davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06
A Blessing in Disguise

When the boil weevil crossed the Mexican border and made it's appear ance in Texas about twenty years ago it was feared that the pest would cause disaster in the entire cotton belt. But the weevil was a blessing in disguise.
 The cotton farmers soon began to experiment with the diversification of crops on large scale. Louisiana cot ton growers turned their attention to rice and truck farming, and truck crops have proved just as profitable and in many cases more so than cot ton. The weevil travels slowly and up to this time has done little damage in Alabama, but the enterprising husbandman of this state did not wait until the pest had had time to make large inroads. Our farmers began several years ago to plant more corn and to culti- vate more hay and more of everything else. The diversification experiment has been highly satisfactory, and now added to the diversification of crops We have the stockraising industry. Beef cattle have been raised on linn tied scale for years past, but this year for the first time many farmers are giving high bred cattle their first consideration.
 The boil weevil may not be much worse next year than it is this sum mer, but the cotton acreage will be reduced and the culture intensified and other crop acreage increased The time will never come when Ala. bama will not raise cotton and a great deal of it, but the farmer will moi be dependent upon it as in former years.
 Instead of one money crop Alabama now has several, and even if the cot ton acreage is greatly reduced in tn, years to come the total money valu' of crops will increase rather than de crease.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06
A DESCRIPTION OF COMER
From the Moulton Advertiser.

From the Moulton Advertiser.
 The republicans met at Birmingham recently, and resolved to put out state ticket from governor down. A whispered report comes to us that they Intend to put Conner out as their candidate, but that Is all silly twaddle and the veriest of nonsense. Conner could not and would not stultify hiEself by becoming the leader of any such disgruntled gang Though villified and abused. Conner is still a gentleman-more, he Is a patriot and a democrat; further, he is a true Christian and around his brow clusters the brightest diadems of our states his- tory. A great and good many, may live to see his policies in full effect and our people happily in the enjoyment of same.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06
RADIUM's NO RARITY

From the New York World.
 with two big drills, half a dozen men arted to "diS for radium they saio' between Passaic and Nutley, N. J.
 The North American Exploration com rany, composed of German capitahs's anu represented by Maj. Edward T. Moore or pa ssaA. was the announced packer of the enterprise.
 The digging spot is at Kingsland roao
 a ploon,feld avenue, near a small brook.
 ..Experts say there is large quah- tity of radium here," said one man. put Major Moore refused to deny or connrm the report that the men were after that immensely valuable chemical.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06

The Presbyterian Church of the Cove nant in Cincinnati Is going to build handsome anaex in which there will be a courting parlor where young men and women who do not live at home may meet The church Is located in the center of the boarding and rooming house dis trict of Cincinnati, and the trustees have decided that they can bring cheer to ionestme young people ny giving them an opportunity to get acquainted in the most proper manner. What better mission can a church undertake than to be a friend to the friendless?'' asks the pastor, Dr. Robert Watson. There are no parlors In these rooming and boarding houses. no place where a young woman may receive a young man except on the front stoop, which, as may be known to all who have courted, is no place to court
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06
THOSE FITS OF ECONOMY
By BILL VINES

the natter and had expressed a deter
 imitation to stand fast on that proposition,
 and that the House conferees the bill
 simply could not budge them, the more
 indignant became the aforesaid states
 men. Then the House proceeded to get
 itself all tangled up ln wrath over the
 mileage proposition. It foamed at the
 mouth and gnawed the woodwork. After
 voting on several different suggestions
 all the while securely fixing the mileage
 matter so that eventually the Senate
 would have it's way, the House really
 couldn't tell where it stood on mileage.
 Then it was that MT. Candler got the .
 ficor. "A parliamentary inquiry, 4.=
 Speaker" he said. He was recognizeu
 by the speaker to state his inquiry.
 Would it be in order now to instruct the
 ccnferees to strike out all mieage?" MT.
 Candler was informed by the speaker that 1t would not Theceupon MT Candler,
 with a sigh of relief, subsided. He had
 done his best he had striven to save this
 vicious extravagaaoe and waste of the
 money of the people. and he had failed.
 but through no fault of his.
 But the House Is eoing to fool itself some Ol lneSo udyS. lnese Hllio
 and advertising the spirit of economy so far as mileage is concerned is going to result in the abolition of mileage, and then somebody will be sore. It's good thing to advocate economy on mileage. for it's good advertising and heretofore has not been dangerous.
 A look at the rivers and harbors bill, the public buildings and grounds bill and similar appropriation measures which sme ok of the pork barrel will convince any person who is not prejudiced that the boys want to be economical if they can. Postoffice sites for Pumpkin Cen ter, locks and dams for Middling creek in rich rrofusion are provided for, but they are absolutely necessary to further the spread of trade and commerce and incidentally spread the fame of the rep resentative of each particular district so favored as "a useful member of Con gress." His usefulness being measured by the extent he has his hooks in on the treasury.
 Congress will become economical only
 hen the question of appropriations are
 put into the hands of budget commit- tee UEtil then it's its of economy are really not serious and no one should l concern themselves seriously about them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06
TuE scAnLET HANGER

By Mary Augusta Mason. A flame went fitting through the wood; The ncighboring birds all understood Here was a marvel of their kind; And silent was ach festhered throat TO catch the brilliant strangers note, And folded evSzy songster's wing Tu hide it's sober coloring.
 Against the tender green outlined, He bore himself with splendid es SC, As though alone among the trees. Tho glory passed from bough to bough-- The maple was in blossom now, And them the oak, remembering The crimson hint 1t gave in spring. And every tree its branches swayed And offered its inviting shade; Where'er . bough detainad him long, A slender. s,lver thread of song Was lightly. merrily unepun. From early morn till day was done Tho vision fitted to and fro. At last the wood was all alone; But. ere the restless flame had flown, He left secret with each bough, And in the fall. where one is now, A thousand tanagers will glow.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06
Foreign Banking

Our South American trade has long been unsatisfactory as compared with the commerce which Germany, Eng land and France have gradually de- veloped with the republics to the south of us. And while this unsatisfactory state of affairs has been attributed largely to European control of trad ing vessels, it is now generally recog- nized that lack of proper banking facilities related to American interests has been one of the chief handicaps in attaining commercial supremacy in South America.
 Within the last decade foreign bankers have been especially active in establishing branches in the large trading centers of the southern con. tinent. which have been instrumental in placing commercial relations on 2 firm basis; and these banks have hae the encouragement and moral suppor1 of European nations.
 American banking laws, on the oth er hand, until recently have been sucl as to declare foreign branches illegal This attitude of the United States to ward foreign banking has proved highly detrimental to Pan-Americai trade, for the merchants of the Latin republics have become accustomed tt 1onr term credits, European bankers having been very accommodating ii
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06
DIR. CUNNTNGHAsl's WORK

From the Bessemer Tribune.
 Several months ago Dr. R. M. Gun hingham was elected city health officer of Birmingham. The job at best has here- tofore been a thankleSs one, ana many questioned the wisdom of Dr. Cunning ham in accepting place that obviously had no future and 10 emoiuments' It seems, however. that Dr. Cunningham has made . very live department out of a practically dead, ono. Through his "haaith bulletins" that have been appearing in the dtily papers, thousands of people have become familiar with health conditions in Birmingham. ways to prevent disease safeguards to health and thousand and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06
Revival of Interest in Fishing

"The rains of the past day or two have revived the dropping interest in fishing of lovers of the rod and reel" said one of the tribe.
 'It will be recalled that last year the dam of West lake, below Bessemer,
 broke, and twas thought that all of the larger fish had been swept In the current that rushed down through the valley, following the couse of the small stream. Evidently this was mistake, for during the four days of open sea- son the past week, some very fine catches were made Several fish, from one to five pounds, were taken with live bait, flies and Dowaigiac minnows. Dick Burt and MT. Evans caught IT trout in one day aggregating 19 pounds in weight, with the artificial
 minnow troll. I have not the report of the Fourth, the last day. It is require
 ment of the federal government that
 must be closed to general fishing for three years, hence the closing of Wost lake as noted.
 "One we'll known fisherman, who long has boasted that if you ever get so you can cast artificial bait-a fly for instance-youll never stick an other hook in minnow's mouth, or in live roach. We'll Sid has fallen from his high ideal, for he confesses to catching some five hundred pounds of all sorts, sizes and kinds of fish, nigger fishing with trot-line on the Ca- haba.
 There Is an interesting contest on for the handsome $25 fishing tackle out l fit offered by the Birmingham Arms and Cycle company for the largest bass taken in Jefferson county during the present fishing season. Early in the week E. c. Walters caught one at East
 Lake with yellow Sally fly weighing l five pounds and three ounces. On Fri day Percy Clark caught in the same
 waters, with live minnow, one weitS- | ing six pounds and four ounces, and | thus the contest stands.
 l T have often been asked how large
 the fresh water bass grows in weight. The American Field, some years ago, re- ported one taken in the Ozark mountains
 IA pounds in weight. I have twice been padding the boat in the Number T
 pond of the 1T. c. l. when the fellows with the pole. trolling a Dowargac
 hooked old bull at exactly the same place in the flags. He carried off the
 troll each time. The last time-1913-l
 saw his hog-like back. and believe
 he will weigh 12 pounds or more"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06

H T required a chase of 13 years by the
 best detectives in the United States A se cret service to bring to justice Capt. Henry w. Howgate, a government official accus ed of embezziny. Captain Howgate v as connected with the weather bureau in Washington from the close of the civil war to 1879. when he was charged with forgery and embezzlement to the extent of s96O,0OO
 Howgate had been arrested in Wash ington, in 1881, but, obtaining permission from the officers to go to his room and dress, he escaped through the window and from that time to 1894 he baffled all efforts to capture him For several years he had led double ,omestc life, and when he escaped he fled to New Orleans and remained theer until he believed the secret service detectives were after him.
 Accordingly, he took his departure west ward and was seen at one or two places on the Pacific coast For two years be- fore his arrest he had been in the east and when apprehended he was engaged in the old bookstore business in New York city.
 Howgate was arrested on September 27, 1894 and the following day he was taken before Judge Benedict, in the United States district court in New York, who hor red extradition papers from Washing ton, and he was removed to that city for trial on Tuesday, October 8. He was pls ced in the district jail and on Mon day, December 31, 1894, he was indicted, but Headed mot guilty" The indictments ments against him. however, were sus- tair. ed and he was remanded to jail. His trial was begun on January 31 and 1t was c, I tinued with several Interruptions until June 21 when he was convicted both for
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
VIII Have a Great Fair

We have perfected all details for the State Fair in October and we expect to have the greatest fair ever held in the south," said President R. A. Brown.
 We have secured better amusement at- traction than ever brought here In any previous year, and there is every promise of the largest agricultural display ever seen in this state. As this is a bumper clop year in Alabama, the farmers will be flush with money and that means a high record attendance at the fair'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06
[U1 AsHINGToN. July 5.-(special.) NA Once year regularly the House
 " Donroea,,-o tsx-o. hoe snoc,.,

N zo1II1S1IOISf JuIy O,-0rpec1HI.J
 \X/ Once year regularly the House
 W of Representatives has d spasm of economy, and kids itself almost into the opinion that it wants to reduce the mileage allowance to members, or wipe it out entirely. It recovers, however, from this violent and vicious attack in time to save itself. and also incidentally save the mileage. The ordinary observer watching the performance of the House from the gallery, on such an occasion, must indeed be of a hard and callous nature if he fails to fall for the superb display of real earnestness of some Of our statesmen who are striving to save the peoples money, when as matter of fact they know-and in many instances hope-that there is not chance.
 Last week tie mileage question came Each year some patriot offers an amend nent to the legislative appropriation bill to either reduce or wipe out mileage en- tlreiy. Nine times out of 10, if the House was to take him at his word and do so, he would be a saddened and bitterly dis appointed man. It would spoil the en- Joyment of the occasion for him entirely.
 Now the Hon. Ezekiel Samuel Candler Jr., who represents the First district of Mississippi, and who breaths, dreams and fairly oozes economy some a hours every day, whose sole and only purpose is to stand as the guardian of the wealth of the plain people as represented in the treasury, is especially in deadly earnest about this mileage business. Mr Candler has convictions on the question of mile age that are deep rooted in the Candler scul Mileage to him is abhorent; not SC abhorent that he has refused in the past to take his when offered, but never theless it is vastly objectionable. The same may be said of the Hon. Frank Clark of Florida. Down with mileage" js the sentiments of bo-h MT. Candler and MT Clark, and so far as is known both of them Ego down with it' or south with it'' every session regularly.
 Therefore, when the question of mile age was up in the House and the House had been informed that a grasping and extravagant Senate had greedily held on to the regular appropriation of 20 cents a mile, both MT. Candler and MT. Clark were justly indignant. When they were informed that the Senate was firm about
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06
WESTERN FARM WAGES

From the Louisville Courler-J ournal
 Two boys from Columbus. O., who went west in search of high wages as harvest hands have written back home that they can find plenty of work, but not d. fancy prices According to the Column bus Dispatch they have encountered the s2-a a-day employer, who works his men from 4 a. m. to D. m., with do minutes for dinner and supper, but they nave vet to discover the s5-a-day employer such as one reads about"
 Tn to date these two Ohio boys have tried Oklahoma and Kansas. and they are now trying Nebrasl1l. All these states have been employing outside help in or der that they might save their wheat crops Desperate cases require desperate remedies, but no farmer is going to pay
 S a day to harvest hands if he can get them for s2. As a matter of fact, much of the imported labor probably Is dear at the s2 figure. The hours of work on the farm are long, but one need not leave Ohio and go to Kansas to find that out. In many instances they are unreasonably long; and this is. one of the reasons why the boys are leaving the rural districts and why farm labor constantly Is becom- Ing scarce.
 The Kansas people ought not, however to talk about $5-a-day wages if they mean to pay only g day. The average Ohio or Kentucky farm boy can get S2 day at home during the harvest season. There could not be much profit in taking trip to Kansas to work two or three weeks at
 the same stipend. Two dollars day will hardly pay railroad fare and buy arnlca for the blistered arms and abrased fingers of the Ohio or Kentucky youth who is lured to the western fields by promises of '$5 a day and found"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06
Brisk Plano Trade

Business in my line Is very good,'' said Robert L. Scales, president of the Scales Piano and organ company. "Our concern did a larger business in June than 1t did in May, and I believe 1t will be still larger in July.
 There Is every indication that trade activity hereabouts will continue throughout the year. Of course, fine crops in Alabama and adjoining states stimulates business in Birmingham; and from all accounts, this years crops are very large"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06

The Philadelphia woman who protests T against the movie kiss and says It ought to be confined to at least a yard of film, would never recover from the shock if the operator should stop hls ma, chine when the lips of the hero and he- roine come in contact and keep the film stationary for three minutes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06
GREAT TRIALS OF HISTORY
TRIAL OF CAPTAIN HOWGATE

forgery and for falsifying his accounts.
 Both the captain and his daughter, whof had been with him throughout the trial.t took the verdict calmly, though the daugh-s ter burst into tears, as the convicted prisoner was taken back to Jail. On July Captain Howgate was admitted to bail pending ar appeal from his conviction and sentence on charges of forgery and embezzlement. On Seota nbcr 30, Captain Howgate's bond having expired, he sur rendered himself and was again remand ed to jail. On November 15 his convic- tion was confirmed and on November 23 he as taken from Washington to Albany. to begin serving his sentence of eight years.
 The chief embezzlemert charged against him was as a dispersing officer of the signal corps. There were in all Il in- dctments.
 Captain Howgate was an Enslishman by birth and served with distinction during seveI al years of the civil war. He enlist ed as second lieutenant of Michigan regiment in August, 1882, and served to the c.cse of the war on the staffs of Generals Then as, Slocum and Sherman. lie vas trevetted captain and major for galantry at Chickamauga and in the Atlanta cam paign.
 N hile in the weather bureau, How gate first attracted general attention by p1 ojeoting a novel method of Arctic ex- p.oraticn, on advance expedition being sent to the far north to establish a depot of supplies. The schooner Florence was dispatched on this err1nd in 1877, but re- turned the following year. In 1890 another vessel, the Gulnare, went north. but ac- comrlished nothing and the whole scheme suffered a Eideous collapse. Captain How gate himself revsr left Washington in this connection.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06

Ty Cobb is said to have lost prestise II: Detroit since he injured his hand in a fight with a butcher, and had to retlre temporarily from the game. Naturally the baseball fans of that town find it hard to be pleasant when there is
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06

A Chicago professor says we once wore a caudal appendage three feet long and the modern tango craze is nothing more ones tail When some people dance the tango their resemblance to monkeys is very pronounced.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06
ue.ter. do oft prove prophets.
 king Lear.

BEGINNING THE DAY-Help me to rest, o Lord, if I am tired. Heip me to trust Thee to restore my SOUL uay I wait on Thee without repin- ing. May I sit with Thee unti ihou are ready to begin work again. Mas I camp with Thee until Ihou ar' ~eadv for the march. May l lay me down and sleep until Thou shalt call. For Christs sake. Amen-- H. M. K.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06
RIRMINGHAM,s WAY

From Inc Alexander City Outlook.
 Since the southern Methodist church has withdrawn It's support from Vanderbilt university and decided to locate great university somewhere In the south BIT mingham is after 1t and proposes to raise s1, ,OO0 O00 to secure 1t. Birmingh ham gets what she goes after.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06

The colonel is withdrawing from the contributing editorship of the Outlook, but he will continue to be a contributor, just the same. According to an arrange ment made with Editor Lyman Abbott, he will write on the People and Judge Made Laws"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06

The crop of brides in Washington dur ing the year ending July l was smaher than it was during the preceding year. However, the Secretary of the Treasury and washington's premier pitcher did all that could be reasonably expected of them to keep the crop from showing a de- c1 case
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06

A Leavenworth convict appealed to President Wilson for pardon in 5o- line poem After reading the poem we are of the opinion that he ought to have at least 10 years added to his original sem tance
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06

The governor of Missouri says that II all the eggs laid by nens in that state V ere placed end to end they would reach around the world with few to spare Fortunately, eggs Serve a much more useful purpose than hat of being used for> mathematical demonstrations.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06

Because he contributed but $9 in two years to the support of his wife and i've cf ildren a New Jersey man will sojourn for a year in jail. Unless he is com pelled to do manual labor that ought to suit a man of his disposition
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06

An automobile without chauffeur climbed the steps of the Congressional library in Washington. The only thing needed to complete the resemblance to a Joy ride was 'honk" or two.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06
ToMoRRow-TRIAL OF ROGER LoWEN

enc ways to combat illness, He has done a wonderful work in a vrey short time, and there is no doubt that the work Will continue to grow under his wise guid- ance
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06

It being a bright summer afternoon, a large crowd assembled In Cap1toi park to enjoy the first Sunday concert by Memolis band.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06

Less eugenics and more old-fashioned love Is what the race needs.' says a Cleveland doctor. That's what we call hitting the nail on the head.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06

The sport sharps say that any soou second-class man can beat John Arthur Johnson Tho problem is to find nm willing
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06

A strike of bartendsrs is reported In New Bedford, Mass, but the prohioi- tionists are not believed to be responsible l.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-06

The Italian sovernm snt's attempt to gain a foothold in Africa cost $2ooooo and the net result is worth about 90 cents.