Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume], March 07, 1905, Image 2

About Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916

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$ TUE8DAY, March 7, 1905.
DR. A. E.CRAIG DELIVERS LAST
ADDRB88 IN "OTTUMWA
GATES OF HELL" 8ERIES.
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"Can Vie Augean 8tablea Be
V-Cleansed?"
Subject Large Audi-
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"can the Be
the
1
,3S
Augean Stables
Cleansed?" formed the topic of
sermon delivered last evening at the
First Methodist Episcopal church by
the pastor, Dr. A. E. Craig, The ser
moA was the sixth and last in the
"Ottumwa'0 Gates of Hell" series de
livered on the Sunday evenings of the
pajst six weeks by Dr. Craig.
A splendid audience filled the big
auditorium to overflowing and the at
tendance was perhaps larger than at
any previous one of the addresses.
Dr. Craig's address was as follows:
"The trees went forth on a time to
anoint a king over them and they
said unto the olive tree, reign thou
over us. But the olive said unto them,
should I leave my fatness, wherewith
by me they honor God and man and
go to be promoted over the trees?
Arid the trees said unto the figtree,
come thou and reign over us. But the
fig tree said unto them, should I for
sake my sweetness, and my good fruit,
and go to be promoted over the trees?
Then said the trees unto the vine,
come thou and reign over us. And the
vine siaid unto them, should I leave my
wine which cheereth God and man,
and go to be promoted over the trees?
Then said ill the trees unto the bram
ble, come thou and reign over us. And
the.bramble said unto the trees, if in
truth ye'anoint me king over you, then
coitne and put your trust in my shadow,
and if not let lire come out of the
bramble and devour the cedars of Leb
anon."—Judges ix, 8-15.
Among the stories that come to us
out of the cloudland of the early class
ics. is the inspiring story of the twelve
labors of Hercules, the hero of the
Greeks. Among these labors was that
of cleansing the stables of Augeias, the
son of Helios. Augeias had, consist
ently with his being a descendant of
the sun-god, Immense wealth of herds.
The task of Hercules was to clear out
all his stalls in one day without help.
This he did by making an opening in
the wall and turning the stream Me
nios through them.
Purging Streams of Public Opinion.
If we are ever to see the Augean
stables of civic corruption and filth
cleaned out it can only be accom
plished by making an opening into the
walls of our city and turning through
them the purging streams of public
opinion as expressed in the will of an
aroused people at the ballot box. It
will be a, Herculean task to accom
plish this, but I believe it can be done.
The city is the sore spot in our
American civilization. James Bryce,
that eminent Englishman who has
written so appreciatively of things
American, Is compelled to admit that
the American city is the one weak
place in our system of democracy, and
that if ever our system of representa
tive government breaks down it will
be at this point. A recent writer has
issued a work entitled "The Shame of
the Cities," In which he lays wide open
the flagrant corruption that prevails in
all our great American cities. The pic
ture Is a most gruesome one, and must
compel thoughtful citizens to pause
and ask whither is this thing to go
Are we to continue on our downward
course till all shame is gone and we
endorse unblushingly the most out
rageous conditions.
I think there are tokens of a new
era. Citizens are becoming aroused
to the immensity of the evil and the
imminence of the peril. From all di
rections we hear of an awakening of
the civic conscience, and that is cer
tainly all that is needed to reclaim our
fair cities from the grip of vice and
restore them to their place of honor
and purity.
Certain Guiding Principles
I am to endeavor to outline for our
citizens certain guiding principles that
may be of value in their determined
effort to reclaim our own beloved city
from the grip of corrupt cohdltions
Let me say at the beginning that I do
ijot intend to undertake the instruc
tion of politicians on the intricacies of
political manipulation. There are
many here that are vastly better
versed in these things than I am, and
it Would be presumption on my part
to assume to direct in matters of this
kind, to say nothing about the lack of
propriety on the part of a Christian
minister in mingling in such affairs.
But I do insist that it is not only my
right, but it is my duty as a public
teacher to do what I can to instruct in
the underlying principles of morality
and righteousness which must enter
as a vital part into such movements
I shall content myself then with laying
down certain fundamental facts touch
ing this important subject.
Let me strongly urge that if such a
movement is successfully led, there
must be a man to lead it. The theory
of modern government, especially in
cities 1b to concentrate much power in
the hands of the mayor, and then
make him responsible for conditions.
That is the situation with us. The
mayor of our city has in his hands the
appointment of ,the chief of police and
practically dictates the moral policy
'/Of the administration. So I say we
must have a man for the place. The
words of the preacher of old comes
with- force today: "If thou flndest a
good man, rise up early in the morning
to go to him, and let thy feet wear the
steps of his door." Oh, for a Sir Rod
erick Dhu, one blast of whose bugle
was worth a thousand men, to startle
our somnolent city with tbe shrill sig
nal of his highland horn, calling the
people to action. But as Napoleon
said: "Good God, men are rare, I have
18,000,000 in Italy and I have with diffi
culty found two." What! have we no
men today? We have men, plenty of
them, but they are not available for
this high and holy task.
Fits Civic Conditions.
'1 The parable I have just read you
flced according as it falls into
hands of good or wicked men. So
every two years our city government
goes forth in search of a king. She
goes to the great manufacturer and
says to him: "Come, thou and be our
king, use your great organizing abil
ity In the capacity of forming good
government and thereby blessing and
protecting the people." But like the
olive tree he replies: "Why should I
leave my fatness, neglect my business,
possibly lose time and money in the
matter? I am too busy to give my
time to politics." Then the city goes
to the successful merchant and says
to'him: "Come thou and reign over
us." But the merchant like the fig
tree replies: "Why should I leave the
sweetness of my trade, why should I
imperil my business, why should I sac
rifice my customers for the strife of
politics? I have no time or strength
to spend on a political campaign."
Then the city turns to the profes
sional man and says to him: "Come
thou and reign over us." But the
professional man, like the vine, re
plies: "Why should I leave the good
wine of my clients, my patients, my pu
pils, my editorial work to reign over
you? I have something higher to en
gage my attention than puddling in the
dirty pool of politics." Then steps up
the bramble from the dirty crowd of
pothouse politicians and says: "If in
truth ye will anoint me king, then
come and put your trust in my
shadow."
Climbs to Power.
Thus through the indifference and
pre-occupatlon of the capable and hon
est man the bramble king climbs to
power and kindles the malicious fire
that devours the cedars of Lebanon.
We must then find the man who has
patriotism. Have we become so
steeped in sordid gain that this holy
fire has died on our altars? It may
call for sacrifice on the part of the
right man, but let us think of those
stirring days of '61. Were there not
found then men ready not only to sac
rifice business, but ready to leave wife,
children, home and even sacrifice life
itself for the sake of duty?
While the cause is not so
urgent, still there is need of
something of this spirit on the part
of some representative man who can
command the confidences of the peo
ple and can lead forth a campaign unto
victory. But this patriotism must be
more than effervescent enthusiasm, it
must be coupled with competence. I
do not mean that the man who chal
lenges the suffrages of our people
must be a rich man, nor even a great
man, but he must be a man with capa
bilities of a great work.
It is no trifling matter to guide the
destinies of a thriving city for two
years and it ought not to be entrusted
to incapacity. I would add to compe
tence the necessity of character. The
mayor of a great city is a representa
tive man, he ought to be one to whom
we might point with confidence and
refer to with respect. He is our rep
resentative. We place him at the front
to speak and act for ourselves. Let it
be a man who has some respectability
to him, not one for whom we must
apologize before the community, and
blush before other cities. Then he must
have convictions. We do not want a
fellow that has only a cotton string for
a backbone. Like the Duke of Well
ington, he should be a man "To true
occasions true, who stood four square
to every wind that blew." There are
delicate and complex matters to be
passed, upon, matters requiring clear
thinking.
No Morally Befogged Man.
We do not want a man who is mor
ally befogged and does not know right
when he sees it. We want a man who
has clear cut ideas on the fundament
als of righteousness. We want a man
of sterling honesty whose hand has no
itch for ill-gotten gain, and who will
spurn to use his power for personal ag
grandizement. Then he must be a man
who has the courage of his convictions.
We want a man who will place his
straight back to the granite wall of
duty and challenge the enemy with
the words of the Highlander: "Come
one, come all, this rock shall fly from
its firm basis soon as I." We mistake
if we think a namby-pamby fellow will
be able to withstand the pressure that
will he put on the mayor who sets out
to do his duty in Ottumwa. He will
find there are gamblers to the right
of him, brothers to the left of him,
saloons in front of him, volleying and
thundering and if he puts this enemy
to flight and turns to rout this army of
aliens, he must be a man of more than
ordinary pluck. But we have just such
men and it is the hope of many good
citizens that such a one can be pre
vailed upon to become the standard
bearer for truth, righteousness and
purity this spring. I do not know
whether such a man can be elected or
not, but decent people will be ashamed
of our city, if he cannot.
But we must not enlist a good man
merely to lead a forlorn hope. There
must be a willingness on the part of
good citizenship to place patriotism
above partisanship and subordinate
other interests to the cause of right
eousness. I believe that party organ
ization is necessary in its place. I do
not suppose that we will ever get
away from it in our political actions.
But while party organization is proper
and right, partisanship is one of the
most dangerous elements in our public
life: The citizen who has only one
principle in his political faith, namely
"I am a democrat" is a very danger
ous fellow, only exceeded possibly by
the republican who exclaims "I am for
the party right or wrong."
Hope of the Future.
What is needed today is independ
ence. The independent vote is the
hope of the future, and it is evident
that it is an increasing influence that
must be reckoned with. Principles
ought to mean more than names. Party
from the book of Judges la one of per- affiliations ought not to "be strong ruptton. You have all heard of the
ennlal freshness and significance. It enough to drag good men down to old divine of African persuasion who
exactly fits the cWc conditions of our evil methods and associations. This grew warm in his per-fervid oratory
American life. We are living under is especially true with regard munioi- and capped his lurid climax with the
the system of'government that Is at pal matters, lo me it seems an lrra- utterance "Breddern, there are two
the same time the best and the most
difficult to handle,. one, needing the
most watchful care on the part ol the
people lest it be perverted to iniquit
ous ends. It is a form of government
that lays tremendous responsibilities to the question of common honesty and woods." I hope that it will not be
on the shoulders of its citizens. Un I decency in police regulation of a mu- come necessary for decent people to
der this form of government the rights nicipality? Yet as long as the party take to the woods in this spring cam
of citizens are safeguarded or sacrl- leaders con persuade citizens to wear paign.
the the party collar irrespective of all
great moral issues involved, the work
of the low politician is an easy task.
I would like to see an uprising of
Pass on to Cincinnati and you will
find one just a little more corrupt,
which wears the republican colors. Go
down to New York and you will find
vice more flagrantly encouraged under
If while attacking vice I may have
seemed to wound any party it was
simply because that orgaziniaton was
standing just where I was compelled
to shoot.
Does Not Care to Defend.
But I do not believe any high minded
citizen no matter what his party affilia
tions may be, cares to defend the con
ditions I have shown you to exist and
all that I ask is that manhood may be
permitted to assert itself and the pur
ity. dignity and responsibility of the
ballot be recognized in this coming
spring campaign.
I would that I might be able to reach
the conscience of every citizen touch
ing the sacredness of this obligation.
As one has well said: "The ballot was
won by the bloody sweat of centuries
and he who fails to use it is recreant
to his highest duty and'false to his
most sacred trust.
A ballot! A piece of paper! As sa
cred as a page torn from the bible!
Think what it cost. Think of the men
who died that we might take it be
tween our fingers. Think of what may
be accomplished by that piece of pa
per. Health can be safeguarded,
crime can be reduced, the weak and
the poor can be protected, justice can
be established, righteousness made
possible. It is a sword with which
great evils can be hacked to pieces. It
is the battering ram for beating down
established wrongs. It is a cannon ball
by which oppression can be ground to
powder.
"A weapon that comes down as still
As snowflakes fall upon the sod
But executes a freeman's will,
As lightning does the will of God."
Something of Methods.
But I suppose it will be expected of
me that I say something of methods.
What I would be delighted to find
would be that both of the great parties
would develop manhood and virtue
enough to spurn the corrupt offers of
the vicious classes and take a bold,
determined stand for virtue and right
eousness. But while that is a consum
mation devoutly to be wished, it is
almost too much to hope.
It will be strange if the gambler and
the prostitute will not be able to se
duce some one of the parties with their
tainted money and make it impossible
for decency to allign itself •yvith it. I
say this is to be feared. I am frank
to say that the present regime does
not deserve another endorsement from
the citizens of Ottumwa. It is open
and pronounced in Its policy of an
open city and protected vice. When
protest is made to it by those who
feel outraged by the conditions that
have been permitted to prevail, all the
consolation such who protest can re
ceive is that their policy was known
before the last election, and it was
endorsed by the voters of our city
So there you are.
Will these voters give it another en
dorsement? If they do they need not
expect anything nearer decency than
we have seen in the past, the probabili
ties are that it will become more bra
zen and offensive. Confident in the
belief that the thing that they repre
sent is the thing the citizens of Ot
tumwa want they will be more arro
gant towards the appeals of decency
and righteousness.
The thing I would like to see would
be a non-partisan effort that would be
Let Them Split.
Let the corrupt elements split up all
they like, but let good men hang to
gether, lest, as the old saying is
"they hang separately." But if'such
division is prevented it must be by
some one of the leading parties bring
ing out such a man as will command
the respect and support of good men.
I am frank to say that if we are to
have a campaign along the line as to
which side can bid highest for the
vicious support that I do not care a
snap of the finger which party wins.
I would just as soon have demo
cratic corruption as republican cor-
«. THE OTTUMWA COURIER
tlonal thing to bring national Issues ways, one that leads to hell and one
into municipal, contests at all. What that leads to damnation." An excited
is the relation of the tariff, the silver, brother In the back of the audience
question, if there is one, imperialism, sprang to his feet and cried out.
governmental control of corporations, "This nigger is goin' to take to the
But back of the methods there is
something still more important, that
is the quickening of the conscience of
the community on the subject of civic
independence on the part" of all" good righteousness. John Morley's 6har
citlzens, and a decided, earnest procla- acterization of English morals twenty
mation of the fact that they do not)five years ago can be read with profit
propose to be nosed around by any'today. "There is a disposition to
party that does not stand for the acquiesce to a lazy accommodation to
same principle of righteousness that error, and ignoble economy of truth,
they dov-I may be accused of partisan and a vicious compromise of the
pleading in making these assertions, I permanent gains of adhering to
because the regime that I have felt: a sound, general principle for
compelled to criticise has worn the in
signia of a certain party. But I want
to say that the question Is broader
than our own city. It may be only ac
cidental that the particular party in
power in our city has been captured by
the vicicms elements. Certainly it is
not the only party susceptible to those
evil blandishments. Look at the poli
tics of our great cities. Go to Chi
cago and you will find an administra
tion that is far from Puritanical"" and
you find it is democratic.
the sake of the temporary
gains of departing from it." This lazy
accommodation to error is the bane
of our political action today. Ideals
become lowered. Public conscience
becomes drugged. This is the thing
we must earnestly contend against.
Never Touch the Ground.
The dying color-bearer exhorted the
fellow that seized the flag "Hold the
colors high, I never let the colors
tpuch the ground." So we should not
be afraid to hold the colors high. The
thing which the moral element of our
community needs is courage. It has
been so long dominated by a little
coterie of fellows of the baser sort who
have seized the balance of power and
a democratic administration, while in ^ate^^ party man shall
staid old Philadelphia with its boasted
homes and high morals you will find
the most corrupt of any under repub
lican rule.
So it does not matter much it would
seem to vice which carriage it rides in
provided it is able to ride. So if I have
been compelled to let my shafts drive
where they have struck close home
to a political organization, my defense
is that of the old Quaker, who felt
compelled to defend his principles of
passive virtue by saying to the burg
lar: "Thee is standing just where I
am going to shoot."
bear the stamp of thelr
approval, that
the result is good men have suc
cumbed to that sort of bullying till
they scarcely know whether they have
any rights that are worth regarding or
not.
It is high time for the good ele
ments of the community to rise up and
assert their demands. Let these
business men who are so timid about
trade, who insist that they cannot af
ford to offend these evil-disposed ele
ments be given to understand that
they cannot afford to offend decency
and the man who will not come out
square-toed in this matter will have
to take the consequences. Good men
have some rights as well as bad men
For my part I would like to see a vig-
orous month's campaign waged right
along that line. I would like to see
a campaign of civic righteousness con
ducted with all the enthusiasm of the
national campaign of '96 or '61. Yes
I would like to see it conducted with
all the fervid zeal of an old-faBhioned
revival meeting in a frontier settle
ment. I would like to see a thousand
earnest men gointng out to instill old
fashioned ideas of morality into the
drugged conscience of our city.
Need Toning of Ideals.
We need a toning up of ideals. We
.need to get "back to the simplicity of
common honesty. "\We need a breeze
from the mount Of Sinai to sweep
away the miasmatic fog that has risen
from the slums of reeking corruption.
To this end I would like to see the
workman laboring to convince his fel
low in the shop, the clerk persuading
the fellow who touches elbows with
him at the desk, the salesman ex
changing views with the customer
over the counter.
I would like to see the business man
arguing the case with his associate
on the street, neighbor reasoning with
neighbor around the fireside, wife
pleading with husband or mother
with son around the family circle to
be true to principle and faithful to
home. I would have everybody
preaching the principles of common
honesty and ordinary decency. Let
our utterances ring true to such pla.n
fflcts flS th&S6.
We cannot be publicly corrupt and
privately moral. As Individuals we
are responsible for the acts of our pub
lic agents If we endorse them at the
polls. If we vote to share in the cor
rupt earni/igs of evil resorts we are
partners /t the evil business. We can
not endoi'se lawlessness in the city
and then hope to have the protection
of the l:(.w in our private interests.
We cannot give our sanction to open
gambling and then consistently com
plain if somebody gambles with our
money. We cannot traffic in the vir
tue of someone else's daughters and be
sure our own shall escape the peril
of Impurity. If these plain moralities
are pressed upon the consciences of
the vacillating the results connot be
uncertain.
Let us then enter Into such a cam
paign with courage, hopefulness and
enthusiasm. The discouraged man
plans no aggressive enterprise, leads
no triumphant army to victory, In
spires no drooping heart with the
energy. Let us not be ashamed of our
colors. While we have no ambition to
be impractical theorists or Impossible
reformers let us not be ashamed to
avow the fact openly that we are both
honest and decent. Let us not hesi
tate to declare that we stand for a
reasonable observance of the law.
We ought not to be afraid to enter
Into this campaign with something of
the courage and-faith of the man who
believes that he Is In the right, and
that "Right is right, since God is God,
and right the day shall win." Our
armies went marching south keeping
step to the inspiriting words,
"He has sounded out the trumpet that
shall never' call retreat.
He is sifting out the hearts of men be
fore His Judgment seat,
Be swift my soul to answer him be
jubilant my feet,
Our God is marching on."
representative of the best elements of After all it resolves Itself into a ques
the city and endorsed by the other tion of manhood. Is there manhood
parties, so that all good men could pull
together against the common enemy.
The thing that must be avoided is the
division of good men in this issue.
A Question of Manhood.
Let the Wrching columns in our
spring campaign have no less en
thusiasm In their heroic war against
vice, corruption. Indecency and dirt.
enough in Ottumwa to rise up and
strangle this cobra de capello that Is
sinking its fangs Into our bod'"' politic?
Is there a man In our midst that is
capable of commanding the respect
and confidence of the suffrages of our
city? If there is let us find him and
even if like Cinelnnatus of old he is
following his plow- of business or pro
fessional enterprise- let us compel him
to accept the leadership at this hour
of great need.
Let us distinctly understand that a
little whippersnapper of a politician
will not do, no matter what party en
dorsement he is able to command.
Someone has said, "The mediaeval
sovereign hired a simple fellow to be
his fool but our modern popular sov
ereign often hires the simple fellow
to be his master, and Is his own fool."
This is no time for the elevation of the
"professional politician" whose cry
mm
much resembles the old one, "Put me I
pray thee into one ft the prleet's offices
that I may eat a piece of bread." Now
if ever we want to ring out the vigor
ous- words of Oliver Wendell Holmes
God give us men! Atlme like this
demands
Clear minds, pure hearts, true faith
and ready hands
Men who possess opinions and a will:
Men whom desire for office does not
kill
Men whom the spoils of office cannot
buy
Men who have honor—men who will
not lie
Men who can stand before a dema
gogue
And scorn his treacherous flatteries
•without winking.
Tall men—sun-crowned men who
live above the fog
In public duty and In private thinking
For while base tricksters with their
wornout creeds,
Their large professions and their little
dlsfidB
Wrangle In' selfish strife, lo! Freedom^
weeps-—
Wrong rules the land, and waiting
justice sleeps."
YOUNQ GIRL DIES.
Ftom Saturday's Dally.
The sad intelligence of the death of
Clyde Hinsey Jenison, daughter of B.
M. and Laura E. Jenison, of Fon Du
Lac, Wis., was received in this city
late yesterday afternoon by relatives.
The deceased was born September 26,
1902, and was a bright and beautiful
child. She was in good health until
four weeks ago, when the dread dis
ease, infantile paralysis, claimed her.
Mr. and Mrs. Jenison formerly lived
in this city and have many friends
and relatives here who will join with
them in mourning the death of their
child.
The body will arrive in this city this
evening, and the funeral will be held
tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock from
the residence of J. T. Rowe, 324 West
Fifth street. The services will be con
ducted by Rev. P. Adelstein Johnson
pastor of the First Congregational
church. Interment will be made in
the Ottumwa cemetery.
Remains Taken to Albla.
The remains of the late Mrs. Mar7
Frances Gillaspie, who passed away
Thursday noon, were taken to Aibia
this morning on Burlington No. 3. In
terment was made in the cemetery at
that place.
DIE
WRECK
IB
SPECIAL INAUGURAL TRAINS IN
REAR END COLLI8ION NEAR
PITT8BURG.
SEVEN ARE DEAD
Pennsylvania Special Stops on Ac
count of "Hot Box" Second Train
Crashes Into Flrat at Rate of Fifty
Miles an Hour Forty-Six Injured,
Pittsburg, March 4.—Two special in
auguration trains crashed together in
a rear end collision last night at Clif
ton, eight miles west of here, and
seven are dead. Forty-six are Injured
and seven of th^se perhaps fatally.
The wreck was entirely cleared by
10 o'clock this morning. No more
bodies were found. Possibly, how
ever, several bodies were cremated in
the fire following the wreck, as three
members of the Ohio engineers' bat
talion and three colored porters are
reported still missing.
The Known Dead.
The identified dead are:
CAPT. WILLIAM R. HENDRY, bat
talion surgeon and prominent Cleve
land physician.
LIEUT. DONALDSON C. SCHO
FIELD, Company D, a Cleveland archi
tect.
CORPORAL JAMES KEHOE.
PRIVATE R. H. HELD.
FRANK PINNEY, aged ten years,
son of Lieutenant O. C. Pinney.
Two unknown men died while being
taken to Beaver county hospital at Ro
chester.
First Train 8tops for Hot Box.
The accident was caused by the first
special stopping for a hot box and the
second followed so closely the flagman
had no time to get back far enough
to prevent a collision.
Ine first train carried a battalion of
Ohio engineers. It was made up of
six coaches and a baggage car. The
second train was the same number
of cars and carried the Tippecanoe
club of Cleveland with a band of
twenty-five or thirty women.
When the crash came the passengers
in the rear car of the first train were
the principal sufferers and all the fa
talities were in that cir. The wreck
age took fire from the engine and the
car of the first train and three cars
Of the second burned.
Going Fifty Miles an Hour.
The engineer of the second train
says the block signal showed a green
light and his train went ahead at the
rate of 45 or 50 miles an hour.
When the impact came the engine
of the second train ploughed through
the rear Pullman in which the officers
were, and half way into the tourist
car just ahead of it. Capt. Charles E.
Pope, was the only officer of the en
gineer's battalion to escape injury.
The battalion will return to Cleveland.
The Tippecanoe club continued its
journey to Washington.
SUIT FOR MILLIONS FILED.
Promoter of U. S. Shipping Co. Asks
Accounting From Trust Co.
New York, March 4.—Suit was filed
yesterday by counsel for John W
Young, one of the promoters of the
United States Shipbuilding company,
asking for an accounting of $60,994,000
of securities of the corporation from
the Mercantile Trust Co'., its trustee,
CHARCOT EXPEDITION SAFE.
Antartic Ship Le Francais Brings the
Party to Madrin, Argentina.
Buenoe Ay res, March 4.—A tele
gram to the Standard announce*
that the Antartic ship Le Francais
with the entire Charcot expedition
has arrived at Puerto Madrin, Ar
gentlna.
LEAPS TO
FREEDOM
CZAR FINALLY
HIS PEOPLE'S DEMANDS
PRISONER ON TRAIN SLIP8 HAND
CUFFS AND JUMPS THROUGH
THE WINDOW.
Burlington, March 4. Handcuffed
between two other prisoners, J. H.
Whitcomb in charge of Sheriff Canning
of Council Bluffs, en route from Bur
lington to Fort Madison, in some way
got his handcuffs unfastened and late
yesterday Jumped through the car win
dow and escaped. The train was stop
ped and a hasty search was made but
no trace of the secaped prisoner could
be found and the sheriff continued
on to Fort Madison, with his other two
prisoners.
The train was several miles south
of Burlington and running rapidly
wh"n the prisoner made his escape. He
was fastened, with the latest style of
handcuffs and how he unloosened them
is a mystery.
Whitcomb is an old circus performer
and as agile as a cat. He was con
victed of burglary in Council Bluffs
and sent up for seven years.
DAVIS IS
INDICTED
FORMER IROQUOIS THEATRE
MANAGER IS HELD FOR
MANSLAUGHTER.
Chicago, March 4. Indictments
were returned today against Will J,
Davis, formerly manager of the Iro
quois theatre for involuntary man
slaughter. Wm. Laughlin, deputy
uuilding inspector and George Wil
liams, city building commissioner, for
neglect of duty in connection with the
Iroquois theatre fire. Capiases were
immediately ordered issued.
GRINNELL" PLAYERS ARRIVE.
Basketball Game Tonight at Y. M.
A. Will Be Fast One.
The basketball team of the Grinnell
high school, which will play the local
team this evening in the Y. M. C. A.
gymnasium arrived this afternoon on
the Rock Island. The game promises
to be a good one, as Grinnell no doubt
intends to wipe out the defeat their
football team suffered here on
last Thanksgiving. The local insti
tution, however, will not give up the
coveted title of state champions with
out a struggle so some fast playing is
expected. Captain Buckner's men are
in good condition for the game, having
held practice several evenings this
week. The game will begin promptly
at 8 o'clock.
CHEQUEST.
Chequest March 4.—Dr. T. G. Mc
Clure, of Douds, was a profeasinal
caller in Chequest Monday afternoon,
School clased In this place Friday
February 24. The teacher, Waldo
Harryman, has given excellent satis
faction, this being his twelfth term in
this school. A large number of the
school patrons and friends of the pu
pils were present In the afternoon to
listen to the nice program which was
so well rendered.
Miss Verna Plowman closed a sue
cessful term of school at No. 2 Sat
urday, Feb. 25 with a fine program In
the afternoon. A large crowd of visi
tors were present.
Mrs. Matilda Shaffer has been very
111, but is convalescent at this time.
A pleasant surprise party was given
in honor of Miss Jennie Elsensohn at
the pleasant home of her parents* Mr.
and Mrs. Joseph Elsenshon last Sat
urday night. Games and music were
the pleasures of the evening. Re
freshments consisting of oysters,
crackers, cake and fruit were served.
Dr. Herrlford, of Leando. made a
professional call in Chequest Wednes
day.
Married at the home of the bride's
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Green,
Wednesday evening, March 1, their
youngest daughter. Miss Grace to
Herman Laughlin, of Douds. Th
best wishes of many friends attend
them.
Bill Richards, formerly deputy
United States marshal, has been taken
to the Ft. Madison penitentiary and
entered upon his sentence.
LIKE FAIRYLAND.
Decorations for Inaugural Ball Are
Most Lavish Ever Attempted.
Washington, D. C., March 4.
Green and gold are the decorations
for the Inaugural ball room to
night. The decorations are the
most lavish ever attempted for an
inaugural ball. Alabama ever
greens and Porto Rico
predominate.
'v
^A.
1
GRANTS A88EMBLY OP ELECTED
DELEGATE8 AND VOICE IN
5 LAW MAKING.!
&
KUEOPATKIN IS LOSING
Russians Have Evacuated Gaotu Pas*
—-Kuropatkin Says Position Is Dea.
perate Japs Marching Qnto Muk«
den—Losses on Both Sides Are Te*
rlble.
vV8&
8t. Petersburg, March 4.—Empe
ror Nicholas yesterday after*
noon,signed a rescript promising
the people a voice In the prepa
ration of the laws.
"1- ..- •.
..
St. Petersburg, M^rch 4.—Kuro
patkin reports that the Russians vr'
have been compelled to evacuatA
their position at Gaotu Pass. Ku
roki, according to the latest re
port, Is stalled by the Russian left,
but the Russian center Is yielding
slowly before the Japanese on. ytfi
slaughts. ^v]f
St. Petersburg, March '4,—The'
perial rescript announcing that the
emperor has decided to convene fcn as
sembly of elected representatives of
the people to elaborate and consider
legislation has produced a wonderful
impression. The war and battle be.
low Mukden are forgotten. The re
script is hailed by many as a second
emancipation. S
Japanese Lo«e i30,000.
St. Petersburg, March 4.—The battW
raging at the front has assumed enor
mous proportions. Already the As«
sociated Press Russian correspondent
places the Russian, losses at 30,000
men, those of the Japanese at 40,000.
It Is added that the attempt to draw
a net around Kuropatkin has not yet
succeeded, but it is said that the Japan
ese from Sinmintin are attempting by
forced marches to cut the Russian
line of communications.
Holding Positions Desperately.
Mukden, March 4, a. m.—The Rus
sians are holding on desperately to"
their positions. Sanlinpou, which 18..
the key to the Russian position on the
right, was the scene of awful carnage
last night. Trains are leaving Muk
den ceaselessly for the north with the
wounded and stores.
Japs Make Landing.
Vladivostok, March 4.—Two thous-'
and Japanese troops have landed at
Shenguishln, northward of Korea, to
which place they were conveyed by
steamers from the warships. A flo
tilla of torpedo boats covered the land
ing.
Tokio Reports Gains.
Toklo, March 4.—It is announced
today from the headquarters in Man
churia that the fighting on the right
center and left is resulting in steady
Japanese gains. The Japanese have
defeated the Russians at Sinmintin.
News is expected here soon of a se
vere battle at Chuiping Tal, where the
Russians rallied after their defeat at
Tsinkhetchen.
Take British Steamer.
Marching on Mukden.
Berlin, March 4.—A dispatch to the
Tage Blatt from St. Petersburg saysr
"General Kuropatkin in a telegram'
which arrived at 7 o'clock last evening
said that 260,000 Japanese had broken
through the Russian left wing and that
it was cut off from the remainder o*
the army."
At 10 o'clock another dispatch from
Kuropatkin read:
"The Japanese are marching on»
Mukden. My position is extremely^
dangerous."
1
%i
al
b.r£X
The British steamer Easby Abbey,
boun4 for Vladivostok was seized by
the Japanese February 27.
Japs Attack British SteamOr.
Manila, March 4.—Japanese em
barked in fishing sampans, made four
attempts to sink the British Bteamer
Carlisle last night but were repulsed |S
by the customs guards on the vessel.
Believed Japs Will Succeed. pj||
Kuroki's Headquarters, March 4.— |j|p
The Fourth Russian artillery kept up'^®
a heavy fire on the Japanese guns||p
most of the day. They also fired
shrapnel at the attacking forces. &?m
The Japanese are gathered on the'
slopes so close to the Russian trenches
that in some places their artillery can-,
not give the best support. The Rus
sians have largely abandoned their I
method of volley firing. It is be
lieved the Japanese attack will sue
ceed.
s-sss
In government circles here today|§!j|j
there is a conviction that KuropatkingfS
has been fully beaten, that part of bis|pf
army has been dispersed and that the||§l|
railroad north of Mukden will proba.8§|l
biy be cut. |jj
Japs Vigorously Punishing Enemy. jjffitB
Tokio, March 4.—Many counter at#JI
tacks in the direction of Shihang havefi|p
been repulsed by the Japanese. In-§fi
the direction of Benteiaputze the Jap
anese pressed the enemy to his main
defenses and are now engaging him. 1
ONE MAN KILLED.
James Moran, of Superior, Is Dead-In'
an Ore Dock Accident.
Dulut'n, Minn., March 4.—James
Moran, of Superior, was killed, and
three Duluth men sustained injuries
palms this morning by the collapse of a Bec
«i tion of the ore docks in course of coa-
struction.
Hi