davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-20
$31,OOO.OOO,OOO.

That is the sum of money the heads
of the various departments at Wash
ington want for war purposes next
year. The figures are staggering and
beyond comprehension. The wealth OF
the nation is literally estimated at
$3.50, 900 100000, hence the appropria-
tons asked for next year amount to
more than IL per cent of what all the
property in the country, real and per-
sonal, is actually worth. $13,000,000,-
900 will be required for the army, 3d.
OOO, 100000 for Notifications and artil-
lery, $4,000 100000 for the navy, ST.
5O0,OOO,OO0 for ships, $4,000, 100000 to
loan to our allies and $2,5O0,O00,OO
miscellaneous appropriations. That is
certainly some program of expendi-
lures, but if the money is wisely and
honestly expended there will be no
complaint on the part Of the people.
The entire nation now fully realizes
that this war must be carried on to a
successful termination if it takes the
last dollar of wealth in the country.
Senator Smoot, of the senate finance
committee, thinks these appropriations
can be held down to total of s27 ,GOO,-
100000.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-20
THE REAL ENGLAND.

The people of the United States are
coming to realize that they have for
years misjudged the English, who
have proven since the beginning OF
the German war that they are sterl-
ing men and women, ready to die
for principle and ready to stay to
the end. Great Britain has done her
full part in every field. Her navy has
made it possible for her allies to
fight on and her armies have render
ed invaluable service in France and
elsewhere During the year of 1917
she lost in killed, wounded and miss
ing 100000 men, about twice as many
as France lost. Yet she is not dis
heartened. Nobody in this country is
any longer getting off that silly pun
about England being ready to sacri-
flee every Frenchman in order to win
this war. England has not asked any
other country to do more than she
has and the country that equals her
record will do it's part in a big way.
Hats off to England. She deserves
the gratitude of the civilized world.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-20
GERMANY IS BANKRUPT.

The New Republic: Without a de-
cisive victory Germany cannot even
be put in the way of restoring her
internal economic affairs to the status
quo ante. She has been playing a
financial game Of a character that
would land any of her citizens in
prison, and she is now insolvent. She
is now paying interest on her loans
out of further borrowings, and she
cannot avoid following the same
policy in peace Interest on her war
debts, if honestly paid in full, would
consume the entire surplus produc-
ton of her people. The aggregate
taxable income of persons receiving
in 1913 $3.50 a year and over would
be eaten up by interest on debt less
than Germany bears today. But this
is not the only factor in Germany's
financial disgrace. By exercise OF
arbitrary power the German govern
ment has managed to merge with its
shaky structure of public credit the
whole structure of private credit as
we'll. Peace without indemnity or
equivalent commercial concessions
would almost inevitable mean univer-
sal collapse.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-20

-
the appeal to discomfort, ito class, is
the easiest, so it offers the best field
for the demagogue. the CRATER, the
cheap intellectual" lime-lighter. It's
apostle, "men with soft hands and
hard faces with hard hands and
soft faces, are everywhere just now
among labor, bidding it take adj
vantage of the nations need; among
farmers, telling them that they are
getting raw deal. They search out
a particular sore spot, a local griev-
ance in each town and county, and
base their appeal on that. Last and
least are those fatuous fools-the
nut-sundae socialists from the ranks
of the self-styled intellectual" and
the well-to-do lemon-pop bolshe-
Wiki uplifters- something,
they don't quite know what, and urg-
ing anything, they don't just care
what, so it keeps the spotlight on
them. They are self-sacriticing ideal
lists to the last dollar of the other
fellows business, but hard as nails in
their own affairs.
They look like a formidable lot,
but they are not. These men are
simply scum-pikers, grafters, liars
and demagogues-insinc selfish
and dishonest-who will run like rats
once America recognizes that even
rats can spread malignant disease.
We must start by cleaning them
out of the schools, the press and the
government. The man who plays
partisan politics and appeals to class
and race is self-exposed-work
against him; vote against him; throw
him out. Never mind what he calls
'himself-republican, democrat, So
cialist or non-partisan leaguer-the
label is camouflage. We need brains,
honesty and Americanism this year
1t is better to keep ten men out of
office on suspicion than to let one
traitor in. And not all the traitors
are Germans or pro-Germans. Not
all the profiteers are millionaires or
employers. There is something Pc
culiarly vile about the American who
tries to make money or office out of
this war-Who, while other men die
for an ideal, shouts out gold or place
among the graves.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-20
PRESIDENT is WRONG.

Some people are surprised that
President Wilson is opposed to full
and fair senatorial investigation of the
various war departments and activi-
ties, while others think such opposi-
ton is only logical. In view of the
fact that the president is an intense
man that ever occupied the chief exc
cutives chair, it is to be expected that
he will look with disfavor upon any
movement that might discredit demo
Gratis in high places. Mr.. Wilson
evidently believes that he who serves
his party best serves his country most
and proposes to proceed upon that
theory. That there has been failure
in the ship and aircraft building pro-
gram there is not the slightest doubt
However, now that Mr.. Schwab has
been appointed head of shipbuilding
operations it is expected that branch
of the service will soon be satisfactory.
Likewise it is hoped and expected that
acroplane construction will soon be
upon a creditable basis, but these are
no reasons why Investigations of past
failures should not be made, to the
end that incompetents might be weed
ed out and the competent and worthy
given clean bills.
The presidents statement that he
would regard broad Investigations as
a lack of confidence in the chief exc
Cutive is hardly fair to the senate. Mr..
Wilson should not assume such an
attitude. That might be proper for
politicians of ordinary standards, but
it is questionable for the president of
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-20
VERY SATISFACTORY.

So far as l am aware, there is not
single strike in the coal industry,
the oil industry, the lumber industry,
The shipbuilding industry, the packing
house industry, in the production OF
steel or in the transportation, tele-
graph or telephone systems of the en-
tire United Satisfactorily of Labor
Wilson.
This is a condition that is most salts
factory and indicates that the majority
Of laborers of the country are patrio-
tic In spite of the pro-German propa-
ganda, the activities of the l. w. WIS,
the attitude of socialist leaders and the
course of agitators generally, the
workingmen of the nation are doing
their part and turning out the neces-
sary comcomitants of war with all
possible dispatch.
1t is indeed fortunate that such labor
leaders as Samuel Gompers happen to
be at the head or labor at this partl-
cular time He is real patriot and
has used the great influence of his
position to inculcate patriotism into
the minds of his followers. 1t is some
thing to be proud of when a country
a., big as this, having millions upon
millions of men working in the indus
tries enumerated by Secretary Wilson,
can present such fine and conclusive
evidence of solidarity to the enemies
of the nation. Some of the credit is
Cue to the captains of industries who
have been generous in dealing with the
men and who have shown disposition
to be fair and considerable. All have
rot been square, but the great major
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-20

The favored industrial belt is over
worked Itais short Of power, short
Of transportation, short Of men, short
OF housing. It has. bitten off more
than it can chew.
So Washington has rubbed its eyes.
has looked about bit, and 10! has
discovered the middle west. Upon in
vestigation Washington has found
that the middle west can manufacture
what the government needs, for it has
power in plenty, less congestion of
transportation than the east, we'll
trained labor and good housing. 1t
has plenty of factories and can build
more. 1t has enterprise, resourceful-
ness, facilities.
Washington should have made this
discovery many months ago, but
Washington is slow to learn, for it's
mind runs in grooves. Let the con-
tracts come, and we of the middle
west shall show what we can do.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-20
wAsHINGTON,s DISCOVERY.

Minneapolis Journal: At last the
middle west has been discovered by
Washington. The discovery was made
under the pressure of necessity.
Washington had steadily concentrated
war industry to the east. Old fac
tories had been enlarged and new
ones built in the CONSTRUCTED Industrial
belt of that section. Manufacturers
from other regions, eager to partici-
pate in the war preparations, could
get little attention and less action.
Now the inevitable has happened.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-20
THE AMERICAN SPIRIT.

Cedar Falls Record: Seven young
chaps from South Dakota town were
passengers last night on the /. c.
limited bound for Jefferson Barracks.
preaching twenty-one; the youngest
eighteen. All had been working on
farms. The eighteen year old lad,
whose home is in Kansas, few days
ago received word that cousin who
had gone over with the first con-
tingent had come home minus one
arm. He decided that he would fill
the gap himself and so set about in
teresting others. He got seven other
lads to agree to enlist and they were
all accepted and forwarded to st.
Louis.
The eighteen year old chap was
broad shouldered and rather mature
for his age. He had fine open
countenance, good pair of eyes, a
good head and broad pair of Shout
ders. His work out of doors had
tanned his face which reflected reg
ular habits and clean living. And he
had the kind Of spirit that will car
ry the American "huskies" to Berlin.
He said: 81 decided when l heard
that my cousin had gotten his" that
l could remain away no longer. 1
don't want the boys asking where J.
was after the war is over. know
that l am taking chances of being
killed but so are hundreds of thous-
ands of others and l am glad to have
an opportunity to contribute my ALL"
There was no gloom in his speech
nor on his face. He was quiet and
determined, intelligent and willing
the best material for a real soldier
on earth.
American "huskies"-we like the
new appellation-are going over in
swarms. They are acquiring exper-
fence rapidly. Before the end of the
year there will be million of them
on French soil and they will be ready
for business when the time comes for
the final punch. The spirit exemp-
lifted by the youth of eighteen is
typical of the spirit of the American
army.
-W,SS-
Old papers five cents bundle at
this office. d-f-j-tf
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-20

That Sir Edward Grey wanted to
make these treaties public but Ger.
many refused. iil8 s
That Sir Edward Grey had worked
earnestly for peace in the Balkans
That the German military party had
determined on war in 1916 but seized
the opportunity of the Austrian arch
dukes assassination to precipitate the
conflict before Russia was ready.
That at the Potsdam council Of July
s. 1914, the German authorities un-
animously approved Of the Austrian
rltimatum to Serbia.
That England had no intention Of
making war on account of jealousy Of
the expansion of Germanys trade or
navy.
That Germany knew that England
would not attack, but would defend
France and Belgium.
What Prince Lichnowsky says of the
crucial week in which war and peace
hung in the balance we must quote in
his own words:
GAS appears from all official publica-
lions, without the facts being contro-
verted by our own White book which,
owing to it's poverty and gaps, con-
stitutes a grave self-accusation:
81. We encouraged Count Berch-
told to attack Serbia, although no
German interest was involved and the
danger of world-war must have been
known to us-whether we knew the
text of the ultimatum is question Of
complete Indifference.
"2. In the days between July %
and July 80, 1914, when M. Sazonotf
emphatically declared that Russia
could not tolerate an attack upon Ser
tia, we rejected the British proposals
CT mediation, although Serbia, under
Russian and British pressure, had ac-
copied almost the whole ultimatum,
and although an agreement about two
points in question could easily have
been reached, and Count Berchtold
was even ready to satisfy himself with
the Serbian reply. "'|
"9. On July 80, when Count Berch-
told wanted to give way we, without
Austria having been attacked, replied
to Russia's mere mobilization by send
ing an ultimatum to Petersburg, and
on July 81 we declared war on the
Russians, although the car had pledg-
ed his word that as long as negotia-
tons continued not a man should
march-so that we deliberately des-
troyed the possibility of peace settle
ment
"In view of these indisputable facts,
it is not surprising that the whole
civilized world outside Germany attri-
butes to us the sole guilt for the world
war"
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-20
W.S.S,

The non-partisan league is either
fading or working behind closed doors.
Somehow we don't hear so much of it
in Iowa-Times-Rep
1t is doing both. The agitators found
a poor field for operations in Iowa and
are now working quietly to accomplish
what they could not accomplish in the
open. However, the people of the state
are now advised of the animus back OF
the movement and it will have to wait
until after the war to increase it's mem
bership.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-20
LICHNOWSKY'S REVELATIONS.

New York Independent: Prince Karl
Lichnowslly was the German ambassa
dor in London from 1912 to August,
1914. When the war broke out he was
made the scrapegoat for the .catastro-
phe and was blamed by officials and
public for having Numbered in handl-
ing the British situation and having
been tricked by Sir Edward Grey.
Smarting under this injustice he wrote
out vindication of his policy in the
form Of a Memorandum of My London
Mission" for preservation in the family
archives. But he showed it under
pledge of secrecy to few friends.
One Of these gave it to an officer in the
political department of the German
general staff.
Putting these scattered scraps of
paper together we get a most amaz-
ing document, glimpse of the in
side workings of intrigue such as
under ordinary circumstances we
could not have expected until long
after the death Of the actors It is
a complete justification of Sir Edward
Grey and Lord Haldane, although be-
cause Of public condemnation the for
mer has lost his Office and the latter
has been sent to Coventry. 1t is an
absolute refutation of the German allie
CATION that England made war inevita-
BILE by shutting out Germany from "a
place in the sum-" that is, tropical
colonies. 1t is an emphatic confirma-
ton of two main points in President
Wilson's policy, that secret diplomacy
is dangerous and that the German peo-
pie were deceived into supporting the
government.
When the British Blue books giving
the history of pre-war diplomacy ap-
peared the friends of Germany said:
wait. This is only one side of the
story. Suspend judgment till we get
the German version Of these events"
Well, now we have it and from the
official representative of the German
side in the Anglo-German negotiations.
And this is what it says:
II had to support in London policy
which I knew to be fallacious. l was
paid for it for it was sin against
the holy ghost.
Thus ended my London mission
1t was wrecked, not by the perfdy of
the British, but by the perfidy of our
policy"
The Lichnowsky memorandum
throws flood of light upon all phases
of the situation out of which the war
arose. Among other things it proves:
That France had begun to forget her
traditional policy of revenge"
That the car was sincerely anxious
tC maintain peace.
That Russia was not DESTROYS of |
driving the sultan from CONSTANT
Eople.
That England offered Germany more |
in Africa than she was
willing to take.
That England conceded to Germany
All extension of the Bagdad railroad to
Basra, which was more than Germany
That treaties settling all questions
about Africa and Turkey had been
agreed upon.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-20

the United States to take such stand.
There have been many senatorial
Investigations since the organization Of
the government, but the Freeman
Journal does not recall that any other
president ever sought to block them
by intimating that they were refiec-
tions upon the chief magistrate.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-20
W.S.S.'

The next time your little boy asks
you what rainbow chaser is just
point him to the Russian soldiers who
threw away their guns, deserted the
army and went home to get the little
farms promised them by Lenine and
Trotsky. They are not only not going
to get the farms, but they are going to
lose their liberty.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-20

The writer remembers when there
were three wounded soldiers simultan-
eously filling offices in the court house,
and they were all good officers, too.
They were the late Charles Wickware,
county auditor; the late Albert A.
Wicks, clerk Of the courts, and j. v.
Kcarns, still residing here, county re-
cordcr. When these men returned
from the war the people selected them
to these civic positions When the
boys get back from France they will
take all the Offices they want. 1t was
many years after the war Of the re-
bellion before candidate who had not
been in the service stood much chance
of election against a soldicr-candidatc
and it will be the same when the Ger
man war is over. If anybody not in
the service has an itching for office he
might as well prepare to do lot of
scratching on his own hook, because
the itch will never be cured by q re-
moval of the cause.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-20
--W.S.S.-

The allies, all of them, are deter
mined that no peace terms shall be
written until the safety of the world
from such a catastrophe as Germany
launched in 1914 is assured. 1t never
can be assured until the people of
Germany have a voice in their Gov
eminent and their minds are dis
abused of the ideas now paramount.
The average German in Germany be-
lieves that the German people were
born to rule other people and that
other people have no rights which
Germans are bound to respect. That
idea must be beaten out of the Ger
man head. 1t can be gotten out in
no other way. Force is the only
argument which the German in Ger
many can comprehend and since vic
tory appeared certain the entire
German people have been back of the
murderous rulers in demands for other
peoples territories and the right
to govern other people in the German
way. Even the socialists have thrown
off the mask and are keen that the
shall proceed. Socialists in
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-20

The fellows who are insisting that
we must learn the German language
because we will be dealing with Ger
many after the war have evidently
never thought that perhaps Germans
could learn our language if they want
to do business with the United States.
Why not establish some free school in
Germany where the English language
will be taught to children? Wouldn't
that be fine? 1t would also show that
Germany is not holding a grudge
against this country.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-20

lily have, and in this fact great gratifi-
cation is found. There was never a
nation more united in the prosecution
10, war than is the United States OF
America today, and there is no reason
to believe it will not remain SO to the
end Of the conflict.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-20
.W,S.S

The spring drive to date is a dismal
failure and has cost the German
government untold thousands of lives
of young men the world and its in
dustrieS need.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-20

The fewer strikes there are in
America the more there will be in
France against the German peril.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-20

The news that Hindenburg had
been killed was too good to be true.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-20

People who have read the writings
and speeches of prominent Germans
during the past fifty years are not sur
prised at the extreme and unfair de-
mands made by Germany upon sub
dued Russia and conquered Roumania
Those demands are in line with what
German kulture has taught for half
a century, and the desire to inflict
them upon other peoples is the cause
of the war. There can be no doubt of
this in the minds of unprecedented men
and women and q true history of mill
tary and civic Germany must make this
SO plain than even blinded and I'M
reasoning Germans must know the
truth.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-20
g &

We can whip Germany and then dis
miss her from our mind, but poor Hol-
land must be her next door neighbor
TIL the end of time.-Register.
The only hope that poor Holland
has of remaining Germany's next door
neighbor for all time lies in the sue
cess of the allies. If Germany should
win this war, or if the allies are unable
to administer real defeat, Holland
will become a part of the German en-
pire, as will Belgium, Serbia, Rou-
mania and large part of Russia.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-20

Germany and elsewhere have thrown
away the opportunity the great war
offered them to prove by their works
that their preachments have been sin
cere.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-20
.W.S.S..

By cutting down the train service
and boosting the rates, Director Nc
Adoo will convince a lot of Americans
that this is a good year for staying at
home.-Register.
And at the same time the director
general of the railroads hopes to turn
a deficit into a surplus. All travelling
and all freight shipments should be
confined to necessities. However, it
will be easier for the railroads to take
whole families to the south to spend
next winter than it will be to haul the
coal to keep them warm in the north
Hence, if those who go to warmer
cline to spend the severe cold months
close their homes in the north there
will result considerable saving in
transportation.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-05-20

Ed Meredith is having the time of his
life in London. What's the governor
ship compared with an American lion
lied in London. The other day, Ed
writes his home paper, he made a
speech in parliament, with Balfour
as his dinner mate" He's doing his
bit to advertise Iowa, it is modestly
suggested.-Sioux City Journal
And the fact that Ed can quietly slip
into a cellar in old London without
having the fact heralded all over the
country will be fully appreciated land
we may believe improved) by Iowa's
distinguished citizen.