davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-25

ture providing for compulsory educa- lion of the children of Alabama.
 Yours very truly
 A, H. Carmichal.
 CompnIsory Education in Alabama.
 Universal education is essential 10 the very life of a democracy. Sucn education should lay foundation or moral and civil virtues; upon these should be built the sup erstructure of individual skill and inlus- trial efficiency. This can be enecteo only through the power of the State Tn Alabama the work of compulsory education Is impeded by perplexing economic and social. conditions. That these can be successfully met by wise and equitable statutes seems certain. The need of universal education Is imperative. and the state cannot safely delay the inauguration Of the work. The only safety of the state is In tpe education of all the people:
 H. O. Murfe9
 Superintendent Marion Institute. I cordially endorse the movement for compulsory education In the state of Alabama. Thousands of Ignorant parents, we know. subsist selhshiyb on the labor of their children, while neg lsctinR all of their future hopes and possibilities. Now, the child IS the richest asset of the state. and If the parent Is blind to the permanent in- terests of its own offspring. I think It the moral duty of the state to inter- yene with it's authority and counteract the cruel selflshness of the parent.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-25

The committee on education of the Alabama Federation of Women's Clubs Is deeply interested in provision for compulsory education in Alabama.
 Desiring to ascertain the opinion of the leaders upon this necessary edu- eational advance it's chairman has ap- peaied for same and now presents them to the public. printing those that dis sent as we'll as those that assent in or- der that the sentiment of Alabama's foremost citizens may be honestly es- timated.
 Mrs. K. D. Thames.
 Greenville. Ala.
 My dear Madam--Your letter of July 9th has been received. I wish to com mend the work that the Alabama Fed erations of Women's Clubs is doing In fine interest of Education. l take pleasure in assuring you that believe the time has arrived when a provision for compulsory education should be made by our state Legislature. I trust that in the near future we may see such law upon our statute books
 Yours very truly
 R. P. Hopson." Mrs. E. D. Thames.
 Greenville, Ala.
 Dear Mrs. Thames--I have your let- ter of July 11th and in reply VIII say that I favor the passage of an Act at the approaching session of the Legisia-
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-25
Growing !Catalpa Trees

25 years old. the owner would have realized the greatest valuo the trees have ever possessed. and a scond crop of even higher value would now be available, as the trees sprout from the stump and grow more rapidly, having an already well established root system.
 Where Timber was Cut.
 One tree which had been cut about fifteen years ago now has a fine. thrifty tree growing from the side of the former stump, which would make two frst-class crossties, the tree being sixteen inches in diameter.
 These trees. as all others growing in isolated situations. rows and ave- nues. have many branches along the trunks, the body of the tree dimin- ishing in volume above each large branch. These branches should havs been removed while young, to make commercial timber. But these trees were planted for shade and ornament rather than for lumber production. In solid forests all this would be obviat- ed.
 The same result follows with pine oak or other trees which nave no nat
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-25

absolutely disinterested." and his conviction that "the class of men in- tended by the framers of the govern ment to be It's legislators" MT. Gil, der says: T never saw MT. Cleveland more elated than after he had thrown the Presidency out of the window by his anti-free-silver letter-in Febru- ry. I89i." There are many other things in the "reminiscences illustra- tive of Cleveland as a man--Rnecdotes of him as a fisherman, of his. kindness toward children and of his exceptional scruplousness in money matters. On the last-named subject Mir. Glider writes:
 "In speaking of Cleveland no one can help reiterating the word honesty All decent people are supposed to be honest and an indifferent reader might well inquire. Why such harping on so common a virtue? But aside from the fact that thoroughgoing honesty Is not absolutely pervasive, certainly in Cleveland's case the trait was almost phenomenally developed. The honesty of the man was in the mind of Mir. Taft and of all the memorial speakers whether they knew him little or much
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-25

money has never been a temptation to me-
 T told this to my editorial friend and te replied: oh. I have gotten over all anxiety about that, as rvN found out how glad he was to get the check we sent him for his article,
 Soon after he left office and setti- ed in Princeton he told me that thero was talk about making a position for him with large salary attached He said such good friends were fin the movement that he could not act has, tily and in way that would seem un- grateful. but that he would not accept Q position in which he would be un- able to perform adequate service. He in fact. declined the position.
 'T remember that at time when he was adding to his not large income by industriously contributing to peri- odicals he insisted upon certain puh- fishers paying him considerably less than the sum they offered for esr- tain article published by them on tf1a ground that it was more than he had received for a similar contribution published elsewhere"
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-25

prices prevail to settle themselves and their children's families there with the proceeds of the sale of their improved estate.
 While the cheapness of the price and the fertility of the land are being so assoduously agitated among the farmers of the west--of foreign birth or descent, most of them-but good citizens, 1t is time for the railroads running to the South to be as ener- Retic and contemplating as the roads of the west have been. There has been . prejudice against Southern farming that can now be wiped away if this section's advantages are only shown in their true light. If there ever was a tirne-when the canal has attracted so much attention this way-for the railroads. the land owners, ana oom- mercial organizations to get busy, it Is now. As 6 place for homeland the farmers are home iovers-Canada with its rigorous winters should not
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-25

whatever of his own historic impor- tancs. have never seen such uncon- sciousness."
 MT. Glider first met MT. Cleveland at the White House before the Presidents marriage, but really came to know him only later in his first adminis- tration. His first talk with Cleveland was at the White House early in De- cember. 1887. The President went over the question of tariff reform with the author and read to him the now famous message sent to congress on the subject. Mir. Glider writes about this meeting:
 What impressed me was the nots of earnestness and conviction. His tone was that of a person trying to effect great good for the state with out the slightest regard to his own personal fortunes. He was so assur- ed of the righteousness and reason ableness of the position assumed that he felt that if the public could only understand the actual situation. there would be an influence upon Congress which would effect the necessary re- form. He was inspired by the idea of c simple and plain duty It is con-
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-25
Grover Cleveland ass by icl1ardW x

and most of them knew him well. Two men who. in different times and places were long acquainted with him. said to me lately that Mir. Cleveland was the most honest man they had ever known.
 "A few years ago a prominent edi- tor when talking to me about MT. Cleveland. expressed a good deal of admiration and but one doubt. He said MT. Cleveland's relation to a certain rich friend and the ex-Presi- dents money-making would have to be explained. I answered that these would not have to be explained to me. because. though I did not know much about his financial affairs. I could vouch for the fact that he was one of the most scrupulous men I had ever known. and besides. knew he was not what we call nowadays a rich man A little while after this MT. Cleveland happened to be talking pretty freely with me about his resources and told me about just having lost several thousand dollars on scruple--unneces- sarily. as 1t turned out. After relat- ing the incident he said: But don't deserve any credit for that, because
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-25

in use about his farm from some of these trees which were planted in 1SBz which are still sound after forty-nve years service. The entire collection of trees are soon to be cut and made into fence posts.
 Examinations of many thousands of large catalpa trees in various portions of the United States prove conclusive- ly that 1t is unnecessary for planters to wait a long period of years to rec ceive the benefits from tree planting. if only the right kind of trees is se- lected, and that four successive crops of timber may be harvested In one century. all from one planting of trees.
 Only one tree on the farm which we have mentioned has prepstuated itself by side shoots from the stump. which show that if it should be de- sirable to destroy a catalpa forest. tha trees should be cut in summer time. as the roots then die. But If cut in winter, with the sap stored in the roots, the dormant buds which exist all through the bark, win be forced into growth with the warmth of spring.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-25

form wood rapidly and become a for est.
 life of Trees.
 Tree species vary greatly in period of duration of life. The giant sequoias have stood throughout thirty centuries. The deciduous cypress of Southern swamps live to be 500 years old, possi- bly 1000 before falling to the earth from decay Some of the oaks have a history of several centuries. But the catalpa completes It's life in less than a century. Yet its wood is almost in- destructible by decay.
 It Is not uncommon to see forests planted in Europe of trees which can not benefit the planter or his children. Probably his great-grandchildren- may receive the benefits from their ances- tors labors.
 One of the prominent modern au- thors whose works on arboriculture rank high in England, advocates the planting extensively of trees at enor- nous cost, having the government issue bonds for many million dollars in aid of the project. Yet no income what ever is to be expected during the first century. Yet he vioiently opposes the planting of catalpa speciosa, which he
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-25

helped 10 displace them from their earlier homes. They went in search of the cause which forced them to moves
 Tn due time the price of Western land advanced and has now probably reached 6 maximum as result of the high prices of farm products extend- Ing over a series of several years. Meanwhile all the good and cheap lands have been taken up and the younger generation finds itself handi- capped in the outset because of the immensely larger amount oe invest. mont that must bo made to put then- selves in c condition equally aS good as their parents on land from i've to ten times dearer than 1t was two de- cadOs ago. Under these circumstances It Is perfectly natural that those who migrated to that country from abroad, reared families on the western faVfns, and are interested in providing for their children. should repeat tho policy of seeking out farms whore frontier
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-25

ural method of eliminating side branches.
 By observing the progress made year by 7 year in these ancient trees. we are enabled to fix positively the dats when we anticipate profitable returns from catalpa plantations which are now being planted.
 However, 1t must not be understood that all catalpa trees will make such progress as these have done, for very large majority of trees being sold and planted as catalpa speciosa are worthless bignoides, or hybrids which will never attain profitable size.
 Given Little Attention.
 The Baristown pike trees were neither pruned nor cultivated, other wise their value would now be thousand times greater than they now possess.
 On the other hand, trees planted so closely as all the earlier paintings of the countryt-4x4 feet-could never att tain a diameter of more than six or eight inches, and of course be valu- able only as fence posts.
 MT. Frederick has fence posts now
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-25

That's about as important as an equitable" distribution of the present surplus.
 Some manner should be devised to prevent our worthy Confederate pen sioners from getting rich out of the State Treasury.
 Some of 'em have almost concluded that the State Treasury Is bursting with money for them and are begin ming to feel like the overseer's daughter who, hearing her father say that out of his princely salary he had saved our hundred and eighty. dollars. jump ed up. popped her beautiful barefeet together and exclaimed. "Pn never walk another step as long as pap livesy
 These old confederates must be held down for if this over pampering in excessive and increasing pensions con. tinue, there may be . revival of the Spirit of '61 and then the devil will be to pay. Sure enough.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-25


 In all of the larger and older trees and groves of catalpa there are the same varying conditions of extremely slow growth for few years. followed by series of years of exceptionally large increase in wood accumulation says The Louisville Courier-Journal. These again are succeeded by an in- definite term of scarcely appreciable annual accommodations. This absolute rule Is also in control of most. if not all. species of forest trees. The cause is apparent to the forest observer who can and will seek the secrets which lie beneath the surface of the soil, but which are never found above the ground, says Arboriculture.
 The roots of a tree constituts~the vi- tai organs which supply all the ener- gy, enabling the tree to make a slow or rapid growth of foliage and wood.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-25

rightness and bravery. but even the imitation had not been forthcoming
 Tt would not be easy to exagger- 6te in describing Mir. Cieveland's sim gular union of quiet self-confdence depreciation, continues Mir. Glider. He cites. as showing Cleveland's guid- ing motive in political life. his plea- sure in being praised in James Russell Lowelrs lines containing the phrase. "One who did his best" and comments: That was Mir. CleveIands claim about his own performance-that he did the best he could. When with in timate friends he would talk about his successes and failures on the stage Of the world as unpretentiously as if discussing some unrenowned neigh- borhood .affair. It was strange ex- perience, when off alone with the ex- President in a rowboat on some seclud- ed sheet of water tv hear one's fishing companion while skilfully getting ready his tackle talk with inside knowledge and in phrases as graphic as they were homely. of great inter national events in which he was him. self leading actor, and naming unes- tentatiously some of the leading iv- ing characters of the woyld. When he fell into "reminiscences of this sort 1t was apparently without any sense
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-25

according to the ability of the roots to supply ample nutriment.
 As is well known, every particle or food assimilated by a tree must De taken from the soil in solution with water. This sap ascends through the trunk and branches to the leaves. which change 1t chemically, evaporate much water and return the concentrated re- mainder to the roots again. that they may increase this wonderful energy and continue the growth of the tree.
 Each cell and fiber of the wood Is thus composed of the solid matter which has been extracted from the wa tary solution sent upward by the mill lions of microscopic mouths at the ex- tremity of the roots.
 We see a dense thicket of spruce, or other forest trees, but they have slight girth, yet possibly they have stood thus for a quarter of century or even more, making no progress. There is sufficient vitality to maintain an exist ence, but the roots are unable to pro- vide nourishment for the development of tree.
 When in the course of time a large proportion die or are strangled. by the more thrifty ones which remain. these
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-25

The Southern Lumberman.
 In the cereal producing section, m the states of Illinois and Iowa, ana, fin fact in most of what Is known as the Central West, good farm lands sell from SI00 to s2oo an acre. ana these are not those acres that nave their value from the fact that they are very near to some cIt| or town. These prices prevail for the land for US value as e farm.
 In the Canadian Northwest and in the Southwest Q quarter or an eighth of this is not an unusual prtce, while in the South when land goes oyer t10O an acre it is due to some improve ments or other causes than the iandD own fertility.
 As the railroads have baen extepd~ cd through the West and Northwest, the Garmers have migrated thore, and now Canada is worry actevo in alluring settlers to the cheap and fertile lands just across the border. The Cana Alan land o6lno estimates that be.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-25

Since have suggested 1t. the Leg islature, will, no doubt, attend to 1t.
 Another thing that should occupy the strict attention of the extra ses- sion is the way our Supreme Court. in the very perversity of ignorance. decide questions contrary to the opin- ion Or will or wish of our distinguish- ed importations from other States.
 Surely the Supreme Court deserves A "tacking. up" for such reprehensible conduct.
 It seems to me e good lacking up.' will be better than the wear and tea" of mind to circumvent the learned judges with Prohibition Statute that will hold water"
 Another thing-if it can be done by Statute---a divided court should not be allowed to render decision. have expressed myself on this matter once before, but 1t will do to speak of 1t again and again.
 Twelve men are selected as jury.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-25

tween e2,Soo,oOo and ss.oOo.ooO will be taken out of the agricultural states of Iowa and Nebraska into Western Canada this year.
 Last year the Omaha ofice booked a,30o ernigrRnts to Canada, reuuiring 3eS cars to handle their goods, valued at s1,26o.00o. Practically every one of the Western border states has had similar, drain upon its resources, and tho middle tier of states farther south are apparently aS fully infiu. enced by the attraetiveness of low. priced acres In Canada as those com. munIties living nearer the intsFna- tionai border.
 Eho influence Of land prices upon movements Of population ss nothing new, When tho prices Of farm pro. duets In Che East in earlier decades EeIt tbe efrectg of western compott. ton, hundreds of thouaAnda Of faFm- CTS ieft New England. the Middle states, and the Southwest for the very ] Western land whose low cost had
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-25

Richard waston Gilder's reminis- censes of Grover Cleveland, whom he knew intimately for many years from an interesting initial article in the Au- gust number of The Century Nigga zine. The writer, nationally known as poet. prose writer and editor states that he puts forth the record of his knowledge of MT. Cleveland as mot an obligation of friendship. but of patriotism" Mir. Glider found himself attracted in common with other au- thors. by MT. Cleveland's Tack of sophistication. his rustic simplicity of thought, that went along with great directness and vigor of action" MT. Glider records also his belief that the literary men were attracted by the Presidents moral fury and hfs cour- age," and proceeds:
 '"That MT. Cleveland should be in. stinctively impressed by the ethical bearings of public questions was. per- shaps, natural in descendant and brother of clergymen, missionaries and teachers; the cousin of Bishop Cleve- land Coxe one of the same stock that has produced the philanthropist Wfl- liam E. Dodge and his children. heard Professor Child of Harvard say that he was always expecting to see some second-rate politician put up base imitation of Cieveland's down.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-25

 I may not be given proper credit for t. but think have behaved mighty pretty in keeping quiet about the Governors Tong rolr' for the Lesisla- ture If he has made a mistake in again assembling those distinguished law- makers he cannot blame me.
 He didn't consult ms about the mat teR at all.
 It is true that did tell him. in the event of the call. to put into 1t com mand, Cor something like that that, on iaccount of Providential disaster to the crops, the rate of taxation be re- duced to take effect October first of the present year.
 If this is done I feel sure the Admin istration will be popularized to the dismay of my farmer friend in the United States Senate.
 In such a case. I think Senator Bankhead had as well make up his
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-25
ssTfe GOverf1Or'S Long ROll''
 By ..

They can't render a verdict till rhan- imity is secured. Of course, the chief qualification of juror is ignorance.
 Now if twelve ignorant jurymen must agree before a verdict can be rendered the same rule of intelligent conclusion should apply to our highest court.
 I don't find any scripture in the New Testament. where they are en- joined to spend good money on legis- Iatcrs to pass bills against liquor "and sich If any body but Baptists were guilty of acting without "thus saith the Lord" would keep quiet.
 We. Baptists, seem to be the only ones making asses of ourselves about prohibition and I feel free to express myself.
 The Sunday School money tsome of it) is being diverted from It's ancient course to the heather to prohibition
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-25
9g'

purpose and 1t isn't treating. "I.o tho poor Indian" or any other low down heather exactly right. What want us Baptists to do is. to quit drinking liquor. If we'll do that. it may be. in time. that the drunken Christians of our sister den- ominations win follow suit" In this way we'll impoverish the saloons and Dust the "whiskey trust" and the down trodden woman of every faith and order" can have cheap dresses to wear. and have dinner on the grounds" at every ''big meeting"
 If the Extra" In its biiiousnesss deprives the people of any more an- cient rights then want the Rail- roads, the whiskey people. the better class Christians to join the Republican Party, next year, and clean out the Augean Stables"
 I fell sure that Amenl Is the re- sponse.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-25

mind to "sew up and bite off the thread"
 We'll. .turn about Is fair piay' and If the Governor has the taxrate reduced and the valuations cut down so as to meet the demands of the '.government economically administefed." the peo- pie will rise up and call him blessed" !" and tell him that. fnasmuch, as he has been faithful In a few thing.". he must walk up higher.
 If the Governor will use the surplus which his administration has so suc- cessfully corralled and not collect any more taxes till the end of that surplus Is in sight, I can't see how the peo- pie can be restrained from breaking the Constitution and making him sac- ceed Bankhead, nolens-volens.
 I may be wrong about 1t, but this strenuous assembling of Surplus is not popular and is a broken spoke in the wheel of an aspirant of higher honors. but the spoke can be repaired