davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07

The state of Virginia has among its penal statutes this rigorous law. passed years ago:
 If any person conspire with another t6 | incite the colored population of the State | to acts of violence and war. against tho white population, or incite the white pop. ulation of the State to acts of violenct and war against the colored population he shall. whether such insurrection bt made or not. be punished by confinemen, in the penitentiary not less than five noi more than ten years.
 This statute. as will be observed, is the good of all the people. It bears witt equal severity on each race, and pro. vides the same penalties for whites and
 blacks who violate it. And in connection
 with it. and in striking contrast with the negro Hayes, we find in a recent issue oi The Richmond Times-Dispatch a letter from a colored lawyer of that city who states that he practices in all the courts of the city and has failed to see any in justice done to any one" Under the old election laws of ths State there was SC much ignorance and corruption at the polls that he quit voting. but under the limitations of the new Constitution
 which he heartily approves. he has quail fled as voter and adds that he is SC
 we'll satisfied with the administration of
 the government by the Democrats that
 he doesn't want to see any change. Then
 he continues:
 Where is all this prejudice said to be on the part of the white people against
 are here and doing we'll Is conclusive evidence to my mind that they are oui friends, because If they should say to us go" we would be driven out of exist ence like the dry leaves of autumn scattered by A mighty wind. My wife and children are all here and are natives oi Virginia: all of my property, both req and personal, is here In Virginia. There fore, l want all this foolishness to stop and stop now, or else the statute here mentioned will be put into full force apt effect. If a black man cannot live in Vir ginia he can live nowhere else, for I re gard Virginia as being the cream of tht world and the garden-spot of creation.
 What is true of Virginia is true of Ala
 bama. Our State may not be exactly ''tht | garden-spot of creatlon,'' but it is goot enough for any mere mortal to dwell in | and to be contented and happy in. The | negroes, if they will, can qualify them
 selves gradually as electors and will bt protected in their rights. They can ac l quire and hold property and otherwis, | become contcnted. useful and prosperous
 citizens. If they will turn a deaf car t' those who are only intent on robbin,
 them. or stirring up discontent and hart
 feeling, they will have nothing to com
 plain of. It is such men as Hayes, en
 couraged by white men who are reah.
 more culpable. who cause. or threater trouble between the races. The coioret | people would do we'll to allow themselve,
 governed by men like the one from whom we have quoted.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07
IMPRovE rHE CAPITOL.

The discussion in the House yesterday upon the Capitol improvement bill. de- veloped the fact that considerable ma jority Of it's members had made up their minds to support a liberal appropriation. An amendment to appropriate only $2sooo for the work of repairs was voted down by a decided majority.
 The argument of the opposition to lib- eral appropriation seemed to be based on three ideas only; first. that the State was very poor. and, second. that the States taxes were poorly assessed. and. third that $25,0OO was an enormous sum of money, abundant to do everything nec- essary.
 70 hear any one in these days argue that Alabama is poor is amazing. It is not denied that there are poor people in the State, but to declare that the State as a whole is poor is a waste of words. It produces no effect on any ones mind. Tlfe poorest man in the State knows bet ter. The aggregate tax assessment was never so great. Farming lands are more valuable than at any ime since the Civil War. There are more miles of railroads than ever before. and they are in better condition. There are more mines. more factoriec, more big cities. more thrifty towns, more banks. better markets for every product of human labor The State is better able to build a million dollar Capitol today than it was twenty-five years ago to spend twenty-five thousand dollars.
 The second objection urged to liberal appropriation was that vast deal Of property escapes the assessor. There IS no doubt about that. It has always been true and always will be. It is the case in every State in the Union. The ideal tax laws have not yet been devised. But there is no logic in making that an ob- lection to an appropriation to provide a commodious. creditable State house. The time to talk about poor methods in assess- ments is when a bill to improve the sys- .tem is up. If there is so much unassessed property in the State, it is really further evidence that the State is able to provide c0mIOTtdDle Sdpieoi' |oA4 i'Au DoSs> needed appropriations, but amend the as- sessment laws.
 Again it is urged that 25,ooo is sufficient to do the proper thing by the Capitol. That sum won't put the present building in order. much less enlarge it, or secure the rest of the square. Building materials and labor are not as cheap as they were some years ago; general prosperity has affected those things as well as all other commodities. The Carnegie Library now going up on Perry Street is not large building, noth- ing like as large as the addition to the Capitol should be; yet it is costing $50,0o0
 It is estimated that the rest of the Capitol square can't be bought for less than $50, 900 now; the longer the purchase is put off the more it will cost That space Is absolutely essential to the digni- ty of the Capitol, and to its comfort. There is but one way to get 1t, and that is provided in the bill.
 The appropriation of $250, GOO is none too much to do the work properly. and 1t ought not to be undertaken otherwise. The State is able to do it, and it ought to do it now We believe the people want it, and that the Legislature will so decide,
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07
Hon. J. H. Webb, Solicitor for
 Mobile County.

By Hon. J. H. Webb, Solicitor fol
 Mobile County.
 Editor The Advertiser.
 Press of official business has interfcred with my answering your letter sooner.
 All of the conditions you complain of do not exist here. Except during last year. homicides have not been frequent in this county, and. as a rule. such cases are tried at the term the ndictment Is found, acquittals are rare. and reversalS few. There have been no lynchings during my two terms as Solicitor, several white men have been convicted of the murder of negroes, and there has been only one ac- quittal, in such a case, where thought the evidence did not justify 1t. What l have to say is from a Solicitor point or view, and it's application may be to some extent local Of course, liquor and con- cealed weapons are, as Hon. J. J. Parker would say, prolific tombstone breeders" but do not understand that your inquiry calls for a discussion of thls phase of the subject. Punishment, swift and sure. is the great deterrent of crime. Were those inclined to Slay reasonably sure that they would be punished, as the law pro- vides, they would more often stay their hands. But the idea Is prevalent that the verdict prescribing iong term of imprisonment i3 meaningless, and. that a pardon or parole will be granted afted u IeW years oI SOOu DSndNlOE. l tnSTeloic think that If 1t was understood that there could be no cemency extended after con- viction for murder, except that 1t should be subsequently, shown that the defendant was innocent, 1t would have d most saIu- tary effect in decreasing this class of crime. A comparison of our ratio of nom- icides with that of England. where elem ency is rarely exercised in sucn cases, ought to convince the most skeptical A great obstacle to getting the best ma terial on juries in capital cases is the liked opinion. While the law. provides that the SSe.1ff may make the juries com fortable. yet the practice is quite the re- verse and they are often locked up for days and nights with no provision as to their comfort and, hence, the service be- comes a torture as well as an interference with their business. Our enterprising pa pers publish the details of every homi- eide. and they are eagerly read by the most of those who wif subsequently be called upon as jurors. In this way all form an opinion. and. with many, the terror of jury service causes it to become decidedly fixed and enables the defendant to challenge for cause. Another thorn in the side of prosecuting attorneys is the practice of marshalling around the de- fendant his relatives "eTen unto the third and fourth generation and having the jury's attention directed to the gray haired father the "sainted mother" the devoted wife. the sweet sister and the poor little children The defendants S lap full of ba bies is. to some extent. all argument no Solicitor can successfully combat l also think d majority of the jury ought to be able to return yer
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07

jects to the Barksdale pure elections bill because Tt Is an insinuation that there has been crooked work in former cleo tions." is simply too pure and innocent to hump up against this wicked old world
 Right you are. Whether there have been unfair elections in Virginia or Ala. oama in the past is not matter to dis cuss. On this point. at least. '1et the dead past bury its dead and let 1t re. main buried. What we now want. and what the people should insist on having. Is a law under which elections will be absolutely fair. If any legislator hesi- tates to vote for such a law under the impression that it will be an admission that previous elections or election laws have not been fair, he should quit the business of law-making
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07
Letters to The Editor.
'S !" 'S 'S ~ 'r S 'O ~ 'S
 THE CITY CAMPAIGN.
A Man of Convictions and Courage
 Desired.

Editor The Advertiser:
 The much mooted question of today among the citizens of Montgomery is who is to be our next Mayor and Alder men" Among the many candidates in the field which one will prove to be the right man in the right place or, has the man yet to appear in the field? is another problem that presents itself to the think ing voter today.
 'Tfs the opinion of the writer that if man, a live, energetic. up-to-date pro gressive man will come before the people and pledge his word of honor that, so far as lies within his power to make and enforce laws on Sunday observance on the keeping of the Sabbath as a God fearing. Christian people should do tand as such we pose before the world-a man who has an honest conviction and better still. the courage of his convictions, Il man who will be neither coerced or in timidated by men already In power above and beyond all else man without q price"
 If there be such a man aspiring to the honor of the office of Mayor of Mont gomery, and indeed we admit 1t an honor, let him come forward and let the fact be known and there will be no doubt of his election. The same is true of the men who are day after day announcing themselves as candidates for aldermen
 The time has come for d change and no time has ever been known to do bet ter than the time which We can claim as our own right now
 So, present yourselves gentlemen. let the voters of Montgomery know that you stand for law and order and for the re- forms of which we have spoken and your election to the position for which yull aspire, will be assured, tor thank God the Sabbath observing, law-abiding men are yet in majority in Montgomery.
 The building of fine hotel, creditable to our city, the paving of our streets and cleansing and beautitying of our city generally are issues to be considered most assuredly. but. paramount to these and all other considerations is inc social and moral reform of our city, city which for natural environment, for healthful- ness and progressiveness has been blessed as few others by the 'giver of every good and perfect gift. J. II. Mccall.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07

It does seem to us that the eating bus mess is getting all mixed up in these good latter days Human beings are be- ing fed on all sorts of food which used to be given only to animals. and now we see it stated that horses and cattle are eating syrup and that it is an entirely successful food. fattening and wholesome. Are we reaching point where men and animals are going to swap ratlons? And how about the drinks? Shall We swap juleps for swill? That is a question that will touch some people in vital spot. but there Is no telling what the reformers and experimenters will do be- fore they get through.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07
Severe But True.
Sheffield Reaper.

Shetneld Reaper.
 Dr. Bragg's report on the condition of jails in Alabama is a severe, but true arraignment and should induce the legis- lature to enact remedial laws in the in terest of humanity The Doctor takes q shot at the practice of magistrates send ing prisoners to the mines on frivolous charges against whom nominal fines have been assessed and a large item of costs. The legislature should remedy this evil. because it brands as criminals persons who are guilty of no moral turpitudo, and in some instances misdemcanant guilt may be doubted.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07
Doesn't Want Them.

Birmingham Ledger.
 Alabama does not want any of those Kansas bachelors who are to leave the state if the tax of $50 is to be made the law. Of course, there is no reason tn think that an Alapama woman would marry a man who could not get Kansas woman. That IS not the point, but a man who would leave State rather than marry, or pay $50 a year for liberty, is not a desirable citizen. He has no kind of patriotism that is worth anything to the State. He neither aids its finances nor increases it's population.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07
Will Order It Opened.
MpI1i,r Iten


 Now that the negroes of lndianoia are entering complaint that their mails are not delivered promptly. and are com planting that the non-delivery is q dis crimination against the negroes of that ncighhorhood. the President will, doubt less. order the reopening of that post office. even though ho has to accept white man Us postmaster.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07
Women Doctors in Paris.

How many women doctors practice II Paris? A statistcian has gone Into tn question. Tlc finds hat while twent! years ago only seven women had takei their medical dcgrces there. in the face moreover, of violent opposition. the 3,Gn physicians nov established in Paris Tn clude 1fty-Seven women. The latter al have busy and remunsrative practices.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07
His Thinking Cap.

SeIma Hines,
 Mir. Roosevelt should put on his think ing cap. if he is capable of doing any serious thinking along this line, and come to the conclusion that instead of being d friend to the negro race, he is their worst enemy. in that he is stirring up discord and hatred that it will take years to overcome.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07
HE IS A CHEERFUL LIAR.

We frequently complain. and with jus tice, that the Northern papers in many cases misrepresent the South. and yet there are reasons for it. For example, The Atchison (Kas.) Globe. publishes a letter from former citizen of that town now in Alabama, and among other things. he writes thus:
 The people here haven't raised anything for three years to amount to anything. Corn is 70 cents bushel and 1t will be $1 before long. I have lived here two years. and haven't killed a negro yet. They don't think anything of Killing a negro down here. A fellow killed a ne- gro preacher the other day. It took just fifteen minutes to try his case. and then they turned him loose and gave him the cartridge back that he shot away.
 Now, this precious donkey writes in ap- parent earnest. and though The Globe doubtless many of the readers of that paper who take every word of it as gos- pei truth. and who will form their i'm pressions of Alabama and Alabamians from what is here written.
 The statement that there is any sec ton in Alabama where the people have not raised anything in three years is without truth. of course. but it is n6t as injuriously false as are his statements about the negro. We who live in Ala. bama know the falsity of such state ments, but all his Kansas readers do not Many Northern people are ready to be. lieve anything derogatory to the South and the Southern people, and no doubt this fellows lies find many believers While we may wonder at some of tho opinions found in Northern papers, wC can find some reason for it when wC read letters like the above.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07

The Marion County News asks why The Advertiser omits the votes of Senators and Representatives on bills which pass the two houses. The Advertiser is not publishing journal Of the Legislature. and to print all the names for each roll cali would take more space than We care to devote to that purpose.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07
No More of Them.

MODlTe IfCraId,
 The bachelor Governor of Kansas Is willing to give the women every chance except the one to marry him. He is in favor of woman suffrage. Perhaps he doesn't realize that when women got the right to vote there will be no more bachelor Governors.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07

We want wives with money" is the heading of an editorial in The Tacoma (Wash.) Democrat, the gist of the ar ticle being that the editor doesn't want any impecunious husband hunters from other States to be poaching on the pre- serves of home women.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07
Breath Misapplied.

Twas not for want of breath he died, But rather that he misapplied The ample breath he had. I wot Before he went 10 bed that night He witlessly blew out the light The gas escaped; the man did not
 Brooklyn Easl,
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07

The turning down of the President s man Byrne of Delaware, by the Senate may not be a very large straw. but il points to something and seems to have been enough to settle Addicks himself,
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07

There was a strike riot in Lynn. Mass. the other day, and during the disturb- anee one man fired number of shots The Hartford <Conn,) Times tells us that ''the man who fired the pistol narrowly escaped lynching." Ina; was not in the South. remember.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07
His Best Friend.

Jasper Eagle
 Which is the negro's best friend the man who would give him social equality on an empty stomach. or tho man who would appease his hunger and deny him social equality?
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07

The city of Pensacola is threatened with an oil famine, The Journal says. Where s that oil well they discovered in the bay? Or was it gas?
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07

John b. Rockefeller is baldheaded and his newIy-born grandson shows the same pecuiiarity. That's heredity, we judRo.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07

Says The Richmond Times-Dispatch: The member of the Legislature who ob-
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07
( < 4 < 4 < < 4 < 4 < < < WHAT THE STATE PAPERS ARE SAYING.
< < < < < z

When the Papers Drop Them. Eufaula Times
 Governor Pennypacker makes a bad start by abusing the newspapers. Ho ought to know that politicians die when the papers drop them.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07
The Advertisers Circulation Grows.

The circulation of The Advertiser during the last month of last year was larger than in any previous month its history. It steadily fn- on the good will of the people of. Alabama Here are the sworn figures for December. te02:.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07
The Advertiser,s Telephones:

Business office and Circulation Depl.. .....Zsu City Editors Rooms. I4
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07

Total. .. .. .3l1 ,5oo Daily Net Average for Dec. 12,214 Sunday Net Average for Dec. IT 1885
 COMPARISONS.
 Daily average for December, 1902. .....l22l4 Daily average for December. I9ol......lo, ee2 rset gain ',<<< Sunday average for December. 1902. es5 Sunday average for December ieol....i3,Soi Ne Easn ..,.,..,................ 4,oo4 
 ". .A. Scott, Circulation Manager of The Montgomery Advertiser. being duly sworn, says: The foregoing statement of The Ad- vertiser's daily circulation for the month of December. 1902. is true and correct. and compiled after all returns from newsboys, rcns sgerts and leftover copies have been deducted. W A. SCOTT,
 Circulation Manager. Sworn to and subscribed to before me this F. W. JACKSON, fseaiI N. F., Ex-O. J. P.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07
THE PRESIDENT
 AND THE NEGRO A JUDICIAL VIEW OF HIS ATTI-
 TUDE. Some Editorials in The Review of Reviews-Roosevelt Has Not Appointed a Single New
 Negro Postmaster.

The following from Dr. Albert Shaw, editor of The Review Of Reviews, ap- pears in the February nvmbcr of that rn1y4zi,,e.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07
A NEGRO OF GOOD SENSE.

The State of Virginia has among its penal statutes this rigorous law. passed years ago:
The border vidette., 1903-07-11

The young ladies, God bless lem who represented the various states and territories Tn the parade, looked beautiful and loveable. They pre- sented the prettiest sight ever seen in Nogales, and caused many of our boys hearts to beat faster.
 Miss Sarah Noon, the beautiful and Accomplished daughter of Dr. and Mrs. A H Noon rode her hand some bay horse in the parade re- presenting Arizona" The young lady is an accomplished horse woman and was greatly admired.
 The six little lads who handled the small cannon in such an able manner, are deserving of much merited praise. They showed what the young American is capable of if called upon to defend the stars and stripes. Here's to the Boys Artillery.
 Sheriff Tom Turner is an ex- perienced and successful manager of bronco riding and steer tying contests, and with him as master of ceremonies everything in that line was successfully pulled off. Capt. Milton and Jim Darnal, his aides were also there with the goods.
 While Nick Farrell, Jesse Bland, Dick Harrison and Duke Parker stand at the head of the steer tying profession, Tom Gardner beat the boys to it, doing the trick in one minute and seventeen seconds. However, Tom needs to keep his eye on that lively lad Farrell or he will lose his laurels.
The border vidette., 1903-07-11
Alex. Mclean and Party.

Yesterday Alex. D. Mclean, Wm. Wallace, k. Mccormick, of Metcalf, Arizona, and Frank Probert of London, England, left Nogales for the Sahua- ripa district, where they will remain about month ins pecting mining prop critics MT. Mclean is the superinten- dent of the Arizona Copper Company's mining and other business at Metcalf, and is one Of the most prominent mining men in Arizona, having been engaged in the business for many years. The Morenci Standard says: Perhaps, there is not man in the Clifton Nor enci district having better knowledge of mineral, or how to economically eX- tract 1t from the recesses, than Alex Mclean.
 MT. Frank Probert is a well known English mining engineer and expert. He too, has an enviable reputation and stands in the front ranks of his prOfes- sion.
 Messrs. Wallace and Mccormick are also well and favorably known in min ing circles. having had a wide ex- perience in the exciting search for pre- cious metals.
 Mir. Mclean and his party were well come visitors at THE NIDETTE office Thursday The gentlemen expressed themselves pleased with the "line cities" and said if they are successful in Sono- ra, they may possibly make Nogales their headquarters. They are nne lot of fellows and and would make Mo- gales good citizens. Here's hoping they will strike it rich.