davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-29
THE SkYLARK

By William Wordsworth. Ethereal minstrel pilgrim of the sky! Dost thou despise the earth, where cares
 abound, Or, while thy wings aspire, are heart
 and eye . Both with thy nest, upon the dewy
 ground? The nest, which thou canst drop into at
 will, Those quivering wings composed, and
 music still! To the last point of vision, and beyond, Mount, daring warbler; that love prompt
 ed strain cTwixt thee and thine a never failing
 hond) Thrills not the less the bosom of the
 plain; Yet night'st thou seem, proud privilege,
 to sing All independent of the leafy spring. Leave to the nightingale the shady wood A privacy of glorious light is thine, Whence thou dost pour upon the world
 a flood Of harmony, with rapture more divine Type of the wise, who soar, but never
 roam, True to the kindred points of heaven and
 homel
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-29
Issue Making for 1912

The country is witnessing just at present the marshaling of two great political armies for action in 1912. The one led by Oscar Underwood will strive to cut down protection for profits, thereby reducing the cost of living. The other, led by MT. Taft, will attempt to crush all trusts that, to use the Presidents own words, "restrain trade, suppress competition and control prices"
 Mr. Taft does not invite anti tariff legislation. He has, in fact, in- vented board which he can use in- definitely to prolong revision of the IA schedules of the present tariff bill. At the most, he promises ac- tion on two schedules only. This will not satify those who desire to see protection for profits abolished, and no doubt bills will be sent to him during the long session that he will veto because his pet board is not ready to tell him what the tariff situation is! The attempt to trans fer from Congress to a board ap- pointed by the President the work of tariff making will prove as unpopu lar as it will be dilatory, and is plain ly outside of the constitution. Con gress is this country's tariff making body.
 The Presidents effort to withdraw public attention from a revision of an unjust and oppressive tariff by a spectacular prosecution of this or that corporation will miscarry, sim ply because the democrats are as much opposed to monopolies and the destruction of competition and the control of prices as MT. Taft is him. self. There is no room, therefore for an issue. The courts will do their duty and in the end the consumer will listen to the men who are striv- ing to bring the tariff for profits to revenue basis. This is the issue of next year, and the President cannot change it, however spectacular his efforts may be or however strong his assertions are on the stump. The quiet, effective work that Oscar Un- derwood will do next winter will place the real issue of 1912 before the people in the correct light.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-29
Names of Alabama Counties

MT. Roberts articles on the coun- ties of this state discloses the fact that honors in the early days of Alabama history were readily dis tributed, even to those that lived and died elsewhere. Surely Lieut.. Lemuel P. Montgomery of Tennessee got big memorial when the capital county was named in his honor. A rich county bears the name of Lieut.. James M. Wilcox of the United States army. Lieutenants must have ranked high or been very valiant in the state's early days, for the nam ing of county is no slight testi- monial to any mans record. James Lawrence of Vermont was honored in the Tennessee valley, and it will bother good many people to tell why the name of Gen. Leonard W. Covington of Maryland was attached to an Alabama county, or what Col. James Lauderdale of Tennessee did that caused the people to apply his name to a newly created county Not counting national characters, the names of 15 men of other states were preserved in as many counties in this state. This was certainly generous on the part of our early citizens.
 Jefferson county fared better, for It's namesake not only wrote the Declaration, but he doubled the size of the country in the French pur- chase. And Jefferson is an old county. The state was admitted to the Union in 1919, and the very first legislature, sitting in 1920, brought Jefferson county into existence. And as it was organized in 1920, so it geographically stands today. Not an acre has been added or Topped off. Bessemer has tried at times to get away with a slice of it, but its eff forts were not successful. All seemed to think the state needed great inn perial county, and the county of 1920 with it's record of 226,O00 population In 1910 bids fair to meet all expec- tations in the future.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-29
Good Business In the south

After spending two weeks in Texas and a few days each in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee, I am satisfied that the south is better off this year than ever before, and that it has fared better in the way of crops than any other section of the country" said Charles r. Werner of Chicago.
 Business conditions in the middle west have been very good this fall, and as far as I hear business is fairly brisk in the west. But there is more genuine prosperity in the south than usual
 q have visited the cotton country once or twice year during the past 10 years But this is the first time that the farmers have raised anything like enough hay ard corn to feed their stock I am told that the south will soon be reckoned with as a great corn producer. When it has corn as well as cotton to sell, it will be recognized by the world as the richest pars of the United States"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-29

cases. The jail should be cleared of prisoners to the utmost possible ex- tent, and Judge Cahal9n cannot alone and unaided do this. If two judges cannot clear the jail then bring three to the task. The jail in it's present condition should be cleared.
 Until the county has a sanitary and decent jail the trial of prisoners should not be delayed an unnecessary moment. Judge Lane knows the sit uation. His long service on the bench renders his advice valuable, and the grand jury should not adjourn until it has provided means for clearing the jail. This is the best measure in every respect that can at present be applied to the ancient and thoroughly condemned jail of this county.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-29
Georgia's Presidential Preference

Editor Stovall of Savannah, a member of the Georgia democratic state executive committee, is striv- ing to secure for the democrats of his state chance to express their preference in the coming presidential race. The question comes before the state committee on December 12, and Mir Stovall is hopeful that a presi- dential primary will be called.
 Georgia holds an election in Janu- ary for a governor in the place of Hoke Smith, promoted to the Sen ate, and a primary can be held on election day without involving any extra expense. An expression of the popular will is desired in Georgia as it is by the rank and file elsewhere, and if the Georgia promary should be held in January it will, indeed cause the rest of the country to sit up and take notice. MT. Stovall is pushing his proposition with every prospect of carrying it when it comes before the state committee in De- cember.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-29
A soUTHERNER FOR PRESIDENT

From the New York World.
 To the Editor of the World:
 In the editorial in your issue of this date under the caption, "A Southerner on the Ticket" you speak of MT. oscar W. Underwood as of presidential size, and ask if it be expedient for the democracy tc nominate a southerner living in the south for the presidency.
 The day, in my judgment, has come. My acquaintance with Mr Underwood is from what l have read, never having met him 1 find he was born in Kentucky in 1862 There is no reason to consider MT. Un- derwood in any situation that would rep resent him to be a southerner in that gard him as partisan with the southern people in the situation they occupied in the war between the states.
 We must assume that MT Underwood reached manhoods growth in 1885,. he then being in his twenty-first year. For several years before that period the feel ing of hostility that had existed between north and south had disappeared, and the causes that led to the war were no longer 11dlltIo Ol ulStuSSlOll. we were d united people and cke war had been set- tied years before. We may say MT. Underwood grew up with another gener- ation. By his industry, force of charac- ter and statesmanshp he has placed him self in the foremost ranks of citizenship Tn these United States. There is no re- sentiment on the part of northern busi- ness men toward the merchant of the south. We are desirous of closer rela- tionship with the people of the south, and st is maintained. Our merchants know no north, south, east or west. When our southern people visit us we welcome them heartly-extend to them the hand of friendship even to a larger extent, l think, than to the residents of other parts of our country.
 It would seem to me well for the de- mocracy in it's deliberations at the next national convention to measure men en- tirely by their qualifications and record, not by their locality. We should not consider what state the candidate is to come from. We are a united people in these United States, and happily in Mir Underwood there is a very promising man. JOHN D. CRlMM1NS. New York, October 24.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-29
Regarding Church Unity

q am told that the Freewill Baptists and the Regular Baptists in Canada have been merged, and that in New England there has been what is practically mer- ger through the mission and other boards" said layman not connected with the Baptist church.
 True, the Freewill Baptists in the United States are numerically weak com pared with the denomination known as Regular but the fact that after sepa- ration of more than a century, the Free will section desires to go back to the large family of Baptists, is taken to in- dicate tendency to consolidation or denominational unity.
 NO one will live to see the day when all Christian peoples will form one church. None will even live to see all the Cumberland Presbyterian church with the Northern Presbyterian church, and Eow the getting together of Baptsts, is in a direction that gives promise
 But while it will be a long time be- fore all the large and distinctive branches of Christendom sink their differences and come together in organic union, the church unity movement, which J. P Morgan recently contributed $100,O00 to promote, will soon be very much in evil dence. A systematic campaign of educa- tion along church unity lines will be in progress within the next three or four years and I think it reasonable to pre- dict that within 50 years all the Pro- creed will be merged.
 ''Reverting to the Baptists, and the Freewll Baptists, the latter rejected the Calyanistic statement of the doctrine of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-29

From the Montgomery Advertiser. oscar Underwood is being boomed as a presidential possibility next year. That's all right but it will be long time before the south gets man as chief executive in the White House. Judson Harman of Ohio seems to he the logical candidate and Underwood would make him a splendid running mate-Ozark Star.
 It is time to stop raising the section al cry as to national candidates. Only in the southern states do we read of doubts as to accepta bility of a southern candidate for President. In New Eng land and the west we have read many cncomiums of the distinguished Ala bamian who will have the enthusiastic backing of the delegates from his home state. He has made record which las drawn to him the commendation of democrats from every part of the Union. On this subject we copy the fol- lowing from the New York World of the 24th inst:
 Oscar ". Underwood of Alabama Is unquestionably of presidential size. His
 
 on the floor of the House has never been excel1ed for skill. force and defi- nite direction. southern democrat and a former Confederate soldier is chief executive of the United States supreme court by appointment of republican President. The day may not be so far off when the last traces of the sectional line will be obliterated in American politics"
 If northern republican President could ignore sectional lines in the ap pointment as chief justice of the su- preme court of a southern democrat and a former Confederate soldier" we think the fears of a southern newspa per are misplaced when it doubts the wisdom of nominating a man for Presi dent because he is a southerner,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-29
Cleaning Out the County Jail

The county jail is full to the point of overflow because, since the la mented death of Judge Weaver, only one judge of the criminal court re- mains, and he cannot try the 250 prisoners confined in the jail. rein forced as that number constantly is by stream of incoming prisoners.
 As a matter of justice as well as a matter of economy, and even of pub lie health on account of the jail's in- sanitary condition, Judge A. O. Lanes suggestion should be needed. He desires the grand jury, which is in session, to take steps to secure the services of at least one more city ipd0a in the trial of the criminal
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-29
ALABAMA's CANDIDATE
From the Mobile Item.

If the press of the state is to be taken as criterion there docs not appear to he the least doubt as to the Hon. Oscar Underwood receiving the indorsement of his fellow citizens of Alabama for the presidential nomination. While there has been much discussion of both Wilson and Harmon by the Alabama press the con- sensus of expressed opinion is for Under wood. It should be a matter for congrat ulation that no one o1 the possible cand- dates stands higher in the public esteem than does Mr. Underwood. His able, straightforward and honorable course in Congress has won for him a favorable opinion in many of the states of the union, and this opinion is being expressed by many of the leading papers or the coun- try.
 F One of the latest expressions In com nendation of the Alabama candidate is from the Cincinnati Enquirer, every word of which is well deserved.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-29
FRIED CHICKEN WAR

From the Richmond News-Leader.
 The fried chicken issue is becoming hot under the collar in Norfolk, Peters, burg and Charlotte, and yet the real orig inal home of fried chicken is in Alabama" :" says the Birmingham Age-Herald. The ignorance displayed by our Norfolk, Petersburg, Charlotte and Birmingham contemporaries in discussing the fried chicken question is dense to the point of crminality, or else they are engaged in Q deliberate, wilful, malicious combine to ignore Gordonsville and rob her of her chiefest and highest honor by plucking her most cherished legendary and his- toric feathers from her bonnet.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-29
IN THE HOTEL LOBBIES
Politics Next Year

We are all familiar with the proverbial uncertainty of politics, but l am inclined
 to think now that MT. Underwood stands a good chance of being nominated, and if nominated believe he will stand splen- did chance of being elected" said an old citizen who has taken an active interest in politics.
 Six months ago I thought Governor Harmen's chances looked bright, but after Woodrow Wilson got in the limelight thought he would be stronger than the Ohio statesman. I am satisfied now, however, that if Wilson happened to be the democratic standard bearer he could not be elected.
 T admire Woodrow Wilson for many things. I think he is a high class edu- cator and a luminous writer. 1 have never heard him speak, but l am told he is very much of an orator. By the way, was intimately acquainted with Wood row Wilson's father, the Rev. pr James Wilson, for many years stated clerk of the Southern General assembly of the Pres byterian church. The old doctor was man of great intellectual force and was an impressive preacher. When I was in close touch with the Rev Dr. Wilson his son, Woodrow, was just beginning to be known as a writer and college professor; but the venerable father dotted on the dis tinguished son, and told me of the high hopes he had for Woodrows future. Looking over the situation now, l do not think Woodrow Wilson has the poise waich is expected of the leader of a great | sr y1saf aggressive enough. But this will make seriously against both Harmon and Will sen: They bolted the democratic ticket
 in 1896. Governor Harmon was in Presi- dent Clevelands cabinet at the time, and l recall the fact that he supported Palmer and Bucker as against Bryan, the regu-
 lar nominee of the democratic party Wilson not being in public life did not at tract attention in the memorable cam paign of 1S96 heard it said recently that he voted for Palmer and Bucker. l have been democrat all my life but declined to vote for Bryan in 1896. l did net vote at all. But l was not poli- tician, have never been a candidate of any office before the people, and never ex- pect to be. I think, however, that any politician who failed to vote and vote straight in 1896 and in the subsequent campaigns when Bryan was a candidate for President will fail to get the full sup port of his party when he runs for office
 Underwood would make an ideal Presi- dent. The next best man to Underwood from all points of view is Governor Mar shall of Indiana. He is a democrat At tot or,I a man of courage. Of course, Marshall would have no trouble in carrying his own state. If the democratic party failk to nominate either Underwood or Mar shall, I would bet dollars to doughnuts that the republicans would be victorious at the polls"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-29
MED BRACE TALKS ABOUT THE STEEL
 CORPORATION AS AFFECTING BIRMINGHAM

more right to prevent one telephone company from increasing it's rates &C., cording to the growth of the town and the service given than it has to say that newspaper shall not increases its rates on advertising with tho growth of it's section and it's circula- tion. If people don't want to put In a telephone or maintain it at the rates charged they have the privilege of taking it out and using another tele- phone service, just as a merchant has the right to discontinue his advertis- ing in one paper and give it to an- other or discontinue it in all of them, if he sees fit to do so. city gov ernment, unless it has a contract with a public service corporation cannot re- quire that concern to operate at loss any more than 1t can fix a price at which a merchant shall sell staple
  goods, such as cotton duck, sheeting or shirting or shoes or anything else.
 Of course people kick, and naturally, when prices go up on them on any thing. But prices do go up and we have to stand for it. We all kicked when the price of beef was elevated and when chickens and turkeys and hams went up a few years ago. but we find that we have to pay the increased prices or do without them.
 I don't know anything about what price telephone companies have to charge to meet expenses and make le- gitimate profits, but I would like to- see some solution of the problem in by which we would not be compelled by virtue of business exigencies to have to keep two tele- phones in our offices. It is especially annoying when we are called over both telephones at the same time.
 x < <
 The Oscar Underwood presidential boom, without organization or effort, seems to be sweeping over this country like a prairie fire. The newspapers all over the country are discussing the man and with the exception of one or two radical republican papers he is being indorsed and applauded in every section. Newspaper writers. especially. seem to like the man, his manner and his methods
 only few puny politicians of Ala bama are throwing pebbles in the path of that which promises to be regardless of their picayunishness
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-29
APPLY PHRASED.

Henry Sydnor Harrison, author of "Queed," has faculty of expressing him. self in feicitous words. There is no better example of this than in the second paragraph of the opening chapter, where he describes tho dainty slimness'' of his heroine as a certain exquisite reticenoe of flesh" PAUL COOK,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-29
Length of Concerts

Musical entertainments, like ser mons, are shorter than they were 25 years ago." said an old music lover. "I can remember when the average sermon consumed 40 minutes. Now the Twenty-Five years ago concerts, es pecially amateur concerts, lasted from two and a half to three hours. Today a musical recital is usually limited to 80; sometimes to an hour and a quarter. A symphony concert is con sidered long enough after an hour and 45 minutes have passed. Apropos, here is what Josef Stransky the new con- ductor of the New York Philharmonic orchestra says:
 Tn regard to the future concerts of the Philharmonic I have firmly de- cided upon one matter in particular. None of them shall last more than two hours. Two hours, l believe, should be the time limit for the longest concert, and whenever possible l think they should be even shorter. It is labor lost to try to hold the attention of an audience for a longer period no mat ter what the quality of the music of fered. Audiences can absorb just so much and then their powers of assim- ilation are, for the time being, weak ened This is a perfectly natural con dition, for modern symphonic concerts demand an enormous amount of intel lectual and emotional concentration on the part of the hearers and this in- eyitably becomes very fatiguing."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-29
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
 When a girl hates to be kissed, it's a sign it isn't the right man.
 Expense meets you at the start; you uay catch income at the finish.
 Being wise in business doesn't mean a man cant be a fool in everything else.
 What makes man so excited in an ar gument is he resolved at the start not to be.
 Some people could figure out 1t was fun 10 swallow tacks If common folks hadn' [ the means to.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-29

and develop whatever be the results of this suit Of course. pending the suit no sensible business man would expect the Steel Corporation to build new plants of magnitude in the district, but 1t will con- tinue to operate everything which it has b the limit, develop its mines and fur naces and steel plant and to operate them to the very fullest capacity consequent upon the demand for its products. It will be to it's interest to turn out as much stuff ana make as much profit as possible, thus increasing the value of it's holdings, and make them worth more should the gov ernment either force a dissolution or re- quire the Corporation to sell the Tennes- see company to outsiders.
 # x #
 As far as the average man. the investor, the merchant or the small manufacturer of Birmingham is concerned the final de- cision will be of little import. The same class of operators who control the Steel Corporation would take over the Tennes- see company and operate 1t to its fullest extent. Indeed, since the Steel Corpora tier acquired the Tennessee company and developed it as it has, it has been proven to the world that this property is many times more valuable and is capable of earning much more than any of us in Alabama thought before.
 of course, the price of steel stock has dropped considerably That is due to the tinldity of the small holders. who have showed their stock on the open market. That, however, means nothing to this dis tict, because the real stuff, consisting of ing plants of the most modern type are here. It has been proven that both iron and steel can be made here cheaper than any place in the world, that the best quality of steel rails in America are to- day being turned out in the Birmingham district and they will continue to be man. ufactured in increasing quantities each year.
 So really instead of any alarm to be felt in. this district we are on velvet, so to speak.
 # # X
 Speaking about suits, have observed that one of the city commissioners of is considering whether or not the Bell Telephone company shall be permitted to increase its rates on certain classes of telephone service in the Birmingham district. As there are two telephone companies here, I can't see that the city government has any