davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14
FACTS ARE WANTED.

Railroad pay and what railroad
labor returns for it should be ascertain
ed ard made public. Railroad labor
pay has advanced far since the passage
OF the AdamSOn law, and it is human
nature not to wish to give up any adj
vantage gained. But this is a period
of reimbursement everywhere and sacri-
fee is general. Certainly neither the
public in general nor the millions in
tt rested directly or indirectly in rail
road investment will submit to agree
ments which, if the charges of the exc.
cutivcs are true, impose gross waste
and inetficiency upon the railroads.
Chicago Tribune.
1t is said that railroad men are get
ting very high wages, higher than those
engaged in other industries. The rail
road managers say this is true, but
offer no direct proofs. The men re-
flute the claim. The question could be
considered intclligently by the public
il the facts were published. If sched-
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14

ules of wages together with a schedules
cf the duties performed were known it
could be very easily determined wheth-
err or not railroad employees are get
ting more than they are justly entitled
to. Freight and passenger rates are
unusually high and have become very
burdensome in the face of falling
prices, yet we are told the roads are
losing money, due to loss OF business
The situation is most serious. The
public is entitled to good service; the
men are entitled to good pay and the
owners are entitled to profit. Freight
rates now appear to be as high as the
traffic will bear and the only remedy
appears to be in reduction Of operat-
ing expenses. If there are compare
lively few men getting fabulous sal
aries, while the many are working for
fair wages, it might be possible to i'm
prove conditions by cutting down the
big salaries, or if the wage scale of the
men is out of proportion some way
ought to be devised to reach an adjust
ment. We believe the average employe
will be disposed to be fair when all the
facts are known.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14
FOR A SMALLER ARMY.

The overwhelming vote of both
houses of congress to override the
presidents army reduction bill veto
proves that congress is in earnest in
its determination to hew to the line OF
economy. True, an army of 175OOO
men is small for country the size OF
this, but there must be brake upon
expenditures, and, besides, there is less
need for any army now than there has
been for some time. There are some
thing like 100000 young men in the
United States who are well trained.
These men may think they would not
go to war again if they could help it,
but they would. If Old Uncle Samuel
were attacked by some foreign nation
you would see the boys who defended
him with such determination and loyal
ity in 1917 and 1913 right back upon
the job, even if they do think now
they have done their share and that
somebody else ought to bear the brunt
Of the next war. They simply couldn't
resist the temptation ito get into the
harness again. The newspapers would
be full Of appeals, public speakers
would arouse enthusiasm and there
would be enthusiastic responses to the
call for men to the defense of the ma
ton. The outside world knows this
hence there is no danger of any nation
attacking us for years to come. "A few
years later, if there appears the need,
the army can and should be enlarged,
but for the present public safety is rea-
sonably well assured by the knowledge
that the country is full of trained men
who know how to fight and who are
not afraid to fight If occasion demands.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14

State officers who have had regard
for honest and competent service need
not be afraid of any investigations into
the affairs of their departments. All
others ought to be afraid of the in
vestisations that are proposed. But no
matter Turn on the light and let no
guilty man escape. 1t is said that the
legislative committee is going to in
vestigate the affairs of the offices of
the superintendent Of public instruc-
ton, the banking superintendent, the
dairy and food commissioner, the secre-
tary of the board of health and the in
surancc commissioner. The people will
hope that all of these officers may have
made such satisfactory records that
they will be given clean bills, but they
are anxious that the probing shall be
deep and thorough.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14

There is no one thing that operates
fCr national security more than home
owning. and congress and state legis-
Iaturcs ought to do what is reason
able and just to encourage the peO-
pie to own their homes. Ono thing
that could be done and that would help
would be to exempt from taxation all
homes no to value of say $4,000, if
occupied by owners. The person who
could afford to own Il home valued at
$4,000 could afford to pay taxes upon
the valuation above the $1,000 eXcmp-
ton. Such q policy would stimulate
home building by people of limited
means and would help conditions in
many ways. The man who owns a
home will not be converted to redism.
If the present legislature would take
this matter up and solve it it would
do something that would rebound to
the credit of the state and to itself.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14

the public, and are cutting out many
of the objectional features. City au
;horities can stop the showing Of OBJ
jcctiOnable pictures now. If they would
occasionally exercise this right it
would have good influence upon the
entire screen business.
There are people who would like
to have the press censored and who
would like to dictate to public speak
ers what they could, and could not
say. If such powers We're lodged in
some body of men the chances are
it would be abused to the detriment
of the general welfare There is al
together too much disposition on the
part of some to force their own views
in such matters upon others. There is
too much demand for laws that inter
fere with harmless amusements and
customs of the people. A little more
liberality and little less bigOtry in
dealing with such business might be
beneficial in the long run. In discus
sing this matter the Davenport Times
looks at it from various angles and
says:
The proposal that the board of ed
uca ton in Iowa shall be given author
ity to censor motion pictures films will
not meet with spontaneous Outburst
of enthusiastic approval. The board
of education would have time for moth
ing else if it undertook to censor all
the films that may be shown in Iowa,
or it would have to do its work by
proxy through clerks appointed for the
purpose, in which event the public
would not get the liberal judgment
concerning films which the SPONSORS Of
the movement profess they hope to OBJ
tain
AS matter of fact, censorship of
films is of about as doubtful value as
would be a censorship of the press or
of the pulpit. There are papers in
Iowa that print things which ma
jority probably doesn't approve, and
it is quite certain there are preachers
in Iowa who advocate doctrines that
only decided minority sanctions And
if it is wise to censor films why not
at the same time have the board of
education say what books shall be
placed in public libraries? Why not
censor the spoken drama as well?
Why not censor music-some would
cut out jazz?
AS matter of fact. films are now
censored most severcly-by the gener-
al public. Exhibitors have discovered
that certain kinds of films will not "go
over big There has been tire
mendOus advance in artistic accom-
plshment in recent years. and the new
art is developing constantly to higher
ideals as result of the silent but
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14

Well, well. President Wilson has
finally done something with which the
Des Moines Register doesn't agree.
His veto Of the army reduction bill is
the occasion for mild criticism on the
part of the Des Moincs organ Just
hear ii: Even if the president were
right about our ultimat e needs why
should we be in any hurry about
it: No matter what we do VIC shall
get no better army than we have
now and every step we commit our
selves to in the matter of army and
navy puts us that much further off
from world union . The president is not
soaring the people with his forecast Of
our military needs; he is terrifying
those who are most bitterly opposed to
league of the world to stop war, who
believe in an intense nationalsm. SuS-
1ained by military power. He will be
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14

The Des Moincs Register says that
there is great need for house clean
ing at the state capitol; that the clean
ing Of two years ago wasn't deep enough
and that the public was kept in ig-
noruncc of much of the crookedness
that was unearthed. If what the Reg
lister says is true. 1t is up to the adj
miniStrat ton of Gov Kendall and his
aids to see that the necessary refor-
nations are made. The interests of
the state and of the republican par
ty are identical and the people eX-
pressed their confidence in the party
to do the necessary house cleaning
when they elected the entire republi-
can ticket by unprecedented majorities.
The Frceman-Journal believes Gov.
Kendall will make good and that if
there is any crookedneSs in the state
house it will he fcrreted out and the
guilty made to suffer.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14

Thomas Lynn Bradford, the crank
vho committed suicide a few evenings
ago ito prove that the spirit can com
muncate with this world" has not yet
proven it. Possibly his wireless is not
IN working order The only thing that
Bradford has proved by his foolish &C
ton is that he was such a fanatic that
he was willing to die to fool somebody
if he could. Mrs. Ruth Doran of
Detroit is the one with whom his Spirit
is going to communicate, and of course
she will receive word in due course
of time, or will try to make people be-
lieve she has. AS the public like to
be humbuggcd many will believe.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14

President Wilson is still of the opn-
ion that an army Of 2SO,OGO men is
none to large for the United States to
maintain Under normal conditions
such an army might not be burdensome
and might lie advisable, but economy is
now necessary and owing to the tinan-
cial depression all over the world there
is no likelihood Of any country trying
to pick a quarrel with us for some
years to come. The Frecman-JOurnal
believes in an army of ample proper
lions, but it realizes that there is not
the danger Of attack now that there
will be when conditions became stabil-
lied throughout the world and when
other nations are able to indulge in
the luxury of war When that time
comes our army can be increased.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14

As indicating some Of the pains of
reimbursement it may be mentioned that
one big Chicago mail order house suf-
fe red a loss of about SS.000.O0O during
the year 1920, the bulk of this loss fall
ing i'm the last four months of that
year. Did the mail order house go
into bankruptcy or liquidate? oh, bless
you, no. The firm simply drew that
amount from the profits of 1919 and
previous years. The point is that the
woods are full of corporations and in
dividuals who sustained heavy losses
liz 1920 and took their medicine, charg-
ing it against fat year profits.-Water-
loo Courier.
Firms and corporations and individ-
uals that can do that are fortunate,
but everybody could not or did not
save enough to carry them over the
reimbursement period without trouble.
Besides, there are quite Il few who are
in business now, among them quite a
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14

If the Jews were half as blood
thirsty as Henry Ford's hired writers
try to make out, Jews would not al
ways be the victims of maSsacreS and
similar Outrages Ford is an cratic
russ and we suppose the Jews, who
happen to be in disfavor with some
men employed by him, must submit
to the malicious assaults being made
upon them Jews have their faults,
of course. but on the whole they are
law-abiding and among the best citi-
zens any country ever had. They have
suffered untold persecution for centu-
ries, public sentiment from time to
time being aroused against them by
such damnablc methods as are now
being INDUCED in by the Dearborn In
dependent Everybody knows that
Henry Ford isn't informed upon the
Jewish or any other question, except
that of finance, and he seems to be
having trouble in that realm just at
present.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14

There is a movement on foot in fay-
or of legislation authorizing the con-
Sti:utional convention which is to be
held in the future, as directed by a
vote of the people at the recent cleo
ton, to be composed of fifty members,
such members to be elected one each
from the senatorial districts of the
state. In the first place the cOnven-
ton should have more membership
than that and in the second place the
senatorial districts are not appOrtion-
ed upon an equal basis. as they were
created some forty years ago. The bet
ter plan, it appears to the Freeman
Journal, is to have the convention com
posed of 90 members, one from each
county. The farmers Of the state car
ried the electiOnin favor of a revision
of the constitution, but If they do not
look after their own interests the con-
vention will be packed against them.
The people Of the various counties
know each other and the voters could
select the men they wanted to repre-
sent them in the convention if the
county were made the unit.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14

There is nothing new in the threat
of Argentina and other countries to
eract retaiiatory legislation if this
country returns to the policy of protec-
ton to American industries. The same
thing is threatened every time it is
proposed to give ample protection to
the American manufacturer and pro
ducer. However. congress has usually
proceeded as it thought best and refus-
eG to surrender the American market
in the hope of gaining other markets
not so good. Argentina is now bluiting,
but her bluff viii! not work any better
than it has in the past.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14

The plan proposed to build a bump
mt every railroad crossing approach
Oh Iowa highways impresses one with
the idea that the great majority of
automobile drivers are to be severely
penaliZed for the carlessness of the
few. Why not have a closed season
for law making.-Cedar Falls Record.
Some of the papers are trying to
make mountain out of a mole hill in
this matter. Senator Schaffter's bill
doesn't propose anything that would
pcnalizc anybody. The proposed hump
il the road is to be only four to six
inches high. oval in shape, much after
the fashion of street crossing i'll towns
where there is no paving. 1t would
merely warn the driver that railroad
crossing is just ahead and that he
should have his car under complete
control as he approaches the crossing.
1t looks to the Frecman-JOurnal as
though it would do the business for
which il is intended 1t would at least
he beneficial to drivers who have
thought of their own safety as well as
the safety of those riding with them.
Even the speed maniacs ought to be
willing in the interest Of public safety
to submit to reasonable regulation even
If such regulations might require them
to slow down to thirty or forty miles
on hour when crossing railroad tracks
out in the country.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14

I'VE waste lot of human efficiency
through lack of timely appreciation of
our fellows. We are continually put
ting the square pegs in the round
holes and vice versa, especially in our
politics. We spoil good township trus-
tee material by sending it to the sen
ate or to the governors chair notes
the Sibley Tribune.
The Freeman-J Journal has been OK
pecting to soc some mean republican
take this up and suggest that we also
have spoiled perfectly good college
professor in trying to make passablc
president
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14

According to census returns from
Alabama the negro population of that
state decreased eight -tenths of one per
cent during the past ten years and is
now 1850 less than in 1910. The
white population increased us per
cent during the same period. If this
condition prevails in other southern
states the negro question is less serious
than has been supposed.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14
WAR PRICES.

The World Encyclopaedia, issued by
the Press Publishing Company of New
York, is just from the press and con-
tains the usual valuable information
upon various subjects. We note from
it's pages the average price paid to pro
ducers for grain, hay, potatoes ETC., for
the war years and since as follows
The average price of corn in 1914 was
SO cents, wheat 81 cents, oats 80 cents,
barley 50 cents, potatoes GA cents, hay
S12.42. butter 20 cents, eggs 30 cents.
lii 1915 prices were: corn &C cents.
wheat $1.O7, oats As cents, barley "a
cents, potatoes 40 cents, hay SLID,
butter % cents, eggs 81 cents. 1916:
corn G. cents, wheat s1.O2, oats 80
cents, barley "a cents, potatoes 20
cents, hay $1O94, butter % cents, eggs
SO cents. 1917: corn 30 cents, wheat
$1.5O, oats 81 cents, barley 81 cents,
potatoes $1.21, hay $1O.S6, butter "a
cents, eggs 81 cents. 1918: Corn $1.34
wheat $2O1, oats 73 cents, barley
81 .2G, potatoes $1.21, hay $1S, butter
43 cents, eggs 46 cents. 1919: corn
s1.44. wheat $2.O4, oats 20 cents, bar
ley 81 cents, potatoes $1.1G, hay 1892,
butter 81 cents, eggs 81 cents. 1920 /:
corn S1.4O, wheat 1921, oats y cents.
barley $1.3O, potatoes Sis, hay 5000,
butter 81 cents, eggs SO cents.
The average price paid to producers
for hogs in 1915 and for each year
since is given as follows: 1861, 1922,
50. 16, $685.. $3.50, $133G. Beef cat
tie: $3.50, $3.50, $3.50, 1888, $9.65,
$3.50.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14

Bcrgdoll says he was released from
iail in the first place because he told
the officers that he had 100000 in
gold hidden and wanted to get it to
buy his way to freedom. implying that
some of the officers were anxious to let
him go for bride. 1t may be Berg
doll is telling the truth. but he is such
n confirmed liar that his testimony in
this respect isn't worth a continental
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14
That sheriff of ouchifa parish,

That sheriff of Ouchifa parish,
Louisiana, who forgot to hang man
on the day set by the court has about
the poorest memory on record, else
Eangings in his bailiwick are so fire.
quent that they are monotonous. He
wrote the governor for instructions as
to what to do, declaring that he 'was
sc busy with other matters that he
clean forgot to hang the man on the
day named" Wonder if the prisoner
also forgot?
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14

no censorship except that for films IS
proposed. what explanation Is 1or1h-
coming to prove that motion pictures
differ in principle from the other
things mentioned so far as necesslt!
for freedom and opportunity is con-
ccrned?
Who in Iowa is wise enough to CEN
sor films?
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14

Big Tim Murphy, labor leader and
politician of Chicago, has been arrest
ed on the charge Of participating last
August in a 100000 mail robbery at
Pullman, III.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14

The fellows who are shouting for
economy should not write their con-
gresham to support every measure for
the expenditure of money in their own
districts. Economy might properly be-
gin at home.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14

Secretary Houston says that what
money the allies have paid on the loans
of Uncle Sam they borrowed from old
uncle. Well, that's the way everybody
does when they can't pay in any other
way. 1t is entirely legitimate, but in
dicates rather unsatisfactory tinan-
cial condition Of the borrower.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14

The investigating committee at
Washington has voted to eXpunge from
the record the naughty though en-
phatic words used by Gen. Dawes
when he submitted his testimony. But
the general succeeded in getting them
into the newspapers, and that's what
he was after. He wanted to attract
attention and did it.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14
pressure of public opinion.

effective pressure of public opinion
Who in Iowa is wise emo Ugh. broad
enough, to say what papers shall not
print. what the preachers shall not
preach. what books libraries shall not
own. what plays actors may not pres
cnt. what music orchestras may not
play or what the exhibitors of films
may not show? And if it be said thai
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14

Wonder what William Randolph
Hearst and Arthur Brisbane will say
about President Harding year from
today? Just now they are speaking
commenda tory Of his attitude toward
various public questions.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14
CITY FREEMAN

The legislature now saves something
like half an hour by voting by machine
Instead of by roll call This will ell
able them to enact a larger number of
fool laws
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14

quoted for years to come by those who
say we do not have army enough nor
navy enough"
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-14

number of farmers. who were not III
business in 1919 and the few fat years
previous. Yon can't measure every
body by the same yardstick.