davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-26
ENDORSE TAFT'S ADMINISTRATION Walker County Republicans Meet at COrdOva-DeleN
 gates Chosen

Cordova. February Especial )-Thl feature of the Walker county republican, convention here today was the speech o| R. M. Long Of Cordova in favor of tn resolution offffered indors;ng Taft's adj n,inistration snd instructing the 15 dele| gates to the state convention to vote fol Taft as the Nominee There was at frsl no apparent opposition to the resolutionl and Long spoke only after e C. Mighl of Jasper had offered a substitute inl structing the delegates for Roosevelt
 Might stated that while Roosevelt maj not be an active candidate that he wal the popular choice of the people all ove| the north und the only republican in thu United States that could be elected Pres| ident. #Fs
 Long spoke for about 30 minutes, goind over the many things Taft had done fol the good of the country, the safety ap pliance act, the enforcement of the pur1 food law. the numerous suits agains trusts, the mining bureau, the rushir to completion of the Panama canal. th] opening of the Warrior river to Cordova| the granting of local self government td the Alabama republican organization bel ing some of the deeds of svelor to thu credit of Taft. and further stated that il Roosevelt later became an active candi| udtC iic Would nave iiu tiptf aslluW Eettln1 the nomination at Chicago than Wilian n| Jennings Bryan had being elected Presil dent of the United States. He stated thai the federal judge to be appointed bj Taft if reelected would probably be d man from this section. and that the Roosel welt agitation in Alabama was chiefly i| the interest of Judge Hundley.
 Long also stated that while he was ii Washington few days ago he talked with many of The leading republican, there. and that there was no doubt iiI the world but that Taft will be the nomiI nee and that a western man would b( chosen for vice president, while a num- Der of insurgent blanks will be inserted in the platform.
 The vote then being called for. the near| ly 300 delegates voted for Taft with on@ exception, Might of Jasper voting againsl the resolution
 H. l.. Jones. the postmaster of Cordova| was chosen county chairman and Marvid Ellis of Jasper secretary, after which th( meeting adjourned.
 During the morning session delegates t( the district and state conventions were inI troduced to the convention and will b( later nominated at various beat meeting} at which time the republicans will put oll a full ticket.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-26
MRS. MORGAN SHUSTER TELLS
 OF EXPERIENCE IN PERSIA

Washington, February 25.-(Special.) Though I hourly expected to see my husband assassinated by a Russian fanatic or murdered in cold blood by Cossacks, yet I would gladly have re- mained in Persia with him for the en : tire three years if we could have aid- ed the people of that tortured land.'
 Mrs. Morgan W. Shuster, heroine. wife of the former treasurer-general of Persia. made this statement to- night.
 "Only when we saw it was best for Persia were we willing to leave," she added. 'I am heartsick for Persia. It would be a blessing to the world If drive out the Russian and the Bel gian.
 T have tried to forget the horrors of those days, but I am not able to do so. Imagine our little American band of prisoners in a magnificent pal ace set apart for us by the Persian government.
 "The Persians were so grateful to us their faith was really pathetic. Mis- sionaries have told me that the peo- pie looked to MT. Sinister as their last hope from the encroachments of Rus. sia.
 The first discord was from the dip lomatic corps Impossible,' they said 1; MT. Sinister will never be able to stay here
 Then came the news of the Cos sacks marching down on us. When the Persians brought word of atrocious deeds committed by these uncivilized troops my blood ran cold.
 As they drew near Teheran a guard of 200 Persian soldiers was thrown around the palace to protect us. But we knew that if things went wrong the Cossacks would make short work of them. Whenever MT. Sinister was away l could only hope that he would return safely. Unquestionably a price was on his life.
 One day when he did not return for hours my nerves broke down and grew frantic.
 They won't. won't dare kill MT. Sinister, the guard assured me.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-26
WANTS SOUTH IN
 SHOOTING LEAGUE Anderson Will Take Up Matter of Organizing in
 the Southern States

Ed Anderson captain of the Birmng- ham rife team, which ended third in the Eastern Rifle association, will make an effort to organize a Southern league for rife shooting next winter. At pres ent there are several cities in the south that have rifle teams and it is thought that they would be willing to enter the league.
 MT. Anderson will take up the mat ter with Secretary Jones, the superin- tendent of the rifle shooting in the United States, about such an organization. At present there are two large rife leagues, the Eastern and Western league. The Eastern league includs New Haven. Man. chester. N. H., Bridgeport, Conn.,, Bos- ton, Portland, Me, Erie and Warren. Pa. Philadelphia, Cleveland and Birmingham. Birmingham is the only southern city in the league.
 lie said yesterday that Memphis. Wash ington. New Orleans, Atlanta and sev- eral other cities in Tennessee and in the Carolinas had rifle teams and that they would be asked to join. Without doubt. he declared. it would be an interesting circuit and if the southern cities would ohiS oisdnize the league could probably be associated with the Eastern and West ern league. season of nine weeks is the regular season, while the winner of the different leagues play off for the championship of the United States
 IT the southern cities could furnish but six or seven teams, then the Ohio cities and middle northern towns could be re- lied upon to furnish at least four clubs. He will take the matter up and will probably organize a league if he secures the support of the southerners.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-26
ARE SCARED BY THE UNDERWOOD BOOM Wilson Managers Train
 Guns on the South SEE DANGER AHEAD Taft Has Gained Many Friends Among Republicans Since the
 Epoch Making Speech of
 Roosevelt in Columbus
nv WALTER HARPER

Washington, February 25,-tSpeciai)- snecial from New York says
 "Governor Wilson has closed his llter- arv bureau in this city, disconnected By ron F. Newton and Robert Binder from ,ha sa,ar,es they have been drawing and transferred the activity of publicity to Washington, D. c.
 "In Washington the Wilson, managers have engaged headquarters in the Nun sev building, and have put in charge or IL Thomas J. Pence, the Washington cor resnondent of the Raleigh News and Ob- server.
 "The reason for this change Is said to pc the towering prominence of the move ment to nominate Representative oscar w. Underwood of Alabama, now in pro gress in all the southern states. doV- ernor Wilson's managers figured that they would have the south almost without the asking, and most of their hard work would have to be done in the territory outside of the solid south. They nave done very we'll in the west and In some of the New England states, but they nave discovered that there are strong possi- bilities of Florida, Georgia, bouisiana' North Carolina, South Carolina ana NH- rinia sending delegations for MT un- derwood.
 Wilson is is the man that Underwood must beat in the convention.
 The race is between Underwood anu wilson They represent the two schoois of thought in the democratic party Just as Taft and Roosevelt represent the ex- treme ideas in the republican party with the difference that Underwood IS more progressive than Taft.
 Wilson is as progressive as the most eN- tremely progressive of the party desife' The extremely conservative of the demo- cratic party do not look to Underwood TOT the full embodiment of their pohtcai ideals He will not and cannot be over conservative to please a small faction Of Inc nartv He would rather retire to pri- yate life than yield to the extreme pro- gressives of his party for the sake of promotion.
 Party politics in this country has worked itself into a rather unique condition. Both great parties have their well defined fac- ficns-the progressives and the conserva- lives. In the democratic party Harmon represents, and for while seemed to lead. the conservative element But he is extremely conservative. He Is to the dem ocratic party what Taft Is to the re- publican party. But fortunately the party has a real leader who embodies the spirit Nof progressveness tempered by conser- yatism that will appeal to the great ma tority of the party if not to the great ma 5ority of the people.
 The people are not disposed to run to either extreme. They might do so under the stress of momentary passion or false sentiment but they are not expected to do so at this critical period in the history of the nstion. Ha
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-26
STRIKE WILL AFFECT THE COTTON MARKET Should Strike Develop It Will Be of Great Bene-
 fit to Bears

New Orleans, February 25.-The atten- tion of the cotton market the first thing this week will be directed toward the labor situation in England. According to the vote taken among the coal miners some time ago. they will go on strike Friday, March 1, unless their employers meet their demands. The nearness of this date will make every move in the conferences held by the disputants full of interest to the cotton trade. At the close of the week opinion among well posted English cotton men was about evenly divided over the probability of the strike going into force.
 Should the strike be put into effect the bears will be given decided advantage, because to some extent, the English cot ton mills would be hampered after their supplies of fuel gave out at any rate, and home trade in cotton goods would be injured, through so many men being idle while there would also be danger of sympathetic strikes among other unions The cotton market is keenly alive to the possibilities in the situation in England and nothing but determined support will avert a decline In pflces if the strike is allowed to go into ef- feet.
 The trade this week VIII Whnt to hhoW more about the spot situation. With February going out information VIII be desired concerning the extent of March spot commitments. The bears are all ready claiming that these commitments are not extensive and the report has been circulated that ocean freight rates out of southern ports are easy and lower because of the outlook for smaller eX- port movement of cotton. Should such reports be correct they might have some influence on the spot markets, although the bulls claim that what cotton Is left in the south is in strong hands.
 The weather will be of enough import ance to have effect on the market, 1T 1t Is very favorable or the reverse Al the close of last week the chances seemed to be that the market would open this week with unfavorable reports coming in from good part of the cotton belt. Flowing has been delayed by cold and wet weather and some sections are al- ready complaining that they will get late start on, the new crop in eonse- quence
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-26
DRAPER DROWNED
 IN FLORIDA LAKE

sulligent. February 25.-tSpecial.)-A message has just been received here bringing news of the tragic death of Andrew Draper. a young man. who was drowned in a lake at Orlando, Fla. Thurs day afternoon. During the past year he was employed by the Sulligent Cotton OH company as assistant bookkeeper and had recently left here for a stay in Florida
 Mir Draper was about 24 years old and a friend of Walter E. Drennen. whose place he was visiting at Orlando at the time. he was drowned.
 Mir. Draper has a father and mother and other members of his family who live here. His body was accompanied home by G. E. Bankhead, Jr., and arrived this afternoon. and funeral arrangements will be arranged later.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-26

j. "'He Is not a Persian
 Then to divert my mind they re- cited awful atrocities to which the Persians had been subjected until l almost went insane
 "On the day the Persian parliament decided not ,.to request MT. Shuster's resignation, as it was ordered to do py Russia, women and children. car rying banners inscribed Give us liberty or give us death paraded around our park, shouting in a frenzy of joy
 "I told MT. Sinister then. that we would not be frightened away by Rus sia. It was hopeless 10 fight. Our gov ernment could not help us and the Persians did not have the strength
 Again. when Russia sent her ulti- matum, the crowd paraded and cheered us.
 After that the excitement grew more intense. We did not know what hour we should be delivered to Russian hands. The Persian people pleaded with MT. Sinister to lead them to bat tie. but he knew 1t would not avail
 Throughout this heartbreaking time I had an abiding faith in the American people and above all in the American press. I knew that, no mat ter how the state department might be bound by the rules of diplomacy. the press would protect us by the majesty of public opinion.
 Then came the sad day on which we left Persia under Russian escort Around us were grouped a great crowd of persons who had risked their lives to bid goodbye to the despised Amer fcans
 '"Our journey was a frightful one On the top of mountain a snowstorm overlook us and our autom obile, the only one in Persia, broke down.
 We spent that night in a foul, crowded and cold caravansary. In the morning we started again, the Rus sians telephoning our progress from toll gate to toll gate. neevr interfering with us.
 For three long days and nights that terrible ordeal continued, a guard, sneering in it's courtesy on either side of our car.
 Tt is important that MT. Sinister shall leave the country alive" was the order repeated again and again.
 "I loathed 1t more than i'll treatment, for I knew the Russian troops were only polite because they feared the United States"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-26
MARKET 0F WEEK EXCEEDINGLY DULL Annual Reports Show Low Earnings for the Past
 Year

New York, February 25.-The interrup- ton of the mid-week holiday was held partly responsible for the dulness Of last weeks stock market. Beyond that. however, there remains the feeling that the future is not well enough outlined to warrant extensive speculative commit ments. This state of suspended judg- ment continues to characterize the com mercial and industrial situation, as well as the securities market
 In the steel trade opinion is divided whether the decline in prices represents simply a lull preceding spring revival or the indefinite postponement of the satisfaction of requirements Agreement between the railroads and rail makers on the quality of rail, now subject to construction is expected to bring out rail orders. Car orders also are looked for from the railroads in view of the extraordinary inroad on the idle car sur plus caused by ithe severe operating con ditions of the winter.
 Publication of various annual reports of steel and car companies have revealed the low profits resulting from last year s business and given warning or the CT fects of low prices. Tn other industries better results relatively are disclosed in the reports of the dry goods combina- tions.
 The firm tone of the copper market, coincident with another advance in the price of the metal was sign of the sustained demand in this important branch of the metal trade. but exports still made the important factor in that condition.
 Early reports of railway earnings for January indicated the same diverging tendencies in different parts of the coun- try as was shown by December returns with the advantage in the eastern ter ritory. partly 1t was supposed, on ac- count of the weather conditions. In the later reports of gross earnings reaching into the February period. there was some improvement compared with last year. The weather of the winter, hard as 1t was for operations. Is regarded as prom ising we'll for soil conditions and the coming grain crop.
 The New York money market failed to reflect any large demand from com mercial sources, in spite of the approach of the season when drafts are made usually on the reserve centers. Berlin borrowed in New York and our bankers offered supplies to the London mar ket. Further gold exports from here to South America were in satisfaction of claims from there on Paris, and repre- sented New York credits on the French capital The placing of s10000,0N of To- lSio bonds here was an incident of the week.
 Railroad financing continues to show an unusual proportion of short time ob- ligations.
 The merger of two large trust com panles was regarded in the stock mar ket as sign of assurance on the part of an influential financial power.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-26
HALE COUNTY LIKES
 OSCAR UNDERWOOD

Greensboro. February Special 1.-The democratic executive committee of Hale county met yesterday and set April 1 as the day for the county primary. Any can didate receiving majority will be the nominee. The following resolution in- dorsing the candidacy of Oscar w. Under wood was unanimously adopted
 Whereas, the democratic party of the United States will meet in convention in Baltimore on June 25 next to nominate a candidate for President of the United States; and,
 Whereas, it is expedient and neces- sary for success that one tried and true. experienced and wise be nominated: and,
 ''Whereas, We believe Alabama can fur nish that man in Oscar w. Underwood: therefore. be it
 Resolved. by the democratic commit tee of Hale county. That this county be advised to send a solid Underwood dele gation to our state convention at Mont gomery an dthat they be instructed to use every honorable means to have like delegation sent from Alabama to Bati- more instructed to support said Under wood and that no further instructions re- garding the presidency be given them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-26
THE REPUBLICANS
 MEET AT GORDO

Gordo, February 26.-(Special)-At o'clock yesterday the republicans of Pick ems county held very enthusiastic mass meeting at Reform with s. W. Williams as chairman, and the following business was transacted: W. F. Barnard and s. w Williams were elected delegates to the state convention, A. N. Hanson and D. D. zennah were elected alternates. J. E. Reaves and A. N. Hanson were elected delegates to the district convention that Is to be held at Tuscaloosa, with S. B. Mullinix' and w. A. Stucky as alternates.
 A resolution was passed and commit- tee of four appointed to place county ticket in the field. T. w. Langdon, W. F. Barnard. J. E. Reeves and S. w. Williams constitute the county ticket
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-26
HALEYVILLE AFTER
 NEW INDUSTRIES

Haleyville, February 25.-(Special)-The Commercial club held its regular meet ing on Friday night. The banquet com mittee made gratifying report, show ing a nice balance on hand after paying all expenses. The new enterprises com mittee reported that the prospects for the location of an ice plant were almost certain: that the plant at Russellville would be moved here right away. and that A considerable amount of new machinery would be added. The question of. the location had not been finally decided, but that it might be put on Illinois Central railroad property south of the depot is believed.
 J. l.. Cleere, the pioneer cotton buyer of this section, reported that the prospects for locating a cotton compress here were very bright. A., M. Allen, general man ager of the Modern Gin and Compress company of Little Rock, was present and spoke at length on the proposition. It developed that over 5000 bales of cotton were brought to this place this year by wagon. and that with more inducements this number could be increased. Also that each year shows a large growth. It was announced that some large cotton buyers were willing to invest in the undertake ing. A special committee with J. l.. Cleere as chairman was appointed to push the scheme and get subscriptions to it.
 A movement has been started to organ iz, Young Mems Christian association. A meeting will be held next Tuesday evening to consider the matter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-26
VICTORY OF JOHNNY KILBANE
 PLEASES ALL RING FANS
By W. B. tBAT) MAsTERsoN

without any apparent valid reason his claim was generally conceded. But all this is beside the question. The fact remains that after Attell declared himself the featherweight champion no one disputed the claim. and he has ever since been the recognized title holder un- til he was defeated Thursday afternoon at Los Angeles by Johnny Kilbane. During the time Attell held the title he engaged In more crooked bouts than all the cham pions in the country put together.
 Kilbane, so far as known, has a clean record. He has never engaged in shady transactions of any kind in or out of the ring. His defeat of such classy boys as Joe Rivers, Frankie Conley, Patsy Kline and others of almost equal ability, with out reference to Attell, proves him to be a worthy champion
 He'll no doubt be defated in time but he looks now to be a safe bet against any of the present crop of featherweights. (
 Why Atteil should have ben made ? to favorite over Kilbane is hard to un- derstand. Kilbane had fought his best battles in and around Los Angeles. The sporting fraternity out there all knew him to be a clever cool headed and determined fighter and yet they failed to support him in a championship battle against a man who was known to have been deteriorat- ing for the last two years
 For the last two years Attell has not been a legitimate to 1 favorte against any featherweight of class in the country, even in one of those 10 round bouts. How much less reason there was then for mak- ing him a top heavy favorite in a 20 round battle.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-26
UNDERWOOD CLUB
 AT ENTERPRISE

Enterprise, February 25.-( Especial )--Ai Underwood club was organized yesterda, .at Enterprise to advocate and aid Hon Oscar W. Underwood in receiving tn, democratic nomination for President. Tn, club has large membership. R. H. Ar rington- was elected president and J. M Lofiin Secretary. ,.. N J. A5s4
 Circuit court was in session this week A large number Of cases were disposed of on the civil docket.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-26

believe the construction of the line is be- ing undertaken to head of possible en- croachment by the Illinois Central upon what the Louisville and Nashville claims as its own-the Birmingham district and the terminal at Pensacola-and this belief Is strengthened by the latest move on the part of the Illinois Central. indicating a determination to enter both Mobile and Pensacola and start an aggressive fight for tonnage from Birmingham.
 President Cochrane. asked if there is "anything doing" contents himself with the words ''I have nothing to say That he could say great deal of interest to this section of the south if he desired to do so is almost without question. MT. Cochrane holds the key to the railroad situation, and is willing to 'stand pat and await the next move in thesyame of millions.