davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25
Mr.. Harriman's Defense

The notoriety of the Alton reorgan'
ization and recapitulation has led the
chief promoter of that scheme to
cause the president of the Alton rail
road to publish a defense of the pro
ceedings, and it is defense that
excites the wonder and perhaps the
merriment of the public. The de-
Tense may as we'll be considered Mr..
Harriman's, for he is its true source
and inspiration.
He says the great increase in the
volume of stock was but just cap
italizing Of the future. 1t was based
on expected earnings. That is but
another definition of water. To an
ticipate the future in railroad capital
ization is to create water, and the
courage of a new phrase or new de-
finition does not in the least change
the case or the facts.
Nor does it help Mr.. Hartman 8
position to say that the stock prices
of Alton common and preferred have
been below par-that the expected
earnings have not appeared. The
capitulation stands at the old figures,
and earnings to meet them will be
squeezed out whenever they can be.
Nor is the issue Of bonds at SO at
all explained, especially when those
bonds at that price went chiefly into
Mr.. Harriman's pockets. He sold
them soon afterwards around 80. But
those bonds are bonds still, and the
people who use the Alton railroad
must pay interest upon them, and
finally must pay the principal. The
fact that the stockholders got the
bonds at 65 does not help the general
public living on Or near the railroad.
The long and short of the matter
is that Mr.. Hartman and his associ-
ates caused to be issued 61000,0 900
in securities that represent nothing in
the Alton railroad They did this in
the very teeth of the constitution Of
Illinois, which says that all such Sc
curities are null and void. 1t is up to
Illinois to vindicate her own constitu-
ton.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25
A ONCE GREAT PARTY

body can admire the republican party, and
its unresisting acouiescence in the rule
and the decisions of one man, who has
swept aside the traditions it once revered
is imperishable and substituted ideas and
principles borrowed from William j.
Bryan, makes pity half-hearted and does
not altogether exclude ridicule. From
the man who has wrought this astound-
ing change it is impossible to withhold
admiration. The spirit that is wholly
gone out of a long dominant party he
possesses Its will is extinguished, its
leaders have vanished. His will and his
power are imperial. AS history views
him, he may appear to have the grand
air that belongs to supremacy, but as
his contemporaries view him, business
like efficiency seems to characterize every
act. He is fearless. If opposition has the
hardihood to raise its head, the order
goes forth that 1t must be crushed. He
has great and positive joy in confiics,
but not with minor men. Fairbanks,
Shaw, Cannon-what are they? Straws,
mere straws. The whirlwind losses, but
does not deign to notice. them. Where
real resistance is set up the blows fall.
They are corporation men, they are reac-
:ionaries. They must get out of the way
or be annihilated. Do they appeal for re-
publican support? Do they presume to
make their puny arrangements for con-
yentions and delegates? That Is my af-
fair, 1t is my prerogative. The republican
party, 1t is I.
The history of our politics records no
such wonderful Transformation. The re-
publican party, the great party, the party
that saved the nation. the party of great
achievements and great men with whose
names it has conjured in It's repeated and
successful appeals for continued support.
has become body of thralls It's organi-
cation IS controlled no longer by major
ity vote, but by one voice. 1t has sur
rendered the right of initiative, 1t can
only ratify, confirm. and approve. To
raise question is to be accommodated
To disagree or to crticise is q punish
able audacity. There is no safety but in
effacement
The wonder of it is that all these strong
and capable men. these men who were the
bone and sinew of the party, who cher
ished, we may suppose, their personal am
billions and hope Of the reward of faith
full service, have with such unanimity
consented to save themselves by silence
and let this supreme figure dominate the
stage. He conquers, he compels. he tri-
umphs, as though they were all afraid
of him. Undoubtedly they are.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25
PASSING of Oriental Dreams

Ten years ago all Of the western
nations including these United States
had dreams of conquest in the orient.
Those that did not dream of terri
torial conquests certainly had wild
dreams of commercial conquests.
Where are those dreams now?
America would be glad to get out
of the Philippines. Russia is with
drawing from Manchuria, and Ger
many and Great Britain are no longer
expecting to occupy the Shantung
peninsula. The Orient is to be re-
served for Orientals. Nothing in this
world is better settled than that the
people of the Orient are to be left
to work out their destiny or destines
unaided and unchecked by western
Intervention. The battle of Moukden
on land and the battle that Togo
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25
From the New York Times.

From the New York Times.
4" ROM the White House comes de-
~ NAL that the presidential cam
paign of next year was discussed
between the President and Governor
Deneen of Illinois. For all that the coun-
try knows they may have talked about
child labor, waterways, the public lands.
football, or the reserved rights of the
states. But during the forty-eight hours
or so when 1t was understood that the
question of the succession had been con-
sdered and perhaps disposed of at that
interview, there was no criticism, no pro-
test, no surprise even. 1t it had been an
nounced in an official statement. after the
manner now in vogue, that the temporary
and permanent chairmen of next year s
convention had been selected the COM
business settled, and the platform drawn
up, we doubt whether in any important
republican quarter anything more than
whispered dissent would have been heard
The helpless pulp that once was the
republican party Is no longer capable of
resistance. 1t accepts, 1t acouiesces
What contrast to the old days when an
administration had to defend and hold its
positions, often had to surrender them
after earnest conference with the chief
men OF the party, the days when, if the
administration ventured even tentatively
TO put forward it's candidate for the next
ensuing election the tents were instantly
pitched and drilling was actively begun in
opposition camps.
Men still young easily recall the names
and the public activities of republican
leaders like Zachariah Chandler, Oliver p.
Morton, Roscoe Conkling, James G.
Blaine, George F. Edmunds, John Sher-
man, William M Eyarts. Mark Hanna
ana George F. Hoar. The memory of an
older generation goes back to the great
days Of the party when Charles sumner
Jacob Collamer, Thaddeus Stevens. Simon
cameron, Salmon p. Chase, william H.
seward, Lyman Trumbull and BENJAMIN
f. wade gave intellectual distinction tn
the debates in which they engaged and
guided the party in the courses marked
out by their counsels. Then there was
rivalry and noble strife. Leader CON
tended with leader, following with fol-
lowing, faction with faction but all were
devoted party men, proud to be repub-
lioans. Now there is no strife, no faction
out one leader, and one following.
Inc complacent subjects of an autocra+
are never in a position to evoke admire
'ion' In Its present supine condition no.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25
The Stock Market.

Henry Clews in his Wall street letter
says:
Last weeks collapse on the stock ex-
change left the stock market in an I'M
settled and feverish condition That dis
aster was partly the result of economic
conditions and partly the result of
break In the huge speculative movements
inaugurated in the last quarter of 1906.
me large dividend payments on Union
ana Southern Pacific, which excited so
much comment at the time, were the
basis of extraordinary speculative oper-
atoms conducted simultaneously In Lon
don and New York The parties conduct
ing these poerations were highly success
1ul In their earliest stages; and large
Quantities Of these stocks bought at low
prices were proftably distributed during
the first part of the campaign in both the
domestic and foreign markets. Subse
quently, however these operations were
not entirely successful, because large
amounts of stocks were still held by the
leaders and their friends for which only a
very limited market could be found out
side OF their own buying and selling to
each other. The public as a whole had
Kept out of hte market with unusual per-
sisteney; the widespread distrust created
py the exposures Of high finance and the
stringency in money being unquestionablv
the chief causes or this reticence. The
strain on the leader was intense. and was
seriously aggravated by high rates for
money.
IL is too early to calculate the effect
upon general business of the stock market
decline. Our railroads are already start
Ing a policy of retrenchment which must
react upon the iron trade and upon labor
Many OF our rich men also who are ac-
eustomed to take the initiative will either
through necessity or cautain follow on
the same lines. With a check to enter
prise generally and a lessened demand for
labor, 1t is inevitable that business will
In time feel these movements They NAV
not show themselves Immediately, for
much of the work projected must be fin
ished, but later on 1t need cause no sur
prise If there should be moderate slack
ening In the headlong pace at which bus
mess has been going for the past few
years. IF such reaction can be kept with
In moderate bounds and the country
brought back gradually from abnormal
conditions to those which are more nor
NAL, the result would really be beneficial
inasmuch as our situation will be stronger
and sounder. This is going to be criti-
cal year. If we have another good har-
vest serious reaction may be deferred. If
the harvest should not be satisfactory.
then we must look for further contraction
in all departments of industry and
finance. The latest reports concerning
winter wheat are exceedingly favorable
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Powell Avenue Crossing.

Il think that the Southern railway
should be forced to repair the crossing
at Powell avenue, where it goes over the
tracks of the street railway" said a man
who has been jolted severely on that
crossing more than once. There are
scores of cars passing over that crossing
daily and the people are given severe
humping eevry time.
There are two crossing on Powell ave-
nue. and Twentieth street, one of which
has to be maintained by the street rail-
way company and the other by the South
ern railway. I took pains to investigate
the matter and found that the crossing
maintained by the street car company
was new and there is comparatively little
jolting when car crosses. no more than
at any other crossing. But the Southern
railway is responsible for the condition of
the other crossing, and it is in very bad
shape
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25
A TIRE Butte.

From the Marion STANDARD.
Our eloquent and cultured friend John
II. Wallace of Huntsville, has been ap-
pointed state game warden. No more ap-
proprate selection could have been made
Mr., Wallace is the author of "A Senator
from Alabama and has figured consid-
erably and honorably in public life many
years. Once. when John was canvassing
his congressional district for the party, a
woman challenged him to joint debate
John was but youth, and he promptly
declined. We have always regarded 1t as
one of the most statesmanlike acts of his
entire career.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25
CONFESSIONS OF DopD CASTOR,

pioAh the topeka capital.
have noticed that the stage is about
The only place where it IL considered good
form for women to wear gowns in the
morning.
nave lied good deal about the hard
work ] did as a boy, but have never vet
claimed l wore my fingers to the bone.
Having four sisters, I am ..bro,xen to-,
the new styles in millinery very early in
the season
The patriots will be greatly panied to
hear 1t, but the facts are that I seldom
take on my hat when I see the old flag
1t has always been my notion that a re-
form movement to prohibit bathing would
attract lot Of support.
find that the New York man who re-
Gently attended party In Topeka wear
ing a brown waistcoat with his evening
clothes attracted very little attention. A
New York man can do anything he likes
In a country town and get away with it.
Being mere heather. can not sec
why form of recreation or amusement
which is objectionable during Lent is not
equally Objectionable during the remain
ing months OF the year.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25
DRINKING OF TENNEsEEANs.

From the Washington Herald.
The fierce prohibition campaign In Ten
nessee has affected the drinking habits
notioeably of Tennessee statesmen not
only at home, but also when they fare
forth abroad. When Senator Carmack' S
successor, Ex-Governor "Fiddling
Bob'-took possession of his committee
room he found an obsequious colored SER
cltor attached to the foam. The new
senator was thirsty, and so informed the
servitor.
What will you have, sir?' inquired
that eager to serve functionary
Go fetch me q gourd of water-pure
water, strand be in hurry about 1t,
too" ordered the senator
The messenger compromised on a tin
sup, but in the vacation of the Senate
he is trying to acquire gourd for the ac-
commodation OF "Fldding Bob at the
next session.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25
EVENING SONG.

BY Sidney Lanier.
Look off. dear Love across the sallow
sands,
And mark you meeting of the sun and
sea;
How long they kiss in sight of all tho
lands
All! longer, longer we.
Now in the seas red vintage melts the
sum-
As Egypt's pearl dissolved in rosy wine.
And Cleopatra night drinks ALL IT'S done.
Love, lay thine hand in mine.
Come FORTH sweet stars and comfort
Heavens heart
Glimmer. ye waves, round else unlighted
sands
Oh, night, divorce our sun and sky apart
Never our lips, our hands.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25
SOME AUTOMOBILE GEOGRAPHY

From Caspar Wh!tney's viewpoint" in
the Outing Magazine
nor Is America the only secen of auto
mobile development. The car is sweeping
the world. At the Berlin show there were
9so exhibits by 81 manufacturers. as COM
pared with 800 exhibits by 2ss exhibitors
IN 1905. OF the number of exhibitors in
1906 SSs We're German, II French, 4 Ital-
'ah' ana American. And here, too, at
the Berlin show, refinement of the details
OF constructfon-in design, in motors. and
IN methods of "Reminiscences the fea-
ture, the trend everywhere noticeable he
Ing toward simplicity.
Although Great Britain has Jagged he-
hlnd France, Germany and America in
automobile manufacturing, yet this last
winters show at London gave evidence
Oh very great progress made in the last
Two years. British cars, speaking gener-
ally are yet to be compared with those
OF the leading manufacturers of the other
countries. They have not attained to thu
mechanical simplicity. nor to the refine
Heht OF general structure but they are
coming. The feature of the recent show
was the appearance of a number of sjx
cylinder cars-nlany of the manufacturers
turning their attention to this styIe
which, however, appears in most models
TO lessen the seating CAPACITY
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25
Narvoo, Illinois.

las a contrast between the weather
we are having in Birmingham at present
and the weather in Nauvoo, Illinois, said
Arnold Masberg yesterday. II will show
you a photograph 1 have just received.
You can see for yourself the depth
of snow on the ground, the letter says
it Is nearly two feet deep. and these
children drapped up in furs may give
you to understand how cold it is. Nauvoo
is about $50 miles north of Birmingham
and while We are having summer weather
here, the temperature there is nearly
zero.
"Narvoo is an historic place. 1t was
originally a Mormon settlement before
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

Politics isn't as much as a forty second
cousin to morality.
The best way to break into society is to
break into some bank first.
Flats are good things to teach people to
get used to doing without a home.
When a mans wife has the money he
talks lot about his work without do
ing any.
A woman may not earn much about
acting going to the theatre, but she learns
lot about clothes.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25
Flowers or Eeathera.

Il asked lady few days ago." said
a mere man, (which she preferred, a hat
trimmed with flowers or with feathers
and she very laconically answered, both.
which answer reminded me of the story
told of the Irishman who was asked
whether he would take a drink of whisky
or a cupof tea, and he said, I'll take the
whisky while you is making the tea
I think one of the most interesting
exhibitions that could be gotten UP would
be collection of hats and bonnets worn
by women during the last hundred years.
giving the names and dates of the ar
ticles. In my own time I have seen the
Dolly Warden the Tamo' shanter. the
Sailor the 'Gainsborough, but latterly
they are not named SO far as 1 know
simply owing to the fact that no word
could express the subject.
Il once read that 1t was possible to
tell mans character from his mat, and
believe 1t is some index to his mental and
moral qualities. but no one has yet at
tempted to lay down any rule on the sub.
ject of women's hats except the Alpine,
which writer says is worn by women
who owe the world a grudge.
Il like to see a nice hat on a woman,
but some of the hats I've sene would scare
me. l saw an old country woman about
a month ago trying on hats In store in
this city and I was strongly tempted to
interfere. The hats must have been In
the Galveston food or the San Francisco
earthquake, and the birds which nestled
around the crown seemed to have died in
convulson She finally selected a 'crea-
ton that would have terrified a barn
yard. Wearing this latest fashion, she
set her neighbors wild With envy
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25
Great Audiences.

Madame Sembrich sang to $1,000 house
in Greensboro, n. c.. few nights ago."
said a man who keeps in touch with the
musical world. land Greensboro has a
population of less than 10000
''Sembrich's concert tours this season
have been phenomenally successful. The
famous prima donna seems to be in ex-
ceptionally fine form and Van Hoose
who is assisting her, Is favorite all
along the line.
THE largest business ever done in Br-
mingham by any operate company was
several years ago when Grau's troupe gave
Lohengrin. The performance took place
at what is now the Bijou theatre and
the receipts were $1,000. Sembrich. by
the way appeared on that occasion. I
predict that she will sing here next week
to the greatest music loving audience as
sembled in this city since that time
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

Far West dramas are preparing to
substitute grafters for the Indians,
and it is to be hoped the slaughter
will not decrease.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

The west needs all the water in the
east. but the transfer cannot be ac-
complished except by means of the
clouds and they refuse to float stead
ily westward.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

An edict against the wearing of
trailing skirts has been issued in
Prague city that is suffering from
the ravages of typhoid fever.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

Actual investors are not troubled
over the ups and downs of Wall
street, for they are in the position
of the cat that ate the canary.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

The man who stole the $4,000 I'M
doubtedly claims that he made mil
lion in the last Wall street furry.
Chicago is full of members of the
furry brigade.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

The information that the railroad
presidents carry to the white house
would not load a ship.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

While Illinois has a temperature of
81 degrees in the shade it is con-
vinced that spring has actually sprung
into it's midst.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

All teams in the Southern League
are hopeful, and this promises good
sport even If seven disappointments
must come at the end.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

Let us hope John d. Rockefeller
will not in his will bequeath the
earth so that living conditions will
be worse than they are at present
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

Congressman Burton Is steering the
Taft BOOM which is fast becoming
the warmest of the entire lot.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

The scrapping Of three millionaires
before the Rhode Island legislature
goes steadily on without arousing pub
lie attention in any section.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

The railroad presidents who are
flocking to the white house should ex-
plain why railroad gross earnings are
increasing
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

Florida has been requested to call
in its wandering weather. 1t is I'M
timely out of its habitat.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

Helicon Hall was, next to Indiana,
the home of literature, and many a
plot persisted in the fire.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

The Sinclairites propose TO rise
from their ashes and their compre-
hensive mortgage of 100000.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

The Ohio river valley would like
to be treated to Wall street furry
because it squeezes the water out.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

Oklahoma will vote In August on
Its up-to-date two-cent-a-mile consti-
tuition.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

The Big Three is now Roosevelt,
Hughes and Deneen, and all three
are full of possibilities.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

Mr.. Taft will sample all kinds of
American weather when he goes to
Alaska and from there to the Phil.
ippines.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

Abe Reuf, once the boss of the
Golden Gate, is now the victim OF an
iron gate.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

Next year is to be political Of
brainstorm year.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

John Browns soul cannot be put II
a hall of fame because it Is so mi
gratory.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

A Harvard professor now puts the
age of the world at a billion years.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

The two.billion loss in Wall street
does not include much real money oil
values.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

Spring certainly has sprung In Ala
BaIGa.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

The fats and the leans are talking
about a ticket that reads, "Taft and
Fairbanks"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-25

The beating of rugs is considered
certain evidence that spring Is ac-
tually here.