davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-13
THE ALABAMA PRIMARY
From the Kalamazoo Gazette.


 Uhe beated returns from the Alabama primary continue to indicate that Oscar Underwood has defeated Capt Richmond Hobson for the nomination as United States senator on the democratic ticket. Of course, in Alabama such a nomination is as good as an election. We shall be very much mistaken if the general public is not very much pleased with the outcome of one of the most bitter personal fights of politics.
 So far as ability is concerned there never has bee many question in the minds of most people. Underwood is thinker and a man of constructive ability. Hob- son is good talker, a man who once did his country great service and who mas ever since considered that act entitled him to the best things the country has to give. The campaign has been filled with mud singing, Hobson resorting most frequently to this practice. It is refresh ing to see that mud-slinging in politics is no longer productive of results beneficial to the user.
 Tn eresult in Alabama is genuine v;c- tory for the intelligence and morality of the people. They have chosen the abler man; they have refused to be misled or to stand for such practices as moonshin- ing
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-13

States in securing the settlement of pending questions between Colombia and Panama.
 It is hinted that the treaty will contain, or be accompanied by an ex- pression of regret for the course of our government upon the isthmus in 1903 and while this, if true, may give rise to a flood of iingoism in this country, it cannot be denied that if an apology is due there is no surren- dering of dignity nor honor in al lowing such an apology to come for ward.
 Be this as it may the conclusion of the treaty is a distinct victory for the diplomacy of President Wilson's policy. The Colombian republic de- manded and refused even more gen erous terms from the Taft admins tration and the dimunition of claim from $90,000,000 to $25, 100000 is a matter of considerable .congratula- tion, to say nothing of the restoration of amicable feelings between the. two
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-13

yVTy ASHINGTON, April 12.-(Speeial) M When we pause to consider the expense the United States gov ernment goes to in order that the people may be furnished with all kinds of in formation upon all kinds of subjects, we are indeed glad that we live in a free country. which is becoming freer and freer every day
 It comes under the special province of the department of agriculture to set us right upon many problems we face in the ordinary occupation of working for a living. If We will take the time to care fully peruse all the public documents sent to us by the department of agriculture there can be no excuse for a failure in this life of toll and conflict because of the lack of information: the only trouble is. that if we should read all of them We would not have time to do anything else.
 The latest bulletin of the department is now before lis. With a political fore sight that does him credit. fully realizing that the administration must appeal to hii tidoStS II II iS lO pc TtldlI1eu III power, Secretary Houston, in this bulletin shows no partiality. Secretary Daniels appealed to the prohibitionsts by banishing rum from the navy. Secretary Houston with rare judgment grabs both sides and hooks 'em going and coming.
 This bulletin is entitled, Methods of EXterminating Cockroaches."
 We call especial attention to the plural in this heading-it is not method, but methods. The question of how to sue cessfully exterminate eockroaches has has agtated this country long enough. It is as old a problem as the one of How to remove a republican office holder serving under the civil service?" That the department of agriculture has solved it, is to the credit of that de- partment-not only have they solved it. but they have Automatically solved it; in this we submit that the Secretary of Agri- culture has something on the Secretary of the Navy. That. however, is, we take it. an unnecessary observations; Missouri got two regional banks, North Carolina got no bank at all
 But to get back to the bulletin entitled Methods of Exterminating Cockroaches."
 Method No. is as follows:
 MIX one part of plaster of paris and threes or four parts of flour. Place this in dry place in a saucer, where reaches are numerous. Nearby place another flat plate containing pure water. The in- sects readily eat the plaster mixture, be- come thirsty and drink. The water makes the plaster set in the intestines and kills the roach"
 We hereby submit to the general pub lie wherever this infamed question of extermnating cockroaches has become an
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-13
Two Public Buildings Needed

T feel confident that the Chamber of Commerce, which started the agitation for a big auditorium and which looked after the campaign resulting in an overwhelm- ing vote of the people for a $2O0.OO0 audi torum bond issue, will see ground broken for the needed building within the next few months" said an old citizen. "The city commission has held back but public sentiment is now so insistent on having the auditorium that all obstacles should be speedily removed.
 ''As to new postoffice, that is differ ent matter so far as the time when Uncle Sam may be expected to start work is been acquired by the government and $S0o,000 has been appropriated by Congress for the building. The delay is caused by or said to be caused by, the congested condition of the architects office where plans are supposed to be drawn.
 MT. Underwood will be able no doubt to hurry up the postoffice plans, even if an outside architect has to be employed to make design and work out specifica- tions.
 'The auditorium can be built within year. It will take three years to build the postoffice, and it is sincerely hoped that work on it will be started before 1914 is gone"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-13
The Dead Dowager Empress

Little consideration has been ac- corded the recent death of the Dow ager Empress of Japan and yet Haruko was woman of more than usual endowments and as a figure in orientalism the widow of the late Mikado Mutsuhito was most notable character.
 She was of noble birth and with her husband passed through trou- blesome period in the rehabilitation and occidentizing of the empire. To her was due much of the country's de- parture from old world customs and it's adoption of western civilization. Final triumph was hers for she saw the terrible struggles of Japan with China and Russia and in the imperial palace received the proud tidings which announced the complete evo- lution of her kingdom into world
 
 power.
 She lost her only son in childbirth but she was devoted to the children of the Emperor's other wives. A stanch supporter of education she sent five Japanese girls to America for collegiate training, and it was through her direct influence that her native women were allowed to en- ter the schools of the country.
 She urged women to become famil- jar with business life and herself learned typewriting. She was the first to adopt the European style of female dress and only upon purely native functions did she assume the costumes of her youth. Simple in her tastes, the dead dowager was a poet of no mean ability and in 1907 she was a candidate for the Nobel prize in literature. She, however, never learned to speak a foreign lan- guage, but proved to be most charm ing hostess for all that.
 Greatly beloved by the court and her people her death is mourned sim cerely throughout the entire nation and in her passing the world has lost a noble and a notable woman.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-13
Chamber of Commerce Activity

The Birmingham Chamber of Com merce has come to be recognized as the center of civic spirit. Within the past few years it has done much for the city's advancement. What public spirit is found here today is the re- suit of the get-together movement which the chamber has been foster ing; but notwithstanding the excellent work that has been done, even greater things may be expected in the future.
 The membership of the Chamber of Commerce should be doubled this year. The membership campaign of year or more ago had large net results, but the chambers numerical strength today is not what it should be. The membership committee has wisely concluded that lowing to the great number of soliciting campaigns that have been conducted in Birming- ham in recent months, a direct ap- peal to each member to help in in- creasing the membership would ac- complish the desired result without calling on a limited number to do ex- tensive committee duty"
 Each member of the chamber is asked to secure one new member. This plan should work we'll Many members will be able to secure two or three applications, and he will be drone who does not secure the mini mum of one.
 President P. c. Shook will devote much of his time to the work of the chamber during the present year, and he can count upon active support from his brother officers and the entire board of directors; but in order that the Chamber of Commerce may ex- tend its efficiency in the upbuilding of this community increased revenue is needed, and the best way to obtain that revenue is by swelling the mem- bership roll. The dues are small, S1 a month, and there is no reason why the Birmingham Chamber of Con- merce should not have membership of 5000 before the end of the year. With such membership, yielding an annual revenue from dues of $6O,000, wonderful good could be accomplished. Just now, then, the work of greatest importance is a quiet canvass for members. There is no better way to promote the get-together spirit; for every member constituting him self a committee of one would have steadily in mind the value of co-op- eration and Birminghams need for the strengthening of the pull-together habit.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-13
ON KILLING COCKROACHES
By BILL VINES

1 issue, that if eoekroaches are to be ex- terminated this seems to be a perfectly fatal manner of doing so. \ gentleman or lady cockroach travelling around in society with their systems entiray wrapped around a paving block is apt to become nervous and distraught to such an extent that they will commit hari- kari No self-respecting cockroach would care to live longer if he felt that he must all his life be thus burdened. This meth cd appeals to the National Association of Distillers. too. because it only illustrates how fatal results ofttimes follow the habit of drinking water after meals.
 Another method in which Politician Houston corrals the dry vote is men toned It is as follows:
 "A deep vessel or jar is partially filled with stale beer, for which reaches seem to have a special fondness.' Reaches at times, we may inject at this point, m- press us with possessing strangely human tastes and fancies, but we'll let that pass. "A number of flat strips of rough wood, says the bulletin, are placed at an in- cline against the vessel and bent over
 
 inches. The reaches climb up the inclined sticks to get the beer and slip off into the vessel"
 It is of course necessary to carefully conceal this trap in order to prevent the hired girl, or a near relative, from drink ing up the bait.
 This. method furnishes a fine object les son to the prohibtionsts Of course the cockroach becomes intoxicated before he slips to his doom. The bulletin does not say so, and leaves that entirely to the imagination of it's readers, but it is pei- fectly obvious that no cockroach in the world, realizing fully that he is not an amphibious animal. would dive off into can of stale beer unless he was intoN- icated. That's the whole answer-he first becomes drunk, the beer and the germ of the great destroyer 1t contains goes to the brain of the cockroach, and reason totters on it's throne. When a cockroach's s reason begins to totter on it's throne he would just as soon plunge headlong into a can of stale beer as not
 To communities where the festive cock roach has become burden Secretary Houston's bulletin will confer a great boon It abolishes the old method of slap ping flat board down on whole colony of coclroaches and mixing their remains up in such a fashion that identification is impossible. It also does away with the method of impaling a cockroach on fish hook and offering him as an in- ducement to a black bass or a hard shell turtle to nbble at It is also diplomatic a,,I ,fF, the anti vote. Secretary Daniels should study the methods of the Secretary of Agriculture. He could do so with profit
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-13
MIR. UNDERWOOD'S VICTORY

From the New York Sun
 Throughout the primary campaign which ended on Monday in the nomina- tion of Oscar w. Underwood as demo- cratic candidate for United States senator from Alabama, MT. Underwood attended strictly to his business as a representa- tive in Congress, while his opponent, Representative Hobson, stumped the state, industriously assaiing the leader of the majority as a tool of the 'liquor inter- ests and creature of the money kings" That his wild and demaeogic charges were ineffective is gratifying vindication of the good sense of the ma jority of the Alabama electorate.
 President Wilson's contribution to Mr. Underwood's campaign took the form of inducing Representative Clayton to with draw from the contest and remain in the House. This brought the fight down to clear cut issue between Hobson and Underwood. Had Clayton remained in the field the returns of Mondays ballot- ing might have told a different story.
 Transplanting Mir Underwood to the Senate leaves the House democrats with a serious problem to solve in selecting his successor MT. Underwood has been notably successful in managing an un- wieldy majority. The man who takes his place in the Sixty-fourth Congress may not have so many followers. but they will be not less difficult to keep in good humor. Yet the democracy cannot be s) poor in personnel as to be unable to fill the vacancy satisfactorily. If it is that fact is worth knowing
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-13
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
The soufh's Thrift

Tt is noteworthy fact that one hears less talk of business depression in the south than in the north said P M. FL lery of Philadelphia. "We have been hearing much of hard times in my part of the country for months past and im- provement is not expected until the rail- roads are allowed 10 advance their freight rates. With the railroads the situation is said to be really acute If the inter- state commerce commission grants the petition of the carriers then business will revive at once. When the railroads are feeling and talking hard times busi- ness generally is dull. On the other nand, when traffic is moving in large volumes trade in most lines is apt to be brisk.
 Here in the south prosperity is the rule. l hear no pessimistic talk. The south has a greae future and il ise safe pre- dfction that millions of new capital will flow into southern states just as soon as confidence in the financial world is fully restored. If we have big crops this sum- mer and if the railroads are granted re- lief then lookout for a boom
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-13
THE ALABAMA ELECTION

From the Buffalo Evening News.
 The Alabama election for senator re- calls the, old story of the man of whom 1t was said when he died that there was no complaint; everybody was perfectly satisfied.
 It would have been an immense mistake if Congressman Underwood were rejected in favor of Congressman Hobson. for MT. Hobson. fearless as he proved to be in his younger days, has developed into a man of an almost hysterically fannatical disposition. He is rabid in the last de- gree and whatever doctrine he maintains or policy he supports, he seems to regard those who differ from him almost in the light of personal enemies.
 But wholly apart from that, Mir. Hob- sons position on public questions is often
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-13

reading such a preamble one must
 take a long breath, because the full
 flllment of so great an ambition will
 require a deal of faithful, persistent, hard work" but, as he is led to be- lieve, the teachers of English do not expect or desire any other kind of work.
 The Alabama Association of Teach CTS of English is now actively en- gagged in organizing the pedagogical interests of the state so that the teachers of English may serve each other by interchange of views. Pro- lessor Rutland says that the new or ganization should do the work which the English division" of the Ala bama High School association has done so well for a number of years; but cooperation of college instructors and normal school instructors is greatly desired.
 In the bulletin is presented letter, full of helpful advice, from Dr. Charles w. Kent, professor of Eng fish at the University of Virginia. This distinguished educator points out that the first thing a pupil of Eng fish should acquire is "the ability to read, especially the ability to read aloud." Among other things that Pro- lessor Kent would develop is the abil- ity to talk, that is, the ability "to carry on an intelligent conversation in ordinary colloquial but correct English" He says that he does not mean that the conversation should be bookish, but on the other hand it should not be slangy. He would in sist that every class in a high school should contribute to English training "One of the very serious things that is happening in the American high schools" said Professor Kent, ''is that many of the teachers in the other classrooms cannot themselves use English correctly and effectively, and therefore undo some of the specific work done in the English room."
 The Alabama Association of Teach CTS of English is sure to become potential factor in cultural progress. The bulletin is full of interest and should have a general reading.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-13
GREAT TRIALS OF HISTORY
TRIAL OF DOUGLAS CASE

n HE Douglas case is undoubtedly
 the greatest civil trial that was
 . ever held in Scotland. The case arose through the death without issue of Archibald, Duke of Douglass. on July 21, 1761. The nearest heir was sup posed to be Archibald Stewart or Douglas, who it was claimed, was the only surviving son of the deceased Lady Jane Douglas, the dukes only sis ter. 1t was stated that Archibald s birth had taken place in Paris on July 10, 174S. To confirm this several wit nesses who were presented, gave tes- timony, and he was placed in full pos session as beir of the duke
 This position as heir was not long unchallenged. First of all actions were raised against him by the tutors of the Duke of Hamilton and the Earl of sel- kirk, both of the Douglas family and next heirs male to the late duke. The court of sessions decided against these latter claimants. On December r. 1762, new action was commenced against Archibald Douglas by three heirs of the late duke
 The summons narrated that "the said Archibald Stewart and the other, pre- tended male child, of which the said Lady Jane Douglas was said to have been delivered, were spurious and were not the children of Lady Jane, as would appear by variety of proofs"
 The first step in the process was that a petition was presented to the court on December g. and answers to this petition were ordered, and another De- tition was also presented praying for an immediate examination of Sir John Stewart, the late Lady Jane Douglas husband, on the ground that he was going abroad. He made a solemn dec- laration that Archibald was the only surviving son of his late wife.
 During the following year. after an investigation in Paris. it was supposed that it had been found that Sir John, Lady Jane and Mrs. Helen Hewitt. il witness, had gotten together supposi- titious children. All the evidence on both sides was gathered together and the trial was begun on July l, 1766. The many conflicting stories had ere ated immense popular excitement all over Scotland, where, it is said, bets to the amount of $5oO.0O0 depended upon the outcome of the triG The betting inclined toward young Archi- bald Douglas.
 The first few days of the trial Sir Adam Ferguson. Andrew Crosbie, WN- liam Marine and John Dalrymple spoke for the pursuers. and the attorneys for the defender were Alexander Mur- ray, Henry Duhdas, Robert Sinclair and David Rae. The pleadings were then the longest ever heard in a court of justice, lasting in all 21 days. and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-13
Paving the Fiddler

While this country expresses in- tense qualification at the amicable close of it's controversy with Colom- bia relative to the Panama republic, there is just tinge ofo retribution in the result of the negotiations suf- ficient to impair the savoriness of the flavor.
 The controversy dates back to 1903 when the Hay-Herran treaty was for mulated, ratified by the United States Senate and rejected by the Colombian government. By the terms of that treaty Colombia was to re- ceive $10,000,000 in cash and $250 ,000 year after the completion of the waterway. Later the South Amer ican government demanded the sum of $90,0O0,000 and insisted that the claim be submitted to the Hague tri- bunal, but the United States stoutly refused to listen to the proposition and the coup d'etat of President Roosevelt put stop to all further ne- gotiations.
 The matter has now been closed by this government agreeing to pay Co., lombia 25,0O0,OO0 within period of six months, as an indemnity and to allow the latter country certain privileges for her commerce by way of the Panama canal. There is like wise an agreement as to the passing of the Celombian-P Panama boundary on the laws of 1855 demarcating the former Colombian state of Panama. The treaty also provides for the resto- ration of friendly relations between the two contracting countries and pledges the good offices of the United
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-13
UNKNOWN IN LONDON

Charles R. Brentwood, writing from
 Baltimore to the New York Sun.
 It appears to be common practice among we'll advertised American rich women to pose as members of society in London, well known in London so- ciety," they phrase it, and also to claim friendship with the titled families of Great Britain.
 Now I want to say this, that in all most every case within the last five years where these claims have been made it has been proved false. They are utterly unknown in London. American women imagine that to possess money and newspaper notoriety nothing more is necessary; 1t probably is sufficient In this country, but nowhere else.
 I myself have frequently heard the boastful claims Git is evidently a na- tional trait) of these women to be recognized as prominent. and it has afforded a great deal of amusement to my friends and myself.