davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14
SENATOR JOHNSTON HAzED?

From the Arkansas Gazette.
 Senator Johnson of Alabama, who wants Congress to reinstate two cadets expelled from West Point for hazing, says new members of the Senate are hazed by being given unimportant com mittee assignments and in other ways. But they are not sent to fill their hats full of red ants with strict injunction not to let any of the insects escape.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14

William D. Howells has begun cru sade against the noise of the motor boats. It is not known whether he has been retained by the store folks or by the fishes who are losing sleep.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14

A woman in New York employed 22 lawyers. She was accounted one of the richest women in the world, but her financial standing at present is uncertain.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14

The postmasters who have been put under the civil service are beginning at last to state their views on public questions and men freely.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14

The fact that the President has sung his swan song does not seem to fill the country with sadness-certainly not Wall street.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14

Some of the republican papers up north consider the defeat of Jim Wood ward defeat of the democratic party.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14

Both the Carolinas, claim Andrew Jackson's birthplace and the most we know about him Is that he is dead.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14

The President is never so energetic and strenuous as when he is installing members of the club he founded.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14

Delayan Smith and Vice President Fairbanks ars related and this fact may account for some of the president ial language in the recent outbreak
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14

Pittsburg now hopes for deep snow followed by thaw. It wants water and it does not care how it gets it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14

Nord Alexis cannot slide into the Chautauqua circuit because he is a "dark-complected Frenchman."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14

Talking about the length of the presidential messages, what about the conversations of some persons who use public telephones in corner drug stores2
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14

Hayti knows what it would do with it's ex-Presidents if she could catch them
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14

The shortest afternoon of the year has arrived, but not the shortest day.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14

Champ Clark is patriot enough to oppose a protective duty on zinc, a product of his state.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14

Some seem to think Congress is on our necks instead of our hands.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14

While eggs are 52 cents a dozen in New York undesirable actors have a feeling of security.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14

The democratic hens have sulked since election day and eggs are now 52 cents in New York.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14

May wheat is clambing up among the luxuries of this earth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14

The Abruzzi may have gone to join Peary at the North Pole. He is get ting desperate.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14

The Emperor of China prefers a rat tla to his throne
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14

Marriages in society have fallen of fully 20 per cent.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-14

Entered at the Birmingham, AIa.' postoffice as seeond-class matter unoer act of Congress March 8, 1879.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-20
"HARBOR LIGHTS"

T HE good news that the house of
representatives passed the senate
resolution authorizing the secre-
tary of war to fix harbor lines in Will
mington harbor was not unexpected,
but the fact that it had been antici-
pated did not make it less welcome.
With the passage of the resolution and
the signature of President Roosevelt
the war department will have power to
establish harbOr lines in Wilmington
harbor. These lines were defined in a
report made by Captain A. A. Fries to
the war department year ago, and
they carry out the wishes of the people
of the harbor towns and of Los An
geles instead of the desires and de-
signs of the Southern Pacific and al
lied corporations. Protests made by
commercial bodies and voiced in the
Los Angeles Herald killed first reso-
luton, which contained joker thai
would have put the railroad in posi-
ton to dictate to the government The
reformed and revised measure pro
notes public and not private or cor
porate interests. "Harbor lights a
last are burning brightly.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-20
UNSAFE SCHOOLS

~ XPERTS whose reports and opin-
X ions are before us state that
- school buildings in the United
States are all more or less unsafe in
spite of fire drills and ordinary pre-
cautions if inf1ammable material is
used in the construction of frames,
floors, stairs, partitions or roofs. 1t is
recommended that building material
should be reinforced concrete, which in
numerous severe tests has proved its
superiority over other materials as a
resistant to combustion. Not only is it
indestructible by fire, but it VIII last
for centuries. AS an invention 1t is
comparatively new Still speaking COM
paratively, only a few architects and
builders have more than a superficial
knowledge of it. Every school official
should inquire into the subject. Fire
proof school buildings are as necessary
in small towns, villages and country
districts as in large cities, because in
the smaller communities the facilities
for extinguishing fire are, oftener than
not, meager and unsatisfactory. The
time is coming when the government
that insists that all children must be
vaccinated shall also insist that all
children shall be protected from danger
while at study. Compulsory education
is bloodthirsty tyranny when school
building is fire trap.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-20
PUT PUT OUT

NONNECTICUT'S favorite hero is
4 Old Put, or, to give him his He
~ breW-ChriStian name, General
Israel Putnam. Everybody knows the
stories that made Connecticut and old
Put famous, and if every American
schoolboy cannot tell you, with en-
thusiasm, how the general rode down
a precipitous hill and from a place
of safety at the bottom laughed up
at the nonplused Royal Dragons,
there is something wrong, not with
the child, but with the manner in
which the modern American school
system instructs modern American
school children in early American his
tory and the first principles of Ameri-
canism. AS we are we'll aware that
there is something wrong, preposter-
ously and monstrously and ineXcusa-
bly, wrong, we won't loiter to con-
slider the stupidity OF it and make our
selves melancholy, but will pass on to
the consideration of the great feat of
modern patriotic achievement which
will restore Greenwich to its proper
place in the estimation of an admiring
nation. KNOW, O mere American
Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-20
THE VICE PRESIDENCY

N HE New York World says it is
afraid the Democratic national
Il convention is going to be a mere
BRYAN ratification meeting No; the
people of the United States will hold
the Bryan ratification meeting. Mean
while we cannot dispute the Worlds
assertion that there is good presiden-
tial timber in Governor John A. john
son of Minnesota and Governor William
L. Douglas of Massa achusetts. The two
governors are "all right" even as their
constituents allege. Either one would
made an ideal vice presidential candi-
date. After all, the vice presidency is
'.well worth while" Never was vice
president of grit and force of character
more needful than now. With the
right kind of vice president in the
second best chair in the country the
senate of the United States would be
on it's good behavior We have learned
by repeated experiences that we should
be as careful in the choice of a vice.
president as of a president. In spite of
history we are still too apt to regard
that great and responsible Office, the
vice presidency of the United States, as
a shelf 1t may have been no better
than a shelf long ago, but Roosevelt
has changed all that and has estab-
lished a precedent which has put the
nomination for vice president on a new
basis and given it greater significance
and value
Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-20
RUEF MAKES
NEW CHARGES
TO FILE AFFIDAVIT CONCERN
ING IMMUNITY
Former Boss Declares That Neither
Ford Nor Calhoun Ever Talked
with Him About Buying
Votes
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
SAN FRANCISCO March 19.-The
contents of another affidavit which is
TO be filed in Judge Lawlor's court
tomorrow by Abraham Ruef were given
out tonight. The. present affidavit con-
Germs itself with the reasons Ruef
mad for refusing to testify against
Calhoun, Ford and Schmitz in the
United Railways bribery cases, which
refusal led to the breaking of the i'm
munity contract by the prosecutors,
according to the allegations of Ruef.
In the affidavit Ruef says:
THE only times when the prosecu-
tion ever even suggested or intimated
to me that the immunity agreement. or
any part thereof, would be repudiated
were on the several occasions when
Langdon and Heney and especially
Burns attempted to suborn perjury
by trying to procure me to swear false
ly in order to assure the conviction of
Eugene E. schmitz. TREY L. Ford, Pat
rick Calhoun and others"
In another place in the affidavit Ruef
says: Before the prosecution had in
timated to me that they would repu-
date the immunity contract Burns
tried to get me to say that I would
testify directly and positively to that.
which had repeatedly and from the
very first stated to Burns. Langdon
and Heney was absolutely untrue, and
said Heney did, through said Burns and
otherwise, threaten me with immediate
sentence in case No. sos and with the
reputation of the immunity contract
If 1 did not agree to testify as they
desired"
In the affidavit Ruef asserts that he
Informed Burns that he had never
spoken to Thornwell MullalIy or Will
liam NJ. Abbott concerning any United
Railway permit at any time. Also that
he never at any time received any
money from Tirey l.. Ford or Patrick
Calhoun or the United Railways, or
that he was never promised any. for
the purpose of bribing public officials
or for any other purpose.
Ruef further states in his affidavit:
'"There was never any conversation be-
tween this affiant and Ford or Calhoun
or any agent of the United Railways
concerning the buying of any votes"
Further Ruef says: 'Notwithstand-
ing this, Burns, made repeated requests
and demands of this afflant that he
should change his statement SO that
it would incriminate the said Ford and
Calhoun"
Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-20
HYsTERICAL JOURNALISM

]HHE methods of yellow journalism
have brought trouble upon two
young and inexperienced reporters
who believed that the end justifies the
means, a precept that has been taught
diligently by the president of the In
dependence league ever since he in
vented a style of journalism that be-
mandments may be revoked or sus-
pended in the quest of news" When
a reporter is sent out of a Hearst
office and instructed not to return
without pictures. interviews, facts,
then, if he is young and impressionable,
the apparent disgrace of discharge
overpowers every other sentiment and
impulse. Any person familiar with
Hearst methods knows full we'll that
the young men are more sinned against
than SHINING. They may have exceeded
their instructions, but they did not
Indeed they exempif1ed it. The motto
of the Hearst offices is: Never hesitate.
1t is easier to explain than to be
beaten or scooped." This policy has
brought trouble on Hearst's employees
over and over again, but never for
Hearst. AS he is one of those who
during recent official Investigations
clamored most vociferously higher
up!' the authorities should go
"higher up" in the Hearst offices and
ask why the spirit of fear, employed
as a means of coercion in news getting,
should be allowed to drive young men
to crime? If Hearst were on the wit
ness stand in an investigation one of
the questions that might be asked
would be this: "Since you advocate
an eight-hour day why is your office
in Chicago known as Hearst's contin-
uous performance? In defiance of the
regulations Of organized labor. why do
you work men on your evening paper
and then compel the same men to work
on your morning paper? And when
these men put in bills for services rem
dered why do you exercise an arbitrary
and unreasonable privilege by cutting
the bills and paying your continuous
performers any sum you please?"
If the unfortunate accident" at San
Diego should help to open the obfus-
Gated eyes of Bamboozled Bill the un-
happy young reporters may be able to
plead this much needed enlightenment
as an extenuating circumstance, and
in view of their martyrdom to the ex-
traordinary Hearst notion of what con-
stitutes a newspaper mans duty
may possibly be released on a suspend
ed sentence.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-20
TIME TO CONSIDER

~ man killed and many injured
in riot near the plant of the
" American Steel and Wire com
pany at Cleveland! What caused the
riot? HUNGER. The men We're look
ing for WORK and they fought for it
as famished men have fought and
WILL. FIGHT, in spite Of sermons and
essays and the unctuous advice of the
full fed to "be calm
The social condition was satirized
centuries ago in the lines:
There was an old man and he had an old
COW.
And loi he had naught to give her;
So he took out his fiddle and played her this
tune:
Consider, good COW, consider;
This is no time of year for the grass tc
growi
Consider, good cow pray consider
And that was the celebrated "tune
the old COW died Of"
Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-20
In the Senate
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, March 19.-Continu-
ing his speech begun in the senate last
Tuesday Senator LaFollette of Wiscon-
sin today devoted considerable time to
discussing the proposition for the phys
ical valuation of railroads. The blind
senator from Oklahoma. Mr.. Gore, at
tempted to draw Mr.. LaFolette into a
criticism of the actions OF the president
and Secretary Cortelyou in connection
with the recent financial disturbance,
but the Wisconsin senator expressed
the opinion that the president had acted
in a way which he believed at the time
to be in the best interest of the country
The senate devoted part of the day to
the consideration of the omnibus claims
bill and then referred it back to COM
mittee for consideration.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-20
A TYPICAL TALE

HN HE story of r. G. Smith is typical
There are many others like unto
Il it. From the recital of one learn
the nature of all Smith served term
in Folsom prison. When he came out
he was determined to be honest. But
the world would not let him. He tried
to obtain work and did secure a pay
ing situation, but was discharged. not
for inefficiency but because he had a
criminal record. Abandoned by So
ciety, he committed another crime. He
stole two bundles of sacks from the
Los Angeles Brick company. For this
offense he will serve for three years
in Folsom. II would have been honest
If my prison record had not followed
me-" he pleaded to the judge. 1T fol-
lows me everywhere 1 go, day and
night. and awakens me from sound
sleep to frighten and worry me-
The judge acknowledged that mod
ern society was cruel and unreason-
able in its attitude toward repentant
men and women who at some time of
their lives have committed crimes.
They try to live honorably, but So
ciety refuses to forgive them. In the
eyes of the law, they have expiated
their offenses, and in old-fashioned law
English are "purged therefrom." but
modern society refuses to recognize
punitive purgation. Once a criminal,
always a criminal. There are times
when the attitude of civilization toward
its weaker members is that of an ig-
nnrant hnllY
Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-20
The Musical World
T LILLIAN BLAUvELT! What l
By oenevra Johnstone- Bishop:

LILLIAN BLAUVELT! What has
i happened to the beautiful voice?
a. Only in the bo1ero "Merci, di lette
amice,' by Verdi. and in the Handel
aria from "Rhodelinda," was she the
same old Blauvelt, although in portions
of the rest of her part of the program
her voice was sweet and her runs were
even, clean and perfect. No one could
criticise such a magnificent trill as be-
longs to Madame BlauVelt. Her trills
are indeed a fine pattern for some of
the other artists to copy.
Nine. BlauVelt'S Vioce last evening
sounded tired in the extreme. so tired
that the intonation was very faulty and
fiat. but no doubt this was entirely due
to a severe cold with which she seemed
to be suffering. Methinks too much
sightseeing in open autos is disastrous
to Madame Blauvelt's voice, and also
that perhaps she does not take as good
care of 1t as she should. No doubt the
cause partly of her not being in as good
voice last evening also was due to the
fact that it was her second concert for
the day, as in the afternoon she gave
a recital in Simpson auditorium to
about 1900 school children with their
teachers. Too much for any artist
Madame Blauvelt responded to many
hearty recalls and some of the compo-
sitions she repeated, but among the en-
core numbers was a cute little German
lied" and Comm Thro the Rye" She
did not sing the spinning Song by
Liza Lehman.
No doubt a short season of physical
exercises such as Gadski has used to
reduce flesh would be of some benefit to
Nine. Blauvelt. for it seemed an effort
for her to get sufficient breath Rt times.
The pianist, Miss Kellogg, gave her
solos a most artistic Interpretation, and
only for the fact that her playing was
little too subservient to the artist
were her accompaniments beautifully
given. She also received much enthus-
iastic applause.
Mr.. Rosenthal. the 'eellist-a very
young man-did very good work in
everything but the Bach Air" which
he butchered in as bad a manner as
have ever yet heard. The Hungarian
Rhapsodie" by Pepper. the composer
of the famous little "Gavotte" for cello
which Jean Gerardy plays so exquisite
ly. brought forth three recalls and fin
ally an encore. which was responded to
by the Saint-Saens Swan" and which
he played very we'll indeed. He has
quite a brilliant technique and showed
a considerable amount of artistic abil-
ity. Age and more experience will tell
in his future work.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-20
Daily Naval Report

WASHINGTON, March 19.-The fol-
lowing navy orders have been issued:
Captain III. Morrell, from the navy
yard at New York to duty In connec-
tion with fitting out the Wisconsin and
in command of that vessel when placed
in commission.
Captain U. r. Harris, to the naval
station at Cavite, P. /.
Commander III. G.. Gearing, from the
naval station at Cavite. p. L., to the
naval station at Olongapo. p. I.
Lieutenant Commander w. S. Cros-
ley, additional temporary duty as ord
nance officer, navy yard, New York.
Lieutenant A. Buchanan and Lieu
tenant w. c. Watts, to the navy yard
at League Island in connection with
fitting out the New Hampshire and on
board that vessel when placed in COM
mission. =
Lieutenant H. p. Perrill, from COM
mand of the Quiros TO home.
Ensign M. Milne from the ST. Louis
to the Perry.
Ensign e. A. Swanson, from the Per-
ry to duty in connection with fitting
out the Davis and command of that
vessel when placed in commission.
Ensign C. l.. Hand from the Penn
sylvania to duty in connection with fit
ting out the Farragut and duty on
board that vessel when placed in COM
mission
Ensign e. r. Shipp, from the ST.
Louis to duty in connection with fitting
out the Davis and duty on board that
vessel when placed in commission.
Ensign C. Fl. Shaw, from the St.
Louis to duty In connection with fitting
out the Fox and duty on board that
vessel when placed in commission.
Ensign NJ. S. Davis, from the Perry
to duty in connection with fitting out
the Fox and command of that vessel
when placed in commission.
Ensign r. M. Fawell, from the Quiros
to command the Samar.
Ensign r.. r. Riggs, from the Calves
ton to the naval hospital at Mare
Island. Cal, for treatment.
Midshipman F. f. Rogers, from the
Quiros to the Samar.
Movements of Navy Vessels
The Peoria is at the navy yard at
New York.
The Marietta has left New Orleans
for Guantanamo.
Navy Notes
Additional communications have
reached the navy department throwing
light on the remarkable shooting of the
navy gunners in Magdalera bay. IL IS
a source of qualification to the depart
ment that the service takes such inter-
est in each record made, and also that
the records this year show greater
speed and accuracy in firing than all
previous records.
The trophy which the cruiser AL
bany now displays was won last year
by the cruiser Boston. Since. that time
the Boston has been placed out OF COM
mission and her officers and men trans
ferred to the Albany.
The performance at Magdalena pay
shows that the Albany has made new
records for rapidity and accuracy with
her fiye-inch guns, her average being
slightly more than ten hits minute.
The st. Louis averaged about eight
and three-quars hits minute with her
six-inch guns.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-20
PENSION BILL
is PASSED
MEASURE CARRIES TOTAL OF
S15O,869,0OO
New York Representative Accuses
President Roosevelt of Using
Federal Patronage in the
Interest of Taft
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, March 19.--After
several hours of spirited discussion over
the proposition to abolish seven of the
fifteen United States pension agencies
and consolidate pension disbursements
in Washington. the house today passed
the pension appropriation bill carrying
$150, 1863, 900, the largest sum ever author
lied by that measure.
The house, by vote of Sc to 1S9,
stood by the committee on appropria-
tions and left unchanged it's recon-
mendations for one general agency.
In the course of the debate Mr.. Fitz-
gerald of New York accused the presi-
dent of using federal patronage to fur
ther the interests of Secretary Taft for
the presidency.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-20
The Independence Party Going to the Polls

citizen, that one Percy G. Rockefeller,
son of William G. Rockefeller and
nephew of John d. Rockefeller, has
built a wonderful home for himself
and his little family in Greenwich.
There are four in the Percy Rookie
feller family, but they must have
plenty of room-to expand, presuma-
bly,. The new home contains sixty
four apartments. Each Rockefeller of
the family may occupy sixteen at a
time. if he can.
If Putnam's ghost ever revisits the
glimpses of the moon. it will surely
haunt the Rockefeller castle. where,
certes, there is plenty Of room for it,
What must its thoughts be as it
views four human beings leading a
restless and distraught existence in
the vain endeavor to occupy sixty-four
furnished apartments, while, not far
away, in greet New York, it sees. in
the slums, instead of sixteen rooms to
one person, sixteen persons to one
room.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-20
Double HOLIDAYS

Next year Washington's birthday,
Memorial day and the Fourth of July
all fall on Saturday. giving the public
three double holidays" Ordinarily
these three do not fall on the same
day, but by the intervention of the
goth of February this year Washing
toms birthday falls just fourteen weeks
earlier than Memorial day, which reg
ularly comes five weeks before the
Fourth The advantage of having a
holiday adjoin a Sunday for people
who desire to seize the opportunity to
make trips out of town is very great
Boston Transcript.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-20

The success of the Wilmington har~
Dor front bond issue indicates the over
whelmingly prevalent sentiment of
Southern California with regard to har-
Dor improvement. Give us harbors, and
California will supply ships cargoes,
while thriving railroads will transport
imports and experts overland. A lack
of seaports clogs commerce. On with
the development of imperial California!
Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-20
No Comment by Bryan
BY Associated Press.

CHICAGO, March 19--Mr. Bryan was
shown the dispatches announcing the
action of the New York Democratic
state committee He read the matter
through attentively and upon being
asked whether he had any comment to
make, replied:
''None whatever. I thank you for
the information. but l have absolutely
nothing to say with reference to 1t"