davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-04
The Tariff Leaders Strength

Some years ago the republican party had in Congress a number of able champions of high protective tariff But William Mckinley was the chief exponent of the protection idea He was the master of the tariff ques- tion from the republican point of view and it was that mastery which made him the logical candidate for Presi- dent in 1896 He was a genial, large hearted, lovable man, and his fine personal qualities united with the tar if issues which he so conspicuously represented resulted in his election by a decisive majority.
 AS has been said before, Oscar Un- derwood occupies position in the democratic party similar to that oc- cupied by Mckinley in the republican party in 1896. He is a great tariff expert. He is not only well grounded in the theory of democratic economies, but he is as practical as he is the oretical.
 Many of the most brilliant men in the democratic party in advocating tariff for revenue only have discussed the question forcefully and attractive ly, but when they were opposed by a republican with protection arguments, they have been weddings. Under wood has demonstrated to the country his businesslike methods in dealing with the tariff. He has an orderly mind and a head full of hard sense. If the republicans in 1896 put Mckinley at the head of their ticket because of his high protection leadership the democrats would make an unpardon- able mistake if they failed to nomi- nate Underwood as their standard bearer this year.
 The tide of sentiment has turned strongly to Underwood in the past few weeks and it looks now more than ever as if his nomination were prac- tically assured.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-04
MIR. UNDERWOOD IN THE RACE

From the Chattanooga News.
 oscar w. Underwood Is now an avowed aspirant for the democratic nomination for the presidency. His campaign has been placed in the hands of Senator Bankhead nouneement says:
 q wish the people of the country to know that we expect to go in on the strength of our candidate, his high char aoter, his we'll tried leadership, his per feet sanity and boise, and his fidelity, both to his friendships and also to the gl eat and time honored principles of the democratic party. If we are unable to win, save through anonymous and un- signed attacks on other candidates, then we do not expect or even care to win. Indeed. under such circumstances, we would not deserve to win. In all we do it will never be forgotten that there is certain comty due between candidates of the same party, and that after the nomi- nation we must be in position to fight a common political enemy
 Great interest attaches to the announce ment of Mir Underwood, apart from his chances of success. He is the first south ern man who has asked for the demo- cratic nomination for President since the civil war. Mr. Underwood makes no sec tional appeal. He is a~clear headed busi- ness man and statesman. He belongs to the new nation as well as to the new south. He has acquired the habits of steady industry and is tactful leader of his party in the House of Representa- tives. He is displaying rare prudence. pa- tience and skill. If nominated he would command the loyal support of his fellows of the House of Representatives and of the great majority of the democratic sen- ators MT. Underwood is more conserva- tive than the great body of the demo- cratic party. Perhaps his chances will be increased or diminished by the course of the republican voters. If Colonel Roose- welt should be nominated on platform as radical as the Columbus speech conserva- tive sentiment would seek a counter boise. It remains to be seen whether this de- mand would be strong enough to infiu- ence the democratic national convention. h any case, Mir. Underwood will have the personal good will of his fellow citizens in and outside the democratic party His campaign will be clean and honorable. like the man.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-04

From the Washington Post.
 Another United States senator is the subject of vicious and malicious parti- san attack, accompanied by a demand for an investigation" with the object of de- priving him of his seat. No more un- blushing and unfounded attack has been made upon public man in years than the irresponsible assault upon Senator du Pont. Nothing in the long and honor- able career of the Delaware senator gives a shadow of support to the vague "charges" against him. On the contrary. his character and record are such as should make him immune from such an assault, and he is immune from 1t in every place except the United States Senate where a man happening to be member of that body is not held to accountability for his utterances.
 Unfortunately, of late years men have been elected senators who have no sense of responsibility, and who promptly mis- use the privilege of the Senate in order to besmirch the regulations of their col leagues. Uttering insinuations and hear sa ' which they well know would not stand moment in court, they endeavor to stir up such feeling as will result in an investigation in the hope that further scandal may be developed.
 The Senate has permitted itself to be dragged into two such investigations, and in neither case has any evidence been ad- duced to show that the senators afrected had been guilty of any misconduct A mass of stuff called "evidence" was ac- cumulated in each case, and all sorts of rumors and gossip were included, without accomplishing the main object of the de- famers. The Senate itself, however, was not benefited by such investigations, and the impression was spread through the country that that body was hotbed of scandal and false witness.
 It is not to be believed that the Senate will lend itself to another partisan at tempt to besmirch the reputation of one of it's honorable members. The resolu- tion providing for an investigation" of the frivolous and trumped up charges against Senator du Pont should be thrown into the wastebasket forthwith, along with a lot of other rubbish that is laid before the Senate for political ends and aims. If senator must run the gauntlet of a mud battery in order to retain his seat 1t is high time that the Senate itself should reform it's methods. No court or other organized public body would listen for a moment to such palpably malicious and irresponsible attacks directed against one of its own members. The Senate owes 1t to it's own self respect to put an end to the already established practice of using it's machinery for the destruction of reputa- tions for political gain.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-04
Presidential Primary Laws

Oregon, Wisconsin, Nebraska, North Dakota, New Jersey and California Will in the spring months not only ex- press presidential preferences, but they will also select presidential dele gates by the direct primary method. Possibly the list of presidential pri- mary states will not be enlarged, there being feeling that it is better to watch the new method in the six states named than to extend at pres ent the experiment. Some states will, however, act directly without first adopting primary laws. Action through the party machinery is some hmes as effective as through statu- tory laws.
 The law of the California legisla- lure was the latest one adopted, and 1t differs materially from all the rest Care was taken in it to confine the ex- pr9sion of preference to the presiden- kfRi nomination alone. "Favorite sons" or geographical considerations enter into a vice presidential nomina- tion, and California decided to have 10 confederation of the vice presidency 'in tho primary. And then again the i - = scalifernis. ignoFsz congress
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-04
SAFE EXPLOSIVES

In the Worlds Work for March. Mir. Arthur w. Page tells of the work done by Mir. J. A. Holmes of the Bureau of Mines, to protect the lives of miners. After very careful tests the bureau has been able to classify explosives as per mssible' and mon permissible" The lat ter type known as ''black powder"' has, when it isnites, flame more than three times as long as that of the permissible explosives. and 1t has duration 5000 or 4o0O times as long. The longer the flame and the longer its duration, naturally, the more danger there Is of its starting an explosion
 There are, as yet, no laws compelling mine owners to use the permissible powder, but it stands to req ason that most of them would want to. At all events number of manufacturers sent samples of their explosives to the bureau to be tested, and when these were placed on the permissible list the manufacturers found that their business did not suffer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-04
Portra, adieu! have too grfey'd n heari To take n tedious leave.
 Merchant or Venice.
No Third Termer Need Apply

To say that the unwritten third term law which was indorsed by Washington and was renewed in Grants time should be set aside for the benefit of Theodore Roosevelt is to make ones self ridiculous. In all our history no one so cratic as MT. Roosevelt has ever secured the presi- dency. This country has never had a President who had so small respect for law and precedent as he. The manner in which he took Panama illustrates the boldness and aggres- siveness and lawlessness of the man. Surely the third term rule should not be set aside to let in such man.
 He has never explained his rela- tions with E. H. Hartman when he induced the latter to raise, three days before election large campaign fund. Hartman said afterward that the money was used to turn 50,000 votes apparently in the slums of New York. Nor has the manner in which the canal zone was seized been made clear. Nor has his declaration made at the beginning of his second term been explained. He then said he would not under any circumstances accept third term. The repudiation of that pledge made to the people really stands unexplained.
 When man is open to charges of this nature the people will not vote to break down an unwritten law that has stood over 125 years. What they would not do for Washington or Grant they surely will not do for Roosevelt.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-04
WEST IS FOR UNDERWOOD

From the Mobile Register.
 From reliable sources comes news from the Golden coast that Hon. Oscar w. Underwood, house majority leader and Alabama's distinguished representative, Is much stronger than any of the other men in the democratic fold who has been mem tioned in connection with the nomina- ton for the presidency at the Baltimore convention The argument Is made that hs is, while most aggressive. man in whom the greatest reliance can be placed. The democrats of Oregon, California and other western states have come to look upon Hon. Oscar N. Underwood as man who, with his conservatism, can win many supporters from the ranks of the pro- gressive republican party. and this means considerable. t CfEe4
 While we appreciate and realize that others who have been mentioned in con- nection with the nomination are able statesmen and men who can be relied upon, still we believe that Hon. Oscar W. Underwood with the great confidence he has won from the republican party by his manly and aggressive attitude. would sweep the field against any man the op- position could line up against him, be 1t Taft or Roosevelt. It behooves Alabam- ians to bestir themselves and send dele gation to Baltimore who are fighters and v,ho will land the nomination for the dis tinsuished gentleman from Jefferson.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-04
BROTHER sTIGGINs GETS FULL

"oh. very well,' rejoined MT. Anthony Humm, retreating a. few paces.
 T believe no man here has ventured to saysthat I am not all right, sir?', said Mir Stiggins. N
 "Oh, certainly not" said Mir. Humm.
 T should advise him not to, sir; l should advise him nots' said Mir stiggins,
 By this time the audience was perfectly silent and waited with some anxiety for the resumption of business.
 Twill you address the meeting, broth- er?" asked MT. Humm, with a smile of in. vitation. f=
 No, sir" rejoined Mir Stigglns; Tho, sir. I will not, sir.
 The meeting looked at each other with raised eyellds, and murmur of astonish- ment ran through the room.
 It's my opinion, sir" said MT. Stig- gins. unbuttoning his coat, and speaking very loudly; it's my opinion, sir, that this meeting is drunk, sir. Brother Tadger, sir." said MT. Stiggins. suddenly increas- ing in ferocity, and turning sharp round on the little man in drab shorts, you are drunk, sir!' With this, MT. Stiggins, en- tertaining praiseworthy desire to pro- mote the sobriety of the meeting and to exclude therefrom all improper charac- ters, hit Brother Tadger on the sum- init of the nose with such unerring aim that the drab shorts disappeared like . flash of lightning. Brother Tadger had been knocked head first down the lad der. ttt
 Upon this. the women set up loud and dismal screaming; and rushing in small parties before their favorite brothers, hnng their arms around them to preserve them from danger-an Instance of affec- tion which had nearly proved fatal to Humm, who, being extremely popular, was all but suffocated by. the crowd of female devotees that hung about his neck and heaped caresses upon him. The great CT part of the lights were quickly put out, and nothing but noise and confusion re- sounded on all sides.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-04
A NEW AMUSEMENT
rom the New York World.

From the New York World.
 To New York's stock attractions as an all night town is now added the novel amusement of sailing for Europe at o'clock in the morning. The crush of passengers and sightseers in evening dress at the Cunard pier when the Lusitania de- parted suggested Broadway after the the- atre.
 What boon it will be to society" and particularly to near society, to dash from the cabaret show after the play to the dock. For those who prefer it, the com pany has shrewdly provided an after the atre supper on the fast liners sailing on this schedule. But the beauty of the ar- rangement is that it prevents any curtail- ment of the evenings round of gayety and effects an economy of time which hard pushed pleasure seekers will appreciate.
 The company must be congratulated on having seized the psychological moment for introducing this innovation in ocean sailing. At time when the turkey trot'' and the sabaret are beginning to go stale it furnishes a new nocturnal amusement to whet jaded appetites.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-04
From the New York Evening World. (E6HE modern spinster has at last
 her innings in the great game

her innings in the great game
 of life. The spinster as we now consider her is that woman who is at the top of the new opportunity, not be- meath it.
 ''As such she Is opening in this her day new avenues of work for women and ap- plying the general rules of labor to her own case with success. She is proving over and over again, with that cumulative guarantee of success which is the only way of impressing the mass intelligence, that women's bodies, brains, powers of constant and effective activity and moral characters can stand the strain of manual clerical, professional and artistic service on a high level of competition with men,"
 Mrs. Anna Garlin Spencer, the widely known author and lecturer, makes these interesting declarations in the article, "The Day of the Spinster,' which she con- tributes to the current number of the Forum. When a reporter talked with Mrs. Spencer, she similingly reiterated the fact that she believes the present to be indeed ''the age of the old maid.'
 Why, it is only in comparatively re- cent times," she asserted. ''that woman has had the moral right to remain unmar- ried. The whole system of ancient social order was based upon the universal shar- ing of the married state.
 ''The Hindus, the Greeks, the Romans made it their first duty to see that no family became extinct. All women in the ancient world had to marry and they had to remain married all their lives. Not until our own civilization do we anywhere find celibate women numerous enough to form class.
 Tn our own colonial days-even in Bos- ton-there was a remarkable prejudice against the old maid. One Boston writer describes her as such a curse as noth- ing can exceed it and looked upon as a
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-04
New YOrk's Valuable Acre

The lot once occupied by the Equita- ble building in New York had front age of 16S feet on Broadway, 152 feet on Nassau street, BIO feet on Cedar street, and 305 feet on Pine street. This small block was valued by the city assessors at $12, ,000, covered as it was by building that brought in great rentals. The block contains a little over an acre of ground, and now that the building is burned, the block of land alone is considered worth $20, 0,O0O,OOO.
 Possibly corners or small lots have brought more per square foot than the Equitable block is considered worth, but it is safe to say that no vacant acre in. New York, in London or elsewhere has ever been held at so high price.
 Beyond reasonable doubt this block will bring into the Equitable's fat vaults $20, 1000, ,O00, for it is to be sold, and the big life insurance company expects to build elsewhere in the city where land is cheaper. A sale of the block may be announced any day. The directors of the Equitable society have voted to sell it. It stands a unique and unapproached vacant acre of New York property.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-04
To Feature O'NeHI

In announcing that in it's issue of March 1t would present to its readers a his- tory of Gov. Emmet O'Neal of Alabama, termed lone of the greatest political fighters in the country" the Saturday Evening Post writes:
 'He began his political life with the local option question, and by defeating a prohibition amendment, became governor of Alabama. Afterward when the ques- tion arose as to the proper protection for miners, in view of mining disaster in the Birmingham district, O'Neal. believ- ing that the miners were not securing ade- quate protection, not only wrote law that safeguarded these miners, but he saw to 1t that it was enforced as well.
 Later came the cry for the initiative, referendum and recall, and ONeal, who is not at all favorable to the. so-called popular government gave vent to his convictions at a conference of governors, held in the east. Crossing swords with the renowned Woodrow Wilson, he be- came a national figure.
 Perhaps the readers in your town may not altogether agree with ONeal's po- litical views, but they surely admire his courage, and will desire to read of his many sided career'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-04
CRUELTY IN THE JUNGLE
From the London Chronicle.

From the London Chronicle.
 A TIER g years peril in the heart of
 "A Africa, much of the time a pris- A oner in a great black Babylon, where nameless horrors were committed every day, where there were hills of skulls, and where patches of slaves were butchered for the mere joy at sight of blood. Daniel Crawford, missionary con- nected with the Plymouth Brethren. has just been given an official reception at his native town of Greenock.
 Years before I went to Africa" says Mir. Crawford, "Mushidi journeyed into the interior with his wife, Kapapa. and two slaves, grand total four, and this ter rible quartet smashed up all the tribes of Central Africa. Mushidi was a vert- able black Napoleon of Central Africa. His brain worked with the precision of a machine. Tribe after tribe fell under his sway, and thus was evolved a great black Babylon, where all the tribes formed a seething mob and where slaves poured in by hundreds and thousands.
 Ut was a city of scores of thousands of people, certainly over 100000. And there for years I was kept practically pris- oner for Mushidi refused to let me go. It was case of will you walk into my parlorg said the spider to the fly. Partly perhaps it was case of pride, for Mush- idi wanted his enemies north, south, east and west. to know that he had caught a white man.
 Life there was awful"-and Mir. Craw- ford shuddered. Hills of skulls all over the place, and drastic executions daily in full swing. Blood, blood and yet more blood. And there was I. shut in, nope less prisoner, seeing these people killed off in patches, 10 and 20 day. irisn'- ful murders. committed with unspeakaD'e barbarities.''
 For A time MT. Crawford was heipiess' but gradually he was taken into Mushioi favor and acted for him almost in the canac,tv of secretary. And then daily ne netitioned for the lives of some Of the condemned people to be spared him.
 ..EYfteen or % people were to be killed op say. the Monday morning. l begged the emperor oh, king. live for ever; give ,na two, Another batch on Tuesday morninr. Again, oh. king. live forever; give me two more.' On Wednesday, oh. king live forever; give me three, give me three And I got three.
 .sThe result is a lot of these people are called by a word which means 'Begotten again from the dead.' and they turn up from all parts of Africa bringing me It, tie presents.
 What kind of man was Mushidi? A typical Bantu cutthroat, but he had a wonderful head. really two heads in one, the curled, ridged occiput telling of ter rible potentialities. He had 800 wives. ..Qne day a strange flag was seen Ap- proach and this heralded the advent of nsy. factor in tue countrys n9@ebx tho
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-04
The Activity In Real Estate

'I am impressed with the-remarka ble activity in inside property here in Bir- mingham," said an observant man.
 An analysis of the conditions will show that for the past year or two there has been greas interest in sub urban or outlying properties Then there followed the natural period of dragging and dullness all around. Now the heart of thlngs-the business part of Birming gham-shows great activity and rigging values. This blood of new life will find its way into every part of the city within a few months. The houses and blocks of new stores will give Birmingham year of activity and prosperity and the impetus will carry us well into the next year
 Here in Alabama the plans already made and the work already under way for railroad building and double track ing will turn millions into circulation said that railroad construction puts money into circulation more abundantly and more rapidly than any other class of industrial work.
 If the farmers of Alabama will plant crops that wilt feed men and mules and less cotton, much of the money of railroad contractors will re- main in the state; money that hereto fore has gone to the west for sup plies.
 Anyway, the future is bright with a strong light of promise of good | times"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-04
Cause of Pellagra Unknown

The marine hospital service admits after many months of investigation of pellagra in the southern states that the disease is a mystery. It may come from cottonseed oil, from Indian corn. from certain vegetables, or gnat may deposit the germ in the hu- man system-no one knows, and the scientists know no more than the un informed and uncultured.
 The disease is very prevalent in South Carolina. It is not an incurable disease. at least not before the stage of insanity has been reached. The at lacks of it are more severe in this country than they are in Italy.
 Until the cause of the disease can be discovered, it will not be easy to detect its germ, and it will not be easy to eradicate it. Southern physicians should give it careful attention, for it bids fair to overspread all the states that are as warm as Italy. Nearly every physician in South Carolina is said to have from five to fifteen cases and when a physician has that many cases he can afford to study it closely It will beyond doubt become prevalent in all parts of the south.