davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-10
SOUTHERN COMMERCIAL
 CONGRESS IS ENDORSED


 Washington, October 9--(Special. )-Pres- ident Roosevelt today promised his per sonaI cooperation, and that of the de- partments of the government in the ob- jects sought by the Southern Commercial congress, which will meet in Washington in the first week in December. The Pres ident expressed his warm approval of the plans of the body, and officially in- dorsed the project Of making the south and the people of the country generally more fully acquainted with the resources, progress and commercial advantages of the southern states.
 The President directed a cabinet off, ficer to represent the administration be- fore the congress and make an address, and stated to the representatives of the congress that the facilities of the depart ments, in the way of charts, data, and statistics, should be free to the conven- ton.
 All this was brought about in the course of two interviews today between the com mittee appointed by the Southern Com mercial congress and the President at the White House. The President gave nearly
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-10
Resolutions Are Adopted At Chi-
 cagO Waterways Convention
WILL MEET IN NEW ORLEANS
Theodore Shonts lnveiehs Against rub lie Service Commission as a Viola
 tion of the Principles of
 Free Government.

Chicago. October 9.-Adopton of reso- channel way connecting the great lakes with the Gulf of Mexico to be an impera- tive duty of the general government; that this work should be immediately begun and completed as soon as possible; selec- ton of New Orleans for the next conven- ton, and the reelection of old officers, were the features of the closing session today of the Gulf Deep Waterways asso- citation. While the attendance today was not so large as that of the previous ses- sions, the interest was not lessened. Two interesting addresses held the attention of the delegates present. They were by Theodore Shonts of New York and John A Ockerson of St. Louis. MT. Shonts attacked violently the system of operation of railroads by commissions. This sys- tem," Mir. Shonts declared, sis wholly un-American and in violation of the first principles of free government"
 MT. Shonts described the workings of the New York public service commission. State regulations under such statute" :" he said, lis in effect state prohibition of new enterprise and state operation of existing railroads.
 What is the result? If transportation development in New York is not para lyzed-it is dead.'
 MT. Ockerson, who is member of the Mississippi river commission, described the development of European waterways and discussed features of the proposed deep waterway to the gulf.
 The resolutions adopted will be pre- sented to both branches of Congress by a committee of five which President Kavanaugh was authorized to appoint.
 This afternoon the delegates were guests in an automobile trip through the boule- wards and parks and to the stockyards and other points of interest.
 New Orleans officials of the Lakes to- the-Guf Deep Waterways association all ready are arranging plans for the 1909 convention of the association in New Or leans, which will outdo in magnitude the events of the recent convention, and make the gathering an international affair. M. B. Trezevant secretary of the New Or leans Progressive union, in outlining the plans, said
 AS New Orleans is a worlds port, the convention should be made of world im- portance We should invite not only the President of the United States, but the President of Mexico and the presidents of all the Central American republics. In addition to these, representatives of Eu- ropean and Asiatic governments should be invited The warships of all the nations Of the world should be invited to this peaceful assembly, and the land-locked harbor of New Orleans, with its 2OO-foot depth of water. will safely care for them all. Such a programme, if carried out, will make the New Orleans convention the most important international trade and transportation congress ever held in the United States, and will anticipate what may be expected when the deep waterway channel from the lakes s-to-the- pleted."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-10
THIRD VICTIM OF VERY RARE DISEASE

Charlotte N. C., October 9.-Pellagra, the rare disease which is baffling the physicians of this country, claimed its third victim here today when Miss Sue Woods, 22 years old, of Meridian, Miss a daughter of Justice Woods of the su- preme court of Mississippi, died at the Presbyterian hospital. Miss Woods has been under observation and treatment at the local hospital for three weeks and physicians have travelled many miles to view the unfortunate woman and take op- portunity to study the strange malady, Dr. A. W. Babcpck of Columbia, s. C., who is making speciality of the disease, and recently returned from Italy, where he investigated the malady as it exists among the peasantry of that country, held a clinic for the visiting and local physi- clans here. Dr. Babcock states that there are probably 20 cases of the malady in the southern states, but 1t is only re- gently that 1t has been definitely diag- nosed. Two of the fatalities occurring within the past month were of we'll known citizens. The disease is directly traceable to diseased corn and is found to be non-communicable.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-10

an hour of his time to listening to the plans and objects of the congress, as pre- sented by the committee, and then gave expression to his views as stated.
 The committee is composed of G. Gros- vener Dawes of Alabama, John A. Betje- man of Georgia and Edwin L. Quarles of Virginia. This committee represent 40 commercial bodies of the south, each of which will send several representatives to the Washington meeting.
 The members of this comnnittee fvst called upon Secretary Straus of the de- pertinent of commerce and labor. Secre- tary Straus assured the committee of his personal sympathy in the movement, and promised his cooperation and that of the bureaus of his department in furthering the ends of the congress.
 The committee then saw the President, who after talking with them for a few minutes, requested them to call upon the Secretary of War, and ask him to accom- pany them to the White House at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. The President and Secretary Wright then went into the subject in detail, and the President asked Secretary Wright to represent the admin istration at the congress and address the delegates on the influence of the Panama canal on the industrial development of the nation. w. s.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-10
MORE GOOD NEWS COMES
 ~> FROM WEST VIRGINIA

Washington, October 9.-(Specal.) )-With all factional differences buried, and pre- senting a united front to the enemy the democrats of the little Mountain state are waging battle for supremacy. in West Virginia, which they believe will be suc- cessful Those in charge at the demo- cratic headquarters in statements issued today confidently assert that not only will the entire democratic ticket be elected but that Bryan will carry the state and have several thousand votes to spare.
 Louis Bennett of Weston, the demo- cratic candidate. has been on the stump for several weeks and has been greeted by big crowds wherever he has gone.
 The democrats have made as the main issue of the campaign the domination of Senator Elkins and his federal ma chine"
 The two main blanks of the democratic platform are the Jim Crow" plank and one calling for purifcation of the bal lot. This plank is directed at the negroes in the southern part of the state The
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-10
TAFT WILL CONFER
 WITH ROOSEVELT

Cincinnati. October 9.-William H. Taft and President Roosevelt will have a con- sultation in Washington. where the can didate will spend Sunday, October IS. Ar ranging his future work in the campaign was the task the candidate devoted him self to today.
 After the three days in Ohio. Monday Tuesday and Wednesday, of next week. MT Taft will turn his attention to the south for the remaining three days of the week. The Ohioan let 1t be known today that he was in no seuse chasing rain bows in his intended tour of the south but had heretofore made promises that should he go on the stump he would speak in certain southern cities. He will keep these promises. They include speeches at Louisville October 15, Chattanooga Knoxville and Bristol Tenn, October 1G; Greensboro, N. C., October 17. and Rich mond, Va. The Richmond meeting will take place Saturday night, and at it's con- clusion the Taft special will make for Washington, to remain until Monday morning.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-10
BIGGEST DAY OF
 BRYAN CAMPAIGN

Hannibal, Mo, October 9.-Closing up in this city tonight the biggest day of his campaign, William J. Bryan, democratic candidate for President, was the center of the greatest democratic demonstration in the history of the city.
 Escorted by the Hannibal Democratic club and mounted escort bearing torches, and with lady outriders fianlSing his au- tomobile, the candidate passed through q lane of red fire the entire length of the route to City park. The great crowd fell in line and cheered loudly and with great fervor.
 MT. Bryan's speech here was along the lines of his various addresses in Illinois throughout the day. He retired to the car Rover immediately after the con- cluson of his remarks. Under the direc- tion of the Missouri democratic state committee MT. Bryan will make his first tour of the campaign of Missouri tomor- row. He will leave here at o'clock and is due in St. Joseph at ' o'clock in the evening.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-10
Kaiser Wilhelm To Blame.

Paris. October 9.-The Journal des De- bats published letter this afternoon from what Is called ''an unusually we'll informed source" describing the Balkan situation as a veritable plot of which Emperor William is the real author, with Baron YOU AehrenthaL the Austro-H garian foreign minister, a willing tool. It was the Emperors object to humillate Great Britain a friend of the new regime in Turkey, and at the same time to infiict a blow on the Young Turks whose ascendancy threatened the German influence in the empire. Ferdinand and Bulgaria were drawn in, the writer of the letter describes, in order to involve Russian sympathy and parayze opposi- tion from that quarter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-10
People of Sevia Are Urgent In Demanding War With
 Austria
BULGARIAN ROYAL FLAG
 FIRED UPON FROM FORTS
British Fleet of Warships Is On the Way From Malta to the Aegean Sea-czar of Bulgaria Re-
 ceived With Rejoicing.

In spite of warnings to King Peter from Great Britain and France, that the peo- pie of Servia be kept in check. the populace of Belgrade held demonstrations yesterday and demanded the resignation of the cabinet and also the abdication of King Peter unless he declared war against Austria-Hungary, which has refused to accept Servia's protest against the an- nexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ten thousand Austro-H Hungarian troops are garrisoned along the Drina river. between Bosnia and Servia ready for eventual ties, and it is said 10000 men can be thrown into Servian territory in 24 hours.
 M. Iswolsky. the Russian minister of foreign affairs, arrived in London last night and will have a conference today with Sir Edward Grey, British secretary of state for foreign affairs, concerning the calling together of the powers sigma tory to the treaty of Berlin in an en- deavor to bring about order in the Balkans
 Prince Ferdinand, the "Czar of Bull garia, entered Philippopols yesterday evening and received an enthusiastic greet ing at the hands of the troops and the populaee.
 No confirmation has yet been received of the report that the Albanians have de- clared their independence of the Sultan of Turkey.
 Yesterday at Candid, the largest city in Crete the militia followed the example of their compatriots at Canea, the capital of the island, and took the oath of fdel- ity to Greece.
 British fleet of two battleships. two cruisers and two torpedo boat destroyers 1 Is today well on its way from Malta to | the Aegean sea. The forts on the Bos- phorus yesterday fired blank shots across 1 the bows of steamer flying the new 1 Bulgarian royal flag as it attempted to 1 naSs them
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-10
WhirIvind Tour Through IIIi- nOis Creates Enthusiasm
 Among the Voters
DEMOCRATIC VICTORY IS
 CURE FOR HARD TIMES
Bryan Styles Himself the Advance Agent of Prosperity to the Illinois People as an Answer to Re-
 publican Attacks.

Quincy, H., October 9-Fresh from his conferences in Chicago with hundreds of business men whom he also specially ad- dressed, William J. Bryan today travel ing for P hours through the state of Ill., inois and making numerous stops, held himself up as ''the advance agent of pros perity." The panic of last fall was his principal theme and from early morning until his last word was uttered tonight, he hammered away at the republican charge that his election meant business depression and failures. He quoted sta tisttcs showing the number of failures in the last nine months to have exceed- ed those for a corresponding period in 1893, and laid particular emphasis on the fact that the panic of 1907 was under republican administration. Attention was called to a statement recently appear ing in Chicago republican paper that 1b,- coo children went to school hungry every morning. A democratic victory this year, he asserted, furnished the one only hope for cure for the hard times from which he said the people are suffering and for a restoration of prosperity. For lUt llI6b lllllc ue IeltIltu lO Nil- i@oh5 worth's alleged statement at Moline, H., that MT. Taft should be elected and hold office for eight years, and then be suc- ceeded by his father-m-law, President Roosevelt.
 'sHe shall not be permitted to nominate and elect his successor" he vehemently declared, with the prospect as an nounced by his own son-in-law of then dictating for eight years more. It is time that the power of the people should be used by the people,
 Enormous crowds greeted him every where and enthusiastically cheered him. | With the speech delivered here tonight he had spoken II times,. The feature of his address was his denial of the statement printed in a western newspa- per that he had written editorials and made speeches against the granting of pensions to old soldiers. In bis audience were a number of veterans from the sol diers home here
 Accompanying the democratic candidate through the state today was a large dele gation from the democratic state com mittee and Former Governor David K. Francis of Missouri
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-10
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
Pace i.

Page l. Enormous crowds greet Bryan. War clouds growing darker in Flu rope.
 Perjury charge In Panama canal case.
 Action taken in deep waterways ca nal at Chicago. More good news from West Virginia. Southern commercial congress to meet in Washington.
 Page 2. Rig pay day expected in Bessemer to- day
 Postmaster Carter addresses Com mercial club on postal savings banks and parcels post. Engine and cars go through draw bridge.
 Only three convictions in criminal court this week.
 Preacher kills man in Limestone county.
 New turn in railroad fight. Judge McCutcheon dies at Scotts- boro.
 Page 4. Editorial comment.
 Page 5. Fine weather today promises to niake attendance large at State Fair. Commercial club will hold special meeting this afternoon to discuss new counties amendmnet. Special meeting of city council re- fers Hoyt- -Gambill matter back to city committee. Chairman Metcalf says he will never consent to open general election box.
 Committee named to entertain for eign mine experts today.
 Page 7. Birmingham society. Dolly Dalrymple writes for women. Sunday at the churches. Mrs. Hennellosa and her Japanese stories.
 Page 8. Greater Ensley election to be held Mon day. Page g. Stocks are practically unchanged. Wheat makes another advance Cotton declines on war scare. Page 10. Detroit and Chicago to battle today fot worlds championship. Alabama and Howard football teams meet today.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-10

plank is commonly known as the dis frapchisement plank, though. if put into effect, it would also disfranchise many whites. In the "black belt" in the south ern part of the state, the Jim Crow" idea is extremely popular. The demo- cratic state campaign is in experienced hands. The chairman of the state com mittee is Judge William George Bennett a brother of Louis Bennett, the candi- date for governor. A. E. Kenny is sec retary of the committee. The advisory committee is composed of five of the ablest democratic leaders in the state and is headed by Hon. John T. McGraw, of Grafton. boss of the party in West Virginia. Each committeeman, who is chosen by senatorial districts, is ex- pected to look after his own bailiwick
 Of the situation in the state Judge Ben nett. the chairman of the committed made the following statement tonight:
 '"rhe democratic party is absolutely sure to carry West Virginia at the cleo tion in November All conditions favor its success. The most potent factor in its favor is the bitter dssension in the republican ranks. w. s.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-10
Hearst Kissed and cheered.

San Francisco, October Civilian R.. Hearst was alternately hssed and cheered as he spoke before a large audience to- night. The crowd was so great and un- ruly that the police were called on to maintain order Thomas L. Hisgen, in dependence nominee for President also spoke Mir Hearst read two more letters, one signed by John D. Archbold, the other by former United States Senator J. l.. McLaurin of South Carolina After an at tack on former Representative Joseph c. Sibley, who, he said, was a corporation lackey, MT Hearst read the letters.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-10
Wright Makes Six Flights.

Iemans, october a.-Wihur Wright made six short flights in his aeropane this evening Among the passengers car ricd hy him wero Lazare Weller and NJ. Deutsch de EaMeurthe. The machine rose to height of 20 feet during the evo- lutions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-10
servian Protest Turned Down.

Vienna, October 9.-The foreign office today refused to accept the Servian pro test regarding the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Servian minister was informed that Hungary could not recognize Servia's right to intervene in this question through diplomatic chan nels
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-10
Greetings to the New czar.

Philippopolis, Burgaria, october 9.-''rhe Czar of Bulgaria." or Prince Ferdinand, as he is still known officially to the rest of the world, entered Philippopols, the capital of eastern Rumelia. at 5 o'clock this evening He was greeted by salvos of artillery and the enthusiastic shouts of the populace.
 At the railroad station the people had erected an imposing triumphal arch The mayor and the municipal corporation pre-, sented Ferdinand with the customary bread and salt. while hundreds of school children waved flags and showered flow CTS in the path of their ruler. The pro cession traversed the streets which were all lined with troops, to the cathedral, where the clergy offcated at mass.
 Philippopolis is filled with immense crowds from the surrounding country, and the demonstrative reception given Ferdinand today shows that the people fully approve his declaration of independ- euce and his assumption of full sove- reignity over Rumelia.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-10
Manifesto of Prince Nicholas.

Cettinje. Montenegro, October 9.-Prince Nicholas today issued the following mani- festo:
 My heart weeps with the hearts of all Servia at the fate of Bosnia and .Herze- govna. Still the black and yellow Austrian flag will never be strong enough to separate the souls of the Montenegrins from their brothers in the annexed provinces. The coors will not only prove a signal, visible from afar. of the injustice committed, but also spur V hatred until the final victory of right and truth.
 "As today the terms of the treaty of Berlin are infringed on one side by the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, obligation on our part to observe article 29 of this treaty fails. The treaty being forced upon us and our maritime rights being cruelty limited, Montenegro consid- CTS herself no longer bound by these fet- ters.
 ''I am certain the great powers will ap- prove this step by which we free our selves from these bonds
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-10
WarshIps Go To Aegean Sea.

Valetta, Island of Malta, october g. The battleship Prince of Wales flag shin of Prince Louis of Battenberg, the hattlsship Glory and the cruisers Diana and Suffolk, and the torpedo boat de- stroyers Angler and Banshee sailed to- day for the Aegean sea.
 The squadron will be followed later
 
 eCONTINuED ON PAGE s.)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-10

to read something funny. but now read republican platforms and save money. The funniest platform l ever read WAS the one adopted at Chicago. and the fun niest plank in it=is the tariff plank.i
 As he had done several times befors today, MT. Bryan announced himself as ''the advance agent of prosperity and bitterly assailed the President and MT. Taft, as member of his cabinet. for the panic of 1907. He declared that there never was a better time than now for the republicans to predict a panic, should he be elected. They could scare people in 1896, he said, but not now. The re- publicans, he insisted were being com pelled to take some of their own medicine, no matter whether they liked it or not. He closed his speech with severe ar rafgnment of the President for. as he charged. interfering in fair fight between himself and his republican opponent. Mir. Roosevelt. he saidf has had seven years, and now he is trying to control another term. Justice, he declared demanded thS- the President cease neglecting his official duties to further the candidacy of his ap- pointce.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-10
Explanation Is Demanded.

Budapest, october 9.-An explanat ton is being demanded of Belgrade regarding the reported calling out of the Servisn reserves.
 In the meanwhile. Austria Hungary has notified the signatory powers of the neces- sity adequately to protect her frontiers, including that of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Baron Won Aehrenthal the foreign min ister in view of the more pacific tone of today's dispatches from Belgrade, Is hopeful that Servia will refrain from any further hostile action
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-10
WHARVES TUMBLE
 INTO THE RIVER

New Orleans, October 9.-Seventy- five thousand dollars worth of railroad prop erty slid into the Mississippi river with a terrifying roar today when section of land 300 feet long and about 200 feet wide caved into the water between Washing ton avenue and Fourth street Seven load- ed freight cars and four lines of railroad track were engulfed by the cavein. Un- dermining of the bank by high water was the cause. No lives were lost.
 The losses are divided between the H. linois Central railroad and the city, which owns the Belt railroad. and most of the real estate which sank into the river. The real estate loss is total, inasmuch as no filling in will be done, the caved ground being given to the river Several docks were among the property loss. Tonight additional caving around the sides of the hole threatened to carry more land into the water. The freight cars were loaded mostly with slaves, much of which may be salvaged owing to shallowness of the water at the cavein.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-10

CONTINUED ON PAGE s.)