davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28
Prospects of a Parcels Post

The present session of Congress may yet agree upon the revision of several tariff schedules, and it may, too, pass a reasonably satisfactory parcels post bill. These gains would render the session notable, whereas thus far it's work has been tame and almost barren.
 At the instance of Senator Bourne, chairman of the Senate committee on postoffices and postroads, the tenta- tive scheme of the House was brushed aside, and the zone plan of a general parcels post was agreed upon, and added to the postoffice appropriation bill. The bill has been reported to the Senate.
 The zones agreed upon by the committee are fixed at distances of 30, 150, 300, 600, 1000, 400 1900 and more than 1900 miles. With in the smallest zone the proposed rate is 5 cents for the first pound and 8 cents for each additional pound up to II, and the other rates are increased in proportion to the distance up to a 12-cent-a-pound maximum.
 The plan is fully indorsed by Post master General Hitchcock, who has at all times favored the establishment of parcels post, and the other friends of parcels post throughout the coun- try will support it. It bids fair to re- main a part of the postoffice appro- priation bill. The platforms of both parties stand behind the Bourne bill
 The adoption of the Bourne plan would put the parcels post on its feet and amendments and extensions would follow as the years go on. What is needed now is a beginning, and the Bourne zone plan is we'll adapted to a large country. Some would prefer a flat rate, but this country is too big and broad for rate that is all right in the lesser European coun- tries.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28
WHERE BATHING IS THE RAGE

n the Sands at Ostende" in the August
 Metropolitan.
 Perhaps if there is one feature in which Ostende is pre-eminent it is the bathing for nowhere is it pursued with such zest or by such numbers. From sunrise to sunset a constant stream of bathers find their way to the Page. and the sea is never freed for a moment from their dipping forms. By Il o'clock in the morn- ing every one of the hundreds of bathing machines is drawn out in tho water, while on the sands hundreds of other would-be bathers impatiently await the return of the bathing machines from the sea, often rushing out up to their knees in the water to place their bathing-suits and towels on the steps of the incoming little wheeled houses and thus establish their prior claim to them when they reach the dry sands and discharge their occupants The costumes furnished with the bathing machines are all alike, made in one piece of coarse red and white striped cotton and are worn indiscriminately by men and becoming as our ordinary coarse prison SaIp, the WoHicH WHO Ddtne ndDltudlly provide themselves with less trying all though no more elaborate single piece garments of woven black silk which cling to them closer than the proverbial bother There is very little swimming done at Ostende, and as far as the majority of bathers there are concerned the art of natation might be entirely unknown The beach is long and shallow and so affords most excellent promenade for the bath CTS who walk up and down in water vary ing from ankle deep to waist deep, relev- ing their promenade from time to time by throwing about and chasing brightly painted rubberballs, laughing and scream ing like children at the efforts made to catch them by their fellow bathers.
 If any woman ever swan at Ostende I never saw her do so. Should any be so brave as even to express a desire to swim and lower her shoulders into the water, she would be so surrounded and supported in the treacherous element by a group of kindly, self-constituted ljfe-savers and swimming instructors as to effectualy prevent her from learning even the rudi- mentary principles of keeping afloat.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28

nation wide interest." said Lawrence F. Epson of Detroit.
 "The political situation throughout the northwest seems to be very much mixed. Roosevelt is extremely popu- lar and will poll large vote. but I cannot figure 1t out how he will have more votes in the electoral college than Taft
 T am a republican and before the Chicago convention nominated Presi- dent Taft l was in sympathy with the Roosevelt faction. although I take no active part in politics. l intend now to vote for Taft as the regular nomi- nee.
 All the democrats 1 meet seem to feel absolutely certain that Woodrow Wilson will be the next President If he carries New York and New Jer- sey he will probably carry other east ern states It will not surprise me to see Wilson elected. but as republic an I am hoping that Taft will pull through. Frankly. however, 1 do not see how he can, for those men who are active in RooseveIt's bshalf will do all in their power to bring about Tafts defeat"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28
IN HOTEL LOBBIEs
His Acceptance Speech

Tn seagrt dispatches the public was informed daily during the past week that Gov. Woodrow Wilson was making prog ress on his speech of acceptance and the last item I read was that he was about to put on the finishing touches,' remarked a professional man.
 If there is anything Governor Wilson can do with facility it is to write the English language. He is one of the best writers in the world and no matter how long his speech of acceptance may be he could begin It and end it at one sitting.
 Tn the first place q speech of accept ance should not exceed in length column and a half, or two columns at the most, of ordinary newspaper type, but even 1T Governor Wilson's speech were to be wordy enough to fill five or six columns he could write 1t in two hours time and without any great sweat of brain. There might be some political phases that he wished to discuss, and touching which he would consult certain statesmen or party leaders. But man of his training and splendid capacity for writing would not sit down to put his thoughts on paper un- til he had all the data he intended using.
 q was far from being a partisan of Woodrow Wilson in connection with the Baltimore nomination. l was for Under wood first, Marshall second, Harmon third and Gaynor fourth but since Will son is the standard bearer I feel conh- dent that he will be elected. I doubt that if any democrat could prove to be more of vote getter, and as for intel- lectual development and scholarly habits, Wilson is distinctly a notable man. AS publicist and writer on academic de- mocracy he stands in the forefront of American thinkers, while as a writer on historical subjects he is in class with the late John Richard Green, author of "A History of the English People, and John Morley, now Viscount Morley, one of the greatest living Englishmen.
 "A tyro with his pen would have to labor over a speech of acceptance, and if 1t was to read well some man of cul- ture would have to go over'it and smooth it up. But Woodrow Wilson never was a tyro with his pen. There never was a day, perhaps, since he was junior at Princeton, that he could not write the best of English. His father, the late Joseph R. Wilson, D. D., of the Southern Pres byterian church, was noted for his strong intellect and his excellent literary style, and his mother was woman of superior mind, as well as uncommon strength Of character. Woodrow, therefore, inherits much of his ntellectuality.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28

\ HERE are few gems from the
 new constitutional amendments \ of the state of Ohio, for which its citizens are to vote on September next. There are Al amendments, for mulated by a small but active and or ganized minority.
 A majority of nine on a jury will de- side in civil cases.
 There is to be no limit on the amount recoverable in case of the death of an employe
 The initiative and referendum will only require the petition of per cent of the voters.
 Under the title of Welfare of En- pIoyes" there is a provision for the es- tablishment of minimum wage for la bor.
 Compulsory workmen's compensation Is included, and covers occupational diseases
 An eight-hour day for public work is instituted, with the abolition of in functions in labor disputes.
 The liability of state banks is in creased by 100 per cent.
 Besides taxes on inheritances, in comes and franchises, municipal and state bonds, sold at higher rate be- cause they were exempt, are To De taxed
 Fifty million dollars of state bonds
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28
Alabama's Campaign Fund

Chairman Goodwin of the state democratic executive committee thinks MT. Underwood's state should raise at least $25, ,000 to promote the success of Wilson and Marshall in the contested states. Mir. Goodwin says clubs will be organized in the 67 ounties of the state and in many precincts also. He makes an earnest appeal for aid to the cause and the national ticket where aid is most needed.
 All contributions to the national cause should be sent directly by the treasurer of each club to National Committeeman William D. Jelks, and acknowledgements may come from Governor Wilson himself
 This is the one way in which Ala bama democrats can promote the cleo ton of the two governors, and Chair man Goodwin proposes to take steps that will ensure the organization by or before August 15 of 67 county clubs in this state, and as many precinct clubs to boot as precinct committed men can be induced to form.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28
KING GEORGE TROUBLED

From The Argonaut.
 It seems that King George is having trouble with his young sons, who are pc ginning to be restive under the stern als- cipline meted out to them and the uncom- promising way in which they are checked whenever they show a disposition to the frivoiities and laxities of boyhood. Piay
 Is practically unknown to them, and every minute of their day is planned out with view to serious profit.
 It seems a pity, but we are ready to do what we can in the way of advice. We have been there ourselves and know what if is. and because of our vast experience we have a theory that If King George cannot manage his boys he had better look for the fault in himself rather than in them And as a first step toward self improvement he might read the life Of his
 father as recently written by Sir Sidney Lee. King Edward we are told, had just the same sort of training from Queen Victoria and Prince Albert that the young
 Princes are now receiving from King
 george.
 From the time he was months old 1t falneQ DOfIeDLOuS IlcIloi oheio opN's .>'N upon him. Tutor was to stand over tutor, and governor over governor, each passing on platitudinous injunctions to the next, and Prince Albert fed the stream of moral commonplaces at its head. The boy was never to read a novel, not even scott $. He was to be kept away from boys of his own age. or at most a few picked Eton bovs. dragons of niceness and goodness, were to come across the bridge to play with him for a couple of hours. He was never to be out of sight of elderly wisdom. His life and thoughts were to reflect themselves in diary for paternai inspec- ton. Till he was F he was not to choose I-any of his own clothes. and then they were to- \be chosen by him in accordance with a formal minute of pa.ernal instruc- tions on the choice of material.
 Incredible as it may seem this treatment
 of Albert Edward continued until he was
 50 years of age. Of course. the tutors dis appeared and the paraphernalia of educa- ton, but so long as Queen Victoria was alive she treated the Prince of Wales as
 though he were a boy and therefore unit to know anything of the details of state craft or of public business. As result oI
 his so-called education he acquired pro
 found distaste for books and never reao
 anything but newspapers. while the risiu
 moral restraints to which he was suoJee'-
 ed found their natural reaction m those excesses that were theoretically depior- able but upon which the world passed Sd .enient a judgment. It seems now that
 King George is following the example or oueen Victoria and the Prince Consort' and if is a bad example. It is nearly as had as it can be. The resentment of the voung Princes, who were born into a mor. liberal atmosphere than their grand father, is said to be so strong that Queen Mary has to use her diplomacy to keep sons and father apart.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28
Ornamental Trolley Poles

T read the recent editorial in ref erence to the unsightly trolley poles on Fifth avenue which are being erected by the Tidewater line and beg to en- close herewith a blue print showing an up to date trolley pole design, ana trust that you will agree with me that the erection of these or similar trolley poles would be decided improvement over the unsightly poles now going up,' writes G. S. Schumacher, general manager of the Union Foundry com pany of Annist6n.
 The cross arms for four-12 globes, as shown on the blue print, can be made exactly like the cross arms on the White Way posts erected dur ing tho last nine months in Birming- hams down town streets, and If this blue print will help to induce the Tide water people to make change, the writer will appreciate 1t very much even if we do not furnish the poles.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28
UNsOUNDNEss OF A THEORY

tive born American citizen hampered from baptism by the centripetal clog of such an appellative as Thomas" could under any conceivable concurrence of circumstances ever hope to attain the dizzy heights where wave the top branches of presi- dential timber? As well suppose that Julius Caesar. "the great Julius." could have achieved his living greatness and post mortem fame if known to his con- temporaries and to posterity as Caius ]. Caesar.
 Only in abnormal instances in which the natural mental processes are impaired could such thing happen as in the case of parties so obsessed by single idea. the curse of capital or the blight of beer, that a condition verging on paranoia is exhib- ited Then perhaps is there some chance for your Toms or your Johns or your Genes.
 Politicians who deserve only superficial causes, which are really only symptoms. may make the welkin ring with recrimi- nations and talk about their dishonesty. knifing and the faithful wounds of friends in explanation of the results of this years tfSSaoShiiaA tOiiN eillfO1S. lDc pHHOSOpiiof knows better; to him the results were foregone conclusions.
 When the detestable appellative Ted dy' began to replace Theodore" Chs gift of God) in popular usage the end was already in view. It could have no chance bitter against William" ,Ohe helmet of resolution) or it's diminutive but not evira- tive Bill" re-enforced strongly by Howard"
 The early rejection of Thomas for Woodrow" was prognostic, almost pro- phetic. The name t'Woodrow" so far out distanced all other names at Baltimore that victory was certain from the begin- ming. Champ" "Judson," Oscar" are scarcely worthy of inclusion in the same sentence with it. Let not William be compared with it, nor linked with How ard'' compete with 1t.
 And Shakespeare asks, What's in . name?n much that the farmer sitting under his own apple tree slipping cider through a straw can draw his own con- clusions as to the outcome Of the Novem- Der elections.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28
Music in Capitol Park

Signor Nappi, conductor of the band which is giving delightful concerts in Capitol park. has had trouble about the lights in the band stand. Some one steals the electric lamps. This hap pened several times last week. Friday night the music was about an hour late in beginning, and there would have been no music at all if it had not been for the Young Woman's Christian asso- citation lending Sig. Nappi a sufficient number of lamps The park commission should instruct the park superintend- ent 10 keep strict lookout for the electric lamp thief.
 The band will play this afternoon from to 6. and as it will be day light performance the concert will be- gin on time
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28
J. V. in the New York Sun.

J. V. in the New York Sun.
 THE honeyed phrases of immortal William of Avon's pleasant waters A are doubtlessly indictab1e for the persistent and pernicIous prevalence of many a questionable maxim in ''the Eng lish speech" on manners and morals, fashion and philosophy. Prince pre-emi- nent of glittering sentimentalism no less than master supaeme of profound anal ysis, only too often does the allurement of the prettily sentimental swerve him from phiiosophic deeps and stand him high and dry on the shoals of faulty logic and flimsy metaphysics Under the magic of his language the weakest of sophistries are made to appear strong as proofs of Holy Writ. The beguiling witchery of his tuneful tongue, potent and persuasive a, was ever that of immortal William of the purling Platte, incontnently captivates reason and reflection, compelling uncondi- tional capitulation.
 What so utterly false and deceptive as that Shakespearian sentiment anent the alleged impotency and insignificance of name, Whats in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet? Pre- sumably, but is there nothing in the con notation of a rose but mora smell? An other and an inevitably less popular name would imply the loss of associations rich, rare and romantic, and even though it would smell as sweet 1t would remain as unsmelled as many flower of sweeter fragrance but less poetic name.
 What's In a name?" Why, the name is the whole thing. It Is the most important element in the value of suburban real estate, in the talent of the theatrical "star," in the genius of the artist and still more the artiste, in the advertised merits of apartments and flats, in the nutritive property in breakfast foods, and last but not least the right kind of a name-of front name-is absolutely indispensable in an aspirant for presidential honors. A man like building, is generally judged | by the front he shows, and hence the last name or cognomen is practically im- | material.
 | Can any mortal endowed with the dull est perception Of the eteranl fitness of things suppose for an instant that a na-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28
Underwood's Programme Coming

oidCi NoOo D tOS SOhihS
 The democrats and progressive re- publicans in the Senate are doing good work nowadays. By vote of 36 to Is they passed the Underwood excise bill. This bill would levy upon all persons, firms or partnerships an annual tax equal to 1 per cent of net income in excess of .S5000. It practi- cally extends the present tax laid on corporations to individuals, private firms and partnerships.
 Several propositions of an extrane- ous nature were added to the excise tax bill, including the repeal of the Canadian reciprocity law, the fixing of $2 per ton tariff on print paper and the establishment of a tariff board.
 These amendments will be settled in conference and the excise tax will al- most certainly be sent to the Pres ident, together with the wool bill passed in the Senate on Thursday, and any other tariff bill that the new al- liance in the Senate may agree to.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28
Utilizing the Rivers

The formation of company for putting a line of self-propelled barges in operation from the heart of this district to New Orleans via the Black Warrior and Tombigbee rivers, Mo- bile bay, Mississippi sound and' the Lake Borgne canal, has walked up Mobile. The Mobile Item says that "the. Mobile interests which might be expected to take the lead in such a movement have been as slow as a Florida squatter with the hookworm. New Orleans has got in the first lick in the gulf port competition for new traffic and has taken what should belong to Mobile by right of geo. graphical location and state pride The inactivity of Mobile in this re- spect, while other ports are strainine every nerve to increase their com. merce in preparation for the opening of the Panama canal, is disappointing to those citizens who realize the i'm mense advantages of this port il proximity to the coal and iron field! of Alabama. Fortunately, there il time to place the port in the position it should occupy as the principal out let for the minerals and manufacture. of the state. Mobile is as we'll able tc finance barge lines from the interior of the state as the foreign corpora tion which declares it's intention O going into another port with it freight. The time is ripe now for thu movement and the Item hopes thar it will be speedily launched
 Let the rivalry between the gull ports go on until there are bargei enough on the Warrior and the Tom
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28
In the Railroad Service

1t is a we'll known fact that the high officials of railroads in this country receive large salaries; that railroad presidents, as general thing, draw princely salaries. These high salaried men attain their positions and hold them by reason of merit.
 In other days some railroad off cials, especially executive officers, attained their positions through "in- fluence," political or otherwise. It is different now. No man in railroad service draws $40,000 or $50,000 year unless, in the judgment of the directors, he earns it. In the mechani- cal departments of the railroads and in train service, the employees are thoroughly organized, and their pay has been largely increased within the past ten years; and in some cases within the last twelve months. But there is one branch of railroad work in which men of good ability perform exacting duties, and whose pay is comparatively small. Reference is here made to the clerks holding re- sponsible positions Many clerk is without ambition and never rises above the drudge; but those who must be expert accountants, and who handle large sums of money, slave 12 hours -,a day or more on pay that would scarcely enable married man to sup port family in comfort or decency.
 Most of the well regulated rail- roads now maintain a publicity agent or a publicity bureau. It has come to be the rule for the railroads to take the public into their confidence, and to cultivate more intimate re- lationship with the people. No cor poration can afford to be arrogant or to allow its. officials or agents to be discourteous. It is the policy of the larger corporations, and especial ly the railroads, to do everything reasonable to popularize themselves. It would be popular move now for the railroad companies to take up the matter of clerk hire and the over worked responsible men who happen to be unorganized.
 There is a familiar saying that cor porations have no souls, but stock holders and directors and officials are not all soulless, and it would be good policy, to say the least, for railroads to compensate well their worthy men. By so doing they would find more public sentiment on their side.