The age-herald., 1899-08-02
IN HOTEL LO1BIES { ANDELSEWHERE


 General Wheeler sailed from San Fran cisco for the Philippines on the goth of July. It will require about forty-fve days for the illustrious Alabamian to reach Manila. In that case he would report for duty in the Far East about one month from this time. or some time during the first week in September. Whatever the conditions may be at fhat time, little Old Fighting Joe" will forthwith begin to give evidences of his unexampled energy and activity Something will occur, unless General Wheeler be Bound and gagged and that is scarcely probable. The powers that be are in duty bound to give him something to do, and he will do It. as ev- erybody knows he will. There is one thing above all other things that he will do he will fight. He could come no nearer to keeping still in front of enemy, for any considerable length of time. than a lion could sleep in a swarm of gadfiies He is not built like other men. "our little old fighting Joe" General Wheeler has not gone to fne Philippines for his health. as the phrase goes. He is gone there to fight, and fight he will unless he Is placed under arrest. If the authorities will give him a brigade, he will do the rest. There need not be any bother about him. If there be trained soldier living who is preeminent- ly capable of taking care of himself in the field that soldier is Joseph Wheeler. He has a contempt for danger, but is ever re- gardful of his men and of keeping them properly supplied with the soldiers unpre- tentious needs.
 It comes to the showing that Wheeler is given in the Philippines. If brigade or two be placed under his command and he be permitted to fight. the insurgents will feel that a tornado of steel has struck them. Aguinado will be swept off his feet so suddenly and violently that he will wonder what has hit him." It would be General Wheeler's luck to end the insur- rection by some extraordinary deeds of daring, and get back home in time for the real beginning of the work of congress, after the Christmas and New Year holi- days. His daring and dash in war have never been surpassed. Assuming that he will be given the chance to do something in the Philippines, it is certain he will do it. Hence the speculative mind arrives at the conclusion that Wheeler will quickly end the insurrectionary war, and return to the United States the greatest hero since Grant. Then, what? Conceive what extraordinary political possibilities are just in front of Wheeler! If he return home he will be hero. If he is brought back inanimate he will be brought back hero. No such splendid possibilities lie in the chance promise of any other American.
 
 It is a matter of interest that Rrookwood the scene of the coal miners strike, has been for many years one of the cleanest, most orderly and most prosperous mining towns in the Birmingham district. It has been noted for its good schools, provided by the old Standard company, and other evidences of social progress. The best of good feeling has always prevailed between employers and employees, and Brookwood has been esteemed, in fact. an ideal mining town. It seems pity that the present trouble there should exist at all.
 
 Francis Patrick O Brien, the high sheriff of Jefferson, goes away upon his annual holiday with the good wishes and kindly regard and esteem of all the people whom he serves faithfully. He has earned his recreation, and it comes in good time. MT. V VIII Do dDStHI duOul SIX WGekS. This is his seventeenth summer at Asbury Park and may he live in good health to spend as many summers as he likes at his favorite resort on the shores of the Atlan- tic!
 It comes natural to speak of Mr. O'Brien and the Hon. Chappell Cory at the same time. for they have been close friends for many years and were associated together in journalism. MT. Cory came up from Montgomery yesterday forenoon and spent the day in town He will return by the train leaving here shortly after o'clock this morning. He is looking unusually well, though he was not strong during May and June. Asked as to the purpose of his visit. he answered that he merely wished a day off and desired to spend that day in Bir- mingham. He declined to say anything that could be printed. and evinced no special interest in politics. Still it would be trifle surprising to know that the gov- ernor's popular private secretary did not ascertain some interesting facts during his short visit. Everybody in Birmingham is MT. Cory's friend.
 General J. T. Wilder, of Knoxville, the maker of the first coke iron produced in the south, is at the Morris. This iron he made att Redwood, Tenn, in 1869. He has done fo,r Tennessee in mineral develop ment what DeBardeleben has done for AL abama. The great tariff debate in con- gross occurred in 1870, just after General Wilder had started up his furnace at Rock wood. Pig Iron" Kelley was chairman of the ways and means committee of the house. The tariff duty on pig iron was then s14 a ton. it being held that iron could not then be profitably produced in the United States for less than $40 ton. Gen. eral Wilder declared that pig iron could be made in the south at SIP ton. The answer from the north was one of ridi- cue. It was argued that there might be a pocket of ore here and there in the s0ura that could be profitably mined at @ low rate, but it all amounted to practical ly nothing. Since then the south has amazed the world by making iron at .