davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-19
Henderson's Plan Lacks Definiteness

President Charles Henderson of the railroad commission could practically call an extra session of the legislature if he could locate in black and white the exact spots where $300,000 a year could be saved without impairing the state's service. He should n>me the judges and solicitors and other of ficials who are to be dropped. Gen eralities are valuelesss for the aver age citizen cannot judge the situation when he has generalities only to go on.
 A tangible test in such case is better than any mans opinion, and this is no impeachment of MT. Hen- dersons opinion. He knows the state well and he has many lame spots, no doubt, in mind. The public will, how ever, refuse to listen to opinions un- less the one offering them puts his pen on the actual spots where the money in question can be saved to the state.
 Mir. Henderson can secure the at tention of the entire state by present. ing a definite list of the reforms he advocates. He wants many offices abolished, appropriations cut down and the manner of conducting the state government reorganized. It is a biz and important scheme, and it can not be brought about unless MT. Hen- derson will get right down to the naked facts in the case.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-19
A Vigorous Protest

The business men and tax payers of Jefferson county are protesting earn estly against the large increase in tax assessments scheduled by the state tax commission. And the protest is not bit too vigorous.
 The corporations, the great pay roll producers of the Birmingham district, are assessed at enormous figures.
 The directors of the Chamber of Commerce took action Friday, and in a series of resolutions gave expression to the great harm that would be done the district if the state commission persisted in it's announced policy.
 A mass meeting of citizens has been called for next Tuesday afternoon in the auditorium of the Chamber of Commerce to formerly protest against this unwarranted action on the part of the state tax commits sioners."
 What Alabama needs is tax equal ization. Jefferson county should bear it's just proportion of the tax burden, but as it is, it is taxed by the state out of all reason.
 Nothing retards industrial develop ment so quickly as tendency to over tax capital, for capital is inherently timid. Just at this time, after long period of industrial depression throughout the United States, every encouragement should be given to in- dustrial developers. One way to dis courage them is to increase the assess ments on industrial plants.
 Let there be full turnout of Bir- mingham and Jefferson county's lead ing men on Tuesday.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-19
In the Closing Month


The last month of the pre-nomina- tion campaign has arrived Tn time flight. and the country already sees that it is to be treated to two national conventions. neither of which is cut and dried. No soothsayer or mind reader, much less politicial boss, can say what. the outcome will be at either Chicago of Baltimore. Both are hopeless riddles today. The Chicago nomination was once considered a foregone conclusion, but when Colonel Roosevelt threw his hat into the ring that illusion disappeared. A hot finish is as probable at Chicago as it if at Baltimore. Either is to be hot enough to suit the lover of excite ment. Each is to be the scene of a great struggle involving the welfare of 48 states and four territories and provinces.
 We have to go back to 1888 to find a struggle of equal doubt. President Harrison was nominated in that year. In 1896 Mckinley had a walkover, but MT. Bryan in the other convention was the darkest of dark horses. Nc close struggle has occurred Tn the national conventions since that time, 16 years ago-no struggle that ap- preached in any way the contests to be decided in the events of another month. The final decisions will, how ever, take place on the convention floors, and both conventions will be highly historic.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-19
PERTINENT AND PRACTICAL

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
 At the banquet given Friday night by the class in salesmanship and advertis- ing of the Y. M. c. A. department. Sec retary Miller told a little story of his Oberlin college days.
 Ii, happened in the chemistry class and the professor had just asked Miller to define gravity. The somewhat hurried definition contained the word pull" and this irritated the instructor He declared there was no such energy in nature as pull Whereupon, Miller undertook to illustrate his definition by lifting a chair to the level of his chin, and then thrust ing it straight out.
 "One is push; the other pull" he said.
 Here was the professors chance
 'I have long suspected" he said. that Miller considers his chin the center of gravity!'
 The laugh that followed was loud and long, the professor leading. and then Miller subsided.
 But when the merriment died away a young woman in the front row caught the professors attention.
 T would like to ask a question?' she said.
 Yes" Miss Myers, what is it?'
 The young woman spoke up very clear ly.
 'I want to ask whether you would push or pull a radish?" .c1
 And that close the controversy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-19
Alabama's Presidential Electors

Each party can decide for itself how many delegates may be elected to its national convention. No law or no arportionment is controlling. A party is law to itself.
 But in the matter of electors the date when a congressional apportion- ment goes into effect must be con sidered, and it is reported that Chair man Clayton of the House judiciary committee agrees with Attorney Gen eral Wickersham that Alabama is en- titled to but II electors, instead of 12. Despite precedent in several pres idential years the question turns upon the day when the new opportionment goes into effect. The weight of legal opinion seems to be that that date is March 4, 1913, when John W. Aber- crombie will take his seat and begin to draw his pay.
 The electors correspond to the ap- portionment in actual operation. The number of electors is to equal the number of senators and representa- tives Ito which the state may be en- titled in the Congress-" This number is eleven. MT. Abercrombie has not vet been elected, and if he had been he could not take a seat in the Con gress as it is at present constituted. It is well night impossible to avoid the conclusion that the provision in the constitution limits the number of electors to the number of senators and representatives when the election takes place in November. That num- Der is eleven, and No. 12 will have to await his reward until Oscar Under
 wood is inaugurated on March 4, l1913.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-19
BURNING PAPER MONEY

and other first products of distillation flow through the perforated false bottom and through lateral orifices beneath it to the annular space, where they are ignited by the gas burners and thus assist in ele- vating the temperature. The gaseous products then escape through the pipe which connects the annuar space with the chimney. When the paper has been completely converted into coke the valve in this pipe is closed and the valve in the conduit connecting the top of the retort with the chimney Is opened.
 The draught of air thus introduced into the retort reduces the incandescent coke to ashes, which are subsequently, removed through the lower manhole by means of special tool and placed in iron buckets.
 Each retort is charged with 80 pounds of bank notes. which are completely de- stroyed in 20 hours, eight of which are employed in heating and carbonizing the paper and 12 in burning the coke. The operation is usually performed weekly in the presence of the regents and chief off clalS Of the Bank of France.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-19
Two Great American Reforms

The single term of six years in the presidency and the direct election of United States senators are two propo- sitions that are to go before the peo- ple at one time, and if both are rati- fled the republic will simply gain a rew lease of life.
 The two propositions are at the bottom alike. The basic plan of both is to get rid of bosses in American politics. It is as important to get rid of a boss in the White House who organizes a machine, first to renomi- nate himself and then to name his successor, as it is to get rid of bosses in the legislatures who elect senators to subserve the interests of the cam paign subscribing trusts. No body needs reforming more than the Sem ate. unless it be the White House in these degenerate days. Millions are being spent today in primary cleo lions and in state conventions to con- frol the national conventions. The interest serving senator is bad, but bossism in the White House is even worse, and between the two the re- public is trembling in the balance.
 In the ratification of the two amend
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-19

From the Pail Mall Gazette.
 A delightful Thackeray anecdote turned up at the dinner of the Colquhoun club. The guest included Philip Newman, art fst and author, who recounted that his wife, when a girl, happened to go to the same school as the novelist's daughters and afterward kept up an intimacy with the family
 Che day when she was out for walk with Miss Thackeray the latter mention ed that her father had started a new story but was at a loss to decide upon the hero's name. The future Mrs. New
 man. her fianee in her thoughts, sug- gested that his name, Philip, might serve l the purpose.
 At that moment who should come up | unobserved behind the two girls but
 Ina ckeray himself. Making his presence known by laying hand on a shoulder
 of each of the young people, he asked
 why they were so deep in conversation
 Thereupon Miss Thackeray, turning
 around, revealed the subject under discus
 sior and told him her friends suggestion
 as to the hero's name. Admirable" was Thackeray's verdict
 And now, my dear" he went on, what is your own name?" Charlotte" Well that's very nice name, too," was the response, and Thackeray wore look of satisfaction.
 The result was the tale called 'The | Adventures of Philip" in which the prin- oipal woman character figures as Char lOtte.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-19
GETTING RID OF A HOOP SKIRT

Ed Smith in the Fulton (Mo) Journal.
 Did you ever try to get rid of one of those old hoop skirts? The writer had that experience some 40 years ago. We remem- Der 1t wei land wish to tell of it here so that the democrats of Missouri may know what they are up against in trying to get rid of Dave Ball.
 The particular hoop skirt we were com missioned to dispose of had been discard ed for some time. Had spent year or two in the attic and we were sent to hog tie it and put it in the smokehouse. IT you ever tried to hog tie hoop skirt you know what we were up against. It took two hours hard work, in which time 1t jumped through the window and hopped 52 feet in two hops.
 After running it down we got cfnch on it before i. recovered and carried it struggling to the smokehouse. For four years that hoop skirt lay straining at his or her bonds and finally escaped into the back yard, where it wandered about for another year or two. Then one day we were told to dispose of it for good and keeps. We dug a deep hole in the back end of the garden. We tied that skirt into a bunch about as large as a bushel bas- lSet and buried it deep, and forgot about 1t. Ten years afterward we happened to want to go fishing one day. and in dig ging bait the spade struck a piece of wire. We reached down and gave a lit tie tug at 1t, and in about a second that hoop skirt was wound 40 times around our neck; the fight lasted about half hour anl we finally downed it with toe hold and tossed 1t over into the alley.
 The following winter we chased a hog down that alley and without warning that hoop skirt again got a strangle hold on us. It got one fall out of us before we knew what was coming. The next two falls were in five and half and seven seconds respectively. In acknowledging that we were outclassed we detract noth- ing from our ability as a wrestler. Frank Gotch isn't deuce hiFa with a hoop skirt on the mat. It finally jumped up and down a few times and landed on our shoulders, hanging all around as nicely as though placed there by a dressmaker. We didn't want to start anything, so we let the hog go and started toward the river, which was a mile away, carrying the lower edges in our hands, like wom- an crossing a muddy street. We hswdly dared to breathe and moved not muscle except our legs. When we arrived at the river we called for help and a friend came and helped us to free ourselves. We tossed that hoop skirt far out into deep water That was many years ago, but it is there yet, sound as ever, and when they come In st1,Ie neain we are going after if
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-19
THE AMERICAN COUNTRY CLUB

Reginald Wright Kaufman in Leslies.
 I commend the genus country club to your attention. The country club sprang into being in the United States of Amer ice in response to Pastor Wagner's ap- peal for return to the simple life, Fresh air, plenty of play. close to nature that sort of thing. you know. Most ado cates of theory would be amazed If they could see the practical applications of their theories made by their disciples, but, few more so, it is safe to say, than the good pastor, could he now visit an American small cltys country club. The
 simple life is not there conspicuous. It
 is limited and expensive. It provides some
 fie sh air, but more fresh airs. It offers plenty of play, but at high stakes. The exercise is too violent; it consists of auction bridge on the veranda, with high
 balls for everybody older. The sort of rature that you get closest to is human | nature. Money is the root of all evil and | it's flower Is sloth. For that flower | furnish a favorable soil. If you care to consider the club as q menagere rather | than a garden. then 1t Is surely a mena- gerie wherein the captives realize Beau marchais' idea of their kind ITO drink without thirst and to make love at all | tlnes," says Beaumarchais, this is all
 that distinguishes us from the other | beasts
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-19

such a collection of books would not cost much. A few thousand dollars will buy most of the reference books of recognized value. But a grand library, including all departments of literature costs great deal of money-money that might be spent to better advantage for educational and 'uplift purposes
 Andrew Carnegie has built many H. braries and has done some good with his wealth, but he is by no means the lead ing benefactor among the multi-million- aires. carnegies egotlsm and Philistin- ism detract from almost everything he does in the way of so called philanthropy. Compared with John D. Rockefeller, J. Pierpont Morgan, Thomas F. Ryan, the Strauses, the Drexels. and other men who have given away millions, Carnegie is narrow. But speaking of libraries, the Richmond Yirginian has one of the best articles on that subject I have seen re- gently. It says:
 At meeting of the Richmond Edu- cation association, the question of pub lie library was again threshed out. Dr. caiisch, advocating as means to an end dI dppllcdliOH tO aiidioW oAANSAS AOA - contribution which would put this city on the list of the ironmaster's library bene- ficiaries.
 "It would be better for Richmond to wait many more years than she will con sent to wait, than to have public H. brary on any such terms. pr. Calisch declared that there was nothing in the question of tainted money, and in this we agree, since money Is only tainted as 1t comes wrongfully, or is taken for a wrong purpose. But there is a psychological taint about methodical charity which 1t is perhaps foolish to entertain, but which. for all that Is ineradicable. The impress sion has taken deep root that the Car negie libraries are machine made prod ucts They are erected, as it were. by the yard. They are storehouses of literature storied with dollars. Despite everything, the name "Carnegien above them makes them cold, and leaves them so. Anyone who wishes to find cool spot in summer where one or two supernumerary sine curists are yawning with the effort to keep busy had best hunt up Carnegie library He will be alone in a desert of magnifcence He will have a solitude that would satisfy the bitterest misan- thrope. In half an hour, chilled and sa- tiated, he will run out for coffee and companionship.' "
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-19
sPARRows KILL A SQUIRREL

From the New York Herald.
 Scores of Washington Heights residents watched with breathless suspense as a squirrel was driven to his death by a flock of chattering sparrows at Broadway and One Hundred and Thirty-seventh street at dark The stage for the little tragedy was set high above the specta- tors. and although there were three acts, the tragedy lasted scarcely 20 minutes
 The first scene was in one of the great trees which line Broadway, there their branches going higher than the five story cornices of apartment houses and spread ing until they brush the sides of the buildings. The squirrel was high up on the trunk when men and women returning from work were attracted by the unusual iy discordant notes of the sparrows, which had gathered in the tree in such numbers that the outer branches were dark and quivering.
 They lowered about the squirrel, pecSing at him and screeching, flying away few yards ana then returning to the attack. It was plain the little animal was fright ened, but he climbed higher. and higher in the tree, and, venturing out on the branches, leaped to the fire escape of the apartment house at the northwest co.ne..
 This was the second act, and the vIl- lains sr.n pursued. New crowds rom the subway gathered, and policemen went 10 see what the disturbance was. Woman in tie aT a' tnient house, saeng the scores of persons looking up at their windows, raised them fin alarm and became eager spectators, too
 But the second act was short and the third act shorter The squirrel, driven to frenzy by the constant peckinss aud cries, ventured from the fire escape into tiny ledge near the top of the building, formed 5y the indentation of brick. still narrowed. the squirrel ran on until out of leach oe the friendly tree bralicheJ, slipped, clutched wildly at the unyielding bricks and plunged five stories to tie pavement and was killed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-19
The Battle of New Market

Many graphic accounts of the heroic action of the cadets of the Vir- piria Military institute at the bloody battle of New Market on the 18th May, 1864, have been written, but few have equalled in interest the narrative which Maj. E. M. Tutwiler read at the annual banquet of the Birmingham alumni of the institution held in this city few nights ago. It is printed in full on another page of today's Age Herald.
 Major Tutwiler is a modest gentle man--so modest it is safe to say that few of his daily associates ever heard him allude to the fact that he was in the engagement at New Mar ket. He was not only there, but some of the older survivors of that battle recall him as one of the best of the boy fighters. He has given us sim ple and honest narration of facts, but these very facts are eloquent They stir the imagination and inspire the youth of today with that manly cour- age which has been ever the pride of the south.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-19
The Habit of Agitation

This is an age of agitation-political and reigious-and of the many reforms proposed some good will come" said successful business man. We read a great deal about unbelief in religion and unrest in the social life of the nation. but l doubt if many of the ills we have will be cured by new remedies.
 Tn our American politics so-called nationalism or progressiveism is bound up with more or less of demagogy So called progressive democracy is a phrase to catch populists and minimizing people. Representative government has succeeded in the past, and it will continue to sue ceed. Mir. Underwood is the exponent of the right sort of democracy.
 'I do not feel myself competent to speak on religious matters, but it seems to me that the old time religion is better than great deal of the new theology or new-thought sort
 "In the matter of political economy one of the gravest problems we have is the enormous economic waste-frst In the liquor traffic and next in the tobacco and soft drink traffic. l am not prohibi- tionist. but I will be glad when some way is found to minimize the sale and con- sumption of whisky. From health point of view most of us would be better off without coffee or soft drinks of the dope variety, but the day will never come when people will give up all the little luxuries.
 AS to tobacco. that seems to be the least harmful of all mild stimulants. There is probably too much tobacco con sumed, but I believe the most satisfactory stimulant and the least injurious to health, both for the brain worker and the common laborer, is weed. It is a real so- lace. I think the North Methodist gen eral conference was wrong, therefore. in putting the ban on tobacco. Not much good is accomplished by fanatical action. Moral suasion is more far reaching. If the fanatics had their way they would abolish all luxuries, such as smoking and been drinking, but they themselves do not
 curb their gluttony, which the Bible condemns.
 1 The time is ripe for a temperance cru sade. and the temperance idea should in clude a protest not only against over-in- dulgence in strong drink, but moderation | in eating and smoking. should be de-
 manded. When a majority of the people
 control their appetites the economic waste
 of the nation will be far less in evidence.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-19
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
The Presidential office

It seems to be almost certainty that the Presidents term of office will be ex- tended to six years, and that the incum- either consecutive or otherwise" said an old voter who once filled a federal office of considerable importance.
 The people are thoroughly disgusted with the contest now raging in the repub- lican party. We would be spared the mud slinging were ex-presldents ineligible. As constitutional amendment is neces- sary. the change in the executive term would not be effective in time to apply to MT. Tafts successor. But after the next term the President will serve six years, provided the proposed amendment is adopted.
 As we are reforming the executive office the President should be relieved of a great many of the duties that now de- volve upon him. All the postmasters should be appointed by the Postmaster General instead of by the President All the collectors should be appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury instead of by the President. As it is now a gerat deal of the Presidents time is consumed in making these appointments. Every appli- cant for a thousand dollar postoffice either sees the President himself or sends a delegation of his friends to see him in his behalf. The President should be left free to handle large matters of policy and statesmanship.
 Fifty years ago, when the executive business was smaller than it is now, lis tening to officeseekers did not take up so much of the Presidents time. Now the pie counter has developed into an enormous proposition"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-19
IraT A CoTTAGE

JIoI A OOIIAIE. : In the outskirts of Birmingham, in a poor part of town, on a sad and dilapi- dated street there is a home. so small it seems more like a dolls house than a human dwelling. Yet 1t makes a brave show. for its tiny veranda is aflame with climbing red roses, its comical front yard in wilderness of blossoms and a stone wall in front, not much longer than a yardstick, Is green with the folds of ivy. I am sure in home like that Poverty must wear a chagrined express sion and Love has not yet flown out of the window.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-19

ments rests the hopes of the country, and every possible effort should be made in every state to drive the ma chimes and the bosses out by sending to Washington ratification after rati- fication until both propositions are in- ccrporated in the federal compact.