davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29
LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS

Letter in the New York Sun by Loco- motive Engineer.
 TT is very amusing to read the engi-
 neers' testimony before the arbitra- \ ton commission: Pagan with his 517 signals, which the brakemen know as well as he does; the 574 trains that he looks out for, though he is governed al- together by signals without regard to any trains. His travelling over six divisions Is done on a pass and when he goes to ! church on Sunday his boss remains on the job.
 Years ago. subscription lists were con- tinually being circulated to provide for crippled and dying men or the destitute families, but that was before the railroads linaugurated the excellent relief systems providing for sickness, disability and death. Why should MT. Stone ''try to avoid bringing up" the merits of the in- surance and pension system? Can it be that he hesitates to give the railroad credit for the splendid work done along these lines because the brotherhood pro- vides insurance for its members? Then there is the trouble with smoke. due NiiANhiy to DcQ anu lltiC aiC So many bearings to oil They dread the electrical operation, though if they will but stand aside army of splendid, cap able men will welcome the chance. to oper- ate the electric service at ss a day.
 There is nothing complicated about a locomotive, for it is only two simple en- zines mounted on frame, and one only needs to keep water over the crown sheet and exercise a little common sense to operate 1t.
 When the Reading and Lehigh Valley roads had trouble with their engnemen quite number of freight brakemen who had never pulled throttle secured places as engineers, made good and were as- signed to important trains. A man run- ming an electric car or an automobile from Harlem to Wall street has more to con- tend with. more demands upon his alert ness, prompt action, keen judgment and decision than an engineer running a train from. New York to Philadelphia.
 The engineer runs on an inclosed. well protected right of way, signalled to in- dicate that track is clear or occupied. while the car or automobile man has all Soiis UT Hleh, WoHleH anu cnlluren anu vehicles to deal with, their safety and his own dependent upon his judgment and action. On trunk lines today the en- gineers are only runners. Engines are inspected before starting. and arrival at terminal enginemen enter on blank form any defects coming under their no- tice. On some small roads engineers may make all running repairs. as we all did at one time, but this is not required on the big systems
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29
THE GAY SUMMER wIDowER

From Letter to the Editor of the New York Sun.
 Mother" and the girls have gone to a fashionable resort in Maine and tb. old man." as usual, has remained at home The doctor thought he ought to
 go, too. and have a good long vaca- tioR for once in his life, but he would not hear of it.
 somebody's got to. look after the
 business" said he, and provide money for mother and the girls" The "old
 man'-he is not so very old, only 45-
 lives at big hotel; that is to say. he sleeps there when his family are away.
 His meals he takes Ion the outside.n it
 being so much cheaper. For breakfast
 he has half cantaloupe and a bowl of
 mush and milk, price 20 cents. 5 cents to the waiter For dinner he has | little. soup ("free with all orders"3. roast beef or lamb with vegetables. pie and coffee; 50 cents, cents to the waiter
 After dinner he strolls to the hotel
 and takes his seat in an armshair in front, lights a cigar and reads the
 evening paper. The cigar and paper finished, he discusses stocks" with
 some one fo a while, and perhaps | little politics. These are the only two
 subjects in which he takes any genuine interest. The discussion dies away un- der the influence of the day star and the "old man" sits with his head thrown back and weary look on his face,
 thinking--thinking probably of how to make more money. At o'clock punc- tually he gets up, says Well, good night, all," and betakes himself to his room. There he sits down and rum maging in his breast pocket takes out a bundle of letters, which he reads and rereads, smile occasionally illumin- ing his sad face. They are from the absent ones In Maine. His reading at last comes to an end and he then takes up a pen and writes something as fol- lows: Dear mother: Glad to hear you and the girls are having a good time. It's nice to be where it's cool,
 but it ain't so bad here. Anyhow, the
 heat agrees with me and I'm feeling fine. Enjoy yourselves Check en- closed" At 10:30 he undresses and goes to bed, where he spends half the night tossing and yawning wearily.
 How many thousands of American husbands. popularly supposed to be gay grass widowers" during the sum-
 mer months. live like the old man?" o American wives, when you have the
 suffrage what will you do to show your
 gratitude to these willing martyrs?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29

Some passenger engineers run from Philadelphia to Harrisburg in three hours and less From the time required to leave home they make the trip and deliver the
 engine to the engine house in five hours,
 50 cents an hour from the time of Ieav-
 ing their doorstep, nearly cents a mile
 for distance travelled, making s1o for the
 round trip in 10 or F hours and next day 1 for holiday.
 l On trunk lines an engine man earning s16s month-and some earn more-is cap italized at s5OOO0, as his earnings are about per cent on that amount-about what the bonds of the road pay.
 | Ample provision is made for his safety.
 training, improvement, comfort and well
 fare He has no monopoly in brains.
 ability or aptitude, for there are plenty of brakemen fully his equal in these re- l spects. The increasing strain and bur
 den of heavier tools and greater coal consumption falls upon the overworied
 fireman. True, there are bearings to oil.
 fogs to keep one alert, signals to heed for assurance and safety. and smoke-the re- suit of poor combustion; but on the whole
 a locomotive engineer is a very fortunate being, for his work is not monotonous or arduous, but is varying and pleasant, he
 is very we'll paid and enjoys freedom and liberty denied to his superiors in the service.
 Will some engineer with vision try to tell the commission of the many delight ful trips that one enjoys, and the greater majority by far are delightful. as I we'll know by pleasing experience. when the track is clear, everything running smooth ly, the pure air refreshing and invigorat- ing, the changing sky an entrancing pie ture and the earth with it's enchanting panorama of fields,s gardens orchards,
 brooks, valleys, plains and mountains forms a delectable feast which his soul drinks in as he glides happily through these manifold delights. He watches the changing splendor of the sunset. feels the sacred hush of twilight and catches the first glimpse of the evening star. For him l the night reveals it's infinite splendor. he welcomes the glory Of the morning stars, sees the purple of the dawn dissolve and the radiance ~s Q new day blush with glorious beauty across the eastern sky. The rich man in the sleeper behind him iif"04ieS iiAa bed piitheu Dy Dnd0c1al l thorns The worries of the superintendent multiply as the sands of the sea- The troubles of the general manager "coms not in single spies but in battalions." But the locomotive engineer is the one man to whom Is granted opulent life, refreshing liberty, and his journeying to and fro are to him not only the pursuit but the blessed possession of real happiness.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29
Commodity Prices Going Up

The present wholesale prices for 106 commdities, say Bradstreets, are the highest in two decades with one exception. The index number of July has been eclipsed on only three previous occasions, namely, on May 1 last, on January 1, 1910, and on March 1, 1907. Prices are 6.3 per cent higher than they were one year ago. The present level is 15 per cent above that of July 1, 1903.
 Seven groups show advances over June 1 last, while four reflect de- creases, and two do not display any change. ,Thirty-one articles were ad- vanced, 27 declined and AT remained stationary. Reeves are bringing the highest prices quoted in 42 years.
 In a years time nearly all the necessaries of life have been materl- ally advanced, and the cost of living is still going up. Beef is almost out of reach and yet the protection party insists that other countries shall not be permitted to bring in beef untaxed at the custom house. Were the neces- saries of life put on the free list the tide would turn the other way and the cost of living would go down in stead of up.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29
The Bul, Moose Platform

From time to time in the news dis patches from Oyster Bay we get an ink ling of the proposed bull moose platform which is to be revealed to a long suf- fering public on August at the bull moose convention at Chicago. It will be written by the chief bull moose, Theodore the First" said Taft man.
 From Roosevelt's antics and hysterical sfirieks of fraud, corruption and highway robbery at the republican convention, we can surmise about how the platform will read, or at least it ought to read, judg- ing from Roosevelts own words.
 "The bull moose platform will be filled with all sorts of oddities, but shorn of its platitudes and catch phrases it's prin- cipal declaration will be that:
 ITO the people of the United States declare that the present form of gov ernment is a failure, that the existing republican institutions are asfraud, that the American public men of today are criminals and generally incompetent. Hereafter liberty will perish, injustice rule and the republic sink into deserved oHlivion unless l, Theodore Roosevelt, be reelected President of the United States and all powers, administrative, judicial and legislative, be placed into my hands.
 ''The bull moose platform may not read like the above word for word, but 1t will probably have the same meaning
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29

brought scandal on this country, buf what any party needs for legitimate expenses printing and distributing party literature and paying the expenses of public speak ers-would amount to s1, 900 or more.
 "The democrats will probably find 1t up- hill work to raise as much as Sooe'oVV. Usually several rich democrats have con- tributed largely to the campaign fund but Mr. Wilson seems to have dread or tainted money, and as the money or all multi-millionaires is more or less tainted according. to democratic belief, none or the 'big rich will be expected to send checks to Wilson headquarters. But if half the voters of this country would con- tribute 50 cents the fund would total some thing like s2O00, ,000-and $2,00o,ooo would certainly be enough for the democrats to spend.
 "The trouble is, popular subscriptions are never as numerous as they should be-. There will be few 50 cent contributions. The fund will be raised chiefly by s5 and $1O subscriptions from the individual dem- ocrats who are actuated by a feeling of patriotism But the smaller subscriptions may be appreciably augmented toward the close of the campaign if the demo- cratic outlook is as good as it Is now, by contributions from those party work CTS who hope to be appointed to office. The man who would be a candidate for a postmastership if MT. Wilson succeeds President Taft might contribute from $50 to $1oo according to the salary of the posi- tion coveted. It might seem easy to raise $10,000 in Alabama for the democratic cam paign fund. but if s250o is collected I will be agreeably surprised"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29

nothing about what was going on. The House may decide to turn Catlin out. It would go far toward the correction of a great abuse.
 It is difficult to say how the na- tional campaigns can be regulated in this respect, although publicity will prove in the long run valuable safe guard. The Senate committee should keep up its work until every avail able fact has been brought out.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29
 WHAT MAKES A NATION
By John Bright.

By John Bright.
 I believe there is no permanent greatness to a nation except it be based upon morality. I do not care for mili- tary greatness or military renown. care for the condition of the people among whom I live. Crowns, coronets, lnitres, military display, the pomp of war, wide colonies and a huge empire are, in my view, all trifies, light as air, and not worth considering. unless with them you can have a fair share of com fort, contentment and happiness among the great body of the people. Palaces. baronial castles. great halls. stately mansions do not make nation. The nation in every country dwells in the cottage; and unless the light of your constitution can shine there, unless the beauty of your legislation and the ex- oellence of ycur statesmanship are i'm pressed there on the feelings and con- dition of the people, rely upon 1t you have yet to learn the duties of govern ment.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29
THE BOOKS OF YOUTH

Philip Hall in the Boston Herald
 Parents do wrong in sending away children's books when the children are in college. They argue there are chil- dren that would in turn enjoy them; children of the coachman or chauffeur; poor children youngsters in hospitals
 But The older man grows the more he dwells on the past, when his Joy was to pull piclets from a neighbor's fence, or practice with a sling and buckshot on the schoolhouse windows-and then run. With these pleasures he associates his first reading of Jacob Abbott's stories, the Rollo and F'ranconia series.
 Marco Paul's Voyages and Travels. What became of these books? Those that he humbed--not< reprints. We still the Erie Canal" "The Forests of Maine." Adventures in Boston," 'Ad- ventures in Vermont" At the Spring
 field Armory,' but. alas, the set is in complete Where is the volume with the alluring title Adventures in New
 York; the first of the series? We would
 gladly read it, though Marco. under
 the. care of the prudent Mr. Forester
 probably did not go a-slumming, and there were no lobster palaces in the
 ffties and early sixties; hence the mar ration might now be condemned as be-
 ing deficient in local color by those who
 think New York was always Babylon
 with roof gardens. The one shabby vol :
 ume of the Rollo series now on the shelf is as the apple of our eye. We would not exchange 1t for a complete set of MT. Kipling's works or the
 "Queens of England' bound in crushed
 morocco. Jonas is the commanding su- preme figure in American fiction. Nor should MT Holiday and MT. George be forgotten.
 It is not easy to obtain these old l books in a second hand shop. We at- | tempted not long ago to find the gen uine English edition of "The Boys Own | Book and only an American and ex- purgated copy was to be had, worn as 1 to type and hideous in flaming red covers. Is it possible to collect in Bos- ton a complete set of pr. Charles An
 thony's editions of the classics for use | in schools. which were frowned on I by the masters on account of the gem erous translation of all difficult pass ages? In one book shop there was a | Sallust; there was also Cornelius 1 Nepos. What would we not give for the old little square copy of The Ad- | ventures of Alexander Sellsirk" in green
 boards? Well, that would depend on the day of the week. On Saturday aft | ernoon so would seem reasonable On the following Friday afternoon we
 might offer 25 cents. Chill penury has
 repressed the noble rage of others than
 those who were at peace in the cele- 1 hra ed churchVard
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29
Hu@e Campaign Funds

The Senate committee that is in vestigating campaign contributions and expenditures is confined to the war chests of the national campaigns. The amounts raised in states, counties and cities for campaign purposes can not be ascertained by the Senate com mittee, and no effort is made by it to ascertain even the approximate amount of such additional contribu- tions.
 In England the misuse of money taints an election to parliament, and all know that proof of the fact will unseat beneficiary. A similar case has arisen-in St. Louis where large sum was expended to elect young MT Catlin to Congress, and committed has reported in favor of unseating him. The money was expended by . the senior Catlin, railroad magnate, ,nd thl son claims that he knew
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29
China,s Rejection of the Loan


 When China rejected the six-power loan of 300,000,000 on the ground that the terms offered assailed her independence, she turned about and borrowed in Picking $50,000, 0,000, and the powers were left out of the reck- oning.
 The chief question now is, can China pay her troops and settle other claims on the smaller loan? If Presi- dent Yuan can accomplish the task China's independence and solidarity are assured.
 Neither Russia nor Japan nor any other power would then have right to dictate in any manner to the new republic. The United States should prove it's friendliness by aiding in every possible manner the new re- public.
 President Yuan has a stupendous task before him, for taxation as well as education and the general defense must be worked out on new lines. nearly all governmental powers must be planned anew. The heads of the IS provinces must begin to organize new local governments, and on these local governments will be laid no doubt the power of taxation. Some say the needed revenue of the federal government cannot be procured with out considerable loss on account of graft, and President Yuan has the task of his. life when he faces the sub feet of revenue. The, solution of the problem means much to China at this time. It means free and independ- ent China. No one can say how the republic will come out of her present economic troubles.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29
Electoral Questions in Court

EiectOral questions III SOurt
 The efforts of the bull moose party to disfranchise the Taft republicans in South Dakota, in California and in at least some districts of Kansas may have to be fought out in the courts. In the states mentioned the bull moose party propose to monopo- lize the ticket offered at primaries and on election day, thus disfranchis- ing the Taft wing of the party
 The democrats are innocent by islanders in this war between the two wings of republicanism. Let it go on to the bitter end. The more they fight the less room will there be for compromise or union or peace.
 The democrats will roll up the larg- est possible vote for Wilson and Mar shall, and their opportunities in South Dakota, California and Kansas are ex- cellent. They may carry all three.
 They will carry enough states at any rate to keep the triangular con- test out of the House of Representa-. tives, which is said to be tied in g unit vote by states. Secretary oi State Knox will not reach the presi dency by reason of deadlockeC House. The people will relieve botl Knox and the House by electing Will son and Marshall.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29
The County Bond Issue


 The proposed Jefferson county bond ssue of $1,100,000, which the Board f Revenue asks voters to ratify on August 12, is not only reasonable but The demand is pressing. While the bulk of the proceeds would be expend- ed on courthouse and jail in Bir- mingham, a handsome courthouse ' would be erected in Bessemer, and large addition would be built to the Hillman hospital which is conducted by the county as charity institution.
 Everybody in this community knows that the courthouse here is entirely in- adequate, and as for the jail it stands strongly condemned from a sanitary and humanitarian point of view. The officials in charge of the jail are do- ing everything possible to minimize its bad condition, but the only remedy is a new jail.
 Out of the $t 100000, about $1oo,- 900 would be expended in Bessemer, and the people kf that end of the county will pbebably assist in bring ikg out agood vote in favor of the bond ( issue. As for the Hilman hos pitai no money could be expended for any worthier cause. The hospital is admirably conducted and has more than fulfilled the purposes for which it is being maintained.
 The bond issue is being opposed in some quarters, as large bond issues usually are But the short campaign of education to be conducted by the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with leading property owners outside of this city, should bring about strong civic feeling in flavor of the Board of Revenues $1,- , 100000 proposition.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29
Democratic Campaign Funds

If all democrats of ardent tempera- ment would make small contribution to the presidential campaign fund, those who have to do with the slnews of war would find the business of politics compar- atively easy said an old democrat
 -'.When l became voter soon after the war. neither of the big parties used much money in promoting party politics. But in these latter days the victorious party must spend $l0O0.ooo or more. The enormous slush fund used by the republicans in 191S
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29
ALWAYS

From the Chicago Record-Herald.
 well, are you still firmly determined not to support the ticl1et?''
 ..who said I wasn't going to support the tickst?''
 You said so before the convention-un' less your favorite candidate got the nom nation
 My dear sir, the man who gets the nomination is always my favorite candt date.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29
POINTED PARAGRAPHS


 From the Chicago News. A woman and her opinion are soon parted.
 Many love letter has come home to roost. | Most mems ambition are too big for them to handle. l A prude is very sharp eyed in looking i out for immortality. l For few weeks after she is engaged a l girl thinks flirting is a crime If some women didn't marry they would never get over being romantic.
 People who go to law seldom get back with as much as they started with. One way to judge mans following is by the length of his funeral procession.
 A fool insists on having his own way. but a wise man merely has it and says nothing, It may be that piano practice has recon ciled many a father to the marriage of his daughter.
 lust about the time man is old enough to realize the importance of mai- ing hay while the sun shines it begins to rain. I You may be right. Cordela. in trusting that perhaps all young men with s+A water trousers and multcolored hat bands gre not as foolish as they look.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29

Mr. Taft is singularly quiet. He may, however, be deyising new political blund- CTS to be committed In the closing weeks of the campaign.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29

Some call him pr Wilson and some Gov ernor Wilson, but all know he is Can didate Wilson who will next year occupy the White House.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29

The scholarly name of Woodrow is be- ing assigned to babies in large numbers. This is more than his opponents can boast
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29

pr. Morrison is to become the general adviser and Professor Jenks of Cornell the financial adviser of the Chinese republic.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29

Great Britain claims the right to have the biggest navy, but in relation to this Germany is from Missouri.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29

It is reported that MT. Bryan will camp on the trail of the bull moose when the stumping campaign is opened.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29
GOING UP

From the New York Sun.
 ''The packers buy beef on the hoof.
 And the rest of us buy beef on the roof"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29

The average congressman is giving more public business.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29

Excluding those who also ran the presi- dential race will be made up of colonel, a professor and a judge, and the pro- lessor will outrun all his rivals.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29

The state geologist of Pennsylvania of fers $50 for a specimen of the hoop snake. He desires to be shown.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29

The pretty Wilson girls play tennis and come in handy--next year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29

Governor Dix of New York wants a re- and she is not particularly disturbed over the situation.