davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-08-31

A. Deering of Waldoboro and Senator
Albert F. Donigan of Bingham, Demo-
Gratis, stand for prohibition, and Repre-
sentative Frederick R. Doyle of Milli-
nocket, Republican, is for license. The
license movement, in which the abroga-
ton of the prohibition amendment is a
necessary and preliminary step. is and
has been from its inception Demo-
cratic party measure, with the liquor in
terests of the whole country behind it.
Democrats who had declared themselves
unreservedly as opposed to license in any
form have felt the lash of the party
whip and been driven into line with
those who would turn Maine over to the
brewers and rumsellers. But there are
many who will not be SO driven, and who
will vote "No" on the 18th of September.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
FAVORS ANY METHOD TO
 GET THEM OUT OF MINES

pr. R. H. Coston: "I am heartily in favor of any method of convict dispo- sition that will get them out of the mines where they are now forced to go. have never believed in compelling a man who was not free moral agent to go beneath the surface of the ground on the principles of health and hu- manity
 Working the convicts in the mines brings them in direct competition with honest and free labor, which supports many families of persons in this dis trict who have never committed vio- lation of the law. If the prisoners were put on the public roads to work, Alabama would be boulevarded from end to end within five years, and as was the case in Tennessee, every county road would become a turnpike almost before the average person could realize the agency of the transformation"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
PORTER WOULD PLACE
 MEN ON COUNTY ROADS

"The question of the disposal of the county and state convicts is vital one" said W. A. Porter, president of the Mer- chants and Mechanics Trust and Savings Bank. q favor the removal of the con victs from the mines, and as see it, the best solution of the question is to work them on the county roads. This would result in the greatest good to the greatest number of the people,
 "Of course, I realize that change or this kind could not be effected in day, but I believe that each county or the state should take care of it's own conviets, and I know of no method at the present time that would be more ben eficial generally than to work them on the roads.
 However, the matter should be looked in to carefully and all It's aspects con sidered Sometimes much desired re- form is killed by nasty action and the desired benefit delayed thereby. It seems to me that under existing conditions a plan could be devised to work the coun- ty roads with the county convicts."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
PUT THEM ON FARM
 CLOSE TO NATURE

Col. T. O. Smith, Birmingham Trust and Savings company: "The question of working state convicts is one that needs to be solved as soon as possible. Personally I think a plantation is the best place for convicted men. The coal mines are the last place to im- prison a man who is a convict
 ''It tends to get him out of touch with nature and will naturally harden him more than ever Prisons are to uplift men; to correct them, and every time one is placed out of touch with nature and the beauties of nature they become more disgruntled The state should maintain a great big plantation and give it's convicts plenty of fresh air, sunshine, wholesome food and keep them in touch with nature, which is the greatest tonic in the world to heal man embittered with the ways of society.
 ITO work convicts on the roads, I believe would break almost any state or county. The proper method cannot be arranged for such service without involving huge financial risks. No county or state has tried the experi- ment without finding that it costs far more to keep up roads with convicts than otherwise. I have always be- lieved that the taxes should supply good roads and not convicts. Again to see frequently striped felons working on the roads soon accustoms men to the spectacle, which tends to harden them. The farm is the logical place for them."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
AT THE HOTELS

Frank Orme of Atlanta is stopping at the Hillman.
 A. p. Love of oakman is a guest at the Hilman.
 w. o. Bewarder of New Orleans is at the Hillman.
 Cyrus P. Brown of Montgomery is stop ping at the Morris.
 T. J. Arnold of Goodwater is at the Morris.
 II. A. Hollister of Montgomery is among the arrivals at the Morris.
 w. F. Wise of Cooper is stopping at the Metropolitan.
 w O. Robbins of Littleton is guest at the Metropolitan.
 F. M. Dobson of Montgomery is reg istered at the Metropolitan.
 T. M Arden of Atlanta is stopping at the Florence.
 E. R. Holt of Montgomery is at the Florence.
 J. D. Langston of Atlanta is a guest at the Florence.
 w. D. Barton of Tuscaloosa is regis tered at the Birminham.
 Thomas Berry of Troy is a guest at the Birmingham.
 L. c. Jennings of Atlanta is registered at the Birmingham.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
CAUSE OF
 CONSTANT DANGER

Edward D. Flynn, former chief state mine inspector of Alabama: If the general public realized the deplorable situations arising from the lease sys- tenn of convict labor in the mines, I do not believe that the people would allow the convicted men to remain be- low ground another three weeks.
 But the men who are in position to tell of the hazardous life a convict must lead, especially if he is new to the mining business. cannot speak be- cause it would be worth their position and there is no other way for the citi- zens as a whole to learn except from those who know.
 "The greatest objection in my es- in the mines Is the element of danger attached to the life there for the man who is unaccustomed to this work and who in penalty for misdemeanor offense, perhaps, losses his limbs and in many cases his life. A convict through his ignorance may cause an accident that takes a death toll of many men who by rights do not de- serve capital punishment for stealing a ride on freight train or carrying concealed weapons.
 "The public highway is the place for the convicts, and I do not hestitate to say that, in my opinion, the most desperate characters could be as se- curely watched above earth as below"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
CAHEEN WOULD PUT
 ALL MEN ON ROADS

Sol Caheen of Caheen Brothers: q believe convicts should be worked on the roads of the county and state
 The greatest good for the greatest number would result by that method No man should be made to work in coal dungeon which he would not dare enter if he were free. The conviets of all countries are imprisoned to be reformed. To place them into a hell on earth will not make better citizens of them. What they should have is sunshine, plenty of fresh air and a happy invironment.
 Soon the fellow will say that life is not half so bad and that nature is a great thing after all Then it is that the innate goodness of the man asserts itself and he is better off. But to imprson an inexperienced man miles under ground and make him dig in the blackness of the earth is the most awful punishment that I can conceive of. By all means. let the convicts be placed on the state roads and help the farmer get a better price for his products. Good roads i'm prove every inch of land through which they run and the conVicts who make them in Georgia and other states have rem dered their state a great service unwiu- ingly."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
PRATT CONSOLIDATED
 SUES JUDGE STILES
Effort Being Made to Recover License Paid Under Protest for Op-
 erating Commissary

The Pratt Consolidated Coal company filed suit yesterday against J. P Stiles, judge of probate of Jefferson county, for the recovery of SIPS. the amount paid under protest for license to operate eig'st plants of the company.
 The license was collected under the provision of section 33-A of the revenue act. passed by the last legislature, which included license for the operation of stores or commissaries by the company employ ing labor.
 The plaintiff company paid one license upon demand and contended that under the provisions of the act it was all that they were required to pay. Judge Stiles, on advice of the state authorities, held otherwise, and as a result the plaintiff company paid license under protest for the eight commissaries under their con trol.
 The pending suit was filed in the cir cult court yesterday afternoon, the plain tiff alleging that the license was col lected without authority of the law and that the section of the act referred to was unconstitutional.
 It is understood that the same ques- tion has been decided in other counties of the state and that in each instance the courts have held that it is illegal to collect more than one license from a cor poration
 Having paid the license into court, it was necessary to bring suit for it's re. eovery, in the event it was unlawfully paid, hence the pending litigation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
TWO CIVIC BODIES
 WILL COOPERATE
Representative From Bes- semer COnfers With the
 Chamber of Commerce

r. w. Sterling. secretary of the Bes- semer Board of Trade, was assured yes terday that he could bear a message to that organization from the Chamber of Commerce of this city that every CO., operation would be extended them in the movement to secure more industries for this district. The action was taken at a meeting of the industrial bureau of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday at noon, when the Bessemer represen- tative appeared before them in inter- est of union of efforts along this line.
 The industrial bureau of the Cham Der of Commerce is composed of the committee named from that body for the location of new industries and a local official of each railroad enter ing the city NJ P. Messer as chairman of the committee presided over the session, and a large attendance of the bureau was present. The following railroad representatives were among the enthusiastic members indorsing the proposed affiliations: l.. Sevier, gen eral agent of the Southern, the Alabama Great Southern and Mobile and Ohio lines: A. D. Lightner, general agent of the Frisco; Lee Clary, general agent of the Louisville and Nashville; w. c. Kilgore, commercial agent of the Gen. tral of Georgia; R. L. Simpson, gem eral freight agent of the Southern rail- road Vernon Whitaker, general agent of the Atlanta, Birmingham and Att lantic; F. T. Wilcox, assistant general freight agent of the Searboard Air line; C. P. Jackson assistant general freight agent of the Mobile and Ohio railroad. The committee for the loca- ton of new industries is composed of M. r. Messer, T. c. Cairnes, M. $. Sloan, Felix l. Tarrant and John w. Sibley.
 The discussion of the development of this district for the attraction of farmers was also introduced as a phase of community upbuildng as we'll as the securing of numerous manufacturing industries.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
O'NEAL UNDECIDED
 0N APPOINTMENT Says He Has Been Too Busy to Name Back Tax
 Commissioner

The office of back tax commissioner of Jefferson county is still vacant Gov ernor O'Neal, before returning to Mont gomery yesterday afternoon, told rep resentative of The Age-Herald that, un- authorized reports to the contrary, ne was then no nearer a solution than he was on reaching Bir mingham Thursday afternoon.
 q have been so busy inquiring into the Banner mine contract" stated he, that have been unable to pay very much attention to the office of back tax com missioner. I am determined to take enough time to settle on the man who will best serve the interest of the people of the county and the state
 This was his simple statement How ever, it is generally believed that he will make the appointment within the next few days and were it's announce ment to come today, there would be llt- tie reason for surprise
 Save. as stated in The Age-Herald yes terday morning, that certain warm friends of Governor O'Neal are advocating the appontment of John w. Altman, there is no way of ascertainine which of the several candidates has the best chance to land the plum, the fattest in the gift of the governor. There are great many and the majority of these were present in the lobby of the Mor- ris yeste. day.
 In addition to those who by the pre- sentation of formal petitions have become avowed candidates for the position, it is generally understood that Governor O'Neal is considering two prominent men of Birmingham who are not applicants. As is known, the governor Is not in duty bound to select a choice from the list Of those who have applied through petitions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
SUBMITS COPY OF
 PROPOSED GOOD ROADS BILL

H. Y Brooke, state examiner of public accounts, who has announced his can didacy for congressman at large from Alabama, reached Birmingham yesterday with the copy of his good roads bill which if he is sent to Congress he will introduce for adoption He argues that if this bill is passed every county of the state can have fine roads at little expense to the inhabitants. The bill, which is his platform, follows:
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That whenever the people of any county in any state in the United States shall, in ac- cordanee with the laws of said state, vote to improve the public roads of said county by the issue of bonds, the secre- tary of war shall, after being notified of said action by the highest county of ficial, detail an experienced civil engineer and a corps of assistants to visit said county and make a survey of the roads and approximate the cost of building the same and report to the secretary of war, in the same manner as civil engI- neers now report on river and harbor i'm provements. The secretary of war shall forward said report when completed to the secetary of the treasury.
 "Section 2 The main roads from the county courthouse to the boundary line of the county shall be the first of the roads to be considered and reported on by said civil engineer and the first to be built by the corporate authorities of the county.
 Section 3. Upon receipts of the report of the civil engineer, the secretary of the treasury shall notify the corporate authorities of the county that he will take the bonds of said county Gas col lateral security) to an amount not exceed ing one-fourth of the annual average tax of the taxable property of said coun- ty, as shown by the tax records thereof for 10 years prior to the election as aforesaid and issue therefor treasury notes Gin denominations of $10 and less,. which notes shall have the same legal tender functions as national bank notes now. or may hereafter, possess. Provided, that all notes so issued shall be used ex- cIusively by the county for building roads.
 'section f. The bonds of the counties, as herein provided for, shall bear in- terest at the rate of per cent per an- mum and shall be divided into 25 equal amounts.
 section 5. The per cent interest here
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
Suffragettes to Meet

The Equal Suffrage association of Bir- mingham will hold their first meeting Of 1912 on Saturday, January 6, when the opening of the scheduled programme of study will be made with an address by pr. Samuel Ullman on the ''Historical Evolution of Woman's position.'' The place of meeting will be the directors S room of the Chamber of Commerce. A brief business session of routine com mttee reports will be held prior to the principal speech of the afternoon and Mrs. Solon Jacobs, the president of the asso- citation, will enumerate several plans for active work that the executive commit tee has indorsed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
NOT CONSISTENT WITH
 HIS SENSE OF JUSTICE

T. H. Friel, president of the Birming- ham Water, Light and Power company q am not in favor of the convict lease system because it is not consistent with my sense of justice that sentenced man should be forced to take any risks of life and limb from other than natural causes. This state can never be free until the convicts are taken from the mines, for the present custom of plac- ing them in mines whether they will or not is a form of slavery in my iudgment."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
No Competitive Bidding

Following this statement, the governor was asked: will you state whether or not before the signing of the contract for turning over to the Pratt Consolidated the state convicts, an effort was made to find out whether or not a better contract could be made?'
 Tn this instance, no such effort oc- curred,'' replied the governor.
 Departing with the governor yesterday afternoon were the attorney general and w. A. Gibson Of the Pratt company. R. B. Evins, one of the states attorneys, re- mained in the city during the night, and will leave for the capital early this morn ing. It is thought that on the same train, George B. Mccormack president of the Pratt company, and it's general coun- sel, John H. Bankhead, Jr., will go to Montgomery.
 Just before departing the governor dis cussed the matter under investigation. He did not commit himself as to any contemplated action which he might take today. But the intimation was very plain ly made that with the contract as it exists at the present time he has certain fault to find
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
CONSIDERS PUTTING THEM
 IN MINES OUTRAGEOUS

Judge E. w. Booker: 'I have given the question of convict labor great deal or study, and have reached the conclusion that to employ conyicts in the mines Of the state is an outrage, and the exempli- fication of an idea of false economy
 Should the convicts of the state be worked on the roads, it is my opinion that within comparatively short number of years real estate would he enhanced in value just 100 per cent And the inhuman- ity to convicts would be successfully eliminated
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
WOULD PUT DESPERATE
 MEN IN THE MINES

Ferd Marx: "Convicts should be worked on the county roads There may be a few desperate men who should be placed in the mines, but the vast number should not. No place assists man to get back in line like rural solitude, and if con- vcts are not be uplifted by the state that punishes them. then the state is con fessing to a weakness. The convicts should help enrich the country by build ing good highWays.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30


 in provided for shall be held by the secs retary of the treasury as a trust fund. from which shall be paid all the necessary governmental expenses of surveying, es- timating and supervising the construction of the roads.
 "Section 6. The corporate authorities of the county shall increase the assessed valuation of the property in said county sufficient to retire one of such bonds each year.
 "section T. Upon payment of bond the secretary of the treasury shall re- tire from circulation an equal amount Of notes issued under this act.
 "Section s. Should any legal question rise the Attorney General of the United States shall represent the government in all cases where default in payment by any county causes litigation, and suits can be instituted in any federal court in the United States in the name of the sec- retary of the treasury against the cor porate authorities of the county by direc- top of the President of the United States. '.Section 9. In all eases where practlca- ble the civil engineer who makes the orig ipal survey and estimate of cost shall be detailed to supervise Nhe construction of the roads.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30

A Higher Authority than that Of Governor Emmet O'Neal intervened yesterday afternoon in the case or Henry Murphy, the aged man at the county jail for whom officials for the past week have been rying to obtain pardon. He died at 4:30 o'clock.
 Murphy was sentenced at recent term of court to life Imprisonment for the murder of a man named Myrick in the northern part of the county. For the past several weeks he has been showing signs of sinking While in the county jail awaiting the action
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
LONG TERM MEN
 SHOULD BE IN MINES

Walker Percy, general couhseI or IHe Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad com pany "It is my opinion that the argument in favor of working long term convicts in the mines is good. In this way they are in competition with skilled labor and their earning capacities are enhanced. In addition, they are better guarded.
 But I believe that short term convic1s should be worked on the roads or on a state farm
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
WOULD PUT SHORT
 TERM MEN ON ROADS

Frank II Gafford street commission CT: The place for short term con victs is on the roads, The long term fellows might well be imprisoned on a contract basis or in any operation for the greatest profit. However, S5 per cent of the convicts should be worked on the roads and made to help everyone by that service and not a feW.n
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30

Citizens in all walks of life were yes terday asked by Age-Herald reporters, 'IIow should the state handle its con victs?" Remarkable unanimity was found in opposition to using them in the mines and many believed it would be much better for the state and for the men if they were worked on the public high ways.
 Here are few of the expressions se- cured:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
SHOULD WORK ROADS
 FOR BENEFIT OF STATE

c. S. Goodwin: "The place for con- victs Is the public roads. The farmers who haul cotton and stuff to the rail roads would be greatly benefited if they had good roads to reach the trans portation lines. The convicts should be made to enrich the country against which they have sinned and not to put into the pockets of few more money. The placing of convicts in the coal mines is the last thing that should be done for them"r
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
CONSTITUTION PREVENTS
 THEIR WORKING ON ROADS

Robert B. Evins of Greensbor0' "It would be impossible to work the convicts on the roads at the present. time on ac- count of the provisions of the constitutions
 As far as can see, the greatest objection to working convicts on tlle roads is the fact that they would be phraded in their misery before the eyes of the world The
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
STATE SHOULD NOT
 MAKE PROFIT FROM MEN

Judge c. c. Nesmith: My idea of hand ling the convicts of the state is based in a desire to eliminate the outrage of the state making profit as a result of convict labor. It is my opinion that each convict should by his labor be made self supporting, and that all the money above that essential to his keep should be turned over to his family for it's support ''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
CONVERT TO WORKING
 MEN ON THE ROADS

Senator Watt T. Brown fist. Clair: T have reached the conclusion that 1t is barbarous to work conyiets imprisoned for minor offenses ip mines dangerous to limb and life. I am convert to the idea of employing convicts on the roads of the state"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
Higher Authority InterOeneS
 Tn Aged Prisoners Pardon

of the supreme court on his case, which had been appealed.
 Governor O'Neal has been bombarded by county officials, who were in sym pathy with the old man, for pardon, and for some reason the matter has been deferred. Yesterday afternoon about 4::30 o'clock Murphy quietly passed away at the county jail.
 His body was taken to the undertake ing parlors of the Johns Undertaking company, where it is being held await ing orders from the family of the deceased
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-30
VIEWS OF CITIZENS ON HOW ALABAMA SHOULD
 HANDLE THE CONNECTS UNDER STATES CARE
Most Men Interviewed Oppose Working Prisoners in Mines Be Their Inexperence Subjects Them and Their Com
 panions to Constant Danger of Life and Limb
Many Think Better for State and Better for Men Themselves to Put Convicts Public Roads Should Not Com
 pete in Mines With Free Labor

necessity of transferring them from point to point i'll cages is barbarous within itself. However, l presume that this feature could be obviated by careful legls- lation.'