Bohr, Sylvian Thuente and Donald Mundt. We find no record of the final standings for this year's league play, but judging by the midseason's account of no wins and eight losses, the Hawks had a disappointing year.

THE OSSIAN ENTERPRISE

A controversy that culminated in the organizing of the Ossian Printing Company began this fall. This firm published the town's second newspaper, "The Ossian Enterprise."

The Ossian Printing Company was formed in May of 1905 with a capital of $1000 from the sale of stock at ten dollars a share. Theo. Fleisher, P. Bullard, Rev. C. B. Lechtenberg, J. J. McManus and Fred J. Figge are listed as its founders. The Bee states that there were 33 stockholders.

Senior editor Heck wrote that the Enterprise was founded, "On the cornerstone of spite." There is no doubt that the controversy between the two papers was heated and the rhetoric vituperative. We regret that we have been unable to gain access to surviving copies of the Enterprise. Quite likely there were two sides to this dispute.

The first blast of this altercation was directed at Father Lechtenberg. It appears he delivered a sermon in November of 1903 condeming the moral aspects of the dances currently being held in the opera house under the sponsorship of the Ossian Dancing Club. Frank Klein, Welt Cornell, Jos. Meyer and T. F. Schmitz are listed as the committee in charge of these social occasions.

The three column editorial replying to this sermon was headed: "Big stiff from Delaware county exposes his ignorance...malignity (is) his prime religion... did not preach the word of God, but stole God's time to slander the Bee editors .. .the Bee editors have little Catholicity in them is another assertion made by this feigned—pious stiff on the hill. Thirty eight members have left his flock, which indicates that as a destroyer of faith he takes the cake."

The feud was broadened when the Bee, with a series of articles titled, "Our faithful administration," criticises Mayor Fred Figge for failure to publish the town's financial report, but instead posting this statement in public places.

The paper further charges that it was compelled to erect a railing along their walk, (this would have been in front of the present Dr. Henry dental office) while the Frank Figge walk has not been so fitted although it is far more dangerous. Also the county surveyor, employed by the town last summer, found the walks of C. Peyer, J. D. Long, C. H. Blanchaine, G. F. Gunderson and M. J. Carter to be located on the streets. The editorial continues: "The administration has not required the relocation of these walks; presumably because 'father-in-law' and possibly 'uncle' might be effected. Further, Theo. Fleischer's furniture store was found to be, and remains, on the street, while the widow Harvey, who has no relatives on the council, has been forced to move her walk."

In addition, "The polls were closed an hour too early (at the recent municipal election)—the first time in the town's history that some citizens were deprived of their right to vote."

At the May council meeting, I. H. DeGraff and Ed Reum refused to qualify for their seats. They felt the 6:00 P. M. closing of the polls made their selection invalid. The City Fathers appointed G. G. Oyloe and Will Mullaney to fill these vacancies. The Bee questions the legality of these appointments. The editors add this vitriolic comment: "Ossian has 200,000 municipal officers, Mullaney is 1, Oyloe makes 2, and the rest are zeros; add five ciphers to 2, and you have 200,000."

The Postville Review editorialized, "The Ossian Bee is stabbing its stinger into tender spots of the town's administration in a right lively manner." The Calmar Courier notes: "The Bee has used its stinger too freely on many of Ossian's residents, so a new paper is being started by some of those stung. Glen May of Decorah will have charge of the new paper. It will be called the Enterprise..."

After several weeks of silence, senior editor Heck again attacks Mayor Figge.