davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28

offer with the knowledge that it would not be accepted, and he could make little notoriety by affecting desire to benefit the city and the citizens. It Is not likely that he expected his offer to be taken up, or that he wished 1t.
 But even if we take that view of the matter, which is little credit to Mir. wanamaker, it in no manner relieves the city authorities of the odium att taching to them for either giving away exceedingly valuable privileges or of disposing of them for their own bene- fit. In either case there is no excuse and we doubt if any sane person will believe that these franchises were given away, or that their disposal failed to put much money in the pock- cts of the Mayor and his friends. Any way one looks at the matter there's little credit to be found for anybody.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28
THE PASS ouEsTrnN

| The following on the official free-pass question is from The Huntsville Tri- | bune:
 i The puerila chat in the Constitutional 1 Convention about free passes over rail l roads is an indictment against the in. tegrity of all future legislators A hu- | who cannot fairly and honorabIv dis charge his duty as a legislator with . ZA4 railroad pass in his pocket is moi worthy of the distinction of being called | man. e N"''eu
 Our contemporary makes several mistakes.
 There has been no chat of any kind so far in the Convention abont free passes. The subject has not come in yet though doubtless 1t will do so The Convention can't we'll leave ont the provision in the present constitu- tion' nor can it put that alone back in the light of its ineflciency. Nor would any debate on the oues- ton likely to be puerile, considering the large number of strong men in the body, and the dangers of the evil that has existed without any effective remedy. It will be very instructive and vigorous debate when it comes on.
 The idea of an effective provision on this subject being "an indictment against the integrity of all future I,e- gislators" is not tenable. It may be an indictment against some Legislators and higher officials, including judges on the benches, who in the past have sworn to obey the Constitution of the State and yet have taken passes in vio- lation of that instrument, because they knew there was no punishment. If so. that is their lookout. It is not the duty of this Convention to stand aside from reforming a manifest evil and from removing temptaation from the future official because, forsooth, some body's toes may be stepped on.
 As to whether an official can fairly and honorably discharge his duty with so little a thing as a pass in his pocket is not an open question. The present Constitu- tion decided that in 1875. and other State Constitutions and Legislatures have decided it the same way. That is res adJudicata in Alabama at any rate.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28
VIRGINIA CONVENTION.
Matter of Taking Oath is Again
 Brought Out,

Richmond, June 27-The discussion as to the propriety of the Constitutional Convention taking an oath of office was again renewed today and evoked cons!d- erable debate by the leading men of the body. The first speaker was Hon. John H. Ingram, Judge of the Corporation Court of Manchester. Va, who vigor- ously opposed the taking of an oath. He was followed by ex-Congressman J. M. Quarles who took the same position. He quoted recognized authorities to show that Constitutional Conventions are sovereign bodies. are. in fact, the State themselves for the time being and are beyond all limitations save those of the United States Cor stituticn. The members. he said, pes sess sovereign powers and are above their creators, nor can they be dictated to by inferior bodies.
 Hardly had the speaker, who was talk ing with great vehemence. uttered these sentiments when he was overcome by vertigo and fell into the arms of the Ser ge1nt-at-arms. Though not seriously i'll Mir. Quarles had to be removed from the hall.
 MT. Wysor delivered a speech in favor of taking the oath prescribed by the ex- isting Virginia Constitution. He denied that the convention was above the peo- pie. He insisted that the body here as- sembled was in duty bound to take the oath now prescribed by the Constitution which the members are to amend. This oath required officeholders to support the United States and Virginia's Constitu- tion and to recognize the social and po- litical equality of all men before the law
 Today a number of resolutions were in- troduced. among them the following; Boards of Finance and to provide for tax ing bonds, notes. etc.
 By MT Pollard-Providing for the in vestigation of the question of arbitration
 By MT. Bolen-Providing for the rota- tion of terms of Circuit Courts in the diff ferent counties of judicial districts.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28

Kern County. California, has Supe- rintendent of Schools who knows which side of his bread has the oleomargar- inc on it. A local newspaper thus touches him up:
 It may not be generally known that Su- perintendent Doub is an author; but he Is. He has written three books and when completed, he saw in them so much that was meritorious that he had them straightway put into all the schools of the county, making it obligatory on the part of the schols to use thenl-one Tn the hands of each pupil. The superiority of these books has not yet been discoV- cred elsewhere. or at least school au- thoFities have not exhibited any unseemly haste to adopt them in any of the schools of the State.
 The fact that the school authorities of other counties have failed to appre- ciate and adopt his books is doubtless taken by Doubs as an evidence of gross lack of literary and educational ability. If he could only get himself elected State Superintendent of Schools he would develop into a first-class oc- topus.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28
HOW Much VindicationP

Mobile Register:
 The Montgomery Journal says the proposition to make the franchise clause conform to the requirements of the United States Constitution rather than to the requirements of a resolu- ton adopted by the State Democratic Convention is another vindication of Johnston. The former Governor ap- pears to be the most frequently vindi- cated man who ever was in public life. We take The Journals word for it. May we ask how many vindications 1t takes to make one reinstatement of Johnston in the confidence of the Ala bama people? Also. whether The Jour nal imagines that the Convention will hesitate to do what 1t thinks right, even If it amounts to another vindica- tion?" The Convention is not measur- ing it's course by its bearing upon the history of the former Governor of the State.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28
DR. wYMAN,s ELECTION.

The action of the Board of Trustees of the State University in electing Prof. Wyman to the Presidency of that institution will be hailed with general satisfaction by its friends. It's chief significance and value lies in the fact that 1t indicates clearly a deter imitation to remove the University as far from the domain of politics as pos sible. -
 Prof. Wyman has been connected with the University practically all his life. He knows it's needs as fully as any man living He has seen the many mistakes that have been made in its conduct. and this unequalled ex- perience must specially equip him for the uplifting of the institution to the plane it deserves to stand upon. He is scholar, a man of letters, an edu- cator with high ideals, an experienced professor. knowing all the weaknesses and powers of youthful human nature. and drilled into wholesome patience and confidence in the capacity of that nature for development in to useful ness. He has the deepest sympathy with the University, the most constant loyalty to 1t, and will have the cordial cooperation of Trustees, Faculty and Alumni in his undertaking.
 The Board is to be congratulated up- on It's wisdom and courage. We be- lieve that the whole State will thank that body for this action, and that the University will enter upon a new era in usefulness and effectiveness.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28
LOOKING FOR OIL.

To read our exchanges the earth of Alabama is soaking with oil only waiting for somebody to bore a hole to it. It is to be decided by future de- velopments whether any of these bright dreams will be realized, but
 Tnere are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio.
 Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. and there Is no doubt that the bowels Of the earth contain riches as we'll as mysteries of which we are ignorant. Alabama is so rich in almost every kind of metal and mineral that it would require bold man to assert positively that anything is lacking which is found in other portions of North America.
 Many of the discoveries of oil were in the nature of surprises, and came when unexpected. The same thing might occur in Alabama. but We think oil VIII be found as the result of in- telligent and systematic effort. There Is SC much excitement in various nor tions of the country that 1t is unreas- enable to suppose that dilligent search for it will not be made in Alabama. and we are hopeful of success. Very recently we have noted several state ments from different persons and in different portions of the State indicat- ing that at least there is good reason to expect the discovery of profitable oil deposits. These indications may be fallacious. of course. and even if gen. uine mineral oil is found, it may be in very limited quantities, but that is for the future to determine. There will be boring done. and much of 1t. before people will be convinced that there is no hope of striking oil.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28
WAS IT A BLUFFP

Under the heading ''Wannamaker's Bluff" The Kansas City Journal charges that John Wanamaker's oeffr of $S,OO0,OOO for the street railway fran chises which the Mayor and Council of Philadelphia gave away, was only A
 bluff, or playing politics" on Johns part. And The Journal declares that the franchises thus given away are worth the enormous sum of $500 0OO.- 900 to the capitalists who received them.
 This. if true. puts a different faes on the matter. If MT. Wanamaker had any idea that these privileges were worth any such sum as above in- dicated. it was entirely safe for him to make the offer he did, because he
 could feel absolutely sure that his bid would not be accepted. It is claimed that he had no desire to possess the rights in question, but he gave it out that his object was to prevent the city and the people from being wronged. If the estimate of The Journal is cor rect Wanamaksr could make his
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28
"NoNF MORE UP-To-DArE."
The Advertiser the Most Enterpris-
 ing and Hustling Daily.

Union Springs Herald.
 For years and years The Montgom- cry Advertiser has been what Is com monly called the leading newspaper in the State. It has occupied that posi- ton because it has sought to give the people the news accurately and truth fully-and especially the news of Ala bama-and because it has maintained a vigorous editorial rage. It has, how ever. on some occasions, done some things which have not met the appro- val of the most conservative, but 1t has overcome the objections, and Is now the States leading journal. Through all these years in which 1t oc- cupied such a position, its lacking of a display of the metropolitan spirit, and enterprise such as has marked many other daily publications, have been very noticeable.
 There is now a change in the old paper; and this seems to have come about within the past few weeks-since the convening of the Constitutional Convention. Today 1t is the most en- tarprising and hustling paper the State has. In all it's many departments this spirit Is manifested. The work it has done for its readers in giving full and complete reports of the Constitutional Convention is especially worthy of commendetion, and the people appre- ciate 1t. Now. instead of passable report of a convention or other gather ing in it's city Gas used to be the caseN 1t gives every particle of news about such gathering as is possible to obtain which win interest it's readers. Its size is larger In fact, it regulates the size of an edition to accommodate the news which is to be given. There Is no more up-to-date paper in the South now than The Advertiser, and the whole State appreciates 1t.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28

form in which 1t might be brought about than a reduction of representa- ton, but a menacing power would oyer. shadow the situation, and might in the future declare that the State had net a republican form of government, and proceed to 'guarantee' by such correc? ? tive legislation as tt might deem neses- sary. even to the extent of overthrow ing for the time being the State gov- ernment or officials electeI under void suffrage provisions. He questions the wisdom of an educational qualification for the reason that 1t would disquality many whom they are pledged not to touch. He favo s a plan that wlere .L person has no property 'he may qual- fly himself by a certain contribution yearly to a great public purpose, or else he must pay taxes on small amount of property, having of course the requisite qualifications as to age, residence, etc."
 He admits that under the ouali' a- tions proposed a good m my negroes could vote, but there probably would not be enough even if badly disposed to exercise evil control. In conclusion he says:
 'tBesides. I do not believe that 1t is for the good of either race, that the negro race should be shut out from all hope, and that every individual of the race, no matter what his good char- acter, intelligence and interest in the community. shall be forever debarred from qualifying himself to vote, h government which taxes him, punishes him, regulates all his concerns. and, In case of need would demand of him to give his life on it's defense."
 This is wise handling of great prob- lem. Coming from a Southern Dem ocrat it has a special significance and ought to have special weight. But 1t is par ticularly gratifying as showing the broad and just views that are coming to be entertained by those in the South who in the ultimate settlement of this question must be the arbiterS.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28
SheriRs Sale.

Under and by virtue of an order of sale placed In my hands from the Circuit Court of Montgomery County Alabama
 aSainst Nelson Lee and in favor of Jack ThOrington, will proceed to sell sen, on M3ne fhs Grtesian Basin. in the City of MontgCm- public tn auftion iSS Ssst snFhs hishest n,sS ,ast bidder, for cash. the following described @ real estate as the property of of Nelson Lee. to wit: The undivided aait interest in N. # of part of lot No, Zs or Barker's survey of Pollard Tract, in the City of Montgomery. Ala, bounded ana JS corner lot 2S and fronting 61 feet on Day Street and running back 3Sl feet @ also ;o.s a right-of-way in and over the lot or land described commencing at s. E. corner of lot 2S. thence west along southern boun- dery of said lot to and along the north side of Day Street Il feet, thence running back of even width to N. lz of said lot, an of said property being in the City of Montgomery, Montgomery County, and fS-st w R WALLER. sherin.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28
GOOD ROADS CONVENTION.
An Address Was Made by Governor
 Beckham of Kentucky.

Louisville, Ky. June H.-The first Ken lucky State Good Roads Convention be- gan here today and will continue through tomorrow. Three sessions were held to- day, one for temporary organization. Al the afternoon session addresses were made by Governor Beckham. W. H Moore, President of the National Good Roads Association. and others.
 At night the feature was an address by M. O. Eldridge, Assistant Director in the office of Public Road Inquiries. Depart mont of Agriculture, Washington. Sew eral hundred delegates are attending from ali over the State Great interest was taken by the visitors in the section of good road just completed in the eastern part of the city by the experts on the good roads train. Here it was that the afternoon session was held. The speak CTS aroused great enthusiasm in behalf of good roads and the Chicago train will be sent to other sections of the State to give further practical demonstrations.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28

The aptitude which some of the big newspapers show for sensationalism. and the ease with which they fall into congregations was shown by The At- lanta News last Monday afternoon. In its headlines of the great storm in Virginia it stated that the loss of life would be nearly 1000, and that the Troperty loss would exceed one billion of dollars. The actual loss of-llfe will probably be little over 1.OO0.and the property loss will show a much greater falling off from the fguSes of The Newss
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28
Has Set a Good Example.
Birmingham News.

bIFINIIB BIIdIH 4NGWs.
 The fusion plan has been thoroughly tested by the Democratic party during the past six or seven years and 1t has brought disastrous failure to the De- mocracy. It Is true that in some local campaigns Democrats have been elect ed to office who but for fusion for special purposes would have been de- feated. but where this has proven sue cessful in few local instances it has resulted in great harm and injury to the party when undertaken on a broader scale. It Is safe to predict that there will be no fusion in the next Presidential campaign. Kansas has set good example in this matter and one which other Western States where the fusion idea has been dominant should. and doubtless will. follow.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28
Not Confused.
Mobile Register.

We beg to assure The Montgomery Advertiser we have not confused the Convention of 1900 and that of this year in the matter of Democratic pledges as to the franchise. We regard the action of the Convention of 1900 as the precedent and even the cause of the action of the subsequent Conyen- ton. The party became pledged in 1900 The second Convention make the b'cdge more emphatic;s but we believe would not have done so but for the prior ac- ton of the party.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28
HuNrsvILLE's TEMPERATURE.

During the last few days there has
 been some gossip about moving the Constitutional Convention to Hunts vile, in order to get rid of the torrio weather here. There has been no for mai proposition of the kind made to the Convention, and it is not likely there wifi be because the hot wave Mont
 gom is enduring is general all over the country. It has been worse in enects III
 Chicago, New York and other Nortn- ern cities than here in the extreme South.
 To those who have been advocating a change to Huntsville the following clipping from The Huntsville Mercury of Wednesday will be of value:
 "The past five days have been record bre akers in the hot weather line" said a prominent citizen. 'I have been unable to SIeep until the small hours of the niSht' and I'm afraid we can't call HuntsvliIe a Summer resort any longer. Last night
 couldn't sleep owing to the neat, go uS, cided to take a stroll over the deserted streets Now, if 1 was the least bit su- perstitious, I would say that have seen ghosts. On every street would see some white clad figure sitting in the windows looking like phantoms in the stiffness or midnight. Upon closer investigation the ghosts were found to be some poor mor- tai whose surroundings were as hot as mine This Is the hottest spell we nave ever had in the recollection of the oldest inhabitants"
 We don't believe the situation has been near So bad here at night as our contemporary describes there. We usu- ally enjoy cooling breezes from the south or southwest during much of the time fer sleep. We are about the streets constantly at late hours of the night, and we have seen none of the ghost-like figures The Mercury de- scribes.
 Our candid opinion Is that Montgom- cry Is just as cool place for the Convention as any 1t could find within the bounds of the State. Fur thermore we believe that the Hall of the House at the Capitol is the most comfortable interior for the use of the Convention that can be found in the whole State. Located on a high hill, with abundant open space on all sides, and plenty of electric fans within. the House is better than any other place the Convention can find anywhere in Alabama.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28

There is one thing about these pro- fessional faith healers that is highly typical of their style; and that is their peculiar faculty for making the busi- ness profitable. Recently in Chicago a pr. Emma Warne sent in a bill for slOO. .O00 against the estate of a mill lionaire. her reason for such large bill being that her method of treatment was "very exhausting." The fact that the patient was also exhausted and had % be buried is probably regarded by her as an additional evidence of her powers.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28

The Dallas Southern Mercury in- forms us that "McLaurin may be lost in the coming storm. but he is yet the warning petrel perched upon the rig ging of the old Democratic ship" The spectacle of a petrel perched on a ships rigging and directing the marin CTS how to steer their vessel would be edifying to the sailors. It would also be a lesson in natural history
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28

Public sentiment throughout the country Is fast crystalizing on the pro- position that Pennsylvania is the worst governed State in the Union, and that Philadelphia is the worst governed city in Pennsylvania. That is raising the city to the highest pinnacle of undesir- able notoriety.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28

Mrs. Nation declares she is glad to be rid of her husband because "he bothered her and God" Leaving out the irreverent aspect of her declara- ton, we have little doubt that the hus- band was the most grievously bothered of any one in the combination.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28
One Cent Honesty.
CuIIman Gazette.

Cullman Gazette.
 A fellow in Ohio bought pencil from a Canadian and learning after wards that the tariff duty of 1 cent had not been paid on it sent copper to the United States Treasury to be placed to the credit of what they call the conscience fund" Any body could be honest when only cent is involved. In fact there are really too many peo- pie in this country with Cooper conscience"
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28
Our Own Problem.
Attalla Mirror.

Attalla Mirror.
 The Boston Globe in a vicious and unjust attack upon the South, says the South has big problems on her hands. This may be true. but the South is no problem to be solved by the North, and why Northern papers take our troubles upon their shoulders we are unable to surmise, unless 1t is because they are jealous or fools for the want of the slightest smidgen of sense.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28
Getting Too Bad.

EnsIey Herald.
 We have heard before of newspapers appropriating news items from their contemporaries without giving credit that is perhaps, pardonable-but when 1t comes to stealing part of a contem- porary's heading and publishing 1t in their own paper as news matter 1t sur passes any newspaper thieving we have ever seen.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28
Wouldn't Touch Brains.

DOtHan SlLLingS.
 The number of small boys with pis- tols attracted the eye of the edito" at the picnic at Woods Mil last week. We first thought that some Of them would blow their brains out but sec ond thought struck us-they might shoot a hole through their heads and not touch a sign of brain.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28
The Tacoma (wash.) sun-Democrat

The Tacoma (Wash.) Sun-Democrat says:
 From the looks of the editorial pages of the weekly papers one would come to the conclusion that all of the editors were in Buffalo.
 Such double entendre is cruel, for our contemporary doesn't say whether it finds the weekly papers better or worse than usual.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28

The report that a man who went to Memphis with $1,7OO in his pockets has disappeared is only surprising in one pal,ticuIar. The wonder is that a man shcalld venture on visit to Memphis with that amount of money on his per- son.,