davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25
THE INTERPRETATION LAW

From the Chattanooga Times.
 The decision of the United States su-
 preme court in the case sent up from Ken lucy to test the Webb-Kenyon law of Congress is to the effect that the law does not in any way interfere with the personal right of the citizen. The prohi-
 bition law in the particular Kentucky county from which this test came only
 prevents the manufacture or sale of alco-
 holic drinks; the case in point did not contravene that law, for the party order ing and receiving his liquor from the
 outside bought it for his own use and not
 for sale. The court says that his act
 was not in violation of the Webb-Kenyon
 law. The same will be true of any similar
 transaction in Tennessee The law of this
 state is not directed against the consump-
 tion of alcoholic beverages, but solely against their manufacture and sale. It is true that the so-called "club and locker law seeks to infringe the personal right of the individual to keep for his
 own use any beverage having more than one-half of 1 per cent of alcohol, but
 such a proscriptive measure must surely fail because it seeks to deprive the citizen of an inalienable privilege. But it's pur-
 pose comes nearer to meeting the require-
 ments of the real prohibitionist than any
 upon the statute book, because it seeks to stop consumption well as the manufac- ture and sale. It remains to be seen how long the demagogue and shifty politician will stand for such a law which he only supported for the benefits he might get from the ''church vote.'
 We have always insisted that the pro- hibition laws would never be honest or that the men who put them on the statute books intended them to be enforced until they are made to prohibit the drinking as well as the manufacture and sale of liquor We have always believed that if the great majority of protesting prohib- tionists had to really give up their bottle
 or to free their own sideboards of all sorts of alcoholic tipple, there would be less
 humbuggery, at least, in legislation on the subject.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25
BARNES IS DETERMINED
Ma shville Banner.

From the Nashville Banner.
 William Barnes is determined to get a new trial of his libel suit against Colonel Roosevelt for being called corrupt poli- tician, or may be it was just "a poli- tician," the colonel called him, which after all isn't material.
 The estimated cost of the appeal is said to exceed s10,O00, but MT. Barnes proposes to fight the case to the end regardless of the cost involved. It is not likely that the final outcome will be different from the result of the trial. In the event the higher court grants a reversal the case could be heard within a year.
 The case extended from April 19 to May 20, and the record contains more than 100.- 000 words of testimony and argument. on the ground that justification cannot be pleaded and evidently hopes that in the event of a new trial the jury will, be re- stricted to determination of mere miti- gation evidence.
 So far as the public is concerned very little interest will attach to the further proceedings of the suit. MT. Barnes has assumed an indignation of the politician who has been exposed, and while the trial revealed Colonel Roosevelt in no pleasing light it also added nothing to the methods invoked by MT Barnes, who appears to know how to sustain his hold on the re- publican machinery in New York. So far as general opinion is concerned nothing was brought out in the trial which would tend to elevate either in the pub- lie esteem,s and if the principals desire tt continue in the public eye they should un- earth something new, for the American reader is not concerned with the threshins of old straw.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25
happy accident occupied a place in the order of worship

happy accident occupied a place in the order of worship.
 Their interest in the service was evidenced by the intent expression on the sun-bronzed faces of the harvest workers. And appropriately so, for he who co-operates with the divinely ap- pointed laws of nature in the pro- duction and handling of crops must, if he be at all susceptible to such in fluence, catch glimpse of the mys- tery and charm of the Author of it all
 And the toilers were not out of place in the fashionable pews-all wealth, all prosperity, and all virtue are fostered and brought forth from the soil
 Back to the land" is a slogan of more than commercial significance. For, from the harvest fields comes the youth which renews the strength and ideals of the nation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25
ART AND APPETITE.

Your singing tonight was divine!" ex- claimed an enthusiastic admirer to the prima donna. q could see by the express sion on your face and the light in your eyes that you were inspired"
 T fear you are mistaken" said the prma donna, with her most engaging smile. Our art is so exacting that we don't care to eat hearty meal before singing was ravenously hungry and I was thinking of all the good things I would order when the concert was end- ed"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25
Out of the Fields

A flutter of excitement rippled over the congregation of the First Pres byterian church of Oklahoma City last Sunday evening.
 The occasion of much craning of necks was the arrival of several hun dred harvest hands who are waiting in Oklahoma City for the harvest sea- son to open up.
 There was considerable contrast be- tween the fashionable costumes of the regular attendants of the church and the wearing apparel of the visitors. Every harvester wore "soft shirt (minus starched collar), and neat blue overalls.
 Quietly and with reverent dignity, the men of toll filed into the pews, listened to the sermon, and then joined heartily in the hymn, Bring ing in the Sheaves." which by some
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25

From the Nashville Banner.
 The Cleveland Journal and Banner makes rather strong point against MT. Bryan, suggesting that he might have discussed his differences with the Presi- dent for year before breaking off dlpio- matc relations; that would have been in accord with the principles of those 30 peace treaties he talks about" True, but then by that course, MT. Bryan would have failed to seize the psychological moment to get himself talked about and would have likewise been forced to con tinue his performance as "second fiddler, ' something he obviously could not abide any longer. The Journal and Banner is assured that no other way would have been consistent with MT. Bryan's consis- tent inconsistency.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25
A TROUBLE MAKER.

The lingo is common pest And found throughout the nation; The one thing that he loves the best Is foolish agitation, Assailing with unholy zest All men of lofty station. His tongue is hardly ever still, His arms are wildly waving, He makes a thoughtful person i'll
 By recklessness and raving;
 creature breathing threats until There comes the time for braving The onslaughts of foreign foe. You'll find him then subsiding, Not disinclined, methinks, to go Into place of hiding. For. while he dearly likes to blow, He runs when wars betiding.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25
ON THE WESTERN FRONT
Oswald F. schuette in the Chicago Dali.

Oswald F. schuette in the Chicago Daily News
 ~ REAT Headquarters of the Ger man Army in France.-(via Lon O don)--I have just visited under
 continuous fire the front line of German trenches on the famous front, Perthes- Cernay. There the French refused to bury the dead that fell in the winter battles in Champagne, when they hurled 250,0oo men against the German trenches in vain ef- fort to break through the lines. l saw today ] many bodies still lying in the dreary dis l trict between the opposing trenches. These 1 last remnants of one of the great hor- TOTS of the present war are the most ter rible of all.
 | With the first hot spell the odors of the putrid bodies were blown into the Ger man trenches and the soldiers were com
 pelled to wear masks and use pulmotors. | There was forced withdrawal of many | soldiers to barracks because they were
 taken violently i'll. The Germans used quick lime thrown by force pumps from the trenches. They also buried thousands at night. This work, however, was so dangerous that finally the burial parties
 had to be ordered to stop the work. Now
 sun, wind. rain and carrlon crows have
 been left to do the rest.
 There have been no big attacks on this mart of the line since the latter days of
 March. so there are no more such grew some sights and sounds as when at night
 the wounded lay shrieking for help in terrible agony among their dead com 1 rades. Instead of such noises the Ger man soldiers tell me the nightingales sing reouiems over the dead all night long. | My visit to the German trenches vas made in the early dawn, at which hour | it was possible to avoid the heaviest of the French fire while progressing
 through the zigzag approach trenches
 However at every moment bullets went
 W histlng overhead to strike witl' a ping.' against the trees or to scrapa lup the clay. Here and there traces or
 the nights bombardment by French arr tillery were to be seen. Soldiers were rebuilding wrecked trenches where DIE shells had struck. Finally we reachen the outermost lines of the Germans and peeped through the small holes left for the marksmen and the observers. The
 sun had just risen and sent it's level
 rays across the grass already turning | brown in the early summer heat.
 That white line a hunderd yards laway," explains the officer at my side lis the enemy's trench" But what are | those dark, irregular masses rising from lthe level earth? They were brave French soldiers who were shot down in the | assaults made last March. Those red
 blotches in the grass about them are moi
 blood, but scarlet poppies waving tiieii
 dc licate heads in the morning breeze All this part of France is overgrowr with these scarlet beauties. Hencefortf
 10 me they will always be flowers of war.
 Crack" goes bullet striking neal one of the shapeless dark objects in tht grass. A crow rises heavily and fics | away croaking dsmally. A soldier by my side tells me about thrilling cpl
 sode of the winter fighting, but no story is necessary to complete the terrible picture before my eyes.
 When I was here in March in the las
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25
THE BATTLE SHIPS srokERl
rom the London Chronicle

From the London Chronicle.
 In the darkness under the world His roof is the coal dust cloud overhead, And dust is the floor beneath him spread,
 And the mole in the garden sod. Knows more of the sweet sunlight than he Who swings his shovel in bunker three.
 Or tugs at the furnace rod. Down deeper the engine purrs and swings. On the grimy underside of things
 He leaps when the bugles blow And great guns thunder in sudden flff,h And then, pent there in the choking night
 Shifts the coal heaps to and fro Small is his need if the old flag win, And if 1t lose-then louder din,
 A, rent in the iron wall, And Death swirls in through the jagged gate,
 And the stoker finds in the hold his fate And coffin and grave and all.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25
SNAKE MAKES MILK PUNCH

Windham, N. r., Wire to the New York
 World.
 Peter Mattoon, the genial mayor of this village, has lately been complaining of the falling off of the output of his cows and hens. He knows the cause now, for upon the matutinal visit to the barn. garage today he espied a seven-foot milk snake milking one of his cows.
 Grasping tire iron, Peter dispatched the snake, and. curious to learn the na- ture of sundry bulges and Jumps adorning the anatomy of the reptile, performed an autopsy
 The following was disclosed:
 One pint and quarter of milk.
 One new laid egg.
 One partly digested egg
 One 5-cent steel centre punch.
 N. B.-Windham is dry town. Wind hams only druggist for conscientious reasons. will not handle Sunday papers. Mir Mattoon has no use for any liquids more potent than maple syrup.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25
Conditions in Roumania

Following a peasant instruction Tn Roumania, in 1907, the attention of intelligent Roumanians was attracted to the condition of the poorer classes of the country and two reforms were introduced. One was q system of com munal pasture lands, which have ln- creased the ownership of live stock among peasants. The other was law establishing districts in which land owners, middlemen and peasants fix the minimum wage for farm labor. The second reform has so far failed to give any relief. Conditions remain much as they were in 1907 and at that time the plight of the peasantry was deplorablc.
 Roumania, like Mexico, suffers from an unequal distribution of land, a comparatively small number of land owners controlling vast estates on
 
 which the peasants are practically serfs. This condition has obtained for so long that even when peasants ac- quire little land by government dis tribution, they are in such state of degradation that they are unable to care for their property. In 1905 the arabic land in Roumania was divided among 920,939 peasants and 5000 capitalists. Of the latter, 2071 owned nearly 500,000 peasants.
 The system of having middlemen results in sweatshop methods being applied to farming. The middleman deals directly with the farmers, leas- ing land from the capitalist. As the capitalist frequently makes an enor- nous profit, in former years from 100 to 120 per cent, which is probably about the same now, the middleman squeezes every available lei out of the peasants. The result is that the farm CTS are frequently unable to make enough in summer to support them selves through the winter. Another system is that by which the peasant pays his rent by working the land of the owner. This is but little better than the other way, as the peasant must give first attention to the fat acres of the landlord and devote what time is left to his own poor acres.
 Shocking living conditions prevail among the peasants. In 1907, and it must be remembered that little or nc improvement has since been made, 250,000 peasants lived in 50,000 holes in the ground. Of 100000 dwellings, only 76,000 were of brick. There were 298,000 built of wood and the rest were mud novels, most of them with one room, occupied by the entire fam fly and domestic animals, as we'll The chief food was cornmeal mush and many peasants could afford but one meal day. Naturally, under sucf conditions, mortality was high.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25
SHIPS CHINESE IN SACKS

From the Portland Oregorian.
 Harry E. Brock of Seattle, who was ar rested recently while driving an unlicensed automobile carrying two Chinese con- cealed in canvas sacks. confessed that he has been engaged in thriving Chinese smuggling business for seven months, and that for each subject brought into the United States from Canada he received s2O0
 Brock said he picked up the Chinese seven miles north of the international boundary line, walked them 10 miles and used his automobile from Blaine the re- mainder of the distance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25
\ I2.oOo. .ooo-BnIe Crop

"I see no reason to change my es- innate of this years cotton crop which 1 made for The Age Herald several V eeks ago-12. .Ooo, GOO bales, said Will liam P. Redd.
 T have not done any figuring 'e- centy but I feel certain that the crop will not be more than 12,000,000. Re- duction in acreage and reduction in the use of fertilizer accounts for the falling off as compared with last years record breaking crop
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25
A WEALTHY CLASS.

"So you have been motoring through the rural districts?"
 "Yes I thought I'd let the farmers see what a city mans car looks lilxa.'
 'I)id they seem duly impressed?" has a letter car than mine is"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25
UNHAPPY RESULT.

Do you subscribe to the old adage that reading maketh full man?"
 "Yes, even in the case of best seller5.' T don't see how you can say that Why not. when they fill me with inc finite weariness?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25
BEGINNING THE DAy--o God,

BEGINNING THE DAY-o God, shall | flee my task or shall flee to Thee for equipment to meet 1t. Thou hast given me more than can do. Thou must then make me more than I am. l must have more grace End more sweetness and more strength Nny, my Lord, l must en- ter into Il secret alliance with Thee; and when seem to perform, it must he Thy power underneath. Amen-H. NJ. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25
DICKS ERROR

From the Houston Post.
 Richard H. Edmonds of the Manufactur- CTS Record says the south drinks too much whisky, spending probably 5000 ; 000 a year for the drinks. Why. Dick, the virginias, the Carolinas Georgia. Ala hama. Mississippi. Tennessee. Oklahoma and Arkansas are dry, and Texas. Louis- jana and Florida nearly so. Who's got the iicEer2
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Fine Crops in Etowah County

T have never known crops in Eto- wah county to look so promising at this time of the year as they do now" said Watt T. Brown of Ragland.
 "The cotton Is in fine condition and the corn crop is all that could be de- sired. In northern Alabama the boil weevil is conspicuous by it's absence. This will certainly be good year for the farmers in our section
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25
NO ENTHUSIASM

From the Florida Metropolis
 If Bryan is to continue his "explana- tions'' after he moves to Florida. we may also expect to see some first-class press agents "summering" with him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25
KEEPING OUT OF IT.

KEEPING OUT OF IT. If I were you I'd see a clairvoyant be. fore buying this $40 set of Famous Pro- hibiton Speeches on the installment plan.''
 'The idea! I don't believe in clairvoy- ants"
 Neither do I, but she would prob ably charge you s2 for advice and ther you wouldn't have. enough money to make the first payment on the books"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25

An English scientist predicts that super- birds will eventually rule the earth By that time we may expect an entirely new brand of "kultur"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25

The Panama Pacific exposition is noth- ing if not neutral In addition to liberal awards to German exhibitors, it has given a medal to the Standard Oil company.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25

The present plight of China is the strongest argument that can be advanced against the policy of peace at any price.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25
ALABAMA PRESS

Dothan Morning News: What has be- come of the public spirited farmer who used to bring the fat of the land-the largest water melons, cantaloupes and the like, to the editor in order that he might feel right in boosting his section as grow ing the best in these respective lines?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25

Sylacauga Advance: There will be a good market for fall cabbage. Now is the time to prepare for the crop. Few at tempt to raise fall cabbage in this sec ton. and for this reason crop of fall cabbage would pay well.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25

Alexander City outlook People are learning that Alabama lands are the best in the world when you take climatic con dtions into consideration
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25

'Dollar Day was such great success in Birmingham, why not have a "Jitney Day. for the benefit of the masses?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25

| The shipment of artificial legs from this | country to England should not arouse the ire of the Germans. Their surgeons seldom amputate.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25

The pope refuses to lay all the blame for the present war on Germany. That is the view taken by most of the world $ safe and sane thinkers
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25

Wise men ne'er sit and wall their loss, Hut cbceriy seek how to redress their
 harms. Henry VIZ
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25

h1pllng says Germany would have a poor opinion of Great Britain if the allies were defeated. That seems quite proba : ble However, Germany's present opinion of Great Britain is hardly fit to print.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25

Modern war is conducted on such gi- gantic scale that soldier rarely ever sees his general.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25

The presence of numerous German off cers may account for the mysterious backbone being displayed by the Turks.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25

Columbiana Peoples Advocate: The ap- pie and peach crop in this section is fine. and so Is the blackberry crop.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25
ALL ONE-SIDED.

DO you ever have any family debates at your house. Billbury?'
 Lets see. A debate has two sides, l believer"
 "Yes" No"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25

While Uncle Sam may not be in condi- tion to fight at present, the most encour- aging feature of his case is that he could probably get into condition to fight in reasonable length of time
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25

A Chicago man wants a divorce because his wife made him sleep with her dog 10 years. He doesn't deserve much sym pathy because he failed to ask for his lib- erty about nine years ago.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25

Perhaps the most instructive and fasci. hatlng of all the natural phenomena of the Hawaiian Islands is their volcanoes. says bulletin of the United States geo logical survey. The traveller who ap- breaches Honolulu from San Francisco sees evidences of volcanic action with his
 first glimpse of land. The ash cone of
 koko Head the craters of Diamond Head
 and the Punchbow are in the outskirts of the city. Kilauea, one of the most ac-
 tive volcanoes in the world. and Mauna
 Loa, one of the largest, are located in
 Hawaii. For many years-snce the time of Captain Cook. in fact-the Hawaiian
 Islands have been visited by geologists and others interested in volcanoes A
 great deal has been written about these ] phenomena. The United States geological
 survey has recently begun an economic
 and scientific investigation of the islands
 and is preparing topographic maps. The department has published a summary of all that is now known about the lavas of all the islands in professional paper SS, The Lavas of Hawaii and Their Rea- | tions,' by Whitman Cross There are
 many other kinds of lavas in Hawaii be- sides basalt, and the knowledge of igneous rocks found there is proving valuable to students of the interior history of vol canoes, while from a chemical point of | view the data contained in Mr Cross' | papef is most interesting
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25

Secretary of State Lansing is hopelessly will probably remain in the cabinet
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25

It seems singularly appropriate that the ad men should hold convention in the Windy City.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25
Of Interest to Business Men

While our report is not yet ready, some data of interest to every business man in Alabama is being gathered by the special committee of the Real Estate ex- change in regard to the period of redemp- tion after foreclosure of mortgages said T. P. Hay, Jr
 This period of redemption in Alabama is two years. while in other states it seems to average about 30 or SO days, and in some cases it is only five or six days Of course, there are hardships to be worked on both parties to the mortgage by this arrangement, but there seems to be little doubt but what the period of redemption after foreclosure in this state is so long that eastern capitalists charge high rates of interest for money to be placed in real estate enterprises for the simple reason that they cannot tell within a margin of two years when they can get the money back in case of foreclosure.
 'The committee has been appointed to gather data on the period of redemption in other states, and it is probable that after the report is made the exchange will ask for some relief from the legislature.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25
INCONSISTENCY

Now comes hurting on blaze of glory the incomparable Fourth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25
SUSPICIOUS SIGN.

other
 50 they do. Their devotion is so ap- parent that l suspect they are inveterate enemies.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-25
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

A POPULAR QUERY. Everywhere you go
 This is what you hear: Say. I'd like to know Going west this year,"