Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-08-08

it almost ceased to exist. The railroads
went bankrupt and the Indian scares
almost dcpopulated northern Iowa.
And then came the civil war, which
practically exhausted the resources of
the state. Following the war came the
erasshopper invasion which lasted for
three years. From the year 1865 to
about 1876, period of 20 years, there
was constant depression and suffering
among the pioneers in this part of
Iowa, SO the wonder is that there were
any settlers here at all during those
years.
Mr.. 1ngham paid a high tribute to
the members Of the Border Brigade.
formed in 1857, following the Spirit
Lake massacre. Uncle Jas Bell served
as second lieutenant in Company B, one
Of five companies formed at that time
in the vicinity of Webster City and Fort
Dodge. OF the men who formed those
companies, but 81 are still alive and
their average age is 81 years.
ut seems a tremendously long time
ago." said Mr.. Ingham, "since the Spirit
Lake massacre. vet it was within the
life time Of one man. Lieut.. Bell is
here. He saw the scenes enacted here
abOuts then. Wonderful changes may
occur in life time, for during Lieut..
Bells life he helped chase Indians out
Of these very woods"
Lessons Of Past.
Mr.. Ingham pointed out the big adj
vantage one has in life who was born
in the United States, and especially in
the Mississippi valley, which has be-
come a wonderful commonwealth and
the garden spot Of the world in 80 years
The speaker held that, while we should
always look to the future, nevertheless
We owed great deal to our forefath-
ers. Following the lessons of their
lives" said he, I'VE should be able to
hand down to posterity such conditions
of-life as will permit the boys and girls.
the future citizenship, to make the most
Of themselves. We should avoid those
mistakes which tend to force the
masses into a peasant condition of life.
We should avoid that blunder, under
the guise Of national power-nationa
6efense-known< as militarism. Mill
tarism has crushed every other civilian
tiOn in the world"
Opposes Militarism.
Mr.. Ingham took a Strong position
against militarism, big military appro-
rriations, big standing armies. big nav-
les and universal military training. He
held that universal military training
would cost a billion dollars a year and
this sum, he held, would accomplish
much more in the physical training of
the youth of the land If it were put
Into schools for athletic purposes. He
opposed the teaching Ola military form
Of government and held that our fore
had been wise In placing civil
government above the military. He
told of the monster army and navy ap-
now as compared with for
merly. He pictured the tax burdens
tnat Europe will carry for years and
asked his hearers if America could ex-
pect to he exempt from this sort of
thing If she continues along the pres
cnt course Of military appropriations.
His own answer to the question was
that 1.-The future Of America is safe, if
we exercise the courage of American
ISM
Mr.. Ingham was roundIy applauded
several times and was given an ovation
as he closed.
Dickinson Speaks.
Congressman Dickinson, who has
been spending several days in Fort
Dodge, Is q constant reader Of the news
papers published in his district. He
uses them largely to keep in touch with
home conditions while he is in Wash
ibgt0n. Some weeks ago when he read
in the Freeman-Jo Journal that the annual
reunion of old settlers in this county
would be held Aug. Z, he determined to
Re present, for he had accepted an invi-
tation to speak in Webster City the
same evening. And so he drove down
to Bells mill yesterday from Fort
Dodge and enjoyed the afternoon very
much in meeting his constituents.
Prof. Runkle called on him for short
address at the conclusion of Mr.. Ing
hams address. 1nasmuch as Mr.. Dick
inson spoke in this city last evening.
which address is fully covered else
where in this paper, only a very brief
resume Of his talk at Bells mill Is
given,
Hopeful Of Economy.
He gave a brief outline of the work
congress is doing and designated the
tariff bill as its biggest piece of legis-