davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16
The Cotton Futures Bill

The Beall bill was held up in the Senate. This bill prohibits the use of interstate telephones and telegraphs in transmitting orders for speculation in cotton on margins. The New York Journal of Commerce now claims to have information that southern planting interests will not hereafter support this bill as they did at the last session of Congress. Members of the New York cotton exchange say that letters are coming in by thous- ands from bona fide" southern farmers who object to the adoption of the Beall bill.
 The Journal of Commerce goes on to say that the campaign against all anti-future legislation is to go on. The Beall bill has been referred to the judiciary committee of the Sen ate, and Mr. Culberson of Texas, Mr. Bacon Of Georgia and Mir. Overman of North Carolina are members of that committee. These senators can certainly make the position of the south on the pending bill plain and unmistakabIe.
 In view of the fact that the New York cotton exchange proposes to fight the Beall bill to the utmost, it is plain that if the south desires its enactment into law it must be up and doing. The Journal of Commerce. gives fair and full notice that the passage of the bill will be opposed at evsry Gtep, and it is confident ii cannot be passed during the shot ses- sion of Congress.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16
Manufacturing at Tidewater

This, says the Manufacturers, Record, should be the keynote at the southern ports. This manufacturing should have reference to the charac- ter of goods, adds the Record, likely to find a ready market in the foreign lands. All the fancies as to designs, and all the habits of the merchants and their credit system should be studied. In this way the southern ports can gain from the opening of the Panama canal the best returns from a trade on both sides of the South American continent. All ports and all countries to the south of us will be open when ships begin to pass through the Panama canal,
 This, advice applies as well to this district as it does to the gulf ports, for slackwater navigation will have rendered this district at least a sub port before 1915, and all the advice the Record gives the ports on the gulf fits to a certain extent this dis trict also. The iron, steel and coal of this district will all be needed and when these articles can be barged to tidewater they will gain the advant- ages of water rates even if the cost of one transfer by modern machinery must be added. But fortunately our products do not have to be trimmed and cut to suit customers, for coke is coke, and railroad rails are railroad rails everywhere. In our case it is a question of price only, and not of design. But beyond all question our surplus products, whether of mine or mill, will go down the Warrior and thence to the canal where they will have access to the vast trade of the worlds greatest ocean.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16
i. IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Az to Rnliet Weunds

'T sincerely hope that Colonel Roose- welt will recover, and l believe he will said V. A. Gwyer, southern representa- tive of Heggson Bros, the well known building and finishing contractors of New York While blood poison sometimes results from gun shot wounds, in the great majority of cases healthy persons recover. Colonel Roosevelt was in prime physical condition, which, of course. will make it comparatively easy for him to recover. I have known many men who were shot and who ran no risk of blood poison. I, myself, have been shot sev- eral times; in fact six times.
 ''I was in the Spansh-American war and received two very bad wounds in Cuba. One bullet went through my right foot and at one time 1t was thought the foot would have to be amputated. The other wound in the war was in my left shoulder. The bullet is still there. have a bullet in my hip and, asfany- one can see, my left hand is full of. bird shot. Besides the four wounds mentioned had two other wounds which were slight"
 MT. Gwyer is a tall athletic man or about 35, and his friends jokingly re- mark that with as much lead as he has in his body he might go on exhibition as scared wonder"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16
Driyinq Ort t1e Hcckwcrm

Surgeon Bailey Ashford stated bo- fore the recent international congress of hygiene and demography that 300,- GOO persons had been cured of hook worm in Porto Rico alone. This great change in Porto Rico encourages the hope that the states on the main land can, too, be freed from the dis ease.
 It was not until 1902 that the i'll health and laziness of the "poor whites of the south was attributed to the disease, and it was not until 1909 that an organized effort was made to drive it out At that time John D. Rockefeller donated s1,0O0,O00 for that purpose, and the Rockefeller commission was organized. Its agents have already visited 23 of the 67 counties of this state, and in the course Of two years more every coun- ty in this state will be aroused to the importance of eradicatings sthe para site.
 Doctors say there are 2,000,000 cases in the south, and it is well known that all can be cured if the people afflicted by it--and it extends to all classes--can De aroused to the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16
Higher Commodity Prices

Bradstreet's continues to show higher record prices for 106 commodi- ties that go to make up the cost of living. Prices are going up weekly. They have not reeeded in any recent week. Last week Al articles were ad- vanced, while 20 were reduced in price, and A remained unchanged. Many articles of general use, such as beef, milk, eggs, butter, cheese, cof- fee, rice and hay were marked up last week.
 If MT. Underwood's free list bill had become law the world would have been open to consumers. The consum- ing masses demand relief from heavy duties. The duty on cattle ranges from $2 head up to 271a per cent ad valorem, swine pay S1.5O head, and sheep $1.50 head. Wheat is subject to duty of 25 cents bushel; corn and buckwheat each 15 cents bushel Butter must pay cents pound and cheese like tax Beans are taxed 45 cents bushel; eggs cents a dozen; honey is taxed 20 cents a gallon, and onions must pay 50 cents a bushel. Peas and potatoes pay each 25 cents a bushel, and then comes a sweeping provision under which all vegetables not specifically provided for are to pay 25 per cent ad valorem. Nearly all fruits pay 25 cents bushel, and all nuts are heavily taxed. Poultry is taxed from 3 to cents a pound; salt II cents per hundred pounds, and all spices are heavily taxed.
 AS a rule these duties were de- manded by the middle west, for the east and the south have no food prod ucts to ship away. The middle west demanded high protective duties and it entered into a bargain with the manufacturing east, and in this way it came about that the consumer is heavily taxed. He is forced to buy from the middle west and to pay what ever prices for food products it may demand.
 MT. Underwood endeavored to re- duce this taxation on the necessary articles of living in his free list bill, and until that bill becomes law there is little hope that the cost of living can be sensibly reduced. The consum- CT needs access to the markets of the world. This is denied him by the Payne-Aldrich tariff which levies in- ordinate taxes on food products. The duties on grain, meats, fish, poultry, fruits and vegetables should be taken eff, and this is exactly what MT. Un- derwood's free list bill proposed to do. That bill should be presented on every democratic stump in this cam paign.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16

kept in thorough repair l do not see why tenants stay in them. I predict Una.
 in less than a year from now the iaos who rents the house in which nave roomed so long will move into he" house It is not only poorly construe'eu' as most of the houses built in Blrmins- hams early days were. but 1t IS paaiy ih need of repairs. When it becomes vacant the owner of the house will have to e~- pend fully s2o00 on it to make IL at- tractive enough to get tenant al the same price that the present occupant pays. Fifty dollars a year would nave kept the building in first rate condition. know some owners of rented houses who do look we'll after repairs. They un- derstand that stitch in time saves nlne' which is common sense economy Bus there are very many who wish tos get large rent and spend next to nothing on upkeep."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16
Settlement of the Railroad Strike

Through the agency of federal mediators the contention of the train men on the railroads in the southeast has been satisfactorily adjusted. As a rule wages are incresed by it, The new agreement extends to railroad men engaged in the mine run service and to tho wrecking train service, and to the yard service, and to negro trainmen, yard helpers and switch men. All running men in short are included, and all, ar nearly all, are to receive increased pay.
 This issue between employers and employees has been standing long time ready to break into open con- flict at any time, but the new settle ment adjusts all wages of trainmen, and it bids fair to stand for many years. All the details of the agree ment have been received, both by the officers of the railroads and by those of the organizations concerned in the strike, and all consider it just and reasonable settlement of complex problem.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16
ORIGINAL CONFIDENCE MAN

From tne New YOrk Sun.
 A story is told of old New York and of how the expression confidence man" meant a man in whom one could not place confidence at all. It is said that some years ago a very we'll dressed man with courteous address was wont to walk up and down the principal streets of the city.
 Whenever he met a stranger who looked hopeful to him he would approach the man and with the most delightfully."- frank manner he would ask.
 My dear sir, have you confidence enough in me, an entire stranger to you, to lend me s for an hour or two?'
 And 1t is said that the man made an extremely good living by this very simple means,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16
GENIUS AND FAT
From Answers, London,

From Answers, London,
 Those eynics who woud jeer at stout men as being dull witted must stand oonfounded.
 History contains many cases of genius clad In abundant flesh. Napoleon had more than an inclination to embonpoint. Doctor Johnson was stout, as was also his disciple, Boswell.
 Balzac, the famous French novelist, was so enormous that q wit once de- scribed 1t as days exercise to walk around him. Another French writer, Eugene Sue, was so stout that he used even to partake of vinegar in the vain effort to reduce his girth. And he wrote "The Wandering Jew"
 Singers of all times have been well covered, owing to the exercise of the vocal chords improving their breathing, and of one composer at ieast-Rossini-- 1t is said that he never saw his knees for six years
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16
A North caroi,n. visitor

q am much pleased with Birmin gham,' said oliver T. Wallace of Wilmington N. c. "The city is naturally attracting outside attention. It was well adver- tised before the last census, but that increase of 245 per cent in the populs- ton as compared with 1900, attracted nation wide attention. I can imagine that 1t will be only a question of time when Birmingham will not only be the largest city in the south, but one of the lead ing cities in population in the United States
 My town of Wilmington is now grow ing steadily For a long time 1t seemed to stand still notwithstanding our splen- did resources, but during the past few years it has been going forward, and I am certain it will give fine account of itself in the next census. Whining ton has a large business in compressing and exporting cotton. While 1t is not the largest cotton export town in the south, 1t has concern that buys and ships more cotton than any individual house in America. We have large mercantile trade and are now increasing the number of our small industries.
 Al the southern cities are growing, and most of them are growing fast. Richmond, Norfolk, Charlotte, Atlanta and Birmingham are showing the most rapid growth of any of the cities with which l am familiar. Savannah Is said to be going ahead faster than ever. But Birmingham has the greatest future of them all.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16
THE REAL TREASURE ISLAND

From the New York Telegram.
 Most of us who like Treasure I1iand' had been content to suppose that 1t had nc special location, but was just an in vention of Stevenson's. It seems, how ever, that we were wrong, or at all events it is said that the island in Stevenson's mind was Christmas Island. which is south of Honolulu. The point of these observations Is that Christmas Island, which Is valuable as a copra producer, has just been sold by the family who owned it to a buyer who means to de- velop the copra.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16
DOUBLE TRACKING THE MISSISSIPPI

From the Louisville Courier-Journai.
 D. K. Jeffers, Chicago man, springs a new scheme for Mississippi river nood control by advocating the double track ing of the Father of Waters. As explained in the Chicago Tribune MT Jeffers' plan would provide second channel for the surplus water by dredging the rivers and bayous that parallel the Mississippi and connecting them by canals, utilizing the equipment and men that will soon complere the similar task at Panama.
 Mir Jeffers suggests spillway or canal commencing just below Cairo, lead- ing from the Mississippi river to the sy stem of bayous and rivers that run parallel with the Mississippi through Big lake. utilizing in the same general direc- ton the White, Arkansas, Bartholomew, Boeuf, Macon, Tensas, Black, Red and Atchafalaya rivers, all of which run par allel to the Mississippi sufficient dis tance to lend themselves to this plan, flowing, most of them, from one into the other.
 Comparatively short and inexpensive canals will be required, Mir Jeffers says, to lead from one river into the other He claims that the entire system of dredging and canals would not cost one-quarter as much as the actual financial loss caused by the overflow in the Mississippi river last spring.
 To say the least, the Jeffers plan would appear to have some merit as a drainage scheme. Projects somewhat similar have been suggested heretofore in connection with the reclamation of the swamp lands of the Mississippi valley. Double track ing" as d method of flood control is a moved idea. It would not be a bad one if it's promulgator could prove that it would work out in accordance with his claims. Just there is where the rub comes. Suppose it didn't work? Then we should have two big rivers instead of one to destroy property and the last state of the valley residents would be worse than the first. It probably would be difficult to convince these dwellers in the lowlands in case of a flood like that of 1912 that two are better than one' The Mississippi river inundations are in- creasing in number and in destructive ness. There is no certainty that the limit has been reached and the double track , Mississippi might result only in making more trouble and worse.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16
WAITINc

Alack, it seems we cannot rhyme As once we did in summer time.
 But let the solemn truth be told The Muse is somewhat damp and cold, Doth look upon a eheerless world, Where falling leaves in gusts are whirled And still the drops of autumn rain Are coursing down the window-pane. No joy without. no joy within, No ruddy cheer at all to win
 From blazing hearth, no clank of steam To blend itself with winters dream; No means Of warmth are offered yet, Fen though a wight be dripping wet.
 lis plain We can not tune the Tyre Until somebody starts fire.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16
MONTENEGRO

By Alfred Tennyson They rose to where their soyran eagle
 sails. They kept their faith. their freedom, on
 the height, chaste, frugal. savage, armed by day
 and night Against the Turk: whose inroad mo- Their headlong passes. but his footstep
 fails, And red with blood the Crescent reels
 from fight Before their dauntless hundreds. in
 prone flight By thousands down the crags and
 through the wales. O smallest among peoples. rough rock
 throne Of Freedom warriors beating back the
 swarm Of Turkish Islam for five hundred years, Great Tsernagora. never since thine Black ridges drew the cloud and broke
 the storm Has breathed a race of mightier moun-
 taineers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16
.swITCHcRAF'Tv IN STAIN

From the London Telegraph.
 Madrid.-A telegram from Castellon de la Plana says that strange affair oc- cured in a maritime village belonging to the Burriana township. The incident re- calls the scenes of ShalSespeare's Mac beth" A few days ago the rumor cir culated throughout the village that a pretty young girl, Teresa Sanchez, had become the victim of the envy of an old woman who had succeeded in bewitching her Teresa's father confided his fears and suspicious to his family and to inti- mate friends and subsequent observations seemed to confirm the suspicious of witch- craft.
 The beautiful Teresa was undoubtedly the victim of some spell. She was be- wtched, suffered hallucinations. and had strange attacks of "ecstasies," during which phantasmagoric visions and de- monical sarabands defled before her dis tracted imagination. Teresa pronounced incoherent words, and invoked imaginary legendary beings which she saw depicted upon the walls of the houses.
 Poor Teresa, she's bewitched and spell bound,' said the neighbors.
 Near the village dwelt the old woman credited with the exercise of powers of witchcraft upon whom fell suspicion. The entire village decided to visit the woman, conducting Teresa into her presence. The latter prostrated herself before the witch demanding, in suppliant fashion. release from tine spell.
 The story relates that the witch was deeply affected, and shed tears, but with astute prudence promised solemnly to un- do the results of the witchcraft This oath pronounced, the inhabitants, with guileless ignorance, returned home satis- fled. This incident has occurred in Spain in the twentieth century, and is agitating the large town of Burriana
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16
REFLECTIONs or A BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
 The art of lying is to know just how much of it Is enough.
 man is more solemn about shaving than woman is saying her prayers.
 The way for a girl to have fine com plexlon is to get all tangled up climbing Q fence.
 The more of his own money man spends the less of 1t he would if 4iis fam <, could get hold of it first
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16
Business Activity

I've have been used to hearing tne summer of 1907 referred to as the tune of this country's high water mark III commercial and industrial prosperity put I doubt if business was any more active in that year than 1t is now, said Ezra L. Menzel of Philadelphia. We had rising tide of prosperity. with few inter- ruptions. from 1900 until the paiiic oi 1907, but during the past three months business in all. sections of the country has been wonderfully brisk. In the lnous- trial field many new high records nave been made, and we have still greater prosperity Just ahead of us.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16

The finance minister of Austria thinks his people should use a 12-inch gun as a megaphone when addressing a confer ence of the powers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16

The war in the near east should not be permitted to keep prices of food stuffs up when bumper crops have ac- tually been haryesteda
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16

The business woman Is not, as rule in favor of woman suffrage, but when it comes along she accepts it without a murmur
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16

Absentee siatesmansaip at Washington will soon be overcome. An administra- ton is to be wound up and the absen- tees are needed to do the work
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16

Let us hope Col Roosevelt will soon feel like a bull moose again. His vigor and his courage seem to be equal to all demands made upon them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16

A manuscript roll of a forthcoming speech impeded Assassin Schrenk's bull let Such rolls rightly placed at the right time are indeed valuable.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16

President Taft is presumably engaged in writing his Thanksgiving proclamation, for he is no longer participating In the presidential campaign.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16

The Presidents open letter to the goy- ernors of all the states on the cost of living should be accompanied by his tar if Vetoes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16

The Taft organs are whistling to keep their courage up, but every straw vote gives the dry grins.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16

Dan Hannas seat in the progressive camp cost him s177,ooo but he wanted revenge with a big R, and he was will ing to pay for it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16

In one KeI,iieKy colnIy i7O oases ol hookworm have been found. Wherever hookworms exist in large numbers ths presidential campaign is apathetic.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16

Bullets are falling thick and fast in the neighborhood of Scutari, coveted point on the Turkish map.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16

new pipe plant at Boyles is further evidence. that this district expects to turn all it's pig iron Into merchantable products.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16

Senator-elect Ollie James predicts that Woodrow Wilson will make William !. Bryan his attorney general.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16

Dan Hanna is the greatest of all pro- gressives. At least he has the longest purse.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16
A PAMPEREp PET.

f AMI INtD 'fbI' Annette"
 "Yes, madame Take Panky out for. an airing in the car" Yes, madame" And be sure you put on the little darling's rain coat. I thought his bark sounded rather hoarse this morning."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
HARD WORDS

play" advertisement form half dozen times.-London- Observer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16

The Montenegrins had the money to fight on and the men to put behind the guns.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16

The latest fad is hygienic marriages It is sweeping all other fads out of the public eye.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16

HANDICAPPED IN THE WAIST. There was a man in our town
 Who always tried to do his best But what queered him with proper folk Was that he wore so loud . vest
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16

The United States will try 10 count it's rats This is indeed a trying task. fo. some ot them go on two legs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16
FOREIGN JoKEs

FOREIGN JOKES German Visitor (very. bald): 'vaitor, speak der English not mech Will you der nodis exblain?Y Waiter: Well sir, it's sort of like this. Supposin' I was to say to you. Now come on. air cut well, you see-well. that's it.'-Punch.
 English Tourist: This little tub is rolling frightfully."
 Scotch Seaman: Yes she iss that, and if you fine English shentleman had your hold as flu Q Cambellton whusky you would, too."-P. I. F.
 Tonal: 'Eh, yon was powerful dees- course on Thrift ye preached the Sab beth"
 Tother: "Ahm glad ye were able to proft-'
 Tonal: Profit Why, mon, I would have sloshed ma saxpence into the plate w1'out thought, if it had not been for your providential words-they saved ne fourpence there and thenH'-London Opinion.
 Jacohs: "so you were drinkin' again last night?"
 Isaaes: Just leetle for refreshment, but not durin' beeziness hours"
 Jacobs: NO matter; 1t makes you unfit for beeziness. Why, just look. your hands trenble so much that you will shake all the buttons off our cheap pants every time you offer them to a good GUS toner. Tit Bits.
 In Bohemia. Say, Maud, where are our curling-irons?'
 Half a moment. old thing, I'm roast ing our sausages for supper on them."- Flegende Blatter.
 ACTIVITY OF POETS
 A Boston publisher announces that his fall list contains twenty-two volumes of new verse. The law of supply and de- mand is not applicable to poetry. PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-16

All that l am I owe to my wife.
 That's almost equivalent to being out of debt"