davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-04-17
x X X Y X 4 \
SOLDIER BOY LETTERS
* X * x X 4 4
From Harvey Post. !,

: U. S. S. Utah, At Sea, March 2Sth.
My Dear Folks: We are at the
present at sea, enroute back to
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. we drop
DAY in the harbor Of Fort de FRANCE,
the capital of the island. Of Martin
i1ue. 1t is a French island in the
Lesser Antilles. 1t is said to be dis
covered by Columbus; it was his
second trip in the year of 1900. The
entire area Of the island is around
800 miles. Most Of this island Indb is h Of
read Mt Peliexwell-this mount is
the highest in the world. Before
the eruption of Mt. Pile in 1902,
the height wAs over 1000 feet, but
now it is over 5000 feet high, caus-
ed by the, volcanic matter in its
aHmt tro 41u the soG ship see The Ses{
looking women / saw were Creols.
A governor is appointed by the home
government of Paris, France. AL
SO have a few senator's. The towns
have their own government: By the
way the governor was on board the
first day that we arrived ! also thoi a
wives and children. They were the
admiral's guests. They are certain,
ly very good looking. l returned
back to the. ship at the same time
they came over. If you know few
words in French you get aiong1spien-
did. l had a wonderful time when
be on our way from the place, One
crew were drunk while we were
there. : About all the men do. there
is drink. The women do all the
work. In the saloons they are the
keeper. The rum they distillI here
is something terrible. II you orink
We we're only four miles from, Fl.
DeFrance. We were granted shore
leave. SO / visited this wonderful
thing 1t takes around three hours
to 20 to the top. You ride donkey.
At the top Is lake formed. They
say now at times this volcano is &C.
tive. The island proper is mostly
leys between it's rugged hills. You
would be surprised to know two
thirds of the land is under cultiva-
ton, the crop being chiefly tobac-
co, coffee, wine and some cotton.
Why, the land that is not under Gull
palm trees and tropical vegetation.
i noticed while was in Fort De
France to my surprise, there were
only few rail roads; they. were on
private plantations. The Popula-
ton of the capital is near 10000,
most Of them being natives-negroes
and mulattoes; they are a French
\ people. In fact, the entire popuia-
ton speaks the language. ! receiy-
ed Ruth's letter, very glad TO- hear
from her. So long since 1 Oheard
from any of you folks. We are :ex-
pecting mail on board tomorrow
1--WE arrive at Guantanamo): ! hope
that there will be a letter from you
dear folks. BY the way, | don't be-
lieve have told you that before ". we
left Guantanamo Bay we won the
5th division of the ATLANTIC fleet
championship in baseball. 50 we
feel mighty proud; certainly have an
extra good pitcher. AS to our boat
crew, they didn't do SO well. In the
final race we were only two or three
boat lengths behind. We fire our
twelve inch guns again next Mon
day. The five inch Tuesday. off the
BAY. Hope this finds you all in the
T best of health with love to, all,
HARVEY
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-04-17
From John MunyOn.
March s, 1919.

Dear Brother and An: Will try
ing to let you know that Lam all o.
k. and hope this finds you the same:
What are you doing. About all |
get done is take care of span OF
mules as we have to keep the har-
ness all shined up. We sandpaper
the metal parts to keep them bright
and they rust oyer night and so we
have the job to do over again. We
get Saturday afternoon off and we
get permission from the officer and
80 riding. We were out this after
noon and talk about rough riding
we Went up over the mountain side
and wound around a path, some
places we could reach out and touch
sthe rocks and could look down and
see the river hundreds Of feet below
us. If the mules had slipped | sup
yet. l sure would like to have a
picture OF some of the places We
passed as | can't write and tell you
couple of days ago. You ask how
far l was, from Luxembourg city,
am about rs miles northeast, but
the rumors are now that we will go
Ito Coblenz, Germany; 1t is on the
Rhine river. Did the 4olks get the
pOSlCdIuS anu piCtulcS tldL Hdu
taken? And | sent Edith book on
the history of the Castle of 'erdun,
the place l went to school. You get
it and read about the guys shooting
craps and about hearing the bones
rattle, but when /. was there
couldn't hear them. The people are
very funny; they try to make us be-
lieve that there are ghosts and
spooks and most everything else
around here, but they will have
hard time getting me to believe
them. Well wa are having pretty
good time now at present, consider
ing everything, although it is very
disgusting sometimes. Well the
boys are wanting to go to bed ana
the candle is pretty short will fin
ish later. Well TINS is Sunday fore
noon. The folks keep writing and
wanting to know if got thei' letter
stating they got the money l sent
home. / have written two dozen
times but seems like they don't ge,
it. Say, do they still send the
Grand River Local over here? l
haven't received but two papers and
that was in November. Has many
Of the boys got back yet? Has Ira
Foster got back yet? | see that his
division starts home in April. We
are billed to come home in May but
heard rumor that we will get
started in April but don't think so
myself. saw. a list of the different
divisions that sail in different
months up to July and !! don't see
: letter from him last week; he did,
=. - ~ -
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-04-17

Paris and lots Of other things to-
spend your money for foolishly.
When you get a feed about every
night that costs COS francs or about
$1.25 it soon counts up. We get
pretty good chow, but like change
when ! can get it: Mother, if you
know of anybody that has lost a boy
or in any section close to it, and
will get their name and where they
were buried, and serial number if
you can, I'll try to get kodak and
get a pass and try to find them and
get picture of the grave. | was. up
last Sunday to try and find a boy
from Boone but didn't, as | had to
walk about miles and got there
about 2 p. m. and had to start back
get to look over all the graves.
Thursday-Well, l had to close
last night as it\was time for lights
out. 1t has been regular March
day here today and is raining some
tonight. There are three boys leav-
ing tomorrow morning for the state.
They have dependents. to take care
of. There has been about 20 out OF
about 400, gone back. l don't have
any idea when the rest of us will
pull out but expect it will be quite
awhile. Well l am about out of
news SO will close. l am sending
you a few scenes taken in Chateau
Thierry. l remain your son,
Sgt. Raymond r. Lewis.
Dear Dad: l received your much
welcome letter. am all o. k. and
still kicking about. | was sorry to
hear that mother was feeling so
bum. I've been all right all winter,
only had the flu once and a cold, SO
got off lucky. This is an awful bad
climate for pneumonia as it is SO
damp and a bad place for blood
poisoning. We have to be careful
about every little. scratch we get on
account of the grease and dirt:
France is pretty country. 1t has all
kinds of places from the swamps to
the heights of the Rockies. | have
seen quite lot of France and there
is some parts / would just as soon
forget. tn around Chateau Thier-
ny" and Bellau Woods you can see
little of what He'll was from some OF
the pictures ! am enloslng. IL
wouldn't have been so bad ii II
hadn't been for the women and chill
dren of Belgium If it had only
been men it would not have been
quite so bad. Well I'll close until
get where can talh to you. Hoping
this finds you folks as we'll as 1t
leaves me Your son,
Sgt. Raymond r. Lewis,
M. T. c., q, Overland Park No; 7Oz,
800 Repair Unit, A. P. o. 702,
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-04-17
From Perry Latta.
Heffinger, Luxembourg

IlSAIiSSl, hCACl1AUul s,
March 16, 1919.
My Dear Wife and Baby: | viii
answer your letter received this
morning and sure was glad to hear
from you. | am we'll, feeling fine
and dandy, hope you are to. 1t
has been trying to rain all day and
hasn't rained either. They have
such funny weather here, as it rains
about all the time in winter. l will
won't be long, not over 6T days at the
most. OF course, those days will be
the longest days l ever saw, but we
will all cross the pond eventually
and gain our final objective which
is home. We will sure go on the
farm when l get back. | am sure
proud Of the way you conducted the
sale. know it was a hard job, but
you are right there, when it comes
to business. | am glad the sale was
good but don't think the horses
brought what they were worth. OF
course, they are not as high now as
they were. How much corn did you
sell at the sale, you never said?
But you sure got good price for it.
No, haven't seen Arthur for long
time. ! heard he was in the hos
pital, but it must be mistake for
he was up to this town to see 'me
yesterday and l wasn't at home;
>&as out with bunch of the boys
getting my picture taken: If they
are any good will send you some;
had some taken the other day but
they were mix good" Have you
any late pictures of yourself? II
you have would like to have one. l
don't suppose you would know me
now. am 50 fat and getting 50
lazy: | haven't done. MUCH since the
armistice was signed You see we
only drill in the forenoon and have
the afternoon to ourselves. l play
bail almost every afternoon, or go
horseback riding. l was over to,
l4arochette and Fishbauch yesterday.
wish you could see some of this
country; there are sure some pretty
spots around here. Did you ever
g gff the the TO po sens SsP1 mo yg9?
you hear from Jim very often? I
have written him several times but
haven't received any answer to my
~ now. well it Won't be long i'm
til l will be home too, We are 60
ing to get shot in the arm tomor-
row You know what mean, don t.
you? ! do anyway, if you don't.
often, Tell Mauae l will write to
her when get time. You know how
l am about writing. l do try to
write to you: | was just trying to
think when | wrote to father last,
and honest, it has been so long I've
forgotten when. ! must write him
letter tonight. will close this
letter and write you again in day
or two. | remain as ever your low
ing soldier husband, Perry
March 1S, 1919.
Darling Wife and Baby Lenore: l
will answer your letter received
today; was glad to hear from you.
am well and feeling fine. hope you
are to. also received a letter from
Maude, one from Belle, the first
that she has written me since + came
to France. She said Charlie was
sick: | hope he is alright by now.
Well, Nell. there isn't much here
that would interest you, only we are
returning home the first Of May.
That is all you can hear now. Ev-
efybody is anxious to get home. You
ask me what / was doing. I'm not
doing much of anything. We just
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-09-26
STEEL WORKERS
SEEK VOICE IN FIXING
LABOR CONDITIONS
Pres Gompera Told the Senate Investi-
eating Committee That Brutal and
Unwarranted Means" Were Used to
Keep Them from Organizing.

Washington, D. c., Sept. 26.--The
right of the employees to have some voice
in determining the conditions under
which they work is the paramount issue
in the strike of steel workers, Samuel
Gonpers told the Senate investigating
committee to-day Asked by Chairman
Kenyon to define the issues in the con.
troversy, he said;
The right TO be heard IL what the
steel workers are asking above all else
the right to speak with their employers
through their own representatives to
have some voice in determining cond-
tions under which they work.
"The right of workers to association
has been denied denied with all the
power and influence and wealth of the
steel corporation denied by brutal and
unwarranted means,
"It has been said that most of the
men taking part in this strike are of
foreign birth and not naturalized citi.
zens. That may be, and no doubt is,
true. The largest proportion of steel
corporation employees are of foreign
BIRTH but these men are brought here
by the companies.
There was for years a systematic
effort to bring in these gangs from Eu-
rope. There was a systematic effort to
eliminate Americans. They have har-
vest to reap now"
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-09-26
FALLS AMENDMENT
TO TREATY DEBATED
Proposal Would Relieve United States
from Service on Various Treaty
Created Commissions.

Washington, d. c., Sept 26 Amend
ments to the peace treaty had the right
of way in the Senate tot day for the first
time. Under unanimous consent agree
ment, the amendments suggested by Sen
ator Fall, Republican, New Mexico, to
relieve the United States from service
on various treaty-created commissions
were up for discussion. Considerable
debate centering about the amendments
is expected and vote is not considered
likely until next week
Senator Cummins, Republican. Iowa,
had announced that he would speak to,
day in opposition to the league Of ma
tions and at the conclusion Of his address
Senator Fall was expected to urge adop.
tion of his amendments.
Senator johnson, Republican. Califor.
MIA, was expected to leave Washington
to-day to resume his speaking tour, in
terrupted last week by the decision of
leaders to call up his amendment to the
league covenant. As it became assured
yesterday that the amendment probably
would not be called up for several weeks,
he decided to resume his trip. He ex.
poets to make his first address next
Wednesday night in San Francisco and
to speak later in Los Angeles and pos
sibly at a number OF points in Oregon
and Washington.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-09-26
BIG LIQUOR SEIZE.
Was Made by Customs Collectors on
Vermont Side

st. Albans, Sept. 20, Information was
received yesterday at the headquarters
Of the United States customs in this
city that at about 4 o'clock that morn
ing Oscar A. Dupont and Fred Nedeau
of Berlin, N. H., were stopped by Deputy
Collector Harry NJ Walsh Of this city
and Ralph ?. Flanders, who were assist
ing H. d. Marshall, deputy collector, at
Csanan, and quantity of liquor taken
from them.
The automobile which they were driv-
ing also was seized and the car and liq.
uor are now in the possession Of the
United States government. The seizures
We're made a short distance from the Ca
madam line and in addition to the auto.
mobile the following liquor was taken;
Eighteen cases Of gin, amounting to 269s
gallons, one case Of gin, one and one
half gallons, two cases of Scotch whis,
key, two cases Of brandy, six gallons
two quart bottles Of Red Seal whiskey
and one quart bottle OF cordial.
This is the second large seizure of in
toxicating liquors which the customs Of
fieers Of this district have made within
few days. II was taken under the
law which makes illegal the importation
Of such liquors into the United States.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-09-26
At AGE OF 99 KEEPS UP
INTEREST IN NORWICH
Simon NJ Preston of Seattle, Wash,
Writes of His Connection with
the University.

At the age of 80 years, Simon Nj.
Preston of Seattle, Wash, is one of the
oldest, if not the oldest living graduate
Of Norwich university. This fact is in
teresting in connection with the coming
centennial celebration of Norwich in
October. Mr.. Preston has, even at his
advanced age, written an extremely in
teresting letter to Secretary of State
Black which relates his war experiences.
Mr.. Preston evidenced his interest in his
native state by asking for certain publi-
cations from the publicity department.
According to Mr. Preston's letter, he
was born in Strafford April H. 1921. He
was graduated from Norwich university
in l845 at Norwich, when the institution
was small affair of two buildings.
He continues: ''Now at Northfield it is
rivsling West Point In my Goth year
my health is good but my cane is my
constant companion"
He writes that he was in the Civil war
and devoted much time to training fresh
troops. He spent two years in Raleigh,
n. C., training cadets in military schools
and then one year in Norwich, having
full charge of the university. The first
regiment he trained, Gen. Grant said was
the best marching regiment he had ever
seen. He would not make an excep-
tion in favor Of the regular army,
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-09-26
HOPE TO AVERT STRIKE.
Although Bethlehem Steel Co. Refused
to Meet Committee.

Allentown, Pa, Sept 26.-Nothwith-
standing the refusal Of +. g. Grace, pres
ident Of the Bethlehem Steel company
to negotiate with the steel workers ma
tional committee, feeling of optimism
prevailed here to-day and it was hoped
that strike ordered for next Monday
night be ayerted.
Mr. Grace notified the union commit
tee that the Bethlehem company would
not depart from its present system of
collective bargaining. Under this sys-
tenn, he said, the men had an oppor-
tunity to take up grievances with the
officials of the company at any time,
Union leaders declare the system is zone
sided and unfair"
Local union leaders pointed out that
the relations between the American Fed
Grafton of Labor and the Bethlehem Steel
company in its shipyards were highly
satisfactory and for this reason they
feel that a strike may be averted.
The Bethlehem company is the larg-
est independent steel corporation in the
country, employing about $4,000 men. 1t
has plants at Bethlehem, Steelton, Read.
ing, Lebanon, Pa, and Sparrows Point,
Md.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-09-26
Decision To-day at Allen
town, Pa, on Big Addi-
tion to Strikers Ranks
YOUNGSTOWN MEN
TO VOTE ON RETURN
Great Lakes Seamen May
Conclude to Go Out
in Sympathy

Three important developments we're
pending to-day in the steel strike, any
one Of which may have vital bearing
on the outcome.
In Pittsburgh the national steel work
ers' committee was scheduled to meet
late to-day and definite decision was
expected IN regard TO calling out the
10000 workers in the Bethlehem steel
plants on Monday Although the com
pany officials have so far shown no in
cination to compromise, local union Off
Gals at Allentown expressed optimism
over the prospect of strike being
averted
In Youngstown, where the strikers
have succeeded in completely tying up
the steel industry in the Mahoning val
ley, meetings were announced of un-
skilled and semi i-skilled workers TO dis
cuss the question Of returning to work
Some mystery enyeloped these meetings,
as both strike leaders and the mill man
ayers professed to know nothing Of their
origin.
At Cleveland the executive committees
of the Great Lakes shipping unions,
claiming to represent $4,000 seamen, en-.
gineers and men of allied trades, met
to decide whether or not their organi.
zations would declare sympathetic
strike Such strike already has been
authorized by the international unions
With conditionsN in the steel centers
this morning practically unchanged, the
Senate investigation at Washington was
continued Samuel Gompers told the
senators that the question Of union rec
ognition, giving the workers a right to
a voice in determining the conditions
under which they worked, was para
mount.
The usual conflicting claims were made
by the opposing generals in the pivotal
battle grounds OF Pittsburgh and Chi.
cago, but all definite news indicated no
important changes in conditions. At
Pittsburgh additional small plants closed
and an attempt to reopen third was
reported BY the police to have failed
The corporation officials made the Gus
tomary claim that strikers continued
to return to work al VARIOUS points.
The management of the Illinois Steel
company at Chicago announced that they
had 1000 men A. work, most of whom,
they asserted, We're returned strikers. On
the other hand the strike leaders offered
figures as proof that the strike was one
hundred per cent effective at several
points, ninety per cent at Hammond,
ninety five per cent at Gary and ninety.
eight at Indian Harbor.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-09-26
PRES. WILSON TAKEN ILL;
HIS DATES CANCELLED;
HIZRRLES OWAS|zzNCTON
BRITISH RAILWAY MEN
TO STRIKE TONIGHT
Probably 100000 Men Win Go Out at
Midnight Following the Failure of
Conference To-day.

London, Sept. 26.--The conference be-
tween the railroad mems representatives
and the government for an attempted
adjustment of differences on the wage
question to-day resulted in failure, and
a strike on the railroads has been ordered
to take effect tonight at midnight.
The strike will affect probably more
than 100000 men.
The government has arranged to have
mails carried by airplane and to have
large motor. cars from the government
services made available for the convey
ance OF supplies to the big towns which
will be seriously affected.
The locomotive engineers have an
pounced that they would join in the
strike, but it is stated that the govern
ment has arranged to have many men
who drove engines during the war make
runs on the principal train service routes.
The official announcement from Down
ing street read
"The conference failed to arrive at an
agreement and strike will take place
tonight
All the cabinet ministers worked at
full pressure in an effort to prevent
what was characterized as promising to
be the most momentous strike that has
ever occurred on the British railways.
Before the break took place James Henry
Thomas, the railway mems leader, said
God knows I am trying hard to bring
about a settlement
The strike viii apply to all railways,
whether steam or electric, it is declared
in an official statement by the railroad
men,
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-09-26
Under Massachusetts Laws
With Capital Stock of
S1,000,000
PENNIMAN PLACE
BOUGHT FOR SITE
Work on Factory Will Be
Started as Soon as Plans
Can Be Drawn

f. D. Ladd and +. H. Ror Vsturned
from Boston yesterday, w ,hey have
been for the past few de & connection
with the organization .sSne new Peer
less knitting Mills Son Wednesday,
Sept. "a, the new sspany was organ.
lied under Mass esrsetts laws with the
following boar ~ directors, r. A. Scott,
George f. Graz ,rd and j. P. Lyons of
Boston and !. ID, Ladd and F. H. Rogers
OF Barre. The directors elected the fol-
lowing officers; President, r. A. Scott;
vice-president, +. d. Ladd; treasurer,
George L. Crawford
The capital stock which is authorized
is Sl,000000, divided into S750,000 of
preferred and S250,000 of common stock.
1t was voted to issue at the present time
the sum Of S650,000 of preferred stock,
OF which amount S250,000 has been sub
seribed in Barre and vicinity. There is
still available for people in this vicinity
some preferred stock and anyone who
desires to purchase good Z per cent in
yestment may secure the same by call.
ing DIT the Board of Trade rooms in the
Rowland building or by writing the sec.
retary, w. A. Drew.
The engineers, who were in Barre look
ing over the sites that have been offered.
reported as the most favorable location
the property on South Main street
known as the "Penniman place; and the
directors voted to purchase this place at
the price named in the option which had
been given, A deed TO this property will
be taken in a few days and work on
the foundation will start as soon as plans
can be made. In this connection IL is
the desire OF the company 10 employ
local labor on all Of this work so far as
it viii be possible to secure it.
To those who have subscribed for stock
in this vicinity, notice will be mailed
in day or two calling for the first in
stallment Of 10 per cent OF their sub
scription and for the 80 per cent which
will be due on Oct. i. Receipts bearing
interest at per cent will be issued for
! these payments and those who desire to
pay their subscriptions in full at this
time are urged to do so. as it will involve
less work for the Board of Trade.
through which these collections are to
be made. Receipts will be ready the
first Of next week and the Office at room
| |, Rowland building, will be open from
$3.50 to 5 o'clock and evenings, from
7 to 8.
Ii is hoped to have this building com
pleted and ready for occupancy by Jan.
in order ia prepare for the large volume
OF spring trade which the company has
already booked Over $4,000 in orders
for spring delivery were secured by the
salesmen last week, which speaks well
for the future prospects of the company,
as we'll as for the quality of the goods
which it produces.