davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07
BRYAN's CONFUSING POSITION

when Mr. Bryan appeared in Wash
ington a few days ago as an umpire In
the treaty contest, ne furnished the
country another disappointment in one
Of its most cherished heroes To set
tie the dispute righteously and at once,
he advises the democrats of the senate
TO walk out and let the republicans
ratify the treaty in any manner agree
able to them. BY doing so, the dem
ocrats will escape responsibility, he
says, and, with the complications
that may ensue, will have a power
ful issue for the coming campaign.
II Is to be borne in mind that no
matter what the whole or part Of the
senate may do, it will have no efSct
unless approved by the democratic
president Of the United states, but
this is a mere detail with which po-
litical genius can hardly be expected
to trouble itself What must strike
people. long convinced OF Mr.. Bryan's
moral courage as well as his peerless
leadership, with greatest force, how
ever is his failure to rise on this oc-
casiou TO the sublime heights 50 often
troddcn by him in lonely grandeur.
To run away from a duty might
be considered defensible in certain
circumstances 10y pacifists and non
4 - ~ mt 60, q
duty in hope Of gaining something
valuable is a proposition that puts Mr.
Bryan's celebrated valor and virtue
to severe test, Suggested by a world
person stepped in guile, such a plan
would be regarded as cowardly and
stultifying Set forth by one who has
sanction'S.Doli and statesmanship
1t is confusing, to say the least OF 1t.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07
WOOD HAD BETTER STAY ON
LAND

The man who would be the Repub-
lican president Gen. Leonard Wood,
is not the first man who has made an
indiscreet statement who has been
startled by a reaction of public dis
gust, and who then has tried to make
out that he never said it.
the other night the general denied
that he had said that the navy is
nothing but FLOATING death trap"
what said" he declared, was
that 'first-class ships filled with un-
trained men do not mean a navy, but
are sometimes a death trap to those
who are In them"
But unfortunately for the gener-
ais effort TO squirm out Of an un-
tenable position by making a liar out
of somebody else. his Boston remarks
had been taken by a stenographer
whose notes showed them to have
been precisely as first reported, which
was as follows:
we need a navy. All that we have
is not a navy; 1t is a floating death
trap. We want a good navy, with
highly trained men and good ships"
II this is what happens when Cen
eral Wood strays off the carefully
defined path of innocuous expression
he has heretofore clung to, no won
der he doesn't like to express him
self. If he does he had better stick
to the land forces, which are his pro-
fesssion, and let the navy alone.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07
THE oFFENsE OF LODGE

The gross offense of the Lodge res
ervation of Article 10, is that 1t re-
jects the real soul OF the league cove
pant. It is not reservation; indeed,
to call It such is hypocracy. 1t is an
amendment, utterly undoing the thing
which is dishonesty presumes to
qualify. It declares, 1.-The United
States assumes no obligation to pre-.
teal independence Of any other coun-
try or TO interfere in controversies
between nations' unless in any par
ticular case congress shall by act
or Joint resolution so provide" In
other words, assuming, as II is decent
and right to assume, that the other
nations should take only those obli-
cations which the United States also
takes with them in the covenant Of
the league, there would be no ohliga-
ton whatever by any OF them and
therefore no league. Each nation
would be for itself and the devil take
the hindmost, as he has eagerly done
all down the ages.
This is the single idea that every
American ought to learn in his pas
sionate and righteous heart He must
know and declare, 1.-THE people. Lord
the people have fallen upon wretched
days, for they who go up to be their
counselors utterly believe the simple
oath to do the peoples will" They
are not lords, these senators, but ser
wants To make ourselves a solidar-
lty articulate, imperative. unyielding,
is the duty OF tho hour. Otherwise
we shall be altogether out OF the
greatest effort in the history Of man
kind--to make a formulated agree
ment for the joining Of all the fam
flies of the earth in a working coun-
eli,
And it was we who gave the idea
TO the world. It was the greatest fac
tor in unifying the allied armies for
victory. 1t WAS the most thrilling
and powerful truth that ever entered
the minds of the peoples. Against
their masters even the people Of Ger
many yielded to it, as credible wit
nesses have told as.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07
WHY rHEY uATE WILSON

Even when he lay PROSTATE on a
sick bcd-put there through over
work for the peace and happiness Of
mankind-there were some people
not all however-who kept on hating
President wison--aud they still do
now that he is on the road hate Wilson.
But the real fact is, they do not hate
Wilson. but they hate the things he
stands for the things he has not fear
ed to express and to interpret in poll
cies and acts.
1t isn't woodrow Wilson they hate,
oven though they may think it is.
They hate his policies; they hate them
as tories hated the policies Of the
Massachusetts "agitators' and 30
menters Of discomfort who precipi-
tated the revolution: they hated them
as tories hated the policies Of wash
ingtou; they hate them as Shareholders
hated the policies of Lincoln. These
other haters thought they hated Sam
oel Adams and Washington and Lin
eolu-but what they really hated was
the menace the policies Of these pat
riots offered TO the stability Of injus.
tices under which they We're comfort
able and content.
These men who think they hate
Wilson really hate his sympathy for
the common man; they hate his see
ing labor level in right and deserts
with employers; they hate his pre-
ferring democracy TO autocracy; they
hate his prcferrinE peace TO war be-
cause he sees what war does to the
mothers OF men and to the sons OF
these mothers. they hate his pre-
fcrring a world organized for peace
20 a world organized for war they hate
him for refusing to class as "bolshe-
Tik" every man who challenges the ex-
listing order. however valid his chal-
1enge may be--and the more valid the
challenge the more they hate; they hate
him for practicing democracy instead
Of leaving it in a gilded tomb as a
principle 10 be talked about but on no
account TO be interpreted in practice.
They think they hate Wilson the
democrat But they really hate WIZ
son the liberal. and above all they
hate his liberalism.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07

coldly-the little Dutch country
stands on the law. II the society OF
nations will by law define such n
crime as the former emperor COM
mityc1 and provide for its legal pun
ishmcnt Holland will be glad to be a
party to such an agreement But
Holland will not be party to ex-post-
flcto proceedings or to informal pro-
cccdings which disregard the law en-
tireiy.
Holland is small ans weak nation
and its people are few. But for gem
crations they have been well and
Wisely governed and have had the
courage to stand firmly for great
principles as against great prejudices;
for ,he majesty OF law as against that
necessity" which knows no law. The
stad which Holland is taking now
will subject It to much criticism. But
when the winds Of time shall have
cleared away the mists of the hour it
is possible that tho world will join in
doing Holland honor because It with
stood great strength and great
temptation, to support the supremacy
Of law even when invoked by a mean
and execrated refugee from the
wrath Of a world he had plunged in
blood.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07
THE DEFEAT or SAMUEL COMP.
ERS

When II was announced last week
that Samuel Gompers president Of the
American Federation Of Labor, had
been defeated as delegate from his
own cigar makers union in New
York City TO the international con-
vention Of the organization tho public
pospcd-and when the reason of his
defeat was given that he was not
sufficiently progrcsSivo-wa TOO con-
servaLive"-rho amazrment was still
greater.
This defeat and reason puts Mr..
Gompers into a decidedly queer fix.
Business men think him radical
some OF them get red in the face and
mutter imprecations about "anarch-
lists" when his name is mentioned.
But a large section Of union labor
considers him too conservative TO rep
resent it. This attitude has been evil
denced before, the cigar makers cleo
ton being merely another Of a series
of indications
For forty years Mr.. Gompers has
been the leader Of the American Fed 70
GRAFTON OF Labor. Under his direc-
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07
WHY THE DUTCH REFUSED

There has been worldwide com
mont on the refusal Of the Dutch gov
ernmont 20 surrender the former
kaiser to his enemies for trial, but
three Of the paragraphs OF the Dutch
answer TO the demand give the rea-
sons fully. They are:
IF in the future there should be
Instituted by the society of nations an
International jurisdiction competent
10 Judge, in case of war, deeds quail
lid as crimes and submitted to its
jurisdiction by statute antcdating the
acts committed, it would he fit for
Holland to associate herself with tho
new regime.
The government OF the queen can
not admit in the present case, any
other duty than that imposed upon il
by the laws OF the kingdom and ma
tlpual tradition.
Now neither the constituent laws
OF the kingdom which are based upon
principles of the law universally rec
pgulled, nor a respectable secular
tradition which has made this cOun-
try always "a ground Of refuge for the
pauqU.Shcd, permits the government
pf Holland 10 defer u tie deSirc Of
tho powers by Withdrawing from the
CORNER emperor the benefit Of its Gtws
and this tradition"
The former kaiser is on Dutch soil
not on German territory. II he
were on the latter. the peace treaty
Imposed by the victors in the war
would require Germany to surrender
him. But Holland was not involved
In the war. was neutral TO the end.
had no part IN the peace negotiations
and is not n party to the treaty. The
terms Of the treaty. therefore, do not
absove the Dutch government from
its duty 20 respect and enforce IT'S
pwn law and to abide by the law Of
nations which Dutch writers have
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07
Tho Farmers Are Finding Out

There is a decided subsidence over
the state of the demand for a county
agent to teach the farmers how to
farm. A few years ago every county
was all stirred up over the business
Of getting these officers. but many of
them have dropped out of the game
entirely. Up in Andrew county the
hat is being passed for the reluctant
dollars to pay a county agent, and
they are coming mighty slow. Un-
doubtedly, the system had some mer-
its, but the teaching of agricultural
methods in the public schools is do
ing more for the cause Of agricultural
progress than anything else.-Henry
County Democrat.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07

tion 1t has grown nightly in numbers
and in prestige. Today it holds great
er power and responsibility than ever
before in its history, at a time, too,
when there is greater demand for
sober Judgment and calm restraint
than Mt any previous period of its de-
velopmcnt
Some Of the elements of union la
Dor call Mr.. Gompers too conserva-
tive, but before the great mass OF la
Dor bows assent to this sentiment 1t
may well review past history and con-
slider what Mr.. Gompers has meant
to organized labor During the thirty
five years of Mr.. Gompers' undisputed
leadership, the American Federation
Of Labor won higher ground with
each new year. Despite the protests
Of some employers, 1t steadily stood
higher and higher in public conf
dence and esteem. But in the last
two or three years-when radical
leaders have sought to enforce their
will, when broken contracts. direct
action" and political domination have
been advanced as proper union labor
methodsS-union labor has aroused a
new athsAde of resentment and dis
trust on the part Of the general pub
lie.
Union labor still has chance to
decide whether II wishes to follow
further a new radical leadership. q
leadership which urges it to use its
power to enforce its will without re-
gard to right or wrong. or to return
20 the old policies of fair dealing, Of
growth by winning and holding the
confidence of those with whom It
deals.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07

the introduction of a joint resolution
by Senator Kenyon, chairman of the
senate labor committee, indicates that
that question is likely to come up in
congress- Kansas has taken action
on the subject and other states are
likely to follow. The fact is that ev-
cry strike seriously affecting the pub
lie interest, either in this country or
England, has failed, tho coal strike
in this country and the railroad strike
in England being examples.
Both sides would do we'll to take
to heart the words Of Nicholas Muir
ray Butler:
"It must be apparent that without
good will on the part OF all elements
and groups of society, the economic
life OF the nation cannot go forward
and that we are in imminent danger
OF national shipwreck and incalcula-
BILE disaster"
When a strike Is In force that
brings suffering and loss to a large
part OF society that has had nothing
to do with the disputes good will to-
ward labor Is grievously strained.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07
Why Don't They Hunt Jobs?

A year ago the country was being
appealed to to furnish jobs for the
soldiers. The government was asking
every newspaper in the country to do
free advertising for employers for
soldiers, But the soldiers all return
ed. all secured employment thas as-
sired to do 50, and there were men
still hunting for men to employ.
There are now more jobs than men.
or at least more jobs than men than
want 70 WORK, and the four million
soldiers and sailors have been cared
for by employers, and people wonder
why men are not hunting jobs.-Dads
County Advocate.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07
TIE .ETUo IN ST. LOSI,pH

The fact that there are many cases
of pneumonia developed along with the
epidemic OF influenza that is now prev
alent in st. Joseph makes the situation
serious enough. and nothing that ra-
uonally can be done to prevent the
spread OF this dread disease should be
left undone. Every care should be
taken. Physicians advice and sugges-
tons should be followed. But there
is no occasion for becoming panicky.
II is the easiest thing in the world for
a man TO frighten himself into the
dumps, and perhaps into something
worse.
Really. it is a very simple thing to
become sick IL you put your mind on
it, Just a little heada che; Just little
indisposition in the "tummy:" lust a
little cough or two-and the phycho-
logical victim is down with something
akin to the "flu-
Especially is this true II some dear
friend comes along and remarks: "Ah.
You are looking pretty bad today"
Safety First" should apply TO cause
as well as effect; to effect as well as
cause.
DO not be sick until you are sick
and when you are sick. go TO bed and
stay there.
Don't let anybody talk you into a
fever.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07
Treated tho Club Shabby

The Commercial club of jefferson
City has been treated mighty shabbily
by the people of that city. 1t went
ahead during the coal strike and
opened mines TO get coal and did get
coal at a fairly reasonable price. AS
soon as the strike was over Illinois
coal companies cut the price of coal
TO put these new miners out Of BUSH
ness and the public bought and left
the club with the bag to hold and
consequently lose considerable money.
The club is good and sore as. they
have a right to be.-Moberly Demo-
orat
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07
A Boom For Cook

Friends In St. Louis OF State Sena-
tor Sam B. Cook last Thursday start
ed boom for him as Democratic
National Committeeman, to succeed
Edward F. Goltra Of St Louis. Mr..
Cook said that he was not a candi-
date for party hpnors and modestly
suggested that some one else be se-
lected. We doubt if a better man for
the place could be found than Senator
Cook, and We hope to see his claims
so strongly presented by his friends
that he will have no opposition for
the honor.-Glasgow Missourian.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07
We All "Educatc" Them

Miss Lillian Strader, of Barnard,
has secured a place as reader and en-
tertainer with a lyceum bureau and
her homo paper says she gives prom
Use of developing into one of the best
entertainers on the platform. Maybe
Hopkins will help develop her--we
have been footing developing bills
along this line for several years and
have signed up to do our bit" the
coming season-Hc cpkins Journal.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07
The CIemenceau Pre.ent

A Paris newspaper suggests that
the French people give Clemeneeau
a motor car rather than the country
house that had been proposed. Isn't
that too recklessly extravagant? A
motor car costs quite a bit OF money,
you know. Why not make it a foun-
lain pen say. or a nice mustache cup?
Kansas City Times.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07

You Americans who claim that
British money never went below par,
should read the statement made here
Tuesday by s. A. Lyon who told his
hearers that as soon as he stepped
into Canada, he received s1.Os for his
American dollar.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07

Following the signing of the Peace
Treaty and adoption of the League of
Nations agreement the Japanese gov
ernment issued a rescript or mani
festo to the people which must be re-
garded as highly creditable to the
people of Japan. The signatory ma
tions are now able to resume rela-
tions with Germany on pre|war
basis, while we are deliberately shut
ting ourselves out.-Glasgow Missouri
ian. o.. .s---- Ftrr..
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07

1t is possible that it will be neces-
sary TO change the date OF the Demo-
cratic state convention, on account OF
inadequate hotel accommodations at
Joplin. That's what comes from taxi
ing a big convention to a small town
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07

Possibly some Of you men who vot-
ed so blithely for that sz,O0O.O0O bond
issue with the understanding from
the spellbinders that "it would not
raise your taxes" have paid your
taxes this year-and have found out
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07

Over at Savannah they have a
sheriff who not only tells the Jurors
when to come to court, but also tells
them when not to come. That is he
did so until Monday, when Judge
Burnes dropped around and told him
where to get off-and head in.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07
THOSE SENATOR'S BLIND FROM
CHOICE

W . AldFb bttll ltAlllS ltluCl-iil
fact too much-about the republican
"irreconcilables'' in the senate reck-
oned as fourteen by their own sta
tisticians, about the Lodge group"
and so on. Month after month the
dreary mystification and muddle drags
on. or what the senate republicans
will or will not do, there is continual
palaver. Have the republican anti
radficationists ever considered what
the country will do to the republican
party if they keep on in their foolish
and fatal course? Do their secre-
taries throw into the waste basket
the great mass Of evidence, which has
been coming in with increasing vol
ume for months, OF the popular and
general insistence on quick ratifica-
ton? If the colleges can be safely
disregarded by august senators who,
for this occasion only. are masquerad-
ing as particularly plain Americans"
can these Fathers Conscript afford to
neglect the all but universal voice Of
business, speaking through chambers
OF commerce and other instrumentali-
ties its conviction Of the absolute
necessity of ratification for the bene-
fit Of business?
Is the clergy of no account in tho
eyes of these magnificos of the SEN
ate chamber? The poll taken by the
Church Peace Union OF Clergymen,
! Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, showed
some 1900 votes in favor, some 500
| opposed. Newspaper polls in repub-
| lican districts show surprising major
tiles for the treaty, some for ratifica-
tion without amendment Teachers,
soldiers and sailors, men and women
Of all sorts and professions, demand
acceptance Of the treaty. DO the re-
publican grandees never hear Of these
votes, or do they scorn them, obsess-
ed by some wild theory that republi-
can success next fall is as certain as
death, and that no amount OF bung-
ling, time-wasting. money wasting,
scorn Of the popular will, stubborn
resolve for the isolation Of the United
states and the unchecked explosion
Of future wars, can keep docile and
rcverent electorate from ratifying the
conduct Of the misunderstanding enc
mics Of ratification, from kneeling
submiSsivcly before these kings of
'donothingism ."
Then, there is the American FEEDER
alton Of Labor, an institution which
politicians Of Whatever party watch
attenfvely The foderatlon's vote
was $4,000 for the treaty and the
covenant Of the league Of nations.
400 against. Labor and capital, col
legos and schools, business men and
ICIergymcu, republicans and repubIi-
can newspapers mulJitudinous, cry
with increasing impatience for ratifi-
cation. Nobody is for it except the
/ American people. What difference
/ does that make to certain sagacious
republican gentlemen at Washington ?
They know that the way to win is to
make sure that you Will lose.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07

The day that Judges Brendel and
Sampson forget that this year is a
campaign year and appoint more
Democrats than Republicans as road
overseers don't come. 1t is not in.
their book Of rules and rights.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07
Tho kansas City Style

A Sedalia lawyer on business be-
tween trains in Warrensburg. stopped
in a restaurant to get something to
eat, and was pounced on by rough
necks, who beat him and kicked him
half to death The assault was en-
urely unprovoked. as they did not
even know their victim. Warrensburg
will yet break into Kansas City's class
If this thing goes on.-Henry County
Democrat
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07
"Derned II We WouIdn

Being at peace with Germany has
its disadvantages also. The British
navy has been ordered by the Admir-
atty 10 hereafter salute the German
flag. Derned IL we would salute It,
peace or no peace!--Henry County
Democrat.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07
Done Fighting--Now Pay

Now Briton would have us cancel
the debt the French owes the United
States. We suppose this Is prelim-
mary to having us cancel the Briton
obligations made during the war. We
won the war for them. Now they
want us to pay their expenses in ad-
dition to our own in doing so,-Mo-
berry Democrat.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07

If the capitalists were taken out of
the forefront. and if there was less
desire and Seed on the part of those
who would plunder Mexico, there
would be nothing further heard of
our neighbor to the south.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07

II the gentleman wishes to Justify
his reputation for fearlessness and
morality he cannot worthily do less
in this instance than advise the dem
ocrats to capltulate to Senator Lodge
and vote bravely as he shall COM
mand. That would be in perfect
harmony with the Bryan Of apostolic
days. 81,
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07

Tho farmers OF this part of Missouri
are now being assailed by q horde of
hired and paid solicitors, who are
working them into the Farm bureau
for life. If the farm bureau is such
a good thing for the farmer why Is 1t
necessary for the state college to send
$40 a day hired solicitors among them
to get them to join'
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07

It is about time that this country
heard less from the high cost Of living
experts" and told some of these
experts" to get down from the stump
and go to producing-something be-
sides wind.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07
That Wouldn,t Work Here

Every Chinese father is a monarch
in his home. He keeps his eye out
for a girl for his son. and when the
time comes simply says, "son, that
is your wife. e."-Nodaway Democrat
Forum.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-07
A Whaling Old Town

Tho New York Evening Post speaks
Of Nantucket as an "old whaling
town" 1t is that, of course, but in
these days when it has ceased to send
out a whaling fleet it Is more to the
point to remember that It is a whal-
ing old town.--Kansas City Tines