davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-09

From the Montgomery Advertiser. 'In December visited New York and New Jersey and again in January said Hon. Walter L. Sessions, prominent in surance man and prohibition leader of Birmingham, who was at the Exchange last night. q talked with any number of prominent eastern politicians and business men and they insist that they the south like oscar Underwood. He is from the pig iron, coal and cotton dis trict, and pig iron and cotton are the most important factors In our industrial life. They regard Underwood as clean, safe, able man. They regard him as the best representative of that type of southern manhood that has never wavered from the principles which they believed to be right. The north appre- ciates this tenacity of the south. They recognize the fact tha, 1t takes courage and integrity to stick as the south has stuck to what it believes correct in gov ernmental affairs. One of. the most i'm portant political leaders and business
 
 not mention, says the younger gener- ations of the north are longing for an opportunity to vote for good southern man for President. They do not have confidence in northern democrats that they have in our democrats. As rule the ablest men of the north are found in the republican party.
 "This northern gentlemen reasoned that Underwood was a man thoroughly familiar with the agricultural and in- dustrial life if not the country for he was from a great agricultural and in- dustrial center. There is nothing ob- iectionable in his record. Why not Un- derwood? they asked me on every hand in New Jersey and New York.
 If Underwood's s friends will get busy now in Georgia Mississippi and Arkan- sas they will succeed in sending up an Underwood delegation. With two or three southern delegations at hand and by storming Baltimore l believe the man can be nominated, and if nominated | believe he can be elected as certain as the sun rises"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-09
FIRST POWDER MILL

Murlel Bailey III 1estic D.
 For many years the Du Point de Ne mours family were the only powder mak- ing company in the United States. They have always led in the explosive busi- ness. They first introduced dynamite into thi, country and first gave to the nation Al reliable smokeless powder. AS time vert on and the country developed vest ward. the Du Fonts developed with it and tool. their trend that way. The first powder delivered at Pittsburg was hauled there in an OK cart. At that time the Du Fonts were offered one-half the ground upon which Cincinnati is built to deliver one cart load to that city.
 It was ,lseir cuslnm when going into a new fitid, 10 take with them local peo- pie and t0 e,Bple5 ioca capital-sometimes to . greatei aneart 'han 50 per cent of the rcqu1fel si9n, ey gave the com pany a gal natae. ga ee to local interests official los fis anu made them respon- sible for tIe ssles etia of the enterprise but alw ws tF caa ge of and looked after tn i1Hi tttring end themselves
 The h fr1 boys fresh from col leSe, fire gene attn 70 generation, have been br 1a if ds by side with the workne tp Hqs der mills-laporn from es lnoErus gntil late at night employi 2 hHd as ell as head And d stran entetins ie Du Pont works, could n oiaiir lie members of the family m -te 'essil employees.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-09
Dances That Are Characteristic

'In the old countries of Europe the dance has strongly accentuated psycho- logical side and has a place in folklore and in art" said a professional man. '"rhe Hungarian dances, such as the 'Czardas' and the 'kola' come like second nature to the natives who were taught all the national dances in childhood. These dances express emotion, and for that req son are close kin to poetry.
 'The Scotch and the Irish have their characteristic jiss, but the English, as the result of centuries of commercial pursuls, have no folklore dances worth while. A man who sat beside me at the Kilties matinee enjoying the Highland dances said: You may find in any mining camp in the Birmingham district where Scotch- men work about three out of five men who can dance just like these profess sionas
 ''One reason why the Merry Widow is so popular is because of it's beautiful dances, some of them impassioned and some languorous. The Spring Maid an- other comic opera of the Merry Widow class, has a large ballet, and one of the features of the performance Is the Czardas.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-09
Presidential Candidates

'It seems to be pretty well understood that President Taft will be renominated, said Amos F. Dalton of Philadelphia
 "The friends of eX-President Roosevelt have been trying to make it appear that Taft would certainly be defeated if he were the nominee, and that the only chance the republicans would have of winning at the polls would be to nominate Roosevelt. l think the situation is just the reverse of what Roosevelt people say it is. Roosevelt would certainly be de- feated, whereas Taft will stand a reason ably good chance of election. As bet tins proposition I would think 1t fairly safe to stake something on Tafts election. I am certain he could beat Woodrow Wilson or Champ Clark. l am a repub- lican and will vote the ticket no matter who is the nominee. But Taft is the man.
 "One hears more of Underwood as a democratic presidential possibility now than ever. He would be, doubtless, the strongest man the democrats could put up."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-09
UNDERWOOD THE MAN

From the Adair County News, Columbia.
 Ky.
 The democratic party is fortunate in having so many available men of undis- puted ability and training in public life from which to select its candidates for President and vice president Then it is also fortunate that it can select from the east, west. north or south. We are no longer looking to New York state for an available man; no longer forced to fol- low the phantom of hope from the Platt, but we can touch New Jersey, Ohio, Mis- souri and last, but not least, Alabama ia in the ring. In our judgment Hon. Oscar Underwood has no peer in point of abil- ity, no superior in executive tendencies and as true to democratic principles and party promises as any man in public life. That he is further from the north than others; that he represents a manufacture ing district in the south should not preju- dice his worth to the great common peo- ple. The. south delivers the goods without spot or blemsh in every national contest. We have served the east, been slave to the north and followed the west plenty long. Fifty years of political isolation ought to arouse the ambition and pride of every man under the sunlit skies of Dixie to push her gifted sons. Regardless win the nomination. Underwood is the man of our choice and the man to meet the common foe.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-09
Skyscraper Buildings

The final piece of steel has been placed 290 feet in the air on the new 20-stoIy skyscraper going up in this city. The construction of new busi- ness building in busy city is not an unusual event, but the quick construc- ton of the steel frame of the Ameri- can Trust and Savings bank sky scraper in winter weather has not oft en been equalled anywhere. The work was done in 40 actual working days, in a winter that groundhog de- spises.
 Little by little our skyscrapers are creeping upward, and the 22-story skyscraper will come along after a while. The tallest skyscraper is in- variably the most popular and best known in all cities, and for that reason a still higher building will in good time be erected. In the mean while the county will perhaps build a skyscraper courthouse and jail, ahd no one knows how many skyscraper hotels are to be built this year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-09
UNDERWOOD THE RIVAL

From the Milwaukee Sentinel.
 Mir. Bryans hostility to Oscar w. Un- derwod deepens in direct proportion to MT. Underwood's growing vogue as the
 most available and promising presiden- tial candidate of his party.
 MT. Underwood's star has waxed as Governor Wilson's has waned. As a sane progressive, and a house leader with statesmanlike instinct for the practicable lines of least resistance, he is tightening his hold on the favor of his party as a real democratic hope" for a presidential year. Therefore the dog in the manager bark against Under
 wood from Nebraska grows louder.
 MT. Bryan is now exploiting MT. Un- derwoods refusal to fall in with the fatuous Henry plan for claptrap sen sational investigation of the money trust" MT. Underwood is not averse to an inquiry as such, but he does not want his party to founder into spec tacular, hugely expensive and probably farcical electioneering affair that would in all probability sputter out after tremendous ado about nothing. MT. tn- derwood is for moderation and common sense, and hence is being abused on the old demagogical lines by the former candidate and exponent or the Soih Harvey school of finance.
 MT. Underwood has upset MT. Bryan former attack on him for not launching steel bill at the special session, by in- troducing one ahead of all other bills at this session It proposes an average cut in steel duties of 34.51 per cent That disposes of MT. Bryan's former snarl that MT Underwood is opposed to steel revision because of his own interests In Alabama. So baffled at that point, MT. Bryan tacks ship and roars about un- derwood's subserviency to the money trust"
 Presumably the fact is that Bryan wants to trip and discredit Underwood because he wants the way left clear Tor chance of his own nomination He IS always against the democratic candi- date who seems to be developing the most strength. He was against Johh- son of Minnesota, despite Johnson's IS rad realism, and now he is against Under wood.
 Whom is he for? Why, ostensibly for most anybody who hasn't the remotest chance in the convention, and really Tor hinSelf-first, last and all the time Running for President is fixed idea, a monomania, with MT. Bryan. He IS more than willing to serve the repub- lican party as it's great asset for the fourth time.
 May the Lord prosper his willingness! As the World used to say in 1908, "Bry- ans nomination means Tafts election It did in that year, and 1t would Tn thls year. Therefore, 'Rah for Bryan, ana down with Underwood!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-09
WILD TRIBES OF PHILIPPINES

Forrest Clark Tn Leslie s.
 There are many strange, uncvilized peo- pie among the AsiatcAmericans of the Philippine islands. The wild men of the great island of Luzon may be divided into seven different tribes, known as the Hon. gots. lfugoas, Bontoc-Igorots, Lepanto- Igorots, Kalingas Tingians and Negritos. These people have not yet felt the in- fuence of civilization ana retain their ancient customs, dress and manner of living. They can be reached only by long, horseback journey through noun tains which, on the western slopes, are covered with tropical jungle, and, on the eastern, with open pine forests. The five articles in greatest demand among these savages are salt, matches, beads, red or blue cloth and brass wire; but looking glasses, small bells, sea shells and white horsehair are also greatly prized by them For these things they will exchange chick ems, eggs, camotes Ca sort of native sweet potato) and rice, their principal products.
 The Tingians are very uncouth tribe of savages. Their headwomen have their arms almost completely covered with strings of beads, wound so as to form beautiful and striking designs. long, heavy string of beads is also twisted around the hair and hangs down the back like a braid. The skirt of these head women is white, with blue border, and the waist is of light yellow. They smoke pipes of solid silver, ornamented with bangles, in the bowls of which pieces of cigars are inserted.
 The typical young Tingian chieftan wears a stiff collar of beads and gayly coored calico shirt, over which is sort of scarf trimmed with many silver coins. Tine members of this tribe are very fond of silver. They make a large number of finger rings from silver coins, and each man usually has from five to 10 of these rings about his person, but not necessarily on his fingers.
 The Tingians are fond of a peculiar dance. The music is produced by beating with the palms of the hands on 'gansas' O. tcmtoms. The dancers, a man and a woman, with arms outstretched, circle about each other in a spiral the man pur- step. As they approach the center of the spiral, he suddenly swoops upon her, when she always eudes him by suddenly darting out of his reach.
 The Kalinsas, like all wild people, are extremely fond of ornamentation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-09
Shackles on Prisoners

Shackles are not to be placed on white prisoners under 20 years of age. The wearing of shackles by prisoners in our streets while gathering waste is a practice that no other civilized city tolerates, and it is not known that any other city does. We have" says Dr. Parke, allowed this perni- cious system to continue simply be- cause public opinion has not con demned it-because we have grown accustomed to it."
 This is the truth of the matter. Public opinion has become hardened. It permits prisoners to be degraded before their fellows in the street, and it hardens even children to see such sights. It is indeed time when public opinion should be shaken up to due sense of humanity and responsibility in this city.
 The shacklcs of short term prison CTS while engaged in gathering waste in this city needs more attention than it has received. Birmingham cannot afford to be the only city in the land that offers such public exhibitions of it's penal system. A way around this practice which offends the eye and the mind can certainly be found, and Commissioner Lane's recent letter to F. l. Monks affords the hope that Bir- mingham will after a while cease to putting petty offenders in shackles at work in it's streets.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-09
Combination of Commercial Forces

To all intents and purposes the Board of Trade and the Chamber of Commerce propose to work together. The consolidation is to be framed up today, and the hope is freely ex- presSed that no obstacle to pratical consolidation of the city's two com fmercial bodies will appear. The busi- ness should be consummated at the meetings to be held at o'clock this afternoon.
 If the proposed plan be carried out the Board of Trade will become de- partment of the Chamber of Com merce, and the two will work harmoni- ously together, and this is certainly a gain, for in union there is always strength.
 The Arn-'Terald urges all to acquire the get together spirit when they at tend the meetings to be held this aft ernoon. A combination of forces for boosting purposes has long been de- sired in this city, and the hour of its accomplishment is near at hand
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-09
"THE LAST SONG' A NEW WAR POEM

Amid the night of my long lingrins
 woe, The silence of the nauspicious stars, An impotent exile, on a foreign shore. And in my veins, which have grown
 strangely young, Bushes the unshed blood, and burns the
 flame That frets and levers my poor. feeble
 hand. o, distance, We had thought thee a
 vain word, Yet now thou stretchest through the
 violet night, Vast and illimtable, merciless. Plain beyond plain. and mountain after
 mountain. Water succeeding water till I faint My sorrow knows no way to grasp thy|
 grandeur. But. silently, athwart the lonely night. The phalanx marches on, and always on With waving banners, to the approach-
 ing dawn. Rising above an august destiny, Like the glad promise of holy Spring Led by the hero, in whom all have hons Thus divine Italy, l see thee go, Warme ed by thy sunshine, or in darknes,
 clad, Prudent and guarded by thy limbered
 guns, Pressing toward thy new and noble,
 life, And, in the silence. gaining a ne,
 strength, New greatness, with each grim al
 gaping wound
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-09
Tho Iron Market

Rogers, Brown X Co.'S Cincinnati iron report says:
 '.Business locally continues to be done in small lots for prompt delivery, and there is nothing of particular consequence on the horizon fn the way of inquiries for larger tonnage.
 ..,rhe first three months from consumers standpoint arel pretty well covered by them, and while the melt continues large and steady and shipments are being taken on contracts with good regularity, there is not much effort being made to discount the future Tfe total tonnage for January foots up well, and the month was more satisfactory as whole than it's earlier days gave promse
 ''The seni-fnished steel sness pears to be the livest m ausf oI metal lines just now. Ship 1i fo I pig iron and coke are very ,sot ela4 2, the local railroad situation being a ;
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-09
Edwin Pugh in the Forum.

Edwin Pugh in the Forum.
 ME noontide sun is beating fiercely
 down upon a curious survival from somehow got a part of the nineteenth, and even little of the twentieth century, grafted into it's original substance, as fresh green boughs are grarted Into the black, gnarled, tortured and twisted pa rent stem of an ancient vine. The streets are narrow and crooked
 The tall houses are not so much houses as series of superstructures piled in layers, at haphazard, one upon the other. The upper stories, with their roof trees thrusting through the slowly uprising smoke and reek and dust into cats cradle of wires, seem to nod toward one another fantastically and to threaten to collapse of their own topheaviness and to minsle in a common destruction, like castles of cards.
 Down below there is a ceaseless stir of human and vehicular traffic, and a nasal hammering and drumming like the sound of swarming bees. The narrow, crooked ways are thickly congested with carts and wagons and conveyances of every sort and shape and size. The pavements are mottled drab and white with the somber garb and the straw hats of the feverish hordes of preoccupied folk that Jostle and hustle and squirm and dodge and squirt and halt and dance in a frenzy of impa- tience as they strive through the press, or seem to crawl over the burning flags like so many slugs
 There are few roads cleavng through the maze of alleys that would rank as broad roads in any collection of buildings planned on less gigantic scale. and here and there is lonely tree. brave ly enduring, or an irregular patch of greenness that is dubiously suggestive Of the reflection of a vernal upper world dim ly glimpsed at the bottom of well.
 If we descend into this welter, we find ourselves in the midst of noise and tumult and fuss and muddle-a mudde of coarse things and fine, common things and rare, incongruously jumbed together-as if a
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-09
IN HOTEL LOBBIEs
Indernno.I,s Leadership

"The country at large may have been somewhat slow in recognizing Oscar Underwood as a presidential quantity, but this great Alabama states man is well in the forefront every where now" said an old democrat.
 Men of political experience and close observation did not fail to see un- derwood's greatness last year when he was made democratic House leader The democracy has had congressional leaders of ability in the years past Randall was a strong leader ana so was Carlisle and so was Crisp; Carlisle a leader of the distinctly intellectual type rather than the disciplinary. But Underwood, taken altogether, has proved to be the greatest leader the democratic party has had since the war. He is a man of brains, man of honor a man of tact and a man of we'll pred manners. There are other men in the democratic party today worthy Of hon- or, but they are small figures in com parison with Underwood.
 "The democratic party has had no chance of gaining a victory since 1892 until now. As long as William Jeh- nings Bryan was a candidate or was having a say in the party councils the republicans had a cinch. MT. Bryan populism hurt the democratic party inn measurably. Whatever we have ap- preaching harmony today is due to un- derwood. and if this matchless leader heads the democratic ticket the party will win one more victory at the polls. The south to man should support Underwood. I am satisfied that he Will get New York's vote in the conVen- tion. II is democracy's golden oppor- tunity, and I believe it will be em- braced.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-09
PULSE BEATS OF LONDON

shapeless lump of putty were studded with precious gemszsuch as no other capital in the world is magnificent enough to dis play with such self scornns prodigality and such entirely simple and sincere lack of ostentation.
 Here is the wealth of a thousand Col condas stored in hovel that bank clerk would disdain to live in. Here in mean little offices sit mean little men amid mean surroundings, trafficking in kings ransoms as street boys traffic in marbles.
 For this, look you, is the city-but is it London?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-09
Conservation of Human Life

Robert L. Owen, Oklahoma's senior senator, is Virginian by birth. His father was president of the Virginia and Tennessee railroad, and his moth- CT was a member of the Cherokee na- ton. He has been an editor, a lawyer and banker, and he is now man who does with energy whatever his hands find to do.
 This indefatigable senator is deeply concerned in Oklahoma's welfare, but
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-09
BISMARCIx'S HAIR ON SALE

From Tit Bits.
 Quite al, outburst of indignation has atlsen in Berlin over the action of a well Enown coffeur named Roehrig, who is advertising the hair of Bismarck for sale statesman life Roehlig, with the assist snce of valet, collected all the stray hairs of lis illustrous patron. These he had made into curls, more than !m ir number, each of which, before being placed on the market, has been affixed to a bronze Lust representing the German chancellor.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-09
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING. The busy ant. he doth, methinks, A fine example set; He never smokes and never drinks And neer runs into debt. His toll is most prodigious and
 His energy's immense, Although we ne'er could understand What is his reeompense. Ts true he has a house and home And quite enough to eat But now and then for play to roam Is very, very sweet.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-09
Chairman PujO's Committee

The democrats of the House, led by Oscar Underwood, decided that four standing committees should begin and prosecute investigations of the money trust, but an investigation of the con- trol and manipulation of the money of the country properly belongs to the committee on banking and currency. Mr. Bryan's insinuation that Wall street will control that committee is wide of the truth. It certainly does not control Wash Taylor of Demopolis, nor does it control Chairman Pujo of Lake Charles, La; Carter Glass of Lynchburg, Va; J. F. c. Talbott of Towson, Md; J. M. Moore of Rich mond, Tex; Daniel V. Stephens of Takamah, Neb.; Charles A. Korbly of Indianapolis; W. G. Brown of King don, W. Va; R. J. Bulkley of Cleve- land; R. L. Daughton of Laurel Springs, N. G.; H. D. Stephens of New Albany, Miss; J. A. Daugherty of Webb City, Mo-; J. J. Kindred, a Virginian by birth, now residing at Long Island City, N. Y., and J. F. Byrnes of Aiken, S. C.
 
 . These IA men constitute the demo- cratic majority of the banking and currency committee, and the minority consists of seven republicans headed by an up state banker of New York, Mr. Vreeland. The only member of the committee rom New York city is r ta4a ]. He is "a physician whose sIel itg is mental and nervous dis eas hs oadeSi wo or three san itar ans tle is also farmer. Dr. Kinoeed stands alone n the demo- cratic niaicrit r toe committee as the reI atye of aa eastern sec tion of a5 lqurtfys tne members from tn, so control the committc ag n.il committee made up nianoer tannot and would not ulB aud satsfactorlly probe the m rQs E T listle more than MT. Brgan eoeia say aid keep within the lin o truth