davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28
USE OF VOTING MACHINES.

Voting by machinery is such wide departure from usage and established custom that it is likely to be looked on as a device of the iconoclasts. No one knows, perhaps, when voting began,
 but some form of thus expressing a choice must be almost as old as hu- manity. We have been so long accus- toned to depositing a written or print ed ballot in a box, or handing 1t to an inspector, that most men will scout the idea of machine-voting
 The great tendency of modern prog
 ress is towards having machines do the work of human hands, and it is we'll known that some of the most success ful of our labor-saving devices were
 looked on before their invention as impossible Two typical modern in stances are within the memory of the living. When it was proposed to con- struct machine which would. take the place of the needle and the human hand in making seams, unbelief was practically universal; yet we Fall know that a sewing machine does the work faster and better than the most skill
 full tailor or seamstress can do. It has been but a few years since the idea of setting type by machines was laughed at, yet in all daily newspaper ofhcesr as well as in many other printing es- tablishments, the machine is doing it's work with a speed and accuracy tAat
 no human fingers can equal.
 And so of voting. If voting machines
 had only been talked of and written
 about, we might hesitate before giv- ing them our unqualified endorsement | but they have passed the experiment
 tai stage and have proven thoroughly
 successful. At the elections held in the
 State of New York last year, 442 of
 these machines were used, and we ap-
 pend few expressions from the man. agers of elections. or from municipal
 officers, to show both how the system
 works and what is thought of it where
 1t has been fairly tested. The "entire
 Town Board" of Richfield united in
 certifying:
 Our first election with the voting ma, 1 chimes was very successful and satisfac- | tory. It's operation is very simple. Hit. | crate and blind men voted mixed ballots l without assistance. The saving effected | by their will more than pay for the | two machines in four years.
 The Town Clerk of Albion said: The voting machines used in the five election districts last Tues lay gave the utmost satisfaction to the electors regis. tering the votes for each candidate and the toal vote without any error what ever. The result was known in live min utes.
 And the "entire Town Board" of
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28

they expect to be benefited by 1t. Il IS pernicious evil that should be pro- vided against by the Convention. The sentiment of our people is overwhelm- ingly in favor of such action. The Free Pass System" is one means by which the gigantic railroad corpora tions corrupt and debauch individuals and control legislation. It is a menace to the State and should be abolished. If officials and legislators want to ride on the trains let them buy ticket like other people. As 1t is they as rule accept free passs'' and then the State pay them mileage. We do not believe that every man that rides on a free pass would let it swerve him from the path of duty, but every man who uses free pass places him. self under obligation to the railroads and subjects himself to a temptation which Adam nature makes it hard for him to resist. Let the Convention abolish the infamous system and the 'soulless" corporations will be bereft of one strong and efficient means by which they dominate law making bodies to the detriment of the people.
 
 action on the Free Pass system" and smashes this menacing practice 1t will turn thousands of voters in this part of the State against ratification. The people are becoming aroused to the evil of 1t and are insisting on relief at the hands of the Convention.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28
A Boomerang Argument.

Ft. Payne Journal.
 The Montgomery Journal is like to occupy the position of au engineer hoist with his own petard. It says
 But seriously, and badinage aside, If d pocket full of free passes doesn't influence the editor of The Progress and bias his judgment in favor of rail- roads. why should it bias or intluend the judgment of the legislator or Statu or county official? It doesn't appear that the editor of The Progress can be influenced by a free pass, or a pocket full of free passes, worth perhaps to him, hundreds of dollars, then why should member of the legislature be influenced by pass worth to him five or ten dollars"
 The Journal must know. as every newspaper does, that the editors and railroads simply swap work. The editors advertise for the railroads and the railroads haul the editors. If the Journal insists that there is any sim ilarity between the passes given to editors and those given to public of ficials. it must admit the inevitable conclusion that since the railroads ex- pect a return in kind from the editors they also expect a return in kind from the officials. This is the exact point that the anti-free- pass agitators are tryinS to make. The Journal, instead of making a telling argument for its position Is only furnishing ammunition to the enemy. For all it's .astuteness The Journal has stubbed it's toe agairst a very obvious stone in its path,
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28
Danger of An Outrage.

Mobile Item.
 The efforts of The Montgomery Ad- vertiser in securing an expression or the people on the issuing of free passes to public officers is a commendahle en- terprise and will be appreciated by the people of the State.
 Whether the Convention will consider itself bound to be influenced by the expressed will of the people remains to be demonstrated when the subject comes before II in the regular ordef or business. 1t seems to be the opinion of many that the Convention Wlll ignore the peoples will, and commit the high handed outrage of entire4y disregarding their expressed wishes. But we believe the convention Is com posed of different material, that the desire to uphold the official honesty and integrity of the State, and the recognition of the demands Of the people will boldly appear in the final acton of that body upon every ordl- nance that 1t may embody. The free pass evil cannot be lightly handled. 1t is an evil publicly recognized as such even by some of it's supporters. and we do not believe the convention Will pass over it without prescribing a remedy. It cannot afford to drop It now that IL mas tdheH IL up'
 The Mobile Register. while 1t op- poses the acceptance of passes to public officers. says the official pass matter was mot included in the call for the convention" True. and there are many other important matters that were not specifically mentioned ip the call. But the convention in its wis dom has seen the necessity of taking up these matters. and it cannot now let them pass without provision. There is no question that many votes cast by members during the present infor- nal discussion of the pass system which may be construed as voting to continue the system are really cast to prevent, the sandwiching in of sec ion where it does not properly be- long and that such votes may finally be cast in favor of 8 stringent anti pass law.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28
Condemned by Right-Thinking
 People.
Evergreen Courant.

Evergreen Courant.
 The Constitutional Convention by a decisive vote reS0sed to put a penalty upon the use of free railroad passes by public officials. The use of passes. especially by legislators and judicial officers. is justly condemned by right thinking people and should be stopped. Legislators draw mileage at the rate of 10 cents a mile, in addition to their per diem, many of them having free pass, which to say the least Is dishonest, and the convention should have put a stop to 1t. There is no hope that any future legislature will ever pass law to take passes out of their own pockets, judging from past records. Every proposition heretofore presented in the legislature on the pass evil has been defeated. There are some legislators who will not accept a pass If rendered them; there are others will not he in huenced by them. but these are hope lessly in the minority
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28
LETTERS TO
 THE EDITOR.
LIMIT FOR COUNTY RESIDENCE
Is Too Long and Will Work Harm
 Ozark, Ala, July 26. 1901.

Is Too Long and Will Work Harm.
 Ozark. Ala, July 26. 1901. Editor The Advertiser:
 Judge Coleman and his Committee seem to desire to allow every white man to vote. and this is very com mendable. Mir Beddow and his col leagues looked after the foreigners all right, but no delegate has arisen to look after the large number of minis ters, teachers, laborers, business men and others. who will move from coun- ty to county, and hence be disfran- chised every election year. Section of the Suffrage Article, as passed, will actually disfranchise from 5000 to l,eVO white men at every election. The re- quirement of two years in the county is much worse. Many speeches have been made by those who favor the ma jority report of the Committee Tn which they declare that no white man shall be disfranchised. and at the same time say that this is their pledge to the people If 50. then I implore them to carry it out in every detail. It Is poor policy to have a grandfather clause" and then nulify 1t to large extent In another clause. Surely tnis Section 2 was passed hastily and will be reconsidered on more thoughtful re- flection. I am a son of Confederate soldier who fought and bled on the battlefield. and I appreciate the grandfather clause" but I cannot stand idly by and see many of my fel- lowmen and perhaps myself disfran- chised without showing which side l am on. I appeal to the Suffrage Com mittee first, and to the other members of the Convention next, to carry out their pledges to all the people.
 Southern Democrat.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28
Should be Stopped.

Jackson South Alabamian.
 We are opposed to the use of free railroad passes by judicial, executive and legislative officers of our State and counties.A While these passes may not be given or accepted in the way of bribes. they are gwen with the hope of gain to the railroads issuing them. and the officers receiving them place themselves under obligations to the railroad companies to favor them in whatever they may want. If the officer receiving a pass is legislative officer he is hamp@red whenever a railroad bill Is pending before the leg islature. If he is a judicial officer and the railroad has a case pending in his court he is expected to lean to the railroad company. If ha is an execu- tive officer, he may be slow to execute or have executed the law when calcu- lated to work injury to the railroad.
 It Is an evil practice and should be stopped, either by legislation or by ''relegating to the shades of private life" every man who is known to have used a railroad pass while serving as an officer. Every man with a thimble full of brains knows that the railroad officials have a selfish motive in giving i ee passes to officers. Why not give them to private citizens? The reason is plain. The private citizen is not in a position to return the favor. Human nature is the same the world over. and whenever an officer says that he is not hampered by accepting a free pass from a railroad, with whose interest he must deal, he is simply not careful of what he says
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28
Unwise Law Makers.

Prattvflle Progress.
 The Convention has taken a good portion of its time for the past week or two in considering partially the granting of free passes to State and County officials. While the sentiment in the Convention changed somewhat in the course of few hours debate, yet there appears to be a majority in favor of letting the present imperative clause stand in the new Constitution. There Is no doubt but that if 1t is a good thing to have it in the Constitution of the State 1t should be made effective and self executive. That the present clause is dead letter on the law books of the State could not be more forctbly put than to say that 1t is a fact. as We are informed, that quite, or nearly all, the judges in the State of Alabama have free passes over all the railroads in their territory. We are among the number of the citizens of this state who believe that Alabama has as high type of jurist as any State in the Union, and that they would be as far from corruption in office as any jurists in the United States, but it is certainly unwise in our law makers to permit such officials to be tempted, to open the door to influence against the interest of all the people by allowing railroads to issue, without limit. free passes. It is to be hoped that this evil will yet be remedied by placing the proper restrictions in the organic law of the State. If it is necessary to raise the salary of the judges of the State, we think it would be infinitely better to do 1t than to let them feel compelled to ask and receive passes on railroads in which they have no in- tereSt.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28
A Reflection on the Honor.

Bessemer Weekly.
 While We do not think that giving free passes to members of the Legis- lature, to various officials judges, etc, should be considered a bribe, or that 1t would command their official favors, and thus do hurt to the State and pub lie, yet We believe that it is practice that should be more honored in the breach than in the observance. We think that it is reflection on the honor and integrity of an official or legislator to solicit or to receive annual passes over any line of road. We do not say that in return they would favor action hurtful to their constituents, but it would leave them too much open to suspicion.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28
The People Aroused.

Ahbeville Times.
 Much is being said just now about the free pass business in Alabama. In fact the question is heinz agitated with great intensity before the present Constitutional Convention and much is being said and written on the subject. Should officials accept free passes Why do the railroads give these passei,? Do they do it for fun? or do they tio 1t because they expect to be bensfil ed by it? Obviously. they do 60 beca 1se
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28
A Wave of Righteous Indignation.


 The action of the Constitutional Con- vention in the matter of the official pass evil has created a wave of right eous indignation in every city and hamlet of the State. This revelation of public opinion has astonished the dele gates at the capitol. The people on all sides had lots to say against the action of the Convention, and said it in no unmeasured terms. The Conven- tion alone hold the power to make the Constitution self-operating if the evil IS to be broken up. When the proper time comes the Convention will act upon the question and make no false move, but enact an anti-pass section, then all will be harmony once more.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28
The Time to Criticise.

Sheffield Standard.
 The Standard cannot agree with it's esteemed contemporary. The time for criticism is before the adoption of any objectionable feature. It is no dis courtesy to the Convention to criticise proposed measures, but it would he pretty hard blow to repudiate its work at the polls as the Dispatch suggests. Let's pull the kinks out of the constitu- tion and then give it our support when submitted to us for ratification.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28
SUNDAY, JULY ss, 1901.
A WORRYING LAW.

The peculiar liquor laws of Kansas are the cause of no little confusion in legal circles, and of much mixing oi logic and entanglement of some of the commandments. For 4&le. when a joint is raided the liquor thus secured is stored in the court house, ostensibly to be used as evidence against the joint-keeper. Naturally, there arei two classes of people who cast longing eyes towards the place where the booze is stored, but both are anxious to get it. Some want 1t for the good that is in 1t, and for the high old time they hope to have with it, while others want to get it so as to remove it as evil dence.
 Beetween those who compose these two classes the safe-keeping of the con fiscated jag-builder is a doubtful busi- ness, and that more failure than suc- cesses are scored is not to be wondered at. And to complicate matters still more, some of the courts seem to be doubtful whether any crime has been committed when this liquor Is stolen, even if the thief could be apprehended, which is rarely ever done. It is alto gether a mixed-up business, and If 1t keeps up, there will surely be an addi- ton to the lunatic crop of Kansas. '"
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28
CARD OF THANKS.

Harrison Mutual Burial Association MT. J. M. Townsend. Secretary. Montgomery, Ala: Dear Sir-We wish to express our entire satisfaction for the manner in which your association has met it's obliga- tions in the funeral of our daughter, Miss Emma E. Goodson, a member of the as- sociation. and holder of certificate 1874, for which she paid 10 cents. The outfit selected by us. on which you paid 500. was equal to any that could be obtained, and we wish to express our thanks for prompt and careful attention given when call was made on your association.
 We hereby commend your association, and feel assured it will prove a blessing to hundreds, yes, thousands in Montgomery. Yours respectfully, W. A. Goodson, Julia V. GoodSon.
 Assessment No. for above Is due. Call and settle same. at office Curbow Clapp Undertaking Co, No. l17 N. Perry St. Time expires Aug. 10th.
 J. NJ. TOWNSEND. JR.,
 Secretary and Treasurer.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28
Up to MT. Rountree.

Chiffon Reflector
 The Advertiser is on the right track about the parties going on press ex- cursions who have no connection with newspapers IL is not only a fraud -up- on the railroads, but an imposition upon the people everywhere who enter tain them. In the last excursion we can cite d town that sent four men who had no connection with papers and one of them was a saloon keeper who could not write correct sentence if his life depended on it.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28
Subject to Barks.

Covington Enterprise.
 The Advertiser says that it is claim ed that dogs. also, are subject to ap- pendicitis. That may be true, we don't know, but of one thing we are certain. the dogs of our town are subject to barks, and the malady effects them mostly at night. Appendicitis may kill the dogs, which we hope for. but they thrive fatten and prosper on bark.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28

For quite a while. we have been seri- ously thinking of mixing into the con- troversy about a Southern man as a Democratic Presidential candidate, but this from The Nashville American just expresses our feelings:
 We should like to be able to give a genu- inc Southern yell in behalf of a real old. fashioned, hard-spun, double -and-twisted Democratic nominee for President with, out the taint of lunacy or the suggestion of Populistic damphoolishness in his makeup. But it's no use. We've got to wait.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28

A communication in The Advertiser some days ago, headed "A Green Sub stitute." is deserving of consideration on the part of Alabama farmers. The disadvantages resulting from short corn crop can be materially lessened by promptly providing a feed crop for stock which will obviate the necessity of feeding so much corn. The quan- tity Of corn needed to carry horses. mules and cattle through the winter may be reduced one-half by having plenty of other feed at command.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28
THE FREE PASS EVIL
THE STATE PRESS IS THOR
 oUGHLY AROUSED.
The People Reported Indignant at the Former Action of the Con- vention-Severe Criticism
 and Warning.
Eminently Correct.
Ashville Aegis.

AShville AegiS.
 The Montgomery Advertiser is emil nently correct on the railroad pass sys- tenn. Free passes from these corpora tions, which are given for no other purpose than to influence legislation and official favoritism should be pro- hibited to officials.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28
A Timely Suggestion.

Greensboro Beacon.
 Why doesn't come delegate get on his ear about the evil of newspapers being sent to people who seldom or never pay for same. Are not the liberties or our people being jeopardized by the nnnaid subscription evil. Give the credit devil a thump while you are slugging pass-holders and that kind Of thing. He is the worst enemy of hap pinesS.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28
Paste It in Your Hat.

When you hear a man say the Con- stitutional Convention is a party issue. YOU can state to him that he is labor ing under an Authorization. The Con- vention is not anything more or less than a white man issue. and when 1t adjourns the good people of Alabama will see to 1t that white supremacy prevails in this State. You can paste this in your hat for future reference.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28
The People Want It Stopped.

Hayneville Citizen Examiner.
 TLe Montgomery Advertiser deserves much credit for its efforts in getting an expression from the people con the free pass question. A majority of the people want to see a stop put to the practice.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28
Make No Compromise.
Lafa yette Sun.

LdIayeIte Sun.
 There are instances where compro- misses are useful or better, but in the matter of free passes used by State officials we think that the convention should be bold in declaring that such officials must not use passes, and if they do they must be dealt with severely.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28
Says The Wilcox Progressive Era:

\ Of all the difficult things under the sun, 1t seems most difficult to convince legis- lators that evil is likely to arise from is- suing passes indiscriminately.
 That is a palpable as well as lament able fact, as shown by the refusal of all Legislatures to enact any law making operative the constitutional provision of 1875. Doubtless each member flat ters himself that he is not influenced by the pass, and consequently no other member is. It is a diaphanous argu- ment. but about the best they have.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28
A General Evil.

Huntsville Democrat.
 Either make it misdemeanor to receive or issue pass or require no mileage to be issued to the members, travelling on a pass. We venture the assertion that there are very few public officers. who do not travel on a free pass. The exception is a rarity.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28
In a fosition to Know.

Tuscaloosa Times.
 The Montgomery Advertiser and The Mobile Register, the two staunchest papers in the State, are on the free pass evil with all four feet And as they have been in touch with the poli- tical workings of the State for more than half century they are certainly in position to know
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28

Tn the debate on Friday when MT. Knox charged Talleyrand with saying .'ail men have their price," he was cor rected by Col. John w. A Sanford, who reminded him that it was walpole. It is a little singular that educated and well-informed men will charge Ehat Mir. Walpole used that expression, as though it was of general and uni -s-ersal application to all men. He was speaking of certain pretended patriots whose declarations he attributed to the interested views of themselves or their relatives, and of them he said, "All those men have their price" This gives the expression quite a different meaning from what it has. as it is usually quoted.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28

Probably no place on earth will average acre for acre the timber that the Puget Sound region can furnish. It is fir, cedar, spruce, hemlock and alder. as well as maple and other woods. It's Douglas fir the most common variety-has been found superior to yellow pine and other woods heretofore used for car-building.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-28

The Savannah Press has heard that the Jersey mosquitoes absorb so much kerosene oil that they become Bazing torches. There is another indiStment against the unfortunate mosquito. In addition to carrying disease. he will now be charged with arsons