davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08
From the Kansas City Star.

From the Kansas City Star.
IT HE December number of Leslies
(OD Magazine furnishes second ar
ticle on 1.-THE Theatrical Syndi-
cate" which deals very largely with the
effort of the members of the COM
bine to restrict the freedom OF the
New York press concerning plays and
players. In this article Abraham Erlan-
ger, who has been the head of the syn
dictate for some time is quoted as having
said to one of the we'll known critics:
This dramatic critic business has got
to stop. The idea that manager can
spend a lot of money on a show and you
fellows come down here on the first night
and say any rotten thing you want to
about 1t, is finished. You wouldn't dare
go down to a dry goods shop and roast
any particular line of goods. Well Err
LANCER will show you that you can't do
this with plays.
Just how the head of the syndicate
proposes to keep Inc critics from ex-
pressing their opinions is not made clear.
Several New York managers have at
tempted to keep writer's especially OBJ
jectionable to them out of their thea
tiers, but they have been unable to do
this where any attempt has been made
to gain entrance. And as for the right
of the reviewers to publish their honest
conclusions, that is a clearly established
privilege, and in order to abrogate 1t,
new laws will have to be enacted. Per-
haps it is something of this kind that
Mr.. Erlanger has in mind.
The thing will strike most readers Oh
this statement is the frank ana en-
phatic relation that the theatrical pur-
veyor marks between his wares and those
of the dry goods merchants. 1t is not
surprising that a high representative OF
the theatrical business as now operated
should make no distinction between a
work of art and a commodity. With
him theatrical management is a CONNER
cial proposition, pure and simple. Even
when costly productions are made, they
are made not for the purpose of present.
ing a fine spectacle, symmetrical drama
or a realistic comedy, but money is ex-
pended on them purely and simply as an
Investment. Now this is all right, too
so far as 1t goes for any undertaking
| that involves a great outlay must be pre-
sumed to be self-sustaining, at least, and
unless it promises to be something more
than self-sustaining, It will not enlist
capital. That is a law against which
there is no use to urge abstract ideals.
But the theatrical manager must re-
member that he is engaged in a work to
which he invites public attention, the sue
cess of which depends on great publicity.
and the quality of which must be pretty
generally known before it can be made
profitable. A newspaper undertakes to
inform its readers as TO the character and
the worth of the public entertainment Of
fered. If all newspapers should insist in
making bare announcements of the fact
that such and such plays are offered at
such and such theatres, giving no descrip-
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08
Extra Session Talk.

For some reason the President
struck from the advance copies of his
annual message a sentence stating that
he would later communicate with
congress on the tariff subject Why at
first he stated that he would send
tariff message to congress, and then
en- second thought struck it out, is one
of the perplexing problems in Wash
ington and elsewhere. For some rea-
son he changed his mind.
The truth is he is between the devil
and the deep blue sea, at least so far
as immediate revision is concerned.
Comparatively few stand out against
revision at some distant and indefinite
time, but Speaker Cannon, Senator
Hale. Boss Aldrich and Senator Lodge
and their followings say there is no
need for the calling of an extra SEES
sion, or for the consideration of the
subject at the short session. Con
gresham Ba5cock, Governor Lafol-
lette, Governor Cummins and many
others, however, say the revision ques-
ton is pressing. At present the tariff
benefciaries and their agents in con-
gress urge that the question should
go over to next December, when the
long session of the new congress will
be convened and the indications are
pretty good that they will overcome
the Presidents inclination toward re-
vision.
The indignation of the people over
the unjust and wholly unnecessary du.
ties of the Dingley tariff will increase
as time goes on and revision is post
poned Dingley duties cripple our for
eign trade, create trusts at home, and
shamefllly tax the many for the ben
eft of the favored few. The party of
privilege stands pat on the Dingley
tariff, and If it will stand there long
enough it will be swept out of power
by the rising tide of public indigna-
ton.
No doubt President Roosevelt de.
sires a revision of the tariff, and he
hesitates to act The republican party
stands charged as the party of privi-
lege and fayor-of unparalleled extor-
ton that goes to swell bullying peck.
ets--and if the President listens to the
anti-revisionists the charge will be
considered established. The Dingley-
ties are pulling him one way and the
revisionists the other, and the struggle
will be keenly watched in all parts
of the country. 1t is the chief po-
litical conflict of the season and ses.
sion, and it may lead to a democratic
house in 1906.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08
Definition of Foqylsm.

A good story is told by Percy Clark
apropos to the question of progress and
the old fogy 1t goes about this way;
During the canvass between zeb Vance
and Tom Settle of North Carolina In a
speech Judge Settle said
81 wish some one in this audience
would rise and tell me what an old fogy
is"
Immediately a lean, lank and gawky
old country school teacher in the audi
ence arose. He wore a SLOUGH hat, jeans
pants and coat, and had a most cadaver-
Gus look. Look. Said he: II can tell
you. An old fogy is a fellow who takes
hold of the shirt-tall Of progress as it
rushes along and SELLING 1t tightly
screams out, whoa, whoa, d-n you.
whoa
The definition was correct, and the au-
dience was delighted.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08
Peace at Panama.

When Governor Davis applied the
Dingley tariff to the canal zone, rul-
ing that nothing could enter it on
either side from Panama unless Ding
ley duties were paid on it, he created
a "ruction" at once. Panama could
not endure in its midst Dingleyism.
and President Amador promptly pro-
tested Troubles accumulated thick
and fast, and finally Secretary of War
Taft was sent to Panama to find way
out. He found 1t by abolishing the
Dingley tariff in the canal zone. Peace
came back at once and every Pana-
manian wore smile that would not
come off.
Absolute free trade is to exist be-
tween the canal zone and the republic
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08
A Senatorial Crumpacker.

The antiquated and nearly obsolete
Thomas C. Plat proposes to make
himself tho Crumpacker of the senate.
He has lost his grip as a boss. He
will be unseated as soon as his term
expires, and his support of Chauncey
NJ. Depew will not a bit serve his an
Client colleague. AS he goes down he
raises the Crumpacker flag. His in
f1uence in the senate dwindles as the
power OF Boss Odell rises in New
York
There is nothing fearsome in Sen
ator Platt's championship of new
Cruinpacker bill. Back numbers can
not stir up dangerous sectional issues.
Mr.. Plat was not in his prime an
orator, and in these days of his decline
and fall-off he certainly is not match
for Mr. Bailey or Mr.. Carmack or the
thirty other senators who will assail
his scheme.
Nor is at all certain that all the
republican senators will favor an agi.
tation that will injure fifteen states
and disturb all the rest. The repub.
lican senator as a rule wants peace
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08
HOW HIGH HEELS ARE MADE.

From the Shoe Retailer
Making a wooden heel Is an interest
Ing task. The heel itself is nodded on
an irregular molder, a strange but very
effective machine; and singular fact
about it is that not single improve
ment has been made on 1t IN twenty-five
years. The heel is nodded from the best
quality of rock maple. and after it Is
shaped Is covered with leather, usually
fine kid or cabretta stock, which may
be in many colors, according to prevailing
fashions.
The leather Is stretched on, fastened
with the best quality of rubber cement
and then ironed, so that when the job
is finished the heel looks as II all Of
leather. The top is next attached. The
lift is usually of superior quality of sole
leather and pair of them cost as much
as full sized top lift for women's shoes,
though less than half their size. The fact
is, good material and workmanship are
put into the high heel, for 1t is one Of the
vital parts of the shoe or slipper.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08
THE CREED OF MERCY.

By Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
o wedding guestl this soul hath been
Alone on a wide, wide sea;
So lonely twas, that God Himself
Scarce seemed there to be.
o sweeter than the marriage feast,
'Tis sweeter far to me,
To walk together to the kirk
With a goodly companyl
To walk together to the kirk,
And all together pray,
While each to his great Father benos.
Old men. and babes. and loving frienos
And youths and maidens gay!
Farewell, FAREWELL but this tell
To thee, thou wedding guest!
He prayeth well who loveth well
Both. man and bird and beast
He prayeth best who loveth best
All things both great and small
For the dear God who loveth us
He made and loveth all.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08

and prosperity and dividends and
trade, and these cannot be obtained
on Crumpacker lines. The Platt
movement is not a bit dangerous. It
is a foolish effort of an old man to
reiuvenate himself. He attempts the
impossible, and Boss Odell will soon
weed him out of the senate. He will
send him to meet Chauncey NJ. De-
pew. who is already booked for retire
ment. Mr. Platt's swan song is a
harmless diversion.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08
ENTRANCE OF sEABoARD.
e Selma journal.

From the Selma Journal.
Yesterday marked the entrance into Bir-
mingham of new road, the Seaboard
Air Line railway, from Atlanta to Bir-
mingham. This is another great link con-
Meeting Birmingham with the east. We
congratulate our great Alabama Magic
City. and trust it will not be long before
she will have another link connecting her
with this section of the state more closely.
The extension of the Pensacola branch
of the Louisville and Nashville is bound
to push on from here to Birmingham
some day-the sooner the better.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08

of Panama. All goods except supplies
for the construction Of the canal are
to pay 10 per cent ad yalorem in du-
ties. The Dingley rate is about five
times greater, and Panama could not
stand robbery of that sort. All sani-
tation affairs at Colon and Panama
are to be entrusted to the United
States. Panama postage is to be two
cents, and the little republic agrees to
adopt the gold standard. The other
provisions of the Taft-Amador agree
ment relate to naturalization, roads
and hospitals.
The canal port on the Pacific is
Ancon, near the port of Panama; on
the Atlantic side the canal port is
Cristobal, near Colon, and it IS agreed
that no cargoes can be landed at the
canal ports except on the presentation
of Panamanian consular certificates.
All of the provisions agreed upon
were embodied in an executive order
signed by Secretary Taft, for Presi-
dent Roosevelt, and assented to by
President Amador. The new plan
becomes effective December u, when
Dingleyism will be shut out of the
isthmus and relegated to the unfor-
tunate home people.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08
How Il Happened.

Parker received 1,23s,122 votes
fewer than Bryan, and there is at
present an academic search for those
missing democratic votes. They were
not cast for Roosevelt, for he had but
4S4,970 votes more than Mckinley re,
ceived in 1000, and that number no
more than repres ted the natural in
crease of the republican party.
When we add to the Pariar def
cheney the lack of natural increase,
we have at once a startling discrep
ancy that the votes cast for the can
didates of the small parties does not
explain. The conclusion is irresistible
that hundreds of thousands of demo
Gratis did not go to the polls, or if they
did go they went as mere lool1ers-on
in Venice. Just about 100000 dem
ocrats stand otherwise unaccounted
for in the November poll.
This situation may not be altogether
pleasant, but one conclusion is inev-
liable, namely, the growing of the re-
publicans is to a great extent unwar-
Ianted, for their victory was not due
SO much to republican strength as to
democratic detection. Missouri is a
typical case, and we give it's figures as
an illustration of the situation in all
of the western states. as follows:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08
City Editor Of the News.

Leon w. Friedman becomes city editor
of the Birmingham News in the place of
j. r. Hornady, who resigns to take the
position of secretary treasurer of the Az
vance Publishing company. Mr.. Hornady
ranks as one of the brightest news
paper men in this part of the country.
and Mr.. Friedman, who succeeds him is
an energetic, painstaking newsgatherer
and numbers his friends by the thousands
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08
Inferior Apples.

1.-THE inferior quality of the apple crop
now on the market is accounted for in a
measure, at least by the enormous
YIELD said Morris avenue merchant.
than usual and the result is small fruit.
''While there are some good apples in
the market their proportion to the little
sizes is very small. Most of the apples
being shipped to Birmingham now, come
from Niagara, county, New York"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08

There is a possibility that while many
democrats stayed at home in Pennsyl-
vania, some actually voted for Roose-
welt. for the total vote was increased,
and the vote for Debs was not heavy.
The Pennsylvania vote calls for more
study when the county returns are
printed.
In states like Illinois and Kansas
the democratic vote fell or heavily,
and so did the total vote. This, of
course, means that numerous demo.
Gratis stayed at home, and no doubt
WI en- all returns are printed we shall
see that the Bryan democrats in large
numbers followed the example Of the
Cleveland democrats in 1896 and 1900.
And now the great question is, on
what lines and under what leader can
the democrats of both schools be
brought together in 1908? Let us,
however, enjoy the Christmas holidays
before we seriously tackle a question
of such magnitude and difficulty.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
The only way to keep reform from
curdling is not to use it.
The kind of mittens that keep a girls
hands warm are a mans fingers.
A nice thing about living in the coun-
try in winter is how warm you can get
by coming into town.
A man could stand his wife telling him
all the gossip IL she didn't expect him
to take sides about it.
The kindest thing woman ever does
to a young man is to have him fall in love
with her but not marry her because she is
already.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08
Slump Is Surprising.

From the Selma Times
The big slump in cotton is a sore dis
appointment to the south. Contrary to the
expectations of nearly all our people, cot
ton has gradually dropped from II cents
down to about Z cents, loss of about $40
per bale. There are about 20, 600 bales held
here in Selma, and that means loss of
100000. 1t seems that we have all been
fooled about the size of the crop. Along
with a great many cotton men we 90 not
know what to advise those VINO are hold
ing
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08
The Kaiser's stirrup Cup.
the Westminster Gazette.

From the Westminster Gazette.
White beer, sugar, citron peel, ginger.
spices. the yelk of at least dozen eggs.
Rhine wine, Madeira. old Santa Cruz rum.
All this, after being thoroughly stirred.
is placed on a fire and slowly heated.
several large pats of butter being added
to the concoction while it is warm.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08
Enough is a Plenty.

From the Dothan Siftings.
1t is high time for 1.-The recent over
whelming defeat to be put out of bust
ness for awhile. Give us a rest. Christmas
is coming, and after that. the first Of
January, and time will continue right
along. We will still be punished along
with such references, but we win have our
pleasures too. The defeat is not so bad
as the continual reference to it.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08
IN HOTEL LoB8lES
Twentv.,,r.t street Bridge.


1T Is strange that the people u On
mingham have borne with seeh p'''is -
and fortitude the inconvenience SUI.
fered in crossing Twenty-hrsl seieel
bridge In vehicles" said Leo n Steiner
THE bridge Is and has been Tor quite
long time in a deplorable condition. ana
why the constituted authoil1ies ~ -
give some relief Is past my comp ~
sion. The condition of this priuse re-
minds one very much Of low places On
country roads which have logs lalu sue
by side across the road and dirt thrown
upon them to prevent wagons from rniIlns
up during the winter season, ana "hen
the rains wash this dirt off, Vehlcie9 IA
pass over at a. slow pace or passeiiseis
be endangered Of losing their seats
1.-THE worn planks in the Twenty-nrst
street bridge are from time to tlne re-
placed with new, the new PLANK inter-
splieed with the old, so that it Is extreme
ly unpleasant to cross the priose II any
kind of vehicle Twenty-frst street oriose
is the best way of crossing from the
north to the southsde and it would De
used a great deal more were II not lof
its condition. I notice now thai the sili@
or the great beams supporting certain
portions of the bridge are fast routing
away.
Now and then a few conviots are put
to work on the bridge, but nothing IL
done to put the bridge in a good perma-
nent condition. The city would IN the
long run be saver If It would put down
asphalt or bituminous macadam across
the bridge. No doubt certain lumber deal
ers have a good thing IN furnishing the
city with the expensive lumber nseo
every year In making repairs. Sometime
should be done to put this thoroughfart
in better and permanent condition.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08
ALABAMA PRESS.
There Are others.

From the Montgomery Advertiser.
The Chicago Tribune with a squint
southwark, notes that there was not
single lynching during November Has
it heard from all parts of Illinois and
Kansas.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08

Very clearly the stay-at-homes in
Missouri handed that state over to the
republicans, for the republicans
scarcely polled their natural increase.
Roundly and briefly speaking, fully
C0,000 democrats stayed at home, or
about one in every five.
Nor was this tendency confined to
the west. The figures for Pennsylva-
mia are almost as significant. We give
them. emitting the scattering vote:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08
Temptation for Wagner.

From the Gadsden Journal
The revenue derived from his Simple
Life will be a big temptation to DR..
Wagner to live just little less simple
than formerly.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08

The opening of the Chadwick strong
box is eagerly awaited among her
creditors.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08
Hope In the Hen.


From the Huntsville Mercury.
If the southern farmer will treat the
American hen right, she will soon make
up for him his loss on cotton by its re-
cent slump.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08

ism in this state is growing rapidly" he
said. plans are now on foot whereby
the membership IN Alabama is to be In
creased over 200 during the month Of De-
cember. All the lodges OF the state.
number 40. have been requested to Until
ate at least one member at the last meet
Ing Of the present MONTH"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08

The University of Chicago has sub
stituted college songs for the doxology
at chapel services. An institution
where Shakespeare is discredited
probably finds it an easy matter to
dispose.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08

King Cotton should call a cabinet
meeting and reassure his subjects be-
fore a panic begins.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08

As a juggler of bank officials Mrs.
Cassie Chadwick takes the blue rib.
bon. She has no rival.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08

Astronomers see stars under much
more pleasant circumstances than the
citizen whose head comes in contact
with a policeman's club.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08
KNIGHTS of Pythias.

f. p Nichols of Roanoke. grand chan
cellor of the Knights of Pythias of Ala
bama, is at the Metropolitan. "Pythian-
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08

Mr.. James J. Jeffries IS now touring
the west in that incompatible and
extravagantly spectacular play of hui
man heart interest, "Dayy Crockett"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08

Andrew Carnegie should be patient.
The Chadwick mystery will yet be
cleared up.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08

AS Christmas approaches the Sun
day schools fill up.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08

Panama and its great and good
friend, Uncle Sam, are now chums,
thanks to War Secretary Taft and
President Amador.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08

Mrs. Chadwick evidently considers
Indebtedness capital. 1t is a new view
of an old matter.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08

Joe Cannon now presides over con-
gress when he is not chewing the end
of an unlighted cigar.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08

Massage your mind" is good ad
vice for people who have brain flag,
but first get your mind.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08

There are families in Maine so poor
they will have no meat this winter ex-
cept venison.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08

New York has four inches of snow,
but it will not be white snow by
Christmas time.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08

Governor-elect Folk will be inaugu-
rated January 9, and he will at once
begin his White House campaign OF
L 08 by prosecuting boodlers.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08

Arizona and New Mexico are pa
tiently waiting to become stars on the
flag of the free
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08

Mrs Chadwick seems to have a
flock of angels" that would make a
comic opera star green with envy.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08

Mrs. Chadwick should organize
trust. She has all the qualifications
of a trust magnate.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08

A fire in the Fairbanks home came
perilously near warming up the hui
man icicle.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08

Forty automobiles were burned in
New York this week, much to the re-
lief of the hospitals of that city.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-08

Great excitement was caused in
Washington by the report that
Uncle" Joe Cannon had arrived in a
new overcoat.