davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-30
Regulating Taxes.

Taxation authorities frequently argue in
favor of an increased valuation in order to Sc
cure lower percentage of tax rate. 1t is not
difficult to put taxes up 1t is difficult TO put
taxes down. 1t cannot be denied that in every
city and in every county and state there is
pressing necessity for reducing taxation. We
doubt if the present taxation be continued
and have any community prosper. 1t is not
necessary to become demagogUes. Wi1d-eyed
agitation is not called for. But there is a de-
mand for honest. careful consideration in rela-
ton to the imposing of taxes and the spending
of the same. The educated the people to
higher taxation and to more extravagant eX-
pe1diture There must be reconsideration of
all subjects pertaining to the raising of state,
county and city revenue.
OF course the federal debt must be paid In
that direction there can be some reductions in
taxation from year to year. In regard to fed
eral expense there can be no economy extend
ing below the point which would enable a
yearly reduction Of the public debt. Let every
citizen give his or her thought to the raising of
revenue and the expenditure Of the same. 1t is
imperative that in state, county aud city some
thing must happen in the way of reduction. Let
all proceed in an orderly manner to get our
feet on the ground.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-30
Passing of Suggestive Movie.

The gradual passing of the suggestive movie
is psychological rather than a theatrical phe-
nomenon. For entertainment Of all kind is
mirror of it's audience Suggestive movies
active agents causing decay of public morals
also were the expression of decay the response
by the producer to what he thought the public
wanted. The producers went the limit The
public revolted. An era of clean, viriIe movies
is coming, because the public again is thinking
healthy thoughts, and the movie that doesn't
sense the changed drift isn't long for this
world. An adult is not immune to suggestion
But after ALL he is set in his ways thereby
having certain protective armor, compared
with children whose morals are in the formative
period.
What kind of movies should lfAlren seeo
Chicago recently tried to find out Seeking
something to take the place of blood and
thunder movies in childish popularity, it gath
cred $500 school children together The show
included comedy, trained animal features
nature movies, picture of children catching sar-
dimes and geographical lessons. Outside of the
geographical lessons the applause played no
favorites. An official commented that nothing
had been learned from the exhibition He was
wrong. The experiment showed what any
mother knows-that children, just beginning to
sit up and take notice of the mysterious world
with its constantly advancing horizon for child
hood, are keen about anything that is interest
ing. In particular children are interested in
wholesome fun and animals These two eIe-
ments should be the background of juvenile
movies teaching important things by sugges-
ton. Children will gorge on the bread of
knowledge if there is plenty of jam of enter
tainment and interest.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-30
For a Saving Wage.

It is not sufficient for industry to pay uv-
ing wage, says Secretary of Labor Davis. He
says there should be saving wage. The en-
ployer he holds, should not pay merely enough
money for the employe to meet the cost of
living, but should pay little more in order
that the worker can lay something aside for
rainy day. The secretary makes strong ap-
peal in favor of saving wage. 1t would, he
says, insure contentment, create loyalty, in
crease the nations buying power and place new
capital at the disposal of enterprise. All very
true in theory, but will it work out that way?
In other words. what is a saving wage? That
would be interesting to determine. Some men,
it is certain, could save money wage of 81
per day, while others run in debt on a salary
of $4,000 or more a year Would Mr.. Davis
increase the salary of the $4,000 year man
in order to get him a saving wage basis and
hold the 81 man to 81 or cut it down little if
he is saving too much? Saving is matter of
individual effort and ability. There is no get
ting away from that fact 1t isn't the wage
that determines the saving. Industry should
pay wage sufficient to permit man to save.
But there has been no way devised yet so
that industry can force man to save.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-30
City Mothers in Des Laos.

North Dakota took flyer in nonpartisan ad-
ministration and repented. Now the town of
Des Laos, in that enterprising state. is going in
for non-masculine government In the NUM-
cipal election it has intrusted most of the i'm
portant offices to women-chairman of the vii
lage council, two trustees, treasurer marshal
and justice of the peace Bigger, better and
cleaner Des Lacs," was the women's campaign
slogan. The men folded their tents like the
Arabs. 1t was walkover.
The west is supposed to be decidedly virile.
yet it has been quicker than the east to avail
itself Of women who have an aptitude for pub
lie service and the inclination to perform it.
Woman oficeholders in general have made
good. They ask special consideration on ac-
count of their sex If the city mothers of Des
Laos make mess Of running the town no doubt
they will be turned out at the next election.
They have already done something to put Des
Laos on the map. When it grows bigger, bet
Ter and cleaner" we probably won't hear of 1t.
That wouldn't be o drst page story.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-30
The Man With the Wrench.

When a farm hand comes along the rural
highway looking for job it is likely that he
will hereafter carry a monkey wrench with
him. That will be his only implement. 1t is
the way farm is run in these days of trac-
tors, patent harvesters, threshers, COW mixers
and Not yet does the farmer turn on the
tactical stream with wrench, but the vacuum
thingumbob that takes the place of the opera
tion once done by fingers and thumbs some
times needs it The first thing one hears in the
morning down on the dear old farm mingling
with chandeliers shouts in the hen coop is the
clank and rattle of machinery. AS for chan
ticieer. he may by and by silencer on
his neck and the last sound of nature be ex-
tinguished. The man with the hoe is some
thing of antique We see the sulky cult
yator in the field, and the hay loader waves
its arms at from the hay field. Nobody goes
down the well to see what's the matter down
there One lowers a 75-candle power electric
light and looks down. And even that kind of
we'll is survival. How dear to your heart
are the scenes of your childhood. where the old
oaken windmill, the iron-bound windmill, hoists
the water from depths instead of a pair of
muscular, freckled arms
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-30

saIers and jobbers permit per cent discount
on bills paid within 10 days. Not few pur-
chasers, it appears. delay payment for 20 to 80
DAYS. and then send in their checks with the
discount deducted holding over the jobber the
threat to cease doing business with him il he
makes a complaint against violation of the
terms of the agreement Contracts may be
binding under the law, but big purchaser may
break a contract with impunity, knowing that
he can starve into submission little fellows that
need his business. 1t is well that business
men are themselves giving attention to these
customs and practices that bark back to the
time when every business deal was more or less
of horse trade.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-30
Buying in the Olden Days.

There are still many people able to get about
through the stores and do their purchasing who
remember the days when there was no fixed
price for anything, and when every trade was
a haggle. The price named only the talk
ing price. The customers task was to beat it
down, just as he does today in the bazars of
Cairo and Port Said The fixed price is still an
innovation, scarcely more than forty years old.
Those were the days when the admonition, "let
the buyer beware" really had a significance
He his guard both against overcharges
and Misrepresentation of quality. 1t is an in
teresting, though not a strange fact that as
business competition has become keener, sharp
practice. in the sense OF dishonest practice,
has abated. Business ethics, derided at first,
really has become force Something more re-
mains to be accomplished. 1t did not escape
attention that the Rotary club. which has
one of its aims the putting of idealism into
business. is concerning itself with some sharp
practices that still obtain
One that received attention in the Rotary
state convention recently held relates to a Gus
tom that seems rather prevalent. Most whole
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-30
The Daily Short Story

moment remained in which the ball
was kicked over successfully, and
the score stood Z to in favor Of
the home team. The whistle pealeI
shrilly.
They bore Jim home on stalwart
shoulders. Jim, Sr., heard them
talking about his son all the way
homo, but he alone, with a heart
bursting with pride, had no one to
confide in.
The supper table was merely an
alteration party composed of Betty S
friends. One gay young miss turned
suddenly to Mrs. Crane and in
quired how she liked the game. Mrs.
Crane had laughed carelessly: ooh,
never go, my dear; too many
things to do at home"
The young lady in question stared
as only the modern young person
can. You don't go? Why, mother
never misses a game. Bert is only
a sub, and is seldom used. but ma
does play. She knows all about
the game, and can tell me a few
things, believe me-
Later on, when the family had
dispersed for the evening, Mrs.
Crane sat down and began, not to
work on the ever present embroid-
cry, but to think. She recalled an
editorial she had recently read. One
sentence stood out clearly: ITO at
tend a ball game with hubby may
mean more to his happiness than
the frenzied busting of an immacu-
late house"
Another week passed as usual, to
the red letter day. They did not
notice that Ma was dressed for the
street, an unusual thing at noon. on
a Saturday. She lowered about
them, restless, unbusy fingers fairly
aching to tackle the dinner dishes.
Jim, Sr., put on his coat, fused a
bit with the clothes brush, mumbled
a careless goodby and was off. He
had not even asked her to go along,
and she sat staring at the closed
door, hot tears of disappointment
trucking down her cheeks. She
had dreamed of what he would say
when she replied to his usual ques-
ton, Sure I'll go; wait till l get my
hat" He hadn't even given her a
chance.
She wanted to sulk, and then she
thought of the boyish consequences
of her big. bashful husband, and
she hurriedly slipped on her things,
gave a whimsical glance at the din
ner dishes piled high. and set out.
Following the, crowd, she landed
at the field and bought her ticket.
She had no idea which were con-
sidered the best seats, but again
she followed the crowd out to the
bleachers. She tripped along as
though always accustomed to this
sort of thing, when, in reality, her
heart was pounding wildly and she
wanted to sink into corner some
where. She glanced up into the
sea of faces. A man arose sudden
ly, eyes wide. unbelieving recogni-
ton, turning presently into incred-
ulous delight. Mary" he called
softly.
Unbounded relief shot through
her. and she smilingly wended her
way up to his side
She settled herself as though
born to football game, and smiled
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-30
ANSWERING THE QUESTION:
What Do Some of the BulwarkS of Our. More
or Less, Civilization Think About!

THE Y. NJ c. A. SECRETARY
There are two sorts of him. One is the big,
red-blooded, virile herman. He is the general
secretary of a city association and applies
strictly business methods-extreme courtesy to
the sustaining members and nagging the stem
lographer-to the concern. in contrast with his
predecessor, who was nice man. but utterly
lacking in business sense. The affairs of the
association were in terrible state when he
came from large city to take charge, but he
is too big man to say word about the way
Mr.. Smith managed things.
He has poem by Edgar Guest tackled above
the counter, reads the books of Orison SWEET
Marden and the editorials of DR.. Frank Crane
and is popular with the men because he en-
Joys ball game or a camping trip Just as
much as they do and has no silly od-fash-
Toned ideas about religion. He studied for the
ministry but decided that he could be of greater
service elsewhere. He belongs TO the best
church in town.
The other sort is the social secretary He
Is loads of fun at a party. but he's real cul-
tured TOO, and can quote the most poetry. He
is familiar with everything that Tennyson ever
wrote and likes to read to high school bows
those lines from The Passing of Arthur which
begin, Pray for my soul :" After the read
ing he closes the book with bang looks at
the ceiling and says, Fellows I claim that's
wonderful stuff" Thus he imparts to them a
love OF good literature which he furthers by
lenolng them the How to Know Him" books
He is broadminded and likes to dance but
ne doesn't approve of this modern Jazz You
can have good time and still be decent Just
ments"
He admires the general secretary because
ne Is strong on the very points on which he
tine social secretary is weak; and one ougbt
10 nave life developed all sides Just
like the triangle 'NS
He lives in the dormitory just like the rest
or the fellows, sings every morning as he
shaVes and says. THANK God for water every
time he takes a bath. But he is looking for
ward to cozy nest OF his own and the little
wife across the table to pour his coffee every
morning and kiss him goodbye "Oh bow,
lnat the NE RED.
Solomon PINE: We like it, anyway. so
our readers will get it willy nilly
E. ". l.: Thanks. Our recovery is sInoost
complete The parody is neat and will appear
soon. BY the way, you're long way from
home.
Jay Sig: Like your lines on Whitman. RDt
why send EN- to Massachusetts, to be printed
RIM: Morse code paragraphs get the com
posltors goat, so we'll stick to English Gf DOS
slole) On, we know many more cute Is C.
words like hendecasyllabic Frexample, YOU
mIght look up anapest, dactyl catalectic
lanbic, spondee, trochee. hexameter pentame
ter, heptameter-no end OF EN-, m'dear
MADE MooNSHINE TO BUY TOME
STONE"-HExaminer headline
Illustrating the lengths to which some per-
sons will go rather than be deprived of the
pleasure of reading the daily Inscriptions on
lhls Mausoleum OF Mlrth- R E. MIG.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-30
Chr Unt1hstnnp
HERE LIES MANS ANCIENT ENEMY.
! DULL CARE
/ WHO prsINrERs THE UsIovED CUsA
| REWAREi
THE KILLERS.

THE KILLERS.
One day wandered
Through a great packing plant.
Merely to crafty idle curiosity
Into this giant ark of industry
They herd droves of animals
Terrified, wild-eyed and gasping.
Lowing and rumbling:
Some shTieking with nameless fr1gn[
knowing not their late.
Yet with brute instinct
Dreading overwhelming disaster.
Lambs bleating plaintively,
Cattle trembling, swine squealing and strug-
Cling
Laying down their lives. all of them,
That man may be nourished-
swarrns of brswny iaborers-
Great sweating, half-naked men
Covered with slime and gore,
Appear to glory in their deeds OF blood
Leerng boisterous, profane, lustfuL
Burly negroes
sIashing with huge axes and knives
The muscles which still twitch.
And still are supple with living warmth
A fetid odor fills the air.
low droning wears the ear-drums:
EVERYWHERE sickening spectacles greet the eye.
watch all this,
And wonder at the irony of it
The uselesSnesS of 1t,
Aved at the endless killings
OF dumb and patient beasts.
Suddenly l am lost in visioR:
travel centuries backward
sense a vast hush
All noises lose their rasping, their harsh
ness.
A white-bearded patriarch descends into a pit
Softening the weird nightmare
OF moment back.
1t is ceremonial:
This ancient Jew, this gentle old Rabbi.
Steps from a page of Scripture:
Soiennly he performs
His woTld-old rites
No Githy pens here
No pools of blood
II is an holy place.
And this venerable man.
This prophet of old,
Himself lends TO the vision
A charm that is a benediction-
My reverie passes
This is place for dreams!
Hungry man must be fed!-
His children also cry for flesh,
And the herds OF the wilderness must supply it!
Even as the silver-haired Semitic raises his
knife,
He becomes different being:
He thTusts
severing the heads from shuddering kline,
chains:
He kills,
That his people may not hunger.
Like those others in the sweating mob
OF black and white killers!
A killer
One with those who leer and curse
And kill with no thought
Or prayer or ceremonial!
A killer
That the of men
May flourish and increase
And in their savage turn
Strike down their meat
JAY G. sIGMUND.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-30
PLAYING THE GAME.
R4 Miss Minnie VI. Townsend.
DE MISS lUIlIIIt M 4 Wv HoVIiVs
Copyright, 1922, by Wheeler Syn


by MISS Minnie NJ. lcNHSenu.
Copyright, 1922, by Wheeler Syn
dictate, lnc.)
1t was Saturday, the day of days
to the members of the Crane fam
lily. For was not that the day when
the local high school team played
football and wasn't their Jim one
of the stars on said team? AS usual,
Jim hurried off directly after din
ner to the athletic field, with many
admonitions from his mother not
to get his neck broken, and gay en-
couragement frCan his father to
give 'em a couple of touchdowns
today" Sister Betty hustled through
her dessert to join crowd of gay
high school rOoters, Respondent in
fluttering school colors. And then
Jim's father laid aside his newspa-
per and went in quest of his over
coat.
Mrs. Crane, still in morning house
dress, glanced up from the silver
ware she was polishing. Going to
the game, PAP"
wouldn't miss it" He hesitated
a moment, and then asked in a cas-
ual way: why don't you come
along. too, MAJ He knew it was A
useless question. and yet there was
an eager. wistful light in his eyes.
To see Jim make touchdown, with
mother in the grandstand beside
him, was a joy too far-fetched to
ever become a reality.
Come on, Ma, be a sport he
coaxed again, but Mrs. Crane shook
her head carelessly. "I've got doz-
ems of things to do this afternoon,
jim
Let 'em go, or do them tonight, .
he persisted.
NO" decisively, ct don't under
stand the game. anyway. l wouldn't
know a touchdown from a forward
pass"
I'D explain things as they hap
pen, Mary"
NO it would only be waste of
time and money. You can tell me
all about it when you return
Disconsolately Jim's dad left the
house and joined the crowds that
surged toward the field 1t both
cred him to think that Mary just
wouldn't shake off the accumula-
ton of household tasks to join him
IN dnytnluS eACept, perhaps, dH &c
casional movie.
And then the game was on, and
for the time being Crane, Sr., for
got his domestic troubles. The
teams were we'll matched, and
fought gamely through three score
less quarters. The final quarter
started with a flourish, and the Wis
iting team ploughed through the
local team for a touchdown. They
failed to kick the goal. The score
was to nothing. and only seven
minutes left to play.
One. two. three downs and then,
suddenly. out of an apparently SOL
i'd mass, slid the slim figure of Jim
Crane. The crowd arose to its feet
as though by a signal. The visitors
seemed dazed at the turn of affairs.
One made frenzied grab at the
boy, but it only served to wrench
his shoulder. The ball remained
coddled against his side Amid "a
wild burst of applause, Jimsey car
ried the ball back of the line. One
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-30
Feminine Frailtt.

Even among women who have
had a high school and college train
ing there is still ignorance of the
kind that was once deemed refined
and polite and is still fostered by
the great majority of high schools
in America and some OF the col
leges-ignorance OF all that per-
tains to self and sex. This is re-
Elected in the superstition OF wom-
en- that more or less incapacity is
TO be expected for two or three
days in each month. According TO
DR.. Celia Duel Mosher. medical
adviser of women in Leland Stan
ford university, there is a law in
one state providing for absence
from work during the function
morbidly and wrongly called peri
odic sickness"
Calling that normal or physio-
logical function sickness" is a fine
thing for the business of the nos
trum monger who appeals to the
credulity of ignorant women with
worthless or harmful concoctions
purporting to be good for the
Weaknesses of the sex.
AS a matter of fact, the feminine
sex is neither weaker nor more
subject to injury or disease of the
reproductive system from strains
or accidents or exposure or cold
than the masculine sex. But it
covers a great many medical dag
nostic shortcomings and helps to
bolster up many case in litigation
if these little delusions of feminine
ular mind. There are literally
thousands of ignorant women,
many of them college bred. MIND
you, who suffer, in mind. because
of the common notions about dis
placement for example. And | am
sorry to say that many an incom-
petent doctor has asquiesced in
this notion and added to the weight
of morbidness on the woman's mind
by administering wholly futile and
unjustifiable courses of treatment.
Not that prolapse or displacement
never occurs, but that it seldom
accounts for the symptoms the
woman complains of when it really
exists. I am not referring to con-
ditions sequel to injury in child
birth. but to conditions in women
who have borne no children.
One woman, acquiring glimmer-
ings of intelligence after she had
finished college, remarks: "I found
that no harm came from continu-
ing the regular daily cool bath
through the time Of the period. and
in fact I believe l enjoy better
health. At any rate. l know that
since l began ignoring the func-
ton or ceased thinking of it as a
sickness. and keeping up my ordin-
airy activities, I haze become more
free of all the old pains and an no
longer even temporarily disabled or
disconnected by menstruatior. For
this | ferl grateful, I assure you.
| think you are right in saying that
the feminine sex is sadly uninform-
cd and misinformed. Yet | know
your wholesome teachings are
bearing good fruit, for I have met
many women who tell of the great
help they have derived from fol-