davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1919-08-28
GAMBLING INLAND.

A letter from Northwestern Iowa
TO the Leavenworth Times tells OF
enormous speculation in land NJ
that way. The writer of the letter
says that money is very plentiful,
everybody is buying automobiles and
the real estate agents have gone
crazy. They are proceeding about as
city real estate agents did with town
lots in 1SS7-sS in Wichita, Hutchin-
son and a dozen other cities. The
Iowa man says he knows of one
farm that was sold a month ago for
$500 an acre and which has been
turned five times since then and sold
the last time for $500 an acre. This
sort OF thing is mere gambling; some
day the bubble will burst very sud
denly. as 1t did in Wichita when
Marsh Murdoch called a halt and
then those who have bought without
the wherewithsl to pay win be ruin
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1919-08-28
HOW SMALL THINGS GROW.

Down in Il peaceful Ohio village {
workingman who owns a little cot
tage next door to small church, de,
cided to take advantage of the sum.
mer weather and sailed forth int
the back yard and proceeded to dis
a cellar, thus breaking one Of the
ten commandments.
Tired and stiff as the result of his
week day toll in a rolling mill. the
cellar digging did not go smoothly
The shovel baked as it struck the
hard packed clay. The pick made
but slight impression upon stray
boulders encountered on the cellar.
ward journey. Whereat, it is re-
corded, the digger spat upon his
hands and renewed his energy. Still
his progress was impeded by the hard
earth and many obstacles. Then he
spat upon his hands again and swore
loudly.
And another commandment was
shattered.
Buekling down to work harder
than ever, the man went on, hour
after hour, stopping only long enough
to cast covetous glances at a passing
automobile in which was seated a
wealthy neighbor who did not need
to dig cellar on Sunday or any
other day, because he already had
one.
And so still another command
ment was broken.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1919-08-28

Il good deal to make farm life more
desirable. have always felt that
was true but | had supposed that
maybe the cost would be almost pro-
hibitive for the average farmer
Judging from Mr.. Merrill-s expert
ence this objection does not exist.
regret I did not get the cost of in
Sailing the water plant hut under
stand that 1t was not great, even At
the present high cost of materials.
Still there is question in my
mind whether people with automo-
bies. modern homes and good roads
are better content than were the peo-
pie of 40 or 80 years ago, who either
rode in rough, springless farm wa
CONS. on horseback, or walked; who
regarded a smoky coal oil lamp as
about the last word in the way Of
| Illumination: who fought with the
| flies for food at the table, wire
screens not having come into vogue
and who were accustomed to bad
roads l months out of the 10.
Contentment, after all, is almost
entirely state Of mind. The most
contented people ! have ever SEEN
were those who seemed to me to
have the least reason for being salts
fed
have seen a family in an Arkan-
sas cabin. all barefoot and wearing
in the aggregate about 81 worth of
clothes. distributed among the fam
lily Of eight or ten, with no food more
luxurious than hog. cornbread and
sorghum molasses; all chewing long
green, and expectorating with pro-
fusion, width Of range and accuracy
Of aim that excited my wonder if not
my admiration, and yet for all Il
could see, not wave of trouble
rolled across their peaceful breasts.
Certain it is that people generally
in the United States live in at least
comparative luxury according to the
standards of 40 or 90 years ago, and
yet the volume Of discomfort seems
constantly growing. MAN never is
but always to be blessed" In ten
or fifteen years from now flying ma
chimes probably will be as common
as automobiles are today. The chill
dren of men will be able to leave thel
dust and CRIME Of earth at will, and
swifter than eagles fight will skim
above the surface Of the world which
will be spread below them in piano.
ranic beauty.
But will there be more happiness
then than now or in the ages of the
past? Perhaps not.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1919-08-28

Senator Borah: 81 have in my
desk perhaps the most brilliant de-
tense that has been made in Ameri-
ia of late years Of the policy of iso-
lation, so called, and of the main
tenance Of Washington's policy and
ID the Monroe doctrine, a defense
made four years ago by the Presi-
hent of the United States. He stated,
with his usual capacity for express
Asion, that our great object was to
maintain a situation wherein Ameri-
en- could live her own life. He con
Aended with great earnestness that
we should keep out OF all entangline
alliances with European powers.
With force and clearness, with full
mess and breadth, he covered and de-
1ended the mountaineering policy as
the only true and safe policy for this
Republic"
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1919-08-28
COUNTRY AND CITY.

The backwo0dsman who. when
visiting the city, gazes at skyscrap-
ers. goes wild with amazement, when
fire engine dashes by, tries to mail
letters In fire alarm boxes. ana does
other funny things to brand him as
unsophisticated is and always has
been the target for the city mans
jests.
The city dweller is prone to con
slider himself smarter than the coun-
tryman, and the man from the rural
districts is very generally looked M
on as a joke when he bitches up
and drives cityward
But, let's see if he is joke, after
all.
Let's analyze the facts.
Isn't 1t true that. despite his So
called verdancy, the Country man
comes very nearly getting away with
the lion share of the good things Of
life?
Isn't it fact that two thirds
possibly three fourths Of the United
States senator's and congressman
are country bred?
Isn't it fact that nearly every
president has sprung from the coun-
try-at least from small city?
And isn't it a further fact that
many of the great railway execu-
tives began life either on farms or
in villages?
How many city born and city bred
men have ever been elevated to the
presidency?
Think closely, and you will find
but very. very few.
Moreover. among lawyers, mer-
chants, editors, preachers, inventors
and empire builders, you will find
that a large percentage Of the really
successful ones came from rural en-
vironment.
The man from the farm or the
small town may be bit shy of the
great white lights of the city, he
may gaze in wonderment at the
height of the buildings and he may
be everlastingly green all the way
through as to the town fixin's,' but,
as a rule, he takes lead over the
typical city man in landing the
things Of this life that are really
worth landing.
After all, results count
And, If you will enter into careful
analysis, you will find that the city
man gets the glitter, while the bu-
collie brother remains in the back
ground sacking the real gold
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1919-08-28
WHY NOT FIX pRIcEs2

'sThe belief Is now almost univer-
sal among the peoples Of the world
that high prices are due to profiteer-
ing and that prosecution Of the pro-
-fiteers or the fixing Of few prices
will drop us back on the pre- war
level of prices overnight" says
Homer Hoyt, formerly of the Price
Section of the War Trade Board in
the Nations Business for September.
"If Congress starts to fix prices.
1t must fix thousands of prices. If
ii fixes retail prices, it must fix
wholesale prices or else the retailer
will be forced out Of business. If it
fixes wholesale prices, 1t must fix
EOsts, for the Supreme Court will not
issue writ Of mandamus to compel
manufacturer to produce at loss
II it fixes costs at lower level, 1t
must inevitably fix wages at lower
level, for wages are the ultimate ba-
sis of cost Wages are the chief ele-
ment in the expense OF putting raw
materials on the market, and wages
are the chief factor in fabricating
these raw materials into finished
products. Thus the end OF the gi-
gantic price-fixing undertaking would
be lowering of wages. Lower
prices bought by lower wages would
be fruitless trade"
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1919-08-28

The reason for the Presidents So
licitnde for Article X of the league
OF nations covenant. which In per-
petufty upholds the integrity Of the
British and other empires, now de-
Eelops. He wrote II himself and in
corpOrated 1t in the American plan.
the remainder Of which was rejected
for the British plan. The British,
controlling a third of the globe, ac-
cepted with relish n stand-pat world.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1919-08-28
ARE WE HAPPIER NOWp

Tom McNeal spoke out at the Gar
field community hall a few days ago
and in the Mail and Breeze philoso
phizes on the matter of happiness
He says:
! visited at farm house in Dick
inson county few days ago. The
farmer, Arthur Merrill, is young
man who was born out there. as was
his wife. Both are former students
OF the Kansas State Agricultural col
lege.
/ am always pleased to find stu
dents Of the agricultural college who
are actual farmers. There used to
be an impression that the agricul-
tural college graduates never went
back to the farms.
Farmer Merrill built modern
home last year ! know, of course,
that there are many modern farm
homes in Kansas but l had a better
opportunity to look thru this one
than any other ! have seen. First
this home is fitted with a furnace
and should judge it is a good one.
There is nothing very remarkable
about that either, as l suppose there
are good many farm houses now
heated with furnaces. The Merrill
home has electric lights and running
water. bath tub, and all modern con
veniences. The power that supplies
the electric lights and running water
is a small engine which burns oil.
1t uses only three gallons Of oil a
week at a present cost Of 80 cents.
And it also supplies the power to run
the family washing machine.
What especially impressed me was
the very small cost Of all this con-
venience to Mr.. Merrill and his fam
ily-scarcely in excess Of the cost of
kerosene lamps with none of the dis
agreeable odor; and then the house
is beautifully lighted. which is i'm
possible with the average old fashion
ed oil lamp. 1t occurred to me that
these modern conveniences would do
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1919-08-28
LEAGUE HAS NO BEARING.

The preposterous theory is advanc-
ed that one of the means of reducing
the high cost of living would be to
ratify, Immediately, without deliber-
alton, without consideration Of the
consequences involved, the dangers
invited or the obligations assumed,
the covenant of the league Of nations
without qualification, reservation. or
amendment.
This argument is advanced on be-
half of an administration which took
the responsibility Of delaying the
Of the peace treaty Many
months because Of its insistence up
on involving this country in the
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1919-08-28

Inquiry into the high cost or shoes
by the Suffolk county grand jury in
Massachusetts recently developed
that some shoe workers have been
earning $120 n week. These in
stances were said to be few, but 1t
was testified that many made $50 a
week, while the average was about
$40. Unskilled help, formerly paid
$12 to $15 a week, have profited
most, small boys getting as much as
$50 week.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1919-08-28
WON'T DEMOBILIZE.

Before the Bureau of Standards o
THE War Industries Board got afte
the national shop window, the Amer
lean consumer had range Of choice
unsurpassed in the tales Of the Ara
bian Nights. with no Oriental Snltar
to stay him, says the Nations Bust
ness
Bedding was II? There were five
hundred kinds to choose from. Paint!
4 hundred shades for his house. Wal
paper? He couldn't examine all Tho
existing designs in lifetime Five
hundred and eighteen different kinds
Of piano stools -Four thousand varie-
ties Of mems straws.
In the world Of production the
same chaos. congestion and waste
existed. There were two hundred and
eighty seven styles Of motor tires
five hundred ana eighty kinds
OF disc harrows, and six thousand
NdIlUllOllN VI INV p''if NihlGl' ~ ~
knife. From the cradle to the grave
the American consumer has been
given demoralizing freedom OF
choice. We may be free politically
but we are certainly not free
economically.
Standardization is an evolution
which will induce manufacturers TO
make processes and commodities uni
formly alike mp to a point short OF
causing disqualification Of n process.
IT means war on useless varieties Of
style in goods. II will eliminate con
fusion in the engineering world. 1t
will protect the consumer from hav-
ing to buy Selling points that are
not also quality points. It is not
opposed to freedom Of individual
choice, to the rights Of free men. or
to the continued growth Of varied
colorful and fascinating world.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1919-08-28

freight. The idea is for us to raise
wheat and corn and cotton in Ameri-
ca while Europeans raise hell over
one thing and another left unsettled
by peace conference the world win
yet realize made a horrible mess of
the job committed to it.
The ratification of the peace
treaty will have no more beneficial
effects on living costs than the tide
in the Bay of Fundy. Every man of
common sense knows this, and that
the arguments to the contrary are
advanced by politicians who wish to
play upon the hopes and desires Of
the people to accomplish their ends,
no matter at what sacrifice of the
truth. Great Britain has voted rati-
tication of the peace treaty and lea
que of nations covenant. Prices con-
tinue to rise in England, despite that
decision. A Ford fivver sells in
England for $1,000. Any 1913 used
automobile sells for the standard
price of a new machine of the latest
model of the same make. If there is
anything at all in the contentious OF
the covenanters prices ought to be
going down in the United Kingdom,
not going EDUCATIONAL Republican.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1919-08-28

cd and those who have paid for their
high priced land win be much poorer
than they were. Already, in that
Iowa county, the writer OF the letter
tells us, the banks are cautioning
their customers that they must go
slow. II Is well; and IL may be well
IL some Kansas dealers In farms
learn the lesson without having TO
learn In the school Of experience.
We have seen In some Kansas papers
recently, the claim made that land
In the counties In which the papers
are published is worth $500 an acre.
Go slow. Go slow.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1919-08-28

'league of authorizations; an ad-
ministration which had complete con-
troll of the administration and legis-
lative branches of the government
for six years, and in all that time did
nothing, admittedly, to fulfill the
pledge upon which President Wilson
was first elected-to break the grip
of monopoly. paralyze the plutocrats,
pulverize the profiteers, smash the
Especial interests and reduce the high
cost of living.
We have been feeding, clothing
and financing Europe We have
robbed ourselves to do this. The
drain Of our foodstuffs, clothing, raw
materials and money is what, most
of all, has sent the cost of living sky
ward in the United States. Our ex-
cessive prices here are in sympathy
with European high prices, these be-
war Europe has not gone to work.
NDisordered political and economic
conditions have prevented the re-
sumption Of industry abroad. There
is every evidence that European pop
ulations will continue to run amuck
so long as the people Of this country,
in the exercise Of altruistic interna-
tionalfsm, are willing to pay the
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1919-08-28

No case Of prohtcering has been
found in the recent examnaf ions Of
the retailers in this county There
seems to be some competition left
after all even II the government did
show the retailers how to combine
during the war.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1919-08-28

Mrs. f. Coping, who has been
i'll in the hospital for some time was
able to be removed to her home on
West Third street Monday.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1919-08-28

The daughter born to Mr. and
Mrs. r. Bruce Brunson Monday has
been named for her grandmothers,
and is called Virginia Frances.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-06-12
FIRE DESTROYS
>>ORION THEATRE
Opera House Is Complete Loss
Following Blaze Discovered ut
2 This Morning.

Orion, June 1.-THE Orion OPP
era house burned 70 the ground
early this morning.
Cause of the fire has not been
discovered. The conhagration
started about 2 o'clock and was toe
far underway to enable the fire de-
partment to give much service to-
ward saving the building.
The iremen. however, succeed
ed in saving the printing Office on
one side of the opera house and
the residence of c. ". Wilson on
the other, from destruction.
The building had recently been
remodeled and repaired at an ex-
pense of $4,000. Total insurance
carried on the structure and fur
niture was only S2,100.
The opera house was erected
About 20 years ago and has been
the scene of many historic gather
ings. No plans for the future have
been made and il is not known
whether a new auditorium will be
built on the old site.
This is the second fire within the
last month which has occurred in
Orion, the stock pavilion burning
recently, involving a large prop
erty loss.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-06-12
Save Horses First Then
Men Is Colonies Order
Says Captain Carlstrom

Because they we're found to he
clean. decent, manly boys"
Gives History Of Battery.
An interesting resume of the
history of old Company B, COM
posed of ~ men from Aledo aud
nearby vicinity was narrated by
Captain Carlsuom. In detail he
dwe1t upon their departure; their
training at Springfield and the de-
plorable conditions existent there;
their guard duty at Rantoui avia-
ton training encampment; their
transfer TO Camp Logan at Hous-
ton, Texas, and transformation
from infantry into field artillery /;
their training and drill work at
Logan, using sticks, logs and stones
for field pieces; their embarkation
for overseas, intensive training in
France, their conduct during the
st. Mihiel and Argonne offensives
after he had been relieved from
command, and finally of their dis
charge at Camp Grant and arrival
home. Throughout he was heard
with intense interest by a crowd
that damned North park and voiced
lIS 0AIAuoA1SSAS dPRAO'oA Al LIZ III
Certain terms.
Recalls Departure.
Particularly touching was the
commanders reference to the SOL
emn occasion of his departure from
AIedo on Saturday night, March 81,
1917, for Springfield with SO men
and three officers, choice manhood
from Aledo's best homes.
81 can never forget that evening,
which l have always since consid-
cred as the one supreme moment OF
my life," said Captain Carlstrom
huskily. The scene will remain
with me forever. 1t was in the
Presbyterian church and the room
was full TO its capacity. In a cleared
space were II of your boys, about
to depart from your midst, perhaps
forever. Clean, manly chaps every
one of them, with loving parents
whose anxious hearts were bleed
ing as duty called and sinister
war beckoned.
Must Uphold HOnOrs.
at was then that Captain A. A.
Rice presented me with the glass
frame containing the battle SCARED
remnant of the old One Hundred
Second Illinois battle flag. How it
drove home to me that upon we
men had devolved the responsible
ity of upholding and guarding its
noble traditions as these grand old
men Indicating the G. A. R. vet
erans) upheld them in the war Of
81. And when the women of
Aledo1presented US with that beau
tifuI silken flag, emblem OF our
country, how my heart swelled and
my eyes filled until the tears
streamed down my cheeks. was
not ashamed OF those tears either.
for it was then that began to rea
lie the terrible, colossal respon-
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-06-12

been recruited among the swarm:
of small boys, who, as hero wor
shippers, fell in line and tramped
behind the men in khaki yester-
day.
Aledo's streets were deserted by
all except untenanted automobiles
and buggies during the major pro-
gram at North park, and all bust
ness. perforce, came to q stand
still.
Captains Bereth and Torson
saved Battery B from probable ex-
tinction by moving from the prox-
unity OF o crossroads near which
they had been ordered to camp
during the st. Mihiel offensive.
The spot was shortly afterward
obliterated by a German shell fire
barrage.
The Argus man intruded on the
banquet in Masonic hall. He at
tempted to count those present,
but his range of vision to the far
table ends was obstructed by 4
disconcerting series OF heaped
plates and he was compelled TO
give it up, thus relying upon an
ever ready estimate.
"A few took occasion to observe
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-06-12
Especial to The Argus.)


Aledo, Ill, June 12.-"Take care
of your horses, they cost from $500
to 1000 francs. II you have time,
afterward, take care OF your men.
Horses are scarce, we can get
plenty of men"
These are the words used by
Lieutenant Colonel Holabird, for
merly of the One Hundred Twenty
third field artillery, in an address
to fellow officers in France, accord
ing to Captain Oscar E. Carlstrom
of Aledo.
The statement dropped like a
bombsheII among 5000 people who
had joyously assembled yesterday
as AIedo and Mercer county hap
PLY reclaimed its stalwart sons of
the One Hundred Twenty-third
field artillery. An ominous silence
prevailed as Captain Carlstrom,
now discharged from the service,
scathingly denounced certain reg
ular army officers whom he de-
clared were a disgrace to the uni
form which they wore.
25 Percent Unfit
There are about rs per cent OF
the regular army officers whom
would be glad to know and could
admire and respect. There are 25
per cent who are detriment to the
service and a disgrace to the uni
form and our flag" continued Cap
tain Carlstrom. AS he vehemently
expressed himself army men on
the platform and in the dense
crowd nodded their heads under
standingly, seemingly in complete
accord with Aledo's and Mercer
county's idoliZed commander, for
mer leader OF Battery B.
Discipline gained through 10y
atty alone is worth while" said
the speaker. "An officer who can
not get obedience and loyal respect
from his men is unfit. And the only
way he can get it is by placing his
men before himself at all times"
An outburst of applause greeted
this statement
Tribute 10 Men.
High tribute was paid by Cap
tain Carlstrom to the men Of Bat
terry B and of the One Hundred
Twenty-third field artillery. Il am
proud of those boys-your boys
my boys" he declared. They can
we'll be ranked among the flower
of the nations soldiery, ever cheer
full. ever willing and ever faithful
truly men! For seven months
after led them from Aledo and
Mercer county there was not d
court charge preferred against a
single mana remarkable record
for the army. At Springfield they
were welcomed into the very best
homes and treated royalty, and the
same condition prevailed after we
were transferred to Rantoul. WhyR
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-06-12

quotas toward improving the high
ways. 1t is said that on these roads
the oiling will be extended beyond
the five-mile limit originally decid-
ed upon and in one instance, on the
Millersburg road, extend all the
way tc that village.
The merchants and business men
of Aledo are more than willing 10
20 their share, Mr.. Merritt declared,
but as good roads are mutually ad-
ambiguous to both merchant and
farmer, the latter should do his
share IN effecting the improve
ment-
Mr.. Merritt estimates that ap-
proximately 100000 galloEs OF oil
will be used for oiling. The work
would be started at once providing
the condition of the highways was
such as to warrant It. The roads
are yet too damp, however.
With continued warm, dry wealth
err. the roads now in fair condition,
should be ready for the oil early In
July. I