davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-05
Children's Evening Story

help, and eating too much. and sleep.
ing very soundly each day. he grow
stouter than ever, until his friends
hardly knew him when they saw him
Solomon Owl is a sight o.
fat!" people began to say.
But his size never worried Solomoa
Owl In the least. When he became
too big for his doorway in the hay
stack 1t was a simple matter to make
the opening larger-much simpler thar
it would have been to make himself
smaller. And that was another rec
son why he was delighted with hi
new home.
At, last, however, something hap
pened to put. an end to his lazy way Of
living. One day the sound OF mems
voices awakened him, when no VA
having a good nap in the haystack
And he felt his bedroom CULVER % u
an earthquake had shaken It.
Scrambling to his doorway and peep
ing slyly out, Solomon saw . sight that
made him very angry. A hawracl
stood alongside the stack: and ON II
stood Farmer Green and his hired
man. Each had pitchfork In his
0NAA9, VA0A WA1Cu u0 tOE0
fuls Of hay of the stack and piled u
upon the wagon.
Solomon Owl knew then that his lins
hiding place was going to be spoiled
As soon as the horses had pulled tia
load of hay away, with Farmer 0rees
and the hired man riding on top Of II
Solomon Owl crept out Of his SNUG
bedroom and hurried OF to the woods
He was so fat that it was sewers
days before he could squeeze inside
his old home in the hollow hemlock
And for the time being he had to u,
on limb and sleep in the daylight q
best he could.
But to his surprise Reddy Wood
pecker troubled him no moro. Rsddy
had drummed 30 hard on Solomon'a
door, in the effort to awake him when
he wasn't there, that Aunt Polly Wood
chuck told him he would ruin his bill,
II he didn't look out. And since tha
warning thoroughly alarmed him,
Reddy stopped visiting the hemlcch
grove.
In time Solomon Owl grew to lool
like himself again. And people nevsa
really knew Just what had happened t.
him. But they noticed that he always
hooted angrily whenever anybody
mentioned Farmer Green's name.
(The end.)
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-05

The patrons Of these joints are all
aiding, abetting and participating in
law violations and the officials know
such men ought to be made to testify
before the grand jury.
The taxpayers are not paying ON
cials salaries foE the purpose Of hav-
ing those officials study how not to
enforce the law instead Of how to en-
force it.
II a policeman who is under civil
service is told by higher oficials to
Took the other way or mot see
things on his beat" that policeman
can publicly denounce such an ohlcial
and the ofhcial cannot discharge him
for 1t. That is one Of the objects Of
placing the police force under civil
service. $50 the policeman is free to
do his sworn duty II he wants to. But
has such thing eyer occurred in Of
tumwa?
1t would be much better for this
community to have the police force
change with every administration
than to have 1t the way 1t Is now. At
any rate 1t could not be any worse.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-05
STATE INSTITUTIONS
TO GROW VEGETABLES

Des Moinos. April 3.-The state
board Of control has just let contracts
for six months supply Of staple gro
ceries for use at the state institutions.
The Arms to which the contracts were
awarded follow:
Miller Grocery company. Des
Moines; Smith, Lichty, Hillman COM
pany, Waterloo; Groeneweg and
Schoentgen company. Council Bluhs;
Sprague Warner and company and
Reid.Murdock company. Chicago.
Because Of the high price Of butter
the board has been buying butterine
for the state institutions for last two
years. The board Is also planning on
growing big crops Of vegetables and
canning a big amount Of foodstuffs
again this year as was done last year.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-05
n WAS soLoMoN's FAULT

Reddy Woodpecker had a very good
reason for not laughing when he met
Solomon Owl. OF course he knew
nothing whatever Of Solomon's new
hiding place in the haystack. And that
very morning Reddy had invited a
party of friends to go with him to the
hemlock grove where Solomon owl
had always lived, ito have some rum,
as Reddy had explained.
For long time he had knocked and
hammered and pounded at Solomon
Owls door. But for once Solomon's
great pale face did not appear.
where's the fun!" Reddy's friends
had wanted to know, after they mad
waited until they were impatient.
And Reddy Woodpecker could only
shake his head and say:
II can't understand it! It's never
happened like this before. I'm afraid
Solomon Owl has lost his hearing.
Reddy Woodpecker's friends were
no more polite than he. And they be-
gan to 1eer ct him.
"You didn't hammer loud enough
one Of them told him.
SO he set to work again and raped
and raped until his head felt as II 1t
would fly off, and his neck began to
ache.
Still Solomon Owl did not appear.
And the party broke up in something
very like quarrel. For Reddy Wood
pecker lost his temper when his
friends leased him; and . good many
unpleasant remarks passed back and
forth.
Somehow, Reddy felt that it was all
Solomon Owls fault, because he hadn't
come to the door.
OF course, Reddy had no means OF
moving that all that time Solomon
Owl was sleeping peacefully In Far
mer Green's haystack In the meadow,
a quarter of q mile away.
It was good joke on Reddy Wood
pecker. And though no one had told
Solomon Owl about 1t, he was not 80
STUPID that he couldn't guess at least
a little that bad happened.
Solomon Owl continued to have q
very pleasant time living in the mead
ow. Since there were many mice
right close at hand. little by little he
visited the woods less and less. And
there came time at last when he
hardly left the meadow at all.
Not flying any more than he could
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-05
PAVE WATERLOO AND
CEDAR FALLS ROAD

Waterloo, April IA paved f01d %
tween Waterloo and Cedar Falls 10 =
practical certainty.
The board Of supervisors Of Black
Hawk county will determine the
proposition as a special order OF bust
ness, but there is little doubt among
those who have been pushing the mat
ter that any eleventh hour delay WIN
be experienced.
Public subscriptions, matched dollar
for dollar by funds from the county.
together with the Black Hawk appor
tionment Of federal road aid to the
amount of $4,000. Will bring the sun
ayailable to approximately 411aooN
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-05
orrUMWA's REPUTATION

Certain lnOlvluu6IS IN OItumW6 arc
evincing a sudden and suspicious re-
gard for the reputation Of their city.
These individuals are saying that the
publicity attendant on an effort to
expose and punish the bootleggers and
other violators Of the laws Of decency
and good citizenship will give Ottum-
wa bad reputation elsewhere in Iowa.
These same individuals, or some Of
them. have extended their prediction.
They say that the effort to reclaim
the city from the law breakers and
to institute q respect for law in the
place of fragrant lawlessness will
divide the city into two hostile camps,
making 1t impossible to obtain CO
operation for the success of Liberty
Loan campaigns and other activities
in the interest Of loyalty to the
country or the city itself.
1t is noticeable that the persons
who offer these objections in an ct.
fort to discourage any movement to
enforce the laws are persons who
never have been actively Interested in
law enforcement or clean citizenship.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-05
OTTUMWA sEMIWEEKLY COURIER. FRIDAY, APRM 5, 1918

BY their attempts to discourage law
enforcement now they proclaim their
sympathy, with lawlessness and with
law violators, and they take the
strange position that 1t is right and
proper for Ottumwa to be lawless and
to harbor viciousness IL no publicity
is given to the condition. They care
not how many disreputable law
violators the city may harbor and sup.
port, IL the truth can be concealed from
the good citizens of other communi.
ties and from some of the good citi-
zens of our own community as we'll.
Their motto, IL they had ono. prob
ably would be BE as lawless as you
want to, but don't let the fact get out
to people who want to be decent.
orderly and law-abiding."
AS to the second objection which
these friends Of the lawless urga 1t 10
difficult to discuss their prediction OF
a split in the community without
using incorporate language.
II loyalty to the government in its
present crisis must be purchased by q
compromise with the persons who
openly and nagrantly violate that gov
ernment's laws and couspire to weak
en- the spirit of patriotism which must
support the efforts Of our armies In
France, then the persons whose loyal
ty must be so purchased are not
worthy of citizenship In the United
States.
This is q harsh Judgment but no
less considered than harsh. This is
no time to compromise either with
the Stacker or the opponent of law.
order and good government. The man
or woman who has no respect for
the laws Of the city or the state can
not be a good citizen Of the United
States.
In Ottumwa today there is a mark
ed division as between the law vio'
lators and their opponents. Those
who express a difference with tho op-
ponents of law violation thereby an
nounce their sympathy with the law
less element which has set at naught
the authority Of police and of county
officials with police power.
II this division is to mark, as we'll,
division between loyal and dis
loyal citizens, the truth behind the
attitude of disloyalty should be known
and understood by every decent, law
abiding man and woman In Ottumwa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-05
DRAFTED

Men and women of Wapello county
to the number OF hundreds have beer
drafted for the Liberty Loan army
which will inaugurate its campaign
next Monday morning at the signal
OF Changing bells and blaring sirens
Committees have been assigned tC
canvass every community and district
in Wapello county. Men and women
form these committees, selected FOL
their loyalty and their ability to give
good service as Liberty Bond sales
men.
These men and women are drafted
Just as the soldiers Of Americas ma
tional army are drafted. They have
not been consulted as to their will
ingness or ability to serve. Their per
sonal business or social affairs have
not served to excuse them from par
ticipation in the campaign.
The same condition exists through
out America. The third Liberty Loan
must be oversubscribed in record
breaking brief period, and the indi
vidual American citizen is respon
sible for the success of the campaign
to the last cent of his financial abil
ity.
Solicitation by campaign worker
is draft on the prospective bond buy.
er, just as the appointment Of that
solicitor on the campaign committee
is draft on his services. There must
be no lodging the committees and the
fact that the committee has not ap
preached you will be no excuse fol
your failure to buy a Liberty Bond II
you are able to buy.
In few days the banks Of Wapello
county will announce installment
terms under which they will assist
citizens to buy Liberty Bonds Of the
third issue. The prospective small
purchaser will be able to avail him
self Of these terms, which will be lib
eral and practical.
America is facing the test Of hel
form Of government today. The gov
eminent must have money with which
to win the war, and every cent must
come from the pockets and strong
boxes Of American citizens. This IL
the emergency in which each citizens
responsibility Is commensurate with
his privilege IS q citizen. No one IL
immune from the Liberty Loan draft
No other obligation is as great or al
important as the obligation to buy 9
Liberty Bond.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-05
ROCK ISLANDS DRY VOTE

Ottumwa has a direct interest In
the vote which has decreed that Rock
Island shall be saloonless city soon.
Much Of the whiskey which has been
brought to Ottumwa by bootleggers
has been purchased openly in ROCK
Island and brought to this city either
on trains or In automobiles. To be
sure, the supply for Ottumwa boot
leRsers will not be greatly reduced,
but at least ono source OF supply will
be embarrassed. warsaw and Kansas
City remain wet
Rock Island was the headquarters
for much Of the wet propaganda with
which Iowa was flooded In the cam
paign preceding the election on the
constit ltionnl amendment. The fact
that Rock Island was wet added con-
siderably to the anti-prohibition vote
In Scott county and Davenport.
The activities OF Iowa bootleggers
have given Rock Island an unenviable
reputation In many Iowa cities. and
the vote Of yesterday by which the
saloons were ordered out will do much
to destroy that impression. But Rock
Island has only won the first skirmish,
II still must face the continuous wa.
with bootleggers and other law vioaat'
ors who accompany bootlegging. II
is to be hoped that the city admins
tration which will have, the task OF
policing Rock Island when the pro
hibitory law goes into effect 10 OF the
sort that believes in enforcing laws
instead Of seeking excuses and meth
ode NJ non enforcement
Bootlesgin$ can be, wiped out or 10
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-05
THE Respite

The lull in the fighting on the west
ern front Is not an indication that
either army is at the end of its Tight
ing strength or its resources for fur
Their exertions.
The Germans have slowed up in
their advance because 1t is necessary
artillery is being brought into posi-
ton for renewal Of the attack which
in less than two weeks has regained
as much territory in that sector as
was gained by the allies In two years.
The allies armies have taken ad-
vantage Of the Iul1 to reorganize their
forces. place their reserves and artil-
lery and assimilate the new units that
have been rushed to the battle front
to form the final, impervious wall of
devotion and courage against which
the Prussian wave shall break In It's
effort to reach Amiens, center OF the
allies supply system for the entire
western front.
A part Of the new strength OF the
allies is General Pershing's hundred
thousand trained American soldiers.
Since their arrival in Europe they
have been applauded by our allies as
the finest body Of fighting men ever
brought together in the world. They
have lived up to that measure Of
praise in their engagements with the
enemy thus far. Now they are to be
thrown into the greatest battle in his
tory, shoulder to shoulder with the
veteran troops of France and Great
Britain. Theirs may prove the
strength which will turn possible de-
feat into victory for the enemies Of
Germany Their test is at hand, and
with 1t the test of Americas strength,
her loyalty, her devotion to the cause
Of civilization and the principles to
destroy which the Prussian military
machine has exerted its final ounce Of
develish energy.
The fighting on the Picardy field
will reopen soon. and on it's outcome
depends. in large measure the future
of the world. On its outcome depends
your future and the future Of the gov
eminent for which Americans have
died
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-05
:1HE AMERICANS

Today America is in the war In ear
nest. One hundred thousand OF Gen
eral Pershing's soldiers. trained to the
last minute in the methods OF oppos
ing the barbarous Hun, are rushing to
the line of battle as result OF the
American generals plea to General
Foch last week to be allowed to throw
the whole available force OF the Unit
ed States into the worlds most stu
pendous and most important conflict
Correspondents at the front agree
that the slowing down OF Germany
offensive is but the prelude to a re-
newal of the assault which In less
than two weeks has moved the west
ern battle line forty miles further to-
ward Paris. Amiens, England-anc
America.
Germany is not making all the pre-.
paratfons. however. In the few days
Of comparative quiet and inactivity
the British and French armies have
been massing their reserves and now
General Pershing is adding to their
strength that Of his superb, though
small army.
General Foch has been put in COM
mand Of all the allied forces. This
means that France and England have
composed their political tealousies In
the face of the peril which menaces
both their governments and the future
of the civilized world.
The crisis in the enormous conflict
impends. Despite all the shortcom.
ings and failure which are recorded
against this or that country despite
the delays and other unavoidable dis.
ADVANTAGES under which any Of the
armies is laboring, history in the I'll.
ture will record only the results. Elk.
plantations and excuses cannot avail
against Prussian force. The allies,
with what strength is theirs, must
overcome the Potsdan terror. or civ
ilization must go back thousands Of
years.
Americas soldiers are there, and
with them are Americas hopes and
confident assurance that they Will
give a creditable account OF them
selves. 1t Is certain that they will add
moro than the ordinary strength OF
100000 fighting men to the allies line
for they will hearten and encourage
the French and English soldiers by
their very presence.
Where are the Americans; when
are they coming in?" has been the
question up and down the western
front for months. Today the soldiers
of our allies get their answer.
And upon the loyalty and sacrific'
ing patriotic service Of every individu.
al American citizen at home depends
the answer to the question:: "Will
Americas strength in Europe con
tinue to grow with the speed that
must be exhibited II America and her
allies are to win the war;"
Every loyal act, every act Of con
servation. every blow to pro-German
propaganda that is recorded here In
America will help to make the answer
to the question an Affirmative. Every
productive acre of land will answer
"Yes." Every wheatless or meatless
meal, every War Savings Stamp and
every Liberty Bond answers Yes.
Every day Of productive industry an.
swers Eyes" And only the disloyal
slackers' voices will be heard in the
noQ0tiye
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-05
CIVIL SERVICE A FAILURE

Civil service Is not good feature
of city government when applied to
the police force. After several years
of this system in this city 1t is appar.
ent to all that as far as the police
department Is concerned civil service
is flat failure.
One Of the claims made by the ad'
vocates Of this system was that 1t
would make the policemen independ.
ent OF lax administration and able
to do his duty at all times. In other
words, II the mayor told policeman
not to see violations Of the law, the
policeman would not have to obey
such an order as he would II he were
merely q political appointee Of the
mayor. Again II the policeman made
an arrest of man he knew was guilty
and the police judge released the
prisoner, the policeman could make
the facts known to the public without
fear OF dismissal.
Those things are theoretically true,
but don't turn out that way In prac-
teal operation.
Under the civil service plan a po-
liceman does not have to ignore law
violation IL he doesn't want to. But
he does ignore many kinds OF viola
ton in Ottumwa. The city and county
ofYicialsN know that the law is being
violated here all the time. II they
don't know 1t, then they. are not com.
petent to fill the oflices they hold, and
draw the pay they are getting from
the tax payers. 1t is ridiculous for
the oflcials to claim they cannot
check the open, fragrant and rotten
lawlessness that Is going on here and
has been going on for months.
II one OF these ofiicials whose sworn
duty 1t Is to enforce the law would
watch, for couple Of hours. the doors
OF any one of several places he him.
self knows is a resort for lawbreakers,
and write down on a memorandum the
names Of the men he knows who go
in there, then turn those names over
to the foreman Of grand jury. he
would be doing something in the in
terest Of law and good government
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-05
TWIN CAMPAIGNS

The Liberty Loan campaign and the
War Savings Stamp movement are no
more rivals than the super-dread-
thoughts and the destroyers Of our
navy are rivals.
War Savings Stamps and Liberty
Bonds are two forms OF the same
financial operation OF the United
states government. They were author
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-05

duced to the disappearing point II city
and county oficials with police pow
ers are eflcient and conscientious. In
deed, II they are merely conscientious
It is dinlcult for the bootlegger to OBJ
tain a foothold. The experience OF
Ottumwa is not an indication OF q
weakness Of the laws; it is proof OF
laxness on the part Of the omctals
charged with enforcing the laws.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-05
PREVENT FIRE LOSS

One of the most popular methods OF
sabotage and destruction followed BY
German spies and sympathizers is
that Of setting fire to property IN the
United States. To do their utmost to
iniure America and the American
cause. these agents Of the enemy ap-
ply the torch, as rule, to buildings
and, factories where food or munitions
are manufactured or stored.
But II they merely went about. set
ting fire to residences or other build
ings without regard for their use they
would be aiding the enemy and dam
aging their country to degree, Tor
whenever fire occurs In America, no
matter. where 1t may be or what the
cause may be, the destruction OF prop
orty and the necessity for expenditure
Of money and labor In repairs or re-
placement constitute drain on the
resources Of the nation, all Of which
should be turned Just now In the d.
rection of winning the war.
There Is . patriotic reason, there
fore. In addition to the reasons which
ordinary caution and conservation
dictate, why every loyal American cit
ixen should constitute himself vol
untary fire marshal, vigilant to pre-
vent fire loss and waste.
This is patriotic duty which every
person can perform, regardless OF age,
sex or other circumstance. Guard
AGAINST fire. Prevent fire loss by
preventing fire. Exercise extreme
caution to avoid accidents which can
result in fire.
Nee h,,uarod roillion dnllara have
been going up in smoke each year IN
America, and most of this loss could
easily have been prevented by the ex-
ercise of reasonable precautions.
Much of the property destroyed was
grain, foodstuffs and supplies OF which
the country and it's allies are now IN
serious need. The citizen who cannot
10 to the front can show his patriot.
ism by doing everything possible to
reduce the fire waste and thus con-
-serve the natural resourcees
President Wilson, In an. appeal to
the public, pointed out this patriotic
duty when he said: "This is the time
for America to correct her unpardon-
able fault Of wastefulness and extrav-
agance. Let every man and every
woman assume the duty of careful,
provident use and expenditure as a
public duty, as dictate to patriotism
which no one can now expect ever to
be excused or forgiven for ignoring.
The preventable fire waste OF the
country is one Of its most "unpardon-
able faults The state fire marshals
and other experts agree that Is per
cent of It is due to carelessness, In:
dividual and municipal. What crime
It has been, in view Of the present
crisis, that over fifty million bushels
Of wheat have been burned during the
past year, on the farms and in the
grain elevators Of the country! Most
Of this loss also was due to careless
ness and lack Of the ordinary precau-
ton against fire.
II property owners would clean up
their premises, get the rubbish out OF
their attics and Easements, be careful
about matches and smoking, inspect
their flues and heating appliances,
and do the ordinary. common-sense
things necessary to reduce the fire
waste, they would perform patriotic
service, would protect life and prop
erty and would pave the way for low.
or insurance rates.