davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-11
IF DIAZ RETIRES

From the New York World.
 That Daz should contemplate resigning
 is an admission on his part of the seri-
 ousness of the insurrection. When he
 was reelected president last year, after
 serving continuously since 1884, the pre-
 tense was maintained that he was the
 unanimous choice of the Mexican people That notion has been exploded At ihe time of the elections all opposition was
 irtimdated into silence or suppressed by
 force, but the dissatisfaction of the pee
 pie with the Disz form of despotism Sas
 deep-seated and widespread. How real
 was the feeling o. discontent With the government has been shown in .ee les.
 tour month; as Tebtlnon ran from state to state and ,he federals were unable tD
 check it.
 The arbitrary rule of one rsn has
 worked it's own ;ain. The very system of industrial development and e;tpi 'ita
 ton, chiefly by foreign capital, on which
 the Diaz osf.otism based it's claims Of success hastene, tie collapse of person. al government. As Mexico became pro-
 glessive it became enlightened. To have
 preserved the .inG of autocracy tha: he had created hy lis own 1alcn;less will, | Diaz should have been satisfied to have | Mexico and is people retai" their old place among the backward nations. With
 material as'stos,nrht iperal ideds were bound to ta,e 'o-.
 | But if Diaz abandons the presidency the natural question is what will then hap | pen? Will a successor be found capa- of maintaining the government on more l liberal lines and maintaining peace and
 order without military oppression? If the people had been allowed a large measure Of self-government during the last quar- ter of a century, if they had been trained
 in the workings of real republican institu-
 tions, the prospects for the future would be less uncertain
 1 sooner or later, by death if not by re- tirement Diaz was bound to leave to his country the problem of transforming it. self into a state which, in accordance with popular sentiment. should be gov | crned under the constitution and the laws instead of the despotism of nominal president endeared primarily to commef- cial and financial interests.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-11
GAMBLING IN SPAIN

J. A. O Shea, Romance in Spain
 The business of gaslight. unfortunately, is high play. That is one of the social curses of Spain. Everybody gambes, to the sentries in the guardhouse, the pa tients in the hospitals, the felons in the gaols Such is, the overwhelming domin-
 ion of this national passion that should not be surprised at reading of con demned man on his way to the garrote craving a hand of cards with the ex- ecutioner to distract him from his sor- rows Strained the situation was at this crisis and in all the clubs the cards were thrown on the tables with a fever as of men seeking sos.e relaxation from the fierce game of politics; but had opportunity to assure myself after wards, this was nothing exceptional. Thc
 fever for play as high as the pocket can allow. often higher, is normal. The foreigner-and all foreigners provided
 with the slightest credentials are mos
 gratuitously made free of the clubs 1 soon take note of that.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-11
Popular fin Mining Circles

"A great deal of substantial work has been accomplished in the Birming- ham district quietly and unostenta- tiously by Jones G. Moore. manager of coal mines of the Sheffield Iron and Steel company said man prominent in coal and iron circles MT. Moore has grown up with the district and there's mighty little about the coal business he can't tell you. He usually elects, however. not to tell, for his motto has ever been, Saw wood and say nothing.'
 He came into Jefferson from Macon county, I think 1t was. when he was little more than a boy. His first job, if I recollect was under John T. Mil ner, back in the eighties, with the old Newcastle Coal and Iron company and the Coalburg Coal and Coke com pany.
 "Then he served in the ranks under the two great captains. T. II. Aldrich and the late Henry DeBardeleben. He learned the business all right, from the ground up, can tell you that. He saw Pratt mines start up from nothing, practically. When Enoch Ensley came down from Tennessee the colonel saw there was pretty good timber in young Jones G. Moore and he made him su- perintendent of coke ovens, gave him chances in a good many ways.
 "One thing followed another and MT Moore went into politics while and represented Bbb county in the legis- lature. Even now, you know, they can't get along down in Montgomery without the senator-or the judge-as some of us call him. He's one of the most pop ular men in the state; one of the best politicians and one of our greatest mining men.
 "All of his associates and the army of men under him today have not only the highest regard for him as min ing man, but they have downright sin cere affection and friendship for him.
 "Yes, sir, all the miners swear by Jones G. Moore. As the old saying runs, they'd go through h. and breakfast for him! And his other friends will do the same"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-11
A kinder gentleman treads not the earth. Merchant of Venice.
Government By Publicity

The sun still shines on this city even if three wise men do rule it, sin gle-handed and alone. The three de- cided that no ceremony was needed to set them at work at the task of bring ing expenditures within receipts. When it is remembered that alder manic rule had been spending 5000 . day beyond the city's income it will occur to almost every one that The Three have a good-sized task on their hands.
 Perhaps the best feature of the new form of government is Publicity. If the three commissioners live up to the spirit, or even the letter, of the new law they will do no gumshoeing. They will have no kitchen cabinet and they will not set on the back stairs. Every act and every policy is to be published as soon as made or defined. The more publicity the better for the good of the commission. The more publicity the more public support it will be able to command.
 The commission bill calls for pub licity, and the commissioners should Ego" 1t one better. They should take the people into their confidence. They are too clear-headed to need the ad- vice of any clique, or any individual. Let them go ahead fearlessly, and let them make known their purposes and plans at every step of their admins tration.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-11
In the Musical World

Richard Copley of New York, repre- senting the Quinlan International Musical Agency, spent yesterday in Birmingham The Quinlan is the successor to the Henry Wolfsohn bureau, one of the best known booking agencies of the past 20 years. Madame Schumann- Heink is among the artists represented by the Quinlan agency and MT. Copley conferred yesterday with the festival management about the num- bers which this celebrity will sing here She is engaged for two of the five festi- cal concerts, including the opening night
 Birmingham has grown rapidly since I was first here eight or nine years ago. said MT. Copley. .I was traveling wlth Rosenthal, the famous pianist. AS we were passing through the city we had three hours to spare between trains. We hired carriage and drove over the High lands. Rosenthal gave a recital here d few years alter but I was not with him then. Birmingham presents splendla appearance today, and its residence sec tions are exceptionally beautiful
 MT. Copley said that high class music was being appreciated now in all parts of the country He attributed the ad- vance that musical art had made ehiefly to the efforts of one or more women in each community
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-11
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
The Democratic Hanse

Tt was an inspiring and beautiful sight to see all the democratic members standing and waving small flags as Champ Clark was escorted into the House. writes Percy Clark, who attend ed the opening of the extra session April l. William Jennings Bryan. who was seated in Tom Heflins chair applauded Clarx's speech continually. Champ IS not the orator I had excepted to hear.
 i'The Alabama delegation, the first called of course, presented a very fine appearance grouped with Arkansas and Colorado before the speakers desk to be sworn in. Our state has come to be proud of her standing in the House.
 In writing about department work, pol ities and things in general MT. Clark says Hitchcock is right as to the post office department shake-up, but ye gods. some of these departments up here are rotten with graft and laziness. The House of Representatives has already cut the expense of the House s1sS.0o0 per annum.
 Every thing seems to point to harmony The talk is now, Harmon and harmony for 1912"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-11
Decline in the Cost of Living

The decline in the cost of living is real and material in Chicago, extend ing even to the retail dealers. Out side of Chicago food articles are lower to wholesale dealers but not, as a rule, to ultimate consumers. In Chi cago poultry, butter and eggs are much lower, and the price of flour is less by one dollar a barrel than it was one year ago.
 But prices are still much higher than they were in 1905, and in many articles present prices are double those of 1897. In March, 1905, corn meal was worth in Chicago $1.15 a hundred pounds; it is now worth $50. Rolled oats sold in 1905 at $1.55 a hundred pounds; now the price it $1.95. Ham sold in 1905 at 117a cents pound; now the price Is 141s cents. Bacon sold then at 101a cents; now the price is marked up to 171s cents.
 The wholesale prices of meats in Chicago should be carried in mind for it is all the beef trust exacts, and whatever is added is due to the rail roads and retailers. Below is given the wholesale prices of meats in Chi cago at the close of last week as fol lows: Mutton, g cents pound; lamb 10 cents; pork, 12 cents; sirloin steak, 15 cents; round steak, IA cents; ham 15 to 16 cents; bacon, "A cents; lamb chops, 15 cents; pork tenderloin, 30 cents; salt pork, IA cents; lard, I cents; loin of beef, Is cents; ribs, 121 F cents; chickens, IS cents.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-11
"TREATINGv AMONG COAL MINER

w. Jett Lauck in The Survey.
 There is a significant relation in the Pennsylvania bituminous coal field be- tween efficiency of employees and the consumption of intoxicants. The use of alcoholic liquors among recent immigrants is very extensive and the per capita con- sumption of beer, according to the state ments of some mining superintendents, runs as high as two quarts day each, besides some whisky.
 In the average mining community beer and whisky agents are constantly solicit ing orders. The southern and eastern Eu- ropeans are accustomed to drinking beer and light wines abroad, but in the mining industry they tend more and more to drink whisky to excess. This is due to two causes. They treat" according to the American custom and they have no decent amusements to patronize or any ehance to acquire property. and as a consequence there is a disposition to spend freely in this way.
 Not only is 1t impossible to recruit the normal labor forces after pay day, but in addition to curtailment of output the companies sustain loss because of careless mining, increased number of accidents and breakage of tools and equipment.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-11
A Railroad Record

Records just compiled by the Van dalia Railroad company show that in 1908. 1909 and 1910 not enc passenger out of a total of 9.SO0,030 carried was killed in a train accident on that rail- road" said a railroad man.
 "The Vandalia railroad-a part of the Pennsylvania system-operates BPS miles of line, though 1t has in all TIC miles of track. It's passenger trains have travelled a total of 7665,479 miles in the past three years. carrying ESQ., 34S,935 passengers one mile and not a single passenger was killed Counting all passengers injured in three years, however trivial. there were only CT.
 "These figures are taken from reports made to the interstate commerce com mission by the Vandalia Railroad com pany and they show that the accident record of the Vandalia has even exceed ed that of the Pennsylvania railroad east of Pittsburg. which. it was recent Ky announced. had carried over 300,- GOO, ,O00 passengers in the past three years and had one killed as a result of q train accident. The Pennsylvania, However. equaled the Vandalia in hav- ing clear record in 1908 and 1910"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-11

time limit for buildings to be erected. Five hundred thousand dollars will be spent for building operations In 1911. Several hundred houses of all kinds, including model i. 5, 6, and S-room residences. with all modern eonveniences, modern tenement houses and apartment houses. with al modern conveniences. will be built. These houses and apartments will be for rent at reasonable figures and for sale on easy terms.
 "'Corey has a reinforced concrete double trunk storm sewer IA by feet 2S00 feet long; brick sewers 30 and 36 inches in diameter. a total of 7250 feet in length: also a reinforced concrete storm sewer which is feet by feet inches, 1000 feet long. Connected with these various trunk sewers are pipe lines leading from inlets wherever they are necessary at street corners, afford ing a perfect drainage
 While the Jemison Ma agazine adver- tises Corey especially, it is a big ad- vertisement for Birmingham and all our business men should secure copies and send them to their out-oftown friends" st
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-11
King George and the Lords

King George makes his position plain in his reply to an address from the house of lords. Replying" he says, "upon the wisdom of my parlia- ment l desire that my prerogative and powers, in so far as they relate to the creation of peerages and to the issue of summons to the lords spiritual to attend, to sit and vote in the house of lords, should not stand in the way of the consideration by parliament of any measure that may be introduced at the present session on the constitu- tion of the house of lords"
 The house of lords has in the past made liberal party well-nigh impos- sible. It has stood by toryism and thwarted any progressive and popular measure. The country has thrice voted to end it's rule, and now when Premier Asquith has 125 majority be hind him the King says he will not interfere in behalf of the lords. He will sanction the creation of peer ages until the bill to end the domina- tion of the lords is passed
 If the tories do not yield regi-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-11
ARTISTIC TEMPERAMENT

From the St Louis Globe-Democrat.
 Robert W. Chambers, the novelist was talking to reporter about the artistic temperament
 "I have little patience with the artis- tic temperament" MT. Chambers said. "Its synonym is selfshness. Mrs. Words worth was right
 "The poet Wordsworth" he resumed, used to compose in bed at night. Nudg- ing his wife in the small hours, he would say
 Maria, get up. I've thought of a good word
 And Mrs Wordsworth would ise seeply, light a candle, and write at her husbands dictation for ten or fif- teen minutes.
 "A couple of hours later Wordsworth would wake her again.
 a'Get up Maria. I've got a good word he would repeat.
 But one night Mrs. Wordsworth put a stop forever to this nocturnal dicta- ton. Her husband, awakning her with the usual Get up-Ive thought of a good word was startled to hear her reply:
 "'Oh get up yourself! I've thought of a bad word.'"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-11
California's Great Social Reform

Gov. H. w. Johnson of California is a republican, but there is not stand pat hair in his head. He is a pro- gressive, and no doubt he was behind the bill that he has just signed pro- viding that in case of conviction of a husband to provide for his family he shall be put at work on the county roads or at other public work, and the county shall pay $1.50 day to the wife and babies for each day the non providing husband works.
 This law may be socialistic. It at any rate fills long felt want, and it does not matter how socialistic it may be if it brings relief where relief is sadly needed Under it's provisions mere man may feel the hand of the law draw with no good opinion of it, but that does not matter. The good opinion of a lazy man who lets his wife and babies suffer is not worth the having anyway.
 Governor Johnson has signed the bill. and California will present to the country an admirable law if she will take steps to enforce it without fear or favor. Let the well-dressed idler or gambler be treated on common footing with the weak and the hum ble. Treat all idlers alike. Opportuni- ty to institute a valuable reform does not come to every governor, and Gov ernor Johnson has one that he should work to the limit.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-11
Information fin a NutshenD

q never tire of looking over liter ature' setting forth facts and figures about Birmingham and the Birming- ham district" said an old citizen. "J. E. Babb, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, has compiled a great deal of striking statistical matter and pub lished it in various convenient forms for distribution. S. Hechinger, secretary of the farm movement committee, has recently published a most excellent Magazine telling about Corey. This is one of the most valuable and beau- tifulIy printed publications that have yet seen Under the head of Corey in aging as they are newsy. Here are
 some specimen paragraphs:
 development work was commenced at Corey April '. 1910. Corey is, there fore, perhaps the youngest American city having all modern improvements
 and conveniences already in operation | "'A zoning systemf at Corey provides
 building restrictions on all business and | cheapest residence to be built at Cores
 must cost not less than s125O In the
 next zone above $500. the next zon,
 s175O and so on. There is no tim, limit placed on building residences. 4 ' limited number of business lots have
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-11
Ratification of Income Tax

The ratification of the income tax amendment by Tennessee makes a total of 31 ratifying state, and only 35 are needed in order to make the proposition the sixteenth amendment of the constitution. The other four states will probably be Florida, Min nesota, Arkansas and New Hamp- shire. The Florida legislature began its session last week, and action by it will speedily follow. Arkansas and Minnesota are heavily in favor of rat ification and their legislatures will soon or late respond to public senti- ment.
 New York, Utah and Massachu- setts may also decide to ratify the proposition. Altogether ratification is assured. No one doubts it now. Even the organs of the plutocracy admit that the issue is going against them. They see that they must in an emergency come to the aid of the gen. eral government. They do not like it but they are beginning to accept the popular verdict gracefully. The only question left is this-wiu the propo- sition become a part of the constitu- tion this season, or will it go over to next winter? There is nothing else left to consider.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-11
WATER WAY TO THE GULF
Mobile Register.

EfOm lne MODilc IetBiStci
 The Birmingham Age-Herald would be pleased to see preparations made to utilize the water way to the gulf, say
 ing: We will not be ready to do this
 in 1913 unless we quit dreaming and get down to organized efforts to utilize the tidewater navigation that the govern ment has, or soon will, place at our use at an expense exceeding eight mill lion dollars. We have induced the gov ernment to expend a large sum in open ing the Warrior and yet we are taking no steps to use that river. The Register s dreams may come true but not, it is
 plain, in the immediate future. We do not seem to appreciate the value of wa ter transportation. MT. Hoadley's com
 pany appears to be active In the direc- ton named; and there Is no reason to be discouraged by the apparent slowness of others to take up the river naviga- | tion. The rivers are not yet open; the improvements will not be completed for some time to come. We cannot expect
 capital to go much. ahead of it's oppor- : tunity.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-11
National Politics

"The political situation so far as the democratic nomination for the presi- dency goes, recalls 1884" said John Rit- termann of New York Tn that year was taking a pretty active part in politics. There were many candidates for the presidency and all of them were high-class men. Grover Cleveland was nominated and elected that year. He had been dark horse but it became clear that he was the only democrat who could triumph at the polls.
 We have today many excellent can- didates-Harmon. Dix. Wilson. Marshall and Clark-but 1t would not surprise me to see a dark horse enter the race and win"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-11
MARK TWAIN sQUELCHED

From the Pittsburg Gazette-Times.
 Mark Twain," a magazine editor said, brought out 'Joan of Ark anonymously. The book was one of his failures; but he was proud Of it. Before he acknowl- edged it's authorship he sometimes fished for compliments about it.
 "One evening at dinner Mark Twain said carelessly to a senator:
 Are you novel reader?'
 Yes, a great novel reader, was the reply.
 I don't suppose you're following that anonymous new serel, Joan of Arc?"'
 Indeed I am. though, every Install ment'
 "'What do you think of 1t? Is it good?'
 "'That's hardly fair question to ask me- the senator replied. He knew the books real author. You see, I wrote Joan of Arc" myself.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-11
NonwAY,s MILIrARY EnRcE


 From the Washington Post
 Norway has no standing army, but ii has military force of 15o,0OO that will compare with that of any nation in the world,' said Capt. Ali Mioen of Chris tania, a Norwegian military officer, at the Ebbitt house. Captain Mjoen is in this country 10 study the military schools and will first visit West Point
 Under our military system the young men of Norway are required to perform military service every summer for five years and six weeks in the succeeding two years. In the eighth year they are again required to serve for a few weeks iri the summer. Our officers, about 1ooj in number, are permanently employed. In our large cities we have a regiment or two of soldiers that serve continually and they form our only standing army. The same military system exists in Swe- den and Denmark, and these three arc the only nations of Europe, except Switz- erland, which have no standing military army"
 Captain Mjoen will remain in this coun- try for several months, and will visit the military high schools and military acad- emies in different parts of the United States The captain is greatly impressed with America, he says, but he finds that it is much more expensive to live here than in Europe.
 'lL costs three times as much to live comfortably in the United States as it does in any country in Europe," said Captain Mjoen, "and in the larger cities, like New York and Chicago, the price of food is even higher. I like Washington very much. It is very beautiful city, so diffc, ent from others in this country. New York and Chicago are only big and dirty-ani wicked"