davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10
ONE FLAG ONLY.

Cedar Rapids Gazette: There can
be but one country. one flag, one
thought foremost in the mind OF cv-
cry resident of the United States OF
America as the congress assemblies
and acts in Washington this week
Regardless of antipathies for paeif-
ism, for war, for monarchies, for re-
anything else-there
must be unity in Americanisnl.
The day for abolition in this land
of every flag save one will have to
come. The two-fiagged people must
go or be subjected to the most rigid
Even the man who holds
aloof, unwilling to declare for one
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10
AT GAIA, IN PALESTINE

New York World: GAIA, near
where the British Egyptian expedi-
tionary forces has defeated body
|of 10000 Turks, is Unidentified in
the news reports asa city of Pal
|estine." But does any student of the
Bible need to be enlightened about
GAIA, from which Sampson escaped
and in escaping
took the doors of the gate of the
lefty, and the two posts, and went
away with them, bar and all, and
put them upon his shoulders and car
|ried them up to the top of an hill
that is before Hebron Judges, xvi,
|3.
Thus the war in the east continues
to put old and sacred cities, on the
map again, giving military. import
ance to historic localities to which
little had been left but name and
a tradition. The Dardanelles eX-
pCultlOu lCSulleSlSu IIoLuSI anu
the plains of windy Troy. Mecca
and Medina, the old shrines of the
Moslem pilgrims, figure now as STRAIT
egic points for armies. Bagdad, city
of the caliphs, adds a new page to
it's old chronicle of great deeds. And
the campaign of Xenophon's ten
thousand supplies parallel after
twenty centuries.
1t is all like chapter from Raw
linson or Rollin. The west front OF
the war has been it's great theatre,
but it is the eastern front in the
Holy Lands, on the Tigris and Eu-
pirates, that inspires the romance.
The old cradle of the human race
has become one of it's great battle
grounds, and the fact stirs the fancy
as no other of the wars bloodier
campaigns can do.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10
"CHOOSE YE THIS DAY"

Duluth Tribune: The presi-
dents message ends all dispute. 1t
is the swan song Of the pacifists.
Hereafter, they must choose. They
can only be Americans or traitors. 1t
is the final summons to Americans OF
German birth to come into the open.
They, too, must make their choice
between this free government and a
future free Germany or to perpet-
uate Germany's bondage. The mes
sage is all American. 1t arrays on the
one side all the free governments OF
the world against the last of the
autocracies. 1t puts America where
it belongs and Germany now knows
that long suffering is not synonym
of cowardice.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10
WILL DEMOCRACY WAIT?

Kansas City Star: With the pass
ing of autocracy in Russia, Germany
remains in a position of unenviable
conspicuousness as a land undemoc-
radically governed. Despite the great
industrial progress the empire had
made previous to the war politically
lit has remained unquickened, or II
the spirit of democracy has stirred il
has been repressed by weight OF
kaiserism, feudalism and medieval.
ism that even the rising tide of So
| cialism has been unable to lift CT
shift.
AS Germany is patchwork OF
nments-kingdoms, dukedoms
municipalities, cities--all of which re.
tanned some of their medieval priv.
ileges when they went into the en-
pire, SO is the government of the en-
lpire so bound up with prerOgative
and caste as to make the advance OF
democracy into the labyrinth almost
Bismarck put as much as
possible of his own iron into the con.
istitution. It was constitution made
to buttress the Prussian and imperial
thrones, to protect and hedge about
lfeudalism and property. The powers
granted to the reichstag by no means
were such as to make it representa-.
| tive assembly. 1t could talk, but not
to the government. The Bundesrath,
in which representatives of the state
sat as a federal council, and in which
Prussia had the ascendancy by red-
son of superior voting strength, exer-
cised veto power over the popular
house that reduced it to a mere de-
batting club.
Caste extends throughout Ger
many, even to the suffrage. Some vo-
tiers have one vote, some two, some
three and four. Representation in
the state diets is so arranged that
great cities are outyoted by the coun-
try Districts the latter being usually
anti-socialist. Thus under the new
election law adopted by SaXony short
ly before the war the city of Leipsic
produced the following remarkable
returns: 32,576 voters were permit
ted one vote each while only 1S,491
voters were permitted 1864 votes
In between these extremes there
were, for example, S,53S voters who
east 1854 votes (they were the
three-vote class). and 1898 voters
in the two vote class who cast 40.6i6
votes. Thus it will be seen that with
only about half as many voters as
were in the one-yote class the four
vote class could cast twice as many
votes as the former. A tight little
arrangement for keeping property on
top.
Prussia has system that makes
as sure of the control OF its diet by
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10
HIS SAFE ARRIVAL

Council Bluffs NonpareN: 1t took
President Wilson just four years and
a month to cover the distance be-
tween Bryan and Roosevelt. He was
running in high gear at the finish.
And the moment he completed the
journey old Theodore appeared at
the door of the white house to con-
graduate and commend him upon
his safe arrival. Nobody seems to
know just where Mr.. Bryan is locat-
led.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10
UNITED DEMOCRACIES.

Kansas City Star: All the great
democratic nations of the world are
against the central powers. Their
friends are Turkey, the unspeakable
and Rxlsasa.s desiring 'revense on
Servia. The chancellor may explain
this fact as he pleases, and account
for the sinister motive of each of tht
nations. But thoughtful Germans
must recognize that there's a reas
on when the liberal sentiment of the
world is unanimous.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

Up to the time of 'the passage by
the national house of representatives
of the state of war resolution this
country was not officially at war
with Germany and it was not treas
on, or even improper, for an Am
erican citizen to use all legitimate
means to prevent, war. Now, how
ever, the die is easNand there is no
middle ground. Every citizen of the
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

Here is a sample of Southern me-
thods in elections. Down in North
Carolina the legislature provided for
a bond issue on a plan that has con-
siderable merit, but provided for
county elections on the question
whether bonds should be issued. The
question is to be placed on the bal
lot in this form: For Good Roads,
Against Good Roads," If man
does not approve that particular
bonding plan, he must mark his bal
lot against Good Roads," No Won
extends to whites as we'll as to col
ored citizens.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

The Council Bluffs Nonpareil is of
the opinion that the problem of Sum
day observance ought to be approach
ed not in spirit of ruthless sup
preston" but with an honest desire
to find out what really ought to be
done to conserve the benefits of me-
diation and prayer without at the
same time infringing upon the rights
of the people to amusement and en-
,tertainment. The Nonpariel does not
hold with those who think the ma
ton is en- route to damnation, be-
cause motion picture shows are OPP
Ierated on Sunday.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

Judge Wright was rather severe
on the man who pied guilty to arson
in his court at Eldora few days
ago. The prisoner was indicted on
three counts. The judge gave him a
life sentence on the first count and
twenty years on each of the others.
1t is tough to be required to serve
in the pen forty years after death.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

Some of the young ladies' of Wes-
been distressed by a certain young
lady from Algona who occasionally
paraded the streets of Wesley to hear
stylish and wanted to show off. In
order to take her down a peg or two
some Of the Wesley girls tied corn
Algona damsel again appeared upon
the streets of Wesley, the rustic of
her silk dress was inaudible beside
the rustic of the corn husks. This
is one way to get even with plu-
tocracy. :,
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

If the United States finds itself
cut off from the outside world on ac-
count of the war it is absolutely
certain that we can produce enough
to feed ourselves. That is one advan-
tage America has over any other of
the big countries in the war, save
alone Russia.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

AS predicted now comes the rail
roads of the country and ask for an
increase in passenger and freight
rates. The public will make up that
raise in salary the managers agreed
to give the trainmen.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

The Freeman likes the
way the Des' Moines Capital handles
war questions editorially. There
was never any question about the
patriotism Of Col. Young, owner of
the Capital, nor of his courage to
speak right out in meetin'. In this
respect he is much like the Oyster
Bay colonel.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

Don't be alarmed lest you might
be spared the opportunity of serving
your country during the war. There
will be burden big enough to &c
around. Your part may come in pay.
ing taxes.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

One of the good results of the war
will be to knock out many hyphens.
There will be fewer to write it:
"German-American Iri S h Ameri-
can" etc. Just plain Americans
from this on, and that is good
enough for anybody who has the
right kind of stuff in him to make
the right kind of a citizen.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

The proceedings Of the Iowa legis-
lature make dry reading compared tc
the proceedings of the national con.
gress at this particular time. The
legislature may as we'll adjourn and
give its members an opportunity to
join the army.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

M The best and only way to cure
a dog that has the sheep killing
habit is to kill him. 1t is simply
impossible to break him Of the habit
in any other way, but it has been
claimed by high authority that no
dead dog ever yet killed sheep.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

Who is paying for those full page
ads of the Peace League" in many
of the so-called leading daily papers,
and who is furnishing the money to
those who are paying for them.-
Manson Democrat.
The suspicion is abroad in the
land that Germany has been paying
the freight.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10
LONGER TERMS.

Waterloo Courier: Perhaps no
great objection will be found against
the principle of longer terms for
county officers, thus lessening the
expenses of biennial elections and
shortening the ballot-two consum-
nations devoutly to be wished.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

When a bare majority attempts
to organize and conduct business
strictly along factional lines and
wholly ignoring the ablest men in
the house. it is sure to meet with a
deserved fall" observes the Cherokee
Times. 1.-THE administration mach
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

Iowa can be of more service to the
government in the prosecution of
war by raising food products than
in any other way. Soldiers must
have food supply and Iowa can pro-
duce more of it than any other ter
ritory of like size in the world.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

Filing out the flags" is the cap
ton of a patriotic plea by the Mar
shalltown Times-Republican. Iowa
may not lead the cheering, but Iowa
has always led the van of BATTLE"
the Times-Republican recalls. 'The
markers ON old battlefields show
where Iowans stood and where
IOwans fell"
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

Every human soul has the germ OF
some flowers within; and they would
open, if they could only find sun
shine and free air to expand in.
always toI you that not having
enough Of sunshine is what allied
the world. Make people happy, and
there will not be half the quarreling,
or a tenth part of the Wiehedness
there is.--Mrs. Child.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

Now is good time to be temperate
in the use of language when discus
sing the. war situation. There is
never anything gained by hot words
The temptation may be great, but
considerable words are always the
weightiest.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

Young men who are thinking Of
enlisting in the l. N. G. will do we'll
to join early and be ready to go as
soon as the Second regiment is call
ed. 1t will be of great advantage
to them to be associated with men
who have had some experience in
military life.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10
IOWA PRESS COMMENT

"The present legislature has done
a number of good things, and the re-
peal of the insurance rating bureau
lis among the best" says the Boone
News-Republican.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

Stop eating potatoes and thus re-
duce the price of seed spuds. Some
dealers are said to be holding them
for even higher margins of profits
and it would serve them right if
a boycott resulted in some losses.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

. + .
lside or the other, one country or the
Iother, must be condemned.
Say what you will, harp as YOU
will, cry out as you will--there is no
roseate future for us, no reward for
1.-THE suffering we will undergo in this
war unless there is created by our
participation in it an everlasting
strength of united purpose and senti-
ment among the hundred millions
here who were born or have travelled
across the seas to the protection of a
governmental constitution-not in
tended to undergo without protest
the pressure now imposed funrc-
STRANGELY upon it. People whose
blood is American without adtrltera-
tion do not require that admonition.
Aliens who have come here from 9TH
er lands surely have come because of
la preference for this land. Either
they have been led here or they have
been driven here by influences exert
ed elsewhere, and some of those very
influences now are dragging us into
war;
| Hence American blood and foreign
blood, so long as it is blood that
courses the veins of people living
within the borders of the United
Estates, should be as one now.
VIEWED FROM THE TRENCHES
Springfield, Mass, Republican: An
interesting glimpse of how the men
| in the trenches on the side of the
|allies are looking at things comes in
a dispatch from the Canadian head
quarters in France to the Toronto
Globe. The fact that the Germans
are at last heading for home" is
lleartening to their opponents,
l"though such. wanton destruction as
cutting down fruit trees angers us
almost as much as If the Germans
were ravaging Niagara peninsula"
There follows little glimpse of the
bonds which this war is binding, as
follows:
The way in which all British
troops begin to regard the soil of
France, in defense of which so many
of the bravest have laid down their
lives, gives an indication that the
alliance of France and the British
empire will last long and become
even more intimate, especially if
Russia, Frances other ally, becomes
q constitutional monarchy or a re-
public and is modernized industrial
| ly. These matters are far more dis
cussed at the front than the progress
Of the war.
OF course the possible effect of all
these things upon the end of the war
| is being discussed by the Canadians
at the front. and the feeling of OPP
itimism rises so that we are told that
"once more the cry is heard, Christ
mas in Canada.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

A dozen or two of chickens will
help solve the food question, but see
to it that the flock is not permitted
to visit the neighbours garden.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

Some foresighted men are suggest
ing that it might be a good thing to
dismiss the high schools of the state
so that the boys could go to farm
gardening or secure places on farms.
1t is pointed out that II We are to
hava war with Germany that will
last year the youths of the country
COULD ender no better service to the
govei MINT than to Join the armyrof
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

The proper mental attitude for
dress up" week may be attained
very satisfactorily in a pair OF over
alls, the Muscatine Journal suggests.
Such raiment, the Journal adds,
might lead to the initiation of a
project more in keeping with the
of the week than a per-
sonally conducted style parade would
be-"
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

It is likely that Turkey will soon
declare war against the United
States. Germany will no doubt de-
mand that she do this and as an al
ley of Germany she will have to COM
ply.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

Some of the fire insurance compan-
les are threatening to withdraw from
iowa as punishment to the people
of the state for the repeal of the in
surance law enacted two years ago.
OF course they will do nothing of the
kind, but the Freeman-Tribune
wishes they would. 1t would leave
a good field for cultivation Of new
companies that would be organized
by men willing to do business upon
fair basis of profit. - .,tn,
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

The situation, so far as the mill
tary relations between Germany and
the United States were concerned,
We're not changed by the congress
sional declaration that a state of war
exists. Such a state Of war has eX-
listed ever since the Lusitania. was
sunk by German submarine and
more than 100 citizens of America
murdered.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

1t is said that quite number of
German agents have been working
among the Negroes in the south try
ing to incite them against the United
States government. This has been
going on fori some time and reports
from Birmingham, Alabama, say
steps have been taken to curb such
activities. When a foreign govern
ment will pursue such tactics when
at peace what can be expected now
when the countries are at war?
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

1t would be good thing if the
people would swear off eating pota-
toes. All the supply now on hand
should be saved for seed. If this is
not done there is likely that the
shortage next winter will be worse
than it is at present. Just cux out
potatoes from the menu and see how
it goes to get along without having
everything upon the table that one
desires. Iowa knows little about
conserving food supplies, but it is
high time she were learning the les
son. Besides, potatoes at SO per
bushel are about the most expensive
food one can eat. Cut them out as a
patriotic duty and at the same time
conserve the pocketbook.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

Col. Roosevelt is still America s
most picturesque and interesting cit
izen.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

"Why should the senate not have
to say about who is APP
pointed to the supreme bench?" asks
the Waterloo Times-Tribune. No
governor need fear disapproyal of
worthy appointment"
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

Are you for America or are you
against her? There is no middle
ground now.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

| The legislation which real state
of war entails is both primary and
secondary. The first deals with
credits, with recruiting, with prepar-
edness, with plans of action. The
second deals with the conduct of the
nations Industries which are only
indirectly related to the supply OF
war material and to the personal
conduct of citizens and residents
who are not engaged with the forces
or in provisioning them. Under this
head come the bills for censorship
and against espionage. These meas
|ures should be carefully thought out
before they are enacted. They should
not be so framed that they will set
up new species Of unreasoning
bureaucracy, and especially they
should be so framed that they will
not stifie fair publicity for all facts
which do not have a military value
to the enemy. Happily the country
enters this war in mood OF great
sanity. Congress has shown no burn
ing ardor, only a grim sense of I'M
perative duty. 1t is no easier for
congress to vote for war than it has
been for the president to bring him
self to recommend it. In this same
spirit congress should scrutinize all
the measures which state of war
will provoke. We are fighting to per-
petuate and to strengthen democ-
racy, the president says. Therefore,
We should take no steps which tend
to weaken democracy at home while
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

Congress need not hesitate about
enacting a law providing universal
military training. The country is
ready for it. In fact the demand for
it appears almost unanimous. There
are few, of course, who did mot
raise their boys to be soldiers" who
will protest. But the rank and file
of the red blooded patriots of the
country, and that means almost ev-
erybody, are heartily in favor of uni
versal training.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

Perhaps Senator Lodge is getting
in trim to join the army.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-04-10

"There is no day that could more
appropriately be made a holiday
than April l." says the Waterloo
Courier 1T probably concerns more
people than any other day in the call
Iendar." 4