davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21
THOSE COOKED-UP DISPATCHES

II through his opposition to the
handling of British cable from Bra
zil into this country President Wilson
can force the open and uncensored
we use the mails, he will do more
for the permanent peace of the world
than any one thing he has ever ac-
complished.
The control of cables means the
control Of propaganda, and control Of
propaganda means the control of
public opinion. Control of public
opinion means control of the issue of
peace or war in many instances. Let
information travel freely, without
color, without effort to serve any
thing but the truth, and public opin-
ion will teach an honorable conclu-
sion in every instance. But II the
cables are fed with "doctored" news.
public opinion may lead a country far
astray and possibly into disastrous
entanglements.
A clear instance Of what may hap
pen is now occupying public atten-
tion. Ever since the middle of last
winter the cables have brought to
this country dispatch after dispatch
charging that the Russian Bolsheviki
were preparing to attack" Poland.
The same "newS' was spread through
France and England. But in none of
those dispatches will one find the ad-
mission that the Polish armies at that
time were nearly 200 miles across the
line inside of Russian territory. The
dispatches obviously were intended as
an invitation to the world to help
Poland defend herself.
OF course public opinion, informed
Of where the Polish armies were.
would have replied that when Poland
| got back inside her own lines she
would he entitled TO help If attacked,
but when herself an invader she
| could hardly ask for help to de
fend" herself. AS an Independent
nation assailed Poland could have
had the most generous support of the
entire world. She needs help now
and the United States may have tC
help give it, but it could be given in
better spirit if the full truth had beer
told from the first.
AS the result OF those cooked-uI
dispatches and of. other activities oi
those who cooked them up, the YorlC
today stands at the possible brink o.
another big war. At any rate a high
official Of the British government Il
quoted as saying: The situation Il
as grave as that in August, 1914"
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21

Lcnine aud Trotzky which, menace
the peace OF the world The Balkans
as the powder house of Europe. has
been replaced by Russia-and in that
section the wisest man Of 1920 is no
more able to tell what the next five
years will bring forth than was the
wisest man of 1914.
1t is true that peace has been
brought about between the Allies and
the Central Powers, but the peace of
Europe is not e-establshed-and the
United States, although a league of
nations has been organized. has not
become q member of that league, and
its refusal has so dismayed the peace
seekers of the world, 30 dispirited
them. 80 broken their confidence. so
weakened and discredited the league,
that II is but a feeble safeguard in
these uncertain days when the flames
of the red menace mount ever higher
along the eastern horizon Of free civil
lization.
Because of the withdrawal of the
United States the free nations Of the
world have lost their leadership.
VIII the next year or two find
them, or any OF them, standing firm
against Russian myriads and Russian
ideas, or will it find some of them.
perhaps most, making a virtue of
necessity and uniting with Russia to
| fight the war over again, even more
terribly, to a hitherto undreamed of
conclusion?
/ These are possibilities to torment
the imagination.
| Confronting them, how much longer
will there be intelligent Americans to
contend that what we are concerned
in is not the peace of Europe but
peace at home" as Mr.. Harding puts
! it?
| How much longer will intelligent
men and women believe that the i'm -
portant thing is not to keep the faith,
not to do our duty as a member OF
the family Of nations. not to strive
now as earnestly for peace as a little
while ago we fought gloriously in
war-but to smash the democratic
party, wreck the league of nations
and so the peace OF Europe. and es-
tablish an Old Guard government by
the senate and for the senate in
Washington?
| Only a little while ago we as Am
orleans held our heads high with
pride-heads bloody but unbowed." /"
| In a little while longer shall We
have to let them hang in shame be-
cause civilization was left to go 20
pct while we prated, as stupldly as
calIiously. of peace at homer"
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21
A REPUBLICAN OPINION

There is not republican in the
country who can say that the Des
Moines Iowa, Register is not first
class Republican paper-and also a
power in republican politics, there
fore the earnest attention of republi-
cans to the following editorial which
appeared in The Register last week is
earnestly commended. 1t Is to be
hoped that all good republicans may
read it-and profit-for it says in
speaking of Gov. Cox speech OF ac-
ceptance:
Whatever may be said about
Cox's speech of acceptance from the
standpoint of length. literary style,
and vote getting effectiveness, IT is at
least a flat t-footed declaration on most
important subjects. The usual amount
of partisan stuff is of course included.
but there is more than the usual
amount of uneQuivoca standing.
"In other words. Cox had made for
himself platform essentially af-
firmative. Whether because of per-
sonal conviction or the circumstances
under which he comes to the demo
cratic party nomination. he stands
aggressively for the peace treaty with
its league OF nations. for liberal and
against autocratic ideas in dealing
with industrial disputes, for the prin-
ciple OF government Intervention in
economics to the extent necessary to
assure all interests square DEAL for
the notion OF large executive respon-
sibility. and for the broad political
purposes that we have grown accus-
toned to lump as 'progressiveism.'
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21
PONZI FOOLED THE SLICK
ONES"

There was a time in the past when
the sharper could only gull the poor
and ignorant people, but now he can
fool even the best Of them-and the
fact is he catches more smart rich"
than poor pcoplc-as witness the ac-
tinns of that son Of sunny Italy,
Charles Ponzi. who with his Montreal
and Atlanta peniteutiary records star
ing him in the face, was still able TO
gull about sS.UO0,0OO out Of the
middle class, and high up suckers
for which ne is now in the hands of
Uncle Sans department Of justice.
Ponzl's scheme was unique, in that
he promised to pay so per cent in
ninety days on money entrusted to
him, which he used, ostensibly, 70 buy
foreign exchange at a low rate which
ne exchanged for international reply
postal coupons. the transaction net
ting him, he claimed, a safe and neat
800 per cent on every turnover.
The federal authorities say he never
did anything Of the sort. But what
ever the scheme. and however ne used
the money, the money came pouring
In. Millions Of dollars, from thou
sands Of people. And Ponzi paid
them as agreed, their so per cent
profit
The more he paid out, OF course
the more came back. AS the news Of
the marvellous gold mine spread pcO-
pie tumbIed over each other to reach
his office and give him their money
Fifty per cent in three months, Il
wouldn't be easy to beat that
So far simply a tale Of the lowll
gulHble. But now when the crasi
comes. when Boston's newest an,
flashiost millionaire steps out Of hi
marble palace 10 surrender himss I
to the safekeeping Of the federal au
thorities. when his bubble is prlcke,
what do we find?
We find a big. old, widely know
trust company Of Boston going dow
with him in the wrcckage!
POnzi had somehow, and in a shor
time. become a director Of the insti
tuition. lie had succeeded in inyoly
ing 1t in his transactions. in just wha
way Is not clear. But what is clea
is that the great banks doors ar
closed by the bank commissioner
who announces that its capital
completely wiped out. Ponzi's liza
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21
What the Democrnis Nead

We regret to note that some Demo-
cratic papers are already talking
about 10000 Democratic majority in
Missouri in November. We regard
such talk as the height Of political
fOOlishness: Il ig an Invitation to
avery sOrehead. every defeated can
didate and his disappointed friends
to stay away from the polls on cleo
ton day, In the belief that the state
Is safe for Democracy and they can
safely take out their spite and grudge
against some local candidate. It is a
stimulant and not a dose Of soothing
syrup that is needed by the Missouri
Democracy. The best runner we ever
know was candidate who got scared
As hell the day after he was nominal
ed and kept scared clear up to tho
election day. That is the spirit that
Is needed to win by the Democracy
OF Missouri.-Henry County Dem oce.gt.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21
HAS A sIIINER LINING

We have just harvested one Of the
greatest wheat, oat and rye crops
ever grown in this part of the great
state of Missouri. and we will soon
care for one Of the big crops Of corn
and potatoes which is now maturing.
and this condition from reports ex-
tends all over the great middle West,
and yet the Eastern financial authori-
ties still assure US that the cost of
foodstuff is pegged at the present
level. This same authority says
that clothing manufacturers declare
clothes viii be higher. In many fac
tories. both textile anad shoe. some
thousands Of employees are idle on ac-
count OF no work. Coal. iron and
steel. It appears will not be lower in
the near future. Freight rates will
be advanced August 25. Taxes. in
general. will remain high. it is figur-
ed.
And yet America Is prosperous with
all these handicapa We are only
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21

evangelists say to be one of the most
jealous pacifists on the face of the
earth. He. is such pacifist that he
says he would like to embrace his
worst enemy, and 1t would be a de-
lightful spectacle to behold. 1t would
be so different.
villa says he surrendered because
further fighting in Mexico meant in
tervention by the United States, and
nothing could, be worse than that.
This may not have been his real mo-
tive in yielding to the de facto gov
ernment. There have been many
other times when the tranquility and
safety of his country seemed to re-
quire that he cease his operations,
Perhaps he felt in greater personal
danger than he had ever felt before,
and, getting generous terms from the
government, thought 1t expedient to
accept them.
But, whatever the motive. his sur
render is the big outstanding fact in
the Mexican situation. Certainly the
greatest obstacle to the restoration
OF peace to that unhappy land Is re-
moved. and IL we can have confidence
in Villas steadfastness of purpose
then we may dare to hope that at last
law and order regime Is opening in
Mexico,
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21

bilities are placed at somewhere
around S7.OOO.OOO. He claims assets
Of Si,OOO,OOO.
And while the crooks tell us that
It is easy to get the money from the
poor and ignorant-still one wonders
how they do it--and wonders more
though how the crook. the Jail bird
promoter get next to the portly and
dignificd chap with white whiskers
and top hat. who has dealt in
money for a life time, whose lift has
been devoted to mastering the In
tricacies of finance, who is cautious
suspicious, cold-blooded and eminent
ly respectable? How can he tow him
along through foul waters, by devious
ways, plopl into the cesspool?
There is the folly Of ignorance
and there is the folly OF intelligence.
In one, as in the other. may be found
the soft spot and the yellow streak.
The clever sharper knows where to
find them, in high places the same
as low. The qualities of human ma
ture are not the result of the clothes
one wears, or the sort of house he
lives in, or the people he associates
These may influence ratios and pro-
portions but then comes along the
great opportunity to develop the best,
| or the overmastering temptation to
put the worst in the saddle and give
it the rein.
The really wise man is honest and
| good. Because If not his conscience
| then his wisdom tells him that to be
| good and honest pays better in the
long run. But there are. unfortun-
ately, many men Of wide knowledge
and trained intelligence who have not
attained to wisdom. Among them
are found the shrewd scamps like
Ponzi who go up in a brilliant flare
like rockets and come down like
sticks. Among them. too, are found
the trusted and respected best citi-
zens'' who. succumbing to the same
lure of INSCRIPTIONS greed, become
their dupes and Victims
There are Ponzi victims right here
in this section of Missouri-men and
women who should know that hard
work-a safe and honest 8 per cent
and a clear conscience-give the bet
| ter returns.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21
Democratic County Ticket

Judge Circuit Court Division g
LAWRENCE A. Worries.
Representative First District
]. II. BARNES.
Representative Second District
F. W. HOLKENBRINK.
Representative Third District
ELBERT f. SPENCER.
Representative Fourth District
ERNEST r. JAMES.
County Court. First District
JAMES c. HUNT.
County Court, Second District
w. II. FRANS.
For Assessor
JOHN NJ. CRAWFORD.
For Coroner
DIR. w. w. GRAY.
For Prosecuting Attorney
STEPHEN X. OWEN.
Public Administrator
MARY A. WILLIAMS.
For Sheriff
SAMUEL II. PRICE.
For Surveyor
II. L. MEYER.
For Treasurer
a. +. NASH.
Constable Washington Township
JAMES BYRNE.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21
Madc Real squirrel, WAisl1ay

Workers clearing timber land east
of Dixon. Illinois, Tuesday discovered
a complete moonshine still for opera
ton. hidden in the branches Of q
large tree. The owner could not be
found. That old boy was going to
make the real squirrel whiskey you
have heard so much about in other
dayR-Milan Standard.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21


For Senator
BRECKENRIDGE LONG.
For Governor
JOHN NJ. ATKINSON.
For Lieutenant-Go Governor
CARTER VI. BUFORD.
For Secretary of State
JOHN l.. SULLIVAN,
For Auditor
GEORGE IL. MIDDLEKAMP.
For Treasurer
JOHN II. STONE.
For Attorney General
WILLIS II. MEREDITH.
Judge Supreme Court Division ]
(unexpired term)--
w. T. RAGLAND.
Judge Supreme Court Division
(unexpired term)-
j. l. WILLIAMSON.
Judge Supreme Court Division
(full term)-
+. L. WILLIAMS.
Judge Kansas City Court Appeals
JAMES ELLISON.
For Congress. Fourth District
LEWIS CASS GABBERT.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21
PLAIN HARDING DEMAGoGUERY


1t took but few moments of Mr..
Taft's time and but a brief letter to
make short shrift Of Senator Hard
ing's pet contention that under Arti-
Gle 10 Of the covenant Of the league
OF nations "a super -governmen ent"
could order the United States into
war. In a letter which he wrote to
the New York World in answer to
the question submitted to him Mr..
Taft said:
IT have often had occasion to say
that without any reservations at all
the covenant of the league Of nations,
in 80 far as it purports to impose any
obligations on the United States must
be construed to mean that the obliga-
tion will be performed in acord with
the constitution Of the United States,
and in no other way"
That applies as well to every other
member Of the league. All the coun-
tries that have been admitted to the
league have constitutions All Of
them in performing their obligations
are subject to the limitations Of their
constitutions, a fact known to every
one Of them.
Great Britain is a member OF the
| league. Does Senator Harding think
"a per-government" could order
Great Britain to go to war without
| the consent of parliament? France
is a member of the league. Does the
| senator think that the league could
order France to go to war withou,
the consent Of the chamber Of depu-
ties? In what respect is the United
| States on any different basis?
This whole issue of "super-govern-
ment" that Senator Harding puts
forth is sheer demagogy and is
| known to be demagogy by the can
didate himself; for it is inconceivable
| that even a United States senator
could be so ignorant OF constitutional
| government as Senator Harding pre-
| tends to be in his speeches.
There is no integrity in the Hard
ing opposition 10 the league. 1t rep
resents nothing better than the des-
perate efforts Of a shifty politician to
find excuses for the action of the re-
publican senators in demanding res
ervations that would wreck the league
and paIolyze its power to function.
When Senator Harding insists that
we have played our part in uphold
ing democracy throughout the world,
he is guilty Of a flagrant untruth
We have not played our part, and
the whole world is holding US respon
5 sible for not playing our part. IiaC
{ the senate ratified the treaty O
peace as the governments ASSOCIATED
with the United States ratified it. al
Europe would not be in a state 0
D political and economic chaos, will
. the shadow OF bolshevism deepening
daily. And Warren G. Harding. a
t the republican candidate for presi
70 dent, has nothing to offer except
- separate peace with Germany mad
I by joint resolution of congress.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21
When They Run For business

One of the first indications that
the railroads will soon be in the
hands OF the owners and free from
government control Is the decision to
give half rates to the state fair at
Sedalia When they are again under
private ownership we may again see
the special excursion rates put into
vogue. Or in other words the rail-
roads are to run such trains as will
profit the company and accommodate
the public.-Moberly Democrat.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21
Gal Could Have Told Him

DR." John LeGrande Baker Of
Maryville declares he is going to run
again for the nomination for congress
from this district two years hence.
Better get acquainted with Cal Pierce.
Doc" before you make your next
race, and perhaps you will then be
able to get more than three hundred
votes in the entire district Or better
still. save your money and buy .
farm.-Owl-H headlight.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21
When Women Wore Clothes

A woman Is suing a newspaper be-
cause it said in reporting an accident
that her leg was injured. She claims
II should have said limb. AS arms
are limbs. the newspaper would seem
to be correct In statement. In the
old days when women wore clothes.
there was some doubt as to whether
women had legs, but under the pres
ent day styles, this camouflage has
gone glimmering.-Moberly Democrat.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21

If there is anything political In
this state that escapes the eye of this
papers correspondent, A. T. Edmon-
ston, in Jefferson City, we are free to
admit that we would like to know
the nature of it. Edmonston is one
of the most careful and painstaking
writers in the state and a Democrat
who does things.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21

Those St Joseph summer resort
ers' who are away from home spend
ing all Of the money they have made
this season for board. ETC.. are to be
pitied. This citys temperature this
no one need to have left here to find
a proper summer climate.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21

The board Of police commissioners
did exactly right when it fired Chauf-
feur Wolff who drove madman like
into a Messanie street car. The only
thing that the board failed to do in
order to complete a good job was to
order Wolff's arrest for reckless and
negligent driving.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21

Our neighboring city OF Savannah is
putting on many airs Just nova big
successful fair-a profitable Chau-
tauqua-and an oil well prospect
all moving along smoothly at the same
time is doing something.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21
Has Filled the AsyIums

Prohibition. no doubt has decreas-
ed the number of Jail occupants, but
it has also increased the need for
more asylums for the insane and
many of the patients will be there for
the balance OF their days.-Moberly
Democrat.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21

undergoing what all generations have
undergone following the close of a
great war which directly touched the
people and their industries. We are
weatherlng the storm nobly and the
sky. just over the horizon, has a sill
ver and gold lining.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21

When it comes to robbing with
frills. and thrills, commend us to the
Los Angeles porch climbers who en-
tered the police court and robbed the
safe of $4,000. 1t has been discov-
cred that they are all members of the
gop, in good standing.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21

The election of Henry Dillingham; of
Platte county as a member of the
state committee, is a worthy recogni-
ton of a working democrat who
knows naught else than to give his
best efforts to his party-and for the
good of the country.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21

There are a few people in st. JOS
eph now who since they notice that
they will be obliged to pay a big oc-
cupation tax to make up for the loss
of dramshop revenue, are wondering
If they did chew off little too much.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21
No Doubs Payiey Is Rlght

Farley p. Christensen, presidential
nominee Of the Farmer-Labor party.
says that Senator Harding's speech
accepting the Republican nomination
for president is bunk" Something
to go to sleep on?-Clinton County
Democrat
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21
Endorsed the Wilson Men

Democrats who stood squareiy for
the Wilson policies were nominated
all over the country last week. Ev-
erywhere Democrats are turning down
the men who opposed the adminis-
tration measures>-Howell County
Gazette.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21

St Joseph sugar dropped a cent
pound this week-and can now be
bought at ;2o.5O per hundred whole
sale. And still in Colorado 1t retails
by the single pound for IL cents.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21
CLEARING THE MEXICAN SITUA.
UUON

One Of the features connected with
the surrender of villa, the greatest
bandit and most troublesome rebel
that Mexico has ever had. is the fact
that Villa has now turned out as the
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21

Bert Voorhees, and Bill Phares, the
two cops elected Tuesday on the state
gop committee, are pledged to knock
out Brer, Cole. Now let us see If they
do a good job.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21
Some Bosses beaa other Bos.es

The result OF the Republican mix
up in st. Louis can be summed up in
a very few words. One obnoxious
bunch OF beastly bosses beat another
bunch Of beastly bosses The Re
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21
Not a Good Diet Article

Hay does not seem to be a popular
feed with the rabbits and goats in
Kansas City. Hay for senator only
got 703 votes In jackson county
Moberly Monitor Index.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21

We are certain that IL Grover
Cleveland could read or hear while
lying in his grave would turn over
and groan to think that a Stacker like
after him.--Gower Enterprise.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21
And VIII Not Get II

We have been getting many letters
the past week from the successful
candidates who ran for office in the
recent primary election, but we have
yet to get one from one who was
beaten.-Craig Leader.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21
He Can Always "Pick 'er"

The man who is always saying that
you can't believe all you read in the
papers is the same fellow who is sure
he knows which shell the little ball is
under.-Platte County Landmark.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21
Now Mind This!

Don't buy anything at homo that
you can order from the mail order
houses. The mail order houses are
heavy taxpayers but not in your coun-
ty.-Craig Leader.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21

What do you think of that? can 1t
be possible1 that a ''wet candidate
won in Topeka-the capital Of the
birthplace of prohibition?
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21
Give Him the job

II you are just killing time" go
see an undertaken and give him
job. You need not expect him to
bury time. but you need his services.
-Dade County Advocate.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21

The Democratic congressional con-
mittee at its meeting held Tuesday
selected Democrats who know how to
and will do things.
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21

The attention Of Billy Bryan is
called TO the statement Of the Chicago
prohibition enforcement officials, who
are crying for help. 1t may help to
get his ''heaTt out OF that grave"
The St. Joseph observer., 1920-08-21

state. is now facing a contest for the
nomination he won two weeks ago.
for Davis, his close opponent, now
says that 10000 st. Louis votes were
stolen for Spencer.