davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-08
ILLITERACY IN THE u. S. A
DISGRACE, SAYS REPORT
House Committee Education Reports on Lever Bill to Inves
tigate literacy-Decare Disgrace Can Be
Eliminated Quickly

Washington February THE proper
ton of the wholly illiterate adults among
the population OF the United States is a
national disgrace which can be very
quickly eliminated declared unani-
nous report today from the House educa-
tien committee of the Lever bill to in
vestigate iiljteracy. The bill, which car
Iies no appropriation, authorized the com
missioner of education to cooperate with
concerted movement involving field and
clerical service with the states indi-
1idaals and association to 'obliterate the
stain and reproach of illiteracy."
|N~P- p Claxton, commissioner OF the fed
Fl tal bureau of education has expressed
Efhe belief that lliteraey could be cut to
~ fraction of per- cent and Representa-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-08
SENATE CONFIRMS
MAER NOMINATION
HObson Leaves Capital With
Tuscaloosa POstOffice
Tangle UnsOlved
BY c. E. STEWART.

Washington, February 7.-CSpeciaD-
Senate today confirmed the nomination
of Percy Maer Of Columbus. Miss. as
collector of the port of Mobile.
captain Hobson left Washington today
for Alabama. 1t was impossible to learn
whether or not he drew his salary for
the time he has been absent in January.
Sergeant at Arms Gordon absolutely re-
fused to discuss The matter. Captain
Hobson's leaving also keeps the Tusca-
loosa postoffice question unsettled. 1t is
plain that Mr. Abercrombie will not plir-
sue the matter further II Clabaugh is
turned down, and It will be up to Hob
son to name the postmaster
Clarence Watts, secretary to Repre-
sentative Richardson, also left for Ala
hama tonight, and it may be that after
consulting his friends that he viii an
nounce himself as q candidate to sue
ceed Representative Richardson
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-08

1--WE ToWner of Iowa in submitting the
committee report, predicted it would be
accomplished with little DELAY.
ihe report of the commissi ner shows
the number of illiterates in ihe United
states to be 3,1S4.954 whites 10 years old
or more at the census of 1910. exceeding
the population of the country in 1900 The
uis,iioution ranges from II per 1000 people
In Iowa to 290 per 1000 in I,ol,isiana IN
the south, the report adds, the percentage
Is highest In the rural districts and in
the north 1t Is highest in the cities Bos-
ton has 24.46S illiterates over 10 wears old.
There are 2,2Is,6o3 illiterate males OF
years and over In the United States,'
it Is pointed out, ''or enough 10 deterrnine
any national election at any period of
United States history"
France, by quick concerted action. re-
duced its number OF adult iiliterates from
10 in 100 to IL 100. the report adds.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-08
DEMAGOGUE RULE FOLLOWS
THAT OF BOSS, SAYS BAILEY
Countrys Action in Putting Down Bosssm Sort of "Out of
the Frying Pan Into the Fire Proposition, Accord
ing to Former Senator

Chicago February THE country
has emerged from boss rule only to
enter on n conflict with demagoguery
and socialism, said former United
States Senator Joseph Bailey at the an
nual banquet tonight of the Michigan
Ter than the demagogue," he continued
because II is easier to get rid of him
The two men who are most prom
inent at present In our politics" said
Mr.. Bailey, ARE the two who have
denounced The bosses most unsparingIv
ana they are the two men above all
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-08
MANY POINTS ON
ANTITRUST PLAN
TO Be DECIDED
Leaders Plan Conference
With President-Seek to
Placate the Dissatisfied
Minority Leaders

Washington February 7-How far the
administration shall go with regulation
or prohibition of holding companies. per-
lection of the pending Interstate trade
commission measure; drafting meas
ure giving the interstate commerce COM
mission authority to regulate railroad Sc
curities and efforts to assure harmonious
action are tasks in store for the conf
mittees of Congress in charge of the ad-
ministration antitrust legislative pro-
gramme. Having had the subject of trust
legislation before them for two weeks
considering bills outlined by President
Wilson in his message to Congress ano
listening to suggestions from citizens
House and Senate leaders have a cleare,
understanding of what is. before them
but many points have arisen upon which
further light Is desired Further con-
ferences With the President are contem-
plated.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-08

A special train carrying 20 Ameri-
cans, led by w. J. Farragut of the
Mexican Northwestern railway, so
coffins and rescue outfit left here
tonight for the scene.
The exact number of persons aboard
the passenger train, which consisted
of one first class, two second class
coaches, baggage and express car
and freight car, is not known First
reports put the number at So, while a
later report said rs.
This evidently was an estimate, as the
searching party led by DR.. F. c. Herr
of MADEIRA, was unable to penetrate far
enough into the tunnel to count the
dead. Bodies, it is expected will be
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-08
100000 FOR
FLIGHT ROUND GLOBE
Panama-Pacific Exposition
Officials Propose EnOr-
nous Aero Prize

San Francisco, February lone mil
lion dollars, officials of the Panama
Pacific exposition announced today now
is the prize proposed for an "around
the world flight In any form Of air craft,
starting and finished on the exposition
grounds in 1915. The project OF jumping
the prize money from $4,000 to more
than three times that amount came It
was announced, from the Aero Club of
America, and has a string to 1.-THE ex-
tending of the time limit now set at 90
days. Charles c, Moore, president of
the exposition. in a statement tonight
said there was every disposition to make
conditions as elastic as possible without
hampering the aims of the race and this
was confirmed by Acnold KruclSman, di-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-08

found strewn along the poisonous reaches
of the tunnel Dr. Herr reached a body
within 800 feet of the north entrance of
the tunnel. 1t was that of Juan Fer
randez. rear brakeman of the train AS
the passenger train did not stop until
within few hundred feet of the freight
train with which Castillo had set fire
to the tunnel seven hours before. Fer
nandez must have staggered and crawled
nearly three-quarters of mile before
he suecumbed to the fumes of the smoke
In his trail il is believed the others will
be found. Railroad men here and in Ell
Paso are furious at Castillo's act. On
Tuesday % of his men We're captured and
executed by the rebels and the next day
apparently in revenge he captured the
freight train ran it into the south end
~-~~~~~~-~~o-~~~~~-~--~~>
Continued Page EIevenD
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-08
BLEASE DECLARES HE
WILL CLEAR PRISON
BY AUGUST NEXT
Angry Outburst of South
Carolina Governor Starts
Hospital Probe in
Columbia, S. c.

Columbia, :. C.. February I.-An
angry outburst by GOV. Cole l.. BIease
containing threats of personal violence
directed at a witness, and testimony
by the governor to the effect that he
expected TO clear the south Carolina
pcnitentiary of all prisoners by next
August, were the features of an inquiry
irtc the conditions at the state hos
pital for the insane. which today was
Instituted before special Legislative
committee here.
Dir. J. W Babeocll superintendent of
the hospital under Investigation aroused
the ire of Governor Blease when he testi-
fled that he had learned on good author
ity thai certain charges affecting the con-
duct OF the hospital had been overheard
by Governor Blease in a conversation
at the home of the governors sister
Advancing to the 'front.' of the room,
Governor Blease exclaimed
That's false. Tf you try to drag my
sisters name INTO this will put you
under the elods.'
Shift Inquiry
Members of the investigating commit
tee Immediately shifted The inquiry to
-~~~--~-9->-~-~-~-~>-@~
CONTINUED on Page Tenn
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-08

who have acted the boss 10 INC very
limit. One of them al the head of i.
party not now in power imposes his
viii on his associates with an imper-
iousness which finds no parallel in our
history. The head of the party to which
i belong controls the Senate and the
House of Representatives. today as ir
they We're subordinate branches of the
government
Socialism" declared Mr.. Bailey, 'is
monopoly run mad and spells quicker
death than monopoly. Radicalism il
only a milder form of socialism diff
fcrent stage of the same disease. The
radical either must go on and become
a socialist OF come back and become Z
conservatives"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-08
TENNIS CHAMPIONS
MEET DEFEAT

Philadelphia. February 7-Jay Gould
and w. II. t. HUM. national court ten
mis- doubles champions. were defeated here
today in a special match with Joshua
Crane and G. r. Fearing of Boston, by
three sets to one The scores were 6-5;
60; &c; 6-3 Gould and HUM recently
defeated Crane and Fearing In Boston.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-08
MAN is SENTENCED
TO QUIT WORKING

New Orleans. February ITO remain
at home and not to work for 80 days
was sentence meted out to Frank Back
eret here today He was brought before
a court on complaint of his wife. who
charged that when he was working he
had money and drank too much intoxicat-
ing liquor. She requested that he be
sentenced to stay at home and enioined
from working for 80 days and the judge
complied.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-08
Innkeeper's Daughter Con-
fesses Shooting Newark
Woman
MAKES CONFESSION
AFTER TAKING POISON
Il Killed Her Because Loved Her
Husband" Says Dying Girl--Hus-
band Gives Details of
Gruesome Tragedy

Newark. \. j., February 5.--HnzeI
confessed, after tni<ing n fatal dose OF
poison late today. that ID was she who
last night shot and killed Mrs. Harriet
Nnnnine, wife of Charles l. Manning
bed mt MontcIair hospital. that she
had killed the woman TINT Manning
might marry her.
Manning, who brought the votma
woman to the hospital after she had
taken the poison, Is the father the DO
lice say. of her year-old baby. lie was
In custody tonight of the police. who
are investigating his connection with
the case. He had been separated from
his wife for two years. His intimacy
with Miss Herdman caused the es-
arrangement.
Loved Her Husband
= killed her because | loved her hus-
band.' said the dying girl. 81 asked
her many times to get divorce from
him so ! could marry him She refused
to do It, She stood between him and
ne That's why l shot her
Before she took the poison she wrote
note to Manning. which he turned
| over to the police. II read:
RMS IS my last letter. I am going
TO commit suicide because of my love
Tor YOU 1t was | who shot your wife.
6oou-bN Take care of baby
Ihe Young woman took the poison
In candy store in Bloomfield n H.
where she had gone with Manning aft
ef he was released early from the cus-
touN of the police. Although the au-
thorities had suspected Miss Herdman
OF the crime because of her intimacy
with Manning, witnesses TO tne shoot
ing, the murdered woman's mother sis
ter and niece. last night were unable
to identify as the veiled woman who
fired the fatal shot On reaching
Bloomfield. Miss Herdman went To the
home OF her aunt. Later Manning
called upon her there and asked her
to accompany him to the morgue to
see his wife's body This the young
woman refused to do asking Manning
10 SO with her aud visit tueir baby.
The child was being supported by Man
nug, the police say, In Mohtclar.ssl
Wanted TO Sec Her Baby
I'm dying to see baby.e fhe gfra
said Mauiiih9 agreed to do tbs after
seeing his wifo's body. Returning from
the morguc later In the forenoon they
visited the baby and then Manning re-
turned TO his garage hl Verona ON his
arrival he was notified by telephone
that Miss Herdman had taken poison In
tho candy shop Manning returned and
found her suffering intensely from the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-08
Vivid Picture of Sakura-
jima Disaster Given in
Mail Correspondence
From Toxic
WILD STAMPEDE 3Y
CATTLE CAUSED THE
DEATH OF MANY
Horrible Scenes, Pitiful Quests for
Food and Shelter, and Stories of
Heroism and Death Are
Given in Report

san Francisco, February THE first
sakurajimn. the southern coast OF
Japan, as received here today by mail
from the Toxic correspondent of the
Associated Press, places the loss of
life, conservativeIy estimated at "sev-
era, hundred"
Not only was the island of Sakurajima
itself. with its dozen villages, flooded
BY torrent of flaming lava and buried
: under hail of incandescent rocks but
the beautiful city of Kagoshima, over
hooking the Golden Gate of Japan, was
partly destroyed, several towns and viii
lages on the mainland TO the east were
sorely hit and the villages of Akamdzu,
Yokoyama and Koike literally We're swal-
lowed up by the motion lava Until they
are dug out, no specific count of lives
lost viii be possible. The account fol-
lows:
While a Toxic audience of Japanese
was assembled at the Imperial theatre,
viewing moving pictures of the last days
of Pompeii, the subterranean fires of their
own empire, imprisoned for more than a
century, were surging upward beneath the
isle of Sakurajima, in the southernmost
bart of the realm Soon began an erup-
ton SO fierce as thereby to take place
at once with the historic demonstrations
of Vesuvius
Pitiful Quest for Food
The 22,0t0 inhabitants of Sakurajima
FED wildly in all directions in pitiful
,uest for food and shelter. fhrieks Of
Terror hlled the air from~one END of the
island to the other. From thckly set
tied villages and from houses enbosoned
Ia groves OF oranges peaches and plums
Tue farmers ran To. he shores Of the
bay
Horses neighed and snorred in terror
and all manner of domestic cattle bel
lowed and cried to be let loose MANY
freed themselves and began wild stam
pede through and over their human com
panions.
Many old men refused to try to save
themselves and had to be dragged along
by the younger. Women and children
were sent off first the women carving
then infants slung Japanese ia shion
across their backs their hands filed
with portable household goods some
shielded themselves with mattresses;
others wore metal and earthen pots for
'~>~>~~~-~~~>---~->~>-~~>-
CONTINUED on Page Eleven,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-08
AMERICANS. ON TRAIN
BURNED BY MEXICAN
BANDIT SUFFOCATED
Mystery as to, Fate of Those Who Played Part in
Cumbre Tunnel Tragedy Solved pane
Laid at Door of Maxine Cas- ~

Juarez, February THE six Americ ON 10 or 90 Mex
leans whose fate has been mystery he destruction of
the Cumbre tunnel last Wednesday. suffocated
This information received here tonight the head
quarters of the Mexico Northwestern railway The tragedy is
laid al the door of Maximo Castillo, the bandit leader
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-08
Placate Republicans

senate lea 1,fs today sought to placate
republican Numbers OF the interstate COM
merce committee who have expressed in
dignation because amendments proposed
TO the interstate tiade commission bill
and considered in the full committee
were rejected by democratic members in
executive session. Senator Cummins, au-
thor of several proposed amendments and
Senator Clapp left a meeting of the
committee yesterday when they learned
of this action. Senator Newlands, chair
mar of the committee, and some of his
colleagues told the republican members
today that their co operation In perfect
ing the trust bills was earnestly desired,
and assured them that no final disposi-
ton of amendments was intended to be
taken in conferences of democratic mem
bers alone.
House judiciary OF interstate commerce
commissioners will continue their hear
ings next week. Proposed legislation
against holding companies is one of the
principal tasks being considered by the
judiciary subcommittee. Members of
the subcommittee are much impressed
with the contention that while holding
company is devise frequently adopted
tc violate the antitrust law, it also is
oapabe of use In an entirely innocent
manner. Chairman Clayton and his con-
ferees of the subcommittee agree that
some form of the holding corporations is
essential to competition.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-08
Bill Objectionable

Representative Morgan of Oklahoma
told the House committee on interstate
commerce today that the administration
tl, to create federal trade commission
was Objectionable because 1t would give
the committee jurisdiction over all cor
porations engaged in interstate business
instead of limiting jurisdiction TO large
corporations commonly known as trusts.
Anepdrlents on this line are being con-
sidered by the Senate Interstate COM
merce committee. Mr.. Morgan favored
restricting the commissions Jurisdiction
to corporations having a gross annual
output of S5,00o.000 He said that while
this would include only from 800 to 500
corporations out of 26S.000, it would in
clude corporations which employ one
third on the wage-earners In manufacture
ing industries, and produce nearly SO per
cent of the country's manufactured prod
lcts
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-08
Wanted to Sec Her Baby

Continued on Page Eleven,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-08

CONTINUED on Page Ten)
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-12-22
Illuminated Windows.

A Chicago woman has made sug-
gestions through the Chicago papers
that the time honored custom of the
old world, and a portion of the new,
be observed this year in Chicago.
This is the custom of lighting the
windows of the homes on Christmas
eve to light the Christ child through
the snow. This custom still prevails
in parts of Germany and in New
England. Many Webster City resi-
dents will remember, perhaps, the
placing of a row of candles in the
upper and lower sashes of the win
dows on Christmas eve in old New
England homes. Here in Webster
City it was the custom some years
ago to so illuminate homes when a
republican or democratic rally was
in progress. The effect is beautiful
beyond description. A row of tiny
tapers in each window sill-upper
and lower-all ablaze on Christmas
eve would make Webster City a
sight to remember and perhaps es-
tablish a precedent for the years to
come.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-12-22
Notice to Contractors.

Sealed bids will be received by the
board of supervisors of Hamilton
county, Iowa, at the Office of the
county auditor in Webster City,
Iowa, until 2 o'clock p. m. January
9Th, 1915, for heating and plumb
ing for County Home building to be
erected in Hamilton County, Iowa.
All bids must be in strict accord
ance with the plans and specifica-
tions, prepared by j. H. Albright of
Fort Dodge, Iowa, which may be had
at the Office of the Architect and
may also be seen at the Office of A
j. Peterson, county auditor at Web
ster City. Iowa.
A certified check of five per cent
of amount of bid required; contract
ors required to furnish check for
$1,000, as guaranty for prompt re-
turn of plans.
If contract is awarded, bond fol
IS per cent of amount bid is requir-
ed for the faithful performance OF
the contract.
The right is reserved to reject any
or all bids.
A. J. Peterson, County Auditor
s4T2
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-12-22
Webster City Wins Cup.

About thirty young people from
the Fort Dodge business college came
over Friday to complete with the
students of the local business col
lege for the Barger cup. This cup
was won by Webster City by mar
gin of twenty-five points, the total
number of points made by Webster
City being 275 and Fort Dodge $50.
The contest in writing was awarded
separate prize, it not coming un-
der the head of the general contest.
The first contest was one in type
writing and the winners in their Or
der were Miss Ellen Shafer, Bessie
Segar, both of Webster City. and
Miss Peterson of Fort Dodge. The
second contest was the one in spell
ling and the winners were Messrs.
Mack, Bradstreet, Lundell, all Of FIT.
Dodge. The third contest was that
in rapid calculation. The winners
in their order were Miss Leroy, R.
w. Ryan, Robert Maxon, all of Web
ster City.
Following the contest fine two
course chicken dinner was served at
$50 O'Clock by the boys of the bust
ness college with music discoursed
throughout the repast by the De-
France orchestra.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-12-22
The Closing Performance.

Friday saw packed house at
the Orpheum again to witness the
home talent production of "The Ele-
vator," staged and drilled by Miss
Helen Woolsey, for the benefit OF
the Swastika society of the Univer-
salist church The entire produc-
ton probably came as near being an
"all star affair as any play ever
produced in the city, the parts being
exceptionally we'll taken and the au-
diences entirely pleased. These fine
home productions reflect great cred
it upon actors and director and last,
but not least, the financial benefit
from the play will probably be ex-
cellent, although the receipts have
not yet been balanced.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-12-22
A Rejoinder.

The Freeman-Tribune in saying
that 1.-The skies had fallen" in re-
ferring to the change of front Of the
anti-saloon league in it's rating of
Senator Chase as wet" was only
stating in another way that the
SCALES had fallen" from the eyes of
the league.
Rev. Kamphoefner in his publish
ed statement admits that the league
made a mistake in CHASING Senator
Chase as wet in it's campaign liter
AZURE. This is what the Freeman
Tribune charged. The league now
acknowledges it's error and why
should this paper make amende hon
orable? The league made a blund-
er and the Freeman-Tribune told the
truth in saying so. We fail to see
the consistency in Bro. kamphoef-
ner's position.
The example of publicity which
Rev. Kamphoefner cites is wide OF
the mark. The Freeman-Tribune be-
lieves in publicity, but not mislead-
ing publicity. If the DEBORAH news
paper had published list of farm
ers and said they had not dragged
their roads, after they had been in
dustriously dragging them for years,
it would be misleading publicity.
This is practically what the anti-sa-
loon league did in the case of Mr..
Chase. That is what this paper crit
icised and it still thinks not I'M
justly.
Rev. Kamphoefner says the meth
cd of the league in finding out a
mans position on proposed temper
ance legislation is frankly to ask
the candidate himself. That, in the
Judgment of the Freeman-Tribune,
is not the best way. How easy Tor
the scalawag who is angling for
votes to tell the league he will sup
port anything they want, then after
being elected vote uniformly as the
other fellows want him to. The best
proof of a legislators attitude Is his
legislative record and the league
ought to consult that before classify
! ing him as "wet." In the absence
of a reply to it's interrogatories the
league has no right to ignore the
record and assume that the candi'
date stands for the saloon.
Then again, the league took occa'
sion to excoriate Judge Lee, republl'
can candidate for the gubernatoria
nomination, merely because the
Judge made ruling in a consent pc
tition proceeding in court in Fort
Dodge, at which some temperance