davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-12
A NEEDED REBUKE

From the New York Sun.
In making short work of the Asiatic
exclusion amendments to the Burnett i'm
migration bill the House of Representa-
tives not only came to the relief of the
state department, which is conducting deli
icate and even critical negotiations with
Japan, but administered what we hope
will prove a crushing rebuke to the dem
agogs and shortsighted politicians of the
House who did not seem to know that
they were playing with fire, or did not
care so long as they could have their
way.
No matter how an Asiatic exclusion
amendment is qualified to meet the condi-
tion of 1.-The gentlemen's agreement"
which Japan has made with the United
States, it would give gross offense TO
that country and raise the issue which at
this time of all times should lie dormant.
The tactics of trying to defeat the i'm
migration bill because the literacy test
had been adopted by bringing in an
Asiatic exclusion amendment We're un-
worthy of men with any reputation at
all for common sense.
The heavy adverse vote on the Hayes
and Baker amendments shows what the
house, when 1t has time for reflection,
thinks of the Pacific coast brand of rep
resentative that makes a football of the
nations relations with Japan to please ir-
responsible constituents.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-12
Parcel Post and Postal Savings

The parcel post is proving one of
the most popular innovations the post
office department at Washington has
inaugurated in many a day. It's use
fulness is apparent by the rapidly in
creasing number of parcels that are
sent to and from Birmingham and
other cities daily and the public is
fully alive to its advantages. The ex-
press companies, which for so many
years had monopoly of this class
of trade have having greatly reduced
the rates, which is always the case
were honest competition comes, is an
evidence of the fact that the express
companies have fattened at the ex-
pense of the public for many years
past.
The oft raised bugaboo of mail order
houses corralling all the business has
been exploded and it is an evident fact
that the parcel post is proving a great
convenience to shipper and shopper
alike
In striking contrast to the success
of the parcel post is the postal savings
bank, inaugurated few years ago.
Despite the absolute safeguard of the
United States government behind the
postal savings bank and the almost
impossibility of failure, yet it has not
Caught on to the extent hoped for
by those who were responsible for its
existence.
At none of the postoffices in this
district have the amounts and num-
bers of depositors come up to expec-
tations, and some disappointment is
felt at the failure of the public to use
this means of boarding their small
savings. 1t is the opinion of many
that the system needs more publicity
and requires that it be more fully ex-
planned to the public. 1t is really
convenience and sure depository for
The small saver and its popularity will
grow as it becomes more fully un-
derstood.
Both the parcel post and postal
savings bank have been in existence
for many years in Great Britain, and
both have proven great success.
One of these systems has proven a
success throughout the United States,
and no doubt the other will prove
equally successful when the system be-
comes better known.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-12
boss OF 500 DETECTIVES

From the Syracuse Post-Standard.
1t was only six years ago that Rob
Rubin, who had just been graduated from
the law college and admitted to the bar,
went to New York to practice his profess
sion. He chose the field where competi-
ton is keenest and the rewards of success
the greatest.
Mr., Rubin was appointed ucputy IN
the office of the district attorney. He
proved himself a shrewd and sound law
yer. His association in this office was
largely with the detective staif cf the
citv and county. When Mayor Mitchell
sought q deputy commissioner OF police In
charge of the detective bureau he asked
Mr. whitman to give him man from
his office; and Mr.. Whitman recon-
mended the deputy who had proved his
fitnlss in a similar line of employment
but in smaller way.
So it Is that the upstate lawyer who
only few years ago went to the metrop-
oils to seek his fortune becomes the chief
of 500 detectives at a salary of 5000 a
year. 1t is a large responsibility for q
man who is still under 81. for the success
full administration of that office which
Goethals considers worth his attention
depends largely upon the detective bu-
reau.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-12
New Date In Democratic Calendar

The democrats of the north, and es-
pec;ally those of New York, celebrated
last Monday the one hundreth ami
versary Of the birth of Samuel J. Til
den, and the day was observed with
considerable eclat.
Until the appearance of Mr.. Til
den in the arena of democratic activ-
tiles the two shining pillars, the two
great apostles of the party, were JEFF
ferson and Jackson, but the entrance
of new Richmond in the field of
fame by no means detracts from the
prestige, the glory and the reverence
with which the two old names are en-
vironed
The great secret of the success of
democracy is its elasticity; that is, it's
capability to adapt itself to the needs.
the questions, the problems and the
exigences of the hour. Were its
tenets streotyped and immobile it
would simply stagnate, for times are
changing, progress is tireless in its
march, and new problems are ever
presenting themselves for the solu-
ton of the statesmen and the pa
triot.
Andrew Jackson was as great in
his day as was Tilden 40 years later.
Andrew Jackson employed the meth
DDS of the halberd and mailed fist,
but such methods may have been
most effective, and possibly necessary
in his time, so if Tilden worked upon
opposite lines, his greatness is no re-
Election upon the fame and reputatio',
of "Old Hickory"
In the battle of politics, statccraft
and national economics the public man
must adapt himself to circumstances
just as is incumbent upon the r''--- ,
individual so to do in the battle OF
life. There is room enough in tie
hall of fame of democrno-r e., the
name of Samuel j. T'ilden without
cro,I.ag anyone else to the wall, and
the longer the roster with Thomas
Jefferson at it's head, the greater is
the record, the prestige and glory OF
the party.
Democracy is almost congenital
with this republic; it was an unfail-
ing concomitant of the last century
and today it is more virile, potent and
invincible than ever. For quarter OF
century it was denied power and
held in allegiance, but it emerged from
its retirement with all of its pristine
power, verve and integrity of purrc
unalloyed and unsullied
In doing honor to the memory of
Samuel J. Tilden and placing his ma
tai day in the red lines of the demo-
cratic calendar we lose none of our
reverence for the hero of New Or
leans, but merely fashion v
tiorr' N~usehold name for postc-ity to
revere and honor.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-12
HAS POPULAR SUPPORT
From the Buffalo Evening News.

From the BulldlO LNtiiiS 4NS"S'
President Wilson is almost certain TO
have the great body of public opinion
with him in his fight against free toll on
the Panama canal. The exemption Of
ships under the American flag was eX-
cused on the plea that such ships were
our ships, as if they really belonged to
the United States, instead of belonging
to a few ship owners.
These owners have a monopoly Oil the
coastwise trade. All foreigners are barred
from it. No ship can carry goods between
American ports if that ship carries
foreign nag. The bumcombe plea of our
ships was nothing but pressure from
those interested to get that exemption
in the law.
President Taft himself regretted it, but
with his amiable spirit allowed it to re-
main In the law, rather than to veto the
bill and have it sent back to him in
proper shape.
Just as fast as the people find out that
this exemption from tolls is another gift
to a comparatively few owners of vessels,
they will side with the President in his
his endeavor to have the users of the
canal pay for it, all of them, foreign and
domestic, on the same basis. in accord
ance with the explicit terms of the treaty
under which our government went ahead
and built the canal.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-12

purchased a secondhand gasoline
driven inspection car. placed it on the
rails, and since that time has been do
ing a thriving business carrying, pas
sengers over the abandoned road be-
tween the two towns
The car is now making several trips
daily between the points. and can't ae-
commodate the passengers. The fare is
so cents each way, and Naples has no
one to demand shares of his profits In
dividends. He is president and general
manager, general superintendent, the
engineering department, shop force,
train crew and section boss and section
gang all at the same time. and says he
is making money.
Naples was told that he wasn't cx-
actly trespasser, but that he was
charging over the regulation per mile
per passenger. Naples said he wanted
to know about the trespassing
chances" because he wanted to i'm
prove his" road and didn't know just
how far he could go.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-12
Defining Moderate Speed

While it savors of the instance of
cking the stable after the horse has
cen stolen, it is, however, better late
nan never and the recent disaster to
lie Monroe has induced the de-
artment of commerce at Washington
to consider an amendment to the in
ternational maritime rules providing
that in case of fog, steamships shall
come to as nearly full stop as pos
sible and remain so as long as the
lookout or the captain on the bridge
cannot clearly distinguish moving OBJ
jects within a distance of an eighth
of mile, or 900 feet.
The present rules require that in
time Of fog, heavy rain, snowstorms
or thick weather, vessels shall pro-
ceed "at moderate speed" but no
tribunal of authority has ever defined
what constitutes moderate speed.
The question was submitted to the
supreme court of the United States in
1908 when the French liner. La Bour-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-12
RUNS ON THE BANK

From the New York Sun.
The psychology of the ignorant bank
depositor will remain as one of the mex
plicable and enigmatical problems in
the mental makeup of human beings
That run should start upon the Oldest
savings institution in New York city.
founded in 1919, is worthy of comment
chiefly because II proves that no fidu-
ciary institution is beyond tie reach of
the rumor monger. But in this case the
officials of the bank seem powerless to
discover even what the rumors WERE
The depositors who withdrew their saw
ings appeared to be 'dazed" and actually
at a loss to explain their actions. 1t is
this blind impulse. not unlike the spirit
of the mob, which Is unaccountable. Yet
the fact remains that the Bank of Saw
ings, with assets amounting to nearly
sos, 100000, found itself confronted with a
run.
Its president and vice president We're
able to hear but three rumors, each of
which served to establish in an amazing
fashion the psychology of the depositors
who were doing an act whereby they
knew they would lose their interest A
news report gave these rumors in tbs
words of the officials themselves:
According to presiden. Trimble and
Vice President Stevens, TO clue to the
origin of the rumors that caused the run
has been discovered. One depositor,
said Mr.. Stevens, asserted that he had
heard that our treasurer had absconded
We have no treasurer. Another depos-
itor had heard that one of the trustees
was defaulter. Our trustees have
nothing to do with handling the cash or
securities.
"A maid servant. added Mr.. Trimble
said she had heard l had told my wife
that intended to withdraw funds which
l had deposited here as trustee for my
children. l have no wife, ind 1 have no
children I"
Perhaps never in the history of bank
runs have three suci. rumors been more
extraordinary in view of their potentiality
to produce an actual run. Shakespeare
was unconsciously greater than our mod
ern psychologists, for instead of trying
to explain human nature he contented
himself with describing It, His frequent
reference to the power of rumor showed
how well he knew what an awful part it
plays In our lives. II Macbeth We find
these lines:
But cruel are the times. when we are
traitors
And do not know ourselves. when We hold
rumOr
From what we fear. yet knows not what
we fear"
Try as we may. no analysis could more
accurately describe unthnking bank de-
positors than to say that the know not
what they fear,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-12
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Dewbcrry Favors Gas Proposal


The city should accept the Birming-
haw Railway. Light and Power COM
pany's recent offer to supply gas" said
j. M. Dewberry
AS an example of how that reported
gas offer is going the rounds l will
relate an interview I had recently.
was talking to J. II. Markley, chief
engineer for the Deus syndicate of
Chicago That concern owns the Mo-
bile gas works and l should say off
hand about 25 other operations. Mr..
Markley told me that he was aston
ished at the rates offered in Birming-
ham and said the city authorities
should take the company up without
delay.
81 am interested in this matter only
to the extent of being a gas user so
feel it my duty to tell what Mr.. Mark
ley said to me. I have already told
Mr.. Ward and Mr.. Weatherly They
seemed to be interested in that opinion
of Mr.. Mafkley. The latter is well
qualified expert and would not give
this as his opinion except that he
thoroughly believed it to be true. 1
am convinced that the commission
should accept the offer of the Birming
ham Railway, Light and Power COM
rany for the rates offered are aston
ishing to me- The price is almost as
low as the natural gas of many West
Virginia cities and other places where
gas flows from the earth. II we Sc
cure natural gas at any time from our
wells 1 doubt whether 1t would be given
as cheap as this. And again the by
product gas will never run out and nat
ural gas might even after many hum
dreds of thousand dollars were spent
for equipment"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-12
GREAT TRIALS OF HISTORY
TRIAL OF JOHN c. COLT

N September of 1S41 the entire country
was stirred by the cold-blooded kill
u ing of Samuel Adams, a highly re-
spected printer of New York city. No
such deep and widespread excitement had
for many years attended any other of the
numerous murders committed for Pc
cuniary motives. The deed was done
by John C. Colt, the author of the sys-
tenn of bookkeeping and penmanship
bearing his name, and brother of the well
known inventor of the revolver.
The reason for this murder was as
uncalled for and upon as small provo
cation as was the murder of DR.. Park
man, the millionaire of Boston, by Pro-
fessor Webster of Harvard university
Colt had, for some time, owed Adams
a bill for printing which he was unpre-
pared to pay. The final call made by
Adams at Colts room on Broadway for
settlement of the account resulted In
tragedy rarely equalled in the annals
of crime.
For some days the mysterious absence
of Mr.. Adams was the subject of uni
versal comment in the newspaper press,
The discovery of the murder was made
Through the instrumentality of Mr..
Wheeler, who occupied a room adjoining
that of Mr.. Colt About 4 o'clock on the
day of Mr.. Adams disappearance Mr..
Wheeler thought he heard an unusual
noise in Colts room and was induced
to go to the door and rap.
Not receiving any answer. Wheeler
looked through the keyhole and saw two
hats upon table and Colt kneeling upon
the floor as if scrubbing it. After wait
ing a little while Mr.. Wheeler peeped into
the keyhole again and saw Colt still en-
gagged in the same operation. This ex-
cited his suspicion and he caused per-
son to watch at the door all night. In
the morning Colt was seen to take box
about four feet long and two high down
stairs. The box was directed to some
body in st. Louis, via New Orleans Mr..
Wheeler gave information of these facts
to the mayor, who Immediately instituted
search for the box. 1t was found after
some difficulty on board of the ship
Kalamazoo, and in it the body of Mr..
Adams, wrapped up in sailcloth and
sprinkled with salt and chloride OF lime.
Colt was at once arrested, and an in
dictment for willful and deliberate MUIR
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-12
POSTMARKs

From the Pittsburg Porst.
Again it Is to be much colder" which
means, of course, sooner or later.
Villa is executing bandits, which car
ries the conviction that opposition will
not be tolerated
Pinchot denies that he Is a squatter,
but when he energies from the smoke
of battle he will surely be gutter.
1t is presumed the delay in getting
started on that march to Torreon is to
give the belated ammunition a chance
to catch up.
The goat that chewed the fingers of a
New Jersey child adopted a tragic
method of showing that there is nj
limit to the goat menu.e
A Japanses admiral involved in a
naval scandal has been invited to CON-
NIT hari-kari which shows that the
laps take serious view of graft
Adding murders and suicides to the
holdups and burglaries is pretty strong
proof of a disposition on the part Of the
lawless to get the evil out Of their sys-
TENS.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-12

der found against him. Ills trial re-
suited in his conviction, and, notwith-
standing the efforts of numerous and
powerful friends, and the lavish use of
money in his behalf, the fatal day ar
rived when he was to pay the extreme
penalty of the law for his crime AT the
trial he continued to proclaim his inno-
cence and he spoke harshly of the press,
which he accused of being in a scheme
to hound him to his death.
There were many picturesque things
in connection with the trial and the death
of Colt At II o'clock on the day he was
to be executed Rev. DIR. Anthon visited
his cell in company with Colts brother
for the purpose of marrying the muir
derer to his mistress. Caroline Henshaw.
The ceremony was performed, Colt man
ifesting a deep interest in their child.
He also handed a package containing 5000
for its benefit to DIR. Anthon, who prof
fered to become sponsor for it.
Following the ceremony, two of Colt
former friends, John Howard Payne ana
Lewis Gaylord Clarke, visited him. After
call from the sheriff and a visit and
prayer from DR.. Anthon, Colt asked to be
alone until the last moment This was
about O'Clock. His cell was closed and
he was left alone until about 20 minutes
of g. when some friends of the sheriff.
apprehending that an attempt at suicide
might be made, desired Deputy Sheriff
Hilyer to go to Colts cell door and re-
quest to wish him good-by. Colt at the
time was pacing to and fro in his cell.
From this time on he was not inter-
rupted until five minutes to 4, at which
time Sheriffs Hart and Westervelt,
dressed in uniform proceeded to his cell.
On the keeper opening the door and 60
ing within, there lay Colt on his back,
stretched out at full length on the bed,
quite dead. A claspknife, like small
dirk knife, with broken handle, was
sticking in his heart. He had stabbed
himself above the fifth rib on the left
side. His temples were yet warm. His
vest was open and blood had flowed
freely. His body lay as straight on the
bed as if laid out for funeral by others.
Most strange to say, just at this mo-
ment the large cupola of the prison was
discovered to be on fire, and burned fu
riously. The scene and circumstances
were tragical to a degree altogether in
describable.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-12
Loc., Product. shown in Dnlla.

AN exhibit attracting much favorable
comment among visitors to the National
Corn exposition, which was opened in
Dallas, Tex, February 10,'' said Mr.. Cox
well, lis that made by the Southern rail-
way, Mobile and Ohio railroad, Queen
and Crescent route, Georgia Southern and
Florida Railway and Virginia and South
western railway, showing wnat south
eastern farmers have accomplished in
growing corn, and displaying agricultural
products from all the nine states in the
southeast along the Southern railway and
allied lines. With a single exception, no
other railways in the country are maxi
ing exhibits at the exposition, and tho
Southern's exhibit is the only one from
most of the southeastern states, only three
their state colleges.
1.-The exhibit consists of corn grown
along the lines of the various roads and
to a great extent by farmers who raised
their crops under supervision of field
agents of the railway conipany's depart
ment of farm improvement work. Grains,
grasses, hay, cotton vegetables and other
agricultural products, and apples and
other fruits, both fresh and in jars, all
grown in the south, are displayed.
"A folder containing information about
the corn growing record OF the south,
issued by the land and industrial de-
partment of the Southern Railway COM
pany, is being handed visitors to the
corn exposition and Is also being dis
tributed throughout the country for the
purpose of attracting desirable settlers
to the southeast"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-12
cATrLE RAISING AND IMPORTING

From the New Orleans Picayune.
The increased cost of living and the
growing scarcity of meat supplies in this
country have rendered all phases of the
cattle question of more than ordinary i'm
portance. Attempts have been made and
are still being made to supplement the
domestic cattle supply by importations.
Slaughtered carcasses have already been
brought in in some quantity from Argen-
tina and efforts have been made from
time to time to encourage importations
of Central American and Mexican cattle.
That there are good stocks of market
able cattle on the ranges of Central Amer
lea and Mexico is freely admitted, but the
government has hesitated to authorize
the opening of American ports to the i'm
portation of such cattle owing to fear
that tick-infested animals or other as
undesirable infections may be imported.
Senator Ransdell of this state has just
made public a letter from the Assistant
Secretary of Agriculture expressing the
unwillingness of that official to approve
the opening of the port of New Orleans
to the Importation of Mexican cattle be-
cause he claims that such cattle originate
in regions of the neighboring republic
where the Texas fever tick exists.
DR.. Galloway, the official in question,
points out that successful progress has
been made in recent years In eradicating
the tick from the southern states and he
expresses the belief that within a COM
paratively short space of time the infec-
ton will be totally eradicated, enabling
the south to greatly increase its supply of
cattle as well as improve the character
of the stock by the importation of better
breeds.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-12
THE sUBJECTIoN OF MAN

From Haper's Weekly.
There is a charming bit on Feminism in
Spenser's "Faery Queen" Sir Artegal
fights with the Amazon and becomes SUBJ
ject to her power. She clothes him in
women's attire, and confines him with
other defeated knights.
Such is the crueltie of womenkynd,
When they have shaken of the shame
fast band
With which wise nature did them strongly
T. obay the beasts Of mans well-ruling
hand,
That then all rule and reason they with
To purchase a licentious libertie;
But vertuous women wisely understand
Unless the heavens them lift to lawful
soveraintie.
She humbles him,
And in his hand a cistaffe to him gave.
That he thereon should spin both flax ANA
tow;
So hard it is to be womans slave!
Britomart victorious queen of women.
comes along conquers the Amazon, and
frees the knights. Then Britomart
Changing all that form of common weale.
The liberty of women did repeale,
Which they had long usurpt; and them
restoring
To mems subjection. did true justice
deale:
That they all. as a goddesse her adoring.,
Her wisdom did admire. and hearkened t.
her loring.
Spenser have such charm that we will
ingly run what risk there is of setting
the Feminist Movement back by putting
these arguments into the hands OF the
Antis. They are free to use them. with
out credit. with whatever intelligence they
may possess.