davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-17
HABAKKUK

From the Philadelphia Inquirer
 One of the disappointed statesmen of the country on election night found solace in reading Habakkuk. eighth of the minor prophets as found in the old Testament. We doubt if many persons even such as are fairly familiar with the Bible, ire quently read this little work of three chapters. It is seldom one hears texts from this book preached upon.
 As fact. nothing is known whatever of Habakkulz unless he be identified with one of the same name who is mentioned in the Apocryphal works as having minis tered to Daniel in the lions den. The name is not Hebrew, but may have been assumed, for literary purposes, as was not uncommon in those days.
 The gist of the first two chapters of tho book is the grief of the prophet over the approaching Chaldeans. The last chapter is poem with musical directions, which some persons think was written by ar other of the same name or title. S3ut the point of all this Is that the statesman in question seems to think that the demo- cratic Chaldeans of American politics are of the ancient stripe lie ought to cheer up. The republicans do not fear Seventy Years Captivity. The democrats arc a minority party. We think the American people will survive and that to accept the lamentations of Habakkuk ss having personal bearing at this time is wholly unwarranted.
 1 At the same time it may stir up interest in one of the Sacred Books, so little read but which is full of religious. historical and literary interest Perhaps not many persons know that in this book is found the familiar quotation: But the Lord is in His holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before Him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-17
Striving to Avert Greater War

The censorship is strict on both sides of the fighting line and it is impossible to say every day just what the situation is. The reader is expect ed to watch the latest cablegrams, and even then he may be misled.
 , In the absence of definite intelli- gence, rumor is busy and many guesses are placed in print. Greece will, it is said, get Crete and a big slice of Macedonia; Bulgaria will carry her lines close to Constantino- pie; Servia will secure Nori-bazar and strip of territory to Saloniki which is to be internationalized; Montenegro will be doubled in size; Roumania will gain Silistria, and Albania will be- come an autonomous principality un- der the normal suzerainty of the Sulan of Turkey.
 A settlement on these terms would stay Austria's hands, while it would leave practically no Turkey in Europe to quarrel over, unless it be in Al bania. Austria has raised the issue, Albania for Albanians," and she is content to await complete and final disposition of that province. She hopes to get it in the long run. Albania is today the hardest problem of the war;, and the settlement proposed would perhaps satisfy Servia without of lending Austria. It is a long way, however, from Belgrade to Saloniki and the way is occupied chiefly by Greeks and Bulgars. Still this would be better than war with Austria, a power that can mobilize 500,000 men on short notice.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-17
History About to Repeat Itself

Let no one think that great parties cannot die in this country, for at least two have made their exits, and the third seems to be nearly ready to fol- low in their footsteps.
 The federalist party which repre- scented the classes in it's days very much as the republican party has of late done, went out after the presi- dential campaign of 1916. In that cam paign it boiled but 34 votes out of 221. The 34 votes were cast in Con necticut, Delaware and Massachusetts, and the party did not make another effort.
 The whig party went out in 1852 because it could control but 42 votes out of 296. The 42 votes cast for Gen eral Scott came from Massachusetts, Vermont, Kentucky and Tenne. see.
 No national party was ever defeated so thoroughly as the re- dblican party was on the last election day. It se- cured but eight electoral votes out of 531, and if precedent be followed it will go cut very much as the federal ist party did in 1916.
 This statement takes no account of lesser parties and divisions that never became nationwide. There were plen- ty of these in the past-the anti-Ma- sonic, the liberal, the free-soil, the know-not1ing, the prohibition, the greenback, the union labor, the peo- ples, the socialist and perhaps half a dozen more. None of them became great nationwide parties, and it is not necessary to trace their brief and inglorious existence.
 Two parties that had elected Pres idents have passed out of existence, and the republican party seems destined to be the third, although few at present believe its exit is near at hand.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-17
Pig Iron Production

The production of pig iron in this country in October was at the rate of 32,00O, 900 tons year. October is usually great production month. The country has, however, many idle fur naces, and if the demand for iron should continue to increase it is wholly possible to carry the production in 1913 to 32,000,000 tons-possibly to 34,0OO,0 ,0OO tons.
 This district has at times produced 10 per cent of the national output, but it is plain it would have to "hump" itself if it is to make in 1913 10 per cent of even a production of 32.O00, ,000 tons. The ore is here and it is to a large extent self-fluxing, and the coal is here that can be readi- ly turned into coke. There is no lack of raw materials, and when capital sees how readily and cheaply iron made in this district can be floated to tidewater, more stacks may be built, The Panama canal will soon be felt in this district.
 A production up to 10 per cent of the national output should be the ann bition of the district, especially in view of the fact that there is plenty of "old hard red' in Shades valley.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-17
Changes in the Seslte

Pending the ratification of the amendment providing for the direct election of United States senators, the people have been engaged in weed ing out of the Senate those who call themselves conservatives" but who are known outside of the Senate as reactionaries. There will not be many of them left in that body after the lth of March. Crane of Massachusetts voluntarily retires, Hepburn of Idaho is dead, Lorimer of Illinois has been
 aiected, and these have been defeated
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-17

at the polls: Gnggenheim of Colorado, Curtis of Kansas, Briggs of New Jer- sey, Dixon of Montana, CulloTn of Illi- nois and Richardson of Delaware.
 There are left of the old guard scarcely a dozen, including Penrose and Oliver of Pennsylvania, Gallinger of New Hampshire, Lodge of Massa- chusetts, Root of New York, Shoot and Sutherland of Utah, Dillingham; of Vermont, Warren of Wyoming and Ike Stephenson of Wisconsin. Three or four more should perhaps be named, but the real old-time reactionaries will not number much more than dozen after inauguration day all told.
 The democrats are we'll assured of a small majority in the Senate and the general drift in the upper house will be toward progressiveness out side of the remnant of the old guard still left in that body. There may be few standpat democrats on specific tariff questions, but they will be lost in the plain drift toward progressive ness. The Senate will not after the 4th of March hold up tariff bills drawn on a revenue basis. The voice of the people has been heard and no serious effort will be made in the Senate to thwart public sentiment.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-17
SPRING IN PERU

From the West Coast Leader, Lima
 Peru
 There could not be better day, from the fjords to the Riviera, from Alaska to Cape Horn--no, not even in grand old Mexico. Just warm enough, just bracirg enough, just breeze enough, just sun enough: what more could one ask?
 Here, indeed. nature has painted won derful scene. Looking out over the ocean, where the green merges into the deep blue necked with white foam and dotted with tiny sails, one sees the strong out line of Fronton against the sea and sky. and san Lorenzos bold headland lost in a fleeey cloud. To the south, Barranco and. Chorrillos seem to be bit of the Cote dAzur transplanted to the Pacific, with the grim Morro Solar mounting guard over the treasure. Turning land- ward again, over the green of the fields the mountains rise, tier upon tier, rose and blue and purple fading into haze that in imagination hides many an ice clad peak.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-17
scHUMANN-HEINIx NO VOTER

Pittsburg Telegram to the New York
 Herald.
 In straw vote of men and women Sehumsnn-Heink gave a song recital President Taft got a plurality of the vote of the men and Mir. Roosevelt plurality of the vote of the women, Governor Wll- son running third in each contest.
 The vote of the men stood: Taft, 2l4; Roosevelt, POP; Wilson. 159
 The vote of the women: Roosevelt, 2Ss; Taft, 224; Wilson, PIT.
 When requested to vote Mime. Schu- ,nsnn- -Heii.k declined, saying that women should stay at home, nursing and bringing up fine sons, who in future would look after their mothers and sisters.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-17
NEED BRACE TALKS ABOUT Tf1EzEXFf2A
 SESSION OF CONGRESS AND WOODROW WILSON

plate. It was nicely fixed some months ago. but holes have worn in it and no effort seems to have. been made to fill them up. All about the city it is the same way. The paving on First avenue and in the central parts of the city have been torn up for laying pipe and re- placed in any sort of slovenly manner. Apparently nobody requires the people who tear up the streets to put them back in any regular order. Certain it Is per sons or corporations who are authorized to tear them up can be required to replace them as they were originally.
 If we can't do more paving in the city we can at least emaintain that which we have and fill up the holes and ruts. What good be it to chert and oil street unless it is kept in condition after ward
 NoW that we nave StdlAeb e' Nvoio5tSstA park in Birmingham let us maintain it and improve it. Let the people and the street railway companies, which will profit so much thereby, get together and erect suitable buildings to maintain a first class collection of animals. The two street railway companies of Bir- mingham could well afford to donate a suitable building which could be con structed for $25OO or less, and then the Boys Zoo association could easily raise the balance of money necessary to pur- chase an elephant Already they have some $500 on hand, and it would be com paratively easy for the boys and girls of Birmingham to raise 5000 more to purchase large and gentle elephant
 The proper building is now the most necessary thing. All the animals in Christendom would be worthless if we have not the buildings in which to house them.
 Let us all get together anf try to build up the proposed zoo at Avondale park.
 Ae6d3,oeQ>
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-17
scope of Charities Organization

When the Associated Charities of Birmingham was organized about two years ago, with John L. Raul as presl- dent, as the successor of the United Charities, a distinct forward move ,nent was made in the work of helping those who need help.
 The United Charities had done a great deal for suffering humanity. That organization was managed en- tirely by good women who gave much time and attention to the poor and
 'icted. But with the growth of Bir-
 tham there was a demand for an
 izAtion of larger scope. The As
 ted Charities under MT. KauPs administration did efficient work and those who were familiar with the op- efations of the association thanked him cordially for what had been a. complished through his efforts. But in that first year the work 9as ten tative.
 The Associated Charities as an in- stitution is said b be more highly organized now Under the new presi- dent, Pssekal c. Shook, certain social service activities have been inaugu- rated in addition to eleemosynary work. The board of directors is com posed of representative business men and the new fiscal year promises to } be one of large results. More than twice as much money will be needed to carry out plans agreed upon by the board as was used last year.
 Oscar c. Turner, chairman of the finance committee, aided by many public spirited citizens, made a pre- liminary canvass recently and raised $5000 for immediate demands. A large canvass will be made this week. Pres- ident Shook says that $15,000 should be raised in addition to the $50OO al ready raised. The canvassers are se- lected from among we'll known busi- ness men. They give their time cheer fully and it is hoped and beleived that the appeals will meet with generous response.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-17
THE oBLAT1oN

By Algernon Charles Swinburne. Ask nothing more of me. sweet, All l can give you l give.
 Heart of my heart. were 1t more, More should be laid at your feet; Love that should help you to live.
 Song that should spur you to spar. All things were nothing to give Once to have sense of you more.
 Touch you and taste of you, sweet Think you and breathe you and live, Swept of your wings as they soar,
 Trod lay the chance of your feet. I that have love and no more
 Give you but love of you, sweet;
 He that hath more, let him give; He that hath wings, Jet him soar; Mine is the heart at your feet.
 Here, that must love you to live.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-17

and It Is an acknowledged fact that ee is the best posted American citizen on the tariff question
 It is all important to the success of the Wilson administration Mat he select for his Secretary of the Treasury a man learned on this subject as well as in finance. Were there another man in the House who could take MT. Un- derwoods place as leader he would be the ideal Secretary of the Treasury. But this will not do under existing conditions and, therefore, it Is of the utmost importance for the perpetua- ton of democratic power that MT. Will son should not permit sectional diff ferences nor political friendship to in huenee the selection of a wise man to head the treasury department.
 * * #
 The democratic party has been out of power so long and there are so many democrats seeking office that the President will be overwhelmed with rec concentrations.
 From the letters I have received it would seem that a large percentage of the citizens of Alabama are already applicants for federal office. There are probably not enough under the entire government. even should the civil ser vice be obliterated, to accommodate the able and earnest Alabamians.
 Ex-Governor Jelks, as national com mitteeman, will have quite a job on his hands in his official capacity to decide which of the Alabamaians to select for the offices he may have to dispense
 # * 4
 Now that the new board of revenue of Jefferson county has assumed office we may expect activity in road construction and maintenance. In this county noth- ing is so badly needed-that is except Improvements in the city streets. hap pened to go to the football game yes terday and the street out to Redwood Park is something fearful to contem-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-17
DESCRIBING IT

From the Chicago Tribune.
 Comanche Pete. on one of his rare visits to the great city. was standing at Dear born and Madison and looking in casual way at the skyscrapers.
 T beg your pardon, sir" said bewil- Gered matron, stopping to speak to him, but can you tell me where the postoffice is?"
 I'm stranger here myself ma an}' responded Commanche Pete, removing itls pig hat. but I think it's about 10 rods cown this-er-gorge.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-17
nErIrcrIoNs OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
 A fat woman has no time to worry about other troubles.
 The way for man to prove his sanity to a girl is for him to be crazy over her.
 A man gets so excited over the way the government is run because he doesn't | know how it is run.
 A girl's Slea about a thrilling football game is if she had some good clothes to wear at it.
 What woman can't understand is why men don't have political &ouse- cleanings in the spring, the right season for em.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-17
THE GARcoN WAS SAD.

In a restaurant that strives to incul- cate good manners, man who admitted that he was rather slow on etiquette but was trying to learn besought the waiter to assist in the reformation.
 My chief trouble" said he, '.is splash ing. I used to splash like anything. But by degrees I am curing myself. Know how? We'll sir, I have made it rule to cover all the spots I make on the table cloth with silver money-niclSels, dimes, quarters, halves-whatever it takes to cover them, and then give the money
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-17
,n..r..,,,r Observations

ssNiile the bull moose was hckins the elephant to a frazzle, the democratic party kicked in,' and will soon take nrst n,ace at the public crib" said A. H. Car penter.
 .sThe popular vote does not indicate an overwhelming sentiment for the change, hut it has come, and 1t is doubtless best that both branches of the national Con eress will be controlled by the winning side.
 q predict that we will now soon real ize that mere legislation will not lessen the present high cost of living. Human laws may change, but. the law of supply and demand will govern for all time
 .,rhis administration should settle the tarife issue as a partisan proposition. 1t will doubtless be revised downward, as IL should be. The difference hereafter VIII be more a matter of methods and pro cedure, Pending the present changes there may be a disposition to slow up a little and await results by the so-called .tie business, but the indications now are that business has acquired momen- tum that will carry us through this period of tariff agitation without serious set back Continued good crops which our diversity of climate and soil has insured in the past can be depended upon for the future: and this basis of wealth alone will demand an increasing output of manufactured products to care for a de- mand commensurate with developments based upon our growing needs and the in vestment of the surplus wealth of the country.
 'Touching the great question of moral- ity which the bull moose emphasizes with S, much zeal. this is largely matter of environment and education.
 "Our laws control principally the ac- tions of the grown ups They govern and restrain but do not build character. If our morals are improved it will be by commencing with the young By example and teaching they may be imbued with higher standards and ideals, but we can not legislate these qualities into them. So it reverts to our home life and the sehoolroom, and, like charity, we should begin at home and then might not need so much help from Washington
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-17
REsIDENT-ELEcT Woodrow Wil-l 0 son has demonstrated that he is 4 the statesman rather than the pol

itician.
 TIe is not of the timid kind who would delay the fuIallment of his pledges.
 Instead of listening to those who would advise for their own financial gain he has gone ahead like theCstatesman which he is and announced that he intends to call an extra session of Congress imme- diately upon his accession to thes office of President of the United States. He eale this extra session of Congress to revise tine tariff, because he is pledged to do so and because he firmly believes that the people of this country are en- filled to an immediate downward reyi- sion of the tariff
 Woodrow Wilson is not free trader nor is he radical in his tariff views. He believes like does Mir. Underwood that nraetical revision is needed immediately q revision which will maintain the neces- sssrv revenues to conduct the government and at the same time give the consumers ae this country a much needed relief.
 As it Is now. fully one-half of the articles on the dutiable list are so high that importation is prohibited and the government therefore gets no revenue from them. Under the Underwood plan no legitimate. industry will be injured the people will live cheaper and the gov ernment win have abundance of revenue for legitimate purposes.
 < x #
 There has been much talk or oscar Underwood going into the cabinet as Secretary of the. Treasury, but he is needed as the leader of the House and will probably remain there. It IS uh- fortunate for President elect Wilson that Mr.. Underwood cannot be both l@hder of the House and Secretary of the Treasury. Were this the case he would not only be in charge of mak- ing the tariff but of administering IL, ..............s..s.....s. in the south, rather than to her own local growth. Fortunately, the trend Of ar fairs appears to be in that direction so that the future may be faced with every reason for hope
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-17
THE HERMIT.

Upon the mountain top he found the peace
 he sought, at last, Lulled by the winds wild voice, the sob
 ping of the rain; Nor ever mourned the days gone by, the
 storms of passion past, Nor ever longed once more to view the
 splendor of the plain. Tn rugged hamts his life was lived in
 purity and faith, His solitary soul uplifted to the ftar-lt
 six -; To him The bright-hued form of Fame dim-envisaged wrath. He scorned the evil lure of wealth, the
 worlds hypOcriSies.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-17
1I,.e. wilsnn.s nirectness

q have never met President-elect Wilson; have never so much as seen him, but feel that he will make Us great President" said Norton F. Day or Philadelphia. T did not vote the demo cratic ticket, but if I had it to do over again I think I would cast my ballot for the man who succeeds MT. Taft. Nearly everything that I have read about Gov ernor Wilson has been in his favor ana his utterances have the true ring. What T like especially about the President elect is his directness coupled with sane views
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-17
Eekers Illuminating Discussion

"A gnost illuminating contribution to the iron ore literature of the Birming ham district is that by Edwin c. Eckel in the Baltimore Manufacturers Record of November H." said member of the Chamber of Commerce. There is no higher authority on ores, perhaps, than Eckel. He was for some time at the head of the iron ore division of the United States geological survey, and he is much quoted today the world over. His article in the Record covers full page, but from beginning to end 1t is written in most readable style. No one interested in the industrial side of this district--wlo here is not?--should fail to read it. After an exhaustive discussion of the recent drill tests in Shades valley and the ore ques- tion in general Mir Eckel concludes as follows;
 Finally, it can be said definitely enough that the limit to the commercial expansion of the Birmingham iron and steel industry will not be set by lack of ore, or by lack of good ore, but by other factors. There is ample ore and fuel within easy reach of Birmingham to justify much more extensive furnace and finishing development than is either existent or probable in the very near flu ture. Such factors as labor supply, freight rates and markets have now be- come of greater importance than ques- tions as to ore supply
 " In this connection we must recall that in the old days Birmingham was pre-eminently a manufacturer of pig iron to be shipped north or west and sold in that form Its total output was fixed by the tonnage required by markets which could be reached in competition with northern irons. This placed very close limit both on the possible tonnage and, in ordinary years. upon the possible prof it's for the Birmingham furnaces. Now, though steel manufacture is ron "a firm basis and more or less highly finished products are made, the same problem l confronts the Birmingham mill. Until the
 local non-competitve market is broader and capable of taking both greater ton
 nages and more lines of product, it will be impossible to produce metal at the rate which would be entirely justifiahle
 if only the ore reserves and coal sup plies were to be taken into considera- tion. For surtb>r expansion Birming- | ham must trust to the gradual growth of steel consuming capacity every~here