davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-01-02

"Why should the government except
its paper from taXation:" asks the
Davenport Times. That's easy. For
the good and sufficient reason that it
can secure loans at much lower rate
Of interest. If government paper were
taxable per cent bonds would now be
worth about sixty cents on the dollar
provided system were adopted that
would not permit tax lodging. When
the trainers Of the constitution provid-
ed for tax-exempt securities it was
done with the idea Of benefitting all
the people by enabling them to borrow
money for public purposes at the lowest
rates of interest. If government paper
is taxed the public can rest assured
that the government will pay the taxes
in Increased interest rates. and more.
because the amount of the tax will he
uncertain and purchasers will see to it
that the interest rate is high enough
to cover all possible eventuaities.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-01-02
LABOR AND CAPITAL.

II you help capital, even when it
is in the right, to get little more
money, you only help to build another
factory, or make well-to-lo man rich
er. When you help labor, and work for
it and with it, as far as you can, even
when it is a little in the wrong, you
are helping to get better food and bet
ter clothes for children.-Arthur Bris-
bane
This is more of Brisbane's peculiar
and characteristic nonsense. If you
help a rich man build another factory
you certainly help more men to get
jobs. Isn't that a good thing? Jobs
are very essential to a very large num-
her of men. When You help men get
jobs you help the merchant get Gus
toners. That makes better business. 1t
creates demand for more building. Civ
ing employment to carpenters. brick.
layers and others. These carpenters
and bricklayers are good consumers
and consumers are needed by business
Labor is helped by helping capital. hut
care must be taken to see that capital
does not exploit labor. However. CAPT
tai, properly used, is very beneficial to
any community.
Ii is all right to help labor in every
legitimate way. but it is not wrong to
also help capital Both are needed and
each depends upon the other. 1t will
lie happy day for this country when
both labor and capital treat each other
fairly and generously.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-01-02

Davenport is having an experience
which proves again that unless honest
and capable men are elected TO office.
the peoples interests suffer. whether
the officials are republicans. democrats
or socialists. A few years ago Daven-
port put the socialists in charge of city
affairs and results have not proven
such action wise. The Freeman-JOur-
nal told several weeks ago of how the
city council had been entrusted with a
fund of nearly half million of dol
lars to furnish employment to labor
and how the council had used or was
going to use $15O,OO0 of that fund to
build a swimming pool. paying 100000
for a site, thus defeating the purpose
of the bond issue to secure money to
employ Davenport labor. The 100000
expended for ground would not 90 to
labor and half of the cost of the swim
ming pool which was to cost about $50
600. would he sent out of Davenport for
material Now comes report from the
CITY on the Mississippi that charges of
the misuse of public funds have been
lodged against some of the officials and
that the socialists have split and are
wrangling among themselves. Some will
saw. Of course, that is no different
4h,r sometimes lannon's in towns
where republicans or democrats are in
control Which is admitted. but the So
cialistS have talked and preached so
much about honesty and economy and
ability in the administration of public
affairs that some people actually ex-
rectcd something good to come ont Of
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-01-02
GETTING INTERESTED.

Meetings of farmers are being held
| in many counties Of the state to protest
against high taxation. Meetings of
| this character have been held in
Mitchell Keokuk. CasS. Union. Linn,
Story. Marion and some others. In
every county resolutions were adopted
against new highway projects and pro-
testing against changes in the roads not
absolutely necessary. Most of them,
| if not all of them. attacked the policy
ot issuing bonds for any purpose with
out :: vote of the people. The Freeman
Journal feels that the farmers are abso-
lutely right upon these propositions.
and they ought to carry the fight into
the election next year and see that no
man is sent to the legislature who is
not in favor Of repeating the law that
permits boards of supervisors. or any
other public body, to bond the prop
erty of the people without the consent
of the people. The power should also
be taken from the state highway COM
mission TO force changes in roads with
out the consent of county boards. We
are told that the commission cannot
now force changes. which is literally
true. But the commission has very
powerful club to WELD over the heads
Of boards. because it can keep the coun-
ties from getting the money they are
entitled to for road purposes if the
boards do not do as the commission
wants them to.
The people of Hamilton county are
now getting an object lesson of the
methods of the highway commission in
some of the improvements being made
on the Webster -StanhOpe road.
The F'reeman-Journal is not saying that
the Improvements are not desirable or
that the road will not be better after
the work is finished. because it will he.
But it is costing too much. measured
by bushels Of oats and corn, for the
benefits received and some of the i'm
provements should have waited until
times are better. Claims for damages
ard suits to enforce the claims add
Only 10 the expense. If corn and oats
and hogs and cattle were bringing good
prices the people Of the county would
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-01-02
THE ALLIED DEBTS.

The arguments presented in support
of the policy of cancelling the allied
war debts are not convincing. 1t is ar
gued, for instance, that because a large
part of the money Uncle Sam loaned
to our associates during the war was
expended in the United States for sup
plies at high values. some profiteers be-
coming millionaireS. the debts should
be cancelled in whole or in part. Prob
ably there were some hogs who charg-
ed awful prices, but the people who
bought government bonds and have
been paying high taxes on account OF
the war are not responsible for profit
teering. They paid good money for
bonds, the proceeds of which were loan
ed to the allies. Moreover. thousands
of people in this country have been fl
nancially ruined since the reaction
from war conditions set in. These peo-
pie must continue paying income taxes,
indirectly. in the increased cost of liv-
ing compared with pre-war days. This
country expended. aside from the sum
| it loaned to the allies. approximately
500 600 5000 for the war and gets
nothing from Germany further than
partial compensation for some of the
lives and property destroyed. The al
lies took the German colonies and are
receiving heavy indemnities for the
destruction Germany wrought during
the war; Under the circumstances
there is no warrant for sentiment IN
favor of cancelling the debts.
Long time bonds should be demanded
of our debtors. at low rates of interest.
There is no telling what might happen
In the future. Europe might want to
borrow large sums again some day.
But if she doesn't pay what she now
owes, the people Of this country Will be
strongly opposed to making loans later
on. A nation, same as an individual.
must keep its credit good. Individuals
who can must pay. There is no talk
cancelling the debts represented by
mortgages on Iowa farms.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-01-02

People who have been in the habit
Of trading away from home ought tC
turn over a new leaf and resolve tC
buy all their needs from local mer'
chants and producers. as far as pos.
sible. during the coming year. No
matter about what y0n have done in
the past in this respect conditions are
such now that local interests need all
the support they can get. Buying away
from home is largely Il fad, anyhow
Outside business interests do not help
support the city and county govern
ment nor help pay the large school eX.
pense. Let lis all he good fellows all
Of the coming year and not buy a
penny's worth of goods outside that
can he bought at home.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-01-02
THE ROAD PROBLEM.

AT q good roads meeting III waterloo
the other day, +. r. White. chief Ell.
gineer of the state highway commits
sion, is reported to have said:
at would be both silly and wastefnl
to pave the average county and town
ship and even many Of the primary
roads in Black Hawk county"
1t is not so long ago that the high
way commission seemed to favor the
paving of all primary roads and much
propaganda was INDUCED in to convince
the people that that would he the best
policy. However, according TO Mr.
White. different program has been
adopted.
Mr.. White also said that there are
a. number of roads in the county which
| | maintain should be paved. and paved
as soon as practicable" The public
generally. we believe. will agree with
this statement But those words. las
soon as practicable" are very sisnifi-
cant. 1t is certainly not practicable to
tax the farmers for paving assessments
when the price of paving is high and
the price of farm products is low. The
Freeman.J0urnal agrees that where
having is necessary it should be done
"as soon as practicable" but according
to our way of looking at it. it is i'm.
practicable to do any considerable paw.
ing in times like the present.
The main objection Of the tnyi'aycrS
to some of the work being ordered by
the state highway commission is the
practice of tea ring up fairly good roads.
making expensive changes and nlicra-
tions where very little benefit results.
BIT even this practice didn't create
many antagonisms until hard times set
in and the people were sorely burdened
by taxation. Where the roads are in
reasonably good condition. having had
much money expended in their improve
ment. they should not he torn mp and
altered in such times as these unless
absolutely necessary Such changes and
alterations ought to wait until farm
products will go further in paying for
the work done
The talk that large portions OF the
expense for road improvements come
out of the automobile fund and govern
ment money may pursuade some peo-
pie to favor paving who would not
otherwise favor it, But it must be
remembered that all public improve
ments are paid for by the taxpayers.
no matter what funds bear the expense.
Every cent of the cost comes out of the
nckets of the people and there is no
other way to secure such improve
mrnts.
Good graveled roads are proving
their merit. II properly built and car
cd for they are good at all seasons of
the year except few weeks in the
spring when the frost is coming out OF
the ground. There are places near
cities. where traffic is unusually heavy.
that paving is necessary. but rs gen
eral proposition gravel makes Il good
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-01-02

Congressman Ansorge OF New York
seems somewhat agitated over blocs
and has prepared bill looking to the
outlawing of special groups in congress.
Of special organizations Of members TO
serve any particular interest. Prob
ably Mr. Ansorge is afraid the so-called
farm bloc is going to eat into the per-
simmons and get few bites Of the
good things New York and other. east
crn states have for years been enjoy.
ing. 1t is perhaps rather presumptuous
for friends Of the great farming in
tcrests Of the country to undertake
in behalf Of those interests to pursue
the policies that have been pursued in
the interest of other classes for at
least fifty years. They don't call them
blocs back east Members Of congress
who are considered safe and sane
by certain big interests are called "Our
friends" in private. The letters Hearst
stole few years ago. or hired some
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-01-02

The Council Bluffs NOnpareil. pub
lished in the southwestern part of the
state. is of the opinion that Senator
Kenyon's choice for United States dis
trict judge in northern Iowa should get
the appointment Ii says: Senator
CumminS and Senator Kenyon have ap-
parently agreed to disagree in the mat
ter Of recommending the appointment
of Judge for the northern district of
Iowa. Cummins recommends eX-COn-
gresham Scott, of Sioux City. and Ken
yon stands for r. A. Morling. of En-
metsburg The equities in this case are
on the Kenyon side. Morling is by long
odds a stronger man than Scott for a
job of this kind. A very strong major
ity of the legal fraternity in the district
over which this judge will preside fav-
Ors MOrling Senator Kenyon resides
in this district Senator Cummins re-
sides in tie southern district. Kcnyon's
candidate should he appointed
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-01-02

the socialistic administration of Davcn-
port. The best way to conduct city gov
eminent is to ignore party politics. rs
Webster City has done for years. Elect
men wholly upon their personal merit,
regardless of what party they belong to-
The voter in Webster City never asks
the politics of candidate for city Of
flee and although the town is over
whelmingly republican. many demo
crafts have been elected.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-01-02

The Iowa Falls Citizen. one Of the
strong weekly papers Of the state. has
just installed new newspaper press
and has enla rged its proportions to a
seven column page. The Freeman
Journal is glad to note these evidences
Of prosperity on the part Of the Citi.
zen. 1t is not every country newspaper
in Iowa that can indulge in such Tex
travagances" in times like the present.
Editorially. the Citizen is one Of the
strongest papers in Iowa. and it most
assurealy deserves success.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-01-02

We notice that some of the farm
sales over the state are going well
fairly good prices in many instances
being paid. A recent dispatch from
Wilton junction says that farm sale
prices are slightly improving. In the
New Liberty and Dixon vicinity Frank
Gimm's hay sold for S17: oats. SO
cents: hens. so cents to 81 each. r. II
Peterson sold corn In crib at 80 cents
per bushel. stock COWS up to SO. HOr.
ace Carter sold horses as high as $40
August Dierksen Of Sunbury sold a
long string of gifts for $3.50 per head
hay. $14: cows. $40: calves. S31: year
ling heifers. S56, and select bunch
of steers at SOS.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-01-02

The average man under forty who
has met serious financial reve1ses dur.
ing the past year need not be dis
couraged. He can't afford to give up.
With the old man it is different. His
race is nearly finished and perhaps
he cannot hope to recoup his losses.
But the young man has plenty of time
If made of the right kind Of stuff, to
regain lost ground. Possibly in the
long run his experience will be worth
all it cost him. He should pocket his
loss. look pleasant and make a new
start. Hundreds of thousands of men
have done that in the past and hun.
dreds of thousands of them will do ii
in the future.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-01-02

The editorial writer of the Chicago
Tribune says that the Horsepower ar
rangement cannot be tortured by any
ingenuity into pledge OF anything but
our mutual respect Of each others eX.
listing rights and territories in the
Pacific and conference for the peaceful
discussion of differences arising there
from. There is no possible inference in
favor of any pledge to defend anything.
There is a pledge to confer upon differ
ences. The talk about guaranteeing the
japanese empire is demagogy or fiddle
headed nonsense
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-01-02

Some of the southern members of
congress look upon the Dyer bill to
prevent lyncling as Il slam at the
south. But its provisions apply with
equal force to all sections of the conn
try. True. there are many times as
many lynching bees pulled off in the
south as in the north, hut very large
number Of the people of the south are
opposed to such OutrageS. The Dyer
bill ought to become Il law and it
should be vigorously enforced i'll all
parts of the country. We talk about
the outrages in Armenia and else
where, yet we have a canker in our own
vitals that needs cutting out. There
were siXtythree persons lynched i'll this
country in 1921. sixty-two of them in
the south. This is a record that is a
disgrace to the entire nation.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-01-02
enough road.

enough road.
Mr.. White explained. says the report
of the Waterloo meeting. that well
made concrete roads will hold up I'M
der heavy traffic. The Freeman
Journal has insisted upon that for
years, but it recalls how some of the
gentlemen in Webster City who are
now swearing by Mr.. White swore at
the Freeman-Journal for advocating
concrete paving, declaring that it would
not stand the strain Of travel and the
elements. However, the city some six
years ago put in an intersection OF
concrete paving at the junction of Ohio
and Des MOines streets and that little
patch of paving is very good today.
far better than most of the asphalt
concrete paving in this city. even
though it cost less than 81 per square
yard.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-01-02

1t was announced short time ago
that Judge Wright would be a candi-
date for reelection. but now comes the
report from Fort Dodge that he will
not enter the race. He had expected
that there would be no opposition in
his own county. but since Fort Dodge
attorney has announced his intention
of going after Il seat on the bench
Judge Wright has decided to vOlun-
tarly retire at the end of his present
term in year hence. Clarence NJ.
Hanson is the attorney who has an
nounced his candidacy. His friends
vouch for his qualifications and it is
anticipated that he will have practice
ally no opposition in Webster county.
However. there may be other candi-
dates in other parts of the district.
which is composed of the counties OF
Webster Hamilton. Wright. Franklin
Hardin. Story and Boone.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-01-02
"pITTsBURGH PLUS" PLAN.

The people have heard considerable
of late about the pittsburgh plus" plan
of freight charges. hut the proposition
is not clear in cverybodys mind. 1t
is most pernicious plan and ought
to he outlawed. 1t is simply legaliZed
robbery and a great business institu-
ton that is honestly and fairly con-
Quoted would not adopt it. But the
steel trust has adopted it and the
cement trust. it is said on good author
ity. has Il similar plan in operation.
Gov. Kendall is now after the cement
trust and we are all hoping he may
get" it. or at least compel fair dealing.
Clifford Thorne. than whom there is
no better authority. explains the
pittsburgh plus" plan as follows:
"Rolled steel products constitute the
raw material from which finished steel
products are manufactured. The Unit
cd States Steel corporation fixes prices
ON rolled steel products on the Pitts
hurgh basis plus freight from Pitts
burgh to practically all portions of the
United States, with the exception of
certain parts of the south where an
arbitrary sum is added instead of the
| freight rate.
If the bulk of the iron ore were
produced near Pittsburgh, or if the
cost of production were the lowest at
Pittsburgh. or if that were our only
source of steel products. there might
DO some force to the argument in favor
of the system. But let us consider Il
| few of the basic facts.
1.-The largest steel plant IN the world
is at Gary. Ind. just outside OF Chi
cago. Ninety per cent Of the iron ore
produced in the United States comes
from the Duluth district. and yet the
Gary plant will charge for its prod
ucts the Pittsburgh price plus freight
from Pittsburgh. although not one
pound of the raw or finished product
was hauled from Pittsburgh. Yet it
adds $3.50 to the price of each ton
| it sells, representing this fictitious
freight cost On one building now be-
ing erected in Chicago. the Federal Re
serve bank building. this fictitious
freight cost aggregates SG0.Om. But
how are the costs of production? In
a speech at Duluth. Judge Gary stated :;
y composite cost of the different steel
products based on one ton OF each
kind of products produced in respective
districts shows Duluth costs to be
higher than Gary by IS per cent. than
Birmingham by 80 per cent. than Pitts
lburgh by Is per cent That means
Gary costs are - per cent below those
LOT Pittsburgh.
IF the Gary plant ships some steel
plates one hundred miles east of Chi
ago il will sell them mt a lower price
tEan to a customer AT its very door.
because of the fictitious freight cost
This strange artificial system of fixing
prices has swindlcd the western and
southern portions of the nation ont of
millions of dollars. We are paying Il
freight cost of $50 on every ton of
steel we use. when nobody has ever
actually paid that freight, for the steel
has not been shipped From Pittsburgh,
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-01-02

body else to steal, proved the existence
of the associations or combination OF
"our friends and they also showed
just how the invisible government
succeeded in getting what it wanted. Ii
was proven beyond peradventure that
the interests named federal judges
United States senator's, members OF
congress and in some instances gov
errors Of states. But. oh my. its awful
if anybody in congress undertakes ia
secure a fair deal, right out in the
open. for the farmer.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-01-02

Hardin county has two candidates
for state senator from this district to
succeed the late Eugene Schafter. Sev-
cral weeks ago it was announced that
Herbert A. HUFF of Eld0ra was Il Candi-
date and now the news comes from
Ackley that w. H. S. Rath of that
town is also IL candidate. Both are
good men. of course. hut in point of
ability. experience and capacity to
serve the district in times like the pres
cnt they do not compare with Hamilton
county'S candidate and we believe the
people of the district. especially the
farmers will realize that fact long be-
fore primary day rolls around. The
claim of no county or candidate for
honorS should next year have il Scin-
t.lla of influence with the voters. They
ought to choose. and we believe they
WILL the man the better equipped 10
serve them in the legislature and IL
man who is absolutely right upon the
big questions of the day. proven by the
record to he right.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-01-02

not complain They would say go
ahead and make the improvements and
we will pay the bills. But the people
do not now feel that way about it..
They do not want any work done on
fairly good roads that is not necessary
to keep them in good repair. Many of
these changes and alterations. new
until the taxpayer is better able to bear
the expense.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-01-02

The other day. as we We're reading a
speech delivered by Senator Borah. We
came upon these words, Il agree that
just then somebody came into the
office and attracted our attention
When we tried to find the address We
were reading it could not be located
and we have been wondering ever since
who 1t was or what in the world i,
was that Senator Borah agreed with.