davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-12
THE WENTZ MYSTERY.
General Search for the Missing Mill
 lionaire Has Been Abandoned.

Big Stone Gap, Va, November H. Twenty-six days have passed since Ed ward Wentz rode gaily away into the mountains to be seen no more by his friends. Thus far the $55, 900 reward of fered for the young millionaires return or for information as to those who may have murdered him has proved of no avail If he is a prisoner held for ran som his captors have made no sign. The stranger pretending to have authority to negotiate ransom is found to really have no knowledge of the matter.
 If Wentz is dead the mystery Is deeper for while every gulch, cave and stream, every spot. in fact, for many miles around has been gone over inch by inch there is no trace of his body. It Is certain that Wentz did not become insane and wander away unless he met with a fall that dis turbed his brain. In the latter event he unquestionably would have been found long ago, since the people for 100 miles in all directions have been especially on the alert for him, and his description, in- cluding the handsome riding costume he wore, such as is rarely seen outside the larger cities, has been sent all over the United States and abroad.
 Although worth millions, the young man had not more than S5 when he drop ped out of sight Every fact and theory is against insanity or absence of his own will, therefore he must be dead or a prisoner. Daniel Wentz, an older brother, and the entire Wentz family cling to the idea of an abduction.
 We believe that my brother is hidden away somewhere, said MT Wentz to a World correspondent today, and that when the general interest of the case is abated we shall hear from his captors There is at this moment not the slight est clue. We are just as much in the dark as upon the first day of Teds dis appearance It is hard to tell as to wheth- CT he is dead or alive, but we believe that he is alive. Every bit of informa- tion so far received has been thorough ly sifted, and the result is nothing"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-12
THE ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ALABAMA
News by Anticipation.

Not long ago trouble of the custom ary sort occurred in Bibb county, and the newsvendor made haste to add to his dispatch, "If caught he Ca negro) will be lynched Nearly every news paper from distant cities now comes loaded with an account of lynching in St. Clair county, which not only did not take place, but was not even con sidered.
 The enterprising reporter in the rural districts should pull himself up to the progress of this state. He is horribly out of date in his anticipa- tions of lynchings. A lynehing would, it is true, make more news, and re- porter could thus earn more money, but under the rule of Governor Will liam Dorsey Jellis, a lyncher would be jailed, and it would cost him much money to say the least to recover his freedom. He may desire excitement in his neighborhood, and he may be essentially bloodthirsty, but he has no desire to gratify such propensities at Thigh expense. He knows an indict- ment and a trial would confront him while Governor Jelks is in office, and he hesitates, and no lynching takes place.
 All that is needed now is to bring the rustic reporter up to the situation He is lingering in the atmosphere of former days. He will soon be called a back number" if he does not quit adding to his dispatches, "He will be Iynehed if caught" AS a matter of fact, no one is lynched in the law abiding state of Alabama, where an archy has been abolished.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-12
HUNTSVILLE.
Texas Police Searching for Missing
 Man-Other News.

Huntsville, November 11.-(Special J. The police department of Fort Worth, Tex, has written the authorities of this city making inquiries for traces of John Schorf a former citizen of Fort Worth, who disappeared from that city some five years ago and is believed to have died in or near Huntsville Schorf's dis appearance is rather strange, when 1t is considered that he was a man well known to hundreds of travelling people through out the country. For many years he was manager of the Rankin House at Colum- bus, Ga, and from 1867 to 1892 proprietor of the Lamar House at Knoxville, Tenn. Schorf raised the sum of S13,000 Tn 1s9S kissed his wife goodbye and told her he was going away to buy hotel some- where, but would advise her of his where abouts later. Since then nothing has been heard of him, excepting the rumor that he died in Huntsville. The police have so far been unable to find anyone who remem- bers the missing man. His widow Is in destitute circumstances.
 Prof. s. R. Butler, principal of the Huntsville public schools. has received from State Superintendent Hill the ap- pointment to the office of superintendent of education in Madison county. Super intendent Hill made an agreement sever al months ago to appoint the applicant who received a majority of votes in a primary election and Prof. Butler won after going through two primaries.
 James H. Pride has been appointed su- perintendent of the Huntsville school district, that office having been held by Prof. Butler
 Dr. l. B. Wyatt and Miss Katherine Milligan, both of Huntsville. were quiet ly married in the Hotel Hillman, Bir- mingham yesterday, in which city the bride has been visiting relatives for sew eral days past. The ceremony was per- formed by the Rev. Father O'Reilly of St Paurs. The bride is a daughter of Mrs Kate Milligan of this city and Is quite popular. Dr. Wyatt Is a prominent young professional man. Dr. and Mrs. Wyatt have gone to New York to spend their honeymoon
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-12

must be considerable distress unless the prices of necessaries of life be re- dueed at the same time.
 As compared with 1898, wages in this district are probably 50 per cent higher, and the expenses of living 35 per cent higher. The latter are large ly due to the great increase in rents. This district is therefore better treated by the umes than is Chicago by about fifteen per cent.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-12
Republican Politics.

Col N. B. Spears of Pell City, formerly mayor of Pell City, ex-member or the legislature ex-member of the constitu- tional convention and some time repup- lican candidate for representative Of the Seventh district, is in the city, looking after business interests.
 When asked as to his views on the dl1- ferences between the Lily Whites ana Black and Tans of the republican party in the state, Colonel Spears said:
 sIn my opinion the so-called Lily White republicans have abandoned the policy of excluding the negro delegates from the next republican state conven- ton. If I am correct in this there re- mains no reason for them to oppose the nomination of MT. Roosevelt in 1904 Be this as it may. there is no doubt in the minds of those correctly informed that the next state republican convention will be controlled by the Presidents friends. The delegation from this state to the national convention of the republican,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-12
Opportunities Not Lacking.

Its all nonsense" said M. V. Joseph the other day, flor a young man to say there are not the same opportunities to- day as there were twenty years ago. I think the trouble is in the young man. If he is waiting for something to turn up he will, of course, be disappointed but if he starts out with a determination to be some body and backs up that de- termination with energy and stick-to- ativeness he will some day gratify his ambition.
 "There is always an opportunity for the right person as there is a dearth of young men who are willing to advance their own interests at their own personal inconvenience. My advice to the young man starting out in life is to bear iE mind the fact that he must creep before he runs.
 "If he will look after the little things the big ones will take care of themselves. The sober. industrious man, full of in tegrity and purpose can command his own price,"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-12
ON THE DEATH OF JOSEPH ROD.
 MAN DRAKE.

By Fitz-Greene Halleck. Green be the turf above thee,
 Friend of my better daysl None knew thee but to love thee,
 Nor named thee but to praise. Tears fell when thou vert dying,
 From eyes unused to weep. And long, where thou art lying.
 Will tears the color turf steep. When hearts. whose truth was proven, Like thine, are laid in earth There should a wreath be woven
 To tell the world their worth. And I who woke each morrow
 To clasp thy hand in mine. Who shared thy joy and sorrow,
 Whose veal and woe were thine; It should be mine to braid 1t
 Around thy faded brow. But I've in vain essayed it,
 And feel I cannot now While memory bids me weep thee,
 Nor thoughts nor words are free The grief is fixed too deeply
 That mourns man like thee.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-12
Cost of .Liviuq Here and in Chicago.

The employers association of Chi cago has carefully compared the cost of living in the first six months of 1893 with the cost of living in the first six months of the present year. The in- vestigation was conducted with refer ence to workingmen who earn from $500 to 5000 year, and it was carried on largely by Ethelbert Stewart, who is doing similar work for the labor bureau of the United States. MT. Stew arts intelligence. and impartiality are not questioned.
 MT. Stewart found to begin with, that the retail prices of meats had been increased 34 per cent, while the prices of the grocery schedule had been decreased. Flour, sugar and po- tatoes sold at lower prices, but butter was this year 50 per cent higher, and milk 20 per cent higher Coffee, tea and eggs stood unchanged. Fuel was higher by 30 per cent than it was in 1898, but the prices of clothing, boots and shoes and dry goods were lower. Rents are 20 per cent higher.
 By and large a mechanic who spent in living expenses 5000 In 1898 must spend this year S116S in order to live equally well. In other words, the cost of living in Chicago in the average workingman's family has been in creased 16.S per cent. The advance in wages has just about met this in- crease, and what is true of Chicago is probably true of many other cities of industry and population. The percent ages ascertained by the employers association are less than similar fig ures from other sources, but probably the formers figures are more nearly correct.
 The figures from Chicago are in striking contrast to the figures lately received from Guatemala, where by a government decree the wages of farm hands have been raised to nine cents in gold The difference in the costs of living in Chicago and Guatemala rep resent not only differences in climate, but also differences in the manner of living. The American worlSingman Is not willing to live as a farm hand in Guatemala does, and if wages are to be cut down in this period of reaction cpd Dingleyism. then indeed there
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-12
Meaning of the Spooner Law.

The Spooner law directs the Presi. dent to negotiate with Colombia for permission to dig a canal. If permis- i sion cannot be obtained from Colom- bia, then the Spooner law directs the President, after a reasonable time" has elapsed, to turn to negotiations with Costa Rica and Nicaragua for per mission to dig a canal on the superior Nicaragua route. Colombia has re- fused to consider even the HayHerran treaty, and that document is as dead as hector.
 What then is a reasonable time? ? The Spooner bill became a law one year ago last June Colombia rejected the Hay-Herran treaty last summer. The meaning of the phrase "a reason able time" thus becomes all-control- ling.
 MT Hanna, and possibly the admin istration, hold that a reasonable time has expired, and as negotiations with Colombia are no longer possible, nego- tiations with Panama should be begun, but this will be done in the very teeth of the Spooner law, which declares that the President should next turn to Nicaragua and Costa Rica. To turn to de facto Panama would be a plaiE violation of the law, because bia, of which Panama was part, has re- fused to consider the treaty. Panama acted in all law and conscience when Colombia acted, and it is difficult to see how the President can legally treat with Panama as things stand.
 The President and Senator Hanna and the republican party seem to be irrevocably committed to the Panama route, and if we are to have Panama canal at the hands of the new repub- lie of Panama a revision of the Spooner law would seem to be in order. As that law stands at present the President should this day be nego- tiating with Costa Rica and Nicaragua for permission to dig canal on the approved Nicaragua route.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-12
Alabama Cement.

A special dispatch to the Montgom cry Advertiser states that the con tractors for locks No. 2 and in the Warrior have placed contracts in New York for 5O,000 barrels of cement This should not have been necessary The Demopolis plant, together with the two slag cement mills in this dis. trict, should have furnished the needed cement. All three mills in Alabama make good cement for use in water as good as can be bought in New York, but the government engineers per. haps thought otherwise, and so Michi gan or Pennsylvania get the contract to furnish cement for use in the War. rior
 No state in the union contains more or better cement rock than Alabama. A movement to establish large ce- ment mill near Selma is just now at tracing public attention. Before the digging of the isthmian canal is begun there should be a dozen cement mills in this state, all located on or near barge navigation. Senator Morgan not long ago explained the value of the cement rock in this state Cement making should in fact become great industry in this state.
 It is asserted by the mills in the eastern states, who desire to hold the fort, that Alabama cement rock con tains magnesia. So it does, but the United States geological survey says that the magnesia in Alabama cement rock Is an inert substance which has no effect upon the active principles of Portland cement. The subject has been fully eIueidated, and is well un- derstood by competent chemists. The esteemed cement makers in other states simply desire to keep Alabama out of the cement industry. They want all of it for themselves, but this cannot be, for Demopols and Selma will soon demonstrate that our cement rock contains plenty of silica, alumni mum and lime, which are the active substances of high-grade Portland ce- ment.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-12
Ahont eetsons.

4A0ONA
 J. S. Buchanan of New York was one of the HilImans arrivals last night.
 E. F. Lamham of Augusta, Ga, is reg istered at the Morris.
 J. L. Burk of Atlanta is stopping at the Metropolitan.
 R. E. Bowden of Hardyville was one of the St. Nicholas late arrivals last night. J. M Frazier, prominent citizen of Ashville, is registered at the Morris.
 J. M. Giles of Atlanta is in the city. C. w. Price. a well known travelling man of New York, is at the Morris. In speaking of New York politics, he said; New York is democratic, and the dem- ocrats need have no fear that 1t will not be in line at the next national election. As to the democratic nominee, 1t Is my opinion that German will be the choice of the conservative democrats of the country. He is strong in New York and can carry the state"
 l.. E. Cook of Mobile was one of the St. Nicholas arrivals last night
 O. R. Goodman of Gadsden Is at the Morris.
 Major William F. Tillets, collector of customs of the Mobile port, is at the Hill- man.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-12
TUSCALOOSA.
A Negroes Dies From His Injuries
 Students Give a Dance.

Tuscaloosa, November 1.-(Speoial.)- George Phillips, the negro man who was seriously injured at IIolton Saturday while coupling cars, died later from in- juries received. In some way he got hung in the coupler and fell under the car Both legs were broken and he was otherwise badly mangled.
 The university students entertained at a delightful dance last evening compli- mentary to the football team of the Uni- versity of Louisiana. The german was assisted by Miss Eddimae Hester. There were a large number of couples present. and the affair proved a most charming enc.
 Much interest is being manifested in the week of prayer which is being ob- served by the Young Mems Christian as- sociation here. Dr. B. F. Giles was the leader for last evening. He gave most profitable talk on "The Light of Holi- ness" The services this evening will be led by the Rev. R. B. McAlpine. His subject will be Be Light by Your Job. '
 A. s. VandeGraaff, representative of the Snow estate, has sold to H. N Nit chell of Columbus, Ga, two acres of land southwest of the round lap bale compress on the Mobile and Ohio rail- road. MT. Mitchell has an option on two addition acres and it is very probable that a large industrial plant will be located there. He will on the first of December begin the establishment of large brick plant.
 The Hon. Frank s. Moody Is In re- ceipt of telegram from the mayor Of Alexander City announcing the victory for the dispensary in the election held there Monday. MT. Moody made several speeches there in favor of the dispensary.
 Charles B. Werner has announced him self as a candidate for county solicitor, subject to the action of the democratic party. MT. Werner needs no introduction to Tuscaloosa people, He served in the last legislature with credit and is a strong candidate for the office he seeks.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-12
BuiIdinq Outlook.

"Many large buildings have been erect ed in Birmingham this year and l think the builders will continue to be busy next year." said w. c. Weston, the archi- tect.
 Some people have an idea that the cost of construction in Birmingham has got to be excessive, but I do not think so, when we compare the conditions in other cities. Of course it costs little more to build in prosperous times than it does in periods of depression, but do not think that many people who have money to invest in fine structures are disposed to hold off on account of local wages and the price of material"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-12
Child Eaxors AIleaed Mother.

Berlin, November 1.-The commission consisting of Dr. Stormer, Prof Strass- man and the portrait painter Vogel, ap- pointed by the court, which is trying the Countess Isabella Wesierska Kwilecksi. charged with presenting false heir to an estate at Wrobelwo to decide If any resemblance existed between the countess there are strong physical resemblances there are strong physical resemblance between them, especially in the form of the ears, and that there is no resemblance between the Kwilecksi boy and the son of Cecilia Meyer, the rsputed mother of the countess child
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-12
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
 It's astonishing how mad you can make a woman by telling her what small, white hands her best friend has.
 Six months before he is married man tries to write poetry. Six months after ward he won't even read 1t.
 Next to having him go to church regu- larly, woman takes the most pride in having her husband go into politics.
 Tact is the thing that enables you to appear pleased with a man you have to listen to when you are raging because he Is not listening to you.
 When a woman has a dream that she dined in the White House she Is very nervous until she gets gown that would be suitable in case 1t came true.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-12

The shipbuilding trust was based on financial hypnotism. The capitalist had ceased to be either cautious or sane, and gold bricks were freely dealt out to him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-12
Presidential Nominations

Washington, November 1.-The Pres- ident today sent the following nomina- tions to the senate:
 Posmaster-Georgia: Cicero c. Alex ander. Commerce. Qate Harmony Grove ! Louisiana-S. F. Steers, Shreveport
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-12

The Lily Whites of Alabama may send a contesting Hanna delegation to their national convention, but this con vention itself will turn them into mere spectators.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-12

green to crimson-tipped green, then to gorgeous varigated hues. lastly. into a settled, melancholy yellow stage. wien they fade and fall and wither away.
 How symbolic of our lives, and the quick transitions from childhood to youth to mans estate, to middle age, and alack, and alas! into the "Sere and yellow leaf' of relentless old age, when we fade, fall and -wither away
 The leaves preach us a sermon and re- mind us that "One generation passeth and another generation cometh' Also, "As for man his days are as grass" and our time is very shadow that passeth away
 Apropos of Senator Morgan and Presi- dent Roosevelt the Mobile Item has few remarks in the following manner: Senator Morgan says that President Roosevelt is the victim of frenzied am. bition. We were under the impression that he was the victim of something but was rather of the opinion that he was victim of his infatuation for the colored population-but let 1t go at ambition "frenzied ambition"
 Discussing the much discussed question of an Alabama exhibit at the St. Louis fair the Mobile Register says:
 The Register purposes to support with enthusiasm the movement mentioned in our news columns last week. having for its object the making of an Alabama ex- hibit at the worlds fair. Alabama. Yer mont and Delaware are the only states that have not as yet prepared to have their products and industries displayed under state auspices at the fair; and it should never be said that state with such resources and enterprises as Ala bama Is lacking in sufficient public spirit to do herself justice on an occasion such as this. The work of getting up an ex- hibit has started with good men behind it and it must be made a success.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-12

The irrepressible Crumpacker has introduced his resolution again, but It will not be acted on at the long ses- sion, and the people will squelch it in November of next year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-12

With MT. Underwood at one end of the Warrior and MT. Taylor at the other, and MT. Bankhead in the mid dle, all highly placed on committees, Warrior stock is looking up.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-12

Alexander Ferguson of Indiana has just celebrated his 116th birthday an niversary. His long life came in spite of the use of tobacco and whisky, and the persistent voting of the democratic ticket