davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-11-08

We have purchased thousands to
get a bear that would be as big
a value as our Viola EoII. Never
until we put these bears On sale
could you get a genuine imported
bear Il inches tau for less than
500.
Already vs. havs sod several
thousands. The stock left =in not
last until Christmas. If the rate
OF selling continues. We advise
looking at this bear tomorrow and
buying promptly .-FOurth Floor.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-29

ized, for 1t certainly will be wherever there are clumsy men and tactful wo- men. Sensible women know how to assist men in critical moments. and they will continue to assist them to a reasonable extent in 1908, and the years marital record bids fair to keep pace with the records of previous Leap Years. All years look alike to charming women, and the proposi- tion made in the Hyde Park Widows club was simply without rhyme or reason. All effort does. not consist in bold, outright proposals, and never did, and the members of the Widows club in Chicago simply desire to re- tain the liberty of individual action that belongs of right to all American women in all years. They had com mon sense and the common good on their side.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-29
Hannis TayIsr and PeIatiah Webster

The combine of 13 tax-leyying states set up by the articles of confederation of 1776 began to break down almost as soon as it had been formed. Pela- tiah Webster, lawyer of Philadelphia, began to urge the calling of consti- tutional convention as early as 1781, and in 17S3 he published his scheme of new constitution, embodying these four basic principles:
 l. The people of a federal government, operating directly on the individual in stead of upon the states as corporations
 g. The division of a federal government into three departments, legislative, ex- ecutve and judicial.
 B. The division of federal legislature into two chambers on bicameral plan
 4 A federal government with delegated powers, the residum of power remain ing in the states.
 The surprisingly new idea put forth by Pelatiah Webster consisted in a federal government operating directly on the people, enforcing its own de- crees, and acting independently of the states. This is the vital, dis tinguishing, enduring principle of the American constitution.
 The constitutional convention did not meet until 1787, and Webster was not a member of 1t, but Dr. Hannis Taylor shows that Webster's pamphlet of 30 pages, published in 17s3, stands out as the real embodiment and orig ination of the essential ideas of the federal constitution as 1t stands. That pamphlet stands out as the great epoch-making document of our his tory.
 Senator Knox combats Dr. Hannis Taylor's old position. He says Benja- min Franklin did it, but thus far the Pennsy>An senator has not brought forward any evidence that anodates 17S3. Dr. Taylor asks Senator Knox to debate the subject before the bar association of the District of Column bia. and the senator has an opportuni- ty to make good or back out alto gether. It looks very much as if he would have to acknowledge Dr. Fay lor's accuracy in matters pertaining to constitutional history, and the un- rivalled and unapproached value of the pamphlet of 17S3.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-29
When well-apparel'd April on the heel Of imping winter treads.
 -Romeo and Juliet.
Cotton and Gold

Tn November the cotton bills drawn by this country on countries across the sea aggregated $75. .39S,737. and this country drew from those countries in November gold to the sum of $63,463,- 900. In other words, cotton made gold imports possible and enabled this country to catch it's second wind and to overcome a panic.
 The November exports of cotton were heavy. They exceeded the ex- ports in Novemebr, 1906, when the crop was perhaps two million bales larger than the present crop, but this years crop brought about five dollars a bale more The higher price and the increased shipments account for the great export credit this country secured in November. Foreign spin ners took 1,315,SSS bales in November, as against 1,266,069 bales in November, 1906. The foreign spinners bought cot ton while the home spinners stayed out of the market
 The country is greatly indebted to cotton export credits, for If there had been no cotton bills, no gald could have been imported, and the entire country would be today in the dol drums. It would be thinking more of husks than Of milk and honey. Cotton is. after all, king of exports, even if hay does dominate census reports and home figures. Hay is not king in a pinch and never will be.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-29
ImmiuratIon to Alabama

Out of 1,285,349 immigrants landed in the last fiscal year only 2077 came to Alabama. This is a pretty small number-a number far below our agri- cultural possibilities and really below our industrial demands before the Oc- tober slump. However. if more had come, more perhaps would have been driven away by the blowing out of fur naces and the lessening of activity in other plants.
 The immigration act as it stands practically forbids the solicitation of immigrants by the southern states. This is regrettable, simply because a start must be made in the south be- fore immigration will turn this way ulaided. If Congress would permit states to solicit immigrants and to contract for their transportation direct to southern ports, start could be made that would lead to the occupa- tion and tilling of our idle acres. Two thirds of Alabama goes untitled, and yet Congress will not permit this state to put immigrants on those acres. This mistaken policy is adopted to please several large interests, includ- ing the cotton mill owners of New England and the steamship owners of New York. "The interests" are strong in the United States Senate, far stronger than the people of Alabama are. "The interests" have controlled public affairs long time, and they cannot be dislodged while the repub- lican party stays in power.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-29
New Railroads This Year

New railroad mileage has been add ed this year to the grand total in this country to the extent of 5220 miles, Last years total was 56k3 miles, so that the rumbling of a financial de- pression and it's actual arrival in Oc- tober did not largely reduce railroad construction. The effects of the slump will be felt, however, next year among the railroad builders and promoters. Still it has been estimated that 4000 miles of new track will be laid in 1908.
 Alabamas new mileage this year foots up 155 miles, chiefly laid on the new line from Brunswick and by the Illinois Central. Georgia secured this year 135 new miles; Florida, 132 miles; /; Tennessee, 56 miles, and Mississippi, POI miles, The leaders in new mile- age are in order: Louisiana, 3S4 miles; Texas, 339 miles; South Dakota, 337 miles, and Washington, 324 miles. In no other state has as much as 300 miles been laid this year,
 The year brought prosperity to the railroads. Receiverships and fore closures have almost been unknown among them, and as a rule they have been offered more goods for transpor- tation than they could carry. The present depression will perhaps bring business within their equipment, and business men will in this way regain confidence in the time of deliveries of goods handed over to the railroads. It is some qualification to read that 2S9,- 645 cars have been built this year, as against 243,670 in 1906.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-29
FoRAkER's CANDIDACY.
From Harper's Weekly.


 Senator Foraker may or may not be ination in 1908, but unless the unexpected happens, he has defeated Secretary Taft. There has never been any popular en thusiasm for the Secretary of War. and now 1t is fairly certain hat he will com mand, at the most, only pat of the Ohio delegation. Under the circums .ar eos se will doubtless oe defeated even if his name be presented 10 he corgeni,bn Aside from the q,cs,lol e. convention probabilities, It Is :tel fac, manifested in many ways, lndt Senator Forakcr and men like him sand on Q diffirert footing before the country than they did a few months ago. There has come into the minds of good mary people, who lave been rather unreasonable of recent years. that 1t Is neither reasonable nor Sevolu- tionary to question the scundncss of some of the Presidents taeoTi'a. or to ccaterd against his policies. This contrary view implied a very oaL state of tho public mind, and we ought 10 be grateful to Sem ator Foraker for standiny up so roiJly for his opinions ard for his canvietio:is- whether we agree with him ar not-Hot- withstanding the attempt to eliminate" him from politics for his ccntumacy. hat kind of tyranny, We are hs npy to be ale to say cannot long endure. This cour- try really loves free speech, although oc- casionally the conduct of many of it's people has seemed hostile 10 tt. Just now those who have been 'clamoring To i1est against the Presidents critics and or- ponents seem to be coming to their senses and to be asserting their real apprecia- tion of fair play.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-29
FLAT.ToP DESK BUSINESS.

From the Albany Times-Union.
 In certain big publishing house in this country there aren't any roller-top desks.
 There are only fiat-top desks.
 Wonder if you know why?
 It's because people can stick papers in the pigeon-holes and pull the top down so as to hold things together until the next day.
 It's because the roller-top desk business methods mean poor business methods.
 'Flat-top desk philosophy, writes Dr. Luther Gulick, lis the new science of business
 He admits that he commented on these unusual fiat-top desks the first time he saw them in a big office.
 Tt capacities business" they explained. Suppose there was a claim that had to be passed along until 1t was corrected and o. K.d five different times. Now if 1t can get stuck in a pigeon hole any where Ca thing that used to i.appen right along) it's likely to be forgotten. The re- suit is delay and confusion and ragged business generally. But If there are no pigeon-holes and it has. to lie in plain view on top of the desk, it can't be for gotten until it's attended to-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-29
NED BRACE TALKS ABOUT CONDITIONS
 IN BIRMINGHAM AND POLITICAL AFFAIRS

Indeed Birmingham, from every point of view Is in better comparative condi ton than any city in the south.
 Tn a letter printed in another column of this mornings Herald sewell flag gard. an old Birmingham boy and now the New York correspondent of The Age Herald, seeks to show that Bryan cannot be elected President. He bases his figures upon past performances, giving the elec-' toral votes by states in the three latest presidential contests.
 As a matter of fact conditions are very different now MT Bryan is stronger with the substantial business interests of the country than he has ever been. With age he has grown wise. He has studied the affairs of this country probably more carefully than any other man in it. He has travelled around the world studying the affairs of every other country, and is now perhaps the best posted man in America upon the science of government.
 Those who oppose Bryan will be those who want special privileges-not those who want a wise and conservative con- duct of governmental affairs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-29
WONDERFUL RAILWAY.
ie New York Herald.

From the New I ork Herald.
 After nine years of study and work. William Charlestream of Broadway, West New Brighton, S. l., has perfected a piece of mechanism he declares is un- equalled in the world The work repre- sents miniature railway with switches, a drawbridge, signals and stations.
 From hammered tin, mountains and val leys have been constructed. Ponds, in which goldfish swim and electric foun- tains constantly throw vari-coored streams of water, combine to make a beautiful sight. An automatic drawbridge is operated by electricity. Miniature electric cars run over the mountains and through the valleys.
 The cars are operated by third rail system of his own invention. On 8 small incline Is located a power house with dynamos and armatures which furnish power for the system. The cars are light ed by electricity. Small stations, with uniformed guards, are placed at intervals, and the cars stop at these stations auto matically. The signal lights flash as the cars approach the switches, which also operate automatically, allowing cars to pass each other.
 The drawbrdge is in the center of the pond and when the bridge opens small ships pass through, and when they clear the bridge closes and permits the cars to pass over Small houses lighted by elec- tricity are in the valleys and camps of miniature soldiers are along the mountain sides
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-29
The Late J. M. Spencer.

Joseph M. Spencer, who died in hos pital In Selma last Thursday, was we'll known and esteemed in Birmingham where he lived for a number of years and where he had many relatives and friends who are saddened by his untimely end. In speaking of the deceased yes terday, a friend said
 ''rhe funeral was conducted by the Rev. MT. Little, pastor of the First Pres byterian church of Selma, at the resi- dence of Judge Craig. father of Con- gently appointed MT. Spencer his private secretary.
 Bruce Craig represented the congress- man at the funeral at the latter's request, and accompanied the remains to Colum- Diana, the birthplace of the departed. John P. Spencer. the deceaseds father and other relatives living in Birmingham, including J. A. Mcknight, Mrs. Spencer's father. attended the funeral.
 ''The heart-broken wife was too i'll to attend the last sad rites, and remained at the home of Judge Craig where her sister Miss Beatrice Mcknight, and many SympathiZing friends, mlnlStered to her in her bitter grief. Both MT. and Mrs. Spencer had endeared themselves to a large circle of friends who came to them on this sad occasion with sympathy and help.
 "The Rev. Mir. Milner of the Presby- terian church, a boyhood friend of Mir Spencer, conducted the burial service at Columbiana. and the departed was placed by loving hands in the family plot be- side his mother, and in sight of the old home where he was born"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-29

0 at an end. Confidence seems re-
 stored. The manufacturing plants which were closed down because of fright are starting up again. And, in- deed. the new year promises to begin in good solid style.
 It may be that rents in Birmingham will not be so high during the next year or two. They should not be. Real estate investments here have really paid too much in proportion to the taxable values.
 The closing of the saloons will make many vacant business houses for a few weeks, but all will soon be occupied at reasonable rentals. Numbers of new bus mess houses are to be established here. But the best news of all is the fact that the United States Steel people have de- clded to go ahead with the developments previously planned and that the idle fur naces and plants of all the companies in the district are soon to be started up. All the mechanics and laborers in the district now idle will soon have all the work they want, and I expect the manufacturing concerns will soon be seeking outside labor
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-29
Chattanooaa's Prosperity.

q was in Chattanooga few days ago." said a popular railroad official and was greatly impressed with the signs of prosperity and the optimistic talk of the business men of that city. have known Chattanooga for many years, but have never seen it so busy as now Friends told me that Chattanoogas gen. eral trade had been steadily gaining all the while, and that 1907 had been a par ticularly good year. Now, one thing, they said, had given marked impetus to bus mess recently, namely the fact that it was wet instead of dry Several promi- nent wholesale liquor dealers of Atlanta have removed to Chattanooga and have opened large establishments there. It means hundreds of thousands of dollars of new capital The fixtures of the new concerns cost in the aggregate nearly $1O0,00. Chattanooga's shipping business was always considerable, and after De- cember 31 the beer and liquor that will be shipped from that city to Georgia and Alabama will be immense. One of the brewery men laughed and remarked. Hard times? Nobody in Chattanooga knows what the term means'"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-29
Leap Year Near At Hand

At a recent meeting in Chicago of the Hyde Park Widows club promi- nent member said: 'I move that the Widows club do not accept or enforce the privilege which custom assigns to woman of making marriage proposi- lions in Leap Years" The motion was voted down. It was voted down because the discussion that followed it showed that liberty to act as she thought proper should be left to each individual member. One of the club ladies said: q do not propose to pro- pose. but under some circumstances we all know we can be helpful in that direction, and do not think we ought to bind all the members not to offer any assistance"
 The proposition was wisely voted down, and gentlemen who need as- sistance will no doubt get 1t in the coming year as they have in past years And many of them need as- sistance, and the more of them that receive a fair amount of encourage ment or assistance the better it will be for them.
 Let no one say, therefore, that Bes- sextile or Leap Year will not be util-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-29
A 'POSSUM TALE.
From the Houston Post.

From the Houston Post.
 The Cushing Enterprise offers the fol- lowing for the consideration of the mali cious and envious bunch of paragraphers who have determined never to become reconcied to the sublime superiority of Grand Old Texas: You can poke all the fun at the Houston Post about its pos sum yarns that you want to, but here s one for Cushing One day last week when Squire T. J. Scgn and Bill Reeves cut an oak tree almost in the heart of the city, they caught two large 'possums which had their din in it. The hollow in this this tree was large and roorny and it is said that the possums were well fixed up for winter, having a good stove, bedstead, and all the paraphanalia for keeping house in comfort. Now, maybe you think this is lie."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-29
THE ABBOT OF SEPTIMo.
 (Humor, Not Wit.)

By A, I.atady. The Abbot of septimo bearing town, At the hour the sun was about to go
 down, Was fearful, and justly, he might be too
 late, As at sundown the guardians would
 fasten the gate. Now the Abbot was large. elephantine in
 size, Der Gargantua himself would have
 taken the prize, So that he and his beast, and ms ropes.
 and his freight, Would have taxed the full opening Of
 Florence's gate. Seeing a rustic hard by, he inquired of
 the clown. If he thought he could enter the gates
 of the town. Intending the rustic's opinion to get If the gates of the city unfastened were yet. But the peasant regarding his size, head
 to foot. The Abbot's solicitude naively mistook, And replied, non-chalantly, with never
 grin: "A wagon full loaded with hay. can
 get in.r
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-29
AND so IT GOES.

AND so IT GOES, A poor young man, pretty maid, Agreed that they would wed, Through years of toll and poverty She shared his board and bed, A loving helpmeet fond and true, Who never did complain, But tried to make the best of life, With all it's grief and pain The years elapsed. she lost her bloom, The roses in her cheeks Were faded by the cares she met, The grind of days and weeks And months and years of self-denial, And crosses hard to bear, Until the streaks of gray began To glimmer in her hair. At last the man became so rich He had to work no more; Instead, he travelled oer the sea And on foreign shore He played high jinks-forgot his wife, Plunged headlong in the whirl And spent the wealth she helped him
 make
 Upon a chorus girl.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-29
AGE-HERALD ECHES

Houston Post: The Birmingham Age Herald says Mrs. Carrie Nation was well treated in Montgomery. It must have been Drift Armstrong who setumup.
 Washington Herald: "Under the new order of things no matter what individu- al opinion may be, there will be no room in this fair city for the "grumblers," remarks the Birmingham Age-Herald. patriotical- ,ly. Didn't you intend to say "growlers, contemporary?
 Washington Post: "If two-thirds of the girls who go on the stage would go to the kitchen instead, there would be a whole lot more happiness in this world' says the Birmingham Age-Her- aid. But not If their cooking is as bad as their acting.
 Washington Post An Alabama ex- change calls attention to the fact that this country has not had a President named John since 1S41. No doubt Sem ator Knox thinks more weight should be given the fact that in all its history it never had a President named Philander.
 Mobile Register The Birmingham Age Herald says of Captain Hobsons bill for federal pension for Confederate veter- ans: "The Hobson bill should be with drawn. Presented at the outset of political campaign it would afford dem- agogues a new opportunity. It would do no good and it might do much harm" 
 Lynchburg, Va, Advance: The New York Herald tells a story of man who ate "A ham sandwiches at one sitting. If they were church fair sandwiches there is nothing remarkable about the per formance.- Birmingham Age-Herald.
 We beg to differ with our contempo- rary. If they were church fair ham sandwiches it is remarkable that the gen. tleman had enough money to foot the bill.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-29
PAUL COOK.
AROUND THE COUNTRY

Richmond s-Dispatch: Policy holders may unlock their loose change. J. Hagen Hyde is not coming back.
 Columbia State: Twenty-seven thousand wives support their husbands in New York. Are those the women behind the buns?
 Austin Statesman: The Richmond Times-Dispatch wants Senator Jefferson Davis to daily pray to become as cultured and refined as Benjamin R. Tillman. This causes us to wonder how unrefned, un- cultured the said Davis is
 Florida Times Union: A scientist says a woman can, by the use of radium, keep young and beautiful for 100 years. As radium is, even at the recently marked down price. 5000 an ounce, only Pitts burg chorus girls can afford to use it.
 Louisville Courier-Journal: Marriage" says the Inter Ocean, lis the greatest and best of our human institutions" A member of the Chicago Grass Widows club. moves to amend by substituting the word divorce before the bunch of descriptiyes and the noun.
 St. Louis Globe-Democrat: Congress- man Wallace of Ark9nsas gained tre- mendous applause amdng his colleagues by reading the first half dozen words in three of his speeches, and asking leave to extend my remark in the Record.'' Such brevity was recognized on the spot as the soul of wit
 Houston Post: MT. William Eleroy Curtis tells us that the wealth of the country is now s13101 per capita. On this beautiful Christmas morning when the Lord and all of His beautiful angels are with us in Heavenly Houston, we are glad to announce that we have on hand every penny of our per capita except the $l310.
 Memphis Commercial Appeal: What has Conner of Alabama done except to get his state in a mess? As railroad commissioner he accomplished nothing that he promised to do, and as governor he has given the state three sessions of the legislature in a year, and none of his constantly changing railroad rate legislation is apt to stick.