davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-04
A FOOLISH PROPOSITION.

An evidence of the state ct political unrest now prevailing throughout the country is shown in New York dis patch to The Washington Star. It is to the effect that the Tammany organi- zation is seriously considering the pol icy of taking up Governor Hughes, of New York, as the Democratic candidate for the presidency. The correspondent writes as if there may be truth in the rumot.
 We can never predict with any ap- proach to certainty what Tamnlany will do at any time, but we hardly think that organization can seriously propose another Greedy campaign. That fiasco. as perhaps we might call it, is yet rresn in the minds of the older Democrats of the country. As is well known, the party at that time was "a thing of shreds and patches" and with more shreds than patches. for that matter. The South at that period was helpless, impotent and spiritless. Many of our strongest and best men were still under the ban of disfranchisement placed on them by the bitter and relentless rsdi- cal9 of the North and had no voice or influence in public affairs ....-
 Under such conditions what could be done? Southern Democrats could do nothing. and even those of the North were in badly disorganized condition. There had been a strong anti-war sen timent among Northern Democrats. and it's effects were still powerful and un- compromising. Even if there had been perfect unity among Democrats. both North and South. it would not have helped matters much. To have nomi- hated a straight Democrat would have been useless, as all could see. Grant was still the idol of the Northern nina and it was plain that he would again be the candidate of his party. It was equally apparent that many Northern Democrats would support him as against a real Democrat.
 Thus it was that the nomination of Horace Greeley by the dissenting Re publicans. and his acceptance by the Democrats. came about. It was thought that he, being Northern man, a life long abolitionist and a Union man would receive the support of many Re- publicans, and with the help of South ern Democrats who had no choice could be elected. The result is history Out of a total of SS3 electoral votes Greeley received forty-seven, and thus ended the attempt to win Democratic election with a Republican candidate. Perhaps there was nothing else for the Democrats to do. and in the end it may be that the consequences were better than would have been possible if our party had nominated a Democrat.
 However that may be, no such con- iitions exist now. There is now no
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-04

ards of public duty, and adhere to them. no matter how opposed such convic- tions. principles and standards may pc to party .pre1udice and the current
 A newspaper which does not seek to educate public opinion is no better than 2 billboard, and ,I,s nswsPaRsr Der which which may work no less evil than one which is In secret alliance with predatory wealth.
 mob. The truth is not always popular. Often it pleases nobody, and rarely does it please everybody; but q newspaper fend readers is a newspaper only in the trade sense of the term.
 With all modesty, The World ven- lures to select an & example t.,ns iron us scores of letters expressing strong dis! sent from our criticisms of MT; Roose- welt and MT. Bryan. Some of these let ters are plausible snd S,. argumentatssse; mel ssG are abusive. All of them unauestion- ably express the sincere belief of the writers. They represent sort of pub- lie opinion for the time being.
 These letters indicate that probably a majority of The Worlds readers fa- vor the nomination of Mir. Roosevelt and MT. Bryan for President Preside next year year first thought" of a great constituency we should say that the choice of the conventions was already made and that nothing remained to the voters but to decide whsthsr they preferred MT.
 Yet this does not change in the least The worl6s conviction that the welfare of the country requires the se- lection of an entirely different type Of chief magistrate next year, or that the country has had enough government by denunciation and enough Populistic ag- itation. The World intends to continue to express it's convictions dispassionate- ly. without Se shadow of prejudice and with the desire to do full justice both to MT. Roosevelt and MT. Bryan. To do less would be to shirk its moral respon- sibility as a great newspaper and make jest of the pretensions of "a free press" No press is free that is afraid derstands the truth.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-04
MORE rRoUBLE AHEAD.

An English astronomer has been saz' ing at the sun and seeing things. We don't know whether he had taken some thing just before focusing his long any rate he saw something that rather frustrated him. He saw, or says he saw. flame shoot up out of the sun at a speed of ten thousand miles a minute and reach a total height of 325.o0o miles before it stopped. It remained in view seventeen minutes and then went back--into its hole. we suppose.
 This unusual demonstration has caused a famous Italian astronomer to get busy predicting things. and he hands out the iptimation that the dis turbances in the sun Is going to cause things to happen down here on this somewhat disorganized earth of ours. Among other calamities mentioned by him as to be expected are earthquake es and great tidal waves which are to shake us, swallow us and deluEe us in the near future.
 All this is very disturbing just at this time, when we are having enough troubles of our own. We haven't set tied our railroad entanglements yet. and there is presidential election Just ahead that will take much of our atten- tion We don't see why the star-gazers want to make things unpleasant, and the bad part of 1t is that there may be some truth in their direful forebodings. It will be remembered that the Wash ington scientists were puzzled short while ago by some rather strange hap penings which indicated that an earth quake had gone astray and they couldn't find it. Perhaps the sun vol eano had some connection with that tangle.
 | We don't exactly understand what the sun wants to mix itself up in our affairs for. We don't profess to know much about astronomy. but they tell us that the sun is more than ninety million miles away and If that is true 1t ought to let us alone. Its business is to shine at the proper time and give us light and heat as the Creator evidently in- tended. So far as we can judge 1t was not created to cut up high jinks and make things unpleasant and dangerous for us earth -dwellers who have no chance to dodge. We really hope the English and Italian prognosticators are false prophets.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-04
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4. 1907.
THE PAPER TRUST.

Congressman Payne, Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, talked very flippantly about the propo- sition to remove the tariff on wood pulp for the benefit of the newspapers sswhat does that 15 per cent rate on wood pulp amount to?" he asked re- porter. ''If it closes up some of the newspapers I think that might be a good thing" This is rather too much for the stomach of The Sacramento Bee, administration supporter though it is While admitting that h. great harm might be done if some of the newspa- pers were closed up, it declares that Tit Is no more legitimate that the govern ment should help the paper trust in neecing all the press-with the object in view of freezing out some newspa- pers-than it would be if it wilfully as- sisted in the injury or bankruptcy of avery member of Congress because many of them are notorious trust and railroad lackeys."
 No doubt Congressman Payne and some other ranosseus members of his party would be delighted to see some ---or many-of the Democratic newspa- pers put out of business for all time. They are not very gentle in their com ments about the present tariff and those who defend and uphold 1.-the stand patters. to be more plain. And there is hardly anything that is more burden some, more intolerant and more unjust than the paper trust and the tariff which sustains it and enables 1t to rob the consumers of white paper through out the country. The increased and in creasing demand for all grades of pa = per, and the diminished supply of raw material doubtless have something to do with the Increased price. but the pa per trust is behind and under the un- reasonable rise in price ana men like MT. Payne well know 1t. Closing out some of the newspapers would delight him, if he could select the ones to be closed.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-04
The Alabama Penalties.

Chattanooga llllIeS'
 It is hardly necessary to go any TUT ther into this Alabama experiment. 10 convince any sensible man that It IS unreasonable and revolutionary-the later because it seeks to penalize a citizen for exercising constitntlona ! privilege of having his challenged nf inc land. The Louisville and Nash vine Railroad has boldly undertaken to show. at the risk of being mulcted, in billion or two of dollars, that a Iegislature may not destroy property simply because It's owner appeals to the courts. The Louisville and Nash . vile Railroad has been operating in Alabama under certain well dehned, chartered rights granted it in the na- ture of q contract. It has been ope- rating under that grant without ques- tion, and now comes Governor Comer and his legislators. seeking to impose limitations never dreamed of when the railroad company accepted It's grant. To declare that the road shall now sur render without contest the rights 1t has enjoyed or else take the risk Of having it's property totally destroyed, Is so foolish proposition that 1t Is a matter of wonder that body of men intelligent enough to be chosen as rep resentatives by the people should have even considered 1t, much less adopt 1t.
 Whatever may be the outcome, we may be sure tha tthe penalties" of the Alabama laws will hardly be imposed; for 1t must be admitted that the pay ment of, a couple of billion dollars would come very nearly wreeking even the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-04
Sidsspalk Psncilinss
BIock,.x the sidewalk.


 It is not the duty of the Sidewalk Person to clear the streets. but 1t Is In his province to reflect some of the per tinent talk that is spread vp and down Dexter Avenue, both by local promi- nent citisens and visitors. The range of vision of the latter Is broader. as rule. than is that of the local citizens, by virtue of their more extensive oo- servation Sof advanced ideas in other cities. One of these gentlemen made the remark yesterday that few cities m the South present a more lively appear ance than does Montgomery;
 Whenever you see crowds on he streets morning. noon and night" he said. there is something going on all the time. This Is my third trip to Montgomery and I always find crowds on the streets, but I have noticed one % some rnerchants and yGat is the piiing of bales of goods, barrels, boxes. etc, on the sidewalk. In every city there IS an ordinance against this practice. l would not be surprised If there is not one here. If there is it should be en-- forced. In one section of the city have seen wagons and buggies on the sidewalk, and located very near pub lie building where large crowds gather frequently. This serves to choke up the sidewalk, retarding pedestrians and causing serious inconvenience.
 MT. Seth Mabry of Eufaula is attend
  For the past twenty-eight years he has faithful employees of the Central of Georgia Railroad, as agent part of that faula. He reports business as less than usual for this time of the year.
 +
 Judge wm. E. O'Brien. Tax Collector of Cullman County. is among the prom : inent Masons attending the session or the Grand Lodge.
 Mir. W. L. Ellis and MT. M. A. Ora. ham. of Prattville. were registered at the Imperial yesterday.
 Dr. R M. Cunningham, formerly Lieutenant Governor of Alabama, is visitor to Montgomery.
 Mfr. G. F. sedberry and MT. l.: C. Sedberry, of Wetumpka, were In Mont gomery yesterday:
 Mir. S. Patterson. a prominent mer- chant of Pine Apple, was In Montgom- erv yesterday.
 Hon. Thomas E: Knight; of Greens, yesterday.
 MT. H. c. HaiL of St. Louis. was visitor to Montgomery yesterday
 MT. L. ]. Lawson. of Greensboro is registered at the Hotel sump,ers. MT. l.. M. H. whetstone. of Annis- ton, was in Montgomery yesterday
 c. R. Micou of Lanett, Ala, is here attending the Grand Lodge
 Mir. W. M. shetslsworth of Cullman is attending the Grand Lodge.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-04

The twenty-sixth anniversary edition of The Mobile Item was an issue of which that paper may well be proud. It was not only in the nature of an anni- versary. but a Thanksgiving issue as well, as it was published on Thanks giving Day. Captain Cothran, who is the President of The Item Company, has been connected with newspaper work fully half century, counting the boyhood days in which he worked on a paper at Marion in Perry County. He is still hale and hearty and bids fair for many years more of service. The Item is a progressive, up-to-date afternoon paper and we congratulate all con- cerned on the prosperity which 1t is en- toying.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-04

The Southern Star, published at Ozark, has reached it's fortieth mile stone and is pushing ahead with vim for the century mark. Its editor, Jo- seph H. Adams, has ever been a pro- gressive man and his paper has been devoted to the advancement of com munity. County and State. It has been a great helper of Dale County and has done much to bring it prominently be- shine and prosper.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-04

St. Stephen. New Brunswick. Tinis says that cuttipR-ef fir trees Tn New Brunswick for export to the United States. to be used as Christmas trees, son than ever before. The American buyers have found that it is much
 cheaper to get the trees from Canada than from Maine The Canadian stpmpage price and wages for labor being much be'ow the American rates and with no duty imposed on the ex- si faxor q shs the svsrS 1
 Maine for the Christmas tree business n the United States. It is estimated that the province of New Brunswick will export at least 150, 900 trees to the american market for the Christmas trade. The prices offered are generf ally regarded as high.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-04
rHn PREsrDrNT.s MrssAGn.

Az is the custom ct the opening of Congress the Presicsnt's message has been sent in, to the two Houses. In one respect it surpasses all it's prede- cessors and that Is in the matter of length. He discusses everything which bears any kind of relation to the busis ness of the United States, yet on many important matters he does not seem to have any well fixed views. The great CT portion of the message appears in today's Advertiser. On account of its great length we have been compelled to omit good deal of 1t. but not to the extent of leaving out any of she sug- gestions he has to make. Vurthey ref erepces will be made to 1t.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-04

idol like Grant for the North to wor. ship. Roosevelt himself lacks much of being marvel of popularity. He and his ways and his policies are very far from being universally popular. even in his own party. Indications are strongly in favor of his renomination. but neither himself nor a candidate of his own selection can command the en- thusiastic support of his party. On the other hand. if his party refuses to be dictated to by him it would be natural sulk if they do not openly oppose the ticket. Any Republican ticket that is put out will lack much of having . bioodiess victory if Democrats do their duty.
 And why should Democrats not unite and take advantage of their opportun- ity? It is true that there is much di- versity of feeling and sentiment in our party and various names are being mentioned for the nomination. but that is not rare condition. It begins to look very much as if the nomination of MT. Bryan is assured. and if that is done there is nothing for Democrats to do hut to rally to his support and put do wn the party that has been in powcr too long already. It is true that there are Democrats who distrust him. but | would it be possible for a convention to nominate a man who would be accept agle to all shades of Democratic sensi- ment? There must, be compromises in politics. as in many other affairs of life, and many must yield something for the general good. In some import ant respects MT. Bryan is a much safer and saner statesman now than he was | in 1898 or 1900, and if the convention | unites on him the rank and file of the party should do the same and see if they cannot turn the rascals out" to use once popular expression.
 l But it matters not whom the Repub- licans may center on, or what may be the difference of sentiment among Democrats there's no need for Tam many or any other organization to att tempt to Greeleyize the Democratic party again. Hughes is a strong man and a safe one, but he is not a Demo- crat and we have no need to go into the opposition ranks for candidate
 Whether Democracys choice fall on Bryan or another he must be a Demo- crat if it is expected to carry the party with him. That much we consider cer-
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-04
Preserving Liberty. ffeSf0ent Hadley of Yale in Freedom,

and Responsibility.
 Tn the centuries immediately past we nave nad to dNal with the problem of securing liberty Today we have to race the problem of preserving it. It IS q great mistake to assume that the problem is the easier of the ,~o The hardships and dangers connected w ith 1t are less tangible: but they gre On that account all the more difficIlt to assume. We have no longer to face the peril of the scaffold or the priva- : tons of the revolutionary camp: but we have to face and accept the peril and prfvation of imposing upon our- selves standards of conduct higher and duties more burdensome than those we have hitherto recognized either in law or in morals. Freedom has always re- fend 1t from the assaults of it's nd- versaries. It today requires the ex- ercise of public spirit and personal self-restraint to guard against the sx- to be its friends.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-04
What the State Papers
 Are Saying

Three in One Year. Hef1in New Era.
 With three sessions since last winter we ought to be we'll heeled with good breath and give the lawyers time Go
 Leaves . Taste. Alexander City Outlook. 70 The extra session of the Legislature is now but a memory. but such mem ory will leave a mean taste in the mouths of the whiskey and railroad people.
 Another Qucstion. Birmingham Ledger. The Bradley case and the ThawI case are alike in one respect. The dead man in each got what he richly deserse ed. The guilt of the slay ITS Is quite anoth- CT question.
 The Real Word. Birmingham Age-Heraid.
 Some of the Georgia and Alabama papers call 1t "reeform," others call 1t "refawn." The real word, however. IS "refum," says The Washington Herald. The real word is 'fanaticism," and that of the rankest sort.
 It's c Boy Baby This Time. Morgan County Times.
 It is almost time for Hobson to be
  covering the seas with war dogs Moulton Advertiser.
 The gallant Congressman has found some other hobby as he saw the big navy scheme did not take with the peo- pie.
 People Have Had Enough. Gadsden Times-News. ' Corner said that he would call the Legislature together again and again and vet again. Well. the conditions un- der which he said he would call anoth- CT extra session have arisen and the people are curious to see if he has the gall to do it.
 Synonym of Hard Times. Bessemer Weekly.
 If there is glory in Conner legislation, if will take a shrewd historian to dis cover it. and if there is profit in 1t the people will essay in vain to realize 1t. The Conner administration will be the synonym of hard times in Alabama
 
 4 Rea1S Adviser. Hartseil Enquirer.
 When you see a fellow bristle up and look knowing, and can tell you what Is the matter with the country and who ought to be elected President. ana Just what the circulating medium or tne country should be, and how to do tnts and that, you can put 1t down nine times out of ten that he never got to Baker when he did go to school.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-04
Unwise and Destructive.

New York Journal of Commerce.
 The provision that no State shall de- rive any person of property without due process of law necessarily gives the United States courts jurisdiction to pass upon the validity of State laws which are alleged in any regular form of proceeding to have that effect. If it is shown to the satisfaction of the court that confiscation of property will be the result of enforcing a State law there can be no doubt that the court has the right to restrain it's en- forcement until that question can be
 For Southern or Northern State Governors or Railroad Commissions to dispute or resist the authority of the United States courts to pass upon the validity of such Legislation and take such judicial action as may be neces- sary to secure the rights of complain ants who allege that they will be de- prived of their property by the opera. tion of the laws. Is foolish and must prove futile. The Jurisdiction of the Federal courts cannot be curtailed by State leeisIation and should not be evaded by 1t. The Alabama rate laws, passed in the last year. are unwise and are probably unconstitutional, but still more unwise is the attempt to prevent the United States courts from deter mining whether they are constitutional or not and restraining their enforce ment until that questoin can be
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-04

Why the President chose Thanksgiv- ing Day to visit the tomb of Madison - cannot imagine, but The Boston Globe is disposed to be sarcastic about it, saying:
 Mark Twain has told us how he wept at the grave of Adam, because Adam was a distant relative. If the President had been moved to tears at the tomb of Madison, 1t might have been said that MT. Roosevelt was touched by a sense of his own distant relationship to the Constitution.
 Roosevelt's relation to the Constitu- tion Is very distant and almost intangi- ble, but perhaps he thought his visit to Madison's grave might help him to re- member that there is such an instrT- ment-if he wants to remember 1t.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-04
"This IS My 55th Birthday"
John Kean, the senior United States
John Kean.

John Kean, the senior United States Senator from New Jersey. was born in Union County, New Jersey, December 4. 1852 He is a lawyer by profession, having left Yale. where he was mem Der of the class of '76. to enter the Co., lumbia Law School. from which he was graduated. He was admitted to the bar of New Jersey in 1877. He never prac- ticed. preferring rather to follow his a result of his industry and ability, the large fortune he inherited from his fla ther grew to such an extent that MT. Kean is known as one of the multimil- lionaires of the United States Senate. He is engaged in numerous manufac- turing. railroad, financial and mercan- tile enterprises. He was elected member of the Forty eighth Congress. He was defeated for reelection to me Forty ninth Congrt ss, but was success full two years later. He was the unsuc- cessful candidate of the Republican party for Governor of New Jersey Tn 1892. In 1899 he was elected to the United States Senate.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-04
Signs of a Mild Winter.

It is encouraging that the usual signs point to mild winter. Accord ing to one weather-wise editor musk ter quarters. Ducks have been slow in migrating. Deer have their thin fall suits on: the beaver have not begun cutting their winter wood supply; the forest depths; the songbirds have not all sailed southward; toadstoois have few or no wrinkles; corn husks are not thick: the 'possum has only one curl still sojourning on northern lakes; Jack rabbits have not yet begun to drum on hollow logs; there Is no thick Any bony growth on her feet; black cats have no whites under their eyes; the Eooseberry is fair and unspotted And there you have the symptoms of nm opon winter.