davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-22
SUPERMAN IN AMERICA

colective-that may upset, more or less
badly, the political and economic equilib-
rum.
1t is certain, for instance, that American
multi-millionaires are much more admired
in Europe than in their own country
Little by little Europe is building up about
these men sort of heroic legend. If this
sort of thing keeps up one may prophesy
that in the end we shall have the great
American bankers and iron masters play
ing the same roles in the education of our
children that fell formerly to the heroes
of Plutarch Models will be sought-but
loo modern, alasl--of energy and of cour-
age among those men who have amassed
colossal fortunes on the other side Of the
Atlantic.
The Americans on the other hand, treat
their giants of industry and of the stock
exchange with puch greater familiarity.
They respect them sometimes. when they
do not hate them or when they do not
make fun of them. But they do not con-
sent as easily as do the Europeans to REQ
ognize in these men the representatives of
American genius and energy.
Hence nobody should be surprised to
learn some day that the admirers of the
great Hartman did not constitute the ma
jority of the American people; that his
admirers were much more numerous In
the old world than in the new. The
most enthusiastic admrer of Hartman
whom I found in America was Euro
pean. 1 do not know whether or not to
see in this mere coincidence In spite
of the progress made by the democratic
spirit Europe seems much better prepared
than America, owing to the traditions of
its long history to admire "Superman"
in all fields of action, in politics as well
as in business.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-22
Taft and DIaz At the Rio Grande

The spectacular meeting of the
Presidents of the two republics will
long be remembered. for at the separ-
ating river met man who knows he
cannot serve more than two terms
and who may serve but one term of
four years, and man who had been
President ever since November, 1876,
and who expects to secure next year
another term of six years, although he
was born in 1890.
The contrast between the policies OF
the two republics was forcibly brought
out at the meeting of the two Pres
3dents. Mexico needed In 1879 strong
and forceful leadership, and it got the
needed leader in Porfirio Dfaz. He pro-
ceeded to put down the bandits, to rem
der life everywhere secure, to build
Np home industries, to encourage the
building of railroads, to establish pub.
lic schools, and to bring In a general
way his country up to modern stand.
ards. i.
The United States has never felt the
need Of such a man. Grant did try to
secure third term, but his effort was
bended In the selection of Garfield, and
At Is not probable that anyone else will
ever try to overcome the unwritten
law of the republic against a third
terin, and 1t is wholly unlikely that
term, and 1t is wholly unlikely that
IA man will ever arise who can do
what Grant could not accomplish and
Roosevelt refused to attempt.
But Mexico is different. Her cleo.
items are not elections in the Anglo
Saxon sense of the word. They are
not real elections. They are conducted
by the administration. A President
Fcan reflect himself, and the only rem
edy against him consists in a revolu
ton. Diaz has been alert and popular
enough to suppress all revolutionary
movements, but there is limit to pow
er Of that nature. General Reyes js
known to be conspiring to defeat the
selection of successor by Diaz In view
of his extreme age.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-22
AMENDMENT IN ETOWAH.

f1Om the NTduSutH 1lIntS-NGWS.
The amendment leaders in Etowah
county made strenuous efforts to cap
ture the meeting Monday when ONeal
and Weakley engaged in q joint debate
at the courthouse They had called a
meeting of their big committee and urged
their friends from every part of the coun-
ty to~attend and hear the debate. And,
in fact, many did come from the country
precincts to help yell for Weakley. But
even with these strenuous efforts the
crowd was about evenly divided, both
sides claiming the larger part. The anti
amendment people had not made a sin
gle effort to get a man to attend. No
committee meeting was called. No word
was sent to the country to rally the
forces, but Gadsden alone turned out
enough ants to offset all the efforts
of the amenders to pack the house. This
IL significant of the situation as it stands
In Etowah today. The Times-News has
made no prediction as to the vote that
will be cast in Etowah, because a tre-
mendous campaign has been, and will,
continue to be waged by both sides in
the county. But now our belief is that
the county will give a majority of 400
against the amendment.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-22
Income Tax Issue Before the States

! The claim that an income tax is a
direct tax to be apportioned among the
states according to population was first
raised in 1896. or six years after the
ratification of the constitution. Con-
gress had imposed a tax on carriages,
making it uniform for all carriages of
the same sort regardless of value in
all states. 1t was not apportioned on
the basis of population. The claim
was set up that it was direct tax,
but when the case was carried. to the
! United States supreme court all the
judges who had heard the argument
held that Congress had been clothed
with the fullest powers of taxation ex-
elusive only of taxes on exports. APP
portionment of the carriage tax by
population would be unjust and Con-
gress would in that way lose no small
part of its powers of taxation. They,
therefore, held that tax on carriages
was not direct tax.
This ruling applies equally well to
an income tax, and no one considered
an income tax direct tax from the
decision in 1896 in the carriage tax
case down to the remarkable decision
of the court in 1895. The court in a
fve-by-four decision reversed itself and
the legal opinion of the country which
had stood unquestioned century lack
ing a single year. If tax on car
riages be not direct in the constitution
al meaning a tax on the income from
property certainly is not. The five
judges of 1896 simply reversed the de-
cision of 1896, made by men who par
| ticipated in the framing of the constitu-
ton. Justice Paterson was mem
Der of the constitutional convention OF
1887. Justice Chase was a member OF
the Maryland convention which rati-
|
had been member of the similar
North Carolina convention. Chief JUS
tice Ellsworth was a member of the
convention of 1887. These men knew
what the words direct taxes" meant,
but the five judges of 1895 for reasons
best known to themselves precipitated
a great issue when they suddenly de-
clared an income tax a direct tax in
the constitutional sense.
This was in truth piece of legisla-
ton, and the states are asked to re.
woke it by passing the income tax
amendment. Alabama led off in this
great movement and despite all trick
cry in a few eastern states it is be
lived Congress will regain the power
of taxation that was taken away from
1t by the amazing five-by-four decision
of 12qh
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-22
ANTIQUITY OF AERIAL FLIGHT

From the Washington Herald.
The finding recently of what appears to
be telephone apparatus in an ancient
temple brings to mind that there IS
nothing new under the sum-"
An attempt to navigate the air, accord
ing to well-founded tradition. was made
by Wang Ju, a Chinese mandarin, about
the year 1000 B. C.
He constructed two large kites ED
seated himself in chair fixed between
them. He had Al attendants. Each of
them held a candle and each of them
ignited a rocket simultaneously. Unfor-
tunately. the rocket under the mandarins
chair exploded and burned him severely.
The tradition says that the Emperor was
present, and was so disturbed by this 90
currence that he ordered. Wang Ju to be
severely padded.
On a large stone in Assyria is a par
tial account of experiments In flying
made by Manu-. an Assyrian priest, who
attempted to fly from the temple OF Baal
The next victims of aviation of whom
we have any account were criminals OF
the ancient Leucadians, whose arms and
various designs, and who were hurled
from the Rock of Sappho's Leap, while
a boat was awaiting them in the sea
below to give them liberty should they
succeed in solving the problem
In the reign of Nero Roman attempted
to fly high in the air over the city OF
Rome with pair of wings and fell at
Perouse on the top Of st. Mary's church
and broke his leg.
In 1910 the prior of Jongland fitted
himself with feathered wings and leaped
from a tower of the castle. He fell into
a heap of refuse, but survived.
In 1860 one Allard, a tight-rope per-
former, made an attempt to fly before
Louis the Grand at Paris but he met
with fall which crippled him for life.
So 1t seems that the idea of aerial fly
ing is really an old one, but 1t remains
| for this century with the Wright broth
ers as the leaders, to make It success.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-22
Amendment Has Not Won.

s'It amuses one to read In the pro-
amendment papers in editorials and in
terviews and speeches, expressions of
confidence in the result of the amnd'
ment election" said a prominent Ala
bamian. "They would have the public to
understand that they are winning by
unprecedented majoritles.
I'VE must assume from the pro-amend-
ment papers-Birmingham pape.s-that
there is not one anti left One would
suppose that every one OF the defenders
had departed and that the army OF
amenders were marching to victory
without any expectation Of ever meet
ing with an opposing force. There is
such jubilating confidence in the pre-
pared matter for the pro-amendment pa
pers And yet 1t is given out that next
week there will be 700 amenders on the
stump. On the same page which under
takes to prove that the whole world is
with them they do prove that they are
as frightened as a lot OF mares when
the grass is on fire.
1.-The fact is, they have won no cleo
ton and the leaders know that they have
won no election. Moreover, they cannot
place a sufficient number of orators on
the stump to win it. The more they
speak the more 1t is evident that they
will lose. The amendment Is weak
enough but the load the amenders carry
and they cannot shake It on as much
as they may try, will fix them. Let them
speak and howl to their hearts con-
tent, they will lose"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-22
ThRIEN GLASGOW.
m the Baltimore Americans

From the Baltimore Americana
IT was told while in Glasgow lately"
said e. N. Southard of Dubuque, Iowa.
at the Hotel Herman, that the city owns
pretty nearly every public utility, includ-
ing the telephone and street railways, or
trans, as they call them over there. Men
with whom l conyersed said they thought
municipal ownership preferable to pri-
vate possession in the matter of public
service agencies. Street car fares range
from / to cents. according to the dis
lance travelled, and my information was
that the citys net annual profits were in
the millions. The city of Glasgow must
be about the top-notcher for thrift, as it
also opertaes the public sewerage plant
at a profit by the manufacture of ferti-
lizers and other products. l am afraid
that its extraordinary experience COULD
not be duplicated in this country. where
partisan politics has proved the bAne of
municipal government
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-22

the city and otherwise prepare for
his coming in a way that will impress
all visitors and magnify this city. A
great parade is to be organized. and
altogether Birmingham's hospitality on
the two days in question will be well
sustained.
But this cannot we'll be done unless
the entire section of the city, back at
least to Capitol park, is handsomely
decorated. The Age-Herald appeals to
all owners of property lying between
Capitol park and the Louisville and
Nashville station to begin at once to
make preparations for decorations. In
this way the occasion can be rendered
memorable, and every visitor will re-
turn home glad that he had assisted in
welcoming the head of the nation. The
ten days that will elapse before the
event should be busy days, for Biz
mingham cannot afford to leave any
stone unturned to give the President
of the United States and the dis
tinguished members of his party a
warm and appropriate welcome.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-22
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
A Prominent New York Banker.


Charles E. Finlay, president of the
Aetna National bank of New York, after
spending a week in Birmingham, returned
home on Wednesday. It was his first
visit to the city. He was shown over the
district and was entertained socially at
the clubs and at number of private
houses. Mr. Finlay spoke in great admir-
alton of the people whom he met here.
Birmingham is already a large and
handsome CITY," said Mr.. Finlay, land it
has enormous possibilities. It's residence
sections present landscape effects of rare
beauty Birmingham is indeed one of the
most beautiful cities in the United
States.'
Mr.. Finlay said that not being familiar
with Alabama politics he would be slow.
in making prediction as to whether the
proposed prohibition amendment to the
constitution would be ratified or defeated.
But said he, the campaign is being
watched with much concern by the in
vestment world. With outsiders it is not
the question of saloon or no saloon so
much as it is the tendency to radical
and disquieting politics. Looked at from
a disinterested mans viewpoint the adop-
-tion of the amendment would not help in
the development of the states resources.
On the contrary, 1t would have the effect
of retarding growth"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-22
President Taft'S Visit

President Taft will arrive in this city
ON Tuesday week to remain here over
night and nearly all of the following
day. Not only will the President OF
the republic be here, but there will
also be here fully $4,000 visitors gath.
cred from all parts of this state. in
Guiding some from adjoining states
The fare for round trips for this oc
casion has been reduced to 3 cents a
mile plus rs cents. and this means
that on November p and this city
will be full Of people.
The nations chief akecytive should
be warmly greeted. Id comes here
at our request. anaw shdula decorate
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-22

impressed with their enthusiasm and
push"
While here Mr.. Halbert will have a
carefully prepared map of the business
section sent to the main office of the
company to be filed for future reference.
together with all other information which
he gathers. Mr.. Halbert reports the re-
quests for loans direct to the finance COM
mittee, which always passes on the mort
gage and security before the money is
turned over.
H. J. Saunders supervisor of agencies
for Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi
is accompanying him, and states that In
the other two states they have already To-
Gated a number of big loans.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-22
LET THE WOMEN YELL.
From the Baltimore American.

From the Baltimore American.
"A society woman once asked me what
she should do If burglar were to get into
her room and awaken her from Sleep"
said Capt. p. ]. Mcdonald, former San
Francisco police captain, at the Rennert.
II told her to do nothing except sit up in
bed and squeal for help at the top of her
glar. Not one Of the gentry in 10000 will
do aught save run like a deer when a
woman begins to yell. The sure-enough
professional will not harm anybody unless
cornered, and to shoot is the last thing he
contemplates In his philosophy. An anna
teur loses his head and uses his gun. but
a regular-never."
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-22
M EMORY.

By Thomas Ashe.
She nightly put the tiny hands
Together softly, palm to palm;
And taught the lips. in holy calm,
To mutter words of angel-lands.
And led the heart, in early days,
To gentle thoughts and good and TRUTH
And sowed the doubtful April youth
With lilies, up the winding ways.
And held the cloudy trouble of
That gathered with the gaining years;
And knew to check the oozing tears
And heal the wound of worldly scofr:
o mother, mine how soft they fell
The gold eyelashes ON your cheekl
o mother. mine! l vainly seek
Those healing eyes IN dale and delli
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-22
ANOTHER PHASE.

From the Huntsville Mercury Banner.
gentleman so situated as to know
the facts stated to y Mercury representa-
tive yesterday that the minors of Hunts
Vile and vicinity were drinking more
whisky now than ever before. There are
no restrictions at the express office as
to age and the boys are taking advan-
tage of it. This is feature of the mon
opoly conferred on the express company
by the Fuller bill that we had not
thought of
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-22
The Iron Market.

The pig iron market, SO far as foundry
metal goes, is quiet but firm. Steel maxi
ing iron has been In great demand and a
new buying movement for southern foun-
dry iron is expected soon.
Rogers. Brown & Co.'s Cincinnati re-
port says that some furnaces have again
withdrawn from the market, considering
their order books in satisfactory condi-
ton for the time being. The report fur
Their says: 1.-The blowing in and oper-
alton of new stacks, in the south partlcu-
larly, is and will be seriously hampered
by lack of labor which is prevailing not
only In that district but elsewhere
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-22
MiIIIonaires in BIrminqham.

"Ten years ago there were not more
than two or three men in Birmingham
worth as much as a million dollars, but
now there are eight or ten-maybe a
Dozen" said a business man in close
touch with the financial world.
"In addition to the millionaires there
are quite number of near milltonaires
Among those who are generally reputed
to be worth over the million are J. H
Woodward, w. H. Woodward, Maj. E
M. Tutwiler, John S. Kaul. q. B. Nc.
Cormack, Erskine Ramsay, Morris AID
Ter, ]. C. Maben, Major Mclaughlin, U
s. A. (retired).
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-22
Flltbv Race. FiIthv LANGUAGE.

Environment and personal habits make
the language of people in part" said
student of ethnology.
1.-THE latest publication issued by the
Bureau of American Ethnology on the
Alaskan Indians. with the title of 'Tinglit
Myths is interesting in the thread of
folk lore which ascribes virtues to ami
mails, frogs, birds and fishes. But it is
the use of the very filthiest of sugges-
tions and association of ideas of the most
debased sort which runs all the way
through their fables, that strikes me
most forcibly.
lone symbol that runs through many
myths is the story of Raven, known to
only high caste Indians, the deity to
whom they pray-symbol of darkness,
keeper of the sun, moon and stars"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-22
Luscious Grapes Plentiful.

1.-THE fruit stands are crowded with sew
eral kinds of grapes" said a merchant.
"There is an abundance of Catawba
grapes to be had now at 10 cents per
basket for the two-pound size and they
are luscious to the point of perfection.
There is nothing more healthful and
there Is hardly possibility of one eating
too many.
81 wish to call the attention of mothers
to an erroneous idea that still holds with
some as to grape seed and appendicitis.
physician of high standing told me long
while ago that the probability of grape
seed causing appendicitis is so remote as
to be almost absurd
Mothers can not give children any
more health-contributing fruit than
grapes"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-22
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.
From the NaW York Press.

The reason a man has so little morality
is he has so much stomach.
Philosophy is a mighty cold dish when
you take it out of the oven and try to
eat 1t hot.
A woman always forglves man for
having made her cry, because she had
such a good time doing 1t.
TIL incest thing about saying cuss
word over the telephone is you know 1t s
aefs'~~' the rules of the company
It's just human nature TO stay In bed
th,., IS so cold you can't sleep, rather
than jump out and get q nice, warm
blanket on a chair in the ROOM
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-22

An astronomer predicts that on May
10, 1910, Halley's comet will sprinkle
the earth several inches deep with star
dust, and some of the dust will be in
the form of three-ton boulders.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-22
The Habit of Inslncerity.


1.-THE thing I most dislike In a cam
paign like this now in progress in tho
down-lift habit of insincerity, insinua-
ton and hypocrisy it Develops" said an
old citizen. 1T can challenge any man
to be more consistent in his prohibition
record than I have been, and yet I have
made up my mind to vote against the
proposed amendment I was somewhat
undecided until q few days ago.
1T have attended the two Sunday rail-
lies at the Bijou. The first one did not
me. but the one last Sunday teemed with
personal politics and I came away dis
gusted.
But what finally determined me to
vote against constitutional prohibition
was the unfair methods of the amend
ers. For instance, on the assumption
that the majority of the voters are ig-
norant and easily deceived, amender or
ators always refer to the opponents of
the amendment as the whisky men. They
try to make it appear that the bulk of
the opposition consists or buns, gam
blers and liquor dealers. They admit
that there are a few good men on the
anti amendment side, but II one would
find the flower of morality one must look
on the other side. Was there ever such
cant? And was there ever such sophistry
as the champions of the amendment are
putting forth for argumentr In the first
place the liquor dealers were never as
strong in Birmingham politically as the
| A,,ft Cali Lon r,
the wet and dry election of two years
ago only about 10 per cent of the bar
tenders of Jefferson county were quail
flied to vote. But aside from that fact
it is well known to every man who
chooses to keep himself informed that
in the present campaign men who have
! any connection with the liquor inter-
ests, even the most remote, are SO few
| by comparison with the whole that they
are scarcely worth reckoning with. The
j amendment is, after all, what DR.. Rich
ardson and DR.. Wyman of Tuscaloosa
and Ex-Governor Cobb, Ex-Governor Oates
and Ex-Governor Jelks have pointed out
mostly political. This amendment bust
ness is not only politics but It is dirty
politics.
Zone word more: Compare the mer
| against the amendment with those fol-
1t. OF course there are many good
well-meanng men for tine amendment
But will leave it to any one who knows
this community If there are not as many
whisky drinkers and snakes-In-the-gras.
among the amenders as their are bum:
and gamblers among the anti-amend
ers. Compare the rank and file on thu
two sides and in point of integrity ant
| all round morality the defenders OF th'
constitution come out far ahead"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-22

Let us hope DR.. Cook will not wake
up some morning to claim he had made
a dash to the moon, where he left a
brass tube full of records, which any
one Is free to recover.