davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-12-27

age. He is now corporal and has re-
Gently received appointment as field
clerk:
France, Nov. IS, 1918.
My Dearest Mamma:
/ 1t has been several weeks since /
have had opportunity to write, and /
fear you have been somewhat wor-
ried. But | am still. well and happy,
though now that the war is over, l
/ am little homesick.
But it is great consolation to
know that it is all over and that we
will be home within three or four
months at the most. And we must all
consider ourselves extremely lucky
to be able to return home without in
jury.
During the last week of the war we
| experienced some of the sensations
of the front lines and were several
times under fire from the artillery of
the enemy. Believe me, it is interest
ing to be wondering just how near the
next six-inch shell is going to burst.
We are following closely the ad-
vancing infantry and the dead were
strewn thickly by the waysides-
friends and enemies who have made
the supreme sacrifice for the right as
they saw it.
1t seems to me that the present ter
rible situation of the poverty stricken
German people is somewhat providen-
tial, as it affords us Americans the OPP
portunity to rescue them and so prove
still more conclusively the merit Of the
cause for which we have slaughtered
their men and sacrificed ours.
The war has been won by Yankee
pep and we are justly proud of the
outcome. | want if possible to write
Dad tonight, so will close hoping my
darling Mamma and all are well. /
hope to see you all before many
months.
Your loving
PAUL,
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-12-27
II Bolt it, Cried T. r.

When Mr. Wilson'S machine building ways,
Republicans regarded it with words of stern disprase
"The joints wobbly" Penrose said
"The wheels square, said Root
"The troleys loose" said Murray Crane . .... Z, = .
"Shell rum" said Smoot
"They the thing said Hays and build
81 cahn't approve of it," said Lodge.
"Its rotten" cried T. R.
When Mr. Wilson's machine went rushing down the road
The c. O. P lads gathered round ossee the thing expode
when along course amid the peoples cheers
They gathered monkeywrenches and tossed them the
slowing a Bit said Hughes, at very
81 think" said Ledge cts going to be-"
"a fiver", said T. R.
When Mr. Wilson's machine got working there,
And presently the kaiser raised of wild despair,
The G. o. P. swa1ming like bees from hive
g" really think" said Mr.. Lodge hey ought to let drive
"Bcccus of u.s., said Root and Smoot sit without jar
We taught him how to make it CO."
81 built t!", cried I. R.
St Joseph Observer.
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-12-27
PRETTY SOFT

soldier of the Legion in meek subsection stands;
He sadly kamarad" He holds up both his hands
Said he: 81 beefsteak sauerRrau and wine,
For was born at Bingen, fair Bingen the Rhine.
Whe passing to the wndward of the troops Uncle
| got whit of bacon o maybe it ham;
/ fan would have rasher with cool and frohy stein
For was born at Bngen, fair Bingen the Rhine.
ooh, lead the canteen or Salvation Army hut;
My stomach is rebellng and thinks my throat cut
For days have been fasting and for food and pine
For was born at Bingen, fair Bingen the Rhine,
A comrade stood beside to hear what he might say
And down his dcation stored the grub away
"Take message to mother and say I'm living fine,
For was born at Bingen, fair Bingen the Rhine.
Gust tell her that you and that looking fit
This chow which Pm feeding with me has made hit
I'll miss the Yankee fodder which | sued to dine
When get back to Bingen, fair Bingen the Rhine.
l. C. Davis, in Post Dispatch.
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-12-27
IMPROBABLE AMERICA

Faced with vast esponsibilities for
the future not only for our own clti-
zens but of the happiness and peace
of humanity in crowded world, there
was never time when the question
of the economic soundness of the
United States possessed the impor-
lance it has today.
If democracy is to vindicate itself,
it must not only win Victories; it
must use them. 1t must not only
bring hope of freedom and peace; it
must realize these hopes in practi-
cal program. In order to do this, de-
mocracy must keep solvent. The
question, therefore, of the economic
soundness of the United States comes
home to US with new significance
and a new point by reason Of the very
fact that the past four years have
taught US how many things there are
in the world that are greater than
merely maerial possessions.
Face to face with Herculean share
in the work of rebuilding and recon-
structing war-torn and war-disor-
ganizcd world. every patriot is ask
ing himself with heightened interest
whether the economic structure of the
United States is fundamentally sound,
after the wrenChes and blows of war,
or whether it has been so weakened
that we are inevitably headed toward
a period of doubt, uncertainty, slack
ened effort and unemployment. Are
we to give ourselves during the COM
ing months to the great problems
which confront us. or is our fore
ground to be filled by the eXasperat-
ing and irritating consequences of I'M
usual difficulties in our efforts to make
a living?
The answer to this question cannot
be found in any easy rhetoric about
our undeveloped resources and our
potential markets. A nations strength
and soundness depends upon the
soundness Of its currency, the condi-
ton of it's basic industries, the eff
cheney of its man power, the proper
ton of its debt to what it has to pay
out of, and the spirit of its people.
This issue of the West at Work
contains facts as to American eco
nomic conditions at the present hour
so presented as to enable the reader
to apply these tests to his country
They show that the United States has
as much gold as England, France and
Germany put together; that it has
less paper money in proportion to its
gold reserves than any European bel
ligerent: that it has lost but l-7OO
part of its working man power by war
as against 1-25 part for England and
1-16 for Germany and France; and
that of its eleven great basic indus
tries, so far from the war having eX-
cessively stimulated them, two have
been depressed, two have been mod
erately stimulated, one has been slim
ulated excessively, while six-corn
wheat, cotton, pig iron, petroleum and
coal-have but moved during the war
period at healthful rate as if there
had been no war at all. The question
as to Americas possession of the in
tangible values without which there
may be no true economic soundness,
is convincingly answered by William
H. Danforth's charming little article
on the spirit of the American army
overseas.
The economic position of the United
States is impregnable. The nations
business is founded upon rock. We
may go on with confident hearts and
with great good cheer.
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-12-27
NO GOVERNMENT
WOOL PURCHASES
AFTER DECEMBER 81.

That the Government will not buy
any of the 1918 wool clip after De-
cember 81, is stated in telegram to
A. j. Meyer, Director of Extension
Service to the University of Missouri
College of Agriculture. Which menas
that anyone who might be holding
back old wool for higher prices will
not receive them from the Government
The message:
"TLe Government will not purchase
any wool shorn during 1918 unless it
has been loadad on cars and billed
thru to an approved distributing cen
ter or prior to December 81, 1918
and then only in case such approved
dealer file statement and a copy of
the invoice thereof within five days
after receipt of invoice"
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-12-27

those countries have managed to get
through the winters. | guess they'll
get through again."
The Republic believes that the stu
alton abroad is critical. 1t believes
that unless remedial measures are TAX
en- at once, millions of men, women
and children will starve between now
and next summer. Before famine civ
ilization cannot stand. A starving
half-Europe plunged into barbarism,
with force as the only weapon in the
hands of man, and barbaric half Eu-
rope means of weakening of the civ
ilization of the whole world.
Let the Governments of the United
States and the Entente tell us exact
ly what the situation is. So far our
information is incomplete. If mil
lions of, people are actually starving
let US know how we can help.
There are great stocks of food in
Argentina, Australia, India and the
United States. Rather than let one
baby starve, let US turn all our ships to
the task of taking food to Europe.
The Peace Conference, the reconstruc-
ton work in France and Belgium and
even the bringing home of troops-all
of them can wait, but the famished
millions cannot. 1t is not a question
of friend or enemy. The Good Sa-
maritan didn't halt for details.
If million, or a thousand, or even
a hundred persons starve in Europe
and Asia this winter for lack of food
that might have been sent them, it
will be blot on the civilized nations
of the world that will remain until the
final Judgment Day.-St. Louis Re-
public.
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-12-27
AN IMPENDING CATACLYSM

Ten million men were killed in bat
tie during the war and the influenza
accounted for 100000 more persons.
Sixteen million human beings dead,
who under normal conditions, might be
living and laughing today!
Horrible, you say? Yes, it is hor-
rible, but the real horror is yet to be
faced. During this holiday, season
there are in Europe and Asia more
than 100000 men, women and chill
dren slowly dying of hunger. Food
supplies are exhausted and winter is
not yet actually here.
Cast your eye over the map of the
Old World. Nearly everywhere there
is governmental chaos, transportation
facilities are in a hopeless snarl, ev-
cry mans hand is lifted against his
neighbor and where there is not ac-
tual fratricidal fighting there is fatal
apathy. Russia, Turkey, Austria
Jugo and Czecho-Slovakia-all are
facing the specter of famine.
We in America and in the allied
countries have been so wrapped up in
the winning of the war, the peace
terms, bringing our soldiers home
and similar problems that we have
been giving but scant thought to the
grisly horror that the other half of
the world is facing.
Every now and then some earnest
p,iblicist or statesman tries to picture
the coming disaster, but he gains lit
tie attention. The average American
says to himself:
Fob, yes, we heard those starvation
stories during the war, but so far all
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-12-27
GERMAN ARMY AND NAVY
LOSSES REACH 5000, 900, 600

W, n, WV, =, , 4,
New YORK, Dec. 2l.-When the total
herman casualties are published, the
number OF dead Will be about 2,O00,-
600, according to The Cologne Ga
zette, OF November 20, copy Of which
mas been received here Up to Octo-
per 20, the total casualties reported
We're 6,ooo,'o9, oil whom more than a,
'9o,ooo were russians. The total IN
cludes tne naval casualties, which
were fo,ooo, comprised OF more than
$4,000 dead, more than $4,000 missing
ana nearly 29,o0Q wounded.
Casualty list No. 1884, published on
Oct. "a, according to the Cologne Ga
zette' placed the number of dead at
1,611104, the number of wounded at
6s3,14S, and the missing at 772,522,.
Inc paper says that that OF the number re-
ported missing. 10000 may be con-
sidered dead.
The Cologne paper uses the word
appalling" in describing the casual
ties among the officers. The total on
oct "a included 44,70o officers Killed
missing, total of l40,760. The loss
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-12-27
FOR THE LOCAL MERCHANT

1t is wise storckeeper who en-
courages his clerks to tell him of the
criticisms and complaints which his
customers make about the goods. or
service. A word dropped by dissat-
isfed customer may contain Che ans
wer to why this or that line does not
sell, or what was wrong with a cer-
tain advertisement that.it didn't pro-
duce >better results, or if the general
plan of the store wants toning up
Popular Storekeeper.
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-12-27
SUCCESS

He has achieved success who has
lived well, laughed often, and loved
much; who has gained the trust of
pure women and the love of little chill
dren, who has filled his niche and ac-
complished his task; who has left the
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-12-27

world better than he found it, wheth-
err by an improved poppy, a perfect
poem, or rescued soul; who has new
err lacked appreciation of earth's beau
ty or failed to express it; who has al
ways looked for the best in others and
given the best he had; whose life was
an inspiration; whose memory BEN
cdiction.--B. A. Stanley.
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-12-27
FROM PAUL NATIONS

The following letter is from Paul
d. Nations, son of Judge and Mrs. Gill
bert o. Nations, to his mother. Paul
enlisted as volunteer last spring,
though three years under the draft
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-12-27

"The Father of Republics" is the
title that has been conferred upon
President Wilson, by Hon. William j..
Bryan. Such title is most fitting,
and will doubtless "take."
The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-12-27
MAKING MO. CHILDREN
SAFE FOR DEMOCRACY

The world has been made safe for
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-12
VACANT LOTS WILL
 BE CULTIVATED Spring Garden Campaign Is Now On With Experts
 in Charge

The spirit of the garden campaign with
 the present spring-like weather has
 struck the citizens of Birmingham and
 already many vacant lots have been se-
 cured by residents and are being spaded
 tip and ready for planting.
 II. s. Mobiey. with his corps of ex-
 perts, are visiting the schools of the
 city and suburbs and are addressing
 large gatherings daily in the interest Of
 the campaign.
 The tractors furnished by the Interna-
 tional Harvester company have arrived, and will begin the work of blowing as soon as the executive garden committee selects a man to head the campaign and look after this work.
 While every citizen in Birmingham and the entire district is urged to cultivate as much land as possible the commit tee urges all those who are able to hire their blowing done do so as the tractors will be used for those unable to do so. If the plot of ground is small. H. s.
 Mobley, the man who planted 5000 gar dens in Chicago last year, states the spade is the best tool for such garden, and he urged that everyone begin spad- ing up their plots of ground and have i everything in readiness for planting within the next 10 days. An effort is being made to organize the sschools and have the school children cultivate vacant lots, while it Is also stated that the high school boys could greatly assist by or ganizing themselves and spading gar I dens for other people, using the money earned thi way for their own garden l or given to assist in the work of carry l ing on the campaign.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-12
MECHANICS NEEDED
 i FOR U. s. SH|PYARDS
Chairman Shipping Board Makes Appeal for Ship
 yard Volunteers

Edward H. Hurley chairman of the United States shipping board at Wash ington, has written to Forney Johnston. chairman of the Jefferson county councli of defense, in which he states the urgent need of the government for skilled me chanics for the construction of ships, and every effort is being made to obtain the enrolment of the necessary men for the United States shipyard volunteers, who are classed in the government service the same as soldiers and sailors.
 "Our shipbuilding programme contem- plates the construction of 6,oo000o tons annually, states MT. Hurley" but ow- ing to the want of the necessary skilled men we are not under preesnt conditions in a position to turn out that tonnage. 1t should be brought home to employers and to the employees of the industries of the nation that their own future depends on the construction of these ships
 In speaking of the heatless days and the more recent freight embargo, MT. Hurley says: "'Until we have ships to clear the Atlantic ports of manufactured goods, for which our army in France and our allies are in need, these enforced holidays and embargoes must recur, with the result that no factory in Amer ica can be assured of running full time and no workman can count on contiuu- ous employment. The construction of these needed ships depends on labor and on these ships depend not only the war itself, but the present industrial life of the nation"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-12
RED CROSS CHAPTER
 ID CONTINUE WORK
Knitting Department Open Every Day-Chairmen to
 Report Saturday

The executive board of the local Red Cross chapter held an interest ing meeting yesterday afternoon It was announced that the knitting de- partment of the chapter would remain open every day notwithstanding the statement that General Pershing does not require any more knitted garments for his soldiers. The local chapter is affiliated with the gulf division head- quarters at New Orleans. and having received no orders contrary, will con tinue their steady knitting until noti- fled to discontinue this branch of work.
 Mrs. John London. chairman of the N o,nans work, requests that chail'msn of aii work rooms have their reports for the week on her desk on Saturday morning.
 The class in surgical dressing under the supervision of Mrs. Walter Beas- ley and Mrs. c. H. Fairbairn. with a corps of assistants. have completed the cc curse. and are being congratulated on their efficiency in this line of Red Cross work
 The junior Red Cross campaign wa. started yesterday in the schools ol the state: and each school is str.vine 10 reach the 100 per cent mark Int Martin schools has already reachci this mark. and there is much riyalr, between the various schools Of thi. 1 city.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-12
OFFICIALS DEPART FOR SLOSS MEETING Mcqueen and Crawford Will Attend Board Meeting to
 Be Held Friday

J. w. Mcqueen, vice president or the Sloss-S Sheffield Steel and Iron company, and W. w. Crawford, both of whom were recently placed on the board Of d. rectors of the Sloss company, left Bir- rningham yesterday for New York, where they will attend the meeting of the com pany's directors, scheduled for Febru- ary 15.
 It has been rumored for some tune that some important changes Tn the executive department of the Sloss com pany are contemplated. It will be re- called that J. c. Maben, Jr., who was also a vice president of the company resigned and that when Waddill Catch- ings took up his present work for the government late last year it was under- stood that he would relinquish the pres idency of the Sloss company as soon as the proper adjustments could be made. Even at the time of MT. Catch ings election to the presidency it was only temporary and that he was to hold the office only pending a encouragement of the executive department
 Col. John S.. Sewell now commanding the Seventeenth engineers in France, was elected to the board at the same time as MT. Catchings. but when he went abroad he resigned and it was this va cancy that was filled recently by the elec- tion of Mr. Mcqueen.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-12
LABOR AND CAPITAL

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 The headlines in The Age-Herald Mon day morning and the matter under it in regard to the statement from me of the terms on which labor and capital should reach a permanent understanding was very unfortunate for me in that it was a statement of what I said only on one side of the question. The Age-Herald has beer very generous to me and very fair in reports, and in this case the brevity which is necessary often in reports, put me in an entirely wrong attitude to two great parties of a great unsettled ques- ticn. beg. therefore, in justice to my self and to the two parties concerned. to give my full statement with which I think both parties will heartily agree.
 I was discussing the conditions under wkich mercy and truth meet together, and righteousness and peace kiss each other which was the text of the morn ing. I mentioned the conditions under which righteousness and peace would meet together in four great fields of struggle, and my statements were as fellows: Righteousness and peace cannot meet in individual lives till each indi- vidual rghteously appreciates the rights of every other individual, and meets him on that plane. Peace cannot come in the family till husband appreciates all the values of wife, and wife appreciates all the values of husband and each acts righteously towards the other, then pea ce will come. Peace will not come in the great capital and labor problem till labor properly appreciates brains and brains properly appreciates muscle and brawn and each meets the other on righteous plane The report of my sermon gave only one-half of my statement and made my statement unfair to the laboring man which position I cannot afford to occupy for minute. I illustrated by saving that if man used his brains in work ing out geology and topography the trend of rocks and the lead of coal and oil : and after years of brain work located the spot for an oil well, the man oi brawn. and muscle ought to give full value to this work of brain. And the man who located the well. being unable to dig it when he calls upon brawn and muscle to dig the well, should give full and just value to the brawn and muscle And when these two parties of conner cal development meet on the plane o righteousness, peace will come.
 GEORGE k. STUART. . Birm1n gham, February H. 1918.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-12
CONFERENCE OF GOOD
 HIGHWAY ADVOCATES CALLED FOR FEB. 21
Civic Association to Advance Better Highways Throughout the State
 Through Exchange of Ideas

The Civic association has called con- ference of good highway advocates to meet in Birmingham at the Civic as- sociation auditorium on February 21. at which time plans for making permanent highways will be discussed.
 w. s. Keller of Montgomery, state high way engineer will be present. according to advices from him. A message received yesterday afternoon from G. N Mitchanl, professor of mining and road engineer ing at Auburn and member of.the state highway commission. states that he will be present to attend the conference, as will visitors from all over the state
 The Civic association will send out let ters this week inviting the citizens of Alabama interested in better road con struction to be present.
 The Alabama Technical association has called a conference for February ?, and an effort is being made to join both conferences.