davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1904-01-06
PeSSimiStiC Sentiment
Follows Action of Lon
don Firm.
AWAITS RUSSIA'S REPLY
japanese Embassy Denies
That One Has Been Re-
ceived in Tokyo.

LONDON, Jan. "a rise in Lloyds
war Insurance rates to So per cent caused
pessimistic political sentiment this
morning, which was reflected in heavy,
sagging markets for securities. Japan
ese issues declined = per cent further.
The tone on the foreign bourses is
heavy.
The japanese embassy denies that the
RUSSIAN reply to the Japanese demands
has been receivd at Tokyo.
Increased Naval Activity.
The Birmingham. Post" today SAYS
that rumors Indicate an increasing ma
val activity not only on the part of Rus
sla and Japan, but also by France.
America, and England. Great Britain
the paper says. has taken steps point
ing not only to a large addition to the
British squadron in the Far Eastern
waters, but also TO the attaching Of ex-
pert naval officers to Japanese vessels.
The paper adds:
This is not necessarily antagonistic
to Russia. but IS a precaution made
requisite by the Anglo-Japanese ALI
ance and in order to secure reports as
to the condition and prospects Of the
japanese navy
JlngoeS Are Excited.
This report of the POST is taken
variOusly in different quarters. Bv
many IL is taken TO indicate exactly
what the paper says, while others think
Great Britain is but following. IN a more
extended manner. the example OF the
United States, in arranging for sufh-
cient force in the Far East to safeguard
British interests there. A small minor
ity Of JirgOists think such a step on
the part OF England would be but the
initiative IN preparations 70 give sub
staztinl aid 70 Japan IN the event Of
war.
The hope raised yesterday by reports
that Russian reply To Japan's demands
had been sent to Tokyo which was con-
ciliatory in tone. has again been over
come by the belief that little chance ex-
lists Of any settlement.
One hundred and twenty British sail
ors and ten officers left London for
Genoa today to work the two newly ac-
quired japanese cruisers from that mort
to Yokohama The men were given an
enthusiastic send-on
Quiet in Seoul.
SEOUL. Jan. 6.-The city is quiet to-
day. A heavy guard has been placed
about the Kings Palace, however to be
ready for any disturbance which might
occur
BERLIN, Jan. s.-The 'Frankfurter
Zeitung" today says the Sultan of Tur-
key is watching the crisis in the Far
East with anxiety, as he is convinced
that war would unloose the discOntented
Balkan elements.
The Washington times., 1904-01-06
Wrecks Frequent.

Excessive low temperature has in
some cases caused the telegraph wires
to break because\ of abnormal cOntrac-
ton. and this has helped TO interfere
with the operation of trains. Wrecks
have been frequent, and trains have had
TO proceed much more slowly than ordI-
narily. as the ice-coated tracks have
seriously reduced the hauling capacity
OF the engines
Traffic on the Potomac is entirely
suspended except for the screw steam
ers Of the Weems Line and OF the line
from Washington to Norfolk Ice six
inches thick extends from washington
to Ragged Point. in WestmOreland
county. Va. and below the point there
is much heavy ice. The creeks and
small rivers branching OF into s1aTy-
land from the Potomac are frozen solil,
and only few of them are accessible
to the best ice-ighUing steamers OF the
Weems fleet
The Washington times., 1904-01-06

High tide today 10 80 a. m
High tide tomorrow II ID a. m, II :43 2. n.
Low tide tomorrow. .5.28 a. M, 5:52 p. m.
The Washington times., 1904-01-06
TEMPERATURE.
TIE SIN.
TIDE Table.

Sun sets today y....................4:53 ID. m.
Sun rises tomorrow a. m.
The Washington times., 1904-01-06
RISING TEMPERATURE
PROMISED TOMORROW
Trains From SOath Delayed
by ce-COated Tracks, and
Steamers Impeded on the
River-Effect on Hotels.
TEMPERATURES.

These figures tell the story OF the con-
unuance Of the cold wave over Wash
ington and the entire East There has
been no appreciable let up in the cold.
The minimum yesterday was 3 degrees
above zero at a m, and the mini
mum Of AZ degrees this morning shows
the wave is almost holding lis own.
Out of the Ordinary.
While the present wave does not
break any records. it was said this
morning that the long continuance Of
temperatures so near zero as those Of
the past week is entirely out Of the ordi-
nary, and the Weather Bureau said
that such n thing was not likely to hap
pen again in a great many years.
The lowest temperature ever recorded
in the thirt, t,-three years that the
Weather Bureau has been established
was Is degrees below zero. which hap
pened in the great blizzard of 1899. when
many persons lost their lives and an
enormous loss OF property resulted from
the heavy snow. That storm was ac-
cOmpanied by snow which blocked traf-
nc throughout the East, but even then
there was no such long period of exces-
sIve cold as has marked the present
spell.
Weather Should Moderate.
Today and tomorrow will be fair. with
slightly rising temperatures. says the
Weather Bureau. and Tomorrow morn
ing the thermometer should show ten
degrees higher than today. But beyond
that nothing is known, except that in
the ordinary course Of events the
weather should moderate from now on
until il reaches the normal for January
The snowstorm which accompanied the
beginning Of the ad-ance Of the main
cold wave on New Year night has
added greatly to the difficulties brought
about by the excessive cold. and has
greatly incOnvenienced the public. Rail
road and telegraph lines have been so
seriously hampered that in many cases
they could offer little or no service
The wide reach OF the cold wave into
the South has interfered with railroad
traffic between that section and wash
ington, and trains coming from q dis
tance are anywhere from half an hour
70 a day late. The train from the South
due over the Southern Railroad last
night at 9 o'clock was posted 10 arrive
this morning at IL o'clock Delays al
most as bad have kept back other trains.
and it is not known when traffic viii be
restored TO its usual condition
The Washington times., 1904-01-06

Fair, not so cold tonight
and tomorrow; light, vari-
able winds.
The Washington times., 1904-01-06

You Will Take the "For Rent
Sign Down When You Advertise
In The Times. :: = : =
The Washington times., 1904-01-06

Continued on Seventh Page.)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-30
CAUCASIAN GREED SEEN
 IN SOUTHWEST AFRICA

and the story that comes from South west Africa shows him at what may be called his best or his worst according to the ethical level of the individual ob- server He is egregiously shrewd and in his bargainings with the natives of the obscurer portions of the earth's surface he usually comes out on top. But just now he has overreached himself. He has stirred up the Kaisers black subjects to rebellion and caused woe and desolation on scores of German ranches and farms. The Reichstag will do we'll if it takes him into account in its deliberations on the situation and restricts his greed by law in the future.
 Whatever the morals of the white mans invasion of the Dark Continents may be, this one thnig is certain, that we are bound to treat the nativeg justly. The law of common sense, as we'll as the law of brotherhood and decency, demands it. That nation will have the greatest success in ruling savage or half-savags people which listens fairly to their com plaints adjusts their grievances and rights their wrongs. Will Germany deal rationally and honestly with the Here ros and with the merchants and traders who have had such a prominent part in rousing the animosity of the blacks?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-30

dum amendment has just been de- c1ared constitutionally adopted by the state Supreme court Oregon can now legislate without the intervention of a legislature, it's initiative and refer endum being the most radical that has ever been adopted in this country. Heretofore direct action of the people has been confined to laws passed by a legislature, but the Oregon amend ment permits the people to legislate without reference to a legislature at all.
 Petitions are in circulation today in Oregon for the purpose of placing be- fore the people . direct primaries bill that will abolish all conventions, city, county or state, and the indications are that it will be overwhelmingly adopted. A petition of eight per cent of the voters is required in order to se- cure the placing of the primary bill be- fore the voters in the coming June election.
 Were it not for such boss-ruled states as New York or Pennsylvania, the primary system would become thoroughly established before 1908, but the chances are that two more presidential conventions will be held one this year and one in 1908, and after that as things are going all po- 1itical initiative will come direct from the hands of the people.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-30
Good Seed Necessary.

The practice of selling the seed from the first picking of crop is re- sulting disastrously to the crop. The oil mills that encourage such sales are killing the goose that lays the golden egg, and the farmer is growing fewer pounds to the acre year by year. Tho first bolls contain the strongest and fattest seeds, and the sale of these seeds to the oil mills is we'll nigh suicidal.
 The plants of each year are thus grown from the feebler seeds of the previous year, and steady deteriora- tion in the plant is unavoidable. All farmers know or should know the value of the stronger seeds of a crop, and it seems incredible that a prac- tice has grown up of selling the seed from the first picking.
 This practice must be stopped even if the hand of the law must be evoked against the greedy and irrepressible oil mill. The president of the oil mill trust says the seed is yielding each year less oil. His own company is largely to blame for this loss, for it promotes in every possible way the sale of seed from the first picking. If no other way can be found to prevent such disastrous course law should be passed regulating purchases of seed by oil mills. The farmer himself should render the passage of such a law unnecessary, but the chances are that large numbers of them will con tinue to trundle away to buyers the first seeds they come in possession of at the gins.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-30
Fire insurance Rates.

The Insurance Press shows that the tendency of insurance rates Is down. ward. In tnirty-nine states rates were lower in 1902 than at other times in ten years, and sixteen of these states rates were lower in 1902 than they had been in twenty-two years.
 But this tendency did not extend to Alabama. In 1893 the rate in this state was s1.32 per $1OO of insurance; in 1902 the rate had been increased to $1.7S. Why the rate should be $1.7S in Alabama and $1.52 in Georgia it is difficult to say It is equally difficult to say why New Jersey should have a 91 cents rate and Alabama rate of $17S. Tn other words, it costs about twice as much to insure property against fire in Alabama as 1t does in New Jersey. The lowest rate in the country was in New York state, where a rate of 75 cents was established In 1902.
 Alabama belongs in the list of high rate states, her rate being higher even than New Mexico's, or Virginia's, or Texas. Kansas enjoys a rate of $1.10 per $100 of insurance. Will any one say that Alabama should pay more than half more than Kansas pays?
 The tables printed by the Insurance Press show many unexplainable differ ences, but certainly the gap between Alabama and Georgia should not exist, and either Kansas rate is too low, or Alabama's too high. In Indiana the rate is but $119 In South Carolina it is but $1.26. What in the name of common sense makes South Carolina s rate $126, and Alabama's s1.7S? We pause for a reply.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-30
An Indian Senator.

=
 Senator Quay's statehood bill Is not taken seriously He has incorporated in it a provision that one of the sena- tors from Oklahoma and the Indian Territory shall be an Indian. One red man to represent the remnant of the original inhabitants would be some recompense for the wrongs done the race, and he might be able to disprove the maxim as to good Indians.
 But how is sovereign state to be controlled? If Oklahoma and the ln- dian Territory in the mad rush of political strife should send to Wash ington two white senators, what is to be done about IL? The senate might, it is true, refuse to seat one of them, but that would not put an Indian in the senate, and congress would be helpless when it comes to the coercing of state legislature.
 All sorts of provisions have been inserted in statehood bills, but not one of them could be enforced Louis jana was admitted on the condition that she would not send out robber barons to level toll on vessels in the Mississippi river. Ohio was admitted on the condition that she would not tax public lands for five years after government sale. Utah was required to prohibit polygamy and set up re- | ligious federation, and 1t is doubtful in deed whether she has done either. An attempt was made to prohibit slavery in the new state of Missouri but 8 great civil war had to be fought out before that was accomplished. Upon the reconstructed states all sorts ot conditions were imposed, not one of which was or is enforceable.
 The question has, however small practical importance. MT. Quay's pro- vision will be laughed out of the sen ate, and the sovereign states will go on doing as they like, and no harm will be done. The coercing of states by the general government is task that should be confined to interstate commerce or to some other subject that congress has some power over.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-30
TRAINS DEATH SONG.

By George Francis Train.
 No mourning?
 No sermon?
 No crape?
 No music?
 No pallbearers?
 No chimes? Nothing but flowers (Rooms to drape) Fading as fame, where no sun shines? No mourning (Where all came to mourn) No tears (Where each one came to
 weep)? Flowers piled around casket deep; No signs that death had lifehood torn Believer? Cwho did not believe) House crowded? with no one to grieve) But lovely family forlorn? marble bust (From last death mask And ashes from cremating, urn When those lovely women return, Is only the souvenir they ask? ''MEMENTO MORT (Forget not death) No ''requiescat in pace stone. They fin memoriam', alone, The mystery of life's dying breath" Blood relation affinities. Psychic eternal verities. Were out-rainbowed in lovely home? One wol'd suppose that death was new. So long not knowing what to do, With oldest of all mysteries? What are we all but-shooting starse Darkness to darkness, light to ligkA. ' Even iifehood oft behind bars, Our brightest day. oft darkest night? Though everything dies, time rolls on, Infancy, youth and manhood gone, Who knows where ship went down in
 STORM. Where death. disaster. first begun7
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-30
Changes in Popular Action.

Louisiana has adopted the primary system throughout, and last week the democrats of that state went to the polls and nominated ex-Senator Blanchard for governor, and endorsed Senator Foster for second term. The democrats of Louisiana have been boss-ruled and ring ruled long time, and they are glad indeed to shake off all such membranes, and to come to their own through the plan of direct action by the people, of the people, for the people.
 The entire south has practically fallen into line, and the primary is es- tablished from the Potomac to the Rio Grande, but no southern state has reached the pure democracy of Ore gon, where an initiative and referen-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-30

called upon President Dlaz and received a gracious reception. MT. West states that he found the progress of the Methodist, and Presbyterian churches in Mexico very gratifying.
 w. A. Meglemery of Louisville, travel ing auditor of the Louisville and Nash vile. is at the Metropolitan
 O. M Lane of Atalla is stopping at the Florence.
 Earle Lay of Gadsden is at the Morris R. N. Franklin of Goodwater is at the St. Nicholas.
 James C. Baker of Atlanta is at the Hillman.
 William Scar and ". W. Lancaster of Eutaw are at the Morris.
 W. c. Hill of Cairo. H.. is registered at the St. Nicholas.
 John A. Davis of Fort Payne is at the Metropolitan.
 B. ". Thompson of Anniston is stop ping at the Florence.
 
 Edwin Ople, formerly the popular night clerk of the Metropolitan, but now with the dining car service of the Louisville and Nashville, is at the Metropolitan. William c. Crnmpton and S. L. Tis- dale of Evergreen are at the Morris. John c. Holmes of Macon is at the Hill- man.
 The Hon. J. B. Powell of Greenville is stopping at the Morris.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-30
Worlds Fair Stories.

Speaking candidly, it seems to me that the worlds fair stories are not particular ly interesting so far" said a newspaper reader. Although the fair management has engaged a trained corps of writers and these have been diligently at work they have turned out comparatively few stories of real interest to a large circle of people. Most of them start out all right and you begin to think that the author has hit upon an interesting theme when suddenly he branches off into the commercial part of his article-the part he is paid for-and strings out a dreary list of figures and facts which tell how much of this and that will be seen al St. Louis and what some obscure college professor thinks of the general ensemble.
 Most of these fair press agents seem unable to lose sight of the fact that they are writing for advertising purposes and consequently they spoil many good arti- cles by injecting too many commonplace statistics. It is possible to write some very entertaining articles about the big fair at St. Louis and so write them that the public interest will be instantly at tracted but the public does not care for a complete list of everything they are to see before they get to St. Louis. They would much prefer to see such things than to read about them.
 Please don't understand me to say that all the worlds fair press notices come un- der this criticism. I have not read all of them by any means and in fact very few have come within my reach but I nm merely giving my impressions of sev- eral articles of the kind that have read recently"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-30
IN HOTEL HOBBIES
7 Sources of Information.


 Policemen in our large cities are abso- lutely indispensable as sources of infor- nation, in addition to their value as pre- servers of the peace" said an easterner Tn the smaller southern cities and in most of the large ones policemen do not pay as much attention to the direction of strangers as they do in the larger cities of the country, probably for the reason that it is not so necessary.
 Tn large cities one can see policemen stationed at every crossing whose sole duty it is to look out for the safety of pedestrians prevent traffic congestion, answer a thousand questions and quell any chance disturbance that may arise. It takes a man we'll trained for the work to hold such a position creditably He must snot only have every important building and locality located in the city at his finger tips but he must have his wits about him to snatch a woman from beneath the feet of horses or trolley cars, in addition to keeping an eye out for his own personal safety.
 T have seen great strapping look AAS ANAioN9 NaiihiS 0ldiihihS III tiN strom of traffic, escorting women and children across, shouting at careless drivers, signaling motormen, and turning every few moments to point out the di- rection to some public building or park withoutAa ripple of anxiety or worry or their countenances. I remember one such policeman, especially. He was undoubt- edly the hest man in his place I ever saw. He seemed to know about one per son in every five of the throng that surged pass him and was continually cry ing cheery greeting as he diligently cared for the public safety"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-30
Labeled Baggage.

Travellers are always very proud of the labels on their baggage" said a local hotel man. ''Especially if man who has been abroad and has half dozen blue and green bits of paper pasted on his luggage which bear glaring evidence to the fact that he has been to London, Paris. or Berlin. I have seen gentlemen with grips and dress suit cases literally covered with labels. showing that they had travelled extensively. And yet they were evidently proud of the fact and took particular pains that all who wished could read. We don't have any labels down here. Per haps we are not quite cosmopolitan enough.v
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-30

From the Providence Journal.
 @ ATER dispatches from Southwest
 O Africa, where the Heroes have - risen murderously against their nominal German ruler, make it clear that the insurrection was not wholly an un- warranted and unreasonable performance. German traders are now said to be at the bottom of it. They inveigled the natives into commercial transactions that result ed in the fattening of the Teutonic purse at the ruinous expense of the blacks. and when the latter found themselves involv- ed to hopeless degree they reverted to the ancient savage practice of extricating themselves by arson and slaughter. Fly way of Berlin this information comes regarding the methods of the traders:
 ''The traders sell at first entirely on credit, not requiring any cash until they make later trips. The improvident na- lives buy largely and repeatedly. The merchants extend and renew the credits of the traders, sometimes to 15O0o marks (sS,75O). The traders begin collecting por- tions of the debts by taking cattle in pay
 
 goods on credit The natives are often indebted to several traders at once. The informant found that the merchants took an average of seventy per cent profit on the transactions of the traders. the traders added one hundred percent to the selling price, and usually made twen- ty per cent more on the cattle which they took fin payment. The traders further aroused the anger of the natives by seiz- ing cattle arbitrarily, without waiting for legal procedure.
 The methods to which the savage and semi-savage peoples of African and Asi- atic colonies resort at times like this are barbarous in the extreme. They give no quarter they murder the families of un- offending settlers, they destroy property ruthlessly. But there is something to be said for them. They realize that they are no match for the whites in trade. They see themselves involved in transac tions they only -dimly comprehend and they are tempted to take up the old ir- struments of force against the invaders. The unoffending settler belongs to the same race as the trader or merchant who has cheated them It is no time for fine distinctions. and so the killing and rapine go on. Even Windhoek, the German cap ital town, was threatened at last accounts and as nothing has been heard from there for more than a week serious events may have occurred since, the last dispatches were sent out.
 The German trader has gone to the end of the earth. He Is not only in South west Africa, where his government has acquired a political foothold, but in Asia Minor, where the Kaiser only hopes to be the real ruler some day. in Sham tung. where German political influence is yearly increasing. and in Manchuria. where our own commercial interests are so great. He is an enterprising fellow,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-30
Effect of Snow.

"Our Alabama snow season has not been extremely cold" remarked a general contractor yesterday. but the southern pend for manual labor, is much afraid of the whiteness of snow, and declines to do outdoor or surface work when it happens to be in evidence. Hence it Is that during the past few days much work has been suspended in this dstrict; and this makes a temporary lull in business As little as you may think of 1t. this visitation of snow is going to cut pay rolls for this week. But that is all right; the work must yet be done. and the pay rolls will be augmented largely next week, so mer- chants and traders need not be discour- aged"