople ~(who are not the men alone)
were not consulted.
have nothing but contempt" for a
man who is Indifferent enough about
so great a subject to trust it to a
great prophet of peace to guide our
ship of state,'' and who does nothing
more towards warding of the very
thing the bible teaches: Thou shalt
not kill
My type Of true American Is one
who has the courage,to brave eriti-
cisms and comes out and tells his
country Of conditions as they actually
exist. Take the profit out Of this
slaughtering and you have killed all
incentive for war.
! If war or peace" was put to vote
of the people and those who vote for
F., war were compelled to go and do the
killing: those who vote against it could
stay at home how many would see
patriotism In the same way as now
Just speak up please and tell me how
much war would we have.
am in favor Of the referendum be-
cause war II not necessary and if this
United States is in danger it is in dan
ger not from the peoples beyond the
sea, but from clique Of men within
this country who Would tax the people
until their backs break simply that
they might make profit supplying bat
tleships. armor and guns.
I agree with our Citizen who says to
his audience, I'VE fear not our for.
eign born residents or citizens" As
for me fear our American capitalists
who own over half of the national
wealth in Mexico more than fear the
Mexicans. shall be more than proud
Of Ottumwa il she should become
conspicuous through the overwhelming
majority Of her women lining up with
women like Jane Adams and the
other twenty-six men and women who
are the committee Of the American
union against m1litarism. On February
z in WASHINGTON. d. c., launched
national referendum covering returns
from one hundred thousand men and
women voters from all the states. They
are trying to demonstrate to congress
that the people are in favor OF pacific
settlement with Germany.
want to call attention to the
ridiculous objections some of our wise
men registered against suffrage
Watch and see the large number OF
just such fellows kicking" about the
referendum
Yours for the Referendum.
y Nellie V. Richards
702 Glenwood avenue.
Editor Courier:
The Polk county township trustees
have voiced our sentiments partly
about the present road law.
Green township last year was bur-
dened and compelled to go in debt
filling after county jobs and was left !
without funds to grade and work the
roads with only the poll tax after pay
ing the road superintendent and help |
We believe each township needs !
help in maintaining roads by being re-
lieved of doing unfinished county jobs
and part of the automobile tax, also /
part of the two mill levy made by the |
Green township is farthest from
shipping point, convenient by roads of |
any township in the county Parts of |
our township and Adams are twelve !
to fifteen miles to the court house.
We have a petition now asking for !
a county road to relieve the situation )
and we feel that something needs
CHANGING to get fair deal as we are
now helping to maintain county roads
elsewhere.
w F. Hendricks.
c. j. Schwartz
c. T. Curry
Trustees Of Green township, Wapel