davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-21
FORTUNATE MIR. UNDERWOOD

From the New York Sun.
 Happy is Mir. Underwood of Alabama in MT. Bryans hate. As receptive can- didate for the highest honor in the gift of his party the chairman of the ways and means committee could ask for no better luck than a fresh exhibition of MT Bryans malice. such as misses be- tween the lines oi the following indorse- ment of the Hon. Eugene Noble Foss of Massachusetts:
 Governor Foss's claims have been ma terially strengthened by the indorsement just given to him. The Harmon strength shows signs of shifting 10 Congressman Underwood This was to be expected. The Wall street crowd does not lack in teiigence, and it would be very dull if it did not see in Mr Underwood a more ef- ficient representative than Governor liar 'Eon could possibly be. Wall street needs strong man in the democratic party to lead it's fight against reforms Mir liar mon does not fill the bill so well as MT. Underwood"
 When a man who wants to dictate to the democratic party who it's candidates shall not hc, hugging the hope that he may profit himself by the cross purposes he promotes, ii characterized as falsifier on the floor of the House of Representa- tives, and honest men know that he de- serves the stigma, there are probably no lengths and no depths to which his malice will not go. MT. Underwood's answer to the charge that to serve his financial in terests in the iron and steel industry he defeated a resolution m the ways and means committee calling for a revision of duties was not only an unequivocal and Indignant denial, but an appeal to the democratic party to judge between him and his accuser, it's nominal leader. T know it is false; MT. Speaker. you know it is false; so do all the democrats on this side of the House;' the scene and the figure of the Representative who was de- lending his honor are not easily forgotten MT. Bryan will not forget to his dying day Then and there tne democrats of the House, friends of MT. Bryan as well a.. those who do not admire him, responG- ed to the appeal to their sense of fair nlay by a tremendous demonstration ol faith in the integrity of the man whom Mr Bryan had deliberately attacked.
 There was a time when MT. Bryan's oD- position to fellow democrat was like a death knell to his hopes, but today so low has MT. Bryan's prestige fallen that the candidate who incurs his hostility and is the target of his malicious pen is to be felicitated upon the good fortune of be- ing assailed by him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-21
IN HOTEL HOBBIES
The Underwood Banquet

"The banquet in honor of Oscar w. Underwood to be given by the Cham Der of Commerce at the Country club next Thursday night will be a large affair" said a prominent member of Birmingham's leading commercial or ganization
 While it will not be as large in the number of covers laid as some of the banquets held here In recent years, 1t will be especially notable because of the large position which MT. Under wood, the honoree, occupies in the pub lie view at this time. The Chamber of Commerce acted wisely, think, in fixing the price at $10-the price which each member of the chamber accept ing an invitation has to pay.
 Had the banquet been gotten up by Mir. Underwood's close political parti- sans for the purpose of political boost ing $5 would have been about the price. But this is purely a Chamber of Com merce matter and the original inten- ton was to honor Congressman Un- means committed of the House of Rep resentatives, and as commanding fig ure in this countrys national life.
 q am glad to see that the speeches to be more and more the fashion to limit after dinner speeches in time as well as in number"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-21

country. with the exception of the Boston Symphony, are made up of union nut sieians, and as the union rates have been advanced materially within the past year or so symphony concerts are more ex- pensive than ever. orchestras that travel with AS or 50 men formerly offered their services en tour for one night per formance for $900 to s10O0. The same or chestras now charge from $12oo to $15O0 night The Philharmonic of New York, which is projecting southern tour for the early spring, ask from s25OO to $2SOo a night. 1t will travel with its full or ganzation' of about s5 men. Josef Slansky, the new conductor, is making a splendid impression in New York. He is said to be as great as any of the symphony leaders who have appeared in that city, if not greater. It may be that the Phil harmonic will appear in Birmingham, but in order for the engagement to be finan- cially successful a 5000 house would have tc be assured. That would mean a range of prices up as high as s."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-21
Trust Plans Before Congress

Colonel Roosevelt's plans for hand ling big interstate business are cer- tainly all that the imagination could ask for. Imagine the power of a commission, not unlike the interstate commerce organization, which is to supervise and regulate all concerns other than railroads, with or without federal franchises, that are engaged in interstate commerce It's power would be greater than the rest of the government itself. s
 MT. Roosevelt is, however, right when he says we need thorough su- pervision of the big corporations un- der a law that shall be ''clear, unam- r;buous, certain" It is plain he has little use for the rule of reason legis- ! lated into the antitrust act by the snnreme court. It is not clear, un- ambiguous or certain. The adminis- tration's plan of control through law kuits is declared to be chaotic and de- moralizing.
 The one fault that can be attributed A to MT. Roosevelt's signed editorial is X Ina omission of an outline of bill to carry his plan into effect. Such bill is, in his opinion, necessary in krder to put an end to "business ehaos." And he should for the general 6ood have outlined a bill in his re- kent editorial. Then the people would knve been able to see with exactness ehat he considers legal and moral, < knd what he considers unlawful and &immoral. Then, too, we would have lad schedule of punishments. He kalls for, in some cases, terms in the < benitentiary. Another column would kave been added to the editorial, but ihat column would have greatly in $ freased its educational value, and it tkould have been added. It is not oo late to present it in an additional frticle.
 Congressman Henry, on the other
 Snd, is not at all academic or argu-
 xntative. He presents bill which
 
 proposes to lay before Congress-
 this bill should become law the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-21
AN ELEPHANT ROUNDUP

E. Alex Powell, in December Outing.
 Elephants in Ceyion are increasing so rapidly that they are becoming terror to the traveller and a scourge to the planter. the latest estimate of the forest department placing their number at 5000. The great native landholders arranged, therefore, with the help of their t\lants, to relieve the latter of one of their griev- ances and at the same time to derive from the operation considerable sport and more profit, for in Ceylon the elephant has a very real market value, for he not only figures conspicuously in all ceremonies in forest clearing, cultivation, irrigation, and pretty much every other form of draft work, being, when properly trained, a useful and valuable animal.
 When it is appreciated that the opera tions preliminary to a successful kraal extend over a period of several weeks, that as many as osv0 beaters are employed in the drive, that dozen lives are some- times lost and half a hundred elephants captured. it will be seen that kraaling is a sport only within the reach of kings, and of Kandyan kings at that. The very small number of Europeans who have wit messed these jungle roundups is due to the fact that the scene of operations has from necessity to be laid in almost impenetra- ble jungle, to reach which means no in considerable expenditure of money, time ard temper, not to mention the draw. backs of very primitive transportation and still more primitive accommodation uncertain commissariat arrangements and such minor annoyances as snakes, jungle ticks, ,eeches, and mosquitoes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-21
FIRE TRAPS

From the Survey.
 That Boston is taking to heart the lesson of the Chelsea fire which de- stroyed the homes of tens of thous- ands of people is shown by the recom- mendations of radical changes which the committee on fire prevention of the Boston chamber of commerce makes after a years investigation. The com mittee wishes to prevent second holc- caust which it believes is lowering over Boston; for in the Dorchester and Rox- bury districts the continuous blocks or cheaply constructed "three-deckers' are dangerous fire hazards. The loss has thus far been very light but the danger of a disaster which would sweep out blocks at time is always present. To reduce this risk the committee recom- mends the enactment of city ordinances which will prohibit, within the city limits, buildings which constitute such great risks.
 The committee insists that nothing but first class, fire proof buildings should be erected in the congested dis tricts, and concludes that:
 .'Even in our large cities where fire proof buildings have become general there are still in existence groups of buildings which on the interior are largely constructed of wood. These so- called second class buildings make pos sible a conflagration at any time. Such d holocaust as has been experienced by Elizabeth, Chelsea, Baltimore, San Francisco, Portland and Bangor may be expected in Boston at any time.
 "The number of deaths due to fire is also out of all reasonable proportion in this country, over 5000 people having lost their lives in one year. The loss of life in foreign countries is small. All rules and regulations which tend to- ward the reduction of fire waste will, of course, reduce this loss of life. Re- cent experiences in this country, partic- ularly the fire of April ', 1911, in New York city, show an utter disregard for law and reasonable conditions of safety"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-21
General Ii Issues a Sherman Act


 The Chinese have an antitrust act and there is no nonsense in 1t. 1t goes to the heart of the subject with no twaddle over the size of corporations or the like. It's provisions are thus stated by a Chinese journal:
 ..,rhose who deal with merchants un- fairly are to be beheaded
 .,Those who interrupt commerce are to be beheaded.
 Those who attempt to close the markets are to be beheaded.
 .Those who maintain the prosperity of commerce are to be rewarded.
 This covers the entire ground. There is no form of trade that IS overlooked in this excellent Chinese statute-this highly drastic but ex- ceedingly effective law.
 The packers in Chicago or the mo- nopolists in the late Standard Oil trust may consider it's penalties some what severe, but their point of view is not altogether free from prejudice.
 It appears that this law was not nuddled or fuddled in a legislative body. It sprang directly from the head of Gen. Ii Yuan Kung, the rebel commander in the field near Han kow, and he proclaimed it in the eighth moon of the 4609th year of the Hwang dynasty. That dynasty ex- isted long before the Manchu war riors set up a regime of their own in China, and General Ii, a rebel, did not. therefore, hesitate to date his decree as he did.
 But this is neither here nor there. The New York Times calls attention to the effectiveness of the Chinese statute. While" it goes on to say, five think that a motion to substitute the generals decree for the first and second sections of the Sherman act ought by all means to be seconded and considered with deliberation and an open mind, we are not disposed to press the question just now. We sub- init, however, that the conspicuous soundness and merit of General Lis antitrust law entitle it to study and attention in this country
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-21
Home Rule for Ireland

Parliament will begin its 1912 ses- sions in February, and the home rule bill is scheduled for debate early in March. The bill is actually engrossed and John Redmond has read it and his approval of it has been secured.
 It provides for parliament of two chambers, and an Irish ministry re- sponsible to that parliament alone. There are, however, many provisions that are still withheld from the pub lie. Some provisions are still, no doubt, tentative, and they may be ma terially modified before March.
 Already the tories are stirring up opposition to the bill. They declare that Ireland is bankrupt-that the Irish revenue will prove insufficient that an Irish parliament would pass laws oppressive to Irish Protestants. In Protestant Ulster opposition to any home rule bill is something fierce. Recently in Belfast declaration was made that Ulster would, in the event of the passage of the home rule bill, secede and apply for annexation as an English county. The battle next spring will be one of a desperate na- ture, and the lords will surely delay the bill just as long as they can, or about two years.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-21
Governor O,Nenl,s speech

q was glad to see in the Hobbies of the 20th inst, that one of your contribu- tors appreciated the speech of Governor O'Neal before the New York Chamber of Commerce, and was in favor of making that appreciation known by banquet to the governor,o said an Alabamian, who is a member of the Birmingham bar
 "It was great speech, and showed the research of a scholar, the logic of lawyer and the wisdom of a statesman. It demonstrated that the initiative and referendum would overthrow all consti- tutions, state and federal, and leave mi- norities at the mercy of unrestrained ma jorities, and it gave a solemn warning of what would be our fate if these vagaries of communism became the law of the land
 Let us organize suitable plan to show our governor that his effort in be- half of constitutional government is duly appreciated by his own constituents
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-21
Optimism in New York

q found good deal of optimism in New York last week." said Pres ident H. $. Matthews of the Alabama Consolidated Coal and Iron company, who returned from the east yester- day.
 In the big hotels and in the bus mess district the signs of improved business conditions seemed very much in evidence. I heard New York men say that there had not been so much optimistic talk in New York since the financial panic of 1907 as there is at this time. A few months ago one heard little but pessimistic talk in New York. Now it is all cheerful and capitalists seem to be taking much brighter view of the future"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-21
Bringing the Packers to Trial

The packers of Chicago, headed by Edward Tilden of Lorimer-Hines fame, have been subjects of govern ment favor ever since 1903. At that time Judge Grosscup was on the bench, and at the request of the fed eral authorities he issued an injunc- tion to. restrain them from entering into combination, That injunction has hung fire ever since. Later on they were indicted, and it was in con- nection with these indictments that the famous Garfield immunity baths" were effectually pleaded. In March, 1910, new indictments were found, and a bill in equity was filed asking for the dissolution of MT. Til den's National Packing company. Judge Landis quashed the indict- ments of March, 1910, and in Sep tember, 1910, more indictments were brought in, and it is these indict- ments that the packers are today try ing to delay and defeat. They are still pleading that the Garfield inn munity baths gave them permission to transact the fresh meat business of the country in their own way. Judge Carpenter of the district court and Judge Kohlsaat of the cir cult court have, however, refused to ouash the indictments, and it begins to look as if the beef barons will have to face the indictments very much as any other man who is not a multi-millionaire would have to meet one.
 A great legal battle is now proba- ble, and the taking of testimony may cover weeks, if not months. The trial will be begun tomorrow if the pack ers' lawyers can devise no means of delay. A case that has been in court eight years should certainly be brought to trial, and the presumption is that the packers of Chicago will be the first to get the benefit of the criminal sections of the Sherman act.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-21

rule of reasonableness written into the antitrust act by the supreme court would be abolished, and he who runs could read what a trust is and how it could be punished.
 Congress and the people will have at any rate the Roosevelt theories and the Henry bill that they can study, and these two documents may lead to a new measure that will put an end to the chaos and uncertainty and business confusion that the law suit plan of the administration has in- flicted on the country.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-21
UNKNOWN HEROINES

From Harper.s Magazine.
 Do you know any unknown heroines? DO you know of any? If you do, write about them to Harper's Bazaar
 The world is full of women quietly do- ing heroic deeds without recognition or reward Some of their achievements de- serve the highest tributes men can offer, all arc inspiring to others in the ex- ample they give to the world. The French government gives an annual prize to such obscure herones. A few years ago this prize was awarded to an old servant who for 20 years had support ed her aged master and mistress in their blindness and poverty.
 There must be many unknown heroines in America. The Bazar would like to know about them-who they are and what they are doing. The Bazar would like also to publish the stories of their achievencnts--not necessarily their full names and addresses, though these names and addresses must in each in- stance accompany manuscript sent in.
 The Bazar will pay space rates for records of quiet heroism among women.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-21
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

nsh until the last chapter: there is Mar Joiaine-how could a girl with a name iiKe that help being otherwise than ador- apie Y-and there is young Jack Sayle, who loves Marjolaine at sight; and young Jack father, the elder Jack Sayle, who loved Marjolaine's mother a long time ago ana loves her again in Pomander Walk; there IS redoubtable Sir Peter Antrobus, retired admiral of His Majesty's navy; there is plump Mrs. Poskett, to whom the admiral capitulates. after vain strug- gles; there is Barbara Pennymint, who teaches her parrot to tell Basil Pringle that she loves him; the elegant Brooke Hoskyne late butler, who parades as d man of fashion; the Rev. Jacob Stern royd, D. D., who becomes an unwilling emissary of Cupid, and several other quaint characters. whom it will do you good to meet '.Pomander Walk is the 'novelized" form of the play of the same name, which is now current in New York. Both are from the brain, as we'll as the heart, no doubt, of the man who wrote Rosemary"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-21
RISE OF A BOY TENOR
From the New York American.

From the New York American
 1" HE story of the rise of Orville Har-
 rold, the 27-year-old American ten-
 \ or, who scored phenomenal success at Oscar Hammerstein's new London Opera house in the role of Arnold, in Rossinis William Tell' Ca role so diff cult that it baked even the golden throat of Caruso), is the most romantic in the annals of American music.
 Few in the vast audience that filled the great opera house knew that the young man on the stage who took marvellous high C's and even Ds with thrilling ease was driving a delivery wagon on the streets of little Indiana town seven years ago. Scarcely more knew that only two years ago the young American was rendering popular songs in vaudeville halls in this city.
 The story properly begins in the town of Muncie, in the rolling farm country of Indiana. Mime. Heink, one afternoon in late May, sat in the dressing room of the Muncie theatre. She was very much out of humor. for her baggage had failed to arrive and she faced the probability of being forced to appear in street attire
 Suddenly there was borne into the room the tones of a clear boyish tenor trilling the triumphant notes from the finale of "Rienzi." The famous contralto leaned forward in her eagerness. She waited until the song was ended and then sum moned an attendant
 "Wonderful, wonderful!'' she exclaimed. Bring that voice to me-"
 The young man, cap in hand, was led into the presence of the prima donna. She learned from him that he was the son of farmer in the neighborhood, that he sung in the First Christian church in Muncie and drove delivery wagon for the local firm.
 It was a lucky meeting for young Or vile Harold, for it was the first intirna- tion from any one competent to judge that he possessed a voice worth cultivating. Forthwith he began to train his voice.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-21
LONDON TIRED OF DANCING

London Correspondence Chicago News.
 Oriental twisting and wriggling, styled on the bills "dancing," appears to be losing it's fascination for the London music hall public. Moreover. the Lon don county council at last seems to have developed conscience on the subject. A so called drawn of love" dance in- troduced at the Palladium Monday night had to undergo drastic alterations before the committee Of councillors would sanction its repetition. The com mittee witnessed a private performance Of the modified version yesterday after noon. and 1t now intends to give it's attention to the contortions of women on every vaudeville stage of the me- trop6lis.
 Certainly this new style of alleged dancing has grown into something like a general scandal. A playgoer can scarcely enter a music hall, or even some of the high class theatres, with out sooner or later beholding girl or a woman, sometimes very 1.-the and sometimes about as 1.-the as a bus horse. rushing about the stage by fits and starts, executing all manner of in- sinuating gestures and contortions, oc- casionally seemingly trying to shake her head off or break her neck, all the while wearing nothing but flimsy tiara and girdle of ribbons.
 The thing is curious and interesting at first, but a regular diet of 1t for months appears to be telling even on Iondon's robust appetite for the vaude- vile monstrosity. Today the critics are calling for return to classicism ard Incidentally to some decency in public dancing. Maud Allan started the craze but her work serves now only to show how far her imitators have fallen from their model. It is. safe to say that the dances of Eastern women in the low haunts of Tunis, Rangoon and Cairo have about run their demoralizine course on the London stage.
 l satirizing these performances. Puncl quotes danseuse as saying; "Nots thu
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-21
Persia and the Congo

Persia has no Xerxes, no Roth schild, and she stands where Slavic and Anglo interests meet, and she is about to be abolished. Russia has had a sphere of influence in northern Persia and England in the country about the Persian gulf, and these spheres of influence are to be em- phasized as preliminary to benevo- lent assimilation and absorption. Per sia, in other words, is to disappear from the map, and Russia and Eng land will then meet. England will have the water front and her navy thus becomes a factor in the division.
 The Belgian Congo is also being discussed in Europe, and the impress sion prevails that it will be cut up, one part going to France, one to Ger many and one to England. Belgium would gain the Luxemburg district and perhaps other advantages to be negotiated for later on. England would gain route for her Cape-to- Cairo railroad, and Germany's pos sessions would stretch across Africa. The French empire in Africa would be enlarged. Altogether it is perhaps the best for all concerned that the Belgium Congo should go into strong hands.