davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18
Railroad Owned Ships and the Cana

hdiiodu-ONhSu AohipS anu thc Ndhdi
 The Panama canal bill is before the House, and battle is being fought over the proposition relating to rail- road-owned ships. The transconti- mental railroads are on the firing line, but no one sees them. They keep out of sight, letting those apparently without interest in the subject fight for them.
 It is perhaps the greatest battle of the session, and if the transcontinent- al railroads come out of it winners the canal will be valueless so far as trade between the two ocean sides of the country are concerned. f The vote in the House should be closely scrutinized, for on the one side will be arrayed those who want fair play for all and on the other those who are willing to let the transconti- mental railroads monopolize transcon- tinental traffic in the canal as well as on land. The great wealth of these railroads is sufficient to control capi- tai. Investors will be kept from build ing independent ships, and the power of the aeross-country railroads will be strengthened by the building of the canal rather than weakened.
 The battle is big one and it should be watched. It will separate the sheep from the goats, and the lineup will be one of the most important of the en- tire session.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18
Concerning Presidential Terms

Tt is not often that the people are so thoroughly in accord on any public ques- ton as they seem to be touching the prop
 osition to extend the presidential term of six years and make the President in- eligible for reelection said an old citi- zen.
 Democratic and republican papers and politicians are alike earnest in their ad- vocacy of the one term measure pending in Congress. Tie Wall Street Journal. one of the ablest and most conservative papers in this country, says in part:
 It seems to be the consensus of sober opinion that the term of office in the pres idency of the United States might be the stringent provision that no President should be eligible for reelection. When the holder of that great office gets it into his head that he Is the only possible man for the work among the millions of his fellow citizens, he proves then and there that his period of usefulness has ex-
 pired. number of presidents have had that delusion, and no student of history
 can regard with satisfaction the results
 of its qualification.
 Look at the lost motion, as the be- lievers in scientific management call it.
 which neutralizes the usefulness of a Presidents first term. He is in office eight months before he starts to learn the
 most difficult part of his duties, which lie in his relations with Congress. 1t takes
 him at least one session to get even an elementary idea of how to handle that
 body so as to- secure the best results with
 the least possible sacrifice of essentials.
 Nearly two years have gone before he begins to transact the business of his great office with competence and cer-
 tainty. In the third year he is well equipped President, if he is ever going to be one; and in the fourth year he is neglecting his duties to secure renomi- nation.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18
Democratic Convention City

E. D. Smith of the Baltimore American staff, and one of the most widely known newspaper men in the country, Is in Bir- mingham
 "The democratic national convention will draw record breaking crowd,' said Mir. Smith. q predict that there will he fully 100000 visitors. To some persons this estimate may seem excessive. but it is not Two causes will combine to sWxll the crowd. In the first place there Is more party interest felt in the forthcom- ing convention than usual. The demo- crats have got it into their heads tlat this is a democratic year and that the Baltimore convention will nominate |, man who, humanly speaking, will be sure to win. That seems to be the democratic idea in every part of the country.
 Another thing in favor of Baltimore in the matter of drawing an unprece- dented crowd is its central location as regards populous sections of the country. The railroads will be taxed to thcir ut most capacity handling the crowds from the east. Alabama will send a great crowd of Underwood boosters. Mis- souri will be well represented be- cause of Champ Clarks candidacy. Harmon's Ohio followers will be in Balti- more in large numbers. and Pennsylvanis and New Jersey will send thousands of Woodrow Wilson partisans to the conven-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18
The Iron Market

The local iron market is strong at s11 to sll.25 on a No. basis. There is a scar city of the lower grades. Rogers, Brown & Co.'s Cincinnati report, just received. says
 Conditions in the main continue un- changed. Prices in all districts are firm with an advancing tendency. There is less range in the prices than has been the case recently.
 Pig iron production during the month of April was at the rate of about 29,000,000 tons per year. This rate of production, if maintained, will break all existing rec ords. As it Is now and has been the case recently, the make of furnaces is shipped promptly and stocks are decreas- ing monthly.
 Railroad buying continues in good quantity. There is Likelihood that there will be considerably more confidence on the part of producers as to what price they ought to get for their material and less hesitancy regarding the future, es- pecially the last half of 1912
 The last week has seen great activity in ferro-m manganese and further advances are looked for. There has been good buying of this material at the recent ad- vance,"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18
WHY HE WAS A BEGGAR

New York Correspondence Cincinnati Times-Star. Federico Paul-which is composite rem dering of his name as reported in the va rious papers-was dragged out of sub-| way station in the Bronx by an ironhand- ed copper the other day. The copper took| poor Mir. Pauls two canes away from him and prodded him with one of them, and made him walk briskly to the station house. During the walk the spinal curva ture that had bothered poor MT. Paul fol | several years past disappeared eompletels| and he forgot the cruel limp. At the sta ton house they peeled MT Paul and found him armor plated with small coins. II ] melted down something like SIS in Jingles When he was arraigned in court thai| night for begging his wife arose: 'He doesn't have to beg, judge said she. "He| has a good business as chiropodist up.I town. He has a nice little office all his own; he employs several helpers and wt| own our own home. But he insists or making up in rags and dirt and taking hi. two canes and going out at night to beg I am dying of shame. She was well dressed and seemed ihor.I
 
 oughly respectable. She sank back in heI| chair sobbing. Mir. Paul looked at heI| with an enigmatic smile and kept his owr| counsel After he had been toasted upoI| the judicial coals he was led away to| give bail for his good conduct during ths | next six months. Later-bathed, shaved I dressed up in well pressed clothes ano wearing polished shoes-Mr. Paul gave his own story of his double life. T worked hard," said he, T made a good iivins' and l was happy and content untilI mar| ried.' My income from my business isl sufficient to maintain us in comfort Il is an easier way of getting money thaf| of working-and I made my wife happy| because l could give her the money sind wanted, and which l could not make by' honest work. Now she objects to my beg ging. Is 1t not somewhat unreasonable Must 1 carpenter toes IS hours a day teI provide her with luxuries, when I earl get more money in six hours by sitting O. cold stone floor and crying into m, beard?'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18
------s.-. A KISS IN THE RAIN

By Samuel Minturn Peck One stormy morn l chanced to meet
 A lassie in the town; Her locks were like the ripened wheat, Her laughing eyes were brown. I watched her as she tripped along
 Till madness filled my brain, And then-and then-I know twas wrong
 I kissed her in the rain! With raindrops shining on her cheek
 Like dewdrops on a rose, The little lassie stroves to speak,
 My boldness to oppose; She strove In vain, and auiverins,
 Her fingers stole in mine; And then the birds began to sing'
 The sun begsn to shine. Ob.let the clouds grow dark above,
 My heart is light below; ,Twas always summer when we love,
 However winds may blow; And I'm proud as any prince,
 All honors disdain; She says I am her rain beau since
 l kissed her in the rain.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18
A Record Haul at Hattiesburg

Thus far the two masked bandits who held up Queen and Crescent train near Hattiesburg, Miss, have escaped detection. The detectives en- gagged in efforts to capture the rob bers are convinced that the hold up was the work of professional bandits who have perhaps returned to their homes in other states. Their work dis closed no amateur weaknesses. At every point the nerve and skill of trained robbers were in evidence.
 They perhaps knew that the par tieular train which they assailed car ried vast sums of money to meet pay rolls, and it is believed they carried off more money than two train rob- bers ever did in the history of train robberies.
 Any clue would be gladly received by the detectives who are endeavoring to capture the men. Gangs of that na- ture do not belong in the south where train robberies are rare events. The south suffers in reputation from such events as that of Hattiesburg, but no southern man had any hand in it. Where the robbers came from cannot be determined until one at least of the offenders is arrested. The railroad
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
A Few Years Hence

Backward farm conditions may prevent great degree of buoyancy in the south this year, but looking ahead few years the south is going to be the most pros porous part of the country said Charles T. Ashton of Indiana
 T have been visiting certain of the southern states every few years, and on each trip I notice marked improvement. Alabama especially has such a great va riety of resources that it is destined to become immensely rich.
 Truck farmers are coming from the north to the south in increasing num- bers. Farm values in this state are low now, and in fact all agricultural, timber and mineral-are comparatively low. It Is safe prediction that in 10 years farm land in the south will sell for double what it can be bought for today and as for timber and coal lands they will double in price within the next two or three years.
 The country Is on the verge of great boom, and the Birmingham district will certainly share very largely in the new prosperity"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18
Georgia Will Lead Off

The Georgia legislature meets in June, and it will probably be the first one to act on the constitutional propo- sition for the direct election of United States senators, unless Massachusetts decides to act at once. Georgia can thus set the pace for the other south ern states.
 In Georgia senators have long been selected in primaries and they will continue to be selected in that way. To say that the Bristow amendment can be applied to primaries within a state is simply nonsense, although it is not greater nonsense than to say that the federal government will at tempt to regulate any senatorial cleo tion in any state.
 The fact should be made plain that the Bristow amendment in nowise changes the constitution as it has stood since it's adoption in 1790 When this fact is brought out and made known the Georgia legislators will not be apt to get in the way of the direct election of senators unless indeed they are opposed to selections in that way. All opponents of direct elections will naturally turn the Bristow amend ment into an excuse for voting against ratification. All friends of direct action will disregard it as a piece of useless and inapplicable bun combe.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18
THING UNDERWOOD WILL PROVE

From the Savannah News.
 In an interview in the Morning News yesterday Maj. R. E. Steiner, member of the Montgomery, Ala, bar, among other things, said: "The old feeling that a southern man cannot be elected Presi- dent is out of date. and MT. Underwood will prove it' The Morning News has said many times within the last four or five years that a southern candidate would be a popular candidate in the north. It urged the nomination of a southern man in 1908, saying that the north would like an opportunity to show that there was no sectional feeling in that part of the country. and it was the first newspaper in this state to urge the nom nation of Mr. Underwood. It has persist ently urged his nomination, not only be- cause he is the logical candidate, standing as he does, more conspicuousy than any other one of the candidates, for a tariff for revenue, which is certain to be the paramount issue of the presidential cam paign, but also because he is distinctly a southern man.
 In every state the farmers would rally to his standard. They keep themselves we'll informed of what takes place in Con- gross, and they know all about the farm CTS free list bill which he proposed and pushed through the House. With the support of the farmers he could hardly help winning
 But what has done as much as any other one thing to bring MT. Underwood .a nF ic the splendid leadership he has displayed in Congress. He has held the democratic forces well together ever since the demo- crats got control of the House. and by doing so ho has convinced the country that the democrats are well qualified to take control of the government-that ev- cry interest would be safe in their hands.
 What the country needs is leadership of the sort that Mir. Underwood exer- cises the sort that gave the south such commanding influence in the government before the civil war. The country is ready for that sort of leadership again; in fact, anxiously desires it.
 It is worthy of notice that there have been no attacks on MT. Underwood or his Record and reputation for leadership that commands respect and admiration. He will not have as many votes on enter ing the Baltimore convention as some of the ether candidates. but just as soon as the convention gets down to the real work of making nomination he will forge steadily ahead and the indications now are that this year of 1912 will see q genuine, representative southern man named for President and elected.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18
Largest Oil We'll in the World

In the oil field about 100 miles southeast of Tampico, Mex, is un- doubtedly the greatest oil well In the world. For three months this gusher has produced 10000 barrels Of oil a day, and there has not been Tn that time the slightest decrease of output. This oil is worth about 50 cents a barrel. and the the well is therefore car fielding revenue of S55- ga s2O, ,O75, ,0O0 in one year.
 controlled three months,
 egee aaw a great steel valve is sa in close it in part only. The har- rassf ef lis giant well and the con- a.ar 5n q storage reservoirs has
 ard of $500,000.
 eia in England and recently
 show its English owners
 do it's valve was turned m i'd it is soon mounted to ....s.. o1 4Jl feet above ground. It was flowing at the rate of 10000 barrels daily. When it's valve IS closed down it sends out 55,0O0 bar rels day.
 It is the worlds greatest oil well, and the oil experts expect it to main tain it's present production "for an in- terminable duration" This means much longer period than one year at any rate.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18
SISTER TO THE RESCUE

From Answers, London.
 Walter was years old. He had beel very naughty. In point of fact, he ha, enptied bottle of red ink over hi mothers white Pomeranian-just for fun of courseI
 Now, the price had to be paid for the en jeyment, and father was taking ham in the game.
 Little Lucy, Walters sister, was in tn room at the time of the conflict Thud thud. thudl fell fathers hand, punctuatet by Walters wailings.
 At last Lucy could stand it no longer Bursting witf indignation, she stalnpe, her tiny foot on the floor.
 Tread on his corn, Wal.' she cried '.That'Il stop him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18

that was robbed and the local author ities are aiding the detectives, and an arrest is still within the possibilities of the case.
 How two men can hold up one hun dred men of equal courage, many of them armed, is a mystery, but all know that such acts are committed al- most every month in the year in this country and the bandits being trained to their unlawful tasks rarely fail to secure what they seek.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18
HOW SHE PULLED THROUGH

From the Cleveland PIain DeaIer.
 "rhey say Bilrs wife is goin' to git well?''
 Yes but she had narrer escape
 "So I heared."
 "But you didn't hear 1t all. Old Dr. Dosem fixed up a last hope, hit or miss prescription an told Bill to git 1t filled at tn drug store. Well, when he got there some fellers he knew wuz talkin Taft an Roosevelt an Bill jined an clean for got bout tn prescription an didn't git home for two hours An while he wuz gone AIanda passed tn crisis an begun to mend, but it wuz close call an politics wuz tn only thing that saved her.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR
pm the New York Press.

From the New York Press.
 What d woman likes most about sum- mer clothes is they aren't really clothes.
 Poets are born, not made, so it is not their fault. but the misfortune of others.
 It's about as foolish never to do any thing foolish as always to do only fool ish things.
 When girl says she danced every dance at a party. it's a sign she would have if she had been asked.
 The money a man loses gambling would have made him mighty mad to have bought his wife clothes with.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18

The two large branches of the Presby- terian church are holding their annual assembly at Bristol and the northern gen. eral assembly at Louisville. The northern body has communcant membership of about 1,3SO,Oo0, while the southern body has about 2S20O0 communicants. Both as sembles are noted for the learning and zeal of their ministers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18
BEAUTIES CAUSE A STRIKE

From the New York Tribune.
 A strike of 12o girls, members of the White Goods Workers union, which was reported by the officers of the union to have taken place in the factory of B. Apothel,er. Grand and Eldridge streets, showed, according to the report. remark able self sacrifice on the part of num- Der of good looking girls among the strik- CTS.
 A member of the executive committee of the union said that the strike was not for higher wages or recognition of the union, the factory being a union one, but for an equal distribution of work whether q girl was good looking or only ordinary in her looks.
 He said that certain foreman In the factory diseriminated in favor of the best locking girls by giving them the best paying work and against plain girls by giving them work which did not pay as we'll though they might be as skilful as their more favored competitors.
 The plain girls suffered in silence for some time and then took the good looking girls into their confidence. A girl does not object to be called good looking. and these good looking girls rallied to the sup port of their plainer sisters. All went on strike good looking and otherwise, for an equal distribution of work regardless of personal beauty. and the firm capitu- lated.
 Henceforth the foreman referred to must not allow his artistic perceptions to sway him in distributing the work and use no discrimination against workers who may not le blessed with physical beauty. but may have skill and mental attributes far more valuable than mere outward charm Thus both the plain and good lon,xinr girls vor moral victory.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18

ton. Yes, I think we will have not less than 2oo.OOo visitors in Baltimore during convention week.
 The question is often asked, will Baltl- more be able to accommodate the crowd. 1 answer in the affirmative. Baltimore IS now ons of the best hotel cities in the United States. It has several large and elegant hotels, and it has countless hotels of the small and plainer class, but they are hotels vertheless-altogether respee- table hotels. The hotelkeepers will not charge unreasonable prices. Of course. during any great convention several men have to sleep in the same room at prices they would ordinarily pay for separate rooms. No reasonable man can expect ii otherwise.
 Baltimore is one of the most hospita- ble cities in this country, and I believe the convention visitors will go away well satisfied with their outing.p
 Prencher's Conservative Views
 T was much impressed with the ex- tracts of a sermon preached in the general assembly of the southern Pres byterian church by the moderator, the Rev. pr. Russell Cecil of Richmond Va.," said man who is not connect ed with the Presbyterian denomination
 Tt was such a sermon as all con- servative men and women who believe in the essentials of the old-time re- ligion would approve. It was very thoughtful discourse and while new methods in church work were not harshly condemned-or condemned at all, as for that matter, so long as those methods brought wholesome results. but 1t contained solemn warning against evangelical novelties.
 Among other things pr. Cecil said in speaking of spectacular violence: No doubt Gods spirit has often been pres ent in such scenes during the past his- tory of the church and great revivals are without question among the di- vinely chosen methods for the enlarge ment of the kingdom. But such mani festations are often deceptive and need to be carefully scrutfnized. Moreover. this order of work is misleading. The multitudes drawn together by spec taeular methods soon melt away. Ey- cry pastor knows from experience that not infrequently after the visiting preachers are gone and the chair has been dissolved and the crowds have dispersed the devils which it was sup posed had been driven out return in greater numbers and the last state of his church Is worse than the first
 "Dr. Cecil was once pastor in Selma. He was called from there to the Second I1,-ac r,nI fRf which the Rev. pr Moses D. Hoge was pastor more than 50 years). An elder of the Richmond church. MT. John S. Munce, told me recently that Dr. Cecil had greatly endeared himself to his congregation and was considered an exceptionally strong man."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18
 VAIN REGRET.

Poor Dubbsly did a garden make,
 His hopes were running high; He'd toll until his back would ache,
 Then heave a heavy sigh And wish that Mother Eve had not
 That fatal apple snatched; Then all would live in garden spot,
 With no hard. work attached.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18
THE PARASITES

husband mopping his perspiring brow, smiled happily. pointed proudly at the par asite and boasted of the triumph of his labors. With such Encouragement oi strenuousness it is remarkable how few American matrons, comparatively speak. lng. are loafers
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18

Mexico should allow but one term to q President. and then she should have but one President for the term. At present she has at least three.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18

Life can be made pleasanter and less noisy in this country by making the pres idential term one of six years, with no privilege of reelection.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

pole. with it's glittering fields of ice.'.
 Hell own the north pole about as S as he will a diamond"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18

The powder trust proposes to break itself up into three competing companies This is more than the Standard oil or Tobacco trust did.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18

The Bath, Me, board of trade and civic and church organizations generally will jcin in programme of reception to Charles W. Morse on May 30.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18
ART NEWS
From Punch.

FIUIH FUIlCH.
 Rembrandt Browns picture, 'Midnigh in the Forest if not exactly the pictur of the year. at least has the merit of be ing by far the best looking-glass in th Academy"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-18

The Massachusetts legislature is in ses- sion. and it may be the first one to ratify all known constitutional amendments.