davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17
THE COAL FAMINE.

IS IL a crime 70 steal coalI might DC thought q foolish question. because coal in . car is property. end very valuable property, by the way. Some citissns cs Arcola, liL, confiecated train-ioad, aa d in Tuscola, same State. they have done likewise. In Toledo. Ohio. we learn that ''the work-house authorities have released all persons charged with stealing coal and refuse to receive any inore." These instances. and some others we have noticed indicate that people are fast reaching the point where. # steal ing coal is really crime 1t Is justinapie. as homicide sometimes Is. If no harm was done in such cases except to deprive some of the 'scoal barons'' of their property there are many who would say that a righteous act had been aommit.ed but unfortunately the law cannot condone theft or robbery, even when resor.sd to from actual necessity.
 We notice, too, that some of the promi. nent newspapers of the West are talk ing very plainly about the coal shortage The Indianapolis Sentinel declares that 'the coal shortage in the West seems to be very largely a case of holdup. and the people are in no frame to submit to 1t patiently" and adds;
 The people are, being imposed upon by the high prices they have to pay for coal. People who have managed to save 8 little money for emergency use are be- ing obliged to draw 1t on account of the high price of coal. There Is reason to believe that this condition Is due to con- spiracy in violation of the laws of the State. Whether or not this Is true ought to be definitely decided, and if ft be true steps should be taken to punish the guilty parties and to prevent the recurrence of such condition.
 All this exhibits a condition of affairs that happily we have no experimental knowledge of down here. With our com paratlvely mild climate and the abun- dance of coal and wood convenient there has been little suffering, but ia the North the suffering in some cases has been intense. and If the people have good cause to believe that their privations have been caused by the greed and heart lessness Of corporations or coal owners 1t may be that there are worse times ahead than this country has seen. The hardest part of the winter Is yet to come. and people who arc freezing can hardly be expected to observe strictly the rights of property. Cold and hunger are hard to bear patiently, especially if there is belief that nothing but heaFtless avarice prevents relief. It is an unfor- tunate condition of affairs and there ought to be remedy somewhere.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17

If the President thinks to placate Southern sentiment by appointing Il negro to 8 position in Boston he Is badly mis- taken. If the people of Boston lISe that sort of thing, why. that is he sort of thing they will like. don't YOU see? It Is not question of color or Of Dalanc- ing accounts. but of forcing on a com munity an official who Is obnoxiIas5 If the people of Boston should object, as those of Charleston and tndianoia have objected, would a negro get 9file <? Well, we think not. And. by the waJ The Hartford (Conn.) Times, hits it off about right fin this article:
 The United States District Attorney in Boston has two assistants and not work enough even for one. Yet, in order to meet tho Southern inquiry why ahe does not appoint colored men to office in the North as well as the South, the. Presi- dent has induced the appointment as m additional assistant in the same office of 9 colored graduate of Harvard, named himself as a football player while in col- lege. Lewis is said to have some ability as a lawyer, but the place will be prac- tfcally a slnecure. We fail to see how this helps out the argument for putting colored men in the South into offices for which they were unadapted, as has been been done by Mr. Roosevelt in filling the collectorship of customs in Charles ton, s. c.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17

New York
 am for .s reelection to Ds,,sy party oyss s ,a!. renewed SSnSE ss, Y frank = hte shameless ststenent puts an enc lot of silly gossip abou; the GoveiNus SfDosition, and tends to iuIl the suspicion tlat Governor odell might than his party. He cheerfuIIy takes his stand on the lowest level. G
 Governor Odsll says that Platt must bS Reelected beeanse Of his service to tAe n1eansst view of the senatorsllip and of politics that any man could entertain. Mfr Piatt is wholly useless in the Senate he has no aptitude or qualification for the Senasorih once ne performs no servics to quite as we'll be at all times attending to his express business as be in his seat in the Senate Chamber. There are able and distinguished Republicans in New Yofk. They must all be passed by for Plat. New York ought to be represented in the Senate by q statesman. Its need and lis desire must give way to the paramount obligation to reward the services a Platt to his party. These services have been of such q nature as to bring hin Into public disrepute and contempt. They have tended, not to lift the party higher, u0t lG orag tL loWeTs He mas not even led 1t to victory. It has carried elections in spite of him. chiefly through the mistakes Of it's opponents. But he has kept the organization fin a condition of eficieney, and for that we must put up with him in the Senate.
 Eovernor odelrs view of that high office would have excluded every great Senator who has won distinction and conferred tustre upon American atatesmanship. It would reduce the Senate to silence, filing the seats with lot of whispering, schem- trlg bosses. incompetent to draw a bill and unable to support one in q speech. Y
 Governor Odell is the Chief Executive of aae chief State in the Union. He goes and would, no doubt, be deeply pajned if he should be shunned and pointed out as . person deserving of the public contempt exposes him to such treatment. 1t is a shameful view. It disgraces him, hie party. and the office he holds.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17
AT THE T1PMosT TOP.

Such of us as have good eyes or power full telescopes may witness rare sight in this town the day after tomorrow. It smooth white marble face to the top of the Washington monument, To any one who has seen the monument the thing will seem incredible, impossible. Yet 1t Is to be done. The topnrost peak or tip i've feet above the ground. needs re- pairing, and this steepie1act, Souther- work.
 He will crawl out of one of the four small windows at the top of the per- pendicular sides of the shaft and then crawl up the polished outside face of the apex to the very point of the vast sum nit. This the man is enabled to do by means of suction shoes and gloves of rub Der. his own invention. Having perform ed this incredible task for the govern n1ent, the venturesone steeplejack will and almost needie-like spire of the old and abandoned Catholic Church of St. Matthews and send the spire down bit by bit. The church has been sold for some an once building. a new and most spIen. did church being now in course of eof- struetion by the congregation in fashion able Connecticut Avenue.
 The gteeplejack's wonderful deeds with his wonderful suction shoes discount the widest dime novel stories of boyhood's creduloue days. Many a man wtil recall having read in his school days the thrili- lng story ''The Death Man of The Ma vaJos." who when hemmed in q cave by the redskins took from his pocket pair of rubber shoes which he put on and then walked up the side and along the roof of the cave, head downward, to a small opening in the top, through which he made his escape, and that night other Navajos fell with the deathmark on their foreheads. said mark being a cross All this is very credible in view of the performances of SteepleJack 6outherIand now in this town.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17

sensible people everywhere do. that ths Presidents impertinent interference pass- cd the limit even of Rooseyel.ian arro- gsnce. He might with just as much proprieY write a letter against tho re- election of Senator Pettus if the latter doesnt believe as he does. Even he ought to realize that there are some bounds to Presidential privileges and that he has reached those bounds. Per. haps he win learn wisdom and sense when they are butted into him.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17
Letters to the Editor.
Construction of Subdivision 23 of
 Section 104 of the Constitution.


 Section 1o4 of the Constitution. Editors The Advertiser:
 It is contcnded that sub 23 of Section 1Oi Of the Constitution inhibits the enact- ment of a law preventing stock running at largo in a county. Taken as whole, the subdivision is in the following words:
 Twenty y-third-Establishing separate stock districts.
 Now what does the word districts, '' as used in the subdivision, mean? Coun- ties, or areas of territory less than coun- ties?
 The question has not been investigated by the writer. but an off-hand view of 1t would seem to indicate that the word districts" means less quantities of ter ritory than counties. The word has been used in the General Statutes of the State, as having reference to Chancery districts, Senatorial districts and Congressional dis tricts, and in these several instances means as much territory as is contained in. one or more counties. In all local leg islation. except as aforesaid, the word district" when used as having reference to territory, has been uniformly used as indicating clearly a less amount of terri tory than Is contained in a county as in the cases of Commissioners districts road districts, separate school districts. sepa- rate stock districts, and the like. In cases in which there has been construction by the courts of word. used in a clause of a Constitution. or statute, substantially like the one under consideration In any given case, 1t thrown much light upon the meaning to be given to the word, but in the absence of such construction, the meaning attached to such word by the Legislature will and should have much weight, with a subsequent Legislature In defining such word.
 If these several propositions bA correct. it would seem that the word district. ; used in sub.division 9 of Section i04. means less amount of territory than that contained in a county.
 The Language of sub. g of Section lOl. as aforesaid, is as follows; ''Establish. ing separate stock districts" The word separate is an important word in giving meaning to the sub-diyision quoted. the material Inquiry being. whether stock law may be enacted for a county. Now,
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17

Sir Alexander Graham Bell is another eminent scientist who believes In the pos- stbiIity of successful flight, and he is said to feel confident that he will con- struct a machine that will lll all the requirements. He may do so. for no man can set a limit to human effort, but we confess that this is one thing that we shall believe in after 1t Is accomplished and not before. There have been so many announcements of succeas that we cannot avoid feeling of doubt when we read about nying machines.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17

The election of the city officers Of the city of Montgomery, Mobile. Birming- ham, Selma and many other places is to be held this year and in order to become a legal voter in those elections poll tax for this year and all arrearages must be paid by those iitble therefor. This matter is too important to be neglected, and citizens are again earnestly. urged to comply with the law in this respect and qualify themselves to vote in the approaching municipal contests.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17
ONE WHO SUCCEEDS.

Mason's successor. Albert J. Hopkins of Aurora is one of the most gracious, cultured. and refined men in the present House. as he is one of the ablest of the legislators. You could not in a weeks journey, or a journey of any duration, find q more charming personality amongst men. He is scholarly, gifted intellectually, and the ideal gentleman in public life. always doing the right thina and saying the right thing. He adorns the House and will still more adorn the Senate, to which he will go next March much to the Houses material loss.
 Mir. Hopkins is 56 years old and is a lawyer. He was graduated at z, was a Presidential elector at $, an da Con- gressman at 40. and never experienced defeat for any office to which he aspir- ed In the ripening of his wisdom and in the noontime of his engaging per sonality he goes now to the Senate. Such a man deserves to live long and prosper he and all his family. And, by the way, MT Hopkins has one of the happiest and most charming families, consisting of his wife and one daughter, a belle of Wash. ington society, and three sons just reaching manhood. Mrs. Hopkins and her fair young daughter are amongst tht
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17
HoUMsHoE pILx."

"oUMsHoE BILL"
 Whilst we are to get rid of the Re, quantity. we are fated to se In that legislative body the Democratic Cum shoe Bill" otherwise, the Hon. William Joel Stone, who has been chosen 10 suc- ceed George Graham Vest as Senator for Missouri, Senator Vest voluntarily refir- ing. How is the mighty State of Mis- souri fallen. Save only Senator Cock above mediocrity in Congress after next March. Politically Missouri has of late years become laughing stock In Con- gressional circles and out of them that eoarser political jokes. From the State of Missoury" is a phrase that ever raises a laugh.
 Mir. Stone Is a howler of the Billy Mason stripe, and even as Mason was a thorn in the Republican side. so also thought, seeing that he Is Bryan's closest personal and political friend and is one of the very few men of any prominence who Is still deepsteeped in Bryanism, his one of the two or three conventions of Democrats which swore renewed faith" in the Kansas City platform.
 This leading light of Bryanism as she is spoken" in ''old Missouri is an agsres- sive person. He served some years in the national House of Representatives, and was afterward Governor of his State. So we may expect him to make himself quickly heard in the Senate, and in q way to do hurt to the material interests of the Democratic party at large. He will have ''the chance of his life" next winter and the following spring, on the eve of the Presidential campaign, and un- less he bellies his past he is certain to take full advantage of the opportunity to embarrass his party by preaching the discredited cult of Bryan. Already the Republicans are chuckllng over the com ing of tGumshoe Bill This is what we get in exchange for Vest.
 It Is pointed out that Stone will be the first real friend BryarfAever had in the Senate. other Democratic Senators have supported the wild man from Me- braslxa, but under a kind of compulsion and with never a good grace, But Stone has been and Is his dear and valiant knight in (silver) arnor. It was all fixed that if Bryan had been elected President, Stone would have been Sec retary of State. Angelo and ministers of grace defend usi
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17

The editor of The Lafayette Sun is something of eantelouper himself He says he cultivated 2o-acre patch last year from which he cleared about three times as much money as he would have made In cotton or corn. That was good farming.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17

The young men of Montgomery Sho have become of age very recently. must pay poll tax to vote in the approach ing primaries in this city, and they should not neglect to prepare themselycs to vote In an emergency.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17

Now is a good time for the Saliva tion Army to visit Montgomery" pipes The Talladega Mountain Home. Is that intended for the Legislature or for we common folks?
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17

When George Fred Williams gets his new party fairly trimmed and started out on it's mission we may expect some thing doing in Massachusetts. even if It is nothing more than an increase in the ordinary Republican majorities.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17

The public schools. In the localities where poll tax is paid, get the benefit of that small amount. and there is not d white man in Alabama who ought to begrudge that small amount to so good and beneficial a purpose.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17

The poll tax that is paid by citizens in Alabama goes to the public schools in the localities where it is paid There is ot a man in Alabama, who is of lawful age, who ought to grudge the payment of go small and insignificant an amount for so good and so great privilege as it anciires
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17

In the island of Malta they have a legal coin. six of which make one cent of our currency, and we are led to wonder why Russell Sage and Hetty Green have not made an effort to introduce them here
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17
Not Rxaetlv corrsct.
Pensacola Journal.

FtnsacOId JOurnaI.
 A dispatch from Montgomery says: ''Tis truly gratifying relief that the leg islatiye halls can no longer be crowded and damned with the lobbyist. His day about the Capitol of Alabama Is past and gone Only the members and the news papermen are allowed there now"
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17

There is not a man in Alabama who should not have patriotism enough in his make up to desire to be legal ond lawful voter. It Is great synd sacred privilege and every citizen should CuaIify himself to enjoy it, at his pleasure.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17

The Tacoma Sun Democrat brings Us the important information that Mir. Bryan is publishing one of the spiciest Democratic papers in the country" That is in the nature of exclusive news.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17

Bear in mind the fact that poll tax must be paid on or by the 31st of Janua- " Two weeks from today is the last day in which it can be paid until the next fiscal year begins. Don't neglect this very important requisite to your en- franchlsement. If February lst was rot on Sunday that would be the last day.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17

Chicago Is trying to clean up,' a con- temporary informs us, and we would be glad to know where the people are going to stow themselves while the cleaning is going on.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17

Tho month of January ends on satur- day and poll tax must be paid on ortpe- fore that day, as there will be no way of paying 1t on February 1st because that win bs Sunday and all tax collectors of- fees arc closed.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17

"A pretty biG fortune can be buried in the coal bin," remarked a contemporary. Just go, and t is apt tq % up in smoke.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17

Editor Davidson, of The Warrior Breeze, has patented brick for building purposes which can he made Of any kind of earth, doesn't have to be burned, can be laid in wall as soon as moulded and will last a thousand years or ,here- aboutS If these claims arc well wounded one newspaper man has veritable gold nrinlk.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17

President R0oserels's warning to Utah seems to have fallen on needless ears. Apparently Utah thinks that the cleo tion of a Senator rom that State is her own business and that no outsider should hut ln.--Sansas City Journal
 The people Of Utah doubtless think. as
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17
ONE HowLER PASSES.

In the passing of Billy Masorf>of Illi- nois from the Senate and the choosing of Albert J. Hopkins 1t certainly cannot be said that "an Amurath to Amurath suc- ceeds, an Arthur to Arthur," for the two men are as unlike as it ts possible for men to be.
 The passing of Mason gives national the Senate than a COW is for a steeple- chase. The look of him." as the Irish say, was enough. His long, flowing scant curly locks seem always to be oiled with bears grease-fancy a statesman with oiled hair! He looks greasy all over, an appearance to which his rolling. swag- gering fatness lends additional color. He looks unwashed. unkempt, and he talks loud, is loud. Some stories that are told Illustrative of his coarseness would, if repeated in this place, exclude this ncws- respondent to be fred by telegraph. h. deed most of us would hesitate long to repeat them orally. One in particular which was meant by Mason to insult the venerable Senator Hoar. man of the purest morals and most engaging refine ment. is positively blood-curdling.
 It is amazing that such man as this could make his way to seat in the Sem ate without the aid of great wealth. For 1t is we'll to bear in mind that Mason did not buy his Senatorial seat He is com peoples Senator" "a man of the peO- pie. "a popular hero" and all that sort of thing. Small wonder he is one of the howiers for the popular election of Sem ators." He ought to be. He ought to wish the ragtag and bobtail of Chicago to vote directly for Senators. since they put him in office under the existing plan.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17
The Supreme Court.

Editor The Advertiser
 NO question of grave public interest ad- aresseS itself more forcibly to the Judi ciary Committees of the Senate and House than that of some relief for the gorged condition of the docket of our Supreme Court, No people were ever more op- pressed by 'the laws delays than the people of this State. The work of the Supreme Court is more than year be- hind. It Is not the fault of our learned and industrious Supreme Court Justices, put reeuite from the fact that 90 little conndenee Is reposed in the Judges of the inferior courts that where htigants are able to appeal they rarely submit to judgments rendered against them in the courts below. Some legislative relief should be formed to relieve this grave public evil
 Our justices should be consulted on the question of g remedy. If an increase in the number of Justices, let US have the increase. If the work of the present five Justices may be facilitated by stenog- raphic clerk for each Justice. let them have the clerks. Something, anything, to avoid tying up estates and causes in our Supreme Court from year to eighteen months which should be disposed of as fast as causes are argued and sunmit- ted. A Lawyer.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17
News ano Gossip ef Washington
Bx LuouN JULIEN wAIxxa

Washington. Jan. 16.-(SpeciaI )-No act of President Roosevelt since he entered the White House. perhaps, calls for more cordial or unreseryed praise than his of- fer of Supreme Court Justiceship to William R. Day of Ohio.
 Not only was Mir. Day the biggest man in the Mckinley administration at its be- ginning, but he is one of the strongest, safest and best men in any walk of life in this country. He is fitted in every way to lend to the Supreme Court much of the higher spirit of its best and most worthy traditions There is no office in the service of this people, however high. which he Is not qualified to adorn and to add to It's lustre.
 . The first Mckinley administration was not month in office before MT. Day was recognized as the most powerful man con- nected with it. although technically he held the subordinate position of Assistant naily holding the first office in the cabi- net. MT. sherman being infirm of health, the actual work of the Secretaryship de- volved upon Mr. Day, and when Mr. Sherman retired MT. Day was appointed his successor. How we'll he bore himself through the troublous times approaching the spanish war is history.
 The vacancy on the Supreme bench to which President Roosevelt has offered to appoint MT. Day will be shortly created by the retirement of MT. Justice Shiras on reaching the age of 70, and after having served for ten years. The place was of- fered to Governor Taft. but he declined 1t because of his wish to complete his work in the Philippines, and through an ambi- tiop, 1t is said, to succeed Chief Justice Fuller, who is likely to retire at any time. Judge Tafts appointment as Chief Jus tice would be an ideal one, eminent law yers say, and the public agrees.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17

lovliest women in the society of the capi- tai, end they will lend added attractive ness to the Senatorial set.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17

Tho proposition to divide the present session of the Legislature, leaving a DOT. tion of the allotted sixty days for a short term in the fail-seems not to be mucl