davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-29
Big Libel Suits Filed
 By O1VnerS Of Steamers
Owners of the Republic Which Was Sunk By the Want $2OOOoOO Damages While the Florida's o>sSs File Petition of Libel and Ask a Lip,SS
 tiOn of Liability.

of the prais< has been bestowed upon the officers ot ie Republic. In a state ment issued tonight they point out the heroism and the act of humanity dis played by Captain Ruspini who, despite the fact that his ship was sorely dam aged, stood by the Republic for more than "A hours, rescuing the passengers from the Republic and later transferring them to the Baltic when that ship reached the scene. The statement is made that had the Baltic not arrived Captain Ruspini would successfully have brought his over- crowded vessel into port.
 It was asserted in the libel that the collision was due to no fault on the part or Captain Sealby of the Republic. but wholly to the fault of the Florida which, 1t was alleged did not keep a proper course, had no sufficient lookout, did not give proper whistles nor pay heed to the whistles of the Republic; that the Flor ida failed to indicate her change of helm, that she was proceeding at an immoder- ate rate of speed and did not stop or back her engines. The assertion was made that when the officers of the Republic first heard the whistles of the Florida in the fog the Republics engines were run full speed astern and that her helm was put aport. Shortly afterward the Florida appeared broad off the Republics port side braring down at a high speed and her railing hit the Republic at right angles below amidships.
 ''In the effort to escape the blow" de- clared the libel, "the master put the en- zines of the Republic ahead, but the Flor ida came on at high rate of speed, ap- parently swinging under a starboard helm and crashed head-on into the port side of the Republic, penetrating into the en- zine room"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-29

Japanese from the United States ex- States by 1542, showing distinctly that the trend of the migration of Japanese is from the United States, which is fur ther shown by the marked decrease of immigration during the months re- ferred to of 1908, as compared with the same months of 1907.
 "The press reports which l have seen your people in California that these figures are inexact. desire emphati- cally to state that they are absolutely correct, and the proof thereof, which Is on file in the department, clearly demonstrates the accuracy of the fig ures
 Tt has further been intima ted as see from reports, that there is a large surreptitious influx of Japanese over the Mexican and Canadian borders. I am justified in saying this is not true, for obvious reasons. That there are some few scattered surreptitious en- tries Is quite probable, but the num- Der is so small that it cannot be con- sequential
 Finally, I wish to call your atten- tion to the fact, which the statements above referred to indicate, that the arrangements which have been called the 'gentleman's agreement we have with Japan, in my judgment, Is work ing more effectively than would re- suit from any restrictive laws because of the effective embargo Japan has placed upon departure of her subjects from Japan"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-29
JAPANESE IMMIGRATION
 IS RAPIDLY DECREASING

Washington, January 28.-Secretary Straus today forwarded a letter to Stn.- ator Frank P. Flint of California in which he discussed the statistics of the department of commerce and labor cov- ering the immigration of Japanese to the United States and the emigration of Japanese from the United States. In the course of his letter Secretary Straus says:
 You will observe that the entire number (Japanese) admitted was 12,41S for the calendar year 1907. while the entire number admitted was but 4477 for the calendar year 1908. You will also bear in mind that the executive order of the President was issued on March IA, 1907, but 1t took a consider able time to prepare regulations pro- vided for in that order and to put those regulations into effect and for the department of state, both here and through our ambassador to Japan, to arrive at a definite understanding with the Japanese government.
 q desire, furthermore, to direct your attention to the fact that the entire immigration for the year beginning with November l, 1907, and ending October 31, 1908, was 6017, while the departures for the same period were 5832, leaving an increase for immigra- tion' for that year of 1855.
 "It is further to be observed that beginning with June, 1908, and end- ing October, 1908, the emigration of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-29

New York. January 2S.-Just which ship was responsible for the Nantucket col lision, in which the White Star liner Re- public and the Italian liner Florida fig ured, and which company shall pay the damages will be decided by the court of admiralty.
 Both companies filed suits today. That of the owners of the Republic claimed damages of $2O0O, GOO and recited in legal form the story of the recent sea disaster. The blame for the collision was placed on the Florida and the claim was made that the last named ship was going ahead at Ian immoderate rate of speed' when the crash came.
 The owners of the Florida also filed a libel suit and a petition for limitation of liability against the Florida. The pe- titioners asked that their liability, in case the suits are decided against them, be placed at $224,O
 Later the Florida's owners applied for and obtained an order from Judge Adams in the United States circuit court stay ing all suits for damages against the steamship Florida on the ground that 'HSi PSIitioh Aoi ilhiiIalioh ol hdoillty had been filed ahead of the $2, 900, 900 libel suit of the Oceanic Steamship Naviga- tion company.
 In their suit proper the Florida owners allege that the collision was due to the neglect of the Republics officers. c. B. Richards & c., agents for the Lloyd Italiano line, to which the Florida be- longs, believe that Captain Ruspini his officers and crew should come in for some
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-29
CASE OF ED MARSHALL
 RESULTS IN MISTRIAL

Union City Tenn, January 8.-Follow- ing the entering of a mistrial in the case of Ed Marshall, alleged night rider, charged with implication in the putting to death of Capt. Quentin Rankin, an- nouncement was made by the prosecuting attorneys that they will endeavor to have the hearing of others charged with having had a part in the Reelfoot lake lynching deferred until the May term of the circuit court. The jury in the Marshall case was discharged today when it was announced that with 10 of the jurors favoring an &C., quittal and two holding out for convic- tion of murder in the second degree, it would be impossible to reach a unanimous verdict
 It is the plan of the state to present motion to Judge Jones tomorrow order ing the removal of the 16 men confined in the military barracks and three in the county jail to other points in this judi cial district, preferably to Dyersburg and Dresden, pending their trials. The sol diers who have been on duty here for the past three months, with the exception of a detail of 40 men, half of which will
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-29
SOUTHERN TRIP OF
 PRESIDENT ELIOT

Washington, January 2S.-(Special J. President Eliot of Harvard University, who is soon to relnquish his office, will come to Washington on March 30 to at- tend the twenty-slxth annual banquet of the Harvard club of this city. The fol- lowing evening he will attend a similar entertainment by the Harvard club of Maryland in Baltimore.
 The visits of the head of the Harvard university here and in Baltimore are a part of the itinerary of a two months trip through the south and southwest which he is going to make, accompanied by Mrs. Eliot. Throughout the cities which President Eliot will visit he will be entertained by Harvard clubs. The trip is similar to one made by President Eliot through the west last year. and will not only enable him to meet the various alumni associations, but will give him an opportunity to visit some of the lead ing colleges and to observe the educa- tional, industrial and civic conditions in the different sections of the country.
 With few exceptions President Eliot will spend only two days and in many cases only one day in each city. Ills trip will take him to Louisiana, Texas Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina Virginia and several other states.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-29

remain at Union City and the others at Camp Rogan, at Reelfoot, will be then returned home.
 After being out for 16 hours the jury in the Marshall case reported this morning that they could not agree on a verdict
 Do you think you could agree within two days or six months ?' asked Judge Jones.
 No sir was the reply of the foreman, and the jury was at once discharged.
 They stood 10 for acqeittsl and tp,3 for murder in the second degree.
 Only a small crowd beside the court attaches were present when the jury en- tered the courtroom, as 1t had been re- ported that they were hopelessly hung.
 After deliberating on the matter all night they stood the same way this morn- ing, and decided that 1t would be impos- sible for them to agree. The prisoner, surrounded by his wife and a dozen kins- men, were present when the jury report ed and none of the group manifested any signs of elation, evidently being pre- pared for the action of the jury mo- tion for bail was then argued
 After a lengthy argument, in which the attorneys for Marshall agreed to make a bond of $25,000, Judge Jones overru1ed the motion for bail and remanded the pris- oner to jail.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-29
Castro Has No Plans.

Berlin, January 2s.-Cipriano Castro, the former president of Venezuela, was in- terviewed in this city today regarding certain reports recently made public to the effect that he was planning a coun- ter-revolution in Venezuela and that 1t was his ambition to become the "new liberator" of the people of Venezuela.
 Senor Castro was still looking rather weak as a result of his recent operation. He said:
 T cannot accept the role of liberator of the Venezuelan people assigned to me because my experience of nine years as president has taught me that freedom is a chimera.
 T am convinced more than ever today of the wisdom of the words of the great liberator, simon Bolivar, when he was about to die: I have sown in the sea. These were prophetic words whose mean ing repeatedly has been proven true.
 q repeat what I said on another oc- casion; l do not complain of anything, or anybody. What I desire most is peace and retirement"
 Senor Castro will leave here the private hospital where isl is now on Saturday and return to the Hotel Esplanade.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-29
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS

Page 1. Gomez becomes President of Cuba. Libel suits filed by owners of steamers. Bonaparte explains secret methods. Venezuelan affairs at standstill Mine Workers dabble in politics. Mistrial in Ed Marshal1's case. Argument in Hundley case. Navy wants wireless tower Japanese immigration decreasing.
 Page 2. Ensley musicale well attended. Bessemer Coal, Iron and Land companv holds annual meeting. Dallas county wants good roads. Two jurors lost in Cooper case. Board of directors of Commercial club approve Tennessee company purchase.
 Page 3. Moonshiner cuts up his own still Waterworks plant is progressing. Sheriff may be held to account Military court of inquiry begins
 Pare 4. Editorial comment.
 Page 5. Bryan will address two meetings here Sunday. Further contributions made to Italian relief fund. Wireless message received in Birming- ham from cruiser Birmingham Fire in West End destroys three cot tages, with loss of $7500.
 Page 6. Deadlock over silver service.
 Page 2. Birmingham society. Feminine Fancies, by Dolly Dalrymple
 Page 8. Special message from Roosevelt.
 Page g. Stocks decline very slightly. Cotton recovers losses. Wheat suffers small losses.
 Page 10. Hartman merger case concluded.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-29
Venezuelan AHdirS
 Are AtQ Sta1dStiII
President Gomez and Commissioner Buchanan Are Logger heads Ovey Claims of the Asphalt Company and No Agreement Can Be Reached at Present Tn
 Reference to Arbitration.

Caracas, Venezuela, January 26, via Port of Spain, Trinidad, January 2.-rhe nego- tiations between w. l. Buchanan, the spe- cial envoy of the United States and the Venezuelan government looking to a set clement of the outstanding difficulties be- tween the two countries came to a com- plete deadlock on certain points contained in the draft of the first protocol and 1t is believed here that the negotiations will be completely discontinued unless the United States modlfies it's contentious that the claims of the New York and Bermudez Asphalt company and the Orin- oco corporation be sumbitted to arbitra- ton.
 This contention President Gomez consid- CTS unjust and out of place because MT. Buchanan will not agree to submit to arr bitratlon preliminary points the ques- tons of the validity of the judgments of the Venezuelan courts, the awards of the mixed commissions or the complicity of the New York and Bermudez Asphalt company in the Mates revolution.
 President Gomez professes to be ex- tremely desirous of reaching a settle ment with the United States, but at the same time he says he feels that he must protect the honor and dignity of Vene- zeula. These considerations have infiu- enced the attitude of the Venezuelan gov ernment that in the matter of the claim of the Orinoco corporation, MT. Buchanan has refused to accept a proposal to sub init to arbitration as a nrevious noint the question of the validity of the judg- ment of the mixed commission, and whether or not there was denial of jus tice by the Venezuelan courts in this case
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-29

In the matter of the claim of the New York and Bermudez Asphalt company, MT. Buchanan has refsued to accept the proposal to submit to arbitration as a previous point, the question whether or not the company has lost it's right to the protection of the United States and whether or not Commissioner Barge ex- ceeded his powers in the award of the mixed commission. A. F. Jauret another of the claimants, is to receive a reduced amount without arbitration. All the claim ants are to have the chance of reaching settlement with the government before arbitration is undertaken.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-29
ARGUMENTS PRESENTED
 IN THE HUNDLEY CASE

Washington, January 2S-(special)- Senators Dillingham;, Kittridge, Bacon and Clark, of Arkansas, heard arguments today in the Hundley case. The argu- ments against Hundley were presented by Walker Percy Monte Ullman, John P. TiIlman, O. R. Hood, J. J. Willett and G. N. Harsch. They were replied to by John B. Knox and T. G. Bush. The opposition based its arguments in great part along the lines of the brief recently filed by the anti-Hundley committee with the President and Senate judiciary com mittee. Hundleys action in the Southern Steel matter was especially dwelt upon
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-29

and declarations of his incompetency were made. In reply John B. Knox and T. G. Bush testified as to the high personal standing of Hundley, stating that he was capable, upright judge, liked by a majority of the bar and the people
 Senator Dillingham;, the chairman of the b-committee,l insisted that the wit nesses confine themselves to new charges against Judge Hundley and several times interrupted witnesses for the opposition who made statements covered by the hearings last year The hearings will con tinue daily until the committee has heard a majority of the attorneys on each side.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-29

At the same time, the department asked for bids for two sets of apparatus to be installed on naval vessels, to be capable of transmitting and receiving messages at all times, seasons and lati- tudes, to and from distance of 1000 miles, and to receive messages from the Washington station at a distance of 5000 miles at all times.
 Seven firms submitted proposals The most satisfactory of these, according to the officials, was the National Elec- tric Signaling company of Pittsburg, which offered to furnish apparatus and tower for $1S2,600.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-29
NAVY WANTS A WIRELESS
 TOWER AT WASHINGTON

Washington, January 2S-The navy department today opened bids for locat- ing a wireless tower at Washington for communica ting with ships at sea. The specifications require that the tower or station shall be capable of transmit ting messages at all times. and at all seasons to a radius of 5000 miles, in any navigable direction from Washing ton.
 The messages are not to be inter- rupted by >atmosph eric disturbances or ........................ ............................ that until the labor factor in society in this country Is strong enough in con- viction to stand alone, It's best advantage Is to be derived from putting upon first one and then the other of the old parties the force of union labor influence for leg islation for it's benefit.
 A resolution recommending that the union miners should be active in politics and try to have elected to state legisla- lures and Congress men whose sympa- thies are publicly known to be with the working classes was enthusiastically adopted.
 Socialists Gain a Point.
 While care is taken by the miners lead- CTS that the organization shall not take definitely a socialistic course and a res olution for government ownership for coal mines has been defeated, neverthe- less the socialists were successful in put ting through a resolution recommending public ownership of the wealth-produc- ing agencies Of the country, which are now in control of the predatory rich,' and that there should be a social reorganiza- ton to the effect that each man should receive the equivalent of the labor that he gives to the community This resolu- tion was adopted without a dissenting vote
 The establishment of miners examining boards in all the states is the purpose of one of the most discussed resolutions in today's session. President John Walker of Illinois said that the definition of a miner was lone who worked at the face of mine," and that this should be borne in mind in framing bill to establish an examining board
 The ostensibe purpose of the state ex- amining board is to assure both miners and operators that the men in the pit are skilled, and that danger to life and prop erty has been reduced to a minimum so far as the human agency is concerned.
 President Lewis urged that 1t should be specified that the members of a state board should be chosen from working miners.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-29
Belmont Still Improvinu.

New York, January 2s.-August Bel mont's ssAdition as reported at the gen eral memorial hospital tonight is excel lent He passed wholly satisfactory day. He was operated on yesterday for appendicitis.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-29
cuIberson Has the Job.

Washington, January 2S.-Responsi- bility for bringing out evidence relat- ing to the merger of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company with the United States Steel corporation has been thrown upon Senator Culberson by his colleagues on the special com mittee of the Senate judiciary commit tee which was named to make the in- vestigation. The resolution providing for the inquiry was introduced by MT. Cub erson.
 It Is understood at the capitol that in addition to George w. Perkins of the firm of J. P. Morgan & Co, who --vAl be here tomorrow, Oakleigh Thorne of New York. president of the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-29
Chinese Emperor In Good Health.

Pekin, January 2S-Emperor Hsuan Tung concerning whose death or serious illness reports have been current, is stated officially to be in good health
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-29
MOTION TO BURN
 THE CONSTITUTION

Guthrie, Okla. January 8.-Senator Blair, in the senate today in all serious ness, moved that body to burn the con- stitution adopted by the state of Okla homa His words created decided sen sation and were followed by an immedi- ate adjournment.
 Senator Blair's remarks came at the close of one of the most vigorous de- bates in the present session of the upper house, and after favorable balloting on the Thomas bill, which makes it impos- sible to form new counties.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-29

Trust Company of America, also will go before the committee. It Is be- lieved that his appearance will be voluntary, and will follow communi- cation which he sent to MT. Culberson giving many details of the ownership of stock of the Tennessee Coal and Iron company, prior to its sale to the steel corporation, in November 1907.
 Secretary Straus of the department of commerce and labor has been asked to furnish to the committee the data concerning the merger, which was ob . tained by Commissioner Smith of the bureau of corporations and the reply has been received that the files are now in possession of President Roose- welt to whom the request should be directed The members of the com mittee realize the utter futility of ask ing the President to send the informa- ton, and will depend upon witnesses from New York to supply evidence
 The committee has told MT. Culber- son that any witnesses desired by him would be summoned.
 MT. Perkins will be heard tomorrow at 10 o'clock before the sub commit ee and such members of the full commit tee as care to attend.
 MT. Thorne will be heard on Monday. All of the sessions of the committee will be executive.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-04-23
sALooNKEEPERs ARE SUED.
Il Is Alleged They Sold Liquor to Wife
Murderer.

ST. JOHNS. Mich, April 2S-Suits
for $4,000 damages each on behalf OF
the three children OF John H. Miller.
OF Westphalla, have been started BY
John Chome. their next friend. against
four Portland saloonkeepers and the
estates OF two others now dead. Mil.
Ter is serving term OF seven to IA
years In the Ionia reformatory for
shooting his wife. who died
The trial of the first OF these suits
has been started in the Clinton county
circuit courl here. and its outcome
will probably determine the other Ave
cases. The defendants are: David
WCrden, Charles Lowery. George
HaucK. M. >. Dehn and the estates OF
NJ. B. De Vine and John p. Fox, the
latter two having died since the shoot
Ing tragedy.
The basis OF the suits Is that the
shooting and killing OF the mother OF
the children resulted from liquor fur
nished Miller by the defendants. he
coming home intoxicated and commit
ting the crime Miller will be brought
here on a writ OF habeas corpus TO
testify Tire defense. however. ex-
poets 10 nullify his testimony by his
record.