davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-13
VISIT OF BATTLESHlPS.
Docking Facilities Are Inadequate on
 the Pacific.

Washington, July 12.-Now that the visit of the battleships of the Atlantic fleet to the Pacific coast is officially admitted, the gossip of the navy department touches upon the docking facilities available for the accommodation of those vessels. It is generally expected that after their long trip around Cape Horn come of the yes sels at least will require a thorough over hauling, and the question naturally arises where this will be done, in view of the fact that the navy has but one dock on the Pacific coast that at Puget Sound, which is capable of receiving the large battleships of the modern navy There is a dock at Mare Island, but this is too small for the accommodation of any of the big battleships. The government has an. other dry dock under construction at Mare Island, which, when completed, will be capable of receiving the largest vessels now in service or contracted for. But there is considerable difference of opln- ion among the officials on duty at the navy department as to whether after all this dock will be available for use in view of the limited depth of water across the bay, over which the vessels have 10 go before reaching the navy yard.
 The new dry dock at Mare Island has been under construction for almost six years. official reports show that it will be almost q year and q half before it lJ ready. The contract called for its com pletion November 20, next. The govern ment declared the former contract was filed because the slow progress and d new contract was necessary under which the work is now going on.
 Naval officers, however, are not giving the question of docking facilities on the coast any serious concern, for they say there are two large docks at Hunters Point, near San Francisco, belonging to private parties, which the navy may use just as any private ship owner by pay ing the usual docking charges. One of these docks is very large and will ac- commodate any American vessel afloat.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-13
oUlDA IN POVERTY.
Eminent French Writer Suffers In Her
 Old Age.

London, July 12-The Florence cores pendent of the Daily Mail sends lengthy details of tre recent life of the novelist. Oulda. who Is living in poverty in Italy and to whom according to announce ment made yesterday. a pension of $750 has been granted from the civil list The correspondent says that until two years ago Mrs. De La Rameo occupied a splen- did villa at Lucea. She was known as the lady of the dogs" as she invariably had thirty. She had a dispute with her landlord This led to three law suits, which onida won, but the cost of the further crippled purse and her landlord turned her out For a time she went to a hotel yiarJggio. but thoughtless ex- penditures exhausted her resources. Her plight now wbs such that she passed a night under the trees on the sea front
 The remalnlfg few of her large family of dogs were Jat her side That homeless night caused her to lose the sight of her left eye and also brought about deafness. In February last she went to a hotel at Niareggio, where she remained until July G. when. being again in financial strais, she went 10 her ex-maids mother at the village of Massarosa, five miles distant, where she is now living in a milk mans squeld cottage.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-13
FAIRBANKS HAS
 VERY BUSY DAY Vice President Speaks at the
 Seattle Convention
AIM IS HONORABLE PEACE
Great Crowd Hears Speaker, Who De. clares That Possibility of War Is Not Essential to Mans
 Development.

Seattle, Wash. July 12.-Vice President Fairbanks was the center of attraction at the Christian Endeavor convention. The Vice President had a busy day of 1t, outside of his address to the Endeavorers. He was kept on the move from morn ing till night.
 Today was the day for denominational rallies among the churches represented at the convention. Thousands of people gathered at the various churches to at tend the rally meeting. addresses being given along general lines of religious work.
 Tomorrow Worlds Patriotic League devoted to the promotion of civic right eousness, is to be launched simultaneous ly at two big meetings, one to be held in the convention tent and the other at a local church.
 Vice President Fairbanks tonight ad- dressed a monster crowd at the eonven- ton tent on the subject "Our Country"
 He said in part:
 Our country stands for peace. Con- scious of our ability to make war and shirlxlng responsibility which either honor or duty may put upon us, we are com mitted to aid in the promotion of hon orable peace among the nations. We fear no physical contest with other pow CTS if supreme need should come. Our material resources are ample and the patriotism of our people is equal to any emergency We nevertheless wish to throw the moral weight of our influence upon the side of peace in that debate among the people of the civilized world which Is directed towards devising some method for honoraby avoiding war. We. of course could never compromise our national honor, nor would we ask other nations to compromise theirs, whether they be the weakest or the strongest. In the international court of reason the nations are equally powerful. There the right controls and not fleets and armies. The great Christian churches are doing more than cabinets to usher In an era of peace on earth, good will to men, not an era which tends to the degeneracy of American manhood and of our national character. We will find in the walks of peace ample field for the exercise and display of those qualities which dis tinguish a hardy and progressive race. The possibility of war is not essential to the development of a race of manly men.
 "Amicabe adjustment of differences be- tween nations Is not evidence of want of national vrlity. It Is on the contrary a manifestation of the triumph of in- telligerce, of conscience, of justice, of civilization
 We look hopefully to The Hague con ference to still further pave the way for the peaceful determination of inter- national disagrements. The problem is a grave one. It is not speedily to be settled. The moral forces operating throughout the country under the inspra- ton of the great Christian churches will exert a profound influence towards the consun amtion of the worldwide desire The Hague by their successors in future conferences, If they should now fall"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-13
UNWRITTEN LAW
 GIVES ACQUITTAL
CONGRESSMAN MUDD ADDRESSES JURY FOR THE DEFENSE AND LAYS DOWN PRINCIPLES GOV ERNlNG SUCH CASES.

La Plata, Md, July 12.-The jury in the cases of Mrs. Bowie and her son Henry, charged with the murder of Hubert Po- sey last January, returned a verdict of acquital this afternoon after being out less than five minutes.
 States Attorney Winners statement last evening that the prosecution would be satisfied with d verdict of manslaugh- ter was surprise and was met by the demand of Former State Senator Posey for the defense that the jury either acquit or find the accused guilty of murder
 Congressman Sidney D. Mudd of counsel for the defense in his address to the jury this morning disclaimed belief in the in sanity of Mrs. Bowie or her son. though he declared that under the circumstances they should not be held responsible, mem tally or legally, for their part in the trag- edy Touching the unwritten law, Con gressman Mudd said:
 "The family in this land of ours Is the nucleus and the nursery of the common- wealth. The protection of the sanctity of the family ties, the chastity of women, the development and maintenance of a salatory <nd exalted respect for the honor of the mother, the sister and daughter becomes therefore natural and essential feature of the law in this land. In nearly every state of this country there will be found an exemplifcation and recognition of this fact and an adoption of this doc Urine. 1t isi in this sense that l conf dently claim the protection of what I have called the 'unwritten law as an adequate defense for these defendants
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-13
Major Lemair's Defense.

Brussels, July 12.-Major Lemair, who served eighteen years In the Congo and who resigned when he was notified that he would be prosecuted for cruelty to- wards native soldiers, retalated today by publishing a sensational exposure of the revolting conditions prevailing in the na- tive army. He declares the soldiers are merely brigands who raid the populace, assault the women sand burn villages. The major adds that when he attempted to protect the natives by infllcting severe punishments on the troops his disciplinary measures were overruled by his superiors. He insists that the real object of the Congo administration in preferring the charges was to get rid of him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-13
POSTAL CARD LAW.
Regulations Say What May Be Writ
 ten Upon Them.

Washington, July 12.-For years ing to the United States from foreign countries postal cards and post cards (private mailing cards) with messages written on the front well as on the back of the cards, alth ough in this country this advantage Las been denied the users of governmental postal cards. Some months ago the United States postal laws and regulations were amended so as to give that privilege to buyers of post cards, but such con cession was not made applicable to postal cards.
 In order to remedy this inconsistency and to prevent any further confusion and annoyance to the public. Postmas- ter General Meyer today promulgated an order effective August 1, 1907, pro- vidng that the face side of postal card may be divided by d vertical line placed approximately one-third of the distance from the left end of the card {; the space to the left of the line to be used for a message, etc, the portion to the right to be used for the ad- dress only. A very thin sheet of paper may be attached if it completely ad- heres to the card and such a poster may bear both wing and printing. illustrations or writ ing may appear on the back of the card and on the left third of the front
 Postal cards bearing particles of glass. metal, mica, sand, tinsel or other such substances are declared to be un- mailable, except when enclosed in en- yelopes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-13
NEW SCHEME OUTLINED.
Government Ownership of Railroads
 O. Stock Plan.

Chicago, July PA dispatch to the Tribune from Washington says:
 An entirely new and extremely radical proposition for control of the railroads has been advanced for the considera- tion of President Roosevelt. It involves partial government ownership of transpor- tation lines by actual purchase of stock.
 The suggestion has been made in a semi official way but whether President Roosevelt would adopt the scheme which is said to be nearly soclalistic in it's development, may well be doubted. It is stated, however, that he is actually considering such a recommendation, and that 1t is part of the proposition to bring the railroads to time by securing re- ceivers for them.
 The two schemes fit into each other perfectly. It would be practically impos- sible for the government to secure the appointment of receivers or to control in any way receivers after they were ap- pointed unless it had monetary in- teEest n the railroad. If 1t owned stock no matter how small an amount, t would have a standing in court, the same as the largest creditor of the road
 The idea of purchasing stock is a prac- tical one. but 1t Is undeniably govern ment ownership on small scale and in- evitably would result in actual ownership in the long run. The theory of those who have advanced this scheme for the consideration of President Roosevelt is that by a comparatively small invest ment in the stock, there might be a small measure of government ownership, but without any government control, so far as the running of the road Is con- cerned.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-13
CHANGES MADE IN
 THE CONSTITUTION
THE OKLAHOMA CONVENTION STRIKES OUT ONE SECTION AND MoDIFIEs ANOTHER RELATIVE TO COMPETITION.

Guthrie, -okla., July 12.-The constitu- tional convention today struck out Section of Article of the state constitution restricting the suffrage of the members of the regular arniS>an navy and adopt ed this substitute:
 For the purpose of voting. no member of the regular army or navy of the United States shall gain a residence in this state by reason of being stationed in this state, nor shall any such person lose his resi- dence in the state when absent on mili- tary or naval service from the state"
 The second, prohibiting persons, firms or corporations from selling commodities at lower rate in one portion of the state than in another, was modified by permit ting the legislature to enact a different law and further conditions were imposed making more difficult the securing of proof that the differences in prices was for the purpose of destroying competition in trade. The section originally was aimed at the Standard Oil company.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-13
AM ERICAN NAVY
Is Compfimented by Officer of tho
 German Navy.

Berlin, July 12.-Count Yon Revent- low, formerly in the German navy and now probably tn foremost German journalistic writer on naval subjects. has written half page article on the quality of the American corps of os- ficers and men. He does not agree with the judgment that the American of- icers are mostly too old to possess en- ergy or inclined to comfort and quiet and self-extreme satisfied.
 Various American officers of the higher rank" the count asserts, would probably disappear soon after the beginning of a war Among the officers the liveliest national feeling prevails, Together with that practical spirit and that quiet special American talent for technical things. The American fleet does lack several thous- ands of men to make up the crews, owing to their being no compulsory services and the higher wages paid and independence enjoyed out of the navy. But these facts ought not to be taken too seriously, because of the immense number of civilians, trained to prac- ttcal technical work. from whom on the outbreak of war. would como a stream of recruits which also would in- clude many seamen.'
 Count Non Reventlow concluded with compliment to Rear Admiral Evans.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-13
ATTACK ON FRANCE.
Franco-Russian Alliance Condemned
 By Novoe Vremya.

St. Petersburg, July 12.-An open at tack on the French government and Am bassador Bompard appeared today in the Novoe Vremya, which a week ago began reviewing and tentatively condemning the Franco Russian alliance. It Is supposed that the paper in this instance is serv- ing as the mouthpiece of the powerful court party which is working in favor 5f closer relations with Germany The edi- fensive language, and seriously compro- misses the position of M. Bompard at St. Petersburg. It says:
 "Tactless 10 the point of impudence has been tine behavior of the ambassador in urging, unaslIed. advice on Russian inter nal affairs on which he Is a perfect igno- ramus. The French government also treated official Russia strangely, almost hostility. The French official press and the official utterances in the chamber of deputies have indicated all along that France was anxious to engage in neso- tiations with the new born douma ovet the head or behind the back of the gov ernment. Such insincerity and double dealing is calculated to give open encour- agement to the Russian revolutionists who claim that France is more attentive to their voice than to the voice of the recognized and responsible representatives of the Russian empire"
 Simultaneously the Novoe Vremya bit tery complains of the confusion and m of Russian diplomacy, pointing to the failure of foreign minister Izvolksy, to bring about re-establishment of Rus sian prestige
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-13
TWO CENT RATE
 UNFAIR ID ALL President McCrea Gives His
 View of the Case FLEXIBLE RATE THE BEST Pennsylvania Railroad President Is Emphatic In Ills Belief That Pas seneer Fares shcuIo Not
 Be Lowered Now.
FLEXIBLE RATE THE BEST

Philadelphia, July 12.-The hearing in the equity proceedings brought by the Pennsylvania Railroad company against the city and county of Philadelphia to re- strain the latter from enforcing the 2-cent railroad law passed by the legislature was resumed today in common pleas court. The company continued to present it's side of the case after which the city will call it's witnesses.
 President McCrea was witness today. The first question asked him was:
 Do you think the 2-cent fare rate is fair to both railroad and the publc?"
 T do not think it is,' was the reply Tn the first place a uniform charge of. cents a mile for all classes of passengers is unfair and impraeticable. With cents as a maximum you cannot make a suffi- cient difference between the short and ire quent rider and those who travel longer distance, which will bring a fair profit to the company"
 Can uniform rate be properly charged by a railroad?"
 No sir. It is not proper to charge a uniform rate. Passenger rates are largely dependent upon the density of population and the frequency with NiiSh NiiC puDllC rue. III uenSely pOpu- lated territory we can charge a lower rate than in districts thinly popula- ted"
 You have considerable number of passengers who travel at the rate of more than cents a mile and a great number who pay under 2 cents. Why not charge all classes a uniform rate Of , cents?" asked -4r. Johnson. Tt would be unfair to the railroad and to the public. The geenral practice of all rail- roads is to carry shor riders at a lower hate"
 Would you carry more passengers if the present law is put into effect?"
 NO sir. My observation is that the stimulation of traffic is dependent largely upon the character of the ser vice and the natural increase of popu- alton and business. The ? cent fare does not affect the short rider who now pays under that figure, while tie longer distance riders, geenrally speak ing, will not ride more frequently be- cause the fare has been cheapened, but will continue to ride only as tn cir af- fairs demand it."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-13
IN PERFECT ACCORD
Are Governments of Japan and the
 United States.

Tokio, July 12.-Viscount Hayashi, the Dapanese minister of foreign affairs, made the following statemev. in an interview today:
 ''The governments Of Washington and Tokio are conducting negotiations in per- feet accord. Japan Is availing herself of America's good will and no hitch what ever is apprehended. Until the new treaty comes up for discussion, Japan has no right to agitate against restrictions of the number/of her emigrants.
 Her demands for the present consists simply that Japanese be protected against provocation, but for the rest the Amer lean judicial authorities must be left to deal with the situation.
 My government does not look with sus- picion upon the despatch of an American fleet to the Pacific. Since America is moving this fleet within her territorial waters, Japan can realize no objection"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-13
ANSWER MADE TO
 NEGRO ELKS LODGE
SECRETARY OF LODGE IS TRYING TO COMPEL STATE TO ISSUE A CHARTER, BUT TT IS FOUGHT HARD,

Frankfort, Ky, July 12.-Attorneys representing the secretary of state of Kentucky the Grand Lodge of the Be- nevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States, and Frankfort lodge of the order today filed in state fiscal court here an answer to a peti- tion recently filed by the Falls City lodge, No. A. of the Improved Benevo lent and Protective Order of Elks of the World, an organization for ne- groes, who are seeking to compel the secretary of state to issue to their or ganization a charter under the Ken lucky laws. For answer to the peti- tion, the secretary of state sets out that he has no interest in the matter and that the real parties with inter- est are the Grand Lodge and Frank fort lodge of the B. P. o. E. of the United States, and he asks that they be made defendants with him. He urges that the order of Elks was long estab- lished, when the plaintiffs sought to in- corporate their lodge; that the words 'Falls City Lodge No. A" is indicative merely of locality; the essential and distinctive name of the order sought | to be incorporated by plaintiff being the name Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks."
 The secretary of state further says that the promoters and organizers of the plaintiff lodge had full Knowledge of the existence of the Grand Lodge and Frankfort lodge of B. P. o. E., and adopted the name set out in its ar ticle with design to initiate the name of said Grand Lodge and other Elks' lodges and did so "fraudulently, wrongfully and illegally"
 For further answer, he says that the work of the Grand Lodge of Elks and the subordinate lodges is largely socially interested and the plaintiff. composed of negroes, does not, in the nature of things, affiliate socially with the white race. and cannot become a subordinate lodge under the Grand Lodge. He prays that the writ sued for against him be denied by the court. This case, which will come to trial in September next, has attracted at tention in Elks' circles all over the United States It will likely be dealt with by the Grand Lodge of the order in the annual session next week at Philadelphia.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-13
INTERESTING DECISION.
Company Must Not Let Furnace Emit
 Ore Dust.

Pittsburg, July PA decision of far reaching interest to property owners in the mill districts was handed down by Judge James s. Young in the common pleas court today, in the suit instituted by the residents of Oakland, this city, against the Jones & Laughlin Steel Co.,, to have the company step the emission of ore dust from it's blast furnaces
 The court held all the officers and directors of the company to be in con- tempt for failing to comply with the order to stop the alleged nuisance, and fined E. F. Jones. president of the com pany, $5000, Superintedent Messiner of the Eliza furnace $100, and all the direc- tors of the company s1O0 each. Judge Young further stated in his decision that until the company can get device to do away with the ore dust it must shut down the furnaces.
 An appeal was taken
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-13
ATTACK MADE ON
 FEDERAL CONTROL
GOVERNOR SEER. MAN OF ILLINOIS CONDEMNS PRESIDENT RoosEvELTs POL. ICY OF CENT REALIZATION.

Galesburg, H., July 12-Lieut. Gov. Lawrence Y. Sherman of Illinois tonight in speech at the banquet of the Illinois State Bar association attacked President Roosevelt's policy which tends, according to sherman, toward too much federal rule The lieutenant governor said;
 ''The high tide of the assumption of in- herent and unenumerated powers of the federal government is at hand. Since the close of the civil war the reaction against the claims of the rebellion states has constantly advanced. These claims rightfully pershed on the field of battle The climax of that reaction has now been reached. The lawless attempt to invade the reserve domestic powers of all states Of the union is as dangerous as the at tempted secession of part of them from the union"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-13
Wyman Likes Suggestion.


 Washington July 12.-Surgeon General Wyman of the United States marine hos pital and public health service, said to- day that the federal government for a number of years has granted its authority to inspect the Texas quarantine service, but that he believes the state and nation would be benefited by making the federal rgulations universal in gulfports. The public health service has the money on hand necessary for the construction of quarantine station at Galveston, and with the Texas authorities in harmony with the plan, he says he has no doubt that action will be taken at an early date The state quarantine station Is situated on United States territory, which is need- ed by the war department for national de- lenses. The fact that this property must be surrendered soon, it is said, is partly responsible for the sentiment in Texas in favor of placing quarantine matters under control of federal authority The governor of Texas recommended year ago that this action be taken, and bill was introduced in the state legislature, but it failed of passage.