davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-12-08
WRITE A LETTER
TO SANTA CLAUS

Well, well, know lot of little friends around
this city and in the country around here getting down
their little knees every night and sending up sup
picaton Santa Claus for something that they want
for their Christmas
Bless their little hearts in this matter and want
say right here that if it layn there would
not be solitary little soul but whose heart would be
gladdened with just the wished for things when the
anniversary of the Chrischd's birth rolled around
Christmas morning.
Of course there is lot Of paper used in writing let
ter to Santa these days and instead of sending them
the chimney in the smoke way to Santa Claus, in
vtng all little folks to write your letters and bring
them in to the Banner-News office and will publish
them telling Santa Claus just what you want together
with your name, for Christmas. That will have
effect Santa Claus also and will prove interesting read
ing matter for all of the folks Who knows what might
happen through the publication of your letter
Now kiddies get after daddy, mother-and if
either of them too tired busy to assist you have
big brother sister else help you making
out the list Of what you want for Christmas and
send to Santa Claus of the BannerNews office and
will publish it for him to read We know it will help.
Already we have letter written by little boy who
says that he wants Santa to bring him "a arplane fire
truck and automobile. We going to hold his let
ter because there plenty Of time anyway and publish
it with yours when you send it in If you don't want to
trust your letter to the mails bring in to the office your
self send it down with but get busy and tell
Santa what you want through the Banner-News.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-12-08
THOSE LITTLE BROWN MEN
nv THE u. S. A.
A Vital Problem, Of The West Coast States Which
Threatens Our National Life
. BY HUB ENGEMANN

California is a state of mountains
and valleys. Ranges of mountains
with beautiful valleys between and
from the main range others run to-
wards the coast and the sharp noun
tain canyons spread into broad level
valleys.
Although this wonder state is cias-
sed as semi-arid and was at an earli-
er date nothing but mountains and
desert waste, it is now under irriga-
tion and cultivation to a great ex-
tent and the valleys are now green
fields of alfalfa, poatoes, beans or
great orchards( or as they are called
here in California, Groves) of al
monds, walnuts, olives, figs, apples
peaches, lemons, oranges and in fact
any fruit grown.
This state is blessed with very
fine climate and is land of sunshine
having very mild winters and mod
crate summers in the coast sections,
while in some of the valleys the
summers are very warm, and in the
mountains where the altitude is over
mile the winters take on the wealth
er of more northern cline.
Different sections are given to
raising different crops. For instance
when oranges are grown in vicinity
they are grown almost entirely and
the almonds are mostly all in a GER
tain district. But from the north to
the south of the state vegetables and
garden truck are grown for sale in
the cities. And most all of the gar
den truck in the state is now grown
by Japanese.
The Japanese from the over crowd
ed isles of Japan seem to have taken
a fancy to this beautiful state and
have managed to obtain large foot
ing here. And now they are in al
most complete control of the truck
markets and have "cornered" the
truck gardens. Several Of the lead
ers of their different associations, it
is reported, meet regularly and set
the price that the housewives Of CAL
ifornia must pay for the very neces-
sites of life.
How have they gained this con-
troll, this corner? The Jap laborers
are as unlike American laborers as a
rodent is unlike a pedigreed kitten,
and where Americans live in decent
homes, these Japs will live in the
most unbelievable novels and where
the American farmer takes time off
to eat and sleep and a much needed
rest on Sundays the Japs Give in the
field", and also Mrs. Jap and the
many young ones are forever toiling
in the field.
By their methods of slovenly liv-
ing and cheap existance they have
cut under the American farmer and
now have the truck gardening of Cal.
in their control and can set their own
price and many Of them have grown
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-12-08

telegram received Monday from
Hub" Engemann, one of the pub
fishers Of this paper, who has been
sojourning in the west since July 10
stated that he and Martin Engemann
were leaving Los Angeles that morn
ing on their return home and they
are scheduled to reach here on Sat
urday. Since Hub went away the
editor has mighty near run himself
ragged trying to do the work of two
men and once the bird gets back
here we're 'agoing to put him to
work and perhaps we will be able to
keep up our end of the business with
out sticking around the sanctum un-
til 2 o'clock every morning. Really,
we've lost so much sleep since that
boy went away. that we feel as if we
could let the rest of the world roll
by and sleep for week.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-12-08

rich. Riches that this country will
never receive any benefit from.
Several years ago a law aimed to
remedy this condition was passed in
California, barring all aliens who
were ineligable to citizenship from
owning land in California.
But the wiley Japanese soon found
ways and means to circumvent the
spirit and letter of the law and or
CARNATIONS with dummy officers were
organized and the Japs leased the
land for terms of three years. An
other manner is the buying of land
in the name of children born in the
u. S. and then the parent being ap-
pointed guardian.
But at the recent election of No
vember- 2, law was passed forbid
ding the renting or leasing of land
by the Japanese, by vote of to
/. The law will not take effect until
December and now the Japs are can
ceiling the old leases and making out
new ones for the next three years.
Many of the Japs are leaving this
state for others which have-not pas
sed such laws apd Texas is one to
suffer greatly of late from this in
vasion, where the Japs have bought
up thousands of acres.
Swedes, Poles, Italians and other
foreign nationals are allowed citizen
ship privileges, so why not the Japs?
Besause the Jap is unasimalateable
When put into the melting Pot' he
just simply will not melt. They have
numerous societies and associations
here which are all fully in accord
with the Niponese government across
the Pacifis, and are declared by many
who have authoritative information
to be but the local branches of the
Jananese government.
There are at present over 100 000
.)aps In the u. s. A. and the state of
California has over 10000 OF these,
so IL is here that one comes 20 realize
the danger of this Asiatic ina sion.
Now that the state of California
has finally and emphatically answer
ed this question, let not the federal
government make treaty which will
in effect annul its laws, but rather
let the federal government pass laws
10 settle this question which is fast
becoming a national one, so that
America will be preserved for the
white race and not for the Yamato
race which is very desirous of colon
izing the western coast.
Thru their foreign language papers
they urge their numbers here to work
diligently and to beget offspring SO
that some day thru sheer strength Of
numbers they can overcome our laws.
Let us keep the entire ". s. A. for
Americans and those that are fit and
willing to become Americans and not
seceed a portion of it to Japan.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-12-08
LOCAL TALENT
LYCEUM COURSE
NUMBER WAS FINE
ENTERTAINMENT HAD CLASS
AND VARIETY AND WAS
HIGHLY APPRECIATED

The entertainment put On by the
students of the Belding High school
Tuesday night, as the third rumber
OF the winter lyceum course. proved
To be ,ery entertaining and shows
rs there is much local talent in our
school, that the mos. OF us have not
discovered. Splen!d music by the
orchestra, consisting Of three boys
and four girls, led by Mr.. Mattison
Choruses by several of the pupils,
led by Miss Edna Bliss, also four
numbers by eight of the boys.
We make special mention of the
Magician, Russell Curtis, who was
an adept in showing the people that
they did not see what they thought
they did. The four tableaux with
the colored lights were extra good.
We shall expect to hear great things
in the future of Harold Arnold, as
soloist. Professor S. j. Skinner read
several selections from Sam Walter
Foss and Edmund Vance Cook, which
met with hearty approval from the
people. A large crowd attended and
we heard many praises for the pupils
many claiming it was worth fully
as much to them, if not more, than
the imported numbers had been.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-12-08
NEW MANAGER
PLANS OPENING
OF STAR THEATRE
LOVE OR JUSTICE" AND COM
EDY VAMPIRE AMBROSE"
ARE NOW BOOKED

John Parchem, of Detroit, has ar
rived in the city and has been busy
this week getting the Star theatre
ready for his opening nights busi-
ness, on Saturday evening, Decem-
Der IL, Mr.. Parchem having pur-
chased the Star theatre business from
Mr.. Vernon Locey, of Howell, who
conducted it prior to going back to
his home town to which he was Civ
en- a big enducement to return by
the people of Howell, who were de-
sirous of having first class show
man in charge of their movie house
and recognized Mr.. Locey as such.
Mr. Parkem is a young man full
of pep and hustle and while he does
not wish it stated too strong, he says
that he realizes that the people of
this city are entitled to the best pro-
durable in the motion picture line
and that he is going to give it to
thdm. He has followed theatrical
work and says he expects to furnish
Belding and vicinity theatre going
fans with the right kind of amuse-
ments.
His opening picture will be "Love
or Justice" featuring Louise Glaum
and in addition to this will be "Vam-
pire Ambrose, mighty good COM
edy. Mr.. Parchem has an adver-
tisement in another section of this
paper announcing his opening for
Saturday, December IL.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-12-08
Church OF Christ Notes

Tomorrow evening, Thursday, the
prayer meeting and the 4th lesson
in our study for efficiency. All try
and be present, visitors more than
welcome. Next Sunday morning
Bible school at 10 a. m, Communion
at HOO. Report from older Boys
conference at Grand Rapids by Prof.
Wheater, Fuller Dorr and Alvin
Story. A good attendance is desir-
ed as we surely are all interested
in our young people, as they are an
inspiration to. both we and all good
works. Evening service C.-E. at 6
p. m. and preaching at z. A welcome
to all.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-12-08
MARKETING TRIP
TO MARQUETTE
WAS a,sUGCEsS
BELDING FARMER UNABLE TO
SELL APPLE CROP WORKS
OUT SELLING PAN

Ernest Cmckering returned on
Sunday evening from his trip to
Marquette, where he had gone with
his crop of apples of, the past sea-
son and which he had been unable to
dispose of in this vicinity. Mr..
Chickering was highly pleased with
the outcome of the venture anu says
that he has his apple crop marketing
worked out for years to come and
that hereafter foreign buyers who
come to this place to purchase ap-
pies will mean but little to him as
he thinks that the method which he
adopted in selling his crop this year
will work out satisfactorily as long
as he is in the apple raising business.
Mr.. Chickering left here after
loading his apples in the car, on the
Tuesday evening before Thanksgiv-
ing and went through with the car
in person. 1t took him until Tues
day night to reach Grand Rapids and
then he was held there until Thurs
day morning when the car was final
ly switched out on to the main line
and placed in a train which took it
through to the straits of Mackinac
and then on up to Marquette, which
place was reached on Saturday morn
ing. Without any special notice he
was kept busy from about eight
o'clock, when his car was placed, un-
til late that afternoon when he was
glad to quit. He laid there over Sun
day and on Monday morning inserted
small advertisement in the Mar
quette paper. The results were mar
velous. People fiocked to the car in
n mo - Ia fn <<f
applet 1t kept Mr.. Chickering and
mighty busy taking care of the or
ders for the next two days. People
from Ishpeming, Negaunee and many
other places farther up the line came
to the car and got apples and tried
to induce Mr.. Chickering to ship a
carload to their cities, assuring him
that in case he did so, that he would
find a ready sale for the fruit.
Mr.. Chickering looked around the
city and noted the quality of the ap-
Piles which the merchants had for
sale. He said that the price was
high and that the apples were of
about a second grade and could not
be compared with the quality of ap-
Piles which local apple raisers pro-
duce.
He also stopped off in Saginaw on
his way back and there he saw re-
versal of conditions, with the fin
est kind on apples displayed and on
sale for twenty-five cents per peck
or ninety cents per bushel and the
merchants. telling that it was a
mighty hard proposition to get the
people to buy at that price.
Mr.. Chickering took a supply Of
cards along with him. The cards
bore his name and the name of his
farm, together with the address and
he feels that he already has an es-
tablished trade with the people of
Marquette, as many of them told
him that they would wait for him
next year. He may make another
trip up there with another carload
provided the weather will permit Of
so doing.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-12-08
Predicts Fruit Crop Failure

Ed. Carpenter brought in to this
office, last Monday, several branches
which he had taken off from fruit
trees on his farm south and east of
the city. The buds on the branches,
owing to the warm summer-like
weather which this section of the
country has experienced for some
time past, were as far developed as
they ordinarily should be next April.
Mr.. Carpenter has been in the fruit
raising business for a number of
years back and says that in case
they develop any farther and a COW
ering of sleet should come, that it
would be almost certain to freeze
the buds and thereby totally destroy
the crop which should come next
year. The trees which Mr.. Carpenter
took the branches off from were a
Duchess apple and a sweet and sour
cherry variety.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-12-08
EYES MO|STEM
At TRAGIC SCENE
IN COURT ROOM
JUDGE DAVIS REFUSES FORMER
LOCAL RESIDENT ANOTHER
CHANGE TO MAKE GOOD

Immediately after giving tekti-
mony in circuit court at Ionia, Sat
urday morning that resulted in send
ing her husband, George Hilton, to
the Michigan reformatory at Ionia,
for one to three years, for desertion
and nonsupport, Mrs. Hilton loving
ly fondled him and bade him tear
full farewell. Hilton broke down un-
der the display of affection and 10y
atty and pleaded with the court for
another chance to make good Tt
was refused, Judge Davis stating
that Hilton had already had chance
enough.
Many eyes in the court room filled
with tears as the touching little
scene from the drama of life was
enacted before them. 1t is seldom
even in a court where the loves,
hates, joys and sorrows of humanity
are seen almost daily in their vary
ing aspects that such true devotion
has been evidenced.
Not only did the wife charge her
husband with desertion and non
support but she also said that he
had threatened to disown their
daughter. She also told of another
woman" to whom he had paid atten-
tions.
There beside Mrs. Hilton as she
listened to her husband pleading with
the Judge for one more opportunity
to make good, sat "the other woman"
with her arm about the sobbing wife.
trying to soothe her. The" other wo-
man" who had completed the trian-
gle sought out the wife to make
amends, stating that Hilton had
proposed an elopment to Holland
and that she had gone with him.
Mrs. Hilton has been working to
support her child and herself since
the husband went north sometime
ago. Hilton was on probation at the
time he left, having been directed
several months ago, by Judge Da-
Wis to provide support for his family.
He was brought back from ST. Ig--
mace this week when Mrs. Hilton
made her complaint.
at was because he said he would
disown the child that / made the
complaint, said Mrs. Hilton, on the
witness stand. 81 never would have
complained if it had not been for
that"
Hilton admitted h e charges
against him, except that he declared
he had never told anyone that ne
would disown his daughter. He plead
ed for one more chance and declared
that he would take his family north
with him where he would pro-
vide a home for them. Judge Davis
however. declared that he had al
ready showed leniency enough to
Hilton and that he could do nothing
but impose sentence this time.
The family formerly resided here
and in one way or another have had
a lot Ct trouble amongs. each other
in getting along. Hilton at one time
saved woman from drowning after
she had jumped in the mill race.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-12-08
Taken To Grand Rapids Hospital

harvey Darllng, VINO mas been In
serious i'll health for some time past
was taken to Grand Rapids to go into
a hospital with the intention of un-
dergoing an operation, which is stat
ed to be the one chance in hundred
of saving his life. Mr.. Darling has
spent some time in a hospital before
but some time ago was brought home
thinking that he would be better off
here. His present sickness is caus-
ed by a decaying kidney and it is
for the removal of this that the pres
ent trip to Grand Rapids was made.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-12-08

A letter received by his mother
Mrs Rose Howard, from Robert
Howard, tells of the progress which
that young man is making, mat
ter which "Bobs" many local friends
will be pleased to learn of. Robert
enlisted in the army last July and
joined the coast artillery. He was
sent to Camp Lewis. Washington,
where he has been stationed since
and where in series of examina-
tions which he took along with .nu-
merous other soldiers, he stood at
the head of the class and as a re-
suit won a transfer to the Coast Ar
tilery division stationed at Fortress
Monroe, Va, to which place he will
soon be sent. Roberts letter to his
mother was full of optimism and
from the tone of his writing he sure
likes the life and is making a sue
cess as a soldier in Uncle Sans ar
my.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-12-08
The Sherif's Up Again

Walk the straight and narrow path
again from now on for Monday af-
ternoon we saw Sheriff Mark Hop
pough on the streets again after
more than a months sickness which
kept him away from Belding. To
nor does he feel like biting anyone
because he had the rare pleasure OF
having all his teeth extracted on
Friday and was not over doing the
smiling act on Monday when we saw
him. Never the less Marks genial
manner and ever present optimism
kept him CHEEKY and his many old
time local friends were glad to see
him up and around again.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-12-08
He Liked Persimmons

Grover Allgee came from the south
and when he read in last weeks is
sue about the persimmons which w.
t. Sumner had sent up from his farm
in Alabama, he had to come in to
see them. When he did see them,
the temptation to taste the luscious
fruit of his boyhood was too strong
to resist and grabbing on to them he
said "Say, you tell that feller from
Alabama that that feller from Ten
nessee eat his persimmons" and from
the way he consumed them put us
in mind of Huck Finn and Tom Saw
yer eating persimmons as related by
Mark Twain in his writings. Mr..
Allgee said that the persimmons
tasted fine and now that he had eat
en- a few of them he was going to
write down home and have bushel
sent to him.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-12-08

The East O..1co Farmers Club met
at the pleasant farm home of Mr.. and
Mrs. Ernest Woodbridge, Thursday
December 2, nearly fifty being pres
ent.
After splendid chicken dinner,
meeting was called to order by pres
ident Ernest Woodbridge and a pro-
gram was given. Topic: The country
house of tomorrow brought out a
good many thoughts and was quite
thoroughly discussed. The following
committees were appointed for pro-
gram: Ernest Chickering. Nellie
Phillips, Mrs. Byron Brown; Music
committee, Mrs. b. Strunk; Flower
Elsie Cusser.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-12-08
Farmers Club Meeting

West Otisco Farmers Club met at
the home of Mr.. and Mrs. Louie
jerks on Broas street, Thursday af-
ternoon, December 2 with roast
chicken dinner. The following officers
were elected for the coming year:
President, Mark Brown; Vice Pres
ident, Clyde Day; Recording Secre-
tary, Mrs. Charles Urch; Cores
ponding Secretary, Mrs. M. l.. Up
dyke; Treasurer, Mrs. Lester Car
penter.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-12-08
Knights OF Pythias Elect

The Knights of Pythias held their
meeting Tuesday evening and the
election of officers resulted as fol-
lows: C. C.-Bruce Fales, V. CO.
J. Collier, Pre.-A. J. Rummler; M.
of W.-Wm. HI. Malone; X. of r. and
S.-Henry Gildemeister, M. of F.
Chas. A. Coon, NJ. of Ex.-Ambrose
Spencer, M. of A.-Clarence Green,
/. CO. ]. Brown; o. George
Hubbard, F. CA. f. Weter, Trus-
tee, 3 years-W r. Menkee.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-12-08
Attended County Grange Meet

Portland, Friday, December 3 as
Secretary of Ionia County Pomona
Grange which met with Portland
Grange. A fine dinner was served
which seventy-five members enjoyed
and after a business session a class
of 16 candidates was given the fifth
degree. These will join the large
class from all counties in the state
at Grand Rapids next week for the
sixth degree which will be given by
state officers.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-12-08
Saws Business Is Prospering

Raymond Noddins, of Orleans, was
in the city Monday afternoon and he
says that the telephone and electric
lighting business which he assumed
the management of after his fathers
death. is coming along fine. He has
recently added to the business with
a storage battery service and supply
station and is ready to give the peo-
pie of Orleans, vicinity and else
where. top-notch service in his line.
Mr.. Noddins has an adj in each issue
of the Banner-News in which he
tells something of interest to his
people about the service which he
can give them in their battery troub-
les, should they have any.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-12-08

| will be at the Treasurer's Office
December 10 to receive taxes. Pay
able at ia until further notice
Hours. 8 to IL as a. m; to 5:45 p
M; Pay nights and Saturday nights
until 1880 p. m.
j. B. Essex, City Treas.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-12-08
Start Depot Platform Paving

Workmen have been busy for the
past week when ever the weather
would permit in laying the paving
brick for the platform around the
new Pere MARQUETTE depot and from
the Looks Of things the local railway
passenger hr'' ''5;ng and it's surround
ings will match up very well with
any like building which the railroad
company has along its lines. The
building presents beautiful appear
ance and VIII Le one oven which the
Pere Marquette company and local
people can Justly feel proni Present
plans are that 1t I'll be reldy for the
public sbout January 1.
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-12-08
County Maccabee Meeting

The members of the Ionia County
Maccabee Association will meet in
their next regular session at the G..
A. r. hall on next Wednesday even-
ing, December Is. All Sir knights
are urgently requested to be present
The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-12-08

Don't forget the Grange meeting
Saturday, December IL. Program
as in last weeks paper.