davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-02
DOING THE PRESIDENT

From the Cosmopolitan Magazine
 President Taft, while on one of his t,ips to the west; made a stop at small town where he spoke a few minutes and received the usual bushel or two of flow CTS from the admiring young ladies. Just as the special was pulling out of the sta- ton a barefoot boy, carrying bouquet came running and squirming through the crowd MT. Taft saw him.
 q can't run away from the little fel- low like this," he said, pulling the bell rope and bringing the train to stop.
 The youngster came up breathlessly and delivered the roses. The President smile and handed him a dollar.
 s"rom," said he to the porter, after the train had resumed its way. ''it seems to me these flowers are rather wlted. The boy must have had a hard time getting through the crowd"
 "They ought to be wilted,' answered Tom, with grin. That there bouquet has been on thi strain for three days, and I just threw it out as we came into the town back there."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-02
CHIVALRY NOT DEAD

| From, the Review of Reviews. Some husky men in their shirt sleeves were pitching quoits in a Pennsylvania town, when one of the players somehow lest his balance just as he was about tc make a pitch.
 In his struggle to save himself, his body swung around in half circle, he fun.; his arms out to balance himself and fine iron ring flew off at a tangent gyrat- ing through the air, landing in the midst of a group of picknickers who were eat ing their lunch from a cloth spread on the grass.
 There was a shrill scream and young woman threw up her hands and fell back ward on the sward with a gash in her head The other women screamed shrilly, too, either out of sympathy or because it was the only thing they knew how to do in such an emergency.
 The men joined the crowd and elbowed -and ,ostled one another, stupidly, help lessly, staring at the victim of the acci- dent, at the same time shutting off al, fl esh air from the now unconscious girl. No one knew what to do; the accident was unlocked for, unusual, and hence they were unprepared.
 4 small boy not over F years of age in a khaki suit, modified cowboys hat and with bag like a canvas haversack hanging by a strap over his shoulders, was attracted by the commotion, and, boy fashion, wormed his way through the crowd
 IJe was not excited nor nonplussed; he locked calmly around at the crowd. and in the even voice of one accustomed to being obeyed, gave the command to stand back and give this woman air..
 Without question and without realizing their own ignominous position, the people quietly obeyed, and at a respectful dis tance watched the small boy stanch the blood, close the gaping lips of the wound, apply the antiseptics, and with the delft ness of an expert surgeon bind up the head with bandages.
 He even administered a restorative, and then as the young woman sat up, blinking at the crowd, the boy, lad of few words, said: sNow take this woman home." A mbnute more and the little figure had mingled with the crowd and disappeared
 It was not until it was all over that any one thought to ask who had so mas terfully taken charge of the situation and efficiently rendered first aid to the injured.
 At first there was no answer. and then another lad with the same sort of cam paign hat answered, "Oh, him? Why, ne's enc of the Boy Scouts of America. He belongs to MT. Sutton's troop. He passed such a bully examination on first aid that the patrol made him the toter of the first aid kit. What does B. P. stand for? Oh, that means Be Prepared. With that the youth saluted and retired to jon his friends
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-02
Cutting Out Middlemen

The Manchester Guardian is en- deavoring to cut out all mlddlemen in the Lancashire cotton trade except the home buyer. It proposes that the home buyer in Selma, for example, establish an office in Manchester where he could sell direct to the spin ner, who would be glad indeed to deal with him. "We think" says the Guardian, "that Manchester has a right to have more of the cotton com
 ing direct. Manchester has tried over and over again to get cotton by direct sale in Manchester. Even now there is an agitation for municipal exchange which would enable sellers to find room for a spot cotton mar ket." ~
 When it is remembered that about half of the spindles of the world are centered at Manchester-over 15,- |OOo,OO0, spindles-it does seem best to ship, say, Selma cotton direct to Manchester to be sold there by an agent of the Selma buyer. This is what Manchester invites. Any vessel that can come to Mobile can go to Manchester, and Manchester is not father inland than Mobile is. Man chester desires to get rid of the ex- actions of Liverpool middlemen, and the Selma buyer can, if he will, cut out all other middlemen. The cutting out of middlemen is an outgrowth of the times, and it bids fair to go on uhtil but one middleman stands be- tween the cotton farmer and the Lan- cashire spinner, and he is the home kuyer living near the farm that grew the cotton to be marketed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-02
Problems of the Cotton Industry

The governors of the cotton states met in New Orleans, and they have adjourned after discussing through out two days the why's and where fores of low priced cotton. Concisely speaking, they ask the farmers to hold all remaining bales, to reduce next seasons acreage 25 per cent, and to favor the establishment of state controlled warehouses.
 To ask a million of farmers, more or less, to hold all the bales left ot the crop is to invite the impossible. No million of men in b states can be induced to act together. And this applies as well to the advice that next seasons acreage be reduced 70 per cent. Neither suggestion has much practical value.
 The recommendation that every cotton state proceed Ito bring about warehouse system as Will pest serve the interests of the producers of cotton," is, however, practical so far as future seasons are concerned, and it probably is all the remedy the case affords in the way of inducing farmers to market their cotton slow lv If a farmer knows he can hand bale over practically to the state, receiving an advance on 1t up to, say, three-fourths of its value, it may be that gradual marketing of the crop throughout the cotton year could, In time, be brought about. In actual nractice the bale in question might be sold to the country merchant, and the country merchant would store it, using his warehouse receipt to serve his own purposes.
 Louisiana has adopted the ware house plan, although in that case constitutional amendment was neces- sary. "Under this system" says President Harding of the First Ma tional bank of Birmingham, it IS pos sible to obtain a warehouse receipt issued under state authority and carving with it the faith and credit of the state, and the system should be adopted by all the southern states so as to provide the cotton growers with the means of exchanging thelr cotton for a receipt which will be first class collateral throughout the world"
 This is probably the only plan that will. aided of course by education and actual experience, bring about the gradual marketing of cotton and pre- vent the fall in prices that the influx of bales in the first three months ot the season is pretty sure to create.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-02
Working of Conyicts on Roads

'The employment of convict labor on the public roads of the county is to be 8 live question in the matter of eecting the next Roard of Revenue" said a citizen who takes much interest in the road ques- tion
 After studying the matter and noting the experience had with convicts in the making of good roads in other states, l think the general proposition not good one. I do believe, however, that the en- ployment of short time convicts by eon- tractors would work well. My idea is to divide the county into road districts and 10 let the building of roads to contractors in such districts, upon a graded basis as to first, second and third class. The con- il actor to take his allotment of convicts and allow so much credit to the county per head, according to grade, on his con- tract. In order to make it practical and feasible for contractors to use this labor, and to justify the expense of stockades and prison vans to transport his con victs, the contractors should be allowed to draw for the patches of convicts. There should be first minimum of allot- ment; after that according to the needs of the. contractor Of course, it might be that some contractors would fail of allot- snent. However, whenever there were sufficient convicts over the minimum among several contractors, then the con- tractors not having convcts could be al lotted the minimum number, to be drawn fl om the other contractors
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-02
Alabama Rate Cases

The railroad legislation of 1906 is, in a way, to be questioned in the courts-in the federal courts, at any rate. This legislation is five years old, and it would be five years older before final determination could be reached if it had to await appeals and retrials.
 The impression prevails, however, that the cases arising under the Conner railroad legislation of 1906 will practically be decided when the supreme court hears and decides the Minnesota and other cases on Janu- arV The Alabama cases will hang fire until next fall at least before they can be carried to the supreme co1,rt. In the meanwhile the extent and effect of state legislation con- eerning intrastate commerce will .probably have been defined by the 0upreme cOuTt.
 The masters report in two Ala hama cases has not yet been sub mitted and the court may await that renort before deciding the Louisville sn6 Nashville case. Special Master ThorinRton and Special Master Gun tnr do not agree concerning the con- krol of intrastate rates. The latter eeenns to consider state railroad com missions superfluous, to say the least, xhjlc the former seems to think the ~lSfs should have some voice in home *,ennportation matters. The state in t1 1ntanwhile continues to do busi- r at the old stand.
 TIE supreme court will soon draw ii line between national and state r<1ifond commissions in the respect oi rates, and when it is done great n,>e6tfon will have been determined, s1 uo appeal can be taken from that d1 d1iSlon. The question involved is fa2 rsaching, touching, as it does, eysry perspn in the country and out. ran1inx in general importance even th1 SScisions in the historic oil and toi keco cases decided last spring.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-02
The One Strong Candidate

Not since 1892, the year MT. Cleveland swept the country, has the outlook for a national democratic victory been so bright as now said a man whose political &C., tivity began in 1876, when MT. Tilden was the democratic standard bearer.
 "The democrats won in 1884 by close shave. They carried New York by a plurality of less than HOO. Cleveland s election was an agreeable surprise to the democrats. It was seen that but for the Burchard speech just before the election Blaine would have been President and not Cleveland.
 Tn 1888 republican victory was a fore gone conclusion early in the campaign. But irs 1892 the situation was very differ ent. The moment Cleveland was nomi- mated a democratic landslide was in sight. Victory was in the air, and in betting cir~ clcs large odds were offered by those who stood ready to put up money on the demo- cratic ticket.
 'The democrats now have even more to encourage them than they had in 1892. In the first place, there is more defection in the republican party than there was when MT. Cleveland last ran. In the second place, the democrats are more united now than they were % years ago.
 "In predicting a democratic triumph in 1912 I am assuming, of course, that the national convention will nominate a strong ticket. and the one strong party leader, the one logical candidate, is Oscar Under wood. Six months ago thought Governor Harmon had a pretty good chance, but his strength has rapidly declined, and he is no longer seriously considered. Gov ernor Woodrow Wilson had some follow ing three months ago, but he has been losing recently right along. He lacks po- litical poise. He talks too much As for Folk and Champ Clark of Missouri and Marshall of Indiana, they do not seem to be in evidence at all as candidates Un- dorwood is going to be the choice of the business men. of the east, and likewise the choice of the rank and file. Under woods nomination will be equivalent to his election. And if it doesn't turn out that way, then my long experience as forecaster will have stood me in poor stead"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-02
IN HOTEL HOBBIES
All so,,Is, Day

In the Catholic calendar this is All Souls Day, and the month of November is dedicated to the .holy souls in purga- tory Special services are held daily in all the parishes for the intention of the lepose of the souls of the faithful de- Tarted. E#
 AS far back as Tertullian's time there was a yearly commemoration for the dead in Rome, and in later times a fixed day November 2-was decreed for the whole western church. Requiem masses are celebrated on this day. In the Greek rite the commemoration is held on the eve of Sexagesima Sunday, or on the eve of Pentecost. The Armenians celebrate the passover of the dead on the day after
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-02

l inspiration and achievement brought about through witnessing George M. cohan's talked-of play, Get Rich Quick Wallingford.' said Charles L. Hertzman Of New York "Thes letter in question is from J. M. Blake, formerly a shoe sales man in New York. Oh account of i'll health, MT. Blake states that he left New York and located in Prescott, Arizona Having read the George Randolph Ches- fer stories of Wallingford, upon which the Cohen comedy is based in the Sat drday Evening Post, he decided to spend h.s last night in the metropolis at the George M. Conan theatre, where Get Rich Quic'- Walingford' was then playing.
 'fThe comedy made such lasting inn pression upon the writer that he became irnbued with the idea of adopting Wal lingford's methods. During the long jour- ney across the continent he formulated plan for the organization of a company to establish shoe factory in Prescott, hav- ing at one time been in the manufacturing end Of the footwear trade in Lynn, Mass. Making a whirlwind campaign of the town, just as Wallingford did in Battles burg, MT. Blake wrote that he succeeded
 in interesting local capital to the extent of $150,000 organized his company with himself as vice president and general manager at a salary of s100O0 a year, rented an empty building, imported ex- pert shoemakers from Lynn and started the wheels of his factory going. He con- oiudes his interesting epistle with these lines:
 .'When I left New York I thought l was a dead one, just because I was down and out, but seeing "Wallingford'' taught me lesson the play must teach every one-make a good bluff, then work hard to make your bluff good
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-02
Underwood Club in Denver

Charles Sumner, formerly of Birming- ham, but now of Denver, in a letter to a friend this week has a good deal to say about Oscar Underwood. T read The Age-Herald regularly" writes MT. Sum- ner, q have been impressed with it's articles stressing MT. Underwood's fit ness for the presidency. Underwood las strong following right here in Denver. He is regarded by democrats in Den- yer as man of marked ability and the logical democratic candidate for the presidential nomination. He stands for the burning issue of the day-'Live and Let Live
 "J. J. Banks of Denver, formerly of Birmingham, is naturally an ardent Un- derwood admirer He is organizing an Underwood club here and I am helping in modest way
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-02
 About Various Matters

Charles A. Williams, manager of the Mutt and Jeff company. which closed an engagement at the Jefferson last night,
 has a number of personal friends in i Birmingham who gave cordial greet ing.
 We have been playing to fine houses," said Mr. Williams Tn Richmond, At lenta and all other southern cities We have visited this fall our comedy Has at tracted big crowds
 "I had been in Birmingham frequently, ! but on this visit for the first time l am seeing something of the city. T;ir- | mingham has grown wonderfully since l first saw it. Handsome improvements | have been made in every direction, bu, what causes me to marvel is the beauty of Birminghams residence section. Other cities have a few blocks of pretty houses
 and some of the very large cities boast of their elegant residences, but for extent and landscape beauty of Birming- hams home section this city is in a class 1 to itself l have never seen such a | beautiful city, north or south"
 | Mr. Williams said that Birmingham was
 one of the best advertised towns in the United States and that 1t was getting more favorable advertising at this time
 than usual because it is the home l Of Oscar Underwood, who is. now in | the public view as a presidential prop ! osition. aHas. ,fa 1..des | "Everywhere I go hear Underwood
 discussed" said MT. Williams. "He has l +o ef,
 candidate for the presidency. People are
 beginning to say now that he will be l the next President" f7
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-02

and at the end of it he was eminently progressive, and his methods were progressive, but the longer he lived the more earnestly he believed in the American form of government and American institutions. His mind was strong and clear, and full of new ideas, and those ideas when reduced to practice met the aspirations and desires of a vast reading public. 1t is not too much to say that Joseph Pulitzer changed American journal ism more than any other man that lived and wrought in print in this country. He was but GA years of age when he died.
 Above all things he abominated party organs, and he did more to bring in the independent paper than can be accorded to any other news paper man the country has ever known. In the first article that he wrote for the St. Louis Post Dispatch he said: "The Post-Dispatch will serve no party-will oppose alb frauds and shams-will advocate principles and ideas" He carried this plan to New York when he took hold of the failing World newspaper, and the execution of this plan is per haps the greatest achievement of great genius
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-02
SLAVES OF THE WEED

From the Boston Transcript.
 Tobacco is now on trial for it's life by
 the United States courts. Yet the weed
 is youths temptress, the companion of middle age and the solace of old men.
 More of us use more of it each year;
 whether to our benefit or hurt as surely
 sets doctors to wrangling as it is certain tc be ignored once we decide that we wish
 to smoke. Our feeling is that of the
 ola lady who would have no confidence
 In a doctor who ordered her to give up
 coffee."
 While the volume of traffic increases,
 the uses of the plant vary. In Boston
 chewing tobacco is out of repute among
 business and professional men though
 dealers hint that their sales of smaller
 pieces provides surreptitious cud Tor
 many slave of the weed who is known
 as a smoker only); but the actual amount
 of chewing tobacco sold is increasing.
 1t is in request among lurnbermen, team
 sters, 'longshoremen, plumbers, painters,
 printers and in occupa tions where light ed pipe or cigarette is unhandy or un-
 safe. Men want their tobacco, though the rules or SnOp or WHdIl Iudy ioi oiu
 smoking A custom of the restaurants 20 years ago notes this change. There was then always bowl from which the de- rarting guest might refresh himself It survives only in certain old fashioned din- ing rooms on Atlantic avenue. Still, in the New England market there is more
 business for plug tobacco than for the smoking varieties.
 Snuff has an increasing sale, though the powdered snuff used by our grandparents is now only in request among old people somewhere up country, and few foreign CTS: but the fibrous varieties, which go to the Swedes, the Irish, the French and the Portuguese, are in constant demand Snuff has it's greatest use among the
 women of the mill towns, who prefer it to chewing gum. 4 f Tie trail of the trust is across all this. l The wholesalers differ very little in their suesses at the proportion of the trade controlled by the American Tobacco com pany and it's subsidiary interests; from | s per cent to 95 per cent of the plug to- | bacco trade, practically the whole of the trade in snuff, and from 15 to 20 per cent of the traffic in cigars. Plug tobacco, which once sold for A cents a pound. 1 now brings 53 cents. Cigarettes, which 1 formerly sold at $3.66 thousand, now sell at S4 thousand; cigars once q q
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-02
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

Frorl the New York Press. All man seems to need to do Tooi- isl thing is to know better.
 There's a world of hopes; there's uni verse of disappointments.
 Some men are so unlucky all the time that they can't get hold of any money.
 even in a dream. It takes only talent for a woman to get
 man in love with her; it takes genius to keep him there.
 It seems possible only to train the aver age mind to be untrained Earning money by the dignity of labor usually means getting it from smar: boss.
 A man can look ten times as blue over dollar he has lost on bet as over his whole bushes going to pot. | NJ matter how old man is he can think he looks young till some young women gets up to offer him seat in a car.
 Tt takes girl less than minute tc make up her mind about man who has talser months to make up his, almost about her.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-02
IN SHADOW LAND
By Noel Patton.

By Noel Patton. Between the moaning of the mountain And the hoarse thunder of the Atlantic
 deep.
 An outcast from the peaceful realm of
 sleep lie, and hear in fever-dream The homeless night wind in the darkness 5EgY scream h A H4N
 And will around the inaccessible steep Down whose gaunt sides the spectral
 torrents leap f From crag to crag-till almost I could The plaided ghosts df buried centuries Were mastering in the glen with bow
 and spear
 And shadowy bounds to hunt the shad-
 owy deer, f Mix in phantasmal sword play, or, with
 eyes fs YFSet W Of wrath and pain Immortal, wander Loved scenes where human footsep
 comes no more. It |,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-02
THRIVING CHATTANOOGA

The Chattanooga News has recently ls- sued mammoth industrial edition which gives the country at large a fine idea of tho growth and prosperity being enjoyed by Chattanooga Always in the van of progress and development, the News has collected some data, in a careful and painstaking way, which is a revelation to people who did not realize before how the Tennessee metropolis is growing. The advantages offered to capital are very great, hydro-electric power is one of the citys chief assets. The News is to be congratulated on the work it is doing for the advancement of Chattanooga.