davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-23
uNFounpep OPTIMISM

Much as we long for the time when
we can say with conviction that the
menace OF the submarine is a thing OF
the past, we cannot but deplore the
tendency to magnify favorable war
news which is indicated by the pub
lies reception of Lloyd Georges en-
nouncement that five U-boats were de.
stroyed Saturday.
The premier it is true, said he had
lost his fear of the submarine. but a
little later in his speech he named It
as one Of the two perils which beses
the allied cause. the other being lack
Of coordination in war moves.
His first declaration meant that he
no longer fears the submarine will ac-
complish the starving OF ENGLAND,
which it set out to do. He did not
mean that It no longer IS factor m
the war.
Americans must realize that 1t Is
such a factor. and that we will not
be justified in saying the menace OF
the U-boat is removed until there re-
mains no single U-boat at the dispcsi-
ton OF the kaiser.
1t is not optimism that America
needs now. 1t is solemn realization OF
the meaning and seriousness of the
war. We are fed up on optimism.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-23

ago, it seems strange indeed that the
brotherhood officials are unwilling to
commit their interests to arbitration
under direct supervision of the sexecu-
tive
There is, of course, reason to be-
lieve that the action of the railroads
is not entirely uninfluenced by the
critical condition of their negotia-
tons for increased freight rates. A
few days ago the president animated
rather broadly that he would not
hesitate to seize the railroads to pre-
vent interruption of traffic during the
period of the war, and this circum-
stance may have had some effect on
the decision of the magnates to an
ticipate such step by a voluntary
offer. However that may be, they
have recorded themselves as the first
to go the limit toward arbitration Of
the wage question and have put tho
brotherhoods on the defensive before
the bar of public opinion.
This is no time for halfway meas
ures on the side of either capital or
labor. The nations crisis demands
the putting aside Of every individual
consideration which does not coin.
eide with the country's interest in
the war.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-23
No YELLOW STREAK.

There may be weakness IN the
Lloyd George makeup. but the British
premier's course in the past two
weeks leaves little ground for accus-
ing him OF owning a cringing or COM
promising streak.
When his Paris speech created a
furore in ENGLAND and turned some OF
his staunchest supporters into violent
opponents, Lloyd George might have
been able to squeeze out of dificult
position, perhaps. by making tenn
norizing speech in the house Of COM
mons when called upon for an ex-
PLANTATION OF his advocacy OF gen.
eral war staff for the allies.
In Paris the premier referred in
LANGUAGE quite blunt to "the blunders
of the allies" and blamed these blum.
ders in part upon the lack Of a gem
eral council which might have co-or-
dinated the operations on the various
fronts and prevented such defeat
as that which has threatened the
Italian army with complete disrup-
ton.
In London yesterday he told his
critics that he had considered his
Paris speech carefully before deliv-
ering it and had submitted it to the
British war cabinet for approval. He
had realized the necessity for arous-
ing the public in England, France.
Italy and America to the knowledge
that only the most determined. tire
less, united effort could avert defeat
at the hands of the central powers
and their allied Turks and Bulgars.
He wanted to shock England and
the other nations on whom the future
Of civilization depends. and he was
far from showing any regret over the
tempest he had raised.
Lloyd George was given consider
able support by cablegram sent to
Colonel House by President Wilson.
declaring his unqualified stand for
plans which would insure unity Of
action between the allies and Ameri-
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-23

LABOR'S REBUFF
RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE At
BUFFALO CONVENTION LOYAL
TO GOVERNMENT.

Buffalo. N. Y, Nov. N.-An attempt
by socialist delegates to single out
Postmaster General Burleson for at
tack in connection with the suppress
sion of certain newspapers has been
blocked by an adverse report by the
resolutions committee of tbs Amers
can Federation Of Labor, although the
committee has gone on record as stat
ing that the section Of the espionage
law threatens unduly the restriction
of a free press.
Another socialist resolution slated
for defeat, it is said, expresses the
willingness of the American Fedora
ton of Labor to be represented at "a
conference Of International labor for
the purpose of discussing information
al relations and terms OF peace"
The committee on resolutions favor
ably reported a resolution on woman
suffrage. 1t reads:
That we hereby affirm our prev.
ious declaration in behalf Of woman
suffrage and the people of equal pay
for equal work regardless OF sex
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-23
merle HAY ROAD.

II is an appropriate and timely sug-
gestion that Mayor McVicar Of Des
Moines has made for a change in the
name of Fifty-eighth street, which
leads from the city to Camp Dodge.
He would call it Merle Hay road. to
perpetuate the memory of the first
Iowa soldier to fall in the fighting be-
tween American and German soldiers
on the western front.
The records of the French army
contain the citation of Private Hay and
bis two comrades, Privates Gresham
and Enright, for their bravery in bat
tie which resulted in their deaths.
They fell in hand to hand conflict
with the Germans who, in sudden
attack, had penetrated the first
trench.
America has far too few traditions
Ours is young land as nations ages
are reckoned This war war will en-
rich the history of America and Of
Iowa as has nothing, perhaps. since
the civil war. In many instances as
with Merle Hay. the tribute will come
only after the death OF the one to
whom honor is done. But it would
be sordid business indeed. this war
in which we are engaged, II the men
who's lives it claims did not leave
traditions and memories to inspire
those who remain.
Thousands Of men from Iowa and
neighboring states will travel over the
road from Des Moines to Camp Dodge
for their initiation into the army Of
which Merle Hay was an inconspicu-
GUS unit until the moment came for
him to prove his patriotism and
Americanism by giving his life in de.
tense of his flag and his countrymen.
His name should and will serve as an
inspiration to those other soldiers
who are preparing to carry through to
victory the fight to which he has
given his all.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-23
DENATURED WAR NEWS.

There are two reasons why the pres
emit absurd policy Of silence regarding
many facts relating to the war is nm
wise. Either of them should be suffi-
cient, in the opinion OF The Courier
and of many other observers, to bring
about change.
The only reason which is a defen-
sible one for not making public any
and every fact relating to the nations
part in the war is that some OF the in
formation would be Of value to the
enemy. No loyal newspaper wants 20
print such information and no loyal
American wants to know it so much
that he would risk the safety of the
American cause merely to satisfy his
curiosity.
But facts such as the return Of the
Iowa regiment to New York after hay
ing started to Europe could not have
been concealed from German agents
had there been any object for conceal
ing It. Why, then, should the war de-
partment prohibit newspapers pub
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-23
FOR THE WOMEN.

Now that the Y. M. C. A. war work
fund is raised, it is vastly important
that attention be given to the efforts
of the Y. w. C. A. to finance its work
among the women who are engaged in
war activities Of various kinds.
!. Here in Ottumwa, at distance
from the centers where munitions are
manufactured, we have not the oppor-
tunity to realize the extent to which
American women have entered the
sphere of mans ordinary work. Thous-
ands of them are employed in factor.
les which, few months ago we're idle
and empty. These thousands must be
housed; their morals and health must
be guarded; amusements must be pro
yided for them; they must be given
the best possible substitute for the
home life which they have left behind
to undertake work in strange com
munities and among new associates.
Every army camp and cantonment
has work for the Y w. c. A. to do
among the women who find their way
to the military cities which have
sprung up as If by magic in various
quarters of the country. We do not
refer now to the camp followers, but
to women whose husbands or brothers
are in the army and who visit, the
camps or make their homes nearby.
The Y. w. c. A. Is establishing host.
ess houses within the army reserva-
tions, for the women in the camps
must not be allowed to infringe on
the time Of the officers.
There ,are other ways in which the
Y. w. c. A. is finding its services in
demand, ways of major importance to
the army and the nation. The work
cannot be performed without money.
The money must be obtained from the
public The amount il not large as
figures are counted now, but
it must be raised.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-23
couR7,Ne PUBLIC OPINION.

Not so many years ago there was
a maxim that the outcome of any
dispute between labor and employers,
whether it arose over wages or
working conditions, depended in the
long run on public opinion, particu.
larly in the event that the disagree.
ment eliminated in strike or lock.
out interrupting the public's enjoy
ment of any of its conveniences or
necessities.
AS a general proposition this maxim
still holds good. although there have
been notable exceptions due TO indi,
vidual causes Viewed in their broad
aspect. however. organized labor and
organized capital gain or lose in the
public esteem, now the same as for
merly. in accordance with the relative
fairness exhibited by each factor in
any dispute between them.
This fact gives the railroad Off.
Gals a handicap over the brother
hoods Of trainmen in their pending
contest over wages. The railroads
have announced in formal com
munication to President Wilson'S
representative that in any crisis they
will leave to the executive the settle
mA-.. of every point at issue, placing
r interests unreservedly in his
nds.
The officials of the trainmen'
union. on the other hand. have
evinced willingness to accept me
diation but have not agreed to entire
arbitration. This is position which
would be difficult of defense at this
critical juncture in the country's at
fairs. and the action of the employ
ers makes the difficulty even greater
In view of the presidents insistence
on the Adamson law, which brought
a remarkably easy victory to rail
road employees little more than year
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-23
INVITING A TEST.

There are indications that radical.
ism as we'll as ro-Germanism is
working in the convention of the
American Federation Of Labor at Buff
falo this week to upset the plans
which President Gompers made for a
meeting which would declare the I'M
divided loyalty of organized labor.
In changing the date for annual
conventions of the federation from
November to June the organization
took one of the most important steps
it has taken in many years. In the
past it's meetings have come just after
the conclusion of political campaigns.
Now they will be coincident with the
primary contests and just in advance
of campaigns for the election of state
and national officials.
Already it is prophesied that this
step will bring into existence new
political party, and If this prophecy
is true such party can have but one
significance in national campaign.
It cannot hope to claim all the voting
strength of organized labor from the
two old parties, no matter what its
pronouncements and platform may be.
1t can hope only to serve as refuge
for the socialists, who have discred-
tied themselves within the past year,
and for such maverick political faiths
as the Townley non-partisan league
which Is setting up catch-all list OF
idealistic declarations in the hope Of
amassing a voting strength but with
out much regard for consistency nor
constructive utility.
For many years the strength OF the
organized labor movement has been
derived from its political independ-
ence and its refusal to permit par
'tisan politics to influence its actions.
That attitude has drawn into its
membership and it's councils many
men who would be alienated should
the trades union movement degener-
ate into political enterprise.
At best, such political party could
not hope to poll a vote of sufficient
strength to cope with the old organ
izations. The experiment has been
tried too often to admit of but one
result if it should be tried again. It
is to be hoped that the counsel Of
those men who are inpelled by an
unselfish desire to strengthen the
trades union movement will prevail
when the test does come. and that
the June conventions of the national
body will be as active in silencing
socialistic and other political agi-
tators as have the November meet
ings.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-23
wAPELLo coun1Ys FINANCES.

Tomorrow The Courier will pub
fish the first Of series of articles
dealing with Wapello county's finan-
cial condition. the object being to &C
quaint the public with the exact facts
regarding the unusual situation of
that public's fiscal affairs.
There IL no thought nor intima-
ton that the officials responsible for
the funds and accounts have not been
thoroughly honest in the discharge of
their duties: neither do we desire
our readers to understand this refer
ence to tangled situation to indicate
inemciency in the county Offices.
The Courier and the general pub
lie approach the subject with open
minds, inviting the county officials to
submit their own explanation of the
condition and their suggestions for
improving that condition. 1t will be
time enough when their explanation
Is complete to draw conclusions or to
ask questions.
In brief, the situation as revealed
yesterday in the news columns of
The Courier is this:
Sometime in October County Attor-
ney Mitchell notified County Auditor
Bissell and the board Of supervisors
that the limit of the county's legal
indebtedness had been reached. and
announced that no more warrants
could properly be issued until the
treasury could be replenished.
At that time the county had bonded
indebtedness amounting to $40S. 900
and outstanding warrants in the sum
of $97 900. making the total indebted
ness $505, 900 in round numbers. This
is the condition today. but since
County Attorney Mitchell filed his
notice no warrants have been issued.
although the usual expenses have
been incurred ION tick" such as sal.
airy accounts, necessary court costs
and ONCE OUTLAWS.
A ruling was obtained from Attor.
ney General Havner permitting the is
suance of bonds up to a total Of $780,
900 and permitting also the issuance
Of necessary warrants for the current
period in anticipation of the tax col
lection next March. The bonds. &C
cording to law, can be issued only to
retire outstanding warrants.
investigation disclosed that this
opinion would permit the sale of $751;.
600 worth of bonds. enough to retire
the unpaid warrants issued up to
September /. This will leave some
ST, 900 in outstanding warrants still
unpaid.
The bonds have been sold at q
and accrued interest from their ID
, to the day of their actual deliver
which will be sometime within "a
week. They are serial issue run
ming from one to twenty years and are
,, to draw interest at per cent, the
same rate which is paid on the war
rants.
The bond sale is nothing more nor
less than an exchange of one form OF
indebtedness for another. The &C
ton corresponds to that Of a man
who, having issued check for more
money than stands to his credit at
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-23
FRITZ ESCAPES
YANKEE GUNS.
FORCE WAITS n
VAIN TO ATTACK FOE BE-
HIND TRENCHES.

With the American Army in France,
Nov. 2O.-(Delayed)-Only the fact
that tho Germans failed to venture In
to No Mans Land on q recent night
saved them from an American sur
prise. One hundred and sixty men Of
the hrst battalion to enter the
trenches we're given special training
for a week and, after being trans
ported to the front, crawied ACROSS No
Mans Land and took positions in
front and in the German wire en-
tanglements at point where 1t had
been discovered the enemy came out
every night
FRITZ STAYS At HOME.
Each man had been trained in a
special task and the entire unit had
rehearsed the part it intended to play
under conditions similar to that in
front of the German lines. The Amor1-
cans reached the position soon after
dark and remained in waiting all
night. but not one German appeared
either there or, as far as is known, at
any other place in No Mans Land.
The plan was to allow several
groups of ten to fifteen Germans to
emerge and meet rendezvous Then
the Americans would fall upon the
enemy and repay them fully for re-
cent trench raids.
COUGH GIVES WARNING.
A cold which a soldier caught in the
trenches brought him a wound in the
hand and gave warning to a German
patrol of an ambuscade on another
night An American patrol had ar
ranged an ambush near shell.ruined
farm house in No Mans Land. Sew
eral Of the Americans had colds and
coughs, but managed to control them.
Finally, when the shadowS forms OF
An enemy patrol were seen approach.
ing one of the Americans coughOd.
The enemy patrol promptly disappear
ed toward its own lines from which
there soon afterward came a hail OF
machine gun bullets. one hitting the
man who had coughed.
FIRST FLAG is MoMENTo.
Two staff officers recently had a
narrow escape while walking along a
road in the rear of the lines. They
heard the whiz of an enemy she'll and
jumped thinking it was close BY. when
the projectile came down in the GEN.
ter of the road on either side Of which
thew were walking.
The first American regimental col
ors to be carried on the battle front in
France have been returned to the
regimental headquarters. Written on
it in ink over the signature of the
French commander is certification
that this was the first flag to reach
the front lines. The flag did not fly
nj the front as no flags are exhibited
there 1t actually was carried. how.
TO d dugout in the rear of the
remaining there several
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-23

and putting an end to the wild and dis
quieting rumors which were circulated
here and In many other states?
The reasons to which we referred
above are plain:
First--the method is only par
TALLY successful and by it's own
lack of effectiveness tends to de-
crease public confidence in the
judgment of the officials RESPONSE
BILE for 1t. The public's confidence
is very essential to the govern
ment at any time and more so
now than ever
Second-The friends and rela-
tives of the soldiers who are in
France or on their way have an
intimate interest in every detail Of
their life cover there" but they
are prevented from visualizing it
and thus from realizing the per-
sonal significance Of the war, by
the Withholding of information re-
garding the whereabouts of our
troops, information which long ago
was in the hands Of the German
intelligence department.
Yesterdays Courier contained an
"eye witness" account of the battles in
which Italians repulsed Austrian sol
diers who had crossed the Pave river
at Fagare and at Sega mill. 1t was
one of the most artistic bits Of war
time literature that has been printed
in months. 1t lacked no detail that
could add to the interest and the thrill
it brought to every reader intensified
xho% 1oci,o ~ xr}r xrh{rh 1ivoo IN oyor1,
loyal American heart. Imagine the in.
SEPARATION 1t must have brought to the
Italian public to whom the war just
now is a very present peril.
On the same page were two dis
patches dealing with American
activities in France One told of the
preparations our troops are making. for
winter at the front and the other con-
tanned General Pershing's brief report
of the casualty list resulting from last
weeks clash between American and
German artillery units.
Having passed through the hands OF
the censor at Washington these dis.
patches were entirely denuded of any
thing approaching definite information
the location of the American
forces or any of the circumstances
with which they have to deal.
The first American soldiers were
killed in a hand to hand battle in the
French trenches on the morning OF
8. but only the most meagre
report of the fighting has been pub
lished in this country. Nothing has
been left undone to make the news in
which every American citizen is
interested as impersonal
as possible.
What Americans need is the thrill OF
intimate detail in their stories OF the
war. They need it to make them real
lie that this is their war, that 1t Is In
volving their own flesh and blood in
the pitiless conflict of the battlefield.
They need 1t to waken in them the war
spirit and the patriotic desire to go to
any length that may be possible to 90
their Individual shares to the end that
victory and peace may be the reward
Of the nations travail and sacrifices
81 The policy Of concealing such infor-
nation as that to which we refer is
hiding no information from the enemy
which he desires. 1t is, however deny
Ing to the American public the spur 1t
needs to make 1t fighting entity.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-23
70 Ar1.rp HOME COMING

Camp Dodge. Nov. 21.-Graduates
of the University of Iowa will be given
srFsriant 'erv" nj absence to enable
them to attend the Homecoming" ex-
ercises November 1924 at Iowa City.