davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-18
The Presidents Great Service

President Wilson's prompt action in
suggesting a conference at the White
House between the officials of the
eastern roads and the labor leaders
looking toward the arbitration of their
differences probably was the means
of saving the country one of the great
est strikes in recent years. The con-
ference resulted in an agreement to
pass the Newlands bill as it is known
in the Senate, and the Clayton bill as
known in the House-both bills being
substantially the same-which provide
definite means for arbitration of all
such differences in the future, and the
Congress promptly carried out the
agreement.
President Wilson did not hesitate
but took hold of the situation in the
only way to accomplish results and to
get immediate action, and that was by
making all parties interested, both in
the strike and the legislation a party
to this conference. Senator Newlands,
Chairman Clayton Of the House ju-
dietary committee, and Minority Lead
er Mann, and Minority Leader Muir
doch, representing all parties in Con-
gress, were requested to be present
by the President to give assurances
to the railroad officials and the labor
leaders that Congress would respond
to the situation with whatever remedy
that was agreed upon.
The service that the President rem
dered the country, to say nothing OF
the contending parties in this diff
Guilty, cannot be exaggerated. A strike
would have brought untold losses
both to the roads and the employees;
would have caused suffering to the
of the 100000 men involved
to say nothing of the inconvenience
and loss of business to the public.
1t was another quick, firm step
taken by the chief executive, which,
like some that he has taken in the
past, is stamping him as one of the
great Presidents of the republic. 1t is
the power and the force to do things
worth while at the proper time, like
this, that will make the Wilson adj
notable one in the his
tory of the country.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-18
From the New York sun.

FROM tne New l ofk Sun.
7 ICToR HUGo'S story of the Won
~ derful change of Jean Vatican
from convict to an honored pub
lie official has been paralleled so many
times in actual life since the French au-
thors great novel was published that fic-
ton readers of a new generation have be-
gun to think that after all there was
nothing so remarkable about the charac-
ter creation of the great Les Miserables' .
In fact, the other day story of Charles
L. Goldberg of New York may be set
down as a much greater source of interest
than valjean's sufferings and sacrifices
were.
The Goldberg story was just the oppo-
site of the Hugo tale. In THE latter a con-
victed man escapes from prison to live a
blameless life and improve himself that
he may do others good. In the Goldberg
case the man was living blameless life
apparently-as a bookkeeper He longed
for an education in medicine for two rea-
sons. He wished above all things to be a
doctor and next ne wished to be a doctor
in order that he might take up a special
practice at low fees among the very poor.
So Goldberg stole to accomplish his end.
He padded the pay rolls of the concern
he worked for and used the money to pay
for the completion of his studies at the
Long Island Medical college. lie was truly
penitent for his msdoing and his employ
ers agreed to let him pay back his steal
ings at the rate of $40 a month. The
court dismissed the charge against him
because of this adjustment.
Goldberg's is not the first case of the
kind where men have stolen to accomplish
what would be considered the aim of a
very laudable ambition IL the means of
furthering such ambition had not been so
questionable. 1t is estimated by the very
prosaic heads of detective bureaus who
have had charge of the ''spotters" en-
ployed to catch railroad employees steal
ing that hundreds of men have systematic
ally robbed the railroads, banked the
money and after a certain amount has
been saved have resigned their positions,
received an honorable discharge and then
opened up a business of some kind with
the proceeds.
A curious case became known to one or
two churchmen in Chicago year or SO
ago. A young man had been chosen chair
man of the board of trustees of church
not now to be designated. Older men than
he had chosen him because of his high
character and because as superintendent
of the Sunday school he had demonstrated
in high pressure, nervously aggressive
way how things could be done. There
was debt of $4,000 on the church that
must be met within short time. The
young man was hailed as the exact person
to devise the plan to get the money.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-18

of the newspapers. The world was to be
made over by means of the bicycle, The
straphanger was to abandon his strap and
ride joyfully down the Broadway cable
SLOT swapping his fingers at traction mag
mates, and imbibing ozone. The factory
hand was to abandon his city fiat and
live in the open country, going TO and
from his work through the green lanes a.
10 miles an hour with his lunch on the
handie bar. The old were to grow young
again and the young were to dream close
to the heart of nature. The doctors were
to perish of starvation. But where is the
bicycle today?
The world was to be made over by jiu
jitsu. Elderly gentlemen were to regain
the waist line of their youth by 10 min
utes' practice every morning in the secrets
of the Samurai. Slim young women, when
attacked by heavy ruffians, were to seize
their assailants by the wrist and hurl
them over the right shoulder. The police
were to discard their revolvers and their
night sticks, and suppress rioters by mere
muscular contraction. The doctors, as be-
fore. were to grow extinct through the
rapid process of starvation. But where
is jiu jitsu today?
The world was to be regenerated by de-
natured alcohol Congress had merely to
remove the internal revenue tax and a
new motive power would be let loose far
transcending the total available horse
power of our coal mines. Denatured al
cohol was to drive the farmers machines,
propel our war automobiles, run our fac
tories and reduce the cost of living to a
ridiculous minimum. But where is de-
natured alcohol today?
The world was to be redeemed by the
bungalow. The landlord was to disap-
pear and in his place would come race of
free men bowling the head to no man and
raising their own vegetables. Kitchen
drudgery was to be eliminated by the SIM
pie device of abolishing the kitchen and
calling it ktchenette. With no more
stairs to climb, rheumatism would pass
into history. So would the doctors. The
bungalow is still with US, but alas, so are
the doctors.
The world was to be regenerated by
sour milk, by the simple life, by sleeping
in the open air. But where now are Pro-
fessor Metchnikoff and Pastor Wagner?
And the pictures of rose embowered sleep
ing porches in the garden magazines have
been supplanted by pictures of colonial
farmhouses transformed into charming in
teriors by two coats of whitewash and
a thin paper edition of the classics.
Does this show that we must give up
all hope of seeing a new world about us
before 1915? By no means. We still have
e1oenics
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-18

where to place the blame and how to
provide remedy. Poisons and pistols
are left lying around within reach of
every member of the family, and it
is only when the tragedy happens that
attention is called to danger SO long
overlooked. But it Is then, too late to
protest, and now is the time when
some action should be taken to regG-
late the sale and possession of these
means of death which are to be found
So carelessly scattered around in some
homes.
Many suggestions have been made
with regard to the shape of the bottles
and packages containing poisons and
this would seem to be one of the ways
by which the risk could be reduced.
but even better would be to keep
such articles in places far removed
from ordinary accessibility.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-18
Mr.. BRYAN as N Lecturer

Notwithstanding Secretary of State
Bryan's earnest defense of himself in
lecturing for pay in order to supple
ment his official income it is safe to
say that the practice will be discon-
tinued,' said an old citizen who for
merly lived in Washington.
Il have been an admirer of Mr..
Bryan but he is wrong in his posi-
tion in the matter referred to. The lee
ture profession is high and honor
able one, of course, but the Secretary
of State should be above engaging in
any business 'on the side and the
same rule should apply to all cabinet
officers.
Some persons may think that the
salary of $4,000 year is inadequate
for cabinet secretaries. 1 have heard it
suggested that $4,000 would be about
the right salary, but believe it is
better to keep the pay down to rea-
sonable amount such as the present
salary. A man with moderate fam
lily can live on $4,000 a year in Wash
ington even now, with the high cost
of commodities. But whether he could
or not he should manage to get along
without having a side line business.
The consensus of opinion seems to
be strongly opposed to Mr.. Bryan con-
t1nuing in the lecture field during his
incumbency of the office of Secretary
of State"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-18

tax is not compulsory. No bills are
rendered. The man who wants to vote
must pay the tax voluntarily, and he
must pay it before February l if he
wishes to participate in any of the
elections that year.
An amendment to the suffrage sec
tion of the constitution must come in
time. Our number of qualified voters
has utterly failed to keep pace with
the growth of population. There must
be an increase in the poll lists.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-18
Birmingham,s Expansion

What impresses me especially about
Birmingham is Its expansion in SO many
directions said John l.. Herndon of
Detroit.
Il first visited this city about five
years ago. This is my second visit and
l remark the splendid improvements
that | see on all sides. Birmingham s
business district is spreading out and
no city of approximately Birmingham S
size has SO many beautiful residence
sections. In many cities there is only
one fashionable residence district but
here there are several and all of them
are attractive. This city has a great
future, indeed"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-18
Wilson Ordered Home

Conditions in the pseudo republic of
Mexico seem to grow worse instead
of better, and pressure is being
brought to bear upon Washington to
insist upon remedial measures. AT
present the outcome is obscured in a
maze of diplomatic negotiations. In
tervention may be the only means of
restoring order, but the United States
will avoid such course as long as
possible. Europe's insistence, how
ever, that the interests of its citizens
in Mexico be given adequate protec-
tion may finally compel armed inter
ference by America. That Germany
will attempt to act independently is
hardly to be expected.
Thousands of men and millions in
money would be required to subjugate
Mexico. No wonder Washington hesi
tates to take the step which must
cost blood and treasure to an extent
which cannot be estimated. President
Taft never rose to higher patriotism
than when, in the last days of his ad
ministration, he stood firmly against
committing the United States to
policy the pursuit of which would
have meant the death of many brave
young soldier and the recession from
which would have meant national dis
credit.
Francisco Madero thought Mexico
could govern itself. Madero was more
of an American than a Mexican. He
was educated in this country and was
imbued with its inspirations and its
ideals. He longed to inaugurate
American rule in Mexico. His dream
had grim and CHASTITY ending.
Madero's tenure of the presidency
was not beneficial to the land he SO
earnestly desired to help. The Mexi-
cans confused license with liberty.
Freed from the mailed fist of Porfirio
Diaz, bandit bands roamed the coun-
try, and rebelling displaced bull
fighting as the national pastime.
When Felix Diaz raised a revolt at
Vera Cruz and was taken by the loyal
troops, Madero spared his life. When
Madero fell into the hands of Diaz, he
was promptly murdered.
Ambassador Wilson has been or
dered home to give at first hand his
account of actual conditions. 1t will be
week or more before he arrives, and
any positive step by President Wilson
until that time is improbable. A peace
full and honorable way out of the diff
ficulty may be found. America earn
estly hopes so.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-18
Birmingha ms Voters

Birmingham has population in
excess of 10000. 1t is estimated that
about $500 registered voters are eligi-
BILE to participate in the coming NUM-
cipal election. This number is so small
that it is evidence of some vital defect
in our constitution and laws govern
ing the privilege of suffrage.
1t is commonly figured that one per-
son out of five is of the male sex and
21 years or more of age. This proper
tion should give Birmingham a voting
population of something like 81, 700.
When the constitution of 1901 was
formulated, the suffrage section was
framed with the view of purging the
poll lists of the ignorant and the
vicious. To that end cumulative poll
tax was provided. With the lapse of
years this has become extremely bur-
densome. Neglect to pay one years
tax of $1.50 results in disfranchise-
ment. There are men who are in ar
rears several payments, and of these
a large number will never pay, pre-
ferring to forego the privilege of vot-
ing rather than draw more or less
heavily upon their pocketbooks.
Often southern states and districts
are severely criticised because of the
small vote cast. Ten thousand votes in
Alabama will go as far toward putting
a man in office as will $4,000 in some
other sections of the nation. In re-
stricting the electorate, the makers
of the constitution went too far. OF
course, they builded as best they
knew, but they did not have the fac
atty of reading the future.
In this state the payment of poll
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-18
The Stnte Eair

I'VE are going to have great state fair
In October" said President B. B. Burton.
I'VE will have some fine racing l an,
particularly gratihed at the entries thus
far As to the agricultural exhibits, we
will have the best ever seen in the state.
We need more space for the products and
the increasing interest in the agricultural
display will necessitate larger buildings
next year.
That the attendance will be unusually
large at the fair this year goes without
saying. Our state fair is popular all over
Alabama, and as the farmers are raising
big crops this summer everybody who
comes here in the fall will have money to
srend"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-18
Leaving for ireland

The Rev. Father Coyle will leave this
morning for New York, whence he sails
on the Mauretania for ireland. The
passengers for the Emerald Isle dis
embark at Welsh port and proceed
in local boats to their destination.
Father Coyle's mother is in poor health
and he is going to his native land at
this time especially on her account He
expects to return to Birmingham about
October l.
Father Coyle, as pastor of st. PauPs
church, has onerous duties. his work
becoming more exacting every year on
account of the rapid growth of his
parish. He needs a vacation and his
parishioners as well as his non-Cath-
o1ic friends will wish him a pleasant
voyage
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-18
SAN FRANCISCO ENERGY

From the Brooklyn Standard Union.
In the seven years which have elapsed
since the San Francisco fire and earth
quake permits for the erection of $1,000
buildings have been issued by the authori-
ties of that city. That is at the rate of 10
day. 1t is a matter of common knowl-
edge that the citizens of the California
town have shown remarkable energy in
rebuilding the burned section and in meet
ing the demands occasioned by the rapid
growth in population but it is doubtful IL
many people outside of California ara
aware that SO much construction work
has been done
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-18
QUAKER QUIPS
From the Philadelphia Record.

From the Philadelphia Record.
The pious girl is not always a church
belle.
ulish so little
too good to be true.
Even the girl with clocks IN her stock
ings may miss train.
People who give advice must expect to
take a lot of blame.
You can fiatter many women by calling
them desperate flirts.
1t is possible for man 10 have more
gold in his teeth than in the bank.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-18
NEW TROUBLES FOR HosTEssEs

From the Boston Transcript
London hostesses are confronted this
year with the most perplexing problem of
late years-the unlimited guest, person
who has no more nefarious design none,
for instance, on the spoons) than an even
ing's entertainment at someone else's ex-
pense. Hostesses. however-unlike the
great Lady Palmerton, who, when shown
some of the unlimited at a crush at her
own house, merely remarked that she
hoped they'd enjoy it-are resolved to put
an end to these intrusions, and it has
been suggested that a hostesses' union
should be inaugurated
Ambitious young men with yearning
for society are said to be the chief Of
tenders, but 1t is difficult to see how they
improve their chances by their rash
ness. The London girl is a very difficult
person to bluff into believing she has met
you before and that is the unlimited
youths only chance Of securing partner.
unless he has the audacity to bring one
with him-a proceeding before which the
stoutest heart might Quail. the risk and
the ignominy of exposure would. be so
great.
The possibility of his presence where
he is so little wanted is due to the con-
fusion in society since it has outgrown
itself. For where it is the usual thing for
new hostess who has not been much in
London to use friends hist" for dance
Tin ether words. to invite the friend s
friends), and where the friends are al
lowed to bring as many more as they like
provided they are men," and when clubs
are invited wholesale, it is obviously i'm
possible to keep a check on who comes.
However, it is going to be done, even IL
dances have to be reasonably cool and
comfortable and pleasant In consequence
that is, reduced to about quarter of their
present size.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-18
Regarding Official Etiouette

1t seems to be the custom in the pres
ent administration for postmasters and
other officials to be asked for a resigna.
ton when the President is ready to ap-
point successor said an old politician.
Postmaster General Burleson asked fol-
the resignation of the postmaster at San
Francisco some time ago, but that official
declined to respond. The other day the
postmaster at Macon, Ca, was asked by
the Postmaster General to send in his
resignation. and, like the San Francisco
man, he declined to do so.
1T is all right, no doubt, for the Pres
ident to ask for the resignation of cabi-
net officials when he wishes to get rid of
them, but the old way in regard to post
masters, collectors and other officials is
the most sensible. A man of the party in
power was appointed to succeed the other
fellow and he succeeded him without any
ado
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-18
NOT "HoNORABLY DIsCHARGEDs

From the Kansas City Journal.
j. R. Ford commander Of Marmadulle
camp, United Confederate Veterans. at
Butler, Mo-, publishes a card in the Bates
County Democrat in regard to ex-confed-
crates receiving pensions under the recent
act of the Missouri legislature. The law
says that an applicant for pension must
show an honorable discharge, but Mr..
Ford says that this will be impossible.
as there never was an honorably dis
charged confederate soldier. All confed-
crate soldiers were made prisoners OF
war and paroled according to the agree
inent made by Generalu Lee and Gepesal
Giant and remained as such for" two
years. Afterward by proclamation by the
President they were restored to citizen.
ship and given the ballot II Mr.. Ford
is right in his conclusion, and ex-confed-
crates must show honorable discharges,
few of them will be able to take advan-
tage of the pension law. 1t does not
seem probable. however, that such finn
sy technicality would be allowed To de-
feat the law. especially since the law was
passed at the demand of the democratic
administration.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-18
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Active business In pIttsburg

Il found a great deal of business ae-
tiVity in Pittsburg." said John r.
Fletcher of Shook g. Fletcher, who Wis
tied the great induBtrial city last
week
Il met many prominent manufactur-
ers and they all seemed optimistic.
Many of them have orders booked that
Will keep their plants running at full
capacity for the rest of the year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-18

From the Springfield Republican.
Another argument for federal ownership
of the anthracite coal mines of Pennsyl-
vania-what is left of them-has been
given to anti-monopoly agitators by the
performance of the Pennsylvania legisla-
ture in leyying tax on the coal mined
and shipped out of the state. No one ex-
pected that the coal companies would pay
the tax. Coal companies in Scranton be-
gan sending out new bills Saturday, and
on the bills was this explanation
Plus the 2h per cent tax levied by the
commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The great bulk of the hard coal mined
in Pennsylvania is marketed outside of
Pennsylvania. And nature decreed that
most of the hard coal deposits in North
America should be located in that COM
monwealth. 1t does not matter much to
the average consumer whether he is held
UP by coal company or the railroad
back of the coal company or state gov
ernment. The effect is the same. In
this case, the state of Pennsylvania is
collecting from all New England a tax
which Is virtually payment for the priv
ilege of burning Pennsylvania coal. If
hard coal of good quality could be
obtained from other states, the tax would
not matter much, but under the circum-
stances it will be felt and probably resent
ed by thousands of people in all parts OF
the country.
The tax will infiame agitation for federal
ownership of the mines if it be made per-
manent From any proper and reasonable
viewpoint, those coal deposits are ma
tional resource, national asset. 1t would
have been a blessing had they not passed
under private ownership in the first place
only to become the property of monopo-
lists controlling also the railroads that
make the coal accessible to the consumer.
IL on top of the coal roads monopoly the
state of Pennsylvania is to levy taxes on
the coal produced, the situation fill not
long be endured
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-18
BECOMES MATTER OF FACT
from the Rochester Post-Express.

John Bigelow's ''Retrospections of an
Active Life" are painfully disillusioning.
wflSie Collins work was done on lauda-
mum, and that Bulwer Lytton was the
dupe of spiritualistic charletans. When
man lives to be over 80 he has no longer
any illusions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-18

St. Swithin's day was last Tuesday.
There is an old English superstitution
connected with that feast to the effect
that if it rains any time during the day.
the rain will continue for 40 DAYS. IT
rained in Birmingham Tuesday after
noon but since then j. Pluvius has gone
elsewhere.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-18
About Persons

w. J. Bowles. formerly a well known
Birmingham newspaper man, is visiting
here for a few days. Mr.. Bowles is now
practicing law in Covington, Ky, where
he has lived for several years, and has
been very successful. Mr.. Bowles was
responsible for the organization Of the
present Southern Baseball association in
1901.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-18

young woman student at the Ithaca
Conservatory of Music broke all records
by hving on 80 cents a week. If she mar
ried such economy would be knocked
awry when hubby demanded porterhouse.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-18

Mr.. Bristow cites the fact that Thomas
jefferson worked as Secretary of State
for $500 year, but that is no argument
that Mr. Bryan can live on $4,000. Thomas
Jefferson probably never had to buy bot
tie of grape juice in his life.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-18

During yesterday afternoon many peo-
pie who would never think of remov-
ing their coats in polite company actual
ly removed their collars. Adam had the
right idea, anyhow.