davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-06
Oregon's Adoption of the Recall

Frank E. Curtis is correct when he says the recall is included in Oregon S list of up-to-date measures. The Age Herald had a statement of them pre- pared in or before 190S Oregon adopted the recall in 1908 as a final step, says Senator Bourne, in the establishment tof popular government It was adopted by a vote of 5S,3Sl ayes and 31,OO2 noes. Under this re- form any public officer in Oregon may be recalled by the filing of petition signed by 25 per cent of the number of electors who voted in his district in the preceding election. The peti- tion must set forth the reasons for tne recall. and if the officer does not re- sign within five days after the petition is filed a special election must be or dered to be held within twenty days to determine whether the people will recall such officer. On the ballot at such election the reasons for demand ing the recall of said officer may be set forth in not more than 200 words. His justification of his course in of fee may be set forth in like number of words. He retains his office until the results of the special election have been officially declared.
 No petition can be circulated against any officer until he has held office six months, except that in the case of a member of the state legislature it may be filed at any time after five days from the beginning of the first session after his election. At the special cleo ton the candidate receiving the high est number of votes is declared elected. The special election is neld at public expense, but second recall petition cannot be filed against an of ficer unless the petitioners first pay the entire expense of the first recall election.
 The recall has been in use in Ore gon three years, and no application of it has been reported. In fact, only two applications of the recall are we'll known, and these were fitted to the mayors of Seattle and Los Angeles, both of whom were removed, and the general verdict is that both were treated just right. inc women voters in Seattle bounced mayor who sheltered immoral houses, and the mayor of Los Angeles had become ob- noxious on several grounds. No one can point to an application of the re- call in this country that was unde- served individually or unsatisfactory to the people.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-06

he seemed to think I was mistaken
 He finally admitted that he had been
 misled by some of his anti-saloon
 friends in Ohio. He said it was gen. erally believed in his circle of acquaint- anee at home that the prohibition wave which rolled over the south two or three years ago had made every south ern state dry by statutory enactment. Although this gentleman had been In Mobile several days he hadn't learned that our legislature had repud1ated statewide prohibition placed upon the statute books without warrant rom the people, He expressed great surprise when I told him that prohibition had proved to be a miserable failure; that in many cities of Alabama. Georgia and Tennessee blind tiger saloons had been in full operation ever since state-Wide laws were passed. And this school su- perintendent seemed to be an uncom- monly bright man. After reading some of the prohibition stuff edited by the associated prohibition press and print ed in the World Almanac one will bet. ter understand how those who hear only that side are kept in ignorance of the truth.
 'Instead of all the south being state wide dry only five states, according to the returns of January 1, 1911, had the misfortune of appearing in the stat utory prohibition column-Alabama Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee The other states had ad- hered to the local option principle. Ala bama has thrown off the statewide yoke and 1t Is only a question of time when Georgia and Tennessee will fol- low. North Carolina and Mississippi, having no very large cities. will prob ably remain dry"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-06
Work of the Extra Session

W0rk or the EXtTa SeSS1On
 The expected happened. The Pres ident has called an extra session of the Sixty-second Congress to meet on April to set until it gets ready to adjourn.
 The President mentions in his proc lamation only the failure of the late Congress to act on the reciprocity agreement, but Congress, when once convened. is free to make it's own pro- gramme. Messrs. Clark and Under wood have both said they would ask an extra session to consider some of the more oppressive schedules of the Payne tariff, and while Congress is doing that-it will require a month or two of time at the very least-the apportionment bill and the direct cleo tions proposition can readily be passed.
 An extra session is not looked at kindly in Wall street, but after all it offers some advantages. It will en. able the democrats in the House to get down to business promptly. The pledges of the democratic party call for tariff legislation that will decrease | the cost of the living. This grea. task will fall heavily on the should CTS of A1abamas favorite son, Oscar w. Underwood, and he no doubt feels that the sooner the task can be be- gun the better it will be sifted and considered A great opportunity has come to Mir Underwood individually and to the party in general, and if all will work faithfully for the public good no one will regret that the Pres ident has called an extra session.
 The reciprocity bill will not of course be overlooked. The democrats drove it through the House in the late Congress, and the republicans stopped it in the Senate. It is really democratic measure because it as sails to some extent the extortionate and unjust rates of the Payne-Aldrich tariff. So far as it does that it is good democratic policy, and it should be repassed in the House. It surely will be.
 It will be very apt to go through the | Senate also, for the new Senate will be in many respects a new and better body. It will be almost democratic | to begin with, and not a few of the republican senators will have demo- cratic leanings. The situation will promote insurgency among the repub- 1 licans, and the President need not despair of putting reciprocity through the Senate. All reasonable modifica- tions of the tariff looking to cheaper foodstuffs and cheaper clothing stand a good chance of securing the indorse- ment of the new Senate. The country does not want at the hands of the ex- 1 tra session a general revision of the tariff, but it does want and it does expect a repeal of the duties that are progressively felt in every household.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-06
SOME PLAIN TALK
le Montgomery Advertiser.

From the Montgomery Advertiser.
 There will be few in Alabama who will dispute the statement that The Adver- tiser has. been the steady and active friend of Governor ONeal during the past year. It helped him fight his battles during the brilliant campaign he made for the nomination, and 1t has stood firmly by his side ever since in helping him to formulate the policies of his ad- ministration and to have them enacted into law.
 It is his friend now, and expects to con- tinue actively in support of everything he undertakes which it believes to be to the best interests of the state and of the democratic party. It has by no means lost confidence in his purposes Never theless, it is the part of c true friend to be frank, always, and sometimes to say things that may be unpleasant. The Advertiser believes that such a juncture has been reached, and that this paper is doing an act of kindness to voice a common public sentiment as to certain matters in straightforward way, though in kindly spirit.
 At the very incipience of his campaign for the nomination the argument was made against Governor O'Neal's leader ship by some of the papers opposing him that if elected governor he would be too much under the influence of a certain , cabal of politicians, who have never had much following in the state at large and still less admiration among the ranh and file of the people.
 The Advertiser vigorously combatted that argument. and pointed out that the governor was no more 10 be blamed for some of the supporters who had attachee themselves to his cause than was MT Mallory for some of his extreme sup porters. The Advertiser did not believe that MT. O'Neal. as governor, would be Hinfluenced to any improper degree b, any cabal, but that on the contrary, as man of high impulses and of long ac quaintance with Alabama men and af fairs. he would be deaf to any cabal ol ! self-seekers, that he would be in constan sympathy with those party leaders of the highest character and ability who had
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-06
Progress in Manual Training

Superintendent J. H. Phillips last
 annual report of the public schools,
 recently published, is interesting from
 cover to cover. Of especial interest
 to many are the pages devoted to the
 presentation of the manual training
 work of the schools. here. In the Gen. tral High school shop work is carried
 on successfully and that, too, without
 interfering in any way with the aca- .demic studies. A boy who graduates
 prepared for college, and the schoo. offers courses in carpentry, cabinet work, wood turning, pattern making, forge work, iron, machine and tool work, together with free-hand and me chanical drawing" which will giv, him a decided advantage should he enter an institute of technology. "The High school" as Dr. Phillips says, 'is not a finishing school. It is rather a beginning school It is not intended to make architects, or engineers, car peuters or blacksmiths, merchants or professional men. It is not intended to make of the girls seamstresses, mil liners or cooks. It is a place where they are given an opportunity to dis cover what they are fit for in life, and where they may obtain such training as will enable them intelligently to select a vocation and to acquire the clements of skill and power jn the direction of their special aptitddes. Ii 's boy has capacity for col fege edu- 66 fion. he will shaw it hek; if his
 fer lie in the industrial o1 .Ae com xnorcial field, he is eiven t3e chance Y aaa ,s out. The sh s'f fool must
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-06
From "The Old Curiosity Shop.

From 'The Old Curiosity Shop.
 A length there sauntered up on the A opposite side of the way, with A bad pretense of passing by ac- cident, a figure. conspicuous for it's dirty smartness, which, after a great many frowns and jerks of the head in re- sistance of the invitation, ultimately crossed the road and was brought into the shop.
 "There It's Dick Swiveller," said the young fellow, pushing him in. 'Slt down. Swiveller."
 But is the old man agreeable?" said MT. Swiveller in an undertone.
 '.sit down." repeated his companion.
 MT. Swiveller complied, and, looking about him, with a propitiatory smile, ob served that last week was fine week for the dust; he also observed that while standing by the post at the street corner he had observed pig with a straw in his mouth, issuing out of the tobacco shop, from which appearance he argued that another fine week for the ducks was approaching, and that rain would certain ly ensue. He furthermore took occasion to apologize for any negligence that might be perceptible in his dress, on the ground that last night he had had "the sun very strong in his eyes," by which expression he was understood to convey to his hearers, in the most delicate man. ner possible, the information that he had been extremely drunk.
 But what" said MT. Swiveller, with a rt-- %t.. fire of the soul Is kindled at the taper of conwivlality, and the wing of friendship never moults feather? What is the odds so long as the spirit is expanded by means of rosy wine, and the present mo-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-06
Better Armament

some time in the early part or the spring the battleship Texas, which has for long while been unfit for ser vice. will be lowed out from Hampton roads and shot to, pieces by the Amer ican gunners at target practice" said former member of the navy.
 "The naval authorities have thought this to be the most practicable way of disposing of a useless piece of junk. The plan has already afforded con spicuous mark for the criticism of tn ose who have maintained strong opposi- tion to the policy of an increased navy. They declare that the same battleships in course of construction today will be disposed of In the same way within comparatively short time because of the progress in aerial navigation which, it seems. will wholly revolutionize the methods of warfa
 Generally an oversight has been made of the fact that the progress in aerial warfare is very indefinite pros pect and even granting that such a thing will be assured, it is only the more logical to assume that an ef- fort will be made to develop the meth eds of warfare on the sea to such degree as is necessary to cope with the machines of the air. The airship and the aeroplane will be for a long time to come only delicate pieces of mechanism. most unsafe for life and limb, and 1t Is practically certain that they will constitute only an addition to the war equipment on land and on sea. development of vessels for war cannot be accomplished by suspending the building of ships and the very fact that the derelict Texas will be sent to the bottom of the ocean after a quarter centurys service is only another proof that the government has in view d scheme for better armament"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-06
Surprising Ignorance

"It is surprising to find men well informed on current events in general ignorant concerning certain conditions,' said a citizen.
 "A few days ago I met in the smok ing compartment of Pullman several educators from Ohio who were return ing north from Mobile whore they had been in attendance on the annual meet ing of public school superintendents. One of the party started up a dis cusison of the prohibition question and it was soon evident that he leaned strongly to the dry side. He made the statement that all the south was under drastic prohibition laws, and when I ventured to set him straight
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-06

most to do with his success. Governor o Neal in his public speeches frequently implied the same thing, and he was nom mated governor In spite of some of the friends he had unfortunately made.
 Since his inauguration a cabal of polit- ical machinators has settled down in Montgomery and it is constantly rumored that this cabal has said and done many imprudent things indicating a much stronger hold upon the governor than he could afford to let 1t exercise. Yet, one by one, events have occurred, ap- pointments have been made, changes have been brought about, which have given too much color to the reported boasts of this cabal The governor, by his own course in vigorous matters, has strength ened the belief that he is entirely too susceptible to the suggestions of that cabal.
 On Friday, Hon. Walker Percy of Jeff ferson on the floor of the house, voiced a protest against a number of the acts of the governor The Advertiser thinks that in some respects he exaggerated the situation, but it cannot be denied that MT Percys fundamental allegation that the governor has not based number or his appointments upon distinct fitness, has a large basis of fact. Unquestionapiy he has redeemed number of fancied or real political obligations at too great q cost to the public service. He has some times forgotten that public office IS public trust Apparently he has yielded too much to the machinations Of the crafty, selr-selected. self1seeking men who have tried to establish an oligarchy here.
 The Advertiser is frank to say that Governor O'Neal, in the goodness or ms heart. has shown too great sense oi obligation to this busy bunch. It LOOKS as if he has had too much confidence in their judgment. They have not played the mart of disinterested friends. If he pernoits them to continue their easy ac- cess to his Sar, they will lead him lnto other blunders. They have already em- barrassed his administration, caused him unnecessary trouble in guiding the legis- lature into redeeming the pledges of the democratic platform and are placing him in wrong attitude before the people of this great state. It is time halt be called.
 If the men constituting this cabal are in any considerable degree such devoted friends to Governor ONeal as they claim to be, they should be satisfied with the fat plums they have secured for them- selves and their friends, and should re- turn to their homes to atterd to the duties they may have there. if they should
 not recognize the situation and volun- tarily retire, Governor ONeal should wash
 his hands of them, and plainly tell them to relieve him of the further embarrass- l ment of their presence here.
 ] The Advertiser regrets that it feels 1t duty to talk so plainly, but there are times when plain talk is expedient. This paper renews the statement of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-06
Wall Street Situation.

Henry Clews, in his Saturday review, says in part
 Two elements of uncertainty are now threatening the stock market-the su-
 preme court decisions and an extra ses- sion of Congress. The general impress sion is that the supreme court will de-
 eide adversely in the Oil and Tobacco cases, but may suggest way out of
 embarrassment to the offending corpora tions. If the decision proves adverse,
 there will undoubtedly be much disap- pointment and disgust among corporation
 managers, because a large number of
 concerns may be obliged to reorganize. | This decision will affect nearly 1200 hold ing concerns having about 5000 subsid- iaries and including about $10,0Oo, 900, 900 of capital. Like the railroad managers they will be obliged to meet the law, and the more gracefully that is done the better for all concerned. Neverthe- | less, guessing as to supreme court de- cisions is especially hazardous, partic- ularly in view of the popular miscal- | culation of the railroad rate decision. It will be remembered that a compromise was generally expected. whereas noth- ing of the sort occurred.
 "The reciprocity question will unfor- tunately reopen the tariff controversy at a time when business needs freedom from political agitation. There appears to be little doubt concerning the pas
 sage of the reciprocity measure and
 not much likelihood of any radical tariff
 revision during the extra session. It is quite possible however, that consider able tariff agitation may be aroused If only for political effect, especially as | the time is drawing near for another | presidential campaign. For this very | reason, however, there is little prospect
 of any important changes being made in | present schedules. The tariff is alto | gether too full of excellent political ann
 muntion to permit of prompt adjust | ment, and as 1t will be the best ma | terial for the forthcoming campaign there | is little reason to fear very decisive ac- | ton in any extra session. Still, tariff agitation is deterrent and not stim- ulant to business enterprise. There is
 more or less talk of putting such arti- l cles on the free list as vitally affect | the cost of living, and there is renewed | talk of attacking the wool, cotton and | steel schedules. But, as already said, radical changes are net probable. at
 least until after another presidential
 election"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-06
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Regarding Congressmen.

q do not think I can be called a croaker, and l do not live much in the past, yet I cannot help comparing the personnel of Congress today with the galaxy of statesmen that adorned our national legislature a generation ago. said John V. Mercer of West Virginia.
 q was never a candidate for office. but I have taken keen interest in poli- tics ever since I became voter in 1S76 and having spent a large part of my time in Washington from my youth, have known by sight and heard in de- bate the great senators and representa- lives of the '70's and sos. There have been many worthy men in Congress in recent years, but few of notable bril- liance. Mediocre material has come to he the rule. There are only four or five really big men in the Senate now, Root and Bailey taking first rank. I am glad that Bailey was induced to withdraw his resignation. He is intellectually the peer of any statesman. present or past.
 'In the House Champ Clark and Os- car Underwood are about the only men who are at once conspicuous and au- thoritative in their leadership. Clayton is a national figure and, of course, Hob son is very much in the spotlight. The hero of 9S is personally popular but he is too sensational ever to be taken seri- ously By the way, Alabama is the only southern state that has representatives in the Sixty-second Congress who are known at all outside of their home state.
 My state of West Virginia had in Congress for many years one of the most scholarly statesmen and most successful leaders of modern times-the late Will liam l.. Wilson; but since his day only third rate men have represented the state. The West Virginia representatives in the last Congress were all republicans. but in the new there is only one-Hughes of Huntington.
 q recall the time when the state of Virginia had several forceful representa- tives-men of national reputation and in f1uence. Now scarcely anyone outside of Washington or outside of Virginia could call the name of a single member of the Old Dominion delegation. Congress- man Jones, Congressman Hay and Con- gressman Glass are highly respected 1T. official life, but so far as the general public is concerned those named are un- known.
 Underwood is looked upon as easily the best equipped statesman on the dem ocratic side of the House of Represen- tatives. and he will doubtless rise to the occasion and meet well the heavy responsibilities confronting him"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-06
Birmingham Girl in Play.

Marguerite Devon, the clever soul brette with Billy Clifford at the Bijou this week, was born in Birmingham and lived here until she was about 10 years old,' said Manager Semon last night. Miss Devon is a sister of Hattie De- Von, the eccentric comedienne who was here only two weeks ago with "A Win ming Miss company, and who was also here last season with the same play.
 There are few daintier soubrettes on the stage than Miss Devon, who has been with several of the largest produc- tions of musical comedies in the past few years. She is young girl of great promise and those who have studied her efforts predict a splendid future for her She is not only clever dancer, but has a good singing voice and Is extreme ly graceful She has good looks to help her along, and that has much to do with the success of a soubrette in d musical comedy.
 Miss DeVons father was connected with the iron interests of Birmingham about 10 years ago, and later moved to Chicago. The family lived on the South Highlands and many people remember them most pleasantly. It might be well to state, however, that Devon is stage name and not the name of the young lady's father''