davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-18
From the Dupont Magazine.


Z xODERN powder makers are lying
Nj awake nights thinking up ways of
making dynamite safer and more
insenstive. That is all very WE'LL but,
fortunately, larger and stronger blast
ing caps must be made to explode this
dynamite, and more and more of them.
Then some miner carries home few caps
in his overall pockets, his wife finds them
when she goes through his pockets, and
puts the caps on the kitchen shetland
the first thing you know Willie or Heinie
or Dominick or little Angelo has one and
is making off with it, and pretty soon
there is trouble in that household.
There are lots of ways of getting Grip
pied by exploding blasting caps besides
hitting them with a hammer and putting
them in the fire. Extracting the con-
tents with a pin distributes untold fingers.
Holding lighted match under them or
thrusting the flaming end into the cap
gets immediate action. Accident
ally stepping on cap will often spoil a
perfectly good foot. Sparks. flames. heat.
blows, friction-they are all the same to
the cap TO WHICH lney are dppiitu.
Boys often play in and around ouarries
on Sundays, and sometimes pick up stray
caps and, start to investigate them. 1t Is
the rarest thing that they ever do this
without getting hurt They perhaps
know they are dangerous, and that
spark or blow will explode them, but
they do not realize how sensitive they
are, how violent the explosion, or how
the pieces of copper fly. Even the name
is misleading in this respect. The word
caps suggests the paper caps used
with top pistols, and because the blasting
caps are called by this name it is nat
ural to think that the two articles be-
long to the same family. They may, but
they bear about the same resemblance to
each other that a hungry. man eating
tiger does to the gentle pussy cat.
More than GOO children have been hurt
or perhaps crippled for life in the last
five years from playing with blasting
caps If this had happened at one time,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-18
Mr.. Greer's Indignation

Len F. Greer, associate convict in
spector, feels that the state convict
board has been unjustly censured be-
cause of it's failure to remove prison.
ers from the Atmore camps of the
Huxford- -Orvin Naval Stores company
following reports that they were be-
ing inhumanly treated.
at is not fair to this department"
says Mr.. Greer, "to bring charges that
state convicts have been brutally
whipped when such charges are not
true. We have no authority over the
city convicts confined at the Atmore
camp, and county convicts can be
transferred only upon the order of the
governor and the state convict board"
Mr.. Greer's statement is disin-
genous. Everybody now knows that
the county convicts were removed
from the Atmore camps following the
report Of special commission named
by Governor O'Neal to investigate
conditions there, and everybody now
knows that Mr.. Greer's previous re-
port that the prisoners at Atmore
were well treated, "happy and con-
tented" was completely refuted in the
investigation by the commission.
Is it more reprehensible to flog a
state convict than city or county
convict? Mr.. Greer will find that few
can follow him in such a system of
reasoning. The Mobile and Baldwin
contracts with the Huxford- Orvin
company were promptly cancelled by
Governor O'Neal when he became ap-
prised of the actual conditions at At
more. He also requested the cities of
Brewton and Mobile to take their
prisoners away from the turpentine
men, and this was done.
Now comes news that Governor
O'Neal has decided to conduct an in
quiry into conditions prevailing at
Speigners. Despite the fact that state
convict inspectors have reported that
charges of cruelty to state prisoners
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-18
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Undcrwood's Popularity

Few men in public life have been so
strongly in the limelight as Mr.. In
derwood of Alabama, and few indeed
have gained such popularity with the
masses said F. W. Ewing of Chicago.
During the past 10 days. since the
papers have told us of Mr. Underwood 8
candidacy for the United States Senate,
have been in three states and have
travelled on many trains. Everywhere
the people are talking about Under
wood and saying that it would be a
great thing for this nation if he had a
seat in the Senate, and the best of it
is that Underwood is strong with the
people here in Alabama. l understand
that he will receive an overwhelming
majority against Hobson. 1t would be a
slam on Alabama indeed if Underwood
were not elected to the Senate"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-18
''rOMMY-ROT'' HYMNS

From the Washington Herald
Existence of what he termed tommy
rot songs" in church hymnals was de-
plored by the Rev. G. f. Sutherland, d.
D., missionary editor Of the publications
of his church, in an address on Meth
DDS of Missionary Instruction." deiv-
cred at the Sunday School institute of
the Methodist Episcopal church.
1.-THE tommy rot songs that are some
times sung in our churches are worse
than no songs at ALL" said Doctor Suth-
erland. Il can find no expression that
better characterizes them. 1 hope the
time will soon come when these songs
that sing us into selfishness-the L and
me- kind-will be replaced in our hym-
nal by the strong songs that breathe a
spirit of helpfulness and service"
The chief object of Sunday schools
should be to build up in the children
Christian character, the speaker told his
audience. The inculcation of specific doc
trines and beliefs is important, he said,
but is, after all, but the means to an
end Missionary education helps to
produce and broaden this Christian char
acter and to awaken broader sympa-
thies with all the peoples Of the world
and so should have prominent place in
Sunday school instruction.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-18
The Railroad Question

Everybody should read Hollands S
daily letters in The Age-Herald. they
mirror accurately the financial and in
dustrial conditions of the country and
are the work of an expert. Holland
writes plainly yet gracefully, and he
has the knack of presenting abstruse
problems in a manner that makes
them easily understandable to the
mind of the layman. The letters are
current history.
Thursday morning Holland dealt
with the railroad question, and he
presented it in a terse and graphic
manner. The common carriers are face
to face with condition that threat
ems not only them but all the people
they serve. Here are two paragraphs
from his article:
The new tariff law will be adjusted
speedily with no very great friction to
American business interests. The COM
ing and currency bill now before Con-
gress is perfected and goes to the Presi-
dent for his signature it will be found
to be fairly satisfactory. The determine
tion of these two important matters
leaves the railroad situation the one
vital matter before the American peo-
pie. The railroad companies will en-
deavor to prove to the interstate COM
merce commission by Official statistics
that the prices charged for the trans
portation of commodities on the rail-
roads has steadily declined since 1880.
But while this steady reduction of cost
has been going on the cost of labor and
materials has constantly increased and
is now increasing.
These are regarded here as the two
vital points upon which the interstate
commerce commission must base its ac-
tion. Farsighted business men careful
of what they say or of the way they
express their thoughts nevertheless do
intimate that II these two conditions
continue they will create influences
which may ultimately throw some of
the railroad systems of the United
States into the hands of the receivers.
They regard, however. these influences
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-18
A Birmingham Music student

Henry Damsky of this city, who is a
student of the New England Conserva-
tory of Music, Boston, has been made
president of the senior class. Mr.. Dam
sky is a clarinetist, and in addition to
progress on his chosen instrument, he is
said to have done well in harmony work
and musicianship generally. The senior
class of the conservatory sends out this
bulletin setting forth its recent election:
President, Henry Damsky, Birmingham,
Ala; vice president, Gladys Gilbert Hunt,
Stroudsburg, Pa; recording secretary,
Marjorie Gaskins, Sunbury, Pa; corre-
spending secretary, Armida Hall Rich
ardson, Bar Harbor, Me-; treasurer, ST.
mon Goldberg, Dorchester, Mass; assis-
tant treasurer, Marion Feeley, Brool1line,
Mass; chairman entertainment commit
tee, Belle Gardner, Roxbury, Mass );
chairman finance committee, Alice p
Davis, Rochester, N. Y.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-18
DEATH IN BLASTING CAPS

what a howl would have gone I'm all
over the world! But because the acciden,.
are spread all over the country and nan-
pen all over the country and happen at
the rate OF only about 10 a month, nothing
Is done by the authorities. Indeed MOTH
ing can be done except to educate the
whole population to realize how danger-
Gus these exceedingly useful things ara
when they are o1t of their proper place.
ana what dreadful thing 1t is going
through life crippled or blinded for want
Oh little care and knowledge.
blasting cap is copper shell ahout
a quarter of an inch in diameter ana an
inch or two long, half full of illuminate
OF mercury. This illuminate is the most
sensitive and about the most impulsive
eNpiosiVe IN common use. Blasting caps
contain anywhere from Is to 20 grains of
IT, Primers for firearms cartridges usual
~ contain not more than one grain.
ihats what the hammer or firing min or
a gun or pistol hits to ignite the powder
In the shell. A blasting cap is meant To
work the other way. The powder from
the fuse ignites the fulminate in the blast
ing cap, and it explodes with terrifica
force and detonates the dynamite The
explosion of the illuminate is SO exceed
lngly quick that the flying particles of
copper will imbed themselves in iron /,
loot away They will blow a hole clean
through a steel plate ne-sixteenth of an
lnch thick A box of caps will blow
beautiful square hole right through a
tWo-inch oak panel. One cap will blow a
ehilds hand off with the utmost certainty
ana dispatch. Lingg, one of the Chicago
anarchists. committed suicide by biting
blasting cap between his teeth.
Inc point to be remembered Is that
When blasting cap goes off it doe.
great damage locally. There is no escap-
Ing its effects. Among all the 600 or
more accidents reported from PLAYING
with blasting caps there are only two
or three in which somebody was not hurt
Eleatric blasting caps fuses) are a.
strong as ordinary blasting caps; but
~>->-~--------->-->----~
finn had m
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-18
TELEPHONE
Bell (private exchange connecting al
departments), Main 1900.
upon her wit doth earthly honour wait,
And virtue stoops and trembles at her
frown. Titus Andronicus.
The Massachusetts Campaign

In Massachusetts it is just one
state campign after another, as the
term of officials are for one year only.
The present campaign is one of the
worst mixed-up affairs that ever wor-
ried the voters of the Old Bay State.
Charles S. Bird is the progressive
candidate for governor, and his sup
porters express the greatest conf
dence in his success. His personal and
political standing is of the highest.
Mr.. Bird led his party in the guberna-
torial campaign of last year, and came
in third, getting 1860 per cent of the
total vote to 31.26 per cent for
Walker, republican, and 42.05 per cent
for Foss, democrat.
Congressman Augustus P. Gardner
is the republican candidate for gov
ernor this year He is making spe-
cial plea for the votes of the progress
sives on the ground that he was an
insurgent during the days when the
first efforts to overthrow Cannon
were made in the House. But
bis enemies point to the fact that Mr.
Gardner was off the reservation for
only about three weeks, and when the
opportunity came for the insurgents
to make good, Mr.. Gardner was found
voting with the standpatters with all
due regularity. Mr.. Gardner is the
son-in-law of United States Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge, and this, of
course, gives him much prestige in
Massachusetts.
D. J. Walsh is the democratic nomi-
nee. He is now lieutenant governor.
His record is clean, but he is not gen.
orally regarded as a man of extraor-
binary force.
Eugene Noble Foss, the present
governor, served in Congress as a
democrat, his election being one of
the straws showing the country's de-
mand for downward revision of the
tariff and discomfort with republican
rule. Before that time Mr.. Foss had
always been a republican. He was
elected governor of his state three
successive times as democrat, but
this year he has left all parties and is
seeking reelection as an Independent.
Many lessons will be deduced from
the result in Massachusetts this year.
But the political conditions there are
so chaotic that none of them will
prove of much value.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-18
Underwood and Hobson

From the Chicago RecOrd-Herald
The voters of Alabama may be de-
pended upon, we imagine, to decide the
senatorial contest in which Underwood,
the majority leader in the national
House, and Hobson, one of the heroes of
the Cuban war, are the rival candidates.
1t is evident, however, even at this dis
tance that Mr.. Hobson's chances with
thoughtful Alabamians will not be i'm
proved by his style and method of cams
paigning.
His attacks on Underwood, whom he
has called dummy and tool of Wall
street, will be resented in Alabama as
they were resented in the House. I'M
derwood,s leadership and management
during the last three years have been
brilliant, and even Republican opponents
in and out of Congress have paid him
high tribute. His work on the tariff has
been mastery, and it was the work of a
man who subordinated personal and sec
tional interests to the interests of the
nation as seen by the ablest and sincerest
men of his party. Underwood has shown
courage, insight and exceptional intell-
gence in his handling of legislation and
of differences within the party. Dunn
mics and tools we have had in all parties,
.but they have acted as unlike Underwood
as Hobsons rhetoric and fnvective are
unlike common sense and fair play.
We have now direct election of sena-
tors. Can't we have contests worthy of
the office of senator? Are the people TO
have fiubdub, misrepresentation and
cheap sensationalism instead of dignified
and rational discussion of issues and
records?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-18
POINTED PARAGRAPHS

From the Chicago News.
Many husband is sorry cx-bachelor.
And many true word is spoken with
lying intent.
Frequently a man strains his intellect
by trying to butt in.
A girl doesn't mind being called a
peach, but she'll balk at crabapple.
Some folks never settle down until after
the earth Is sodded above them.
No wonder so many girls are giddy, if
lbve really makes the world go round.
Fortunately for the style factories
women have no annoying sense of humor.
The average man expects pound of
gratitude in exchange for an ounce of
charity.
During the courtship a girl does a lot
of day dreaming. but after marriage she
cuts 1t out.
The man who Is anxious to start an ar
eument can always find another misguid-
cd person willing to help him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-18
Black Belt Is Prosperous

Our city and the black belt section
are fairly prosperous said Mayor j.
Leon Clay of Selma, who is in Birming-
ham to see the fair, and to attend to
some official and personal business.
THE price of cotton has aided our
people much to overcome the short
crop. There has been fairly good yield
of all sorts of forage crops, and stead
lily our farmers are coming towards the
coveted goal of producing enough at
home to supply their needs as to feed,
forage and meat
"As to politics: Down in Dallas, the
governors race is all one way-nothing
but Conner"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-18
OFFICE TROUBLES

OFFICE TROUBLES
The riveters ne'er bother
We can work where hammers ars;r
But excuse us, please, from roofers
When they boil their pot of tar
Denver Republicans
We're used to many troubles,
But save us from the wight
Who likes to stand behind us
And watch us while we write.
Youngstown Telegram
The gawpers never bother, -
But we would point a shaft
For the guy who comes in and wants
Us to indorse a draft.
Houston Post.
We don't do much indorsing,
But darn the fellow who
Insists on knowing DER the phone
When certain shows are due.
PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-18
Downtown Sidewalks Need Attentio,


II think while the city authorities
are adjusting the lines of abutment on
the sidewalks as to the showcases of
merchants extending across the same,
that some attention should be given to
the paving of some of the sidewalks in
the downtown district" said a promi-
nent dry goods merchant.
I'm many parts of the city the un-
even walkway is positively dangerous.
For instance, the leadways into some
alleys from the smooth street, through
the cement sidewalks, are roughly
laid in many, instances and have a
considerable drop. Then there are all
sidewalks should be smoother, uniform
ly paved and brought to a standard. At
points on Nineteenth street the paving
is a disgrace to the city"
Another citizen added: YES and
there are regular man traps at some
on my way to the High school, along a
route travelled by thousands of children
and I stepped upon a plank bridging of
some sort and it flew up and very
nearly crippled me-"
Then a third man said: why don't
the city street department correct the
conditions at the northwest corner of
Every time there is a fairly heavy rain
fall, people have to wade small
stream in crossing Fifth avenue at that
point"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-18
Hobson and Underwood

From the New York World.
Probably Thomas +. Ryan never gave
money to promote a political campaign
less selishly than when, at the begin
ming of the late presidential primaries, he
contributed to the support of Oscar w.
Underwood's aspirations. 1t is to be re-
favored Judson Harmon of Ohio thus
aiding the two more conservative candi-
dates against the more radical
; The charge made yesterday in the
House of Representatives by Mr.. Hobson,
who is Mr.. Underwood's opponent for the
Alabama senatorship, must be considered
with reference to the character and pub
lie service of both men. That Mr.. Under
wood is not and never has been tool of
Wall street or other selfish interest is
proved by the record of every hour of
his public life.
Whatever Mr.. Ryans motive may have
been, there never was an incident in the
political career of either of these men
that could give the slightest foundation
to the suspicion that in any sinister way
they We're Ryan's men or Wall streets
men, Both have proved true to the peo-
pie in very trying positions.
Politically, Mr.. Hobson has always been
false. He has been war maker, q
breeder of trouble, a jingo who out
jingoed even the armor plate ring, the
powder trust and the shipbuilders. He
has always been found the side of
the subsidy seekers, and, so far as men,
ory serves, he has never had word for
lower taxes, for peace or for justice.
1t is to be regretted that the Alabama
contest has been introduced thus often
sively into the House of Representatives
but we are confident that Mr.. Under
wood will not suffer by the comparison
which Mr.. Hobson has invited.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-18
A MYSTERY TO HIM
rom Harper's Magazine.

From Harper's Magazine.
The late John Allen of Pennington,
Me-, was noted for his ready wit and
cutting sarcasm. One day while walk
ing down the street he slipped on some
ice and fell. The Methodist minister of
the town happened to be near and
helped the old man to his feet with the
remark: Sinners stand on slippery
ground, don't they, John2'
YES" retorted Mr. Allen, 'but I don't
see how they do it."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-18
SENATORIAL SPARKS
Hobson and Underwood

From the Houston Post.
Representative Hobson's attack upon
Representative Underwood evidently
overshot the mark. BY resorting to the
tactics of the cheap demagogue and in
sinuating that his distinguished colleague
was "the tool of Wall street and the
liquor interests he created wave of
disgust that we hope will reach Ala
bama as thoroughly as it has reached the
rest of the country.
Hobsons grievance against Underwood
is due solely to the fact that Underwood
has become a candidate for the Senate
to succeed the late Senator Johnston. Mr..
Underwood's candidacy is clearly in re-
sponse to the demands of thousands of
the best citizens of Alabama, who appre
ciate his distinguished services and the
prestige he has brought to the state. 1t
is logical. proper worthy in all respects
and sure of success.
On the other hand, IIobson has been,
since he left the navy, little more than
what the Scotch would call a blather-
slSte-all noise and little service. Since
the, close of the Spanish. war he
has been merely a seeker of honors, not
doer of things
In the House he has not been a factor
of any consequence. He has been the
champion absentee, devoting time that
ought to have been spent in public SER
vice to lecturing for money or stumping
Alabama for the senatorship. At all times
he has played the role of demagogue.
His name is identified with no 1egisla tion
of consequence.
OF course, we do not know what Ala
bama is going to do about It, but with
a choice between Underwood, an able
and experienced statesman, and Hobson
a peripatetic demogogue, we assume that
the people of that state, who have al
ways been represented in the Senate by
great men, will guard their own well
fare and prestige and choose the states
man.
Hobson's attack upon Underwood was
simply ridiculous. Suppose Mr.. Ryan did
contribute to his campaign fund Mr.
Ryan always contributes to democratic
campaign funds and has not bargained
with the candidates to whose cause he
contributed, Mr.. Ryan has contributed
to Wilson's campaign fund in the
past, just as Nose Wetmore a
tobacco magnate. and other rich men con-
tributed to Bryans campaign fund, just
as Tammany contributed to Mr.. Bryan's
campaign fund i'm three campaigns.
Mr.. Underwood is not to be judged by
those who contributed to his campaign
fund, but by his record in Congress and
in private life, and that record is pretty
we'll known to all the people of the United
States. 1t is record in a private sense
equal in all respects to Hobson's, and in
a public sense immes surably superior.
If one can judge by the expression of
the Alabama newspapers, Hobson's at
tac<s upon Underwood and everybody else
who does not support him for office have
greatly weakened his candidacy for the
Senate. He has shown in these stump
speeches that he is not the man who
would prove a worthy successor to Tor
gan, Pettus and Johnston, but rather
placeseeker specializing upon his record
as a hero.
The Alabamians are very likely to be-
come weary of that sort of thing, and
we are sure that the country will feel
the same way about 1t.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-18
Birmingham Lunch Counters

"It is safe to assert that Birmingham
has larger number of all-night restau-
rants than any city of 100000 population, -
said travelling man.
II believe that it has more lunch coun-
ters than any city its size, and the best
of it is that all the lunch counters here,
as far as 1 can learn. are first class.
The city that supports many all-night
eating places is sure to be a very live
city.
birmingham has, 1 believe, twice as
many restaurants as Atlanta and when il
comes to high class cafes, it is ahead of
Atlanta. Atlanta has only one or two
that will compare with the best, whereas
Birmingham has four or five that would
do credit to Chicago"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-18

Deaths in Chicago from automobile ac-
cidents increased 55 per cent from 1907
to 1912. Birmingham also has it's speed
ers, but the gunman is our chief reliance
in preventing an excess of population.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-18

Deaths from automobile accidents show
an increase in the larger cities, which
is not at all surprising. The more auto
mobiles there are, the more fatalities, is
the way it looks to man up a tree.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-18

Julian Hawthorne and Dr. Morton have
been knocking the accommodations at
the federal prison in Atlanta ever since
they got out. The warden might have
known that he couldn't please them.