davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12
OUR NATIONAL PRODUCTS.

Thos. L. Mason, in Success Magazine.
 This necessary product is used in bath tubs. Wall Street and California wines. It is one of our absolute necessities. It is all that the Panama canal lacks. Mixed with earth, 1t makes a splendid and uni- yersal campaign material. It also fur nishes a fine covering for some of our seaside bellies, and in the form of lakes is used extensively in summer for rowing and spooning purposes
 It usually comes in drops, the only dif- ference between a puddle and an ocean being the quantity used. It is also useful to carry germs to and fro between coun- tries.
 Water is of three kinds-salt, fresh and fire. Salt water Is polygamous (see Salt Lake City), fresh water is lacteal see city dairies) and fire water is elevating (see Kentucky)
 Served in the form OF wnes it makes a delightful irrigation course; in brooks, it is used as a trout apartment; and in pipes it aids the plumber il his mission.
 In drops, it has been known to wear away a stone in the course of hundreds of years; in tears, it accompiishes the same result on a heart of stone in less than a minute; it is even (sprlrkled on babies) a passport to heaven. But It IS the cause of much crime; without IL no one would lie about the umbrella he has stolen, Yet it is responsible, very iafgeiy, for the roofs over our heads. Although we cannot get along without it, we are damming 1t continually.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12
Trick of Labor Aaents.

Lexington, Ky, in the heart of the blue grass country, is noted for its culture, but from the following special dispatch re- ceived by The Age-Herald late Thursday night. it is evident that the news bureau of that city is behind the times.
 "Lexington, Ky, September 1O.-An agency for strike-breakers for the Bir- mingham district will be opened here to- morrow. This city was flooded with hand bills tonight, asking for 800 miners, with families, and offering transportation with two months to pay back"
 No strike-breakers are wanted in this district for the simple reason that there is no strike here There was United Mine Workers strike, but it was ended August 31.
 It is an old trick of labor agents to ad- vertise for men for the alleged purpose of taking them to some point or some dis trict regarded as especially attractive and then when they are grouped and put on a train they are transported to a far-away state not "on the bill.'' The Birming- ham district is term to juggle with, and the labor agent seems to be working it for all it is worth.
 During the coal strike the operators brought here, all told, about 5000 new men. These, with former strikers that the operators are re-employing, will give the district full supply of miners for some time to come
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12
MITCHELL IS MISSED.
.he petroit Free Press.

From the Detroit Free Press.
 This is no time for coal miners strike and no good reason can be found for ones So far as the evidence has been maoe rublic, there is demand that the Sm- ployers continue to act as a collecting agency for the unions since heavier drcs have been required of the men.
 The custom has been to hold out spec fled amcl ant per month from each nan drawing pay fer his work and to turn fha amount into the treasury of the labor or- ganization. That is not the province of an employing corporation. No commis- sion was charged, and all the trouble taken was in the nature of an accommo- dation.
 There is no reason in law or morals why the employers should continue mak- ing enforced collections for the union, the officers of which are alone in insisting upon this gratuitous service.
 The latest reports are that the men do not want to strike and that officials are making an arbitrary demand that their orders be obeyed, no matter what those working to support themselves and fam- flies desire.
 It is a time when men are fortunate to be employed and it is a time when tho mines should be worked to fortify against the requirements of the approaching cold season, With the miners content, it is an attempt at indefensible wrong to say that they must lay down their tools to please those who think that they are autocrats in their position
 It can be seen the loss of the men i'll the retirement of John Mitchell from the direction of the affairs was even great CT one than 1t was perceived to be at the time of his retirement. He was enabled to gain much for the men. A strike would not only endanger what he thus gained, but cause hardship and suffering to mil- lions besides the miners themselves.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12
Biennial Legislative Sessions

Business men are inclined to oppose the biennial-sessions amendment be- cause they want less rather than more legislation. As a rule they want a minimum of politics, and if new leg islature is to be elected every two years the minimum would become un- attainable.
 This, however, is d sound objection. The amendment in question does not go far enough. If We are to have bi- ennial legislatures then the executive branch of the government should be elected every two years in order that there may be no hitches or friction or deadlocks in state administration. In other words, the state government should be put on biennial basis or kept on the present quadrennial foot ing.
 Which is the better of the two is a question that is before the people to be decided at the November election. If the people vote in favor of biennial legislatures the presumption will be that they want the state officers from the governor down elected biennially, and it will become the duty of the next legislature to present the needful amendments.
 The state government should, in other words, be kept consistent and in good working order. We do not want a legislature elected in one year pledged to a certain policy blocked by a governor elected two years previous, or vice versa. The peoples will should be felt and followed in all branches of the government after each state cleo tion. The man who votes in favor Of biennial legislatures should in all con- sistency demand an application of the policy to the state officers until the entire governmental machinery of the state is placed on a biennial basis.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12

900 bales. The Financial Chronicle credits the southern mills with the con- sumption of 2,234,395 bales and the northern mills of 2,1S5,4 48S bales. The
 figures of the two do not at all agree, but both do agree in saying that the southern mills did better in the last cotton year than the northern mills. For the first time, says the Financial Chronicle, since cotton manufacturing became an established industry of the south, the mills of that section used more raw material than was consumed by northern establishments" This rec ord is important, and it will doubtless be maintained in the future because the chief gain in spindleage in this country has long been in the south and it will continue to be feature of this section of the country, particularly in the Carolinas and Georgia.
 Let no one, however think that the south has the more spindles. On Sep tember 1 we had 10661,30S spindles, while the north had 16,300,000 spindles. Our mills made the coarser and heavier cotton goods, the average yarn spun by them being No. 2O This need not dis tress us in the least So long as we spin the more cotton we can await de- velopments in the yarn. Each year the southern mills are gaining ground in that respect Ten years ago our yarns averaged No. IS. We have gained two points in ten years and so long as our mills are spinning each year finer yarns we need not complain. The yarns of the South Carolina mills aver age No. "A.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Good Business Barometer.

Street cars traffic is a good barometer of business conditions" said a dispatcher on an interurban line of the Birmingham Railway. Light and Power company yes- terday.
 During the recent business depression the local travel sank to a low ebb but no sooner was the strike in the coal mining district declared off than traffic began to pick up. Indeed the improve ment was noticeable on the very day following the announcement.
 This does not mean that the people suddenly came into possession of more money but the prospects of better eondi- tions inspired confidence and the people began to move about. Women came to town and shopped and the men were not afraid to spend a little of the money they had laid away.
 Tn times of depression people hide and hold to the money they have. But the moment that activity is renewed they begin to relax and hoarded dimes and dollars find their way back into the chan nels of trade"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12
Southern SpindleS and Yarns

Secretary Hester of the New Orleans cotton exchange says the number of spindles in the south at the end of the last cotton year was 10,661 1908, as against 1O,59S,095 one year before. The increase in a year was but 63,213 spin dles, the smallest number reported in 20 years. The present cotton year is expected to bring a better total for mills to hold 269,0O0 spindles are in course of construction in the south.
 The figures of the New York Finan- cial Chronicle do not wholly coincide with those of Secretary Hester. While the latter are the more trustworthy of the two, yet it is best to see what the New York authority says. The Finan- cial Chronicle says there are TIT cot ton mills in the south that are active p These mills include all that are ex- pected to resume operations, whether or no they were idle in the last cotton year. The Chronicle says the TIT south ern mills contain 10,451 ,919 spindles and 205,47S looms. We give the Chron- icles table in full, as follows:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12
The Rev. Ipr. Evans Returns.

The Rev. Dr. w. E. Evans rector Of the Church of the Advent, returned yes terday from Virginia, where he spent his vacation. He is in the best of health and spirits and will resume his parish work with characteristic zeal
 Dr. Evans conducted services and preached at St. Paul's in Richmond on several Sundays. in the absence of the rector of that famous church, and great congregations attended both morning and evening worship.
 q had delightful vacation said pr. Evans. q was glad to meet my old friends in Richmond. and especially my old parishioners attached to Monu- mental church.
 "The new organ at St. Pauls Is one of the largest and one of the sweetest voiced instruments in this country. There is probably no organ in the south in it's class. In addition to all sorts of beau tiful solo stops and all the latest inn provements known to the organ-builder, it has a set of slvery chimes that can be introduced with fine musical and re- ligious effect. Prof Reinhardt the or ganist, was at his best and one familiar hymn in particular, which he played through softly before the singing, still possesses me. He brought in the chimes and no music could have been more smov- ing or sounded in my ears more heavenly than that old hymn"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12

gon. But the fact that he is multi millionaire did not defeat him when he became a candidate for reelection. The primary system enabled the rank and file to pass upon his record. He was notoriously connected with wiGe range of schemes that did not keep the interests of the public foremost, and Congressman Wesley L. Jones readily met him, and a landslide was the re- suit MT. Jones has been member of the House of Representatives ten years. He is considered an honest man in politics, and his promotion to the Senate is a gain for parer and bet ter government, and for reform in q party that sadly needs It.
 When Levi Ankeny leaves the Sen ate on March 4 and Wesley Jones is assigned to a seat i'll it good govern. ment will score. II is, too, q promise that similar victories may be forthccm- ing in other states. The primary sys- tein may indeed reform the Senate. Hercules did not have so heavy d task, hut the primaries are bigger and mcre powerful than Hercules.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12
Reforming the Senate

The defeat of Senator Levi Ankeny in the Washington primaries is evil dence that the moral uplift extends from ocean to ocean. It is the same movement within the republican party that enabled MT. Bristow to defeat Senator Long in Kansas, and that gave Senator Hopkins of Illinois the scare of his life. This movement will dis place the two New York Senators as soon as their terms expire.
 Levi Ankeny met overwhelming de- feat at the hands of the people. He is a mine owner, railroad operator and a banker. He owns chain of seven banks il Washington and Ore.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12
TO THE FRINGED GENTIAN.

By William Cullen Bryant. Thou blossom with autumn dew, And colored with the heavens own blue That openest when the quiet light Succeeds the keen and frosty night. Thou conest not when violets lean Der wandering brooks and springs un-
 seen.
 Or colupibines, in purple dressed, Nod OCT the ground birds hidden nest. Thou waitest late and comst alone, When woods are bare and birds are flown, And frost and shortening days portend The aged year is near his end. Then doth thy sweet and quiet eye Look through its fringes to the sky, Blue-bue--as if that sky let fall A flower from its cerulean wall I would that thus, when I shall see The hour of death draw near to me, Hope, hlossoming within my heart, May look to heaven as depart.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12
Reaardina Price of Iron.

The price of pig iron for delivery in the first half of 1909 has not yet been named by leading producers. Inquiries be- come more animated as the time for mak- ing contracts approaches, but, as a rule. iron makers are disposed to wait awhile longer before deciding upon a schedule of quotations.
 The little Birmingham pig metal that has been sold for 1909 delivery-some of it at $14 for No. 2-does not make mar ket price. Thus far the prevailing talk in iron circles here is along the line of s1350 to $14, but some Of the more con servative iron makers are inclined to be- lieve that SIS would be a good figure at which to start next years market. Those who would be satisfied with SIS say that if general trade conditions continue to improve consumers would be ready to pay 50c or S1 a ton more after buying movement got under way. In other words, if conditions warranted the market would advance to $14 and higher. It is contend ed by one of the most successful iron makers in the Birmingham district that while a $14 market would not be without buyers, it is not sound business policy to try to force the price.
 Five or six furnaces now idle will be In blast between the middle of September and the first of October. The Republic company is refining its No. 1, and when 1t is blown in again all three of the furnaces at Thomas will be in operation together for the first time. The Wood stock Iron and Steel Corporation will have its big stack in blast within few weeks possibly this month; and the Sloss- Sheffield company will soon be running six of it's seven furnaces.
 Matthew, Addy & Co.'S report for the current week says
 'One of the most noticeable things in the iron trade Is the demand for prompt shipments on old orders. Everyone who has iron bought is asking to have it sent forward promptly on time, and in case of delay great complaint is made. It would seem that the trade really has immediate use for iron from the way consumers 'holler' when the furnaces do not ship according to contract. As rule in the foundries there is no accumulation of ron-most of them as a matter of fact are running from hand to mouth-and in the shops there is no accumulation of finished material'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12
WHILE AWAY FROM HOME.

Birmingham people who are leaving home for a vacation trip should have The Age-Herald follow them and thus keep informed about what is taking place in the city and state during their absence. The Aee-Herald will be sent to them at any address at the regular price, and the address will be changed as often as desired.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12
All Should Vote on Monday Week

The city election on Monday week calls for the presence of every citizen at the polls. Not only is Capt. Frank P. O'Brien a worthy candidate for Mayor, but there are aldermen and other officials to be elected.
 Nor is this all. A bond issue for the building of new schools is to be voted on, and no citizen who looks an inch ahead of his nose can therefore afford to absent himself from the polls. The school bond issue is an issue that cuts very deep and goes very far. It is an issueS that makes for progress and in- telligence on the one hand, for ignor- ance and standpattedness on the otnel.
 The city is deficient in school accom- modations As Greater Birmingham it will be wofully deficient in that re- spect. The bond issue would, if voted, extend our excellent school system to all children of school age who desire a better education. As a matter of public policy we cannot afford to vote the proposition down, especially at a time when Greater Birmingham is about to crystalline into fact. Every citizen should therefore go to the polls on Monday week. No more important election than this has been held in many day. It relates to the growth and prosperity of the city in many WavS
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12
Truck Farming.

Truck farming in this section of coun- try is very remunerative and small farms within a radius of 25 miles of Birming- ham are naturally in increasing demand. !" said B. F. Eborn.
 Tracts of from 10 to 12 acres are es- pecially in demand. While Jefferson county is being filled with people there are yet many small tracts that can be bought at moderate prices-seo to $1o0 an acre; but with the good roads now being pushed it will not be long before all farm ing land near Birmingham will rise rap- idly in yalue."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 A person has character for all his friends to stub their toes on.
 A woman's idea of when a compliment is fiattery is when it's for another woman.
 The reason men like to go to horse races is so they can lie about how they don't care for them merely on account of the betting.
 There's nothing can get a man wrong quite so often as expert judgment.
 The only place anybody ever objects to being thought richer than he is is in the tax office
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12
AGE-HERALD ECHOES

Chattanooga Star: The Age-Herald says "campaigns are not won in banquet halls" But they have sometimes been lost there, as Dr. Berchard could testify
 Beaumont Enterprise: The Birmingham Age-Herald is of the opinion that Hol- lands dogs of war are of the dachshund variety. Indeed, they are long drawn out.
 Washington Herald: Presidential bees are responsible for honeyed words" says the Birmingham Age-Herald. Oft times for stinging remarks, too, unhap- oily.
 Mobile Herald:~ The order from Wash politics has not been received in this state.-Birmingham Age-Herald.
 By some it has.
 Memphis News-Scimitar: The Birming- ham Age-Herald says that the Alabama. treasury is full of money to overfiowing A few Pennsylvania grafters might mark edly alter conditions.
 Columbus Enquirer-Sun: The Brming ham Age-Herald is of the opnion that Uncle Joe Cannon can afford to stand pat, having accumulated $200,0OO, which is &C., cumulating some in Danville, III.
 Washington Post: Maud Allan's feet says the Birmingham Age-Herald. will soon be as well known as MT. Bryan's face" And both, in the course of time will be recognized as great money makers.
 Montgomery Advertiser: An Indiana man killed himself in St. Louis hotel. Disappointed in literature no doubt-Bir- mngham Age-Herald.
 Certainly not-disappointed in St. Louis hotel.
 Danville Va.) Register: 'The man in Chicago cannot rest at night until he has ascertain what the score is,'' says the Birmingham Age-Herald. And the man in Danville has not been able to rest recently after he has ascertained.
 Florida Times Union: Now that Brazil has gone into the Dreadnought crowd the Birmingham Age-Herald talks of Hob- sonism in South America. Would our contemporary loan it's Hobson to neigh bor in need of sensationalism and reck- less of cash?
 New Decatur Advertiser: The Age Herald says that an extra session of the legislature is likely to be called for the purpose of passing laws to enforce prohibition more stringently Certainly prohibition should be strictly carried out or else repealed.
 Chattanooga Times: "Get ready to meet your old friend, MT. Car Shortage, next month";" suggests the Birmingham Age-Herald. This is probably the first time since the lean days of 1S93-4 that a period of car shortage would be well comed with open arms.
 Florida Times-Union: The Birmingham Age-Herald says: "The boil weevil and the speculator are working together to pull down the price of cotton" This is concerned. He does more to boost the price of cotton than everything else com- bined.
 Florida Times-Union: The Birmingham Age-Herald says: "The engagement of accommodations at Washington for the Taft inauguration is counting of chick ems that are not hatched." These &C., commodations will do for the Bryan as we'll as for the Taft Inauguration and one or the other will be sure to take p1aaa
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12
Love all, trust a few,

Do wrong to none: be able for thine enemy Rather In power than use, and keep thy friend Under thy own life's key.
 -AIPs We'll That Ends Well.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12
MAKES NoIsELEss WHEELS.
Manufacturer Cornering All the Hick-
 ory stumps In Sight.
the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
 corner in hickory stumps is in sight E. c. Sendelbach of East St. Louis threat ems to buy up all of the stumps and make wheels out of them. He has patent on the idea. If Sendelbachs idea is suc- cessfu he expects to use all of the tree except the sap.
 Heretofore the stumps have been waste and d bother. They stubbornly held
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12

Presidential candidates begin to see they must work as well as their friends. A presidential race is fast becoming strenuous in this country. It is other wise in Mexico.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12

Mark Twain's physicians have re- moved him out of the banquet belt, al- though his maps before the coffee had become famous. He goes to his couu- try home in Connecticut to live.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12

President Roosevelt asked for four battleships and got two. He now asks for 40 ,000 additional soldiers, and he will do well to get 10000.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12

Candidate Taft declines at this junc- ture to put his trust in canned speeches. The people prefer the real article hot from the lungs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12

Senator Villas left his fortune of 3,000,000 to the University of Wiscon- sin, with directions to increase it to $30,000,000, when the entire income is to be spent by the university. This is a new form of memorial building.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12

General Daniel E. Sickles and his handsome Spanish wife have been re- united after 27 years of separation, and the son of the couple brought 1t about.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12

When Candidate Taft takes the stump the people can see him without using a microscope.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12

Our next red letter days are October g, when the Alabama State fair is to be opened, and November 3, when the bal lot boxes will be opened in 46 states.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12
A woEFuL BROTHER.

Trying to be happy
 Whats the use to try? Any kind of weather
 Makes me want to sigh. Every bloom is faded,
 Hope is fading too; Might as well surrender Nothing else to do. Trying to be happy,
 Troubles at the door; Joy is on journey
 Says he'll come no more. Don't know what's the matter,
 For a fact, with me, But I'm not as jolly
 As I used to be.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-12

The Big Stick desires reinforcement to the extent of 100000 armed men. It will be told to wait few years.