davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13

William Jennings Bryan is, indeed.
the great commoncr and also an eX-
pcrienced politician, but he shoots wide
of the mark when blaming the demo
cratic defeat on a wet candidate ana
an evasivc platform. Washington,
Iowa, Democrat.
Quite right. The platform and can
didate of the Democratic party had
very little to do with the result. Any
platform and any candidate would
have met the same fate. The people
are tired of wisconsin and disguised
with the Democratic party. They
wanted a change and knew just how to
get it. The average voter hoped for bet
ter conditions with another party at
the helm. He figured that they could
bC 30 worse.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13

The board Of supervisors of Hardin
county has just sold $4,000 worth al
county bonds. The bonds bear six per
cent interest and We're discounted SOB
according to the Eldora Ledger Hardin
county now has outstanding bonds az
grcgating S;323,0GO, which means that
the county has expended that much
more than the county treasurer has
received. Boards of supervisors now
have authority to issue county bonds
without vote of the people. A power
that should never have been granted
and which should be taken away from
them as soon us the legislature can en-
act the necessary measures. No board
or council or any other body should
have power to bond the property Of the
people without Il vote Of the people.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13

aXation--state. county and town.
cannot be materially reduced until
cost of service of various kinds is re-
duced, except in instances where eX-
travagance. has been practiced. The
biggest expense to the taxpayer is the
schools and this cannot be reduced I'M
til the pay of teachers is cut, the price
OF fuel cheapened and the rate of inter
est lessened. 1t is going to he some
problem to get back to normal in the
matter Of taxation and probably nor.
malcy will never be realized. If not
the price of farm products must be in
creased or there will be decreased
production. Farmers cannot pay hiGl
rates of interest, high taxes and higI!
costs of other things unless the value
OF what they produce is sufficient to
yield a fair profit. Il
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13

If hold-ups continue to increase in
numbers in Des Moines and Othe.
cities it will not be long until every
man who is out after dark will leave
all his small change at home and
carry q loaded revolver in his hand,
perhaps one in each hand. If Il few
men were shot while in the act
it would be rather discouraging to
others The robberles being committed
in the larger cities are astounding the
country We seem to be passing
through an era of outlawry never
known before, but the biggest thieves
are the ones who are rObDing the
people right and left on such necessary
commodities as coal, and for itself the
can say it has more
respect for the bank robber or for the
hold-up man than it has for these big
ger raScalS.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13
COOPERATIVE MARKETING.

1t may not always work to much adj
vantage, but some farmers Of William
son county, Texas, found cooperative
marketing worked well, according to
information sent out by the depart
ment of agriculture at Washington,
which is as follows:
"The Williamson County Sheep and
Goat Breeders Association was used as
a medium for handling wool. Sealed
bids were first received, but, possibly
due to opposition to the cooperative
movement, no particular advance in
price was offered. The farmers COM
r,lttee thanked the bidders and declin-
ed all offers, and preparations were
made for shipment to Boston. The
local price Immediately went up j.
cents, but the growers remained firm
and sent the wool away. The Boston
price was % cents in advance of the
original local price. The total gain
to the farmers was estimated at $13,-
O2O."
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13

Secretary Houston seems to 'have
it in" for the automobile industry. II
his recommendations to congress to
make big increases in the tax on auto
mobiles and their accessories should be
adopted it will be a great burden to
the automobile business, as well as to
all users of motor propelled vehicles.
OF course the government must devise
means to raise enormous sums OF
money, but care must be taken not to
destroy legitimate business enter
prises. If the tax is so high on any
article that it materially reduces pro-
duction of that article the purpose of
the tax will be defeated, as no taxes
can be collected upon thing that is
not produced, Besides it will reduce
the number of jobs for workmen.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13
NOT A CURE, BUT A HELP.

The fact is the tariff has about serv-
ed its purpose, both as revenue pro-
ducer and as an encourager OF Amer
lean production. Our problem is now
world market, and the tariff does not
lend itself to the solution Of that prob
lem, except as we keep it thoroughly
within reason.--Des MOines Register.
The Register seems to have followed
Wilson clear into the Democratic party
and is now against the Fundamental
principles of the Republican party. 1t
remains to be seen whether or not "the
tariff has about served its purpose"
because it is going to be used by the
incoming president and congress in the
good old way.
Free traders have used the argument
for years that a protective tariff does
not help us in conquests for foreign
markets, Implying that such a tariff
really closed the foreign field. But eX-
reriencc doesn't prove it. Foreigners
will buy tile things of us that they need
(if they buy at all and can buy cheap
er here than elsewhere, regardless of
tariffs or other considerations. The
buyer is going where lie can do the best
and if he can do the best in the Amer
lean market place that is the market
he will patronZe.
The enactment of protective tariff
is not going to cure all ills from which
we are suffering. But it will help,
Only industry. frugality and perserver-
ance, under fair and reasonable legis-
latiOn, can redeem business and com
merce from the results of the last few
years of extravaganza and plunging. If
the people arc going to depend upon
congress and the administration to
bring back the prosperous days of old
they will find only disappointment and
hardship.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13

Lieutenant Gramstortf Of Everett,
Mass. is one of the most stubborn in
diyiduals that was ever in the army.
He served in France very creditably
and came home with his associates.
No long ago he received information
from the war department that he was
dead This was rather startling to
him. as it was the first intima ton he
had received Of that eventful fact.
However. lie was reluctant TO believe
il and concluded there must be some
mistake SO he wrote Secretary Baker
about it, but the eminent secretary was
obduratc and his department wrote
again TO the lieutenant declaring that
he was dead and telling him just
where he had been killed. Still the
ex-soldier was not convinced and again
wrote the department However. Sec
rotary Baker. who has n passion for
efficiency" was not to be convinced.
He was sure that Lieutenant Grams
t0rl' was dead and informed that gen
tlcman that his body would soon ar
rive from France 10 be buried by the
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13
Coolidge is a very different type of man
and likes ordinary living accommodate
tinns tF

According to Secretary of the Treas
ury Houson the prosecution of the war
cost the. United States $24 .010,0O00,0 900.
This represents, according to the sec
adjusted expenditures of the
treasury. excluding all other outlay
which had not relation to the actual
cost of prosecution of the war during
the period from April e. 1917, to June
80, 1920, which covered the extremes of
the government war time fiscal opera
TONS Total expenditures of the gov
eminent during that time, exclusive of
those of the post office department,
to $3s, 3O,S12,S95. OF this
sum $16,O7S,444 was obtained from
taxes and revenues from sources other
than borrowed money. A reduction of
50, 523 100000 must be made from
these figures on account Of that sum
having been loaned to our late asSOci-
ates in the war.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13

Manufacturers and others who have
been operating on fair margins OF
profit during the past few years and
whose principal expense account is the
wage scale, cannot materially reduce
prices unless and until wages are re-
duced. OF course they can reduce in
proportion to the reduction in the cost
of material so far as the cost of ma
terials enters into cost of operations.
But manufacturer who pays in
wages % or so per cent of his total
cannot make much material reduction
in selling prices until the big item
of wages is readjusted upon a lower
basis. He must either hold prices up
or shut down. Newspapers generally
come within this class, as by far the
greatest expense in running. the aver.
age newspaper is the pay roll, although
the price Of print paper has become a
very important item and as yet print
paper has not gone down in price.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13

Nobody can yet tell what kind of a
president Warren G. Harding will
make. He talks well. being very care
full about making foolish promises and
cXtravagant statements. He appears
tc be a very level headed man with
great good sense and may prove to be
one of the strongest executives the
country ever had. All will admit that
he has big tasks before him, some OF
the gravest that ever confronted Il
m csident Of the United States. We are
all hoping that he will prove the right
man in the right place and demon
strate that the people made no mis-
take in electing him by the largest
ma jority on record. The country ought
to get behind him and give him all
proper encouragement and assistance.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13

Gov. Gov has sent word to Presi-
dcnt-eloct Harding that if the next
president wishes to resign from the
senate at this time and is deferred be-
cause fearing the appointment of a
Democratic successor, that he (COX)
will appoint Scnator-elect Willis i'm
mediately upon the resignation of Sen
ator Harding. This is a commendable
thing for Gov. Cox to do and whether
or not Senator Harding will resign
sooner than he intended, having set
the date as Of Jan. 10 or II, he must
appreciate the conSiderate offer OF
Gov. Cox, who has power to appoint
a senator to fill vacancy that occurs
before the expiration Of his term as
governor.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13

But suppose the increased tariff would
cut off 40 per cent of the importations,
the importations of 1920 would still
pay approximately $Soo,00O,00O into
the national treasury.
The imports Of more than S3,000,OOO.-
900 in value Of 1919 yielded in custom
duties only $17S,913,O00 to the national
treasury, but under the tariff laws of
1910 they would have yielded, provid-
ed they had been imported under that
law, more than $6OO,OO0,00O. 1t is inn
possible to tell in advance just what the
volume of importations would be under
a higher protective tariff law, but it is
certain that if impOrtations are not
large our own manufacturers and wage
earners will be benefited by being
vOuchsafed reasonable markets here at
home.
The $4,000, 100000 worth of goods i'm
ported this year. according to the New
York Banks statement, might have
much to do with the present depres-
sion in business. At any rate, il such
vast amounts of goods had not been inn
ported we would have the money here
at home which went to pay for them,
and a large amount of goods which
they displaced would have been pro-
duced in this country. The question of
revenue, therefore, is not the main con-
IsideratiOn that influences national
lawmakers in framing protective tar
if measure However, if impOrta-
lions continue to flow into the United
States, thus displacing domestic manu-
facturers and products, we are partly
compensated by having the govern
ment's treasury recouped by large sums.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13


The Associated Press Bulletin says
that it recently came to the attention
of small country publisher that q
certain concern, in order to stimulate
sales of it's products, promised dealers
who bought it's goods to inaugurate Il
newspaper advertising campaign. De
liveries~ were promptly made and later
an announcement was made that on
account of business conditions it was
not deemed advisable to follow the adj
vertising programme as originally iii
tended. The publishers advice to the
dealers who were thus taken in, was
to ship the merchandise back to the
manufacturer. When goods are sold
to. dealers with the promise of adver-
Using, the campaign is really a part Of
the merchandise, and if not delivered
the dealers are fully justified in re
turning the goods.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13

Nate Kendall has the ambition TO be
one of the best governors Iowa ever
had. 1t is II laudable ambition and
everybody interested in the welfare Of
the state will hope that he may win.
But he sets the mark high. If his adj
ministration compares favorably with
the administrations Of Samuel j. Kirk
wood. William Larrabee and Albert l..
Cummins he win have every reason to
feel proud and the people will have
every reason to feel gratified. NJ.
Kendall has Il great opportunity and
the Frccman-Journal believes he will
make the most of it.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13

Senator Harding, we believe, is going
to make president such as Benjamin
Harrison and William Mckinley. He
appears well balanced, safe and sound
nothing of bOmbast about him. He is
not taken off his feet by excitement
of the moment nor disturbed by the i'm
mensity of tasks before him. He pro-
poses to cooperate with congress and
will seek advice and information from
reliable sources wherever they may be
found. The country has been favorably
impressed by the manner of Mr..
Harding and has confidence in his abil-
ity and great good sense. He is going
to have the cooperation Of the people
and everybody is hoping that his adj
ministration will be a success from
every standpoint of right and justice.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13
DIFFERENT NOW.

Is Germany about to revive the
"scrap Of paper" argument in dealing
with the league Of natiOns.-Daven-
port Times.
Germany now has very different
government than it had when one OF
its high officials said "a treaty is only
a scrap of paper" 1t is only fair to
give the new government a chance.
Upon the day that congress met to
declare war against Germany Presi-
dent Wilson said:
1--WE have no quarrel with the Ger
man people. 1t was not upon
their impulse that their government
acted in entering the war. 1t was
not with their previous knowledge or
approval"
Now the German people have the
government they have accepted them
selves and the world should give them
chance to prove that President Will
son had the right idea in April, 1917.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13
TARIFF POSSIBILITIES.

"ThOse who are encouraging them
selves into the notion that congress
can by putting up tariff duties meet
any considerable part Of the public de-
mands can satisfy themselves with
little consideration that the tariff is not
going to be nearly so prolific as is
promised.
Our high water mark in tariff reve-
nues was in 1910 and then only little
over 1898 100000 was collected. TO
talk of trebling that amount now is
mere self -deceptiOn. 1t is unlikely that
we can even equal the revenue Of the
prewar years from duties on imports.
Dies Moines Register. r..
Not many people expect that the rev.
enHes of the government from impost
duties can he trebbled oyer the, revenues
from that source during the pre7war
period. In 1900 our imports amounted
TO $1.55G,947,4 3O and the Register says
we collected in duties $3.50, 100000.
Well, for the fiscal year of 1919 our i'm
ports amounted in value to Scholastic
$50, approximately doubling the I'M
ports of 1910, and during more than
four of the months Of the fiscal year
1919 the great war was being fought
A statement recently issued by the Ma
tional City Bank of New York esti-
mates the imports Tor, the calendar
gear just closing. based upon importa-
tons up to the first of November, will
reach i'm value the enormous and I'M
yrecedentcd sum of $4,000, 0OO, 900. Now
then, if 81 .5OO.OOO,O 900 worth Of imporia
lions in 1910 yielded $333, 900, &c.,
600, 100000 worth of imports in 1920,
If the same rates of duties were paid.
would yield the sum of $1.3332 5000
But, of course, with the increased rate
under the tariff in operation in 1910
there would not be as large a volume
of imports, which would be to the adj
vantage of the manufacturers, produc-
ers and wage earners Of this country.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13

The Chicago Tribune, which owns i,
paper mill of its own, is not being
hit as hard as other newspapers by the
print paper trust, hence it can an
nCunce a reduction in the price of its
Sunday edition. However, the Tribune
must have to pay the same increase il
other material and for help that othc,
newspapers pay. These are at least
double of pre-war prices and there Is
no indications that they will soon be
reduced.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13

Less than 1900 people in this c0un-
try are killed every year in auto
mobile accidents. That is Il terrible
toll to pay for carelessness and reck-
lessness and Indifference and no won
der the public is exercised over these
sacrifices and is seeking means to re-
duce the number But deaths through
auto accidents are insignificant COM
pared to deaths resulting from tubercu-
losis, 100000 dying annually from this
disease in the United States alone.
These 10000 deaths are regretted, of
course, and the friends Of the victims
are saddened, but there is much less
given to ways and means
to stop this awful sacrifice than there
is to stop auto accidents. Just think
of it, tuberculosis claims a victim every
three minutes, ten per cent OF all
deaths resulting from that malady.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13

A dispatch from Fort William, On
tario, Canada, Of recent date serves
to remind farmers that an impost duty
on wheat would be pretty good thing
for them just now. The dispatch says
that shipments of Canadian wheat
from here to United States ports, which
have been exceptionally heavy during
the last few days, continued today
when six more ships, carrying 600
600 bushels, left for Buffalo"
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13

Master Builders of Rochester, Mimi.
have announced reduction in the
building wage scale, according to dis
patches sent out from that city. Brick
layers are reduced from S1.12H TO 81
an hour, and plasterers, electricians,
plumbers and fathers from $l.12h to 30
cents an hour. Twelve hundred men
are affected The builders declared
costs of building materials are going
down and ''workmen must bear their
share in reducing building COSTS
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13

If our senate had adopted the
Treaty of Peace and League of Ma
lions, we could then grant credit to
starving Europe and the prices of
farm produce would b.ing twice as
good n price as it does today.-New
Hampton Tribune.
Wonder if that is true? If it is then
put down another long mark to the
credit of the Democratic party for
bringing on present market conditions
ot farm products. Didn't 80 Of the
40 Republicans in the senate vote to
join the league and didn't "a of the
AZ Democratic senator's vote against
il? Didn't the Republicans give rati-
ficatiOn more than the necessary two
thirds majority on their side Of the
senate? Then, again, couldn't Presi-
dent Wilson have secured ratification
with reservation by simply saying the
word? However, the condition of the
country is about the same as it was
at the end of that. other Democratic
administration in 1896, hence it is moth
ing new.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13
Senator Elkins of West Virginia ha

Senator Elkins of West Virginia has
introduced bill in the senate prOvid-
ing for the construction Of home and
office building for the vice president
of the United States costing not to
exceed $3.50, 900, and here we have been
talking about economy. 1t may be
there is need of such building, but
it is doubtful However, it ought to
wait until sound business conditions
are restored and until the burden of
taxation is somewhat removed. True,
ss:35O. 900 is only a drop in the bucket,
but there have been so many OF this
kind of drops that the old bucket was
full long ago and has been running
over some time. Better wait until
after the expiration of Vice President
Coolidge's term He is not in the habit
of living in such costly apartments ana
would probably not enjoy it. The
Freeman journal likes the simplicity
ana good. common, every day sense eX-
hibited by Gov. Coolidge. Senator
Elkins is the son of millionaire and
is n millionaire himself. Probably he
likes to splurge aud show off, But CALVIN
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13

Senator Kenyon declared some time
ago that Iowa had invested perhaps
500, O0O, 600 in wildcat and near wild
cat stocks, which investments were moi
worth two cents on the dollar. Others
who have kept tab on this class of Gin
estimates were none too high. That
is one of the things that ails Iowa
right now.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13

Secretary Tumulty says the public
generally has not recognized the hui
man qualities Of President Wilson
The secretary is mistaken. The public
has recognized it, but Tumulty appar-
emily has not. The public knows thai
''to err is human" and hence the pub
lie long ago realized that Woodrow
Wilson was the most human of any
prominent man in the country.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13

to eQualize and stabilize. values of farm
products it would go long way to-
ward settling the problems that are
annoying and distracting farmers. Mr..
Lowden thinks ways will yet be found
and it is hopeful sigh that so many
Of the best minds of the country are
giving serious thought to it's solution.
A bushel of corn and pound of beef
contain the same food values from
year to year and if some plan Of
marketing and holding could be de-
vised that would prevent such wide
fluctuations it would be better for both
consumer and producer.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13

Merry Christmas is going I'd have
q hollow sound for the man who has
been laid off indefinitely by his en-
ployer-Des Moines Register.
And the employer who has to lay off
his employees on account of restricted
business is also going to have his share
of annoying thoughts on Christmas.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-12-13

In 1912 the Democrats proposed to
reduce the price of print paper by cut.
ting the tariff. Well, they cut it all
right. At that time print paper was
worth from $40 to $50 per ton. Now
ii is selling at from 5000 to $3.50 per
ton. But the present outlook is that
the peak has been reached, and we ar"
thankful for that.