davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-25
CONSCIENTIOUS DIRECTORS.

Among our hundred million people we have
no lack of conscientious DIRECTORS, the list IN
Guiding $4,000 Friends or Quakers, l23,OoO
Dunkards and 81 900 Mennonites, not to speak
of Doukhobors, Holy Rollers and myriad
minor sects Aside from these we have peo-
pie who classify themselves as conscientious
directors among our pacifsts, socialists, sui
fragists and the sons of women who did not
raise them to be soldiers. We have also
sprinkling of pastors, professors and others
who hold it to be sin, or say they do, to do any
fighting themselves, but have no qualms OF
conscience about enjoying the rights and hber-
ties that other men have won for them by
fighting
No doubt many of these people would aban-
don their position or their pose under pres
sure Of public opinion if the nation really
needed them. But there is little present pros
pect that the government will require the aid
of these reluctant citizens in defending the flag.
AS they will not volunteer and are too old to
be conscripted, all that will be asked of them
probably is to be law abiding, pay their taxes
and keep tight rein upon their tongues 1t
has been suggested that they may be drafted to
work on farms or perform other needed service
for the government. But the present outlook is
that all that will be asked or expected Of these
queer peoples is that they discreetly shun pub
lie observation as far as possible and preserve
an mountaineering taciturnity about their
peculiar scriptural interpretations, tenets and
views.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-25
The Soldier and His Pay.

Burlington Hawk7Eye: TWO Iowa
congressman have expressed them
selves in favor of better pay for tho
high private in the ranks. Congress
man Horace NJ Towner of Corning,
representing the eighth Iowa district
in the national legislature, holds that
the man who carries a gun or who
serves as a private in any other
capacity should receive as a mini
mum one dollar per day. And it Is
quite likely that very many Of the
congressman's constituents, who have
ever given this matter consideration.
will agree with him. And there is
Congressman James w. Good. OF
Cedar Rapids, representing the fifth
district. He Is of the opinion that
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-25
AN IMMORTAL LETTER.
Written by President Lincoln to a
Mother Whose Five Sons Had
Fallen on Battle Fields.

Davenport Democrat: An item in
the Democrat to the effect that Mrs.
Martha Murrin of the neighboring
city of Rock Island has four sons in
the army and navy of the United
States, must recall to many that beau
tiful letter which President Lincoln
wrote to mother whose five sons
had fallen on battlefields Of the civil
war. We like to reread that letter as
often as we come across it, and we
never see it without clipping it and
adding it to the store already In our
files. We make no apology for offer
ing It here for your reading again:
Executive Mansion, Washing
ton, Nov IL, 1864.-Dear Madam:
] have been shown in the files of
the war department statement
of the adjutant general Of Mass
achusetts that you are the moth
er of five sons who have died
gloriously. on the field of battle.
feel how weak and fruitless
must be any word of mine
which should attempt to beguile
you from the grief of a loss so
overwhelming, but / cannot re-
frain from rendering you the
consolation that may be found in
the thanks of the republic they
died to save. 1 pray that our
Heavenly Father may assuage
the anguish of your bereavement,
and leave you only the cherished
memory of the loved and lost, and
the solemn pride that must be
yours to have laid so costly sac
rifice upon the altar Of freedom.
Yours very sincerely and respect
fully, "A. LINCOLN"
We hope that no president will have
the opportunity to write to Mrs.
Murrin such a letter as that which
President Lincoln was moved to
write. And yet it made the name of
Mrs. Bixby known to all the world
and all time. She paid greatly for
the fame that came to her, and her
name will always be associated with
self-sacrificing motherhood and with
the great sacrifices which love of
country calls upon some to make.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-25
South Loves Taft.
Down

Cedar Rapids Republican: Down
south, SO the papers tell us, they have
a great love for William Howard Taft.
He is the sort of an American and
gentleman that they cannot help adj
mire Whenever he goes there they
give him an ovation. One paper down
there says that they will do anything
for Taft, except vote for him. And
why shall not the south break away
from its old voting prejudices also?
Are they going to let the war spirit
OF 1861 be their controlling spirit to
the end of times? Isn't it about time
for them to begin to do bit of think
ing on their own account, instead of
letting their grandfathers still do the
thinking for them? The south needs
to do more than admire Mr.. Taft, they
want to learn to be independent po-
litically. Nothing will reunify this
country faster than breaking away
from old time preiudices and in this
world upheavel is a good time to get
away from some old superstitions.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-25
Dogs, Cats and Chickens.

To the Editor of The Gate City:
Under date of April "a, 1 notice
some people are complaining abou.
chickens and dogs running their gard
ems.
Why is it when children are going
to and from school, they are snapped
at and bitten by dogs, which are not
licensed, and when reported, the dogs
are still allowed to roam at large as
though they had never been reported?
Also, when we have fence around
our property. and some Of these
same dogs jump our fence and eat
UP the scraps we have thrown to our
chickens, what recourse have we:
If we shoot them, we are fined FOR
shooting within the city limits So
what are we going to do about it?
Another matter which ought to
come up at this time is in regards
to cats. | raised quite a few chicks
last year and out of one hundred, l
had twenty-eight chicks killed by cats.
have reported to the owners of the
cats, and they say they did not know
their cats caught chicks. What cat
won't eat a young bird? What re-
course have we on this? Why can's
cats be licensed, muzzled or else kept
at home, or else give the person who
keeps his chickens in his own yard
the right to protect them with rifle,
if need be?
R. ]. E.
Keokuk, Iowa, April IS, 1917.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-25

Since the Russian revolution it has come so
we are told, to be generally believed by the
thoughtful classes in England and France that
it will be possible now by pushing the war to
decisive finish to place the entire world upon
permanent democratic basis and to effect fed
GRAFTON of democratic governments to safe
fare of mankind.
Nothing less than this ought to grow out of
the war. Nothing less would be result COM
mensurate with the mighty cost and loss and
labor of this struggle, dwarfing all others that
have ever convulsed the earth. No good thing
ever came to the world, no brighter era for
mankind was ever born but with terrific earth
pangs; and if absolutism is now to disappear
from the planet, will not that glorious consum-
nation be worth all that it has cost?
When this war broke out former Senator De
pew Of New York predicted that it meant the
end Of all kings with real power. There were
others who thought so too, and looked to see
Europe become democratic in fact if not, in
every case in name. In view of the overturn in
Russia the indications now are that the time
foreseen by Emerson has come when the world
would have done with despots, when the peo-
piles would rule themselves and when the least
liberal governments left in Europe would be
constitutional monarchies like that of England
with figurehead kings retained for the sake of
old associations and to prevent too sudden a
break with the past.
There is man on a throne today who
seems to be strong enough to stem the tide set
ting swiftly towards democracy. The end
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-25

There are dogs of one kind and dogs
of another. The registered dog should
stand the biggest share of the burden,
of course. Let us not put upon the
same basis a kiyi who spends his time
shifting at hitching posts and growing
at other dogs, and the sleek pointer of
kennel breeding. AS a fancier and
part owner Of the inferior grade, / am
doubly able to detect the great injus-
tice of our new system Of taxation, for
it leaves me no alternative but to pur-
posely slide out from under my val
liable possession. \,
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-25
TODAY,s BIT OF VERSE
"PA AND MA"

Pa seq to ma, in wrath, he,
This gosh burned Twins causing me
To think that is quite joke
Just well be shot always broke.
With eats roostin' in the sky
And money with wings that makes 1t fly
You might well grab your sword and gun,
Fer shootin' beate starvin' ten to one.
Gosh durn it all, when wuz kid,
Things weren't so high that it made yu skid
Aturnin' the corner to make ends meet
But now they're higher'n million feet,
And a-goin' higher each dad blamed day
To poster the cows in the mlky-way
While we on earth must NOPE and pine
And let stummick scratch our spine.
BY heck, Plp strike" quoth angry pa,
SIM tired a diggin' to fill my craw
While trustmen gobble the hard-earned kale
And make our purse look slim and pale"
Cheer up SEE ma, sit might be worse,
1t amt quite time to call the hearse.
So we'll get out rake and spade and hoe
And dig hole for bean or so,
For, allow, that in year two
Things won't look so dark and blue.
So we'll Just keep asawin' wood
And things'I come down to where they should"
Kenneth Strout.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-25

The New Jersey property owner who offers
the tenants of his some two hundred home
steads rent free for the period Of the war it the
income earners of the family enlist is the sort
of enlistment agent that is needed. There will
be plenty of willingness to fight this country s
battles for it that may be withheld from mani
Testing itself by reason of economic home prob
lens. The government is taking due thought OF
the RESPONSIBILITIES of mon to their dependents
in it's recruiting plans. but he kind Of co-opera-
tive spirit shown by this New Jersey man will
help both directly and indirectly in making
plain the recognition of share in the burden
to be borne for the recruits by those who do not
90 to the front. The whole carrying power OF
this country, once it is working together, will be
strong enough to move steadily forward till the
task we have in hand is completed.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-25
President

of Russian absolutism, as former President
Taft well says, is the first great triumph OF the
war. With that vast empire a republic, u
seems hardly conceivable that any civilized
people will long tolerate the anachronlsm OF a
''divine right" king.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-25
Voice of the People

1.-THE Gate City does not assume re
sponsihlity for views expressed by
correspondents. Writers Of commune,
cations must furnish their names
not necessarily for publication. but
for the information of the editor.l
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-25

In back yard gardening the spade is mightier
than the pillow. A team of horses requires more
room to turn around in than the average b. y. G..
will occupy.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-25

In thrift gardening it is well to apply the
moral of the fable of the tortoise and the hare.
The wise man will not attempt to spade up the
entire back yard the first day.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-25

1t is said there are fifteen million untitled
acres in Missouri. The Missourians ought to
be able to see them without being shown
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-25

Inc person VINO luQuASeS IL AoooS
unpatriotic talk need not be greatly
astonished to find himself in jail.
Also excellent use may be made or
such careless or unpatriotic persons
wheeling sand and mixing cement on
government defensive works.
Sioux City Journal: Another disad.
vantage of mixing the volunteer and
CONSUMPTION systems is that 1t is
bound to raise an odious distinction
between the man who volunteers
and the man who is selected by
draft
Cedar Rapids Gazette: There have
been annual manipulations or sugar,
flour and many other staples, but
not until now, when an enveloplng
crime abroad could be made the cloak
for an extension and intensification
of abuses at home, has such brood
of blood-suckers been born to the
outcast and fecund wrath Of Shy
lock, allowed to escape from perdi-
ton in it's spawning season.
Burlington Hawk-Eye: After Iowa
gets her birth registration law work
ing, it may. be possible to get at
some definite conclusions as to the
increase of Iowa population. Until
that time, all that is said or written
will be largely guess work.
Council Bluffs Nonpareil: Real
war time CONSUMPTION puts an en-
phatic kibosh on the booze business.
The grain which goes into liqour,
the man who does the work of trans
formation, the men who finance the
business, the middlemen who handle
the stuh, the cars used to transport
it, and above all the people who
drink the finished product, all repre-
sent a dead loss of foodstuffs, human
energy and brain power which the
nation needs to protect its interests
and it's life. Let us nave conscrip-
tion and let US have it right. Let
us conscript John Barleycorn's army
and set it's units at work raising
potatoes and corn where they have
been raising hell.
Cedar Rapids Republican: Recent
article on the theme of why Not
these tendencies were ridiculed and
the press appealed to to defend its
own liberties. That article brought
to that newspaper an inquisitorial
letter signed by the Third Assistant
Postmaster General" with the an
nouncement that this Office would
be pleased to have a statement from
you in regard to the matter" The
editorial had been submitted" to
the postoffice department, by some
tiny spy in the name of morals and
reforms-a kind of spy that is more
dangerous to the liberties Of the
people than German spies armed
with dynamite. But think of the
postoffice department calling up an
editor for an explanation of his per-
sonal and editorial opinions. Does
it not suggest to sane minds sthat
we are drifting into dangerous de-
malls of the liberty of the press?
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-25

Honor and fortune exist to him who al
ways recognizes the neighborhood of the
great, always feeling himself in the pres
ence of high causes.-Emerson.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-25

Sioux City journal. Auotner uiSdu
vantage OF mixing the volunteer and
CONSUMPTION systems is that 1T is
bound to raise an odious distinction
between the man who volunteers
and the man who is selected by
draft
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-25

subscribe for The Gate City.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-25
IOWA PRESS coMMENT.

MarshalItown T1mes-RepubI1can:
The person who INDUCES in loose
unpatriotic talk need not be greatly
astonished to find himself in Jail.
Also excellent use may be made or
such careless or unpatriotic persons
wheeling sand and mixing cement on
government defensive works.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-25

Probably it would
surprise you to know
how many telephone re-
ceivers are left off the
hook daily in residences
and business houses.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-25

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The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-04-25

Burlington Hawk-Eye: After Iowa
gets her birth registration law work
ing, it may. be possible to get at
some definite conclusions as to the
increase of Iowa population. Until
that time, all that is said or written
will be largely guess work.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-21
MYsT cry SURROUNDS PROBABLE
SUICIDE JUST BEFORE
MIDNIGHT.
Eugene Etz, Attracted by Hat and
Means. Looks Over Railing in.
Time to See For
His attention ri
on the Suspense"

His attention IT;
on the SuSpenSi"
uteS before midn.
lives at No. i2%
stopped to look ..,.,,'"
means coming from :"...'Nn"rc BE-
meath the bridge floor level and out
side the railing. He looked over thc
bridge just in time to see man let
81 his grip on the bridge network and
drop into The river probably 60 feet
below. The body disappeared and ne
could not see it come TO the surface.
Young Etz then ran toward the Is
land r.ld OF the bridge and overlook
Mayor II. l.. Kirk. and William
Dreamer who were walking home. he
notified them OF what he had seen;
They went back with him, but could
seq no form in In" river. Mayor
Kirk immediately notified police head
quarters and an investigations was
started.
The incident is as mysterious rs it
is unusual. Young Mr.. Eta. In de
scrthinp what he saw, stated that II
looked 70 him us though the man had
chung ~ the bridge network until he
was exhausted. then dropped into the
river. In the darkness he could see
nothing 10 enable him 10 give the
mans age or color. The only Glow Is
the hnt,, u soft, black one bearing the
stamp OF The Hub. The man dropped
from the south side OF III" bridge.
This occurred at just ton minutes 10
twelve o clock.
Thr police believe that the man.
whoever h. was. dropped from the
bridge into the water with the intenr
ton Of committing suicide.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-21
Of
WHEELING HIGH
IS CONFIRMED
mi I,is,a,ch I. IN, lu,rIi. srllrrr.


MORGANTOWN. W. VA. April 70.
The second annual meeting Of III"
High School Principals Association
OF West Niruinia convened here to-
day. morr than fifty principals from
practically every first class hIGl!
school in III" state brln@ present.
The meeting is under HE auspices Qi
the West Virginia university.
The opening session WAS held this
afternoon 1T which papers were read
by Principal j. e.. Graham. Of Hunt
ingIUn, on The .Iuniur High School.
AMI 10y Principal j. H. Thornton, Of
SiStrrSville. on Measuring Learning
and TeachinG.,' Principal Ben VIII
liams. of Blueli"ld. and Principal IT,.
h. Johns. OF Wheeling. wcr" on the
program. but were MOI present. The
meeting was addressed by Or. J. ~.
Francis. superintendent of city schools
Of Columbus. a.. who also spoke THIS
evening on Some New Ideas in Edu-
calinn."
This afternoon n" principals COM
posing the State Athletic association
met To discuss eligibility rules and
action on cases uf violation. The SuS-
pension of Whrelin" High school for
one year for viola ling III" eligibility
rules was Suslain"d The assnCia-
lion. however. voted to. allow high
schuolS in The Ohio valley IT. partiCi-
pate in The Wheeling high school
track meet. but records made by the
Wheeling school will moi count in the
state standings for the year. The
association will elect officers tomOr-
row.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-21
WHEELING SCHOOL STUDENTS
!. ARE ASKED To AID FARMERS

Union .....:.. ~ los
'-1ncomplete.
The total for the enumeration thus
far this year Is 1Q.445 children between
the ages Of and FL years. There are
rs negroes against 164 last year. Most
Of these are found In Clay district.
President Rogers Of the Board OF Edit
cation. Was named president OF inc
board OF trustees having charge of III"
teachers retirement fund. ". J. Bcncke
was named treasurer and bond WAS fixed
at $4,000. The elections were made al
q recent meeting OF the board of trus-
tees.
Routine Business.
The accounts and building ard
grounds committee asked the payment
OF bills amounting to Sl.3Sl.3l. School
accounts itcmized arc: Washington,
S203S: Lincoln. s+.iS: Union. sl2.!v
Center s4.s4: Webster. s30.45: Madison.
S22.14; Rltchir. $21.25: High school.
$Gs.5i. and home economies department,
$3.50.
Jstnitors OF the school buildings in n
Petition asked for All increase Of ~ per
cent In their ealaries that the board pur-
chase all needed supplies. The increase
is asked they say due to the high cog,
of living.
The acceptance of a bid Of Thomas Il
Foulka for repairing the rIIcs and
statutes Of the board. OF education Tor
the printer was reported by the finance
committee. His bid WAS $40. q day und
the time not TO exceed 25 days.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-21
Riverside Tube Enters
Complaint Against Roads

CHARLESTON. W. Va. April 20
The National Tube Company Of West
Virginia. Of Benwood. filed formal
complaint with the Public Service
Commission to-day that the Baltimore
& Ohio, the p. c.. c., C.. & St L..
(Pennsylyania) and the Wheeling Ter
minal Railroads had refused to carry
Stag away from their plant. Origin
ally the railroads carried Stag away
from the tube plant without cost
Then the roads filed a tariff OF twenty
cents per ron for the transportation
OF this Stag. and after hearing be-
fore the Public Service Commission
dismissed the tariff. Now the tube
company makes formal complaint that
the railroads have refused to haul the
Stag nom the plant.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-21
THOMSON. CHOIR WILL
REPEAT EASTER MUSIC
Great Musical Organization VIII Again
Give inspiring Program To-
morrow NIGHT.

The Thomson NJ. E. vested choir
of Is voices under the direction of
Mr.. Frank Klncheloe will repeat the
Easter Sunday music tomorrow even
ing.
They will sing John Stainer's sacred
cantata. The Daughter OF Jalrus.
The solo parts will BIO handled BY Mrs.
Elsie Fischer Kincheloe, Mr. Emile
Aucremann, Mr.. W. P. McClung and
Miss Alice Mcclure.
Miss Grace Nelly will otficiate al
the organ as usual and will render \
number Of works incidental to- the
services.
There will be- no sermon. All seats
are free and everyone Ia welcome.