davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-16
pAwNBRoKER,s PATTER

Frank Marshall White in Harper's Weekly.
 A deaf man coming into the auction | room while a sale is in progress might believe that the auctioneer is an autom-
 aton, for he stares straight before him
 with seemingly unseeing eyes, his lips
 moving ceaselessly and rapidly and with | a machine like motion, which continues for many minutes at a time apparently
 without q pause for breath, while his cheeks are fiuttering like the Hanks of spent horse. The auctioneer's profit is in a commission, and as his commission is the greater according as his sales are
 more, 1t is to his interest to keep things moving at top speed, for the property he is selling is of too little value to make delay worth while on the chance of run
 ming up the price of any single article. "No. S96-gold-filled case, Swiss move- ment" dhe use of the nominative
 watch is superfous), cries the attend ant at Ne showcase, passing the article toward the auctioneer. Five dollars, s1, s, 8, s1,'' is the form of that function ary's chant, beginning at a top price and running it down until it is accepted by a bidder, when it may be run up again. However. the auctioneer of unre- deemed pledges is not prodigal of time and vocal effort as to use the tire word dollar or to make two syl- fables of his numerals. Philology and ar ticulation are sacrificed to celerity. Six and eight are the only two numbers he pronounces in full. He says nj for nine sev for seven, fl for five, fo for four, tit for three, tee for two and dee for dollar, and employs the old New York state shillings-12A cents-in the verbal subdivision of the dollar, not only to reduce syllable confusion, but to prevent the raising of bids less than 25 cents at a time. Thus dollar and quarter becomes dol-tee; a dollar and a half, dol-fo, and a dollar and seventy five cents dol-six. Likewise bids must advance at least 25 cents at a time, since an advance of 121A cents is out of the question, and such advances as 5. 10 or 20 cents are impossible. Articles of very
 trihing value are occasionally bidden up
 in cents, to be sure, but the necessity does not often occur.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-16
Progress of the Initiative and Referendum

The adoption of the initiative and referendum by Arkansas and its victory in the election of delegates to the con- stitutional convention of Arizona con- siderably widens the field of this new political movement, which is not yet widely or accurately understood.
 The initiative is either a right re- served by the people in their constitu- ton to originate propositions to be enacted into law by the legislature and ratified by the vote of the people. or that giving a number of voters in a community the right to cause an cleo ton to be held upon permitted question Gas whether liquor shall be sold in the town) and if the vote be in favor of the change then the new condition is to obtain under a per viously passed statute of the legisla- ture.
 South Dakota, Oklahoma and Oregon are the states that have adopted the | initiative and referendum in it's larger aspect, and Arkansas and Arizona are preparing to join them In it's local aspect it has been adopted in Oregon South Dakota, Nebraska, California and Iowa. The people of many other states are discussing it and it seems to be | gaining ground.
 l It goes along with the direct pri- mary as a political force opposed te | delegated authority or strictly repre- sentative government. It points likt the primary to a maximum of direc popular action and minimum of rep resentative government.
 There can be no extension of th'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-16
The Iron Market

While the local iron market is without material change this week. there Is d much better outlook for activity and upward prices. Rogers, Brown & Co., $ Cincinnati report says:
 Improved inquiry, the presence of several large prospective buyers in the market and a more generally healthy tone pervade the market this week. Buy ing for early next year has been proceed ing in a small way, with much hesita- tion on the part of furnaces to quote. There is even present inquiry for a round quantity of iron for delivery dur ing the entire year 1911. The consumer Is gradually becoming convinced that the present furnishes him low point for buying for three, and, in many instances, six months to come and has decided to profit accordingly.
 There was a further decrease in pro- duction of pig iron during August. but as this was only about 49,00O tons, it's ef- hardly noticeable.
 Consumption locally has shown no falling off. In the case of one or two furnaces in the south. iron is being shipped from stocks, which has not been the case for some time past
 "Curtalment of production will con tinue during the month. Shipments from many furnaces are being made>on much lower priced orders this month than last, and the chance of showing a loss. instead of a profit, is much greater. Greater, also, is the chance for these furnaces to shut down during September. The month should show decided, reduction. v
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-16
 ON FOX-HUNTING
By Bill Wye.

by blil 4NSc'
 Fox hunting is one of the most thrilling pastimes of which I know, and for young men whose parents have amassed large sums of money in the intellectual pursuit of hides and tallow, the meet, the chase, the scamper, the full cry, the covers the stellated fracture the yelp of the pack, the yp, the yell of triumph, the con- fusion, the. whoop, the holla, the haloos, the hurrah, the abrasion, the snort of the hunter, the concussion the sward, the open, the earth-stopper, the strangu- lated hernia, the glad cry of the hound as he lays at his masters feet. the straw berry mark of the rustic all, all are ex- hilarati ting to the sons of the American nobility Fox hunting combines the dan ger and the wild tumultuous joy of the skating rink, the toboggan slide, the mush -and-millx sociable and the straw ride For the young American nobeman whose ducal father made his money by inventing a fluent pill or who gained his great wealth through relieving humanity by meant of a lung pad, liver pad. a kidney pad or a foot pad. fox hunting is first rate,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-16
THE MAINE ELECTION

From the Montgomery Advertlser.
 The Maine democrats have had long
 W cary fight upward through the years to ultimate victory. Maine has sent to the Senate and to the Hoiise of Repre- sentatives republicans of marked ability who have exercised potent influence at Washington They were suclr men as Thomas B. Reed, William F. Frye, Flu gene Hale, Charles, Idttlefield, and others of equal mental rank. Because of tneir influential position they were able to swing all patronage in Maine to the upbuiding of the republican party, and to the spending of the money of the treasury in buildings and harbor inn provements, according to the method of practical politicians for political prestige. The Maine republicans, moreover, had
 the assistance of the powerful and wealthy organizations, which have main- tained and which are advancing the cause of prohibition. The republican senators and congressman have invaria- bly, been conservative" and so they have been able to command all the cam paign funds that they need-a boon which was not vouchsafed to the democrats.
 The paramount issue in the campaign just closed, but not the sole issue was the repeal of the prohibition laws Of Maine through the submission of an amendment to the constitution, eliminat- ing the prohibition provision which is now in the organic law of Maine. The republican party consistently stood for prohibition. It is permissible for the Ad- vertiser to point out the truth of its claim, In the amendment campaign in Alabama, that constitutional prohibition never has stopped the agitation of the prohibition question. Maine has beer under a prohibition law since 1851. Dur ing most of those years the present pro- vision for prohibition has been in the constitution Maine has at various times resorted to every expedient for the en- forcement of the laws-some of whicr were copied in recent prohibition legis- lation in Alabama and some of which were so drastic in Maine that they wrought a decided change in public sen timent. Notwithstanding these earnest efforts for the enforcement of the laws including the establishment of state constabulary, which took the admins tration of the laws out of the hands oi local officials the widespread violations of these laws in the towns and cities fere so patent as to call for comment
 by every visitor to that state
 The democracy of Maine stood firm tt the historic position of the democratic party against sumptuary laws, througf l fairi uyAathAr and foul It stood out lilfs the democracy of old against drastic
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-16
resubmission measure will be forth

resubmission measure will be forth coming.
 Last fall, when Alabama was stirred up over a proposed constitutional amend ment thoughtful and conservative eiti- zens, in opposing the amendment, point ed to Maine to show that the cause of temperance was injured rather than helped by having prohibition in the con stituVon. But those voters who were in a state of frenzy would not profit by the experience of Maine. We will show the world that prohibition will prohibit in Alabama, they would say, and we will put, the "Demon Rum out of busi- ness in this state for all time to come by inserting drastic prohibition in the fundamental law
 T have long been an opponent Of the liquor traffic in small towns and would be glad to see very strict regulation and very high license in cities. In fact, so far as my personal interests are con- eerned, if no liquor of any sort were manufactured on the face of the earth, 1 would not miss 1t, for I am a total ab- stainer and never have and never will engage in the liquor business. But pro- hibition Is farce in Birmingham and in Montgomery and in Mobile, and the sooner the legislature modifes the pres ent stringent laws the better for law and order. It is a noteworthy and an en- couraging fact that many men who voted for the amendment last November now confess their mistake and are ca arnestlv in favor of seeing present con- ditions improved"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-16

insure their genuneness. It was hoped that the validation plan had settled a difficult problem in relation to export cotton, but it has not, and some other plan will have to be adopted to keep shippers from resorting as a last resort to cash basis.
 The European bankers say that after October s1 they will not accept drafts drawn against cotton bills of lading un- less those bills of ladng are guaran- teed by American banks. The American banks say they cannot and will not guara lee the bills of lading in question. The European banks do not guarantee the drafts drawn against bills of lading covering the imports of this country, and the American banks consider the rule one that should work alike both ways.
 The disagreement is sharply defined, although the European bankers stand ready to met a committee of the Ameri- can bankers in London to discuss the natter The present methods remain good until October 31, and possibly a workable plan will be brought out in the course of six weeks. The mills of Flu rope must have American cotton and they want no friction, no undue obsta- cles. in the channels of trade.
 In the absence of any agreement-in the case of a stiff backed demand for an American-banks guarantee-it is plain that an enormous demand for money would fall upon the American banks, es pecially the banks of New York. The crop, including the seed, is worth about a billion dollars. and out of a crop of 10, ,609 900 bales last year 6.2os,00o bales were exported In the year 190s0e the exports aggregated S,19S, GOO bales. About three-fifths of each crop is exported. About s6o0, GOO 900 would therefore be need ed for the handling of export cotton and it's exportable by-products. It is not strange, therefore, that the American banks do not relish an immediate change to a cash basis.
 The farmer need not, however, be trou bled. A naked world must have his bales. and all the farmer need do is to set steady in the boat Men with cash in hand will seek his cotton this year as they have in years gone by. The price of cotton will not be affected, all though the banking interests that stand behind buyers and shippers would be more or less disconnected.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-16
IN HOTEL HOBBIES
Cleveland and Cincinnati

| l was not surprised at the census fig ures for Cleveland-56o, ,e63,'' said l.. C. MeCurdy of Chicago. Cleveland has been growing fast I was born and reared in Ohio. not far from Cincinnati, and when l was a boy, along in the sev- enties, it was generally thought that Cleveland would never catch up with the metropolis of the Ohio valley-the Queen City of the West as Cincinnati was called.
 Tn 1870 Cleveland's population was only s2,S29 while Cineinnatl's was 216,2Ss. In 1890 Cincinnati had a population of 26s, 90S and Cleveland in that year had grown to 26l,352. And ten years ago Cleveland had passed the Queen City, and it will prob ably keep ahead, although Cincinnati is not asleep by any means. In 1900 Cleve- land had a population of 3S1 .16S and Gin cinnati a population of 325,9O2.
 In the new census Cincinnati makes a showing of only S64,0Oo-nearly 100000 less than Cleveland The latter city comes out much better even than it's estimated population, which was given in the Worlds Almanac last January at 55o,O00
 Both Cincinnati and Cleveland are young in comparison with the cities of the east and the South Atlantic seaboard. The western reserve of Ohio, the section to which Cleveland belongs, was pur- chased from the state of Connecticut soon after the war Of the revolution. In the early part of the nineteenth century Cleveland was a very small town, and
 in 1860 it's population was less than 500O0.
 'The reason Cincinnati has not made better showing in the census returns Is because a very large part of the popu- lation belonging properly to the city is found just outside of the corporate linn
 it's. If the boundary lines had been ex- tended Cincinnatfs population would have been about 475.0OO What might be called Greater Cincinnati would include Covington and Newport, in Kentucky, and with all the people living within a radius of ten miles of Cincinnati on both sides of the Ohio the Queen Citys legiti- mate population is about up to that of Clevelands s. But as the outside public accept only census figures Cincinnati must suffer by comparison with Cleve- land '
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-16
MISSISSIPPI PROTESTS.

Miss Mabel Paige Is a young lady (not quite so young as formerly who is be- lleved to be native of Mississippi. For a good many years she has been we'll known figure on the stage, and has all ways Loyalty proclaimed herself as a southern girl. She is a charming actress, and began her career as soon as she could toddle across the boards. She was an infant phenomenon, and remained an infant for a phenomenally long time. Great things were expected of her when she blossomed out into full-grown lady, and Mississippi fondly hoped for the honor of presenting to the world another Mary Anderson. But infant phenomena have disappointing habit of never evov- ing into anything else. The latest news from Miss Mabel Paige is to the effect that she will shortly appear in the char acter of Little Eva, in Uncle, Toms Cabin" The infant phenomenon habit still clings to her, although the revolv- ing years have croled round from flower to flower. from snow to snow many a time and oft since she believed in Santa Claus
 Nobody could object to Miss Mabel Paige being an infant phenomenon as long as she pleases. but when she tries to give us Uncle Toms Cabin for the sake of playing Little Eva she asks too much of our loyalty. We won't stand for Uncle Toms Cabin' We won't go to see it even if we thereby miss the priv ilege of seeing Miss Mabel Paige. It Is not good taste to play Uncle Toms Cabin in the south It Is false art and false fact. and not even an infant phe- nomenon so experienced as Miss Mabel can redeem it. Moreover, 1t is against the law in many states. and ought to be in all. It's awful, Mabel. Cut it out.- Meridian Star.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-16
Vice President Sherman'S Automobile

The vice president goes about in gov srnment automobile, and as he goes he is raising, if not a great moral lesson, he is at least perplexing the lawyers no little over a question that relates to the instrumentalities of the federal govern ment in the states
 That automobile is now in New York state, and that state proposes to tax it. But can a state tax an instrumentality of the federal government? James School craft Sherman's automobile may not be on important instrumentaity of the fed oral government, but it is at any rate on instrumentality expressly created and maintained by act of congress- A long lime ago Chief Justice Marshall held that the power to tax involves the power to destroy. and the great jurist did not hesitate to say that the states have no power by taxation or otherwise, to re- tard, impede, burden or in any manner control the operations of the federal gov srnment.
 The vice presidents automobile is a part of the federal government. It is not an important part, neither is the vice president, but the degree of an ln- etrumentality is not the criterion. That automobile must go untaxed because the states must not retard, impede, burden oi m any manner control the federal gov ornment. There is nothing more hedgeC about by judicial protection than is tn. automobile that scoots around the corner carrying James Schoolcraft Sherman, tn, vice president, and the illustrlous stand batter of pent-up Utica
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-16
Regarding Prohibition

"The prohibition question played ah important part in the Maine election last Monday said man who keeps him. self informed upon political Issues in various states.
 "The republicans of Maine have long stood for constitutional prohibition, but the democrats, in view of the failure of Maine's prohibition laws, have been for years trying to have an amendment prop osition submitted to the people that would take the prohibition article out of the organic law. It is safe to assert that many republicans in Maine, realizing the justice of the demand on the part of the voters for a change in the constitution. cast their ballots for the democratic can didates. And now that the democrats are to be in full control of legislation,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-16
From the Baltimore Sun.

From the Baltimore Sun.
 "HERE is nothing small about the
 peanut except it's size Produc-
 A ton and consumption of the "goober" are now reckoned in mill lions of dollars and it is being put to many new uses as a food product.
 Peanuts now form an important in- gredient in the vegetarian meats" !" which are much more widely consumed than most people imagine. Some of these meats" by the way, are made to initiate breaded lamb chops, with sticks of macaroni for bones. Peanuts are employed largely in the confec- tionery trade and enter into the com position of many fancy cakes, such as macaroons, as a substitute for almonds. Peanut butter likewise much affected by the vegetarians, manufactured by the ton and put in neat packages, is greatly esteemed for automobile lunches.
 Now that the pestiferous boil wee vii is ruining the cotton over such wide areas in the south many planters are turning their attention to peanuts as a money crop. Although s12,ooo,oOo worth of "goobers" was raised in this country last year the supply is still not nearly equal to the demand, a condition sufficiently proved by the fact that we are importing great quanti- tise of peanut. oil from Europe.
 Most persons think of peanuts as they appear on fruit stands or in the little wagons of vendors, but as mat
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-16
Useless Arrests In This City

Tn August s14 useless arrests were made in this city. That number of help less and uninfuential people were hu- initiated and taxed and badgered be- cause policemen had unnecessarily ar rested them. The fact that they had been unnecessarily arrested was later on officially ascertained, but before the facts had been ascertained 9l4 citizens of this city had been imprisoned and humiliated to the last degree.
 The chances are that twice S14 would not cover the unnecessary arrests of small misdemeanants in the city in the month of August, or in any other month for that matter. Except Atlanta no other city in this country indulges in so high a percentage of arrests a S this city does month in and month out. The custom is of long standing, and it can not be speedily overcome and set right.
 But Chief Bodeker, who is close friend of Chief Kohler of Cleveland, proposes to do his best to stop the evil practice which deprives citizens unnecessarily of their liberty. He says his instructions in this matter must be observed to the letter and he pro- poses to ascertain. from the arrests of the present month what policemen are indulging their propensity to nab small misdemeanants- simply to show their power.
 Chief Bodeker has a big task before him. Evil habits and methods cannot be overcome in day Policemen can not be taught to preserve law and or der while making a minimum of ar rests. That is the very height of a policemans duty. Chief Bodeker is credited with the hope that on some particular day in the dim but hopeful future. Greater Birmingham will be peaceful and happy although not a single arrest lad been made in 24 hours It is wholly possible, and when our policemen become up-to-da 1t will become feasible on more than a single day. in the year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-16
FADED LEAVES

From the Boston Globe.
 One by one the faded leaves fall from the now barren and withered old plum tree of politics. No zealot in the conser- vation movement comes forward to save this some time monarch of the political forest.
 The latest to drop almost noiseessly to earth is ex-Governor Odell of New York. His descent would have passed unnoted, except by the insurgents in his own town, had he not given to the press the announcement of his retire. ment. Even Senator Depew may be waited downward by the next breath oi public opinion. As these hardy clingers give belated notice that they are going 10 retire, the public is only moved te inquire. What. again?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-16
A POSSIBILITY

From Judge.
 In the old days, when oral exanina- tions were still the thing, an examining board was pommeling an applicant with questions from Blackstone. Kent and other legal lights. q didn't study any thing about these fellows complained the applicant
 What did you study?" asked one of the judges.
 f'I studied the statutes of the state" he replied. "I studied them hard. Ask me a question about them and I'll show you. That is where I got my legal knowl- edge" h
 My young friend, said one austere judge on the examining board, you had better be very careful, for sohe day the legislature might meet and repeal everything you know
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-16

initiative and referendum to this state except through a constitutional amend ment, and the subject has not been brought forward in an authoritative way in any part of the south except in Arkansas. In that state eonstitu- tional amendment was submitted at the recent election and it was adopted by large majority.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-16
TRoUBADOUR SONG

By Felicia Hemans. They reared no trophy oer his grave, They bade no requiem flow, What left they there to tell the brave That a warrior sleeps below? A shivered spear, cloven shield,
 helm with its white plume torn, And blood stained turf on the fatal
 field,
 Where chief to his rest was borne. He lies not where his fathers sleep, But who hath a tomb more proud? For the Syrian wilds his record keep, And banner Is his shroud.