davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-13
cnRN IN WAR TIME.

There is vast announcement for the
whole country in the government est1
mate of more than 100000 900 bush
els as the 1917 corn yield. based on
conditions July 1. This means that II
America has her usual corn weather
this summer. the crop for the year VIII
exceed that Of 1915 by about 20 per
cent and show comfortable margin In
excess of the heaviest crop Americas
corn producing sections ever turned
into the worlds granarfes.
This magnificent prospect, which Is
paralleled by the outlook for a record
breaking crop of potatoes and yleio
Of wheat that will exceed last years
in spite Of the effects of the severe
winter. is a direct commentary on the
patriotism of the middle west. For al
though other sections add to the agr1'
cultural strength of the country 1t is
IN the rich farms Of the prairie states
of the Mississippi valley that the an.
swer to each years crop queries is to
be found.
The planted acreage this year Is I'M
mense. The farmers of the middle
western states have rallied to the call
of the government for immense crops
with which to feed the world in Its
war against despotism and militar-
ism.
And the farmers took the country on
faith, without waiting for assurances
from Washington that minimum prices
would be guaranteed. The splendid
crop prospects are the measure OF the
A,,or;o,p q, ryp orc patriOjiSm and that
measure is large.
And because corn is particularly in
the limelight with promise of yield
setting all past records at nausht, this
applies with particular emphasis to
Iowa's farmers. for Iowa Is the heart
of the nations corn belt, and her corn
yield is a dependable barometer of the
corn Weld of the whole country.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-13
HIS OPPORTUNITY.

The Courier does not attempt to con-
strue the law which appropriated
81 900 900 for the financing of military
operations in which Iowans are to en-
gage. 1t does, however, know the
spirit in which the appropriation was
demanded and voted, and the spirit
which should prevail in the distribu-
tion of the money.
That is the spirit of patriotism to
the country, of gratitude to the men
who take up arms in defense Of the
nation and the state. It is the spirit
which rules those men as they leave
their homes and families and the af-
fairs of civil life to give battle to civ
ilization's enemy. 1t is the spirit that
is impelling men and women in every
city and hamlet In Iowa to contribute
their dollars and their energies to the
great fund of money and loyal devotion
that must help to win the war for
America and for Iowa.
The hospital unit in which Ottumwa
is directly Interested is denied the So
600 share of this million for which it
asks. According to men who have in
terested themselves in the matter the
governor saws the attorney general
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-13
BATAVIA.

Mrs Margaret Holman visited in
Fairfield Tuesday with her sister Mrs.
Grace Cove.
Lester and Roland Chamberlain left
the first of the week for Canada after
being here about two years staying
with their uncle, Ross Veach, and at
tending school
The lamb donated to the Red Cross
by Henry Rooms was auctioned We'd
nesday night for $3.50.
Bert Mckenzie and family of Delta
came Tuesday for visit with the
Oscar Walker family south Of town.
Born to Mr.. and Mrs. ". L. Willy
July l, son.
Mr.. end Mrs. n. d. Kreigh and Mrs.
Charles Fisher motored to Oskaloosa
Wednesday.
Nick Lutz of Eldon was calling on
friends here Monday.
Charles Shirk of Chicago who has
been here visiting with his grand
father. NJ. NJ. Shirk. has returned.
V. d. Rooms made business trip to
Fairfield Monday.
The Batavia Savings bank has erect
ed new electric sign.
Ward Kitterman Of Eddyville is
visiting his cousin, Jerome Kitterman,
this week.
Otto Hood of Alton came Tuesday to
spend the fourth with his parents Mr..
and Mrs Charles Hood
Miss Gladys Rains is home after at
Nending short summer school at
tedar Falls.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-13
THE LESSON

AS the truth begins to come out re
garding East ST. Louis and its dis
graceful rioting, it appears that the
real offenders are the politicians and
office holders who have exploited the
ignorant voter for their own gain and
have winked at lawlessness in viola
ton of their oaths of office.
This is indeed warning for other
cities. American communities are few
indeed where many offenses against
the proprieties are not committed
more or less openly for the sake OF
political preferment. Too often the
drift from harmless ward heeling to
viciousness is permitted to become
complete because good citizens allow
themselves to be fooled by the voluble
protestations of outraged innocence
from officials unworthy of their trust.
The plight of East st. Louis should
serve as warning to other cities all
over America, and should emphasize
the fact that the proper time for re-
form is before lawlessness can rout
order and decency.
The mob germ never reaches ma
turity in city whose politics and poll
ticians are ION the dead square,
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-13
orTuMwA's SOLDIERS.

Within a few days Ottumwa will
send forth her first complete army
units on the way to the front. lnfan
trymen, signal corps and cavalry band
they will mobilize to form part OF the
great national guard force which is to
support the United States regulars ano
take its own place on an extended bat
tie line when the period OF prelimn
airy training is completed.
Already, this city has sent portion
of the militiamen's engineers corps
and numerous individual recruits fol
the various branches of the regular
army and navy But the departure OF
Company G and of the regimental bano
will bring home with new force the
realization that the world war touched
our own community with individual
significance.
Ottumwa feels generous though
pardonable pride in her soldiers. They
ranked among the best of the many
organizations which gathered at the
edge of Mexico last year. Their train
ing there and the careful drilling, they
have had since their return gives
them the confidence and the appear
ance of veterans now The rawer re
cruits are exhibiting degree of seri
Gus interest in their work which is at
once pleasing to the officers and Indie
alive of the ability of those in com
mand. The guard mount at last nights
Red Cross fete was by detachment
of "rookies,' with only five expert
enced men in the ranks, but the pre-
cision of their movements gave the i'm
preston of that long drilling which
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-13
HIGHLAND.

J. G.. Ranons and wife and Mr.. and
Mrs. Oaks Of Keota were in town sun
day calling on friends.
Reece Haworth who has been in the
Old Peoples home at Boone for some
time. is visiting friends and relatives
here.
District Supt. w. H. Perdue will
preach at the NJ E. church Sunday
morning.
Quarterly conference will be held
Monday morning at S o'clock.
A number from here went to Sigour-
ney July 4th.
VIM. De Wolf and wife of Brighton
were guests of Mr.. and Mrs. John Coff-
man Sunday.
Mrs. j. C. McLinn and children have
returned from visit in Missouri with
relatives.
Mrs. Sarah Baily has gone to Colo
RADIO to spend the summer with her
daughter NJ. +. Heston and family.
DR. James and family We're over from
Fairfield Sunday calling on friends.
Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Baker took their
little daughter Mile to Iowa City on
Monday where she will receive treat
ment.
MIR. and Mrs. Jas. Hinshaw have
been visiting relatives in Chicago.
Frank Harlan and wife and Mr.. and
Mrs Byron Snider visited the Jas.
Shellenherger family.
John Green and wife have returned
from a visit in Des Mones.
Miss Helen Wilson of Washington
was n guest Sunday at the +. w. Smith
home.
Mr.. and Mrs Henry Pickard of
Pleasant Plain We're visiting Sunday
with Mr.. and Mrs. A. T. Mills.
Miss Mae Mari of Keota who visited
the Misses Kate and jamie Harris. de-
parted for home Sunday.
Miss Hazel Davis from the southern
part of the state. Is visiting with HI
sister Mrs. Chas. Morgan and family
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-13
THE FOREST FIRE

! 1t was quite late in the fall And
Blue Mountain looked very different
! from the way it had all summer. The
, leaves had turned to brown and vel
! low and scarlet, except where there
were ciumps Of flr-trees, as there were
around Mr.. Bears house. Indeed.
Blue Mountain looked almost as if it
were all af1ame, so bright were the
autumn colors. Mr.. Bear remarked
as much to Mrs. Bear one day.
For goodness sake, don't say
that" she exclaimed. Don't mention
fire to me. The very thought of it
makes me nervous. Everything's so
dry! l shall be glad when it rains
lagain."
/, 1T is dry" Mr.. Bear agreed, But
don't worry. It's like this every fall ;
And he went slowly down the noun
tain.
Cuffy and Silkie were playing to-
gether that morning. Cuffy was teach
ing Silkie to box, though. to be sure
he knew very little about boxing. But
he found it easy to tap Silkie on the
nose. And he had tapped her so hard
that Mrs. Bear heard sound very
much like quarreling; and she came
to the door to see what was the
trouble.
Mrs. Bear was just going to call to
her children, when she noticed a Pc
culiar odor in the air And she stood
quite still, and shifted, just as Cuffy
had when he smelled the haymakers'
lunch. You remember that the more
Cuffy shifted, the less alarmed he had
p,1fs xuif Mrc
Bear. The longer she stood there.
with her nose twitching, and snuffing
up the air, the more uneasy she be-
came. And pretty soon she saw some
thing that gave her great start.
It was something white that Mrs.
Bear saw, and it hung over the tree
tops; and where the wind had caught
it it was spun out thin, like veil.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-13
CHARLTON.

Miss Leila Watson of Indianola, a
former teacher in the Charlton high
school, is here for few days visit
with her sister, Mrs. Erie Lewes, and
old friends.
The little girls of the Happy Hour
club held an enjoyable meeting Thurs
Endree.
In the auto races at Indianola July
4, Glenn E. Meser of Charlton Won
first place in the twenty mile race, and
Burt Vaughn second Verne Baugh
man won first in the stock touring car
race, using Jack Miley's REQ.
Homer Gillaspey Of Liberty township
and Miss Edith Davis of Charlton were
united in marriage Tuesday evening at
the home of the Methodist minister
in Oakley. The bride is daughter OF
Mrs. George Davis Of Charlton. The
happy couple will reside at Oakley.
Mayor Fl G.. Larimer delivered fine
address at Melcher on July 4. and Edi
tor Gittinger was orator Of the day at
Lucas.
Mr. and Mrs. c. F. Johnson and
daughter Anna will leave Monday for
Cameron, Wis. to visit their son and
brother. Will Johnson and family
They will afterward visit at different
points in Minnesota.
County Engineer High Johnston has
rendered his resignation, to take effect
Immediately, and has enlisted in Co. c.
Iowa Engineer corps. and will go to
Des Moines about July Is. He will be
succeeded by Fl. A. Selk of Ottumwa
who worked here as civil engineer
while the Rock Island short line was
being constructed His wife was for
merly Miss Helen Yost of this city.
Mr.. and Mrs. S. l.. Morrison and son
George Morrison and wife. all former
residents of this county but now Of
Divide, wyo., arrived here few days
ago for visit with relatives and old
friends. They made the trip by auto
z. r. Welker, ]. w. Kridelbaush and
w R. Briles have returned from a fish.
Ing trip to Minnesota.
Mr.. and Mrs John Crossley and Mr..
and Mrs. Melba Farlow of Winterset
have returned home after a visit with
Mrs. Crossley's parents, Mr.. and Mrs
W. F. Graham, and other relatives
Master Gerald Patton accompanied
them home for a visit.
Why try to hide Pimples and Facial
Fruptions? Why endure them: Apply
Poslam and drive them away.
Poslam supplies precisely the cura-
tive influence so soothing to inflamed
irritated skin.
Itching stops. Relief is immediate
Undue redness is removed overnight
Thousands know that nothing car
compare with Poslam in quickly heal
ing Eczema, Acne. Herpes, Rash. PIN
pies, Itch. Scaly- Scalp and all skin dis
cases.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-13

has ruled that the appropriation O.
Iowa money was voted with the under
standing that all disbursements from
the fund shall be paid back to the
state by the national government. AnC
because there is no assurance Of re
imburs ement in the case of the hos
pital unit, the money is not forthcom
ing.
The Courier has not seen this ruling
said to have been made by the at
torney general. If it has been made
the law is not construed in the spirit
which prompted its adoption. In this
case, the fault may lie with the legis.
lature.
| But this is entirely aside from the
main point at issue, and in the juggling
of the question between various Offices
in the state capitol it appears that
state officials have failed to sense the
single consideration which should
guide them in the present emergency.
| This has to do with the bald fact that
| the nation and its people and it's vari-
GUS states are at war in a struggle
which calls for broad vision and big
men.
This is the situation as it should be
considered by Governor Harding: A
regularly organized hospital unit needs
$4,000 from the state treasury as a
part of the fund with which to prose-
cute its work. The amount can be OBJ
tanned legally by the chief executive.
If the 100000 appropriation has
been voted under restrictions which
will not permit its use in this instance.
1t is obvious that the states hands will
be tied in other important instances.
Such condition calls for immediate
remedy. even at the expense of spe-
cial legislative session. If Iowas only
war appropriation is made with the
provision that all the money expended
from it must be returned to the state
by the federal government, another
appropriation should be made without
delay.
Getting down to the blunt facts
which have been revealed by the nu-
merous efforts to obtain this single S.
900 appropriation, it appears that the
governor and other state officials are
engaging in childish and disgraceful
chickering's, each with his own political
fortunes in mind.
now 1t indicates condition at the cap
itol which shrieks for reform. The
present is a critical time in the history
of America and of Iowa. Crises either
make great men or doom them to OBJ
livion.
Today Iowa needs a man in the gov
errors office who is too big to permit
petty political quarrels. private ambi-
tions or partisan thoughts to dim his
vision of his duty to the state and the
nation. Iowa needs as governor
man Of force enough to make the state
power in the nations campaign OF
defense; man who can overcome OBJ
stacles, not one who bows to them;
man too big to permit personalities to
deter the state in its war plans
real war governor
Governor Harding has wonderful
opportunity to enroll his name in the
list of Iowa's great men. Will he rise
to it?
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-13
RIGHT NOW.

Right now. Ottumwa should have at
least one we'll filed company of civil
ian guardsmen, drilled and equipped
and Differed for military duty. Every
city in Iowa should have such an or.
ganization and the need for it will be
come more apparent when the militia
men shall have been called out of the
state.
With the guardsmen away. the only
organized military force in Iowa will
be in the conscript army cantonment
in Des Moines. These troops will not
be assembled until late in the fail. and
even after they are encamped there
will be the necessity for unraveling
much red tape should their services
be needed in any Iowa City for the
preservation of order.
During the war, cities will be COM
PEELED to depend largely on their own
resources for enforcement of the laws.
IF these consist only of the police and
sheriff's forces, situations easily may
arise which will be impossible to
handle without serious loss Of life and
property.
The organization of home guard
companies seems to provide the only
proper solution. The plan is being fol-
lowed in many cities in other states.
1t should be adopted in Ottumwa. Even
if no need arises for show Of strength
in support of the laws-and it is to be
hoped that no such need may arise
the existence OF disciplined military
organization would go far TO prevent
lawlessness. And it's absence may go
Just as far to encourage disregard Of
law.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-13
- 7----
THE AIRPL ANE DEPOT

Every so often this community o
! that enjoys spasm Of city plannin'
and Identification. Occasionally tn
virus works physical changes; NOR
often it loses its force when the cos
of elaborate schemes for transformin,
mud creeks into civic centers is figur
ed.
Now comes Spokane, and a brant
new planning commission there an
nounces that one Of it's first achieve
iments will be the location In variou!
sections of the city Of regular LANDING
stations for passenger, freight anc
postal airplanes."
! May be the idea was devised by 6
particularly Industrious municipal
press agent, but if it was and If Spo
kane finances its commission in the
project, that enterprising young mar
may, in a few years, point to the all
route depots with the pride of the In
! ventor-may, indeed, mount to thell
| lofty platforms to start off for his week
end trips and become so accustomed to
the experience that he will forget how
| bizarre his announcement of today
seems now.
We are making history rapidly these
days. There Is so much remarkable
progress in mechanics that many i'm
provements fail to attract more than
passing mention. When the first
automobiles appeared, score of years
ago, who would have thought today
would find cities and towns creating
parking ordinances to meet the con-
dition growing out of the universal use
of the contraptions?
Just before the war began in Europe,
a British officer spent months arrang-
ing for an airplane flight across the At
lantic only to give up the plan when
he was called to the colors. Nine out
Of ten persons who read Of his pro-
ject were sure he would fail, and he
was by no means cocksure OF his sue
cess himself.
Only few years ago an air flight
across the English channel was consid-
cred almost a miracle. Today it is a
mere try-out for army aviators. Ger
mans fly from their Belgian bases to
England, drop bombs by the CARLOAD
into London's busy streets and ny
gaily home. Birdmen on the battle
front reach attitudes which were con-
sidered inaccessible only a few years
ago, and in mid-air engage In battles
which Munchausen and Jules Verne
could not have dreamed Of
A few days ago an Englishman and
German uttered separate prophecies OF
transatlantic airplane lines within a
year or two; only recently an aviator
delivered a consignment OF stationery
from Chicago manufacturer to Gus
toner in st. Louis.
And so, Spokane may be merely pre-
pairing for a traffic which within de-
cade will be no more remarkable than
is an automobile ride from Ottumwa ia
Des Moines. at this time.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-13
THE ELAeoRAroR

George Creel has made very def
mite botch of his job as official censor
and in doing so he has broken all
speed records in getting "in bad" with
Just about every newspaper editor and
news gathering agency In America.
Now the United States senate has
been asked by Senator Penrose to in
vestigate the nations bureau of public
information, of which Mr.. Creel is the
guiding spirit.
Creel is old enough to have known
better. The rawest cub reporter could
have told him that the first cardinal
rule of news writing is to tell the
truth. There are other rules, but this
one must be learned first of all, and
Creel seems to have overlooked 1t.
Admiral Gleaves sent his official re-
port to Secretary Daniels after having
met Pershing's troops and escorted
them through the submarine zone.
Creel read the report, as did Mr.. Dan
iels. Then Creel. so he says, re-wrote
the story, elaborated" its details, and
released it for publication the night of
July 8, several days after the receipt
of the report.
1t was good patriotic reading for
the Fourth of July" he says in defense
Of his elaboration, and indeed it was.
1t told a thrilling story of the attacks
two Of them-on the American trans
ports, by German submarines Gin
force" 1t recounted the heroic man.
ner in which American gunners had
battled with the U-boats in the dark
ness, emerging victorious and I'M
scratched, while wreckage on the sur.
face of the sea indicated the destrnc.
ton of at least one submersible, pos
sibly more.
Fine-until cablegram came from
the base of the American destroyers in
England, saying there had been no
battle and no attack, that no divers
had been sighted and that the Creel
story was manufactured from whole
cloth.
The elaborator was angry when the
discrepancy between his story and
the one from England was pointed out
He had much to say about the nasty"
newspapers which had questioned the
truth of his story, and denied his
elaboration" had lent any major de-
tails to Admiral Gleaves' report which
the admiral had neglected to mention.
But he refused to exhibit the report
to substantiate his story, and as re-
suit the American public is unable to
determine whether he was writing
truth or merely "spoofing." However,
it would be easy for him to clear his
reputation by submitting the admirals
communication--if he did not let his
Imagination run riot.
The story he gave out was written
over Secretary Daniels signature and
the newspapers had no reason to doubt
It's veracity until the wet blanket cable
gram arrived from England.
This Is only one Of the numerous
silly and unprofessional acts of which
Creel has been guilty since he became
censor. Very properly his resignation
Is being demanded by newspapers all
over the country. and we have yet to
see one argument for the defense.
Creel is costly luxury, and the
only thing that could justify the ex-
penditure occasioned by his presence
on the governments overcrowded pay.
roll would be undoubted efficiency. He
and his assistants, and his entirely use
less daily bulletin and his foolish and
unnecessary censorship are costing the
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-13
Children's Evening Story
Copyright, 1915 by A

7 1t was exactly what Mrs. Bear had
feared-it was smoke! The forest
was afire And Mrs. Bear was very
much alarmed. She sent Cufy and
Silliie into the house, because she
wanted to be sure that they wouldn't
wander off into the woods. And then
| their mother stood in the doorway and
watched. She was looking for Mr..
Bear. While she waited there the
smoke kept rising more and more I'M
til there were great clouds of 1t; and
at last Mrs. Bear could see red flames
licking up to the tops of the trees.
Several deer came bounding past,
and great number of rabbits and
squirrels. And then followed other
animals that couldn't run so fast
such as raccoons and skunks and
woodchucks. Not for years had Mrs.
Bear seen so many of the forest peo-
ple-and they were all so frightened,
and in such a hurry to get away from
the fire, that not one of them noticed
Mrs. Bear as she stood in her door
way.
''Where are they going, Mother?'
1t was Cuffy who asked the question.
He had crept up behind his mother
and had been looking at the strange
sight for some time.
They're going over to- the lake, on
the other side Of the mountain" said
Mrs. Bear.
"Are they going fshtng?" Cuffy In
quired.
Mrs. Bear shook her head. And
then Cuffy squeezed past her and saw
what was happening.
"Oh-h, hurrah! hurrah!- he cried.
You remember that Cuffy's mother
had told him that Mr. Bear was born
on the day of great forest fire, and
that he never had birthday except
when the woods caught fire again.
Now maybe father viii bring homo
another little pig for a feast!" Cuny.4
said hopefully.