davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The age-herald., 1901-05-29
ALABAMA CONVENTION.
', tba Chattanoopa News.

From the Chattanooga News
 The Alabama Constitutional convention has adopted a resolution unanimously pledging itself to keep the pledges of the party and submit any constitution framed to the people for ratification. The casual reader may not catch the full meaning of this resolution. Under act of the Leg islature providing for the convention it is stipulated that the new Constitution shall be submitted to the people before it becomes operative. It is favorite plan with the Legislature in matters of this kind to presume to dictate a constitu- tional convention, prescribing the number of days It shall sit and what it shall do with the new Constitution after 1t has been framed. Every lawyer knows that an act of the Legislature providing that a new Constitution shall be submitted to the popular vote Is not worth 'the paper upon which 1t is printed; that a Constitu- tional convention is supreme and can do as it pleases Notwithstanding the clause in the act of the Legislature, the Ala bama convention has the power to frame Constitution and refuse to submit 1t to vote of the people of that State. The number of days the convention shall sit Is sometimes provided in Legislative en- actments. All such provisions are of no effect further than to play on the ig- norant vote. A Constitutional convention is the beginning of government. and 1t is therefore supreme. By adopting the reso- lution, the Alabama convention recognized that the Legislative provision that the Constitution should be submitted to the popular vote, is of noseffect. However, the convention pledges itself in this reso- lution to submit it's work to the people.
The age-herald., 1901-05-29
THE ONLY DAILY HEwspApEs IN ALAsAmI
No Oil in Sioht.
The Mobile Item is engaged in count ing South Alabama chickens befor, they are matched. when 1t says:

The Mobile Item is engaged in count ing South Alabama chickens before they are matched, when it says:
 The finding of oil in such large quanti- ties within the past few months is apt to revolutionize the manner of fueling en- zines throughout this country Already, we understand, concerns accustomed to using large quantities of coal are refus- ing to renew contracts for that fuel. an- ticipating that oil will soon be made to take its place. Coal is said to be much more expensive than oil, while the latter can be used to much greater advantage because 1t can be handled with so much less labor. This state of affairs will cre- ate a considerable slump in property values in the north Alabama district at no far distant day and a consequent ap- preciation in the price of property in the locality of the southern oil fields There Is now a great probability that oil will be found in paying quantities in the coun- ties of choctaw. Washington and even Mobile, and If such a thing should hap pen south Alabama property. which has heretofore been considered almost value less, will command a fancy price. The prospects, are that boring for oil in this section of the State will be commenced at an early day. and while south Ala bama becomes the leader by the discov- cry of so much oil. north Alabama will. be approximately benefited. Many ex- periments have been made with oil as fuel, and the era for the rise of oil and fall of coal is upon us.
 It is not upon us to any alarming extent. Iron and steel will continue to be heated by coal; grates will continue to be fed from Alabama mines instead of Alabama wells, and altogether there is no more prospect of fall in coap than there was before the first gusher began to gush. As to oil in Choctaw, Washington and Mobile Counties, it is best to await the erection of the first derrick at least. Until the first derrick is upon Alabama soil the fall in coal" certainly will not be 'in our midst" There may be derrick in the midst of South Alabama at some time in the future, but at present South Alabama oil operations and development are hot air
The age-herald., 1901-05-29
A Plenty of Weather.

We had plenty more of weather yester- day. It is become tiresome-not the eternal subject of the weather. which was discussed by Adam, Moses, Homer, Plato, Socrates, Cicero, Cato and all the great ones, down to William Mckinley, but the extraordinary quality of the weather which has been making everybody in this valley miserable since last Friday. Night before last people had to sleep under double blankets, if they slept at all, and yesterday morning fires were lighted in private houses and kept burning through out the day.
 The sky was overcast by dull. brownish- grey clouds that looked like snow-clouds At o'clock in the afternoon light rain began falling and 1t fell intermittently throughout the remainder of the day. At o'clock it looked like heavy fog, turned to rain, and drifted down in gossamer sheets of cold, penetrating wet. The tenn perature remained low, and practically the entire population wore winter gar- ments. The Oldest Inhabitant gives 1t up He never before experienced any weather nearly approaching the present spell in coldness and penetrating dampness
The age-herald., 1901-05-29
Mir. Holt Gone to Texas.

Allen M. Holt, the highly esteemed fore man of The Age-Heralds compoeing rooms, left Birmingham yesterday for Northwestern Texas whither he goes to attend at the bedside of his venerable father. who is, it Is feared, fatally H. The elder MT. Holt's advanced age counts heavily against him, and 1t would seem as if the son had gone to take the last fare- we'll of the honored father.
 MT. Holts co-workers in all the depart ments of The Age-Herald hope that he will find his father greatly improved in health, and that the aged sufferer may be long preserved to enjoy the sunset of well-spent life; and they take opportunity of MT. Allen Holt's absence to express their great esteem and affectionate friendship for him, whom they regard as one of the best, truest and most considerate of all newspaper foremen: one who is thor oughly accomplished and who never in any circumstances forgets that he is gen. tleman. They feel that Jefferson county has no better citizen than Allen Holt.
The age-herald., 1901-05-29
Prosperous TalIadega.

'I have returned from a visit to my old home. Talladega-my first visit there In eighteen months-and I was delighted to see many marked evidences of develop ment and improvement in that historic and most excellent little city, said Julian Bingham, Collector of Internal Revenue, yesterday.
 They now have three cotton factories in Talladega, together with numerous other industries, all of which are prosper ing, and there Is a general air of pros- perity and thrift about the place. Talla- dega has caught step in the march of progress. and it's growth is assured. I am glad of it-everybody who ever visited Talladega will be glad of it's prosperity, for there is not in the South a more charming town or more delightful people,
The age-herald., 1901-05-29
LITTLE GIRLS GIFT.
From the watchman.

From the Watchman.
 One evening toward the close. of the war, while Union soldiers lay in camp on hillside near the Staunton River, in Virginia, the cry of 'rHaitI Who goes there?" from a sentry started every lounger to his feet, and several of the more curious ran to the guard to find out what the trouble was. A minute la- ter all knew that the night visitor who had been challenged was no enemy. A little girl about 10 years of age, holding a white kitten in her ans, came forward into the light of the fires conducted by two soldiers, who had. told the sentry to pass her in, and who looked as proud as if they were escorting a queen. The whole regiment gathered, including the colonel himself to look at the child and hear her tell her story. A very short story 1t was-scarcely a paragraph-but there was matter enough in 1t for a full chapter. She lived near by, with her fa- ther, who was sick and poor. and they were Northerners, she said, and Union folks Her mother was dead, and her brother had been Killed while fighting in the Federal army. She wanted to give something" and. when the Union soldiers came, she thought she would bring her pet kitten and present 1t to the colonel.
 The colonel took the little girl in his arms and kissed her, and said he was not a bit ashamed of his weakness. He accepted the kitten with thanks. and It's innocent donor was gallantly escorted to her humble home, loaded with generous contributions.
 The white kitten was adopted by the regiment, but continued to be the prop erty and the special pet of the colonel. and when the war was over he took 1t home with him. Like the white lamb that stayed and fed with the victor after the battle of Antietam, the little creature during its short but stirring army life, was daily inspiration to better feelings and thought in the presence of all that is worst-a living flag of truce cleaning among the thunder clouds of human pas sion.
The age-herald., 1901-05-29
Empire by One Majority.

The decisions of the Supreme Court in the insular cases are bewildering. The new possessions are declared to be parts of the United States for some purposes, not for others. They are do- mestic in some senses, not in others The line is drawn at the tariff. The trusts win out.
 The decisions turn on the tariff is- sue, for that was the essential subject in dispute. Justice White, Demo crat appointed by President Cleveland, from the sugar growing State of Louis lana, turned the scale. If he had agreed with Chief Justice Fuller and Justice Peckham, both Democrats, and with Justices Harlan and Brewer, both Re. publicans, the discriminating duty levied on Porto Rican goods in the Downes case, would have been held unconstitutional, because the goods came from part of the United States, and duties throughout the United States must be uniform and equal. But Justice White went with Justices Me Kenna, Shiras and the other Republi- cans who drew line that would pro- tect the trusts and safeguard the sacred Mckinley -Dingley tariff, even to the crossing of "t" and the dotting of an 'i," to use the classical language of the great and good MT. Hanna in that connection.
 In order to do this-in order to save the tariff after the court had declared Porto Rico a possession and part of this country, it was necessary to re- verse in the most direct and distinct manner a decision of the court ren- dered by Chief Justice Marshall. That decision had stood unquestioned down to the present time, and it would still stand unquestioned if Justice White had not accepted the administration or sugar view of the case.
 Whether accidentally or not, this great court always in great cases takes the side of great capital. It did this in the Dred Scott case. which. as Jus tice Brown states, was overruled by public sentiment and war. It took the side of capital in the greenback case. So it did in the income tax. case, and
The age-herald., 1901-05-29
Eleventh Annual Reunion.

The survivors of the noblest, most devoted and most unselfish army in the worlds history were welcomed to Memphis yesterday, and the festivities of the occasion were handsomely be- gun. A floral parade and a display of fireworks entertained the visitors out of doors. Indoors the first session of the Veterans was held, and the Mayor and Bishop Caller and Senator Hurley and Gen. A. P. Stewart delivered ad- dresses of welcome. General Gordon was heard in response, and Confeder- ate Hall, erected for the reunion, was accepted and formally dedicated. This hall has seating capacity of 15,00O, and every seat was filled yesterday The vast interior is full of colors dear to the hearts of ex-Confederates, and upon the platform are portraits of Gen. Frank Cheatham, Gen. N. B. Forrest, Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis and Stonewall Jackson.
 Memphis deserves great credit on account of it's efforts to receive and entertain the Veterans in befitting manner. The city has done nobly, and it is believed the plans formed for the comfort and convenience of all visitors has never been surpassed in the his tory of these reunions. That city is to- day holding with hospitable intent thousands and tens of thousands of visitors from every part of the States, that filled the Confederate army with men of valor, and supported them through four years of trial and blood and suffering. All are welcomed by the warm-hearted Memphians as heartily as they welcome the men who followed their own Forrest or Cheat ham.
 While the occasions are largely rem iniscent, yet the delegates will discuss several important questions, such as homes for surviving veterans, the more needed as the years go on; the history of the war without sectional bias, the erection of a monument to the mem ory of Jefferson Davis, and other sub iects of deeD interest tO evarv South. ern man. These questions will be dis cussed while the lighter events con nected with public entertainment are carried on.
The age-herald., 1901-05-29
SOUTH CAROLINA CENTER
 OF POLITICAL INTEREST

Washington, May 2s.-(Specia1.) )-The resignations of Senators McLaurin and Tillman of South Carolina have centered the attention of Washington politicians
 upon South Carolina, and there has
 been no little interest in the political sit-
 uation there The struggle will now as-
 sume a national phase and be watched with the closest attention. Senator Till man, ever since he overthrow the old
 political oligarchy in South Carolina, has been a national character and in the Senate his vitriolic pitchforking has com manded the greatest interest. Senator McLaurin is not as strong an individuals
 ty as Tillman. He lacks the latter's roughness and gift of gab, yet he has shown that he is not without political courage and would now seem better able to take care of himself in the rough and tumble struggle with Tillman than his best friends had supposed. He has much more natural refinement and the advan- tage of a university education. Tillman Is 54. or B years older than McLaurin.
 The fight that Senator McLaurin had
 inaugurated for reelection to the Sen
 dtc ndS DeeH TeBdTueQ SHTtWu pOlltl-
 cal observers as a forlorn hope, and it is not believed that McLaurin has really
 hoped to win against Tillman, and on
 platform that differed so radically from present Democratic standards In break ing into the campaign in which McLaurin was seeking the support of Democrats at the primaries, Tillman has violated the traditions. as he was not candidate,
 but he thought he could easily annihilate
 MT. McLaurin. Hence the joint debate
 winch resulted in the resignation of each Senator .. MT. McLaurin's unexpected vfciousness in replying to Tillman's brutal and rough campaign tactics, his fighting Tillman with his own weapons and finally taunt- ing him into resigning are regarded as excellent politics from the McLaurin standpoint. McLaurin's term would have naturally expired March 4, 1863, while Tillman on March last was sworn in for another six year term. Hence In resign ing In order to appeal to the people Till man risks everything. McLaurin's resig- nation Is comparatively little risk and gives him an advantage in the campaign
 It shows his sincerity. Tillman has risk ed everything ito prove that he is boss of the South Carolina Democracy, to show that if McLaurin is regarded by the South Carolina Democrats as Democrat, then,
The age-herald., 1901-05-29
THE KING TRIAL.
The Defendant Testifies in His Own
 Behalf.

Mobile, May 2S.-Captain Cyril W. King was on the stand in the United States district court today in his own defense against the charge of accepting a bribe from Contractor Hobson. His testimony was in effect that Hobson was greatly behind in his contract work at Fort Mor- gan and unless helped would fail King and Hobson calculated that the margin of a loss was between 5000 and sS000, and that if King would give Hobson his personal services in helping him com plete the contract Hobson would give him 5000, or one-half the minimum amount at stake King performed numerous services for Hobson and believed he fairly earned the money paid him by Hobson
The age-herald., 1901-05-29
PIedued to a Poll Tax.

When the Democratic party pledged itself that not single white person should be disfranchised by the consti- tutional convention, it unwittingly ac- cepted and endorsed the poll-tax pro- vision, for no other provision will leave all white persons untouched-not one.
 Let us see what the other plans are. There is Senator Morgans, which pro- vides for voting by the grace of board of registrars. A board of that nature can in a hot fight or from personal mo- tives shut out white persons ad lib- itum, for the very essence of the plan gives the board arbitrary power. Only those can vote, under this plan, that the registrars will register.
 The understanding plan of Missis- sippi shuts out all who cannot correct ly construe any section of the State Constitution. If honestly and thor oughly enforced. this would leave the State without single voter. The plan invites fraud on it's very face. It in- vites discrimination and partiality in a vital feature of government. It is wholly bad, and it would disfranchise thousands of whites.
 The grandfather" clause would also shut out many whites, for all white voters are not sons or grandsons of soldiers by long shot. It involves also an educational or property qualifi- cation, and in order to avoid these two qualifications it insults the illiterate and poverty-stricken, and they have too much pride to accept it's terms. Thus very many whites are disfran- chised. Some would be in any turn of it.
 A poll-tax provision disfranchises no one. All can vote who pay, say two years in advance, poll tax. If they do not pay this minimum tax towards the support of the State, they cannot vote, and should not be permitted to vote. They have disfranchised them selves. The constitution permits them to vote on very just and patriotic con dition. Their own neglect of plain and easy duty. stands in their way. They can vote whenever they contrib. ute a small sum towards the support
The age-herald., 1901-05-29
The Other Side of the question.

'S OefSi .0tQC Oi hiS
 Said student of international law last night:
 T may be like the twelfth juror who thought the other eleven that didn't agree with him unwise, not to say foolish but have never seen quite clearly how there could be any mature opinion that the constitution follows the flag There are some five hundred American eonsulates and consular agencies throughout the world and every one of them Is nving' practical. organic proof that the consti- tuition does not follow the flag.
 "In non-Christian countries consuls arc virtually given power over life and death' as the phrase goes. The consul is judge and jury alike in the trial of any one or his countrymen brought before him charged with crime. And in all countries the consuls are the sole judges of the guilt or Innocence of their countrymen brought before them charged with ofrense against the American law committed uTl- der the American flag on the high seas.
 "The constitution guarantees the right of trial by jury to every one and it guar dHtcSS iLS luilliibliS lOiCC ol bhoN "'ts S- habeas crpus wrung from the English despot who reigned over our ancestors many centuries ago. In American con- sulates there is no trial by jury and the writ of habeas corpus does not run. Yet an American consulate is as completely American territory as is the government building in Birmingham You perceive the point: the flag waves there proudly, but the constitution Is without force or effect. That is true in much more strik- ing degree and in vastly more dignity as regards an American embassy or legation. No person connected with the American diplomatic service abroad Is ever subject to arrest for any offense whatever. The same is true of foreign diplomatic off, cers in the United States. The British eni- bassy in Washington is just as thorough ly British territory as is the palace of Parliament at Westminster"
The age-herald., 1901-05-29

he, Tillman, Is not. Tillman's foolhardi- ness in permitting himself to be taunted into resigning his seat can not be of any possible benefit to him, should he win. except in showing that he is stin boss of the South Carolina Democrats and in gratifying him in triumphing over Mo- Laurin, whose election to the Senate was not originally pleasing to Tillman. Mo- Laurin would have been defeated without TIllman's resignation, and now that there is to be fight for two senatorships with a large field of candidates, sympathy has been created for McLaurin, and Tillman has become the target for attacks on the record of his dominant wing of the South Carolina Democracy, in it's administration of the dispensary system and general management of State affairs.
 With the dispensary machinery, with the prestige that comes from all of the State offices and with his attitude as the defender of Democratic doctrine, Tillman is probably too strong to be overcome There is no question: whatever, that the better element of South Carolina Oemoc- racy, of the educated ane refined people who have been ashamed to have their State represented by a man whose rough ne;s in debate and surpasslng careless ness of language has attracted rational attention, that has not been of the ad- miring kind, will support Tillman. He will also have the support of the progress sive business interests and of the men who agree with him and are, at heart Republicans, but have not declared them prominence of the negro question. It is difficult to see how McLaurin can win, but that he will make better fight than Tillman expects and that the debate which begins in the fall and Is to be held in every one of the forty counties in the State will show him to be better equipped to argue with Tillman, is the opinion of those well-informed on the South Caro- lina political conditions. However, the time does not seem ripe for Tillmans overthrow, thought the machine of which tofore and the management of the State liquor dispensaries is open to serious criticism, many charges having been made of misappropriation of revenue, and Tillman will have to suffer for the actions of his followers. though on one charges him with any personal responsibility for any of the misconduct of his partisans in office.
The age-herald., 1901-05-29
HANNA MISSED GREAT CHANCE

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
 There was a time when Mark Hanna might have kept me out of Cleveland. . remarked Mayor Johnson yesterday. Tt was when I was negotiating for the pur- chase of street railroad in this city and had to run up from Indianapolis pretty often. I was riding on a pass. If Mark had only known it he might have had that pass revoked. He could have kept me out of Cleveland. for, by love. I couldn't have pair my fare at that time"
The age-herald., 1901-05-29
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 Every spring I ever saw was either late or early.
 Most every man you meet is either fatter or thinner than he can afford to be.
 How can any woman who wears a straight-front corset have her heart in the right place?
 Having soft pillows that are too nice to use has probably broken up more homes than whisky.
 The two most uncomfortable people in the world to have around are the man who always tells the truth and the man who never does.
The age-herald., 1901-05-29
SKELETON FOUND
While Making Excavation for House.
 It's Presence Mystery.

Selma, May 2s.-(special.) .)-workmen while excavating in the rear of Peacock s iron works unearthed a skeleton. and now the authorities are seeking some explana- ton as to how came the bones there. From all appearances they had been in the ground perhaps quarter of cen- tury, but there Is no way to account for them being buried in the locality in which they were found.
 There are some who recall that many years ago the section of the city in the rear of where Peacock's shop now stands was noted for its lawlessness. There were
The age-herald., 1901-05-29

of the State. They are never therefore disfranchised. They may be hindered by their own neglect-that is all.
 If the Democratic party intends to keep its pledge 1t will give us a straight out-and-out poll tax provision as preliminary condition of the fran chise privilege, supporting it with a good primary election law which all desire outside the ranks of professional politicians.