davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04

commit the state to the biennial sys- tenn after trying the quadrennial policy, while the adoption of the third would render the formation of new counties easy and convenient. Each would be a departure from present policies and each therefore deserves thoughtful at tention on the part of every voter.
 Secretary of State Julian has drawn up instructions as to the manner of conducting the amendment elections. The voter will say "Yes" or ''No' to each proposition on ballots to be pro- vided by the state at each voting place. The amendment ballots go into an amendment box, to be counted and re- turned separately. The total vote on each amendment Is to be carefully re- turned, as we'll as the affirmative and negative votes.
 The constitution of 1901 has stood seven years without amendment, and the first Tuesday in November will be the first day that the voters have had a chance to amend 1t. The men who compiled the constitution anticipated amendments as the years go on, and they endeavored to smooth the way. A majority of the vote cast on particu- lar amendment ratifies it, and 1t is therefore important to keep the amend ment voting separate and apart from the voting for electors and other off, cials.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04
Uncle RemuS Memorial Fund

An association has been organized in Atlanta having for it's object the pres ervation of the home where the folk lore stories were written, where the { best years of the delightful author were spent. The hope is to secure a sum large enough to dedicate that home to the children and grown-ups, too, who cherish the Uncle Remus stories and to maintain it perpetually as one of the shrines of the southern people, Atlanta is contributing freely toward the fund, and Alabama is full of people who take delight In recalling the words of the lovable writer and philosopher.
 The south should do as much to pre- serve the memory of Joel Chandler Harris as Massachusetts has done for Longfellow at Cambridge. Both con tributed to the literature of the coun- try, and we do but serve ourselves when We keep in tangible form re- minders of the work of such men. No writer has done more to preserve the cherished memories of the south, and the south should now respond when a sum is needed to establish a perma- nent memorial to the departed author.
 All contributions should be sent to Secretary J. G. Lester, Empire build | ing, Atlanta The fund is increasing, and the hope is that the association will not be forced to appeal altogether to far-away people.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04
Activity In This District

Before the first day of next month 1t Is stated that four more blast fur naces in this district will be blown in, making 26 all told in operation. Twen- ty furnaces are turning out about 14O.- 900 tons of pig iron a month, and the addition of four would carry produc- tion to 165 tons, possibly 170,000 tons, and that would give the district an output of activity and prosperity. Pro- auction would then be not merely nor nal. but prosperously so.
 Much credit for this exceptional sit uation is due to the steel corporation. Here at present that great hive of in dustry makes its open-hearth rails. But this does not tell the entire story. The old struggle Of the survival of the fittest goes on, and when the price of iron is low this district begins to be felt in the iron trade. Iron can be made here at a profit when 1t cannot when made elsewhere put any net money in the pockets of producers. When this district can load It's No. 9 foundry on cars and get SIS for it iron making here is not proftless. and there is demand for it. The stove and the implement and the pipe makers want it. It is excellent foundry iron. It flows freely. In the making of all these castings it is unexcelled. and then again 1t is needed in the wide world of soft steel.
 This Is why our blast furnaces are going into operation. This is why this districts output will soon be normal It now stands at S5 per cent. while the other districts have to be content with an output not exceeding 60 per cent. This is why skyscrapers are going up and our general condition becomes ex- ceptional.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04
campalan Chairman.

Few jobs are so nerve-raclSing as that of campaign chairman" said anr old politician. ITO run a state political cam paign a man must have ffrst-class ability and must possess no end of energy. And as for a national campaign the success full manager must have a rare combina- tion of talent and great power of endur- ance.
 'The late Senators Barnum, German, Quay and Hanna were exceptionally adroit and resourceful in campaign man. agement of their respective parties. but one of the ablest chairmen in my day was Harrity of Pennsylvania, who managed Cleveland's campaign in 1892 when the democratic ticket won with landslide. MT. Harrity was then a young lawyer. He had been attorney general of Pennsyl- vania, and had managed a state cam paign, but when asked to take the na- tional chairmanship he had. if I remem- Der aright, retired from public life, al though he was only a little above 30 years of age. He made no noise, but proved to be wonderfully fine organizer. After the election was over MT. Harrity retired again to private life. and I be- lieve he is still living and practicing his profession.
 q never saw MT. Harrity but once, and that was a few weeks after MT. Cleve- lands inauguration. l was introduced to him at the White House, and was im- pressed with his extreme modesty He told me that he had come over from Phil adelphia simply to pay his respects to the President, and I learned afterward that Harrity not only asked no favor of the President or the party for the splen- did service he had rendered, but that he positively declined high office that was rendered him. He had given his time and talents from patriotic motives, and when the victory had been won the satisfaction of having done his part successfully was reward enough for him.
 There have been very few Harritys. As rule all the party workers. from the chairman down, clamor for office when their man happens to win.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04
Four Millions of NOn-VOters

The vote in the hot election of 1Sg6 was 19,923,102. Twelve years have elapsed and the increase in that time should have been just about per cent year. but in neither 1900 nor 1904 was an increased vote brought out. The slump was not heavy in 1900, but in 1904 the total vote actually fell be- low the vote in either 1896 or 1900, al- though the population had increased at the rate of about per cent a year.
 The situation is not explained by the statement that some democrats re- fused to vote for Mr. Parker or by the changes that have taken place in the election laws of the southern states. Between 1896 and 1904 the republican vote in New York gained but per cent, and in Illinois but 4 per cent, al- though the population in each of those states was increased 16 per cent in the eight years mentioned.
 The conclusion is irresistible that indifferentism has since 1896 been factor in the political situation, and that the seven tickets now before the people may bring out nearly four mil lions of voters that either had not voted because of age or else would not after 1896 go to the polls.
 It may not be possible to induce the 100000 of non-voters to go to the polls. But if this campaign continues throughout October to increase in in- terest they may vote, and then arises the question, How will they vote? ?" Not even General Grosvenor knows that much. It is the problem of the campaign. To get out the vote of the country fully 4,00O,OOO more must vote next month than voted in November, 1904, and surely some one of the seven parties in the field will meet the views of the missing 100000.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04

not know how; but he both knows how
 and has the courage to enlighten the pub lie sense. He is a serious, instructed, experienced and self-reliant figure in the noisy whrl of our politics. But he can not make a rocket or product phrases that sting or turn the public forum into a prize ring.
 As is the case with all men, Judge Taft has the defects of his qualities, and in the stirring contentious of an active political campaign he is not thor oughly at home. He knows better and more precisely than any man now In American public life just what this coun- try needs-he knows this country and all its outlying parts and relations better than any American statesman of our time but he does not know how to be clam orous or vindictive or voluble about these serious matters. His knowledge and judgment and sympathy with our com mon humanity make him an ideal helms- man for our.ship of state.
 The American people will do well by themselves if they take this accomplished man for what he is. He is no more per- feet than any of the rest of us-he is, as is now fairly evident. great politician, as the political art is practiced in this eountry-but he is a well-trained and levef=headed statesman of the best Amer ican origins, he is thoroughly grounded in all the ancient and tested American traditions of efficient popular govern ment. he was made big in body so as to hold all the good will that he has for everything and everybody that is decent and honest and right, his sense of fair play is more deeply grounded in him than any love of personal advantage and by reason of the necessary formal ities his services are now at this coun- try's disposal. It is a greater opportun- ity for this country than 1t is for Judge Taft.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04
MAN 5000 YEARS AGO.

From the Chicago News.
 At a recent meeting of scientists in Dub- lin, Prof. c. Elliott Smith, the Egyptolo- gist, said that the earliest known hu- man remains found in the Nile valley, when compared with those of later times, demonstrated the fact that at very re- mote period Egypt and Nubia were in- habited by the same race, which had per sisted in Egypt with little or no change in physical characteristics throughout the intervening 6O0O years until the present day They had been. and still were, a small people, the average height of the men Icing about five feet three inches in every period of their history.
 Their hair was very dark brown or black, usually wavy, but not ''woolly'' or in any sense negroid; their heads were long and narrow, usually ovoid or pen tagonoid or ''coffin-shaped," as the re- suit of frequent presence of pro- tuberant occiput. On the whole they shared those characteristics which dis tinguished the majority of the peoples fringing the Mediterranean.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04
THE SOUL OF THE HOUSE.

By Burgess Johnson. Locust timbers brick and stones Are it's bones; And I saw them wrought together In the keen autumnal weather, Joint by joint and bono by bone to 1t .
 plan, As sages build of fossil forms some un-
 remembered man. Lath and shingles for q skin Clad it in; And it took on form and feature As of-some familiar creature, Standing silently in dull, repellant guise, And soullessly 1t looked on me from
 staring window eyes. My own soul seed, deep in earth At my birth Lay as lifeless and as hidden By the sun and rain unbidden, Until Love has fed 1t smiles and tears
 and toil- Then green and gracious buds of 1t came
 forcing through the soil. So my house there reared it's head, Cold and dead, With chill to finger always Till Love breathed along it's hallways, Laughed and wept there, toiled and
 dreamt there in the gloam; Now those window eyes are brimming
 with the wakened soul of Home
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04
An Original Bryan Man.

There are many simon pure Bryan men in Birmingham but it is safe to say that R. 0. Morris, assistant to Man ager D. F. Turnbull of the Southern Bell Telephone company, is outclassed by none in the devotion to the great Me- braskan or in a firm belief that the democratic stand bearer will be elected this time. MT. Morris is native of Virginia and was Bryan man long be- fore 1896. MT. Bryan's famous speech in congress captjvated him and he has been predicting ever since then that the pop ular leader would some day reach the presidential chair.
 T was strongly in favor of MT. Bryan $ nomination at Denver and l am more thoroughly convinced now than ever that the party made no mistake," said MT. Morris.
 'The tide has turned and I am confi- dent that MT. Bryan will carry New York, Indiana, Nebraska and many oth- CT states that have been called doubt ful. A veritable landslide is in sight"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04
Labor In Rhode Island.

From the Providence Journal. Qnd. Hep)
 A meeting of the representative labor men from all over the state has been called for Sunday afternoon at the Labor Temple on Washington street to form a state organization to carry on the politi- cal campaign of the labor men in favor of Democratic nominees. Lawrence A. Grace, vice president of the International Teamsters' Union, has been selected by the national labor leaders to conduct the campaign in Rhode Island, and he has been authorized to take immediate steps along that line.
 The organization of Providence and Pawtucket will be the first wosk taken up by the state central committee after its organization, and after that every city and town in the state will receive attention Speakers will be furnished by the state committee for all meetings throughout the state and the national headquarters will send some of its ablest men here to speak on the movement.
 It Is definitely stated that Samuel Gompers. president of the American Fed eration of Labor, will visit Rhode Is- land and will make an automobile tour through the state, speaking in several places. The date and minor details of this visit have not been completed.
 The object of the labor agitation, as expressed by one of the leaders in a letter to MT. Grace, is:
 '"To defeat candidates for office who have refused to grant the demands made by the their representatives for remedial labor legislation, and inasmuch- as the democratic national convention adopted and made part of their platform the de- mands of organized labor, you can see that 1t is of mutual interest to your state, city and town committees to cooperate with this movement in every way pos sible'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04
Amendments Before the People

Three amendments of the constitu- ton of 1901 are to be voted on at the general election, and every one of them will command the attention of the man who goes to the polls. The three are the good roads or Overton amendment, the biennial session proposition, and the new county plan. The adoption of the first would give legislatures a chance to improve the roads of the state; the adoption of the second would
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04

maining in the campaign. and 1t IS quite apparent that the men In charge Of Judge Taft,s interest in the doubtful states will have enough to do to put in double time and also disregard the Biblical injunction against laboring on the Sabbath.
 There are three tasks requiring atten- tion which stand out preeminent in their importance. One is the raising of money with which to carry on the legitimate work of the campaign Another Is the checking of a threatened defection among republican working men, and the third is the placating of the unfriendly portion of the negro electorate.
 Failure to accomplish material results along these lines may have serious con- seauences for the republican national ticket. There is no doubt that the repub- lican management needs money, and great deal of 1t. It is equally true the situation Is not satisfactory, Nor can it be denied that there still remains much to be done in bringing disgruntled ne- groes into line.
 Last week the republican treasury was practically empty. If the mission of Sen ator W. Murray Crane, of Massachusetts, to Cincinnati, fortnight ago. was sue cessful this condition should not exist today.
 There is every reason to believe that the Senator had a frank talk with Judge Taft and his brother, Charles F. Taft. about the financial needs of the cam paign. The disinclination of former con trbutors to subscribe this year was ex- plained to them, as was the difficulty which George R. Sheldon, treasurer of the national committed, was experience ing in providing the means with which to execute the plans formulated by Chair man Hitchcock.
 How much money is required perhaps no man knows definitely
 But those identified actively with both the republican and the democratic man. agement frankly admit that the posses sion of s1,OoooOo would necessitate great economies, and double that amount would only make the committee comfortable. Herman Ridder, the new treasurer of the democratic committee, advertised for 500 s10OO subscriptions the day after he suc- ceeded< Governor Haskell as the collector of funds, thus demonstrating that he had no silly notions about the financial re- quirements of contest for the presi- dency
 This, of course, was not tho limit hc fixed upon the contributions, but 1t was a starter The democratic committee up to few days ago undoubtedly was bet ter supplied with money than the repub- lican committee. But how much the democrats have collected will remain a secret until October 15, when list of the contributions of 500 or over is ex- pected to be made public.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press
 A really clever woman is always too clever to show 1t.
 The reason people like to brag Is they object to others doing it.
 About the best way to make man like whist is not to play it with his wife. people Is all the Quarrels you have to have with them.
 Even a sensible girl who likes steak and French fried potatoes can rave over the way a stage hero kisses the hand of the heroine.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04
To Leave Birmingham.

John R. Gaudin. known as one of Bir- mingham's most energetic and success full young citizens, has accepted a flat tering business offer in Fort Worth and will leaves for his new home on October 15. He was great prophet of Birmingham's future but Fort Worth is his wfe's old home and but for that he would have hesitated long before con sidering a business proposition that would cause him to move from this city It can be said truthfully that what is Birming- hams loss is Fort Worth's gain.
 MT. Gaudin has host of friends here who will wish him all good in his new undertaking.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04
TAFT.

From the Altoona Tribune.
 Judge Taft is not an excamatory man but an explanatory man. He Is not de- nunciatory but analytic. His mind does not ring but 1t thinks. His nature is not pugnacious but eonciliatory. His at titude is not that of an opponent but that of an intelligent and candid friend. His instinct Is to deal fairly and justly by all men, no matter what they think or say about him-to abhor the sin but to deal kindly with the sinner. He does not play upon public emotions-he does
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04
Time for WhirIwind Finish.
m the Cincinnati Inquirer.

From the ClHUlHiidtI IHQuiFef'
 Washington.-If reports of political con- ditions for the so-called debatable states are only half true it is high time for the '.whirlwind finish promised by the re- publican managers a couple of weeks ago to begin. Exactly what that term implies must be left to the imagination.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04
WORK FOR SLEEPING FLIES.

From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
 With regard to fears that If the Presi- dent goes to Africa the flies that are thought to carry the sleeping sickness may bite him there seem to be people who would like to test the virtue of these flies on him right now.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04
A SONG FOR ANY To1LER.

SONG FOR ANY MULLEN. Oh, you will be happy yet, If you'll banish all regret, If you'll look upon the sunny side of
 lifel Only keep a cheerful heart Heavens ray the clouds will part And illume a weary world where trou-
 ble's rife! There's a better time in store, Joy is knocking on the door And happiness is coming back to stay. If you'll only learn to hope Not to grumble, not to nope All the gloom that wraps you round will
 fade awayl
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04
ArrER ALL.

After all the pain and worry and the bus tie and the hurry And the bitter tears we shed nobody sees, For a scanty sip of pleasure and of grief a brimful measure, Growing sadder, growing older by de- grees; Is 1t any wonder. brother, that we weary of the bother And the crowded walks where greed and envy keep, And some days we fall to dreaming or an end to all this scheming And a quiet place to lay us down and sleep?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04

The real issues may not be as enter taining as personalities, but few mil lion voters are becoming serious enough to cry, "A plague on both your housesi Let us have argument"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04

Last years panic made people re- solve to cut down expenses, but busi- ness conditions have improved so fast that the average man has hardly had time to give economy chance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04
EoJrALLY HELPLESS.

'"There is nothing more helpless than a ship without a rudder or an aeropiane with broken wing"
 "Oh, I don't know about that Did you ever see an exchange editor who had lost his scissors?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04

The army retiring board has been packed to retire Colonel Stewart, who insists he is suffering from excessive health.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04
Say Taft Turned Tide.

Say Taft Turned Tide.
 From the New York Herald.
 With the wheels of the republican cam paign machine just beginning to reVolVe' Frank H. Hitchcock. national chairman declared yesterday that the outlook TOT republican success in some Of the dounl- full states had materially improved. lie spoke particularly of Indiana. fester- day was the date set by him for the be- ginning of the real campaign, and it was said at national headquarters that, true to the prediction, buttons were pressed and wheels started in all the states where work is needed.
 Within two weeks, it was predicted, the so-called Bryan wave which Is admitted to have swept through some parts or the west and middle west will have receded and Mir Taft will be found to be gaining. In fact, it was stated, MT. Taft's trip through the northwest has already brought about change.
 While MT. Hitchcock was making these predictions. Norman E. Mack, dem- ocratic national chairman, was asserting with almost boyish enthusiasm, that the Bryan wave is still gathering force all through the west, and has already start ed on a course through some eastern states. notably, New York. He said. also that the democratic party is slowly getting enough money to conduct VIZ orous campaign and intends to make the "fur fly from now until election eve.
 No estimate can be made of the number of speakers now talking for MT. Tart, but MT. Hitchcock stated last night that by the end of next week the number or men on the stump throughout the coun- try will be a great deal larger than ever before in a national campaign.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04

A new telephone invention makes 10000 words an hour possible. This will enable Roy and Mae to get half through before they are rung off.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04

Chairman Hitchcock was an expert in handling the republican steam roller at Chicago, but as campaign manager he is below second class.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04

Birmingham's crowded streets, espe- cially on Saturday nights. are reminds CTS of old-time prosperity. The holi- day trade was never more promising.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04

The black sheep in the republican family is Sunny Jim Sherman, who was nominated to appease the tariff beneficiaries.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04

President Roosevelt has the spas modic energy of man who does not know what a days hard work is.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04

Instead of playing golf Taft Is now using campaigning as reducer Of weight and the ballot box may cap the climax.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04

The St. Louis Globe-Democrat hopes Alabama, the river state, will send a strong delegation to the waterways congress-