davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-04

From the Mobile Register
 "HREE plans by which farmers have
 succeeded in improving tneif iet-
 x sonal credit and securing loans at less than the prevailing rate of interest are outlined in a department of as-rieul- ture bulletin entitled How Farmers May Improve Their Personal Credit"
 The first of these plans has worked put in certain localities in North Dakota so we'll says the bulletin, that the farmer has been able to borrow money on his personal note at s per cent, ali a time when the usual rate in this vicinity va ried from 10 to P per cent To secure this reduction in interest the farmer agrees that the banker shall buy the dairy stock for which he wishes the ioan and sell 1t to him at actual cost The nurchase in a number of cases Is con ducted with advice of state or federal dairy specialists. The man wao fur nishes the money is thus in a position to make certain that it is used for pfc''uc- tive improvements which will enable the borrower to repay the loan. Undcr this plan the farmer may be said to borrow the improvement itself instead of the money to buy it with, for the disposition of the money is taken out of his hands
 plan of the same general character was carried out a year or two ago in southern Idaho, but in that case three cf four banks united in the purchase ol carload of dairy stock. In another case in Nevada local creamery supplied the money and held back part or tn. returns from milk and cream delivered py '"e borrowers This is said to be me si'h- plest of the three methods. It consists essentially in permitting the lender fo Say how the money that he lends shaa ne spent. Under such circumstances he feels more secure, and the rate of interest lcs- sens with the risk.
 Now. as to plan No. ?: In regions where for various req sons the above described plan has not proved possible, auothei method is adopted, namely, to have tic farmers collectively assume certain guarantee for the notes given by indi- viduals. In southern Montana, for ex- ample, 19 farmers organized an associa- ton and appointed trustees to represent
 
 The trustees were authorized to saaran- tee limited amount to the bank on the joint and several liability of the associa- ton members. With this additional sc curity the bank agreed to advance 5000 to the association at s per cent, when the general bank rate was 10 and 12 per cent. Two delegates from the association pur- chased with the money two carI,lds of heifers. which were distributed among the members, each animal being charged with proportion. Each purchaser pledged himself to care for and breed the cattle by methods approved by tLe trustees.
 The third plan operates as follows: The guaranty is furnished not by the farmers themselves, but by an outside interest As the plan has developed in Wisconsin and Minnesota this outside interest cen sists of local business men who are 1T their way as much concerned aa ths farm
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-04
The BirmIpyham Athletic Club

Perhaps the most attractive club in this city for those who are interested in athletics Is the Birmingham Athletic club" remarked J. D. Beavln.
 This institution, indeed stands at the
 head of its class among clubs devoted exclusively to athletics in the soutt.-
 Teams sent out from this city by the Birmingham Athletic club have achieved
 many marked successes at meets of all
 kinds, of which all who are connected
 with it are justly proud. We have a membership of more than 600, and there is spirit of loyalty to the club which
 Is found in few institutions of it's kind, The Birmingham Athletic club wss
 established here about 23 years ago
 and is in fact the oldest club now in existence in the city. It was only in 1903, however, that the large and hand :. some building in which 1t now has spacious quarters was erected. Since the erection of this building the club has grown more popular every year. Special accommodation is afforded, and it is equipped with all the conveniences and attractions which contribute toward the enjoyment of leisure hours spent here.
 An atmosphere of good fellowship has
 been developed among the members which Is seldom felt in the more newly organized clubs. The desire of the management is to make the new mem Der feel at home and all the comforts of tbe institution are immediately placed at his disposal The membership has
 been largely augmented during the pas, year"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-04
A New Chivalry

The south is laying aside it's chivalry : toward women-the south admits it.
 But the phase of chivalry which it is alleged will be seen no more in the south, is not that which prompts southern men to protect and honor their women folk--it is that chivalry which operates against ordinary busi- ness standards.
 Real estate assessors and commis- sioners of Richmond, Va, according to the Philadelphia Ledger, have for many years disrcgarded the existence of about $6,0O0,O0 worth of taxable property owned by Richmond women.
 Major Sands, examiner of records, and Auditor Moore of Richmond are working upon the listing of these properties, with view to submitting them to the state advisory board of taxation, which body will be called upon to deal with the fair delinquents. It is alleged that many women prop erty owners have never paid any taxes, and heretofore have not been asked to do so.
 While the women may argue that because they have no voice in fixing the rate of taxation, they should be exempt from it, the fact remains that
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-04
Birmingham and the Last Reunion

Birmingham and the Last Reunion
 Recalling the reunion held here in 1908, as the veterans assembled in Richmond this week did, when Br mingham's invitation for 1916 was extended, this city as host had a strong appeal.
 Of all the great gatherings of the United Confederate Veterans and the Sons and Daughters of the Confeder acy the reunion seven years ago will always be rembered as one of the most glorious. Those who attended were unstinted in their praise of Bir- mingham. The arrangements for handling the immense crowd were per feet and not an unpleasant incident oc- cured to mar the harmony of the oc- casion.
 Birmingham had entertained num- Der of large conventions, including a reunion of the veterans, before 1t had grown to be much of city, and it had acquitted itself with credit, but it reached high water mark in 1908. Birmingham really surprised itself. And so prevailing was the enthusiasm among the business men that new pace was struck in Birmingham's progress.
 Out of the enthusiasm aroused by the success of the reunion grew sev- eral important movements, notable among them that which resulted in the handsome Chamber of Commerce building. Birmingham had awakened to the splendid metropolitan possibili- ties and the upbuilders, quickened anew by spirit of cooperation, be- gan to take larger view of civic values. There had been talk of en- larging the city's limits, but the Greater Birmingham movement did not get into full swing until after the | 1908 reunion. That event was indeed a turning point for all manner of civic activities.
 The war between the states being more than fifty years in the past. the veterans are fast falling away. But there will be several large reunions yet, and that of 1916 will be one of them. The visitors will find Birming- ham a much greater city than it was in 1908, and it will behoove our own people to make all the finer impress sion on them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-04
TRAINING IS NEEDED

mitted? It could not The commissions do not accept printed reports, or at least the interstate commerce commission does not; and some reports must not be sub mtted in typewriting, while most of them must have the attestation of a court or a notary public.
 What has happened? The answer is that these requests come from subordinates who do not know the business for which they are hired, and who do not choose to learn that business, while they have all the arbitrary powers vested in the com mission. If the commissioner requires the facts upon particular point. upon which his own commission already has ample i:- formation from the railroad. does the suL- ordinate refer to the files and answer the question, as, for instance the Wall Street Journal does every day?
 He does not He asks for one more re- port upon the point from the ever-vic- timzed railroad, and that road cannot re- fer him to returns already fled The subordinate does not know his business, and he is not encouraged to learn it. He merely adds millions in clerical cest to the railroads operating mill largely for reports which are never read but which nevertheless only add confusion worse confounded to the inextrieable muddle of the commissions records.
 It must gratify business men to know that there is now a trade commission to extend this sort of discipline to the in- dustrial business of the country.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-04
A LEGISLATIVE BURLEsQUE
From the New Republic,


 Mrs. Wiggs, unable to recall anything else that might be said in favor of the de- ceased MT. Wiggs, always stated with fearful pride that he wrote a good hand In similar spirit of tolerance it may be said of the late New York legislature that 1t had sense of humor.
 Note senate bill No. 1500, introduced by MT. Marshall, who dips his pen in satire and begins as follows: "Only one price for given commodity shall be lawful. A farmer desiring to change price shall file schedule thereof with the state ag- ricultural department, which shall go into effect 30 days thereafter, unless suspended by the commissioner at the instance of any consumer
 MT. Marshall takes the hired man un- der his wing in S2l: Every farmer shall hire one more hired man than his work requires" and in s24: Sheds shall be built over all fields where hired men have to work in summer Furthermore all double teams are to be provided with couplers so that hired mon need not go between the wheels of the wagon and the heels of the horses, and every bull is to .be equipped with bell of not less than 50 pounds weight, steam whistle and an electric headlight"
 Though Mir Marshalls speciality ia burlesque he is not averse to a bit of harmless punning: If cylinder is miss- ing the farmer must find it before he runs on the road again" One can picture the mock solemnity with which the senate listened twice to the reading of this mas terpiece, ordered it printed, gently low cred it into the committee on agriculture. and then. greatly refreshed, returned to the serious work of penalEng women who work in canning factories.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-04
Mnnufacfurinc Munitions of War

Many sections of this country are now the scene of great activity as & result of the huge orders for munitions of war which have been placed on the Ameri- can market" remarked F. D. Mckinney of Birmingham. and this district will no doubt receive it's share of the in- creased business thus created.
 During the past eight or nine months the demands made upon the manufac- turers of army equipment have been ex- tremely heavy. Large quantities of cloth, uniforms, horses, automobiles and guns have been shipped across the At lanuc. The demand for lead and zinc has of late been especially heavy. and bounds. These metals are used, I be- lieve, in combination for the manufac- ture of bullets. which are naturally much in demand at the present time along the extensive army fronts of Europe. Cot ton is also used in vast quantities for the preparation of guncotton.
 The powder mills are now especially busy throughout the country and huge quantities will no doubt be sent across
 to the warning nations. This, perhaps accounts for the recent purchase of the
 Jefferson Powder Mill, located in this district, by the Aetna company I un- derstand that the capacity of this mill will be immediately doubled by the new
 owners. Of course much of the explo- sives manufactured here will be used in Alabama; but in all probability shipments will also be made direct to the great battlefields of Europe
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-04
From the Wall Street Journal.


 A FLOWING for railroad respon- 9 sible to three or more state regulating bodies and the inter- state commerce commission, how many reports would business man suppose that the commissioners would require from that road in year? Perhaps the outside guess for the layman would be 5000, all lowing for all special requests for infor- mation. Such number 10000, or at the rate of 200 week, would seem extrav- agant.
 In the year ended December 31, 1914, the Pennsylvania railroad, for the lines east of Pittsburg alone, made 10000 such re- ports Remember that it's method of ac counting is strictly prescribed by the in- terstate commerce commission, and there are standing regulations for the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and New York. Is it not obvious that there are needless thousands of reports repeated in one form and another again and again And it is these commissions which as sume to teach the railroads to do their operation and accounting in a business like way
 Could this railroad or any other, reply briefly to a question from the commis- sion, that the answer would be found in given page in a report already sub
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-04
In Society Circles

Many social affairs are being held in Birmingham this season" remarked a member of the smart set.
 The golf tournaments held here re- gently were distinct success and there were many people, prominent socially. here from all parts of the south Ex- pressions of pleasure Were heard on all sides in regard to the natural beauty of this locality, this city with it's mag nlfeent hotels, beautiful driveways and ideal golf courses were the occasion of much favorable comment. The visitors were received with lavish and cordial hos pitality
 During the present month there will be number of smart weddings here, and the June bride will be in all her glory. The commencement season, which is at the present time holding the center of the stage, is proving most interesting, and is proving most successful from a so- cial point of view
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-04
LUKE M'LUkE SAYS

From the Cincinnati Enquirer
 Always remember that if you try to live double life you will have to do two mems work.
 What has become of the old-fashioned country lad whose daddy made him walk to church barefooted. but who had to stop and put on his socks and shoes be- fore he entered the church?
 We all believe in heaven. But mighty few of HIS live as though we wanted to be sure of getting there when we die.
 We knew it was coming. An eastern safety razor firm has placed the "Milady Decollete' safety razor on the market The razor is used for women only and Is much smaller than the scraper used by the male animal, Ho. hum. We suppose the theatres will have to start their per formances an hour later after this and friend husband will have to wait an extra half hour while friend wife slaves herself before she goes to the show with him.
 The old-tme tads who did their travel ing in the prairie schooners never worried about icebergs or torpedoes and they saw America first.
 Any old time a man goes to the races ana buys a ticket on a horse that Is an 1l-year-old maiden who is half turtle and half snail, the rest of the horses in the race fall down and break their legs and his horse wins, he spends the rest of his life telling his friends that Pitts burg Phil and Riley Grammar were blind babies at the racing game.
 This business of naming babies after presidents has its dra rawbacks. In & few years from now many a public school yard will be the scene of many a rough and tumble fight between William Howard Taft smith a3d Theodore Roosevelt Ionea-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-04
UTILIZING RURAL CREDITS

CTS with the general improeement of ag- ricultura conditions in their regions. Under this plan the business men sub scribe certain percentage of the funds loaned, with the understanding that this Is to constitute guarantee fund to pro- tect the bankers. Otherwise the plan is in it's essential principles like that adopted in Montana.
 cooperative credit association must not be considered as in any way 4 substi- tute for other banking institutions. but rather as an ally of them. The deposits in such associations are frequently ID such small amounts that it is unlikely that they would be placed in regular bank. On the other hand, the tota. of these email sums is frequently considerable, and such part of it as is not loaned to members of the association is usually placed on deposit in the local banks. In addition to the service which the association can render to it's individual members both by aiding them to obtain proper loans and by discouraging them from making un- wise notes, the association can also be of service to the community in a number of ways, among which collective rurchas. ing is perhaps the most prominent.
 In none of these pIans IS there any use made of state credit or aid. thoIe be- ing no need for assistance of that charac-
 ter; and this is conflrmatory Of the Saturday Evening Posts opinion that gov ernment aid Is not required in opars ions extending rural credit. Moreover this plan, or any one of these plans, brings the credit of even the smallest farmers into play, whereas a government bonding plan, such as is suggested by MT. w. P G. Harding will reach only the c,5npars- lively wel-to-do, whose borrowings are expected to be in considerable amoduts.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-04
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
King George. Birthday Honors

The telegraphic news informs us that hlng Georges honor list. on the occasion Of his birthday this week, was larger than usual and that among the others receiving marked recognition was Field Marshal Earl Kitchener, secretary of state for war, who becomes a Knight of the Gar ter, said man who has spent much time in England. The Garter is a rare distinction, and Is more prized than al- most any other titles. The other orders of knighthood are virtually unlimited but the Garter is so exclusive that there are less man 40 members at any one time. includ- Ing royalty. Sir Edward Grey is the only man not of the peerage who has the Gar ter. The fact that it was conferred on Kitchener is a pretty good indication that the famous soldier is still held in high esteem notwithstanding his failure to handle the munitions branch of his de- partment satisfactorily.
 While the King crea tes peers and con fers all titles, he does so only on the nomination of the prime minister"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-04
TO FRANCE

Leolyn Louise Everett in Life once more, oh daughter of the gods you
 rise Once more you fling athwart the stormy
 skies The gleamng beacon of the bright bare
 sword; Orce more yon draw from your immortal
 hoard The ranks of heroes who march on to reap The bloody heritage of dreamless sleep Once more your siren lips give martissl
 breath As they -echo-'victory or deathp' Oh, world enchantress of eternal lure, Whose pciceless citadel still stands secure, Fielding above all flowing blood and tears Your noblest visions thro's the crowded
 years: Your shrines are lighted with wars fiend-
 ish fires; Your villages are crimson funeral pyreb; Across the fields and gardens of your
 pride Like pestilence the foreign horsemen ride! Once more, oh daughter of the Fods, you
 leap lA Up from tho seeming of your careless
 sleep. eird on your armor, bind your owing
 hair, Break the wild night of tempest and de-
 epair With the gQld summons of your deathless
 youth That life is nausht, that liberty is iraisA! Great glowing queen of tragic cii eurs- stance God speed your banners far. s,sta.A
 Francol !.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-04
Brilliant concerf Tonight

The concert which Miss Prudence Neff, assisted by MT Dolejsi and the Treble Clef club, will give at the Tutwiler to- night will be an unusually brilliant ar fair In speaking of the entertainment a well known musician said:
 Miss Nef, as Is well known, is 10 represent the whole south at the festival recitals at Los Angeles. This is contain ly d great distinction. As a candidate for the honor in the eliminatioi' contest in Memphis. Miss Neff not only won the applause of the judges but of very large audience present She Is sure to achieve a triumph at Los An geles.
 The concert at the Tutwler will pe under the auspices of the Music study club"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-04
Austria in the War

Evidently the hatred for England and all things English is not shared with the Germans by their Austrian allies. A newspaper correspondent writing from Venice says that the Austrians consider England's so-called "war of starvation" Germany's affair. The Austrians themselves are too busy fiphting the Russians and just now trying to stem the tide of Italian ln- vasion to think much about England. The English are remote foe, so Tar as they are concerned, and one With whom they will hardly come into any closer contact.
 English signs and names are still seen nearly everywhere in Vienna, while wealthy families continue to advertise for governesses to teach children French and English. Conan Doyle's war literature, printed in English, is sold on the Ring. The Hotel Bristol and the Hotel Grand are doing business under the same names. The correspondent writes that he saw no one wearing one of the little enameled plates reading, "God Punish England" ,"
 Although Austrian officials declare that the people are united in favor ing the war, public opinion has no out let. If there were a dissenting voice, it would not be permitted hearing The newspapers are effectively gagged, despite their protests, and what the body of the people think can only be learned by mingling with them and listening to their conversa- tion. The reports of movements for peace having been started in Austria seem well founded. Although the peo- pie may be kept in ignorance as to the progress of the war, they cannot fail to realize that they are not profit ing by it and have little to hope for in its conclusion, now that the stupidity of Germany's diplomats and militarists has arrayed almost the entire world against that unfortunate country. The Austrians have received some hard blows. They have found the Rus sians more than match for them, be- ing only saved from far-reaching dis aster by the Germans. Now the ltal- ians are beating them back in new quarter. If Germany were victorious Austria would be more dependent on her powerful ally than ever and when Germany is defeated Austria will have to pay dearly for her alliance with the fatherland.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-04
A QUESTION OF TIME

From the Kansas City Star.
 She was young and pretty girl of a sporting turn of mind. Somehow she heard that certain horse was to win a certain race. and, deciding to indulge in little speculation she went to a ''bookie' and put dollar on for a win. asking how much she would get if it came off.
 '1f it starts at 20 to l you will get s2l back" said the hookie; If at 10 to i, s1l back; if at , to l. you'll get 36 back"
 q ses, said the maiden, and if it starts at 1 o'clock, how much do I get then.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-04

they participate in the benefit of pub lie improvements which they have not helped to sustain, and that they en- joy the protection and security pro- vided by their city and state.
 The payment of tax arrearages may work hardship upon these women property owners, but their sense of fairness and business integrity may be depended upon to step into the breach.
 After all, the south should boast of no chivalry which is not in accord with simple honesty.