davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-07

important work. Although there is
much which Chairman Otis and his
committee must do to enlarge the
scope of their activities as time goes
on, they have the nucleus for won
derfully useful agency to which the
community will look with increasing
confidence as the years pass.
There is field for relief workers
volunteers, men and women, who are
fitted by temperament, experience and
sympathy TO help solve the countless
and intricate problems that are arising
in the families OF soldiers. This field
will broaden and field workers must
be recruited. This is an opportunity
for patriotic endeavor which will pay
immense dividends in the years to
come
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-07
Children's Evening Story

they had all vanished ~ II by mag1l
among the leaves.
What about that Katy youe1e. n
ways talking about?" Mr.. NlshthsM
then inquired. Don't you suppoa
you could find her and penuade hs
to do little jumping for me-just 4
show me how it's done?"
I'm sorry Riddle said somswha
stihly-"I'm sorry, but must absl
lutely refuse to do such thin1. MOL
that you've mentioned her, IN simpl
say Katy did. And beyond that I ca
not discuss her with you"
"She did what2" Mr.. NghthaM
wanted to mow-through his nose.
But Kiddie Katydid declined d
answer that question. He mersl
Rugged hfs wings closer to hts g1vei
body, and shot a sly glance at Nj
Nighthawk, as II to say. "Ah. that1
for you to md out But shant tel
your
Mr.. Nighthawk looked rather fool
ish. He had always supposed thu
anyone who spent a good part oEAsosi
night saying the same thing 0Vev M
over again must be quite dldl w91Dl
But now he began to think that pa
haps Kiddie Katyd1d was hratAta
than the field people eenasally bs
lieved him to be. And whap Kahn
suddenly asked him 4 question, hi
was sure Of his mistake.
did you know" said Kiddio, H$ha
Solomon Owl often visits. .theeo AeaEu
|bulld1ngDY
"Why, no! I wasu't. q 0p<t
Mr.. Nishthawk rap11ed with 4 Q0dA
nervous look behind him. ~WhA1
brings him here?"
~Chtckens!" Kjddts Katydn "a
|platned- Solomon Owl 10 wy NM
Of chickens. But they do ny thhbAsi
not above eating Nighthawk vhel
he happsns to stumble UP on onas
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-07
Mr.. coFFiN's TURN

A few weeks ago. when the utter
collapse of the ambitious program, OF
Howard Coffin's aircraft board was re-
vealed and the pins were set for the
Necessary reorganization of this i'm
portant arm Of the war departments
activities, the Des Moines Register
lost its temper in rebuking the senat.
ors who, in performing their duty, had
exposed the boards failure. The re-
buke was extended also to news
papers which commented on the facts
and The Register went on record
with the confident assertion that, in
due time, Mr.. Coffin would be able to
give an entirely logical and complete
explanation Of ~Aau that he had or had
not done"
Although An explanation Of failure
cannot repair the damage which that
failure has done. it might be interest
ing to hear Mr.. Coffin's statement, II
he Intends to follow the plan laid out
by his apologist. He evinced a
marked readiness last year to tell
through magazines and interviews,
about the mammoth air fleet he was
about to build TOR the government.
Since the collapse Of his plans WAS an
uounced there has been a notable alb
sence Of comment from Mr.. Coffin.
Yesterdays bitter discussion of the
subject in the senate rather puts 1t up
to Mr.. Coffin and his fellow members
of the board to say something. OBJ
viously, 1t is their turn. II they can
explain their failure perhaps 1t may
help their successors to avoid or over
come some obstacles. Explanations
are not airplanes, to be sure, but they
NAV serve as warnings.N
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-07
THIRD TIME THE CHARM

Waterloo May AFTER three At
tempts In one way or another to serve
Uncle Sam, Dewey Cotton, nephew OF
Phil C. Hanna. American consul g.
eral to Monterey. Mex. finally sue
ceeded in enlisting In the coast HaStil-
lery.
Dewey first tried to enlist m -
Quartermaster's corps, BIT ~
turned down. He was rejected a, -
final examination at Des MU1nQa mr.
entrance into the army, but ~
was accepted In the coast. artill1Tan6
has gone to Fort Logan, Cole
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-07
~ INVESTMENT

/ g (&fOm thursday DdlIyD
~ anything should happen to
| me, let's have no mourning, in
spirit or dress. Like Liberty
J. Bond IL Is an investment, not
/ losA when a man dies for his
| country.
! Thus theAnjunction and the conclu-
sion IN the goodbye letter which Lieu
tenant Dismore Ely, ayouthful Illinois
aviator, wrote to his parents from
France. It reached them yesterday, .
few days sitter the cables had brought
Men the news OF their sons death in
Hattle. He was an aviator; 1t was his
hte TO fall in an encounter with boche
antagonists. And Just before his death
he wrote. Don't mourn for me"
/, This 10 the spirit that is UNFOLDING
hundreds of thousands of American
boys, In the trenches, In the air, in tho
kralning camps, ON the transports-al
facing the issue of clash at arms IN
the greatest war in history. They have
given themselves without reservation
to the country. The cold statistics
Which have come out of the swelter OF
four yearg fighting indicate that GER
tain percentage Of each unit must SUI.
fer casualties. But these statistics are
faced with the same cool determine
ton, the same courageous pluck that
characterixes every action OF the
American soldier from the moment OF
his enlistment
It is impossibleto regard death from
m impersonal standpoint when II
touches ones own family. 1t is impos-
vible 10 refrain from mourning for
thoss We love. But the death Of q sol
der IL Q sacrifice which his surviving
relatives may share with him in the
conscientious that HIS life has not
been In vain.
Young Ely chose a particularly ex.
pressive phrase when he wrote that
4 MANS death for his country is like
an Investment in Liberty Bond. II
brings 20 much nearer the ultimate vic.
tory for which America is strainine
every effort, praying, hoping and sacri
doing.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-07

4mportance Of his position and nexh
sertousneas Of the emergency viii
which the nation Is contracted. G1oq
loyal American will approve his plaI
for rubbing soldiers to Europe assnp
idly - ships can be provided to cary
them
1t1sthe result that the country muSl
look to. supplying funds as they an
demanded to bring about that result
The cost Of winning victory will b.
as nothing compared with the cost Of
a defeat,
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-07
CROSS PURPOSES

The situation which has developed
with regard to the railroad coal con
tracts is one of the most serious ant
most une1plainable problems among
the many which have arisen in con
nection with the administrations steps
IN prosecution of the war. The event:
leading to the present deadlock may b.
stated thus:
Fuel Administrator Garfield,
with thesauthority conferred upon
him by President Wilson, fixed
uniform coal prices and ordained
that all coal consumers must pay
identical figures for similar coal.
Laterethiss same OFFICIAL defined
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-07
A PLAIN CASE OF JUDGMENT

The primary election law IN iowa
has been largely responsible for the
selection of inferior men for number
of important offices. The danger that
this record will be increased is con-
slant one. Every opportunity to avoid
1t should be improved as a measure OF
good citizenship and wise exercise OF
the voters privilege.
Because of the important function
which railroads have in the develop.
ment and progress of state, the ONCE
Of railroad commissioner is one o!
Wide res possibilities, requiring definite
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-07
RED TAPE DELAY

After delay Of several weeks the
silly rule against Including the ad-
dresses of soldiers with their names
in the casualty lists has been abol-
ished by President Wilson's order. 1t
never should have been instituted.
That It was is an evidence of imper-
feet understanding between the war
Anpartmeut IN Washington and Cen
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-07
eral Pershing's headquarters, con.
iition which calls for correction.

|eral Pershing's headquarters, a con.
dition which calls for correction. !,
II the length Of time that was &C.
cupied in the correction Of this error
is an evidence of the rate at which
business must move through govern
mental bureaus there can be no ques-
ton of the advisab1lity Of further
changes than those which already
have been made with view to elimi-
mating red tape.
President Wilson offered the Over
man bill. which was adopted by the
senate recently, to enable him to CEN
tralize authority, bring about coordt-
nation and cut red tape. This meas.
ure awaits action by the house, but
there is little or no question that 1t
will be approved when vote shall
be taken. There is every reason for
the house to hurry to consideration OF
the btlr and ballot on It without delay.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-07


Is the result of experience, training
and Investigation. Just now, with tne
railroads of the state and nation under
federal control, the problems before
state commissions are unusually com
pick and important. :.
There is need for the highest avail
able standard OF ability In the railroad
commission and fortunately the choice
Is an easy one to make. OF the four
candidates for nomination on the re-
publican ticket for two OF the three
places on the state board. two ere IN.
c,1mbents-Dwight N. Lewis and
Charles Webster. They should be
nominated and elected to succeed
themselves.
without criticism Of either OF the
other candidates 1t is easy for the vot.
or TO decide in favor Of Mr.. Lewis and
Mr. Webster on the score Of ability
and experience.
II there is virtue in the theory that
good service should be rewarded
Dwikht N. Lewis should be reelected
"A railrpad commissioner without 9
contest. For years before his appoint
ment to the board by former Governor
CLARKE in 1915, Mr.. Lewis was secre
t.ry OF tho Iowa railroad commission
and in active charge OF its Offices. he
became Z freight rate expert and &c
successful q student Of all the subjects
with which state railroad commissions
deal that his reputation for excellent
service extended beyond the borders
OF Iowa. Other states recognised his
ability and valued his advice, and on
more than one occasion his counsel
was found of value to the inteIstate
commerce commission and other ma
tional bodies. In short, he has made
the work Of the Iowa railroad commits
sion his life work, and when Governor
Clarke was called upon to make an ap'
pointment on the board to NIL vacan
CIV his selection Of Mr.. Lewis met with
instant and statewide approval.
Mr.. Webster has been In public life
for only few months but he has been
extremely busy in that time and has
performed the trying duties OF an en
tirely new of1oe in manner thai
stamps him 1 man Of resource and
ability. He was chosen state fuel q
ministrator by DR.. Garfield last fsu
and already he has created depart
ment which is performing notaoi<
service for the nation ana the state.
Governor Harding appointed Mr.
Webster to the railroad commission tt
succeed E. D. Chassell when the lattel
left Iowa. Mr.. Webster was QuAhhet
for the Office, having been stock ship
per and lumber dealer for severed
years. His duties as fuel adminastratol
and as railroad commissioner have
been identical in many instances ant
his ability to fill both otflces accept
ably and successfully is ample arsu
ment for his election to continue the
work he has carried on thus far.
Ordinary business judgment dictates
the reelection Of Mr.. Lewis and Mr.
Webster. The state may consider 1t
self fortunate in having their service:
at its disposal at this time. Polite:
should not enter into the consideration
OF their candidates.. Any employer
seeking two men out Of four for thu
| performance Of important duties
would decide mhesitatingly in favor o
two who possessed experience ant
demonstrated ability. The voters O
Iowa are able to mAke,a choice as cas-
ily and with certainty Of it's wisdom.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-07
The LIMIT

Lee Lang of Muscatine, socialist edi-
tor and convicted bootlegger, was CIV
en- the maximum sentence for his
crime by Judge Wade In federal court
at Davenport. Two years imprison.
ment and a fine Of $4,000 measure the
price Of hts disregard OF the law.
In sentencing Lang, Judge Wade
said: II cannot consent to turn this
man, loose. Ny conscientious duty is
to go as far as can In separating him
from the society which he scorns and
the activities which he uses only TO-
ward destruction"
The indictment against Lang
charged bootlegging. but his activities
as socialistlc a9itator and editor
seem to have been taken into consid-
GRAFTON by the judge In passing sen
tence. Our acquaintance with the law
is not sufficient to serve as basis for
an opinion as to the validity OF this
course, but there can be no question
as to fts moral propriety.
The socialistic agitator Is O. menace
to the government His aim is to de.
stroy that government and set up in
its place the same sort Of experimen.
tai, ruinous, destructive, atheistic rule
of greed, corruption and anarchy as
that which has wrought Russia's col.
lapse.
Socialism is a menace anywhere and
at any time. 1t was a menace in Amer
lea before the war. Under the pres
ent conditions in this country 1t Is a
disloyal effort to overturn law, order
and government The socialist does
not stop with opposing the war: he Is
not merely a pacifst. He opposes also
the government and the Institutions
whose permanency depends on the
wars outcome. Logically, then. his
doctrine of destruction cannot thrive
il America energies victorious from
the struggle. II he is thorough SO.
cialist he is pro-German. He cannot
be loyal to socialism and loyal to
America too.
Lang was convicted of bootlegging
Presuming that his conviction was
Just there appears no good reason why
the extreme penalty OF the law should
not be visited upon him, regardless OF
his socialistic activities. The bootleg.
ger is fundamentally an opponent OF
law and order and governm ent, just
as the socialist Is. The bootleggel
thriyes through the weakness and In
tempe1ance-Dfh his victimH, his patrUn6
He Is to be found opposing every sort
Of law enforcement.
Just now, when the nation needs It's
maximum strength and its maximum
man power for the prosecution Of the
war, the bootlegger 1s the tool OF Ger
many. He makes beggars and paupers
of men who, but for liquor. might be
useful. patriotic, effective citizens. He
robs them at once Of money and man.
hood. He saps the nations strength.
Morally he is as guilty OF sabotage as
is the sneaking l. W. w. traitor who
burns grain elevators. foments strikes
in war industries and breaches opposi'
ton to CONSUMPTION.
Lang, 1t seems, combined socialism,
and bootlegging. He went the limit
and he got the limit.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-07
FARMING rHE.FARMERs
(From Thursday's Daily

- (ETOm 'INurSOdy DdhyI
Yesterday In Washington, A. y.
Townley, president Of the Nonpa rtisan
league. defended the officers of that
organization against the charges OF ais
loyalty which had been made by Judge
MCGEE Of Minneapolis. a member or
the Minnesota public safety commls-
sion. Townley told the senate mill
tary committee the league had support.
ed the Liberty Loan campaigns ana
urged wheat planting in North Dakota
and Minnesota. He omitted tellng
about the convictions of representa-
tives Of the Nonpartisan league on
charges of disloyalty; he did not tell
the senators about the social1st1c ael-
tstors whom he has employed as organ
Tiers; he did not submit copies OF the
league'H official organ with Its at
tacks on the governments war policy.
He made defense which was accept
ed practically without sign OF that
cross examination which would have
revealed many facts Townley and the
other leaders of the Nonpartisan
league do not want the public to know.
Membership in the Nonpartisan
league does not constitute disloyalty,
but it encourages 1t. 1t paves the way
for socialistic disloyal, un-American
agitation such as the league and its
sooialistic spokesman have been dis
seminadng. \
In North Dakota, where the league
saw it's beginning, farmers are begin
ming to realize that they were duped
and deceived by Townley. In East
Grand Forks, Minnesota town just
across the Red river from Grand Forks,
81. D.. James Cummings has declined
tho endorsement of the Nonpartisan
leasue In his candidacy for state sem
,ator and has announced that he pre-
,ferS to make the race on loyalty
platform.
In q letter which he has written to
ne leasue's campaign manager Cum
rninss makes one point which merits
consideration. He says that while OF
Slcers and representatives OF the league
hsve been indicted and, in some cases,
convicted on charges OF disloyaHy,
none OF theseyrnen has been repudiated
norsrebuked By the Nonparttsanieague
nor by IT. headers, ;.
AZ : matter Of fact, the league and
atgleadsts have'taken just the opposite
,courso. They have accepted and
boasted io4 prosecution in the courts
"a . marx Of special service and q
brand q distinction. They have sought
% pose % martyrs.
/ M. Cummings denounces the Non.
DaY<9san league leaders who are farm
ing che farmers to enrich themselves
and construct political machine.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-07

his flashhght he read. ITO the Hooa
house" Yes he answered. 'Woeu
on thenghtsroad, and We didn't Glnou
it,
Unfted9tates Senator vardamanno
the story soea, once 1entsd plokt1os
The land was to be planted IN d0ka
to receive onerfouxth The omnWns
receive his fourth. Meekiug.3he,nGAt
Dor one deg, he said:
Look here, Sam, have you- harvest
ed your Enn?"
"Yos. boss. kong ago"
Wen, Wasn't ITO get a4fpu1th?s
'Yes, s1r, boss, Vhst's thsASyuth: ~
there wasn't NO fourth. lhnSrns
just three loads, and they was - =
A Washington man, motnens
through Virginia, stopped one 40R
toll bridge he had often pasos6 ~
and found there was new 1oeaeg9u
charge. Where's the man YhA I'D
TO act as keeper here!" aske6se
torist.
He's dead sir
Dead? Poor fellow! Joined ~lAe
great majority, ehr'
We'll" said the man caut3ously7r1
wouldn't like to say that, SIR. HeNas
q good enough man star as'T kne.ss
A Tommy, lying in hospits1 ~
beside him watch of curious an1Df.
eign design. The attendingsauu1o(9a
interested.
Where did your watch couaefkumgs
he asked.
"a German gave 1t to me- .he~an-
swered.
A little piqued, the doctor anassd
how the foe had come'to convey tbs
token Of esteem and affection.
e 'ad to" was the 1aconic.replA
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-07
DINNER STORIES

They had7lost'their way in,thedk1su
and expensive car. There's q sim
dear. Are We on the right road WA
his flashhght he read. ITO the Hooa
house" Yes he answered. 'WdRl
on fheright@road, and We Ndnstlanou
It.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-07

cialistic propaganda. They were bad
enough before the war as an influence
on public thought. Now they are to
be stunned.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-07


WHERE ARE THE FARMERS?
This appeal to prejudice Is made
within q few days after the appearance
of A. c. Townley. head Of the Nonpar-
tisan league, before the senate military
committee tn Washington. It's eutire
text, no doubt, win be circulated far
and wide by Nonpartisan league organ.
fzers az an argument to wiring mem.
bership dues from farmers in Iowa and
neighboring states. They need some
such shallow literature just now to boil
ster up their leaders since Townley
unfortunate debate with Senators
Weeks. Hitchcock and Reed. These
men made the Nonpartisan league
head admit that the leagues candidate
for governor Of Minnesota, c. A. Limo
bergh, Is the author Of book filed
with socialistic arguments against the
nations war policies. Townley's ties
timony before the senate COMMITTEES
brought out the leagues preference fol
organizers and agitators who rail al
the draft and utter speeches which at
tack the government and its course n
the world war.
In Washington, Brisbane and Hearst
took UP the Nonpartisan leagues lont
congressman, Baer. published hi!
speeches and his scrawly cartoons
They have identified themselves will
the Nonpartisan league as they hav'
With other cheap, .prejndice- feeding, 50
The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1918-08-26
THE
BY DIR. FRANK A

- eoPYRehT 'S5 ~ q 70. FRANZ cRAsE)
The report that comes from the Americans fighting in the adj
vance northward from the Marine is significant in that it shows that
their quality IS fighting men is no less than that of the trained
soldiers.
These Americans. taken from the shop and farm, and subjected
To a short period of intensive training, have proven their ability to
stand against the picked soldicry OF Prussia. They have fought hand
to hand with the select troops of the Pru@an Guard. and have come
of victorious. They have shown themselves as contemptuous of
death and wounds, as intelligent in military tactics, and ms rcSourceful
in strategy Is those trained men who have been soldiers all their lives
and whose fathers were soldiers.
The langusgc of one of the French commmiques is:
The young soldiers of the United States give each day q fresh
proof of their spirit of initiative and audacty, as well as Of their per
feet adaptability to present conditions of warfare.
Every one of the more responsible military critics has highly
praised the quality of the American troops.
The Germans have been amazed at thctmiitary efficiency of these
Amcricans--clerks and farmers. II has been a sort of gospel among
them that after they have bombarded with high explosives and deadly
gases the enemy should he terrified and surrender. Their frightful-
ness, however, does not seem TO affect the Americans, who come out
into the open, often rasly and unnecessarily, to meet the worst they
have 10 offer.
We could not take the village, because the Americans were
whore they had no business 10 be, - said II German prisoner, captured
at Xiyray, ON the Toul sector. They came right through the bar
replied navely, They might have been killed
Without boasing, il may be claimed that u finer and filter body
Of men never went 10 war than those that now form the American
contingent in France. They may not lac experienced soldiers, but they
have superb health, a high quality of intelligence, which is better
than The courage of custom and obedience.
And they have what is better-an indomitable spirit. II is the
spirit of a fighting democracy. They are not giving their lives for
a king, nor a system, but for an idea and Am Understandable principle