davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
A MISTAKEN VIEW.

The esteemed but sometimes eccentric Birmingham Ledger is hard to piease' and is continually finding something 70
 kick out of the traces about us ia'es' cause of complaint Is the clause Tn the proposed election law requiring the bai- | lots to be numbered. There used 10 pc A law like that on our statute books ana it was repealed" says The Ledger. and
 then 1t goes on:
 A ballot ought to be secret and sacred A numbered ballot IS not secret. nor IS It sa cred We have eliminated the danger ous element from our electorate and there Is no kind of excuse for giving eiec- ton managers the power to know exactly how every man voted on any particular question. The voter has right 10 cast a secret ballot and numbered ballot is not secret.
 We live in a day when great companies have great interests, and they often want to meddle with electionsy and 1t Is not right to give an employer the means Of knowing how his empioye votes. There is no free election when men know that their votes can be known. We should not go back to that bad iHw. .t
 We ought to keep our elections pure and straight. They will not be free if their ballots are numbered and can be known, either by election managers or by their superiors. The numbered ballots is a step backward and a step downward.
 We must confess to some surprise at reading such objections in any Democrat ic paper in Alabama. We know that there was such a law in all the years of our Statehood up to the reconstruction period and under that system we had honest elections and satisfactory results in Alabama. It was repealed because its repeal was necessary in order that cleo tions in Alabama could be controlled by white men. That could not be safely and surely done under the olf laws and new laws and regulations we're enacted to meet the demands of the new conditions imposed on us. The repeal and the req sons for 1t are not matters which Demo- crats are proud of or anxious to discuss. The argument that a numbered ballot
 is not secret is strange reasoning to those who are familiar with the old-time meth
 ods of conducting elections. Under the old system, if the election managers were honest, no one could know how another voted unless there was e contest, which | was exceedingly rare. The ballots were folded and numbered and no one could tell from the taliy-sheet for whom an elector | voted unless he violated the law and ex-
 amined the ballots. People didn't do that
 in the old days.
 Under the new conditions now existing
 if the Legislature will enact fair and
 easily understood election law, including
 numbered ballots. and provide ample
 power for punishing every form of swim
 ding, our elections will be honest, abso.
 lute secrecy will be maintained and cleo
 tions will again be expressions of the
 will of the voters.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13

said trial giving our friends and the pub lie chance to see why we were dis charged?
 Are we. because We are commissioned officers to be subjected to the disgrace which would inevitably follow a "dlshon- orable discharge" and not he allowed a trial to ascertain why We were dishon- orablv dischargedT
 Resides being a gross injustice to us, It Is equally unjust to our friends and families, who would like to know why we were discharged tin case We were) and If We were not allowed an opportuni- ty to explain the public would naturally think that we had committed some un- pardonable offense, and we would go through life with that stain uvon our character.
 If we are guilty of misconduct, give us the same chance to defend ourselves that Is given every other American citizen and If court finds Us guilty, punish us accordingly.
 Any law not allowing us a trial would certainly be a very unjust law, and in my mind would cause the resignation of many If not all of the commissioned of hcers In the States service.
 On several occasions in the past few years different companies in the State by prompt and determined action, have prevented lynchings, thereby upholding the law and protecting the fair name of our beloved State.
 ''SS AHASAl4ISL SAdAlt lne ana tnlnk that l am accusing the Governor of any unfair dealings, for l am not I am A supporter of the present Governor and onense' before being convicted or sen
 Now are we, the gratuitous servants of the people to have our rights taken from us nave our offices and honor jeopardized ana our right to citizenship taken from us because our friends saw proper to demonstrate their appreciation of us by eteGtng us to commission in tbo Ala1 bama National Guard?
 \. As reward for our popularity (pardon the conceiO among our friends are We to be subjected to discharge from the any onense We may have committed bv consider him high-toned gentleman, but we all have special friends and they have their friends and great many things can
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1s, 1905.
DOUBLES GOLDEN SYMBOL.

The American Newspaper Directory uses cer- tain signs to denote the relative standing and merit of the whole field of newspapsrdom which comes under it's notice. and one of these signs is the mystic symbol [ 0l dsnoting s.golden." which stands for high quality. and Is thus explained;
 Advertisers value this papsr more for the glass and quality of its circulation than for the mere number of copies printed"
 Such papers are credited with a single sym bol but there Is higher grade, according to this standard authority, which have BOTH QUALITY AND QUANTITY. and require the DOUBLE GOLDEN SYMBOL vS to describe adequately their standing.
 The Advertiser has been accorded this double golden symbol 0O1 and is the oaly paper so distinguished in this section of the South.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
WIRELESS TELEaRAPHY

We do not of course fully understand this Marconi system of wireless telegra- phy, or know just what it Is capable of. As to that matter we doubt if Marconi himself knows everything about 1t. Be that as 1t may, however, there Is one point in connection with 1t that we should think is bound to give trouble, and that Is the possibility of dispatches going | astray, or, to put it another way ,the im- possibility of preventing message from falling into wrong hands-or ears.
 | As we said, We are not familiar enough with the methods used, but, as a con l temporary remarks, what Is wanted is a system by which messages passing through the air can be received only by those for whom they are intended" Of course that is what is wanted, and it is very essential need. In ordinary tel egraphy a message must be known to the sender and the receiver. so thataabsolute secrecy is practically impossible,7 but if the operator who transmits the message and the one who receives 1t are both re- liable men a fair measure of secrecy can be maintained. This is made almost sure when an agreed-on cypher Is used, but when the wireless method is brought into use and the message is fired Into the at- mosphere, how is the sender to Know that 1t will land in the right spot? It is true that Marconi himself announces that the difficulty has been practically overcome, and an optimistic writer fin The Review of Reviews thinks that all will be accom- plished within one year or less. and with the perfected medium there will not be the slightest fear of tapping a message, and messages will be transmitted between any two or a thousand stations without conflict or confusion"
 | These somewhat extravagant claims may be realized, of course, because any thing within the compass of the human intellect is possible, but we have often wondered how it would be possible tc send a message through the air so that none but the right person would receive it and We are not yet done wondering about 1t. Unless a vast deal of lying has been done in connection with the matter Marconi has already accomplished won. ders, and 1t may be that we shall soon sec the successful accomplishment of what now looks impossible, and that wireless messages will be sent across the ocear with as mIoh accuracy and secrecy as they are now sent by cable. Unless that can be done the new system will not bt popular one.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
AN 1NToLERANr COURSE.

A specimen of the unfairness and intoi- erance sometimes attending the actions of labor unions comes to us from Kansas City. in the case of one J. T. Clark and the Engineers Union. which is thus briefly stated by The Journal of that city:
 The Jackson County Court appointed Clark engineer at the county court mousse He soon afterward applied for member ship in the union. The union, neverthe- less demanded his removal for the req son that he was not member when ap- pointed. The County Court refused to ac- cede to the demand. whereupon all the union firemen employed at the county court house struck. On Thursday night the Engineers Union, by a unanimous vote. rejected Ciark's application for membership.
 The court was right of course, when 1t refused to discharge Clark for no bet ter reason than the one given, and if 1t should go so far as to refuse to employ any union man about the building 1t would only be giving them dose of their own medicine which would doubtless cause some wry faces.
 Poor Clark seems to be somewhat in the condition attributed to Mahomets coffin when it was suspended between the heavens and the earth and not allowed to touch either. He is damned by the union for not belonging to 1t and at the same time Is not allowed to join it. He was evidently willing to conform to all their requirements when he learned what those requirements were, but that he was not allowed to do. He had committed the objectionable offense of going to work this he was to be punished. How can men expect support and sympathy for such acts as this?
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
Origin of the Military Salute.

hand to the head is generally believed tc have originated from the days of the tournament, when the knights filed past the throne of the queen of beauty, and by way of compliment, raised their hands to their brows to imply that her beauty was too dazzling for unshaded eyes tc gaze on. The officers salute with the sword has double meaning. The first DO. sttion with the hilt opposite the lips, is a repetition of the crusaders action in kissing the cross hilt of his sword in token of faith and fealty, while lowering the point afterward implies either sub mission or friendship, meaning in either case that 1t is no longer necessary tc stand on guard.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
The Right Idea.
Norfolk Landmark.

NOrIOIK LdnuindTk. themselves by doing justice to a great soldier, and let the objectors go hang is The Montgomery Advertisers emphatic conclusion about the proposition to erect a statue of General Lee at Gettysburg. That is the right idea. It is possible to devise anything so wise and proper that somebody will not object to 1t. just as 1t is impossible to invent anything so foolish that somebody will not advocate 1t. If the great majority of sensible people Is satisfied with thing, that is enough.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13

County Superintendents of Edueatton Editor The Advertiser:
 There Is one law on our stature book that calls loudly for amendment. Under our present law no qualifications Hhat- ever, are required of the incumbent df the office of County Superintendent. He may not know how to read, or write yet be eligible; he may not know won of the English language, yet be eligible; 1; he may be weak in mind. and bankrupt in morals. yet be eligible. This oFce should be taken entirely out of politics. Offices usually go to the most active md skillful politicians, and from the vtry nature of things, political mafipulatprs are not the class of people from whch to select educators of min. and morais would suggest that superintendents of education of the various counties be ap- pointed by the Governor on the written recomm endation of the State superinen, dent. This recommendation sRud enumerate what information the Stat, Superintendent has of the qualifications of the person named for the appointment. The Governor should have the power to veto the nomination. A large portion Q. our school funds is practically wasted through the inefficiency of County Supes- intendents who, devoid of all qualifica- tions themselves, gravely pass on the qualifications of others. I am reliably informed that Tn one beat where no schoo was held, at all, the share of the schoo fund which, under the law, would have gone to the support of the school, haG there been one, was divided between tht Sathers of children in proportion to theil number. This plan was finally broker up in a row caused by the denial of tho claim of the father of an only child oi the tender age of six weeks.
 That some of our counties have excel lent superntendents under the presen system is not denied, but the system 1t self is radically wrong, and should b, changed. T. s. s.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
Cupid ConQuered,
Bay Minette Times.

Bay Minette Times.
 One of the most novel marriages ever heard of in this county occurred at the court house a few days ago. Robert Cox a young man between twenty and twenty one years old, came to the probate judge and applied for a license to marry Miss Rhoda Minchew, The young man said his father and mother were both dead and thereupon the judge told him no license could be issued. Young Cox ap- piled to a lawyer who fixed up guardian papers and had J. M. Armstrong, sheriff appointed guardian. The guardian then gave his written consent to the marriage and the couple were married by the probate judge
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
Tested for Deafness.

Mrs. Caroline Buck has a suit on trial in the Supreme Court against the New York Central Railway. alleging deafness Sun. She claims to be deat in the right ear. Attorney l.. B. Williams pulled out his watch and held 1t to her right ear Can you hear that?" he asked.
 No"
 Gan you hear 1t now?" holding 1t tc the oehsr ear. ,\\
 Yes"
 Now" holding it three feet away. Yes"
 MT. Williams opened the watch and showed the jury that 1t had no works and consequently could not tick
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13

as he hitches up his team to a blow be- gins stating what a pile of money he will make at the gathering season and forgets his weariness till night. The In- dian runs to the house after a drink or water or to see how his arrows are sea- soning all day long, letting his team rest. The negro gets more rest than either, having more sense than the others.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
A Marked Distinction.
Mobile Item

MODlIe Item.
 It Is said of Addicks that even as good Republican as he claims to be, he made a very peculiar, but marked distinction between the white and negro voters In the last Delaware campaign. He paid from $25 to $50 for the votes of white men and only allowed the negro $5 to $l0 each. The President should intervene and see that the negro is not discrtmi- mated against in his ballot
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13

be brought to bear upon any man to make him do things that perhaps other people wouldn't think exactly right; therefore, If any officer in the Alabama ing a gentleman and an officer. let him have the same opportunity granted oth- CT people, viz. a chance to defend him. self before being executed. Surely the gentleman who introduced this bill did not think of the gross intus- tice of 1t.
 Hoping that the bill will be killed so dead that there will not ever be res- urrection of its spirit I am, v
 Respectfully,
 I. N. Stowe, Major Surgeon 2nd Regiment 1nfan- try A N G.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
It Was True.

Huntsville Mercury.
 Colonel Bryan might have declined the invitation to attend the Iroquois Club banquet without making so plain his hostility to exPresident Cleveland. He virtually admitted that MT. Cleveland overshadows him politically, which was true without his admission.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
A Good Man.
The Great Work He is Doing for Hu-
 manity.

The treatment of the opium and whis- kew habits has been greatly simplihed on account of the deep research and expert ence furnished the profession by Dr. B. NJ. Woolley. of Atlanta, Ga. For nearly half A century this good man has effected tournament cures in thousands of cases if you or any of your friends need him. write him. fri.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13

We occasionally find good thing in our colored contemporaries, as when the Oklahoma World advises negro men to "drop the multiplicity of wives and take care of one good wife" That is good advice and its readers would do well tc be governed by 1t.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
The People Skinned.

Birmingham News.
 Senator Morgan says the trust bill Is ''poultice to be put on the people to ale yiate the pain" He might have added that when the poultice is taken off the people are skinned.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
Two Strong Reasons.

Tuscaloosa Times-Gazette.
 There are two strong reasons why Han mas bill to pention the ex-slaves will not find favor in the North and therefore will not pass. It would really do the negroes material good and it would be of advantage to the South.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13

The proposed pension legislation of Senator Scott of West Virginia will, if fully carried out, put on, the roll prac- tically all the Union soldiers not now on 1t. If 1t and Hanna's bill should both be- come laws there would be no more surplus to yex Congressmen.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
Might Do Something.

Talladega News-Reporter.
 The State good roads convention open ed with prayer. Good. The Lord gives us good roads for six months in the year. ana 1t does look as If we might do some thing for ourselves the other six months.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13

We thoroughly agree with Carl Schurz when he says there is no excuse for war between Germany and the United States. Further, it such war should come Ger many win be very glad of an excuse to get out
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13

Scientists tell us that frogs as large as oxen once existed in the regions of the great West but fortunately none of then can be found now. There would hardly be room for them and some statesmen who occupy that region.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
A Mild Rebuke.

MObiIe HeraId.
 The Birmingham News administers mild rebuke to those who leave a theatre before the curtain goes down. The News Is correct. There is no excuse in making a dash for the exit as If the building were on fire.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
The Best Romancist.

Savannah Press.
 Harry Edwards writes that President Roosevelt is one of the best friends of Southern people and the South that he has ever known We have often said that MT. Edwards is the best writer of romance in the South.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
No Other Choice.

Boston Advertiser.
 Captain R. P. Hobson gives 1t out that he chose to resign from the navy because circumstances made it impossible for him to stay there. We'll that seems to be about what Is meant when people speak of "Hobson's choice"
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13

The statement is made that General Uribe-Uribe has committed suicide but the manner of it Is not given, though 1t Is possible that he got choked by getting his name wound round his neck
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13

The action of the Indiana Republicans in the Legislature in refusing to do honor to the memory of Thomas A. Hendricks would be disgraceful to them if they are not beyond disgracing themselves.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
Letters to The Editor.
x ls3s % ! $ $ $
Wants to Know the Reason.

Editor The Advertiser:
 l would like to be informed why 1t IS that freight left in railroad Warehouses t,ses in this city for two or three days that consisnees co 1 t' should lou be compelled to pay a certain demurrage, and when freight Is shipped over the very same roads and delayed six or more weeks ana owners losing money and time by this delay that there is no redress. It seems to me that our Railroad Commission should take some action in this matter.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13

The Sheffield Reaper says that small pens and overlooking corn make costly pork when the hogs don't die." But can there be any pork if the hogs don't die7
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
Would Cover the Ground.

Age Herald.
 Mark Hanna should introduce another bill-a bill to pension all who were not slaves. This would cover the ground and land him in the White House.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13

The Virginia editors are down among the gophers and alligators of Florida on their annual outing. They Will probably take a drink out of "SwannSe Riber" be- fore they return.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
Have the Ambition.
Jasper Eagle.

Jasper Eagle.
 No anti-kissing on anti-bloomer 1egis- lator has been developed at Montgomery yet. Such legislators are men who have the ambition but not the ability of billy goat.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13

The Columbus Enquirer-Sun feels thankful that Addicks lis safely out in the cold" Well, when you hear that the boss gas manipulator Is getting chilled just drop us line.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13

A newspaper in Rutland Vt, rejoices that 'the dark night of Prohibition is Over," and we infer that was long dime between drinks with editor.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13

And so Adalina Divina Patti is com- ing over for another farewell tour. She must be needing money.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13

The antiquarians seem to be in doubt as to whether Romulus founded Rome or only found 1t. Was it lost?
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
A Stem-Winder.

Chicago Tribune.
 As might be expected, It is taking a long time to wind up that strike at Waterbury.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
The Chief Mistake.
Jacksonville Tmes-Union.

Jacksonville Tfmes-Union.
 General Miles did not well represent American manhood when he went tC Windsor Castle, on an invitation tha' panying him on his tour. He speak: of her failure to receive an invitation as somebody's mistake. His acceptance oi an invitation which did not include hl: wife. when she should have been in cluded, was General Mles's mistake.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
Q 4 4 Y % < % 4 $ 4 % Q < WHAT THE STATE PAPERS < < ARE SAYING. 4 o 4 4 < 4 < f 4 4 < 4 < 4 4 < .
 Euan A Slight Fear.
Even a Slight Fea;

Birmingham Ledger.
 We cannot get up even a slight fear that the Mormons will convert us all to their faith, as some excitable Christians are now asserting.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
The Advertisers Telephones
A Good Beginning.

The first month of the new year furnishes frculation statement pleasing to this pubiica- ton. indicating that new friends and new read lrs are constantly being added to its endless Est of admirers So grows Alabama, so grows The Advertiser-onwerd and upward. f00Q
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13

Adam never had any ancestors, but h' managed to get a family tree -.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
January. 1903.

W. Scott Circulation Manager of The Montgomery Advertiser. being duly sworn. says: The foregoing statement of The Adver- tiser'3 daily circulation for the month of January. 1903, Is true and correct and com piled after all returns from newsboys news hgent5 and left over copies have been deducted.
 W. A. SCOTT,
 Circulation Manager, Sworn to and subscribed to before me this 7th day of February, 1903.
 r. W. JACKSON, fSeal.l N. F., Exc. J. P.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13
LOOK AFTER MINOR OFFENCES.
And the Larger Ones Will Not Fol-
 low.

Ganadarque. Ala. February Il, 1905 Editor The Advertiser:
 have just finished reading the article on Alabama homicides by Judge A. H. Aston in your issue of February 10, 1903 and entirely unsolicited by you or any one else I take the liberty to say a few things upon this subject whether 1t is published or not.
 Many things have been said through
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-13

The Eufaula Indian Journal has phil. osopher who reasons in this way about the habits of three races
 The white man and the Indian bott work in the field. The white man Is soor