davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-01

cago, and the ballot to be used in either the coming primary or the coming election will be unduly long. The names of candidates for electors will supplant in November the names of candidates for delegates on April 1. In England the short ballot is the rule. The typical English ballot con- tains but two names-those of the op- posing candidates for the house of commons or for the city council. As these officials are not chosen at one time the British voter sees on his bal lot but two names.
 The official ballot in this country is a muddle of names of municipal, county, state and federal candidates. All are mixed together in the most complicated manner, and things cleo toral are no worse here than in other states.
 We need here a short ballot asso- citation with view to securing a remedy against medley of names offering for every possible office. The ballot for the primary of April 1 has not been published, but it is known that it will carry perhaps 200 names of men who aspire to office of various sorts. A movement against such ballot is needed. Comparatively few voters can pick the best names out of two hundred.
 Give us a short ballot. How this can be best brought about needs study and careful thought, and to that end a short ballot association should be organized.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-01
AN UNFINISHED CHURCH

From the March Wide World Magazine.
 There is a curious history regarding an unfinished church which stands at Has, sail, near Sandbach, England. former resident at the local hall. MT. Lowndes, painfully conscious of the lack of pro- vision for the spiritual wants of the peo- pie in the neighborhood determined to build a church at his own expense. After carefully choosing a site, he gave in- structions for the erection of a structure in the modern style capable of seating 400 or 560 persons. Work on it was be- gun in the summer of 1S36 and was pushed on steadily till the day on which Queen Victoria was crowned, by which time the building was well advanced. The erypfs about 10 in number, had been mi in the walls and roofs were complete, and the scantlings for the floor were fixed Indeed. partly in consequence of the na- tional rejoicings, and partly to celebrate in. progress which had been made. the buildins was smothered in flags and deco rations, and was the center of the local festivities. Next day MT. Lowndes was seized with an illness which quickly proved fatal, and with his passing all work on the church ceased. Though the building could have been finished at com paratively small cost, it was abandoned; and it has not been used since, except by tourists, whose names 'hallow and adorn it - as Mark Twain said of those on the ruins of Gains altar, by the thousand.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-01

From the New York Sum
 Statistics which supply an admirable opportunity to compare the police force of Paris with that of this city both as to numbers, organization and pay are fur nished by an official report which has just been published in the French apital. Needless to say the local policeman will find nothing unfavorable in the compari- son of his lot with that of his Parisian brother in clubs.
 Rank and file included the Paris police force counts 5000 men for a city of slight ly less than 3000,C00. New York, with just under 100000 people, has 1o136. Of the French force 1000 are of the rank cor 8s0 of the next rank, which corresponds to sergeant here. Of the balance 60 are brigadiers, comparable with lieutenants; S
 inspectors and 25 officers. There are thus 123 officers above sergeant in the French force The number In this city is 724, or a little less than six times as large.
 The pay of the French patrolman gar dien de la paix) ranges from $400 to s50, with an additional clothing allowance of @op. fo annually, dbdiiiot Poup lo yifvV hIAN' that of the. sergeant (sous brigadier) ranges from s540 to $5eO, against s1750 lo- cally; that of the brigadier 5000 to $620, against s2750 for New York captains.
 In Paris as in New York the police man can retire upon half pay after 25 years of service and the Frenchman can count his time in the army. Retirement for physical disability on a proportionally smaller pension is possible after 10 years of service. and on application after 10 years. After 20 years of service, the last five without punishment, the Partisan po- liceman gets medal which brings $10 a year extra pay.
 As in New York, all grades and ranks are open to the Paris policeman, but in the French capital the competition is much more severe and the posts far less numer- ous in proportion to the size of the de- partment. Having passed all tests the Paris sergeant must undergo further trial of from one to two years before he is finally commissioned.
 The organization of the Paris depart ment corresponds roughly to that here The force is divided into 25 companies, 2 of which are distributed among the civil divisions of the town and five are held in reserve at the prefecture. The reserves are used in any emergency, at any public gathering or celebration and to re-enforce company in a dangerous district in case of riot. They also furnish details for balls. concerts and races, and one com pany has charge of the carriage traffic oi the city.
 Thus the conditions of service of the French policemen are far more severe than those of the New York bluecoat, the pay but third or half. and the openings for advance immeasurably smaller. Yet the ranks are always full and the appli- cations indicate the attraction the service has for Frenchmen.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-01
NEWSPAPER WnMEN

The newspaper woman of today, writes Elizabeth Lonergan in the March Strand, is often merely a name to the reading pub lie, and little indeed is known of her personality. Though we pass her on the street, every magazine article and story that she writes is eagerly compared with the daily signed articles in her especial journal. Sometimes we are fortunate enough to meet this wonderful woman, and are usually disappointed. To our sur prise she is not of an abrupt masculine type, or a dreamy eyed butterfly, but an alert, business like woman, who does not seem at all impressed by the mur- murs of delight over her daily effusons.
 There are few assignments that are not given to women. Forty years ago an edi- tor who did not approve of the newspaper woman planned to secure the resignation signment. It was to write up famous hanging Contrary to his expectations the reporter expressed her willingness to ac- cept it. Of course, she was not asked to go, the editor declaring that it was all joke Today no orders, however strange, cause comment. An interview with a prominent millionaire (arranged with the greatest of difficuty); another, writing actual experiences as a member of the circus, or as one of the diving girls in the Hippodrome.
 The newspaper woman must have great individuality, adaptability and persever- ance. She must think quickly and be able to express herself in a few words. The wide range of subjects upon which she must write gives her power to do many other things well, so it is seldom that the woman writer does not excel in more than one line. Journalism, to it's efficient follower. is many times the open se- same to other professions, where the same qualities which brought her success in the former field win her success in the new
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-01
TWO BROTHERS WIN FAME

In the March American Magazine, James Montgomery Flagg, the well known artist, writes an amusing sketch of Wallace and Will Irwin. brothers, who went from san Francisco to New York about eight years ago, one to become star reporter and important journalist, and the other a famous writer of humorous prose and verse. A part of MT. Flagg's sketch fol- lows:
 twill or Wallace is 36 and the other one is ss. The cleverest lads that have come across the Hudson in-well, the cleverest any time. They came from California several years ago, which fact will here after be incorporated in our Thanksgiving proclamations.
 twill was managing editor of McClure's magazine at one time and so became M R. D., doctor of undertaking He chased the demon rum tc it's adulterated lairs all over the country for Golfers.
 .Wallace created Hashimura Togo, whose screamingly funny letters of Jap anese schoolboy were for quite a while believed to be written by bona fide Jap, so truly Japanese were they in character.
 '.Wallace's satires on politics have been a feature of many newspapers. He gave the nickname that stuck to the pale own CT of the New York William Also Randolph Hearst.
 When Golfers wanted the inside his tory and critique of all the prominent newspaper in the United States. fab bergasting job Will up and did it-and did it beautiful seal brown, too. Hearst threatened to arrest Will and Robert COT Her on the day Golfers printed the artieie about Hearst. Will stayed a day longer in the city than he had intended so as not f, miss the arrest and had photographer hired to get picture of Collier ana nm self manacled together and being led into the Tombs. Win was rather cut up about it when the arrest didn't come off.
 ..rhe Irwin brothers middle name is Enthusiasm They have large drawing ac- coupts at the Day and Night Bank of Ideas and their check books are always in use.
 ..If there had not been an earthquake in San Francisco for Bill to write the story of he probably could have produced one-perhaps by getting under the asphalt and pushing it up. Now Wallace is diff ferent-he could and did describe the Spanish war just as 1t never happened without leaving his boudoir And Golfers printed it. The worst of it was, they liked it.
 Its all quite simple. this brother act.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-01
RuiIding Operations

Although we have had comparatively hard winter. building operations have been little interfered with by the weather. said a member of the Chamber of Com merce. And now that spring is here, an active building season will soon make Birmingham hum.
 There will be a larger number of high class structures erected here than in any one year in the past. A great business boom is expected throughout the country next year and, of course, Bir- mingham will share to the fullest extent in the new era of prosperity. Within the next three of four years Birmingham will have in addition to new hotels, new apart mcnt houses and a new theatre, new postoffice and a new county courthouse, There is every reason to expect that the government will begin the erection o~ a million dollar building on it's site at the corner of Fifth avenue and Nineteenth street."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-01
KANSAS CITY GIRL WINS FAME

Following is an extract from an article in the March Womans Home Companion about young American girl WHO has just made a great success on the operatic stage:
 'Never was there more distinctly American operatic triumph than that of Miss Felice Lyme, the little Kansas City girl whose singing and acting made all the London critics sit up and take notice. Miss Lyme is a genuine product of the middle vest she was presented in the London opera house by MT. Oscar Ham, merstein, the American manager; more over, she attributes her success to her American teacher. who. though known as 'dAubigny' in his Paris studio, is a member of the well known Virginia fam fly of Dabney. Miss Lyme had sung in opera only once before her triumphant appearance as Glda in 'Rigoletto' She is only 20 years old, slender, light, and graceful. She is the tiniest of prima donnas. five feet and one inch high. and weighing but 9S pounds After her tri- umph, the London Graphic said The house which went out on Saturday to see 'Rlgoletto, rupDed us eyes With de- light at the discovery that Mile Lyme as Gilda was a great prima donna. She looks quite a girl and yet she is per- feet artist in point of singing and acting. Another critic declared that Miss Lyme is so young that one hesitattes to fortell what she may accomplish in the near flu ture One can only say that her Gida of Sa Ia a 1e1iybt to hoo and an equal pleasure to see. There is music in every note of her voice. Lon don Truth added, If sine goes on as she has begun. she may confidently be re-
 garded as one of the greates prima donnes of he future Miss Lyme herself frankly confesses that sine was surprised, not at her success. but that success came as soon as it did
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-01
Parade of Veterans at Macon

The old soldiers who go to Macon
 attend the reunion of the Confed- Lfate veterans will have an opportuni- sty to march in the accustomed parade. It will be shortened in order to give more comfort and less fatigue to the old soldiers.
 Reports to the contrary had gone out--reports, that is to say, that the parade would be omitted altogether. While reunions are held parade of the veterans will be an annual event. As one old soldier has said, no Con- federate soldier who has feet to walk on believes he is too old to march in parade with his comrades.
 The rumor to the contrary that had been spread around several cities cre- atcd no little criticism, and this has resulted in resolve to have a parade so long as the old soldiers can march in it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-01
Republican Governors Mistaken

"The American people are conservative when it comes to electing a President and even if Roosevelt should get the repub- lican nomination he could not be elect ed said an old voter. "The ex-Presdent is full of egotism. He flatters himself doubtless that the public wants to see him in the White House again, but opposition to third termism would defeat him if nothing else would. Those republican governors have misled Roosevelt. Be- cause some Roosevelt sentiment has man ifested itself in the states over which they preside they imagine that all their con- stituents want the ex-President to come back. But we in Alabama know how a governor sometimes mistakes fabricated sentiment for real sentiment. There is no widespread demand for Roosevelt for another term. the call of the governors to the contrary notwithstanding.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-01
Result of Had Roads

''The bad weather conditions, almost unprecedented. for the past four months have constituted an important factor in the steady increase of the price in feed stuffs and a scarcity of the hay crop of last year also contributed to the ad- vance," said Dr. J. c. Curry, a well known grain dealer of Bessemer, yester- day.
 ''The bad roads throughout the southern states that supply the hay and feed mar kets have delayed the deliveries to the local dealers for several months, and know of many instances where car loads of hay contracted for last November have never yet been placed aboard freight car. as the highways have been in such a deplorabe state that the farmers could not reach the nearest shipping point With the snow bound trains from the west and the mud bound wagons from the south, the cost of ton of some par ticular classes of hay has climbed $5, which makes the situation all the more acute for the planter, merchant and con sumer. The horses have managed to be provided for in some way, but reports iiohi dH ScetloiS ol thc SoutH eilipiidSizt the need for improved roads that the sup ply may be hauled to an available rail road.
 "The opening of spring is very welcome, as the signs are favorable for heavier movements In all feed stuff lines as well as hay, and while the weather status of this winter has interfered with the mar ket more so than at anV time during the past 10 years, the outlook for a steady betterment in the market is very hopeful during the next few months
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-01
The Roosevelt managers expect t
carry these states:
They also believe they can sweep:
This wsr'i nominate Roosevelt, but

This v~r'i nominate Roosevelt, but q good D, ny of these states will be stubbornIy contested and in those that have adopted the district primary plan solid delegation is well nigh impos- sible.
 Both factions, for example, claim New York, and for the first time in the history of that state district dele gates will be elected in district pri- maries, and the state convention will be limited to the choice of four dele gates at large. Under such circum- stances neither Taft nor Roosevelt can secure the S6 district delegates solid. Pennsylvania is a machine state, but the republican district dele gates are to be elected in district pri- maries, and even Boss Penrose cannot name all of them. The Roosevelt claim is weakened by the fact that dis trict primaries are to be held, and when one looks at the matter up one side and down the other and across the middle MT. Taft seems to have the better chance to secure the nomina- tion in what promises to become the bitterest factional fight in the entire history of the republic.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-01

candidate for the presidential nomination by the democratic party. T desire to say" is the senator's statement, that all we are doing in his behalf has his full and hearty concurrence. He is a candi- date and is in the race not only to win the nomination but also for election in November meaning, of course, if nom mated.
 The senator outlines the Underwood programme, as follows: T wish the peo- pie of the country to know that we expect to go in on the strength of our candidate, his high character, his well tried leader ship and his fidelity to party and also to the time honored principles of the demo- cratic party. If we are unable to win save through anonymous and unsigned attacks on other candidaes, then we would not deserve to win. In all we do it will never be forgotten that there is certain comity due between candidates of the same party and that after nomina- tion we must be in position to fight common political enemy"
 This statement, inspired no doubt by MT. Underwood himself, is in excellent taste. If he cannot win on his merits, he does not deserve to win; and he would have no satisfaction in a victory built upon the ruin he himself had inflicted upon others seeking the nomination.
 MT. Underwood is the gentleman i'll poll tics as we'll as the statesmen. He is alive. he Is progressive, he is aggressive but he is governed in all his words and actions by prudence, common sense, and the knowledge of the fitness of things. There is no man before the public at the present time that shows finer judgment in his conduct or who is growing so rap idly in the estimation of people who are attracted by MT. Underwoods display of manly quality.
 If 1t should happen that, blinded by spectacular effect, the republicans should put MT. Roosevelt in nomination, MT. tTn- derwood Is precisely the man to appeal to the sober sense of the people, and to arouse resistance to a movement that is so radical that it's end cannot be predctt ed. If. on the other hand, MT. Taft should be the republican nominee, MT. Under- wood will be Attest as his opponent. be- cause MT. Underwood has the record of lhiuss atSouiplioheu, ol icduiiS HI llic peoples fight against a high tariff and high prices. while MT. Taft, when he had his chance to do this very thing, was led aside by considerations of politics and abandoned his own platform, leaving the interests of the people to suffer.
 In brief, MT. Underwood is the thorough American, the near approach to the ideal mot self seeking, industrious, honest with himself and the people, brave, ready, sharp in attack, resourceful in defense, complete master of himself, able and compelling leader of men, trustworthy and patriotic.
 This is the year of democratic victory; the year when, if MT. Underwood be nom- mated, a new political era will dawn for the republic.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-01
IN LAURELED REST

From the Atlanta Constitution. He is resting on his laurels,'' so they
 said of one who lay Where he could not hear the singing of
 the winds that went his way After all this curse and clamor of .his
 bitter, trampled sod. He. is resting on his laurels. meath the
 quiet stars of God ''He is resting on his laurels'-but not
 one awarded now But left stain of crimson on the pallor
 of his brow. Too late-too late the laurels that were
 won with pain and death. When he could not feel the falling of
 benediction's breath. He is resting on his laurels'-so they
 said of him that day. Who could not reap the riches of one
 red rose May. After all the curse and clamor-after all the storm and strife, Meath the daisies of the love of Cod
 who reaped the thorns of life:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-01
Southern Prosperity

"I visited the south ten years ago for the first time" said Henry H. Deane of Buffalo. N. Y.
 Tt seemed to be a fairly prosperous country then, but in recalling that first visit the south was far behind in agricul- ture compared with agricultural condi- tions today. As an observer. I would say that the greatest advances the south has made has been in its farming methods. am told that wonderful progress has been made in agriculture in every southern state within the past four or five years.
 '1 spent week in Texas in January and that state seemed to be enjoying great prosperity. Alabama has come for ward steadily in farming operations and the same is true of the Atlantic coast states all the way from Virginia down to Florida. Virginia is one of the richest states in the entire south and it seems to be going right ahead in every direc- ton. All southern cities have grown some of them. such as Birmingham, At lanta and Jacksonville, at phenomenal rate. It will be only a question of time when the south will be the richest part of the United States
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-01
New Industries Wanted

President Sibley has named com mittee of the Chamber of, Commerce to appear before the city commission to ask for a suspension of license and ad valorem taxation to new industries for a period of 10 years. Sydney J.. Bowie is the chairman of the commit tee, and he will no doubt make a strong appeal for the proposed con- cession.
 Should this request be granted by the commission the Chamber of Con- merce will be well equipped to go in search of new industries. That is what the Chamber of Commerce real ly exists for. It does not need to look for big industries. Small ones that contain the elements of growth are better perhaps than big industries. There is, however, no honest industry that is not wanted here where there is plenty of fuel and where there will soon be water made electrical energy at low rates. So far as transporta- ton facilities are concerned dozen railroads and an open river to tide water V Il soon invite the thoughtful manufacturer
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-01
My stars shine darIxly over me.
 Twelfth Night.
Roosevelt or Taft?

Roosevelt is the anti-organization candidate, and majority of the dele gates to Chicago will be selected un- der the old time convention plan, and the state convention, as a rule, will be controlled by organization politicians. To this fact should be added the fur ther one, namely, the southern dele gates will be selected by the postoffice contingent. Here are two things that make for Taft's renomination, and against Roosevelt landslide in "the grand old party"
 A majority is suffient in republi can convention, and the winner needs 538 votes. Mr. Taft expects to get 249 from the south and the territories, and his friends claim the delegates from these organization states: Con necticut, Maine, Maryland, Massa chusetts, New. Jersey, Ohio, Pennsyl >Sania, Rhode Island, Vermont-292. He needsS but six votes more, and these can readily be secured in the dis trict primaries of New York and Hi nois.
 The Roosevelt managers expect to