davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-02-13
w. w. Comstock Assistant Attorney

Attorney w. w. Comstock, of West
Union has been named assistant
County Attorney of Fayette County,
by County Attorney James Cooney,
who left last week to enter the avia-
tio1 service of the United States
army. We note also by the West
Union Gazette that Mr.. Comstock al
SO will be candidate for County
Attorney at the June primaries.
Well here is hoping he wins.
BILLY is a good square fellow and
well qualified for the position. He
is well known in Decorah, having
been Judge Hobson's Court report
er for 20 years.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-02-13

Lines, fully five Aours late, as many
freight trains these days have pre-
ference and | feel that they should
nave, because most of these trains
carry coal, not only through
New York state, as well as other
states in the East; but also through
the far west; in fact, all over the
country. The coal situation here is
fully as bad as it is at home; in fact,
more so, and while it was thought
a week ago that the factories here
as we'll as all stores would open
again Monday as before, still the
matter has been delayed and the
thought now is that the shutdown
will remain until another week or SO.
This sort of thing naturally is very
hard on great many business peo-
pie. bu. they are taking it in loyal
spirit as is evident all the people are
united in doing their 'rbt' towards
the ending of this frightful war.
The food situation is being observed
to the letter; all hotels are living
up 20 it and great many of them
instead of having one wheatless day
in the week, are going still further
and having wheatless mornings
they serve mainly corn bread; in
fact, anything in the line of bread
that is made out of corn. The hotel
where l am stopping is surely doing
it, and what they serve tastes well
and it seems to me it is a very easy
thing to live up to. The city is
as lively as ever; all the stores are
busy: factories are working day and
night, and especially those who are
doing Government work. Munition
people are finishing their orders as
fast as possible; and as to the wool
en- mills, who have Government con
tracts, they have two shifts, so there
isn't an idle moment during the day
nor the night. Orders have been
SlhSH ny lue iUu,UOO lOI SOlulclf
uniforms, and | happened to be al
one of the firms with whom | do
business, who have an order for $50
900 pairs of soldiers trousers; an
other firm whom / know very well
have booked $4,000 pairs of blan.
kets for the Government; in fact. ii
seems that every concern IN the
United States has some sort Of con
tract from Washington, all of which
is being rushed just as fast as ma
chiaery and human hands can do it.
The tOrpedoing of the transport
Tuscania has put gloom over the city
as it was at first thought that more
than 1000 of our brave soldiers
were killed; but fortunately that re-
port wasn't true, and the latest Is
that about 200 have lost their lives.
Surely this is bad enough; but il
might have been a great deal worse
There was quite an excitement the
other day, as there was report on
the street that Theodore Roosevelt
had passed away; but 1t was not
true, and at this writing, while his
condition Is serious. still he is good
Continued On last page)
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-02-13
Eating Horse Meat in Iowa

Many of the daily papers have re-
Gently been telling about the horse
meat markets il the cities and the
large business they are doing. Now
comes word that these large centers
of population are not the only ones
that have resorted to horse meat this
winter. A family out in MaXfield
township near Waverly has recent
ly butchered horse and are feast
ing on its flesh. They say that the
meat is sweeter than beef and in
every way palathDle. We don't
know why it shouldn't be all right,
but some way we rather dislike the
thought of eating old "Dobbin. -
Waverly Iowa Independent.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-02-13
Jan. s, 1918.

Jan. 3, 1918.
My Dear Father and Mother:
l have received quite a few letters
from you in the last two weeks, but
we have been drilling pretty hard so
never did get chance to answer
any of them until today. We have
been having some pretty bad weather
lately There was about five or six
inches of snow on the ground, and
yesterday it rained That and the
snow melting made the ground
pretty wet. and we were out i'll all
of il. We waded in water and slush
up TO our knees nearly all day.
have received all your packages. You
certainly did send me lot of good
things. You must thank them all
for me, and I will try TO write as
soon as possible.
go to the Salvation Army nearly
every evening" They have good cof-
fee and doughnuts, AID believe me
| can eat bunch of them. They
certainly are good. They also have
all kinds of candy and cookies.
CONTINUED on last page.)
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-02-13
PUBLIC OPINION READ
over IN FRANCE
Leo Paine Writes That He Receives
the Paper and all the Soldier
Boys Appreciate it Very
Much.
INTERESTING LETTERS
FROM OUR BOYS
He.of Holm, Anton BernatZ and
George Paine Tell About
Their Experiences. Sunny
France Enjoys Cold
Weather.

Below we publish several letters
from our Decorah soldier boys who
are now in France. They enjoy
reading Public Opinion, which we
send to all the boys of whom we
have a correct address.
Somewhere in France.
jan. 6, 1918.
Dear Folks:
Just a few lines to let you folks
know that | am all right. Hope you
folks are doing we'll 1t is colder
than blazes here. We have only got
about four or five inches of snow
yet, but by the air tonight l have
reason to expect more. We have all
got hip boots, so let her snow, al
though there is plenty of it for me.
We sure have a fine Y. NJ. c. A. here
am there writing now. Some of
the boys are singing and playing the
piano. Then there are checker boards
tobacco and cigarettes and lots of
other American articles. There are
services here tonight, too. Old mail
still comes in. Some came today,
sent Oct. goth. got another Public
Opinion today from Dec. 5th, that
wasn't such bad time. 1t is fine to
get good old Public Opinion way
over here. All Of the Decorah boys
are glad to read it, so 1 pass it
around. Fred Amundrud and came
up to the Y. together tonight. Eu-
gene wrote quite letter last time.
1t is too bad about Harry X. He was
a good old scout. All of our mail has
to be censored. Well, folks, this is
not much of letter, but is the best
l can do, so will close.
With love to all,
SON GEORGE.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-02-13
Grand Opera House Couldn't Hold
the Crowd Wanting to Attend
the Lectures by National
Speakers on the War.
THEH DROVE THEIR
SUBJECT HOME SOLIDLY.
We Will Have More Food Savers
Here Now Than Ever Before
The Matter Has Been
Put Squarely Up to
Our People.

If anyone thought the people of
Decorah and Winneshiek county
were not interested n> the world
war all such thoughts were dispel-
led last night, as the Grand opera
house was packed from pit to dome
with the most enthusiastic audience
Of loyal people ever in the building.
Hundreds were turned away.
The speakers were Miss Isabel
Beecher, of Birmingham, Alabama,
Hon. Everette Colby, of New Jersey
and Dr.. Lyman Wilbur, president OF
Stanford University.
The Luther College band, supple
mented by the Decorah City band
was on the stage and rendered seve-
raj fine patriotic selections before
the speakers were introduced by
Mayor E. j. Hook in a few we'll chos-
el and appropriate words.
The speakers came to us with
messages on Iood conservation.
Miss Beecher spoke first, followed
by Mr.. Colby, and their talks were
listened to most attentively. They
knew their subjects we'll and also
the needs of the United States in
this world war. Food conservation
was the principal point driven home
to the audience. Mr.. Colby re-
turned from the battle front il
France six weeks ago, and told from
first hand facts many things, that
were almost unbelievable to the av-
erage person, unless they were there
and saw it.
The point is, the people of this
county must save wheat and meat.
AS Mr.. Colby says, we are not sup
posed to use ham or bacon at all,
but we can use all the poultry and
fish we want, and the rations of
other foods per week per iperson
is Y lbs. of meat, lbs. war bread,
25 per cent some other cereal, II
OF. white flour, Z OF. butter, OF.
fats. On Saturdays no pork.
DR.. Wilbur was the last speak
er and we believe if there were any
food conservation slackers within
his hearing they were converted to
tne call of the Government. We
don't know of any speaker ever ap-
pearing here who drove his words
home to the hearts of the people
we must save food, and if we didn't
we would lose the war, but if we
saved we would win, and who is
there in this community that will not
heed DR.. Wilbur's words of wisdom.
Today everybody is talking about
the wonderful talks last night, and
from now on it will be fight to the
finish by everyone to help lick the
Germans, by helping the boys at the
the front, by conserving foods here
that is needed by the soldier boys
who are fighting our battles across
the sea.
From now on don't be food
Stacker You know how the sol
dier Stacker is looked upon. If you
can't fight at the front, fight at
home and help save food, and we
will win this war.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-02-13
Somewhere in France.
With love to all,
SON GEORGE.


jan. 1, 1918.
My Dear Father and Mother:
| just received letter from you
and one from Karl, and l also re-
ceived a couple of papers.
l am still having a good feast on
the things | received in those pack
ages. / received that list of the
things you sent me and everything
was there. l will try and write
Uncle Chas. today and thank him
for the light he sent me. l go down
to the Salvation Army nearly every
evening. There are two women there
and they certainly are fine. They
cook doughnuts and hot chocolate
and believe me, they certainly are
good. We certainly do go after
those doughnuts AID it keeps them
busy making more. 1t il quite cold
out today and last night we had more
snow. l do not think snow stays
very long as none of the people have
sleighs, at least l have not seen any
yet. We have little stove in our
quarters which is used to heat the
place. 1t does not give much heat
but we can cook some good eggs on
it, We borrow skillet and have
French fried potatoes and eggs.
Well, l must close now and l wish
you all a Happy New Year.
Your loving son,
ANTON.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-02-13

A law that applies to one. man
should apply to every man alike =
that is why some of the poor fellows
envy the rich fellow.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-02-13
Basket Social i'm Canoe.

A basket social will be held at the
school house in District No. A.,
Canoe township, Saturday evening,
Feb. 16, for the benefit of the Red
Cross. All are invited. and bring
your baskets. Hilda Peterson.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-02-13
FARM BUREAU
ORGANIZED HERE
Officers and Directors Elected for
Winneshiek County at Meeting
at Court House Last Thursday
WILL ORGANIZE WORK
OF FARMERS IN COUNTY
One of Best Organizations for Good
of the Farmer in the State.
Nearly 200 Belong Now.

A meeting of the Winneshiek
County Farm Bureau was held al
the Court house last Thursday and
a very interesting talk and outline
Of the work was given by Merl
| Mcdonald of the Iowa State College
at Ames.
Officers and directors were elected
and much interest was manifested
at the meeting. Up to six months
ago only 20 counties were organized.
now every county in the state is Or
ganized. Nearly 200 Winneshiek
farmers belong now, and every one is
asked to join.
A farm agent will be elected later
and will have an office here, perhaps
in the Court house, and farmers can
call on him and get information at
any time. The Farm Bureau is a
fine thing for any community. For
instance in Blackhawk county the
agent there planted three different
samples of corn. BY the experiment
he found that one seed was raising
more than ten bushels to the acre
than either of the other two, so this
particular corn was standardized for
that county.
Another instance we may quote is
the fact that farmers in Floyd coun-
ty had surplus of hay last year.
The county agent got in touch with
other counties that did not have any
hay to speak of, and as a result got
these farmers to Floyd county and
sold out all the surplus hay the
county had.
Another thing the Bureau has
been doing is working along the line
of checking hog cholera, and go out
with competent veterinarians wher-
ever an outbreak occurs and check
it.
A meeting of the board of direc-
tors will be held at the Court house
Saturday, Feb. 16, at one o'clock p.
m. Following are the different Off
GERS elected:
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-02-13
Square Dealer, Who is i'm the MetrOp-
oils Buying Spring Goods, Writes
us an Intert 2 Letter About
Activk here.
COAL SITUATION "a IN.
NEW FIX ALSO.
Lady Conductors on Stree, Do
ing the Work of the Men /. e
Shape, and the Cars are Rn
ming just as Fast as Ever.
Hotel Knickerbocker,
New York, Feb. Ii, 1918.

New York, Feb. Ii, 1918.
Ny Dear Editor:
/ have been here a week and
have at least attempted to do my
usual work. 1t is not particularly
easy this trip, as there seems to be
quite change in merchandising;
but at that, l feel that | have done
very we'll and hope to finish up with
what l have to do within the next
three or four days.
! came via New York Central
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-11-02
AMERICAN TROOPS SUCCESSFULLY RESUME SUPER DRIVE
ALLIES IN FLANDERS ADVANCE MILES ON 10lMLE FRONT
,AIIANS CROSSING LIVENZA REAl
WHEN REVERSES COME
GROW TIRED OF WAR

At the British Front, Nov. -
Ono Of General Ludendorff's last
official communications to the Ger
man army before he was forced out
for playing politics read:
I'VE are falling back according
to a pre-arranged plan, for our own
good Fathcrland Is In danger. and
l expect every man to do his duty.
Don't lose your heads in case
of capture. Don't give up any. In
formation, as 1t will benefit the en-
envy
A copy OF this appeal was found
I'm the town Of ST. Leger.
1t Is learned that after the re-
verses OF the last few days the Ger
mans have been given to under
stand that the whole Of Belgium Is
to be evacuated by November 10.
Evidence that the German army's
morale Is steadily declining Il found
ON all sides. In some quarters 1t
Is even believed that IL the allied
pressure continues and an arnis-
tic is not signed soon the German
war machine may crack like the
Russian.
Even the German airnnen are
losing their old time cockSurcflness.
A sign found In an abandoned
hangar in Belgium read: Read. r.
Tommie, bon jour meseieurs les
francais. Don't shoot us any more
than you have to. We arc tired OF
war. Vivc la PAix.''
While these and similar signs OF
the cnemy's weakening continue
To pour In almost hourly. further
TRANSACTIONS Of captured documents
regarding the treatment OF civilians
In the occupied territory give the
lie to Beriin's osIicjal denials Of
the last few days.
One document, dated September
30, signed by q district command
ant, said:
II md from personal experience
today that in some quarters there
still Is uncertainty rs to whether
resting troops may claim rooms and
beds belonging to inhabitants for
their troops exclusive use. The an.
swer Is . complete Affirmative.
Beds, wherever found, are to he
taken unhesttatinxiy from the tn
habitants for use In hille4A Fur.
fhcr. all living rooms are at the
disposal Of the billcted troops. The
Inhabitants are TO be relegated to
the floor"
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-11-02
REPORT
FROM SUPREME
COUNCIL TODAY
Copy to Be Transmitted
AT Once to President
Wilson.
TERMS TOGERMANY
United States to Forward
Papers TO Central
Power-Desire flor
Harmony Prevails.

Paris, Nov. lit was pre-
dieted in authoritative quarters
late this evening that definite
terms will be fixed by the
Versailles supreme council be-
fore the week is over.
In the same quarters it is con-
jectured that as soon as full
agreement has been reached on
the terms, a report will be
transmitted to President VIII
son for approval.
/ the president &ill be re-
quested if he aBproves,- to for
ward the TERMS to Germany,
since the demand came through
Washington.
After informal conferences
at the residence of Colonel
House in the morning. the
statesmen and military chiefs
repaired to Versailles this
afternoon where the second for
NAL session was held. The first
took place yesterday, all previ-
GUS conferences having been of
a preliminary nature and held
at the French ministry of for
eign affairs.
Japan and Belgium formally
took their seats in the great
council this afternoon. The
Greek and Serbian premiers,
who were for the first time seat
ed yesterday, were again pres
ent today.
The French censorship for
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-11-02
Hobson May Be Chosen Director
Of Department Of Public Welfare
Activities OF Commissioner in Present Influenza Scare Places
Him in Spotlight and Leads to Belief He Will Be Named
BY Mayor Ainsle-Then Up to Council

The subcommittee Of the special
council committee on charter amend
ments. embracing Alderman Ordway
Fuller. Councilman R. l.. Peters and
Councilman Morgan r. Mills has been
busy this week working on its report
to be submitted to the general COM
mittee As soon A. practicable. This
committee has the brunt OF the forma-
tion OF report which is designed to
conform with the provisions OF the
new charter
The new charter provides for the
naming OF heads Of various divisions
OF the city government. to be known
as directors. One Of these directors Is
to he at-thc- head Of the department
OF public welfare. This director will
have the general management and
control OF the public health. sanitation.
public markets. milk and food sup
plies. public hospitals and sanitariums.
public baths. public charities and pri-
waite hospitals to the extent OF being
authorized to inspect the same under
rules and regulations to be prescribed
by the council Of the city of Richmond,
the city employment bureau, and such
other activities and enterprises as may
be determined by the council and such
other officers, assistants, clerks and
employees as he may deem necessary
for the proper administration OF his
department.
The Logical Man.
With the abolition OF the admins
trative board, the natural inference In
the minds OF most people ID that the
chief health officer OF the city. being
2 practical phyaician. and man be-
iieved to be competent to handle the
affairs OF the department OF public
welfare. would be named by the
mayor for the head Of the proposed de ;
partment. and II follows also that the
nomination BY the mayor would meet
with the approval of the city council,
Had there been such an office At
this time. the director Of public well
fare would have had supervision OF
the activities Incidental to the work
Of hghttnK the influenza epidemic and
the establishment Of the quarantine.
There being no such OFFICER the ad !
minlsrative board Itself, having hecn
empowered with the conduct OF the
health Department upon the dissolu-
IIfe4 AZ - 6oaSA WHICH formsrly han.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-11-02
TAKE Z YEARS TO
DEM0B|llE ARMY
Immense Task Is Ahead of A.
f. T. Even After Peace Is
Declared.
MUST RESTORE FRANCE
Will Take a Year to Clear Bat
tlefields of Barbed Wire,
Allied Officials tell
Col. Du Pont-
MUST RESTORE FRANCE

New York. Nov. i.-Demobiliza;ion
OF the forces in France after the war
Will require at least two years. &C
cording tic a statement issued today
by General T. Coleman du Pont. who
has Just returned from two months
visit to the western front. He con-
ferrsd there with high officials of
each OF the allied governments and
brought this estimate as the minimum
expectation of the army officers.
General du Pont said. In part:
The military erilciais have been
urging us to think III terms OF long
war. AMI now they are equally in
sistent that we begin to accustom our
selves 10 the thought of "A long de-
mobilization. There is an immense
task ahead OF our forces when peace
Is declared. One of our generals said
to me:
TELL the people back home thai,
ii will be two years at least befor =
they see us all, We have year
work just to untanGte the barhed wire
strung back and forth across France
1T must never be said OF America
that she left her task half dons. We
owe everything to France. Our men
will haze to stand by to set her on
the road to restoration And MhiI :
they stand by over there it is goins
to BE- tremendously important that We
stand by them over here
Appealing for support of the United
War WORK campaign, General du Pont
said:
The civil war destroyed the careers
OF hundreds OF promising young men .
il turned them back into civil life
weakened and purposeless.4- This war
must not do that. The boys who havs
SACRIFICED so much TO win it must come
back stronger and better men than
when they left. ~
Il found the war work agencies in
France laying statesmanlike plans for
this trying period. Every hut in
France is to become a university class
room -1he day peace IL signed Under
direction Of leading educators and
business men of this country the boys
will be given every educational add
vantage"
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-11-02

died that work. has handled the situa-
ton, Through its efforts the school
board turned over the city schools to
the board, to be used as emergency
hospitals The city council appro-
priatsd $4,000 for the conduct OF these
hospitals
The health officer. being the execu-
tive officer of the health department.
having been placed in that position be-
cause of his efficiency and his pecu-
liar qualifications. and because OF his
ability and his technical know ledge,
naturally had charge of the details of
the conduct of the fgh. against the
epidemic.
Gnod Mark nj Doctors.
He invited into his counsel SOM OF
the most active and enerretic young
physicians OF the city. They accom-
plished wonderful things During the
course OF the epidemic the patients
were given the best OF treatment The
women OF the city. experienced and
inexperienced. volunteered their SER
vices. Hundreds OF interested persons
helped to hold down the plague
Drastic rules were issued by the de-
partment. Not always at the instiga
tfon of the chief health officer Soda
fountains were shut down. citizens
were not permitted to purchase their
accustomed drinks unless they were
taken from the bottle. Many such
drinks were not obtainabie in that
way. Dealers offered to supply indi-
vidual cups. conceded by many sane
persons. as about as near perfection as
anything of the sort could be. but
minor attaches OF the health office in
sisted that these safety cups should
not be used. In some restaurants and
lunch places however. patrons were
allowed to use ordinary glass tum-
hters and there appeared to be no ef-
fort at sanitation In this respect.
II was apparent that the ideas and
the theories OF the chief health offi-
Ger were not at all times in accordance
with the views at the volunteer as
sistants. nor Of the members Of the
administrative board, not one Of whom
processes to know anything about
medicine or sanitation.
Health OMtcers' Opintons.
Upon several occasions. Or. FlannA-