davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04
Rrxan And The south.


 The Hon. Thomas E. Wa.son has made no capital out of his accusations that MT. Bryan IS out of sympathy with the South in respect to the race failed to vote for MT. Crisp in the Democratic caucus because the Georgia Congressman was Confederate soldier Is old straw many times threshed. MT. Bryan has never directly denied 1t but he has given many subsequent eVi- dences of a changed view If he then entertained such a prejudice. Ever since he became national figure he has manifested broadly national senti- ment that made no sectional disttnc- tions. His earnest advocacy of former Senator Cockrill of Missouri for the Democratic presidential nomination at St. Louis in 1904 would have atoned for a youthful prejudice against ex- Confederates if the story of his record in the speakership contest be true. Mir. Bryan flatly denies the other as- sertion made by MT. Watson that in a speech to delegation of negro visi-- President Roosevelt's action in relation to the affair at Brownsville, Texas. It was a long time before Mir. Bryan made any declaration in regard 10 the months before his present nomina tion when confronted with a direct inter- rogatory as to his position be said frankly and without hesitarion:
 
 | if he Is a black man voting the Re- publican ticket for a white Republican cannot in justice ask 1t. Blu. I wil;
 answer 1t frankly and tell You tLat | the white man in the South puts on that qualification as a matter of self l protection. and that there is not a Re- publican community in the North that | would not put it on when necessary. The man who says that the people of the North have any different idea of this subject from the people of the South is lacking in frankness with him self. or he assumes what would not be true. The white race in the North and l in the South will permit a few men to take the solid black vote and use | it as personal property for the making of money regardless of the welfare of the community. and that was done in the South. The South Is giving the black man better law than the black man would give the white man in the South if the black man made the law" That Is satisfactory and rebuffs any attempt to make it appear that his sentiments in this respect are out of accord with those prevailing in the South. Mir. Watson will have to make his attack on MT. Bryan from other points. The Nebraskan's armor here Is complete and can't be penetrated.
 MT. Bryan came of Virginia ances- try and was reared under Democratic influences. These facts alone would make probable his sympathy with Southern sentiment.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04
A Shortage.

BlrnlnBnam LeuBeEs
 It is rumored that there is sad deficiency of cash in the state treas ury Right often this cash runs below the need for expenses, but it was not expected this year. The Jelks admin istration left such a large surplus and left the states finances in such per feet condition that 1t was thought a reform administration could sail smoothly.
 The Ledger confesses surprise that all the Jelks money and all last years taxes are gone and that there IS de- ficiency where the cash used to be Alabama is too rich to be ruined by one administration and the state will come cut all right, but 1t is very like A boy who inherits a fortune and uses his whole energy to spend it and then go into debt. anticipating next tyear's income
 It is really a serious matter. The state should be on a cash basis. It had the cash for its expenses and that great surplus left over by the last Administration It is all very well to talk about spending the money so that the public gets the benefit of 1t. It Is not business to spend surplus like that and last years taxes and then make a deficiency by simply spending next years money, this year.
 A deficiency is always a serious mat ter, but following such a surplus It strikes the public mind as a surprise and q most unpleasant surprise.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04
THE TREASURY DEFICIT.

The Birmingham Ledger. in a lead ing editorial of it's Saturdays issue. repubiished in today's Advertiser, de- piores the deficit which is rumored to exist in the Treasury of the state. The rumor has come to The Ledger fin such a way that 1t believes the deficit is there and that the Jelks sur plus is gone for good.
 The rumor that the big sum left by former Governor Jelks at the close of his administration had already been spent has been persistent. The Ad- vertiser has tried again and again to get definite information upon the con- dition of the State Treasury. It has tried repeatedly to get an accurate statement of the present condition of the Treasury. So far those efforts have failed. Although these efforts were made in several different quar- ters the information has not been forthcoming. Some obstacle has al- ways been in the way and the public of Alabama must continue to remain in ignorance of the financial condition of it's State government.
 As the situation exists there Is every reason to believe that The Ledger is right in talking of an unfortunate de- flcit so soon after the Jelks admins tration left a large surplus In the Treasury. The report of the Auditor for the fiscal year which ended Sep tember 30. 1907. was the last official statement of the condition of the Treasury of Alabama. That report showed that the States expenditures had been a great deal heavier than the States incomes. This statement showed that in less than one year. the Jelks surplus had been eaten into by more than s1oo,ooo. The alarming phase of the situation was that the heavy appropriations made by the Leg islature had not at that time been paid. They were to come in a large measure out of the next years busi- ness. Now the report is persistent that with the payment of those appropria- tions the bottom of the Treasury has been reached. The Ledger may well call this an unpleasant surprise.
 To make the situation even more serious state officers last fall estimated that the Legislature had increased the expenses of the State million and a half dollars each year. Undoubtedly 6 grave condition confronts Alabama.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04
This Is My 6sth Birthday
Joseph AshbrOOk.

Joseph Ashbrook. prominent vet eran of the Civil War, was born in Philadelphia, August {, 1s40, and at the age of fifteen entered upon a ter the beginning of the Civil War he enlisted in the 11Sth Pennsylvania Regiment and served throughout the conflict. Soon after he went to the front he was severely wounded, and upon his recovery he received com mission. He was brevetted major for gallant services in the Wilderness campaign, and subsequently served as ordnance officer of the staff of Gepx vision of the 9th Army Corps. He was detailed to receive the arms and ammunition surrendered by the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox court house in April, 1885. After the close of the war he returned to Phil adelphia and has since been engaged in business in that city.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04

railroad is the upbuiider of our day and generation.
 And yet in spite of all these facts. open and patent to all who even try to keep up with current events. there seems to be a spirit of anti-raiiroad feeling in many parts of the South. Governors and iaw-makers, who ought to know better, and who should bet. ter understand facts and conditions pass laws which, If enforced. would go far to stop all railroad develop ment throughout the country. They enact laws which cannot be carried out in letter and spirit without the practical ruin of the great developer of every section they penetrate. Nor are they entirely alone in this spirit. Railroad commissions are intended to do justice between the railroads and the people. Tn general we may as- sufne that they intend to do this. but in too many cases they have imbibed some of the anti-railroad feeling and spirit. Some commissioners act as though they think they were appointed or elected for no other purpose than to oppress and suppress the roads. They seem afflicted with a kind of railroad -phobia, or something of the kind.
 It is not intended to argue that the railroads are always, blameless. They are sometimes guilty of great wrongs and injustice. either ignorantly or designedly. but they should receive the same impartial justice that would be meted out to individuals. Laws and ordinances are passed which would de- stroy any other business in the world. but because they are directed against the railroads they are looked on as right and proper. Strange to say. many of the business people as well as the country people seem to think there is no wrong about 1t. It Is un- fair. unjust and impoiitic. The rail- roads should have the same fair treat ment that is given to any other busi- ness or to an individual; no more, no less. Will the people not get over this railroad hatred and be willing to see their great helper fairly treated7
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04
THE ANrr-RAILRoAD SPIRIT.

Just why any intelligent and fair minded man should be an enemy of the railroads Is a mystery, for if there Is any one business in this country that is a builder of States and conn munitieS it is this. The difference in conditions between the times when there were no railroads and the pres ent era is as great as the difference in speed of travelling In the two was. The man travelling in 6 wagon drawn by horses, mules or oxen and the one the difference in development which fifty or sixty years have brought about.
 Many of our readers will remember the time when a man living seventy or eighty miles from one of our cities, which were the only cotton markets then. took a week to go to the mar ket and back. In the fall. when the small farmers little cotton crop was ready he would load one or two bales on his wagon and set of to Montgom- cry. wetumpka, Columbus. or some one of the few cities then in our part of the country, and if he returned in- side of seven days he was thought to have done well.
 It is widely different now. for al- most any section of oup State has one or more railroad depotS where the farmer can go in a few hours and either sell his cotton 10 a local buyer or ship 1t to the best market. In short. the railroads have brought the market to him, and that is their mission. They make the difference between standing still and progressing. A community Is sleepy, unprogressing and unambi- tious where the old conditions prevail, but when the railroad commences to make its way into it there is a gem erai waking tip, and as the road goes onward the new spirit goes with it. Towns and villages spring up. the people are brought in contact with the outside world. the farmers and all other country people find a market al- most at their doors. ard there comes about a general awakening and build ing which would never have been known but for the railroads.
 We of the South were slow to ap- preciate all this. We were an eminent ly conservative people. There was with us that spirit of doing as our fathers did that prevented advancement and progress. We were content to raise more cotton to buy more mig gers, and buy more niggers-or raise them-to raise more cotton" and the consequence was that we fell behind in the march of progress. In the North and Middle West there was more of the spirit of commercialism and ad- vancement. and while those States were flourishing and growing we were standing still.
 Of late years there has been a won derful change in all these respects. The abolition of slavery brought about the necessity of different conditions and a different spirit was developed the spirit to open the country by building railroads. Now they have been, or are fast being built all over the South. They have abolished the back woods and shaken off the drOwsi- ness of generations. They have filled our country with thriving towns and villages and prosperous farmers and added immensely to the value of real estate as well as to the convenience and well-being of all the people. The
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04
This Date in History
August {.

August q.
 l496---Bartholomew Columbus, broth CT of Christopher Columbus. laid the foundation of San Domingo.
 16O9--Hudson discovered Cape Cod. i696--Frontenac invaded the onon- daga country.
 1701-A general. treaty of peace was made with the Indians at Montreal, i759-Crown Point taken from the French by General Amherst.
 l79l--Death of General Burgoyne, the British general who surrendered his army to General Gates at Sara toga.
 fss1-william Floyd. one of the signers of the American Declaration of Independence. died.
 1s23-Oliver P. Morton, the war gov- ernor of Indiana, born in Saulsbury, Ind. Died in Indianapolis. November 1. 1877.
 Iss2-The President ordered a draft of 100000 men to serve in the army nine months.
 isOa-Charles M. Sehwab resigned the presidency of the United States Steel Corporation and was succeeded by William Ellis Corey.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04
SocinIInts.

Don Marquis in Uncle Remus.
 All socialists are optimistic. They resolutely believe that if mankind. as 1t exists today, were to be put into pos session of some absolutely perfect political and economic system, man kind would be capable of operating that system as 1t was intended to be operat- ed; would be equal to the task of pre- serving it and handling 1t on to the next generation. intact. Sometimes tt is a theory of ownership which is ad- vocated: sometimes a theory of taxa tion; sometimes a theory of govern ment; but there is always present in the socialist of whatever sort the be- lief that If God permitted man to grasp a perfect system. man is large enough and wise enough to benefit by it to the elimination of human misery; to pre- serve 1t in its perfection unperverted and uncorrupted. This belief does them credit in a way But 1t Is scarcely discreditable not to share 1t. It Is bet ter to face the fact that just govern ment and human happiness are not so much matters of governmental mechan- ism. of system odgiven or man. intelligence brought to the operation of any system whatsoever. There are th \most generous possibilities at the disnOsal of an absolute despot; there are the most malign possibilities in the freest democracy. Laws and forms are never Fundamental causes; they are more or less imperfect expressions. perfect operation only at that future neriod of human development when no system at all Is any longer a necessity. Tha only perfect democracy possible Ia one of which each member is an aristo- crak
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04
Bad Politics.

Waterbury (Conn.) American.
 The Western Morton Works of I,ogansville Ind. have received $100.- OO0 order for automobile gas engines conditioned on the privilege of cancell- Ing the order if MT. Bryan is elected Naturally enough. the Democratic em- nloyes in the motor works are hot with indignation. claiming that his is an at tempt on the part of the corporations to force factory employees to vote for Taft. Whether or not the automobile concern Is justified businesswise in offering such a contract, such an offer is evidently bad politics.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04

The Memphis Commercial-Appeal say ''it will be a bad day for the republic when we exalt the bench above the executive and the legislative departments. We believe in keeping them all distinct" Exactly so. but what are you going to do. when a President at Washington and a Gov ernor of a State butt in and seek to be the whole thing? That is about the situation now.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04
He Knew It All.
PhiladeInl

PhiIadeIphIa PubIIC ItuBtI. -
 At reception held in great hall In England some years ago MT and Mrs Gladstone were honored guests During the evening 1t happened that MT. Gladstone was Tn a gallery directly above the place in the parquet where Mrs Gladstone was chatting with some ladies Tn the course of their conver- sation a question arose which the ladies could not settle satisfactory. Finally one said.
 Well. there is one above who knows all things, and some day He will make all things plain to us"
 ''Yes. yes" replied Mrs Gladstone, William will be down in a minute. and he will tell us all about it
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04

we must have. at which the issues
 must be ably and fairly discussed by men who enjoy the con fidence of their respective parties We hope to hear in this campaign a great deal of discussion of the tariff. It is the great issue of the coming battle. and the people wish to become better acquainted with it. Oratory we must have always. we suppose, but no more of the torchlight procession. We think that even Chicago will refuse to give approval of it.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04

The so-called Currency Commission will have a nice trip to Europe at the United States expense. and do nothing that could not be done in Washington. It is already given out that only changes in the Aldrich-Vreeland bills will be proposed. This and nothing more and the people pay for the junket
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04

Information comes that 1t will be year before any definite action can he carried to a conclusion in the Stand ard oil matter. Plainly the Republi- cans don't care to rifle" the great corporation until after the election. That is all right, though. for in a years time we may have a President who will do something in place of the present blunderbus.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04

Those who imagine that pr. Wiley. the food expert, is an ascetic in eat- ing are mistaken. for he Is reported to be a great eater. What he is con- tending for is pure food and drink, and he wants a liberal quantity of 1t for his own use.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04

The Jacksonville Times-Union asks If it wouldn't be a good joke on the Republican party if Bryan should carry Sure, Mike; and 1t would also be a good joke on the Democratic party if Taft should carry Alabama. One is about asSiikely as the other.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04

United States District Attorney Skinner, who is somewhat famous for his ability as an orator. may be hon. ored with the Republican nomination the State conve0 ton meets at Char lotta on August 26,
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04

Age-Herald says;
 We want a Governor and Legisla- ture that will pull in harness togeth- CT. If therefore, the biennial amend ment is to he adopted the people no doubt will demand that the rest of the state government shall be put on a biennial basis through another con- stitutional amendment submitted per- haps in 1912.
 We have Legislature now that pulls" just as the Governor directs and the people of Alabama ought never again to be subjected to such an in- fliction. Legislators elected every tive years can learn the wishes of the peo- pie and legislate more in the interest than if elected every four years. If Governor sets himself up against the Legislature. the legislators can override his vetoes.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04
sWORN CIRCULATION.

The Montgomery Advertiser guarantees its advertisers (and makes it a part of the contract when requestedl that its daily cir cuiation Is larger than that of any morn. ing newspaper printed in Alabama-and that its Sunday edition has the largest cir- culation of any edition of any newspaper printed in Alabama without exception.
 The figures for June printed below repre- sent the actual net circulation. all returns having been deducted.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04

An item in a Chicago paper some days ago said that hogs show weak ness" Perhaps they do. but be hanged # ths price of meat does.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04

Urey Woodson, who has been re- elected to his position of secretary Of the Democratic National Committee, is a Kentucky journalist, being editor and publisher of newspapers in Padu- cah and Owensboro. He was railroad commissioner of Kentucky from 1891 to 1895, and has been member of the Democratic National Committee since 1896.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04
Let Them Rest in Peace,

The torchlight procession and the barbecue, and to a great extent the Hgsneral rally" have gone to the limbo nity to revive them. Public meetings
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04

Among those mentioned on the Re- publican side to succeed United States Senator Stone of Missouri are Colonel Richard c. Kerens one of the vet eran leaders of the party in Missouri; Lieutenant Governor Mckinley, former National Committeeman Thomas J. Akins, State Chairman Walter s. Dick ey and Joseph Black, of Richmond.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04

President Gompers, of the American ing all his influence to induce the members of the Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union to support Mir. Bryan for President. The union is said to have a membership of almost 2,0O0.- 900 throughout the country.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04

There Is nothing the matter with the Roosevelt conscience. judging by the way he sleeps through collision az sea and a shipwreck. without batting an eye.--St. Louis Post Dispatch.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04
From Other Viewpoints.

Society women here, bored by Ilfe of leisure, have taken up interior decora- -tion as a business. That's a lot bet. ter than the habit of some women of spending most of their time decorating th thennselves.-New York Herald.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04

Charles N. flask ell the new treas urer of the Democratic National Com
 mittee. bears the distinction of being the first Governor of Oklaho oma. He was chairman of the important com mittee on resolutions at the recent Dem yer convention. Early in life he was engaged in railroad construction work.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04
The National Committee of the

The National Committee of the So- ciaIist party is reported to De hard conduct the coming campaign. It fs desfred to send Eugene v. Debs. the candidate for President. on an exten- sive tour of the country in special train. but the subscriptions to the fund to be used for this purpose are said to have fallen short Of expectations.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04

John D. cleaned up S15.0oo.OO0 on the reversion of the Landis decision. That's better than paying out S29,240;- = 0OO' But say, who leaked ?-St. Joseph NeMs-Pre ..-.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04

Colonel Frank L.Smith, who is a candidate for Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. has sent an appeal to every voter in the State by the name of Smith asking for his support in the general primary which Is to be held next Saturday.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04

Justice Pierce, of Muncie, Ind. says that the Directoire gown is nothing on a rainy day. We suppose, of course. he refers to majestic clouds hanging about mountain peaks, glorious rain bows and such things.-Baltimore
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04

Muzzles doubtless worry dogs; but look at the manner in which the human penders and stiff collars.-Washingt Star.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04

The Omaha woman who was enjoined from talking over the back fence pre- sumably can show her contempt or court by making faces between the nIckets.-Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-04

Mir Roosevelt is pardonably angry. seeing that his busting of the Standard oil Trust ended about like his busting of the Coal and Meat Trusts-Roches- ter Herald.