davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-15
Republicans Criticizing the President

The majority side in Congress is supposed to treat, and as a rule, does treat the minority side with the ut most respect, and wise versa. The re- publican minority has been in accord with the democratic administration on several important questions, and re- publican leaders have been as courte- ous to the President as have been members of his own party. But now some of them have taken to comment ing on him adversely. They are even disposed to indulge in spleen.
 President Wilson in his Indianapolis speech criticized the republican party. He said many true things about the standpatters which the country at large applauded. The President in- jected some sarcasm into his speech and gave expression to many witti- cisms at the expense of his political opponents. "The republicans have not had new idea in thirty years," he said. But there was no bitterness in his remarks.
 While it may not be literally true that the republicans have originated nothing in thirty years, it has been so far as large measures are con- cerned, virtually so. The republicans taking umbrage at the Presidents s criticism of their lack of originality is calculated to make lockers on smile.
 President Wilson has usually been very considerate, of the feelings of men no matter whether they differ with him or not. It is his rule and manner to be considerate. But it was never considered an offense in any personal way for one party to bounce on the other That the republicans should have become thin-skinned at this late date is really amusing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-15

present total is the largest since the
 close of August last, with other plant improvement reported and the outlook promising.
 During December the eastern and northern furnaces increased their thrilled orders and decreased stocks on the yards to a considerable degree. Pig iron pro- duction during December registered fur ther decline, being less than one and a half million tons, and bringing the total production for the year to 23,0oo,000 tons (which was about what was figured by conservative estimators), loss of 7,700. 900 tons from 1913, showing the extent to which the industry suffered during the year.
 'The whole business fabric is better and stronger than a week ago, slight though improvement is, and no untoward incident has appeared to shake the ex- isting confidence
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-15
Meeting the Aeroplane

When a new element is introduced in warfare inventive minds immediate lv become busy devising means to meet that new method of attack. This IS par ticularly true of the present conflict and while the aeroplane has developed greatly defensive tactics have kept pace.
 The chief difficulty in guarding against aeroplane attack has been Ill finding the range. The gunners are unable to see where their shells eX- plode and consequently cannot accu- rately correct their aim. To remedy this a captive balloon is sent alott at a given height. If hostile aeroplane heaves in sight the fire control officer knows how high the captive balloon IS, it's relation to the approaching aero plane and he can approximate very accurately the distance of the hostile craft. It is then very simple problem to find the range.
 In order to give their men practlce in "potting planes" the British of- ficers in France send up huge kites lowed by automobiles and sharpshoot- CTS practice in firing at them.
 In offensive operations of aero planes the aviator always tries to keep the machine between himself and his foes. The gunners, with the sun shin- ing straight into their eyes, are unable to take accurate aim and in most cases the scout returns unharmed to his lines
 The German protective measures against aeroplanes consist of shrapnel shells filled with explosive giving off dense black smoke. The gunners fire several of these shells and correct their aim by the smoke, then firing shrapnel shells filled with bullets.
 So successful have both sides been in their defensive tactics that it IS no easy matter to carry out recon naissance in the air and the aviators aEe forced to ascend to such an alti- thde that observations are extremely difficult.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-15
THE NIGHT OF THE DOG

By Stephen Chalmers. That night the moon was pale, Pale as with death or fear;
 And hush, not sleep prevailed. Yet all the skies were clear, Save for a million stars A host of campfires on a mighty field, Where Sirius howled all night, till Mars
 Arose in madness. mailed! That night the moon grew red. Refiecting distant fire.
 Low on the horizon flashed Chain lightning. mounting higher Outlining one great cloud, Shaped like hideous beast with bloody
 jaws;
 From whose hoarse throat, sudden and
 loud,
 A roar like thunder crashed! That nights despairing moon Hid her pure face from shame,
 Her brow with cloud-dr1ft stained; Each star-nre's twinkling name Dimmed and went out. as though Powers of darkness conquered legions OF And in the bloodshot heavens-lo!
 Tho war dog was unchainedl No moro the loverf moon. Nor ev'n tho sun's frank light!
 The red-eyed fury's pace Finds dawn . leprous white Reddened the rare green cod; Trampled the now'rs that gIowed as faW 2 And each each destroyer claims his cause for
 .whsss' aaa hath tprnee his saesa r
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-15
AT THE SAN DIEGO FAIR

American nations, and other celebrities.
 On the following day came the military and naval parade in which there were
 representatives of all branches of the army, the Fourth regiment of United
 States marines, which is stationed on the exposition grounds; the men of the United
 States steamship San Diego, Read Ad-
 bifal Towards flagship, and a large array
 of sem-military and civilian organiza
 tions. From Mexico came & military de-
 tachment just now unconcerned with the
 revolution in the republic 20 miles away.
 From Portland, Ore, came the Royal
 Rosarians with their own band. the members of the society clad in white sum-
 mer fiannels. From Utah and Idaho came
 delegations by special train. and the nearer states of the southwest sent their representatives in imposing array.
 On each Monday will be special cere-
 mony for one of the states of the union-
 January 4 was Arkansas day; week
 later came Delaware day, with January IS
 set for the District of Columbia and Jan-
 uary 9 for Georgia. The population of
 southern California is made up largely of people who have come from other states and these local residents supply the nucleus for the state day celebra- tions All state societies are fully or ganized for this purpose.
 The "isthmus'' has achieved a notable popularity From sunset of December S1 it has been crowded with visitors swarm ing through the many 4amusements along its 5000 feet of frontage. They have spent hours in the Painted Desert" watching the Apache. the Hopi and Zuni and Nav ajo and other Indians at work in the va ried arts and crafts. They have wan- dered about among the palms and ba- mana trees and pineapple shops of the Ha- waiian village, listening to the singers and ukulele players and watching the hula dancers. They have strolled through the streets of Japan and the depths of underground Chinatown. and seen the other curiosities of what is as- serted by San Diego to be the greatest amusement street in exposition history. The heavy attendance Is the best index to
 the justice of the boast.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-15
Sympathy and Relief for Italy

The first reports of the earthquake in Italy were indeed appalling, but later information brought the list of dead up to a record almost unthink- able and makes the situation the most heartrending and staggering in all his- tory.
 The earthquake in Sicily few years ago caused the death of nearly 30,O0O people. It will be several days yet before the total number of dead as q result of this weeks earthquake can be ascertained, but the number will be much larger, perhaps, even than that of Sicily. The property damage will be much greater, because this earthouake included in its wide area many large towns and cities, even Rome itself.
 Besides the thousands upon thou sands of souls dashed to eternity, beau- tiful churches of historic interest and works of art of priceless value were ruined in the twinkling of an eye. Catastrophes such as tornadoes and earthquakes are no respecters of per- sons. Men and women of distinction as well as those of the humblest class have been the victims from time to time of raging storm and frightful earthquake. In this latest visitation of Providence many of Italy's promi- nent citizens lost their lives.
 The sympathy of the whole world will go out to Italy now, and in addi- ton to sympathy substantial relief will be needed. In all great earth quakes countless families not only mourn for the dead, but are themselves l left destitute of home and food The list of wounded is always large and the sufferers must be aided promptly by the generous people of the world at large.
 In 1908 when Sicily's terrible earth quake occurred money and provisions were sent in abundance from the Uni ted States as we'll as from the coun- tries of Europe. The appeal for help which will be issued for the Italian sufferers at the present time will meet with ready response. No matter how depressed business conditions may be in the old world and in the new a relief fund must be promptly raised.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-15
POINTED PARAGRAPHS

From the Chicago News
 Fresh young men delight to get pickled. If we could only settle our bills by pay ing compliments!
 It's easy for a man to fool woman-if she really wants him to.
 Some men who boast that they pay as they go never manage to get very far.
 It sometimes happens that man who fails at everything else marries quite well.
 You never miss the water until the courts get hold of the stock and squeeze 1t out.
 Men wouldn't care how much their wives talked if they would only use the sign language.
 The wild oats sewers of the stone age must have had strenuous time turning over new letves.
 In after years a married woman likes to boast df the many proposals she had while yet {in her teens.,
 It's almost as difficult to get a man to change lfiis brand of cigars as 1t is to get . woman to change her religion.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-15

IVAN DIEGO, Cal, January 14-(Spe-
 cial)-With the tumult of the open 0> ing night and New Years Day di- minishing, the San Diego exposition has settled down for it's all-year "run," with activities scattered over the entire space of GA acres. With the exception Of Ne vada, whose large building Is situated on the Alameda, the western states have their buildings along La Via de los Es- tados, on the lower plateau, and from early mornng until late at night there is open house in all these buildings for the entertainment of visitors from other sec tions.
 The main buildings are closed at sunset to allow for the installation of fresh ex- hibits, but along Fl Prado, on which they are located, and in the various plazes there continue special evening events in the way of concerts and parades until midnight, when the gates are closed. This rule did not operate on New Years Eve. It was just at midnight that President Wilson, in Washington, pressed the tele- graph key which officially opened the exposition, threw on all lights at full volt age and set off the array of hreworks at the lower end of the Plaza de los Estados.
 At that moment there broke loose all the enthusiasm of the 42,O00 people who had been pouring through the gates since sun set, many in carnival costume and all lightly clad for wandering about in the balmy climate of New Years in southern California. The babel of noise which started then did not end until nearly sun rise, when the crowd vanished, to come back for the more dignif1ed ceremonies Of the following day in which there figured Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo. rep resenting President Wilson; Secretary Ly- man J. Gage, Count del Valle de Salazar. representing Alfonso XIII of Spain; Gov ernor Johnson of California, Governor Spry of Utah, Lieutenant Governor de Baca of New Mexico, Rear Admiral T. B. Howard, commanding the Pacific fleet; John Barrett, director of the Pan-Amer- ican Union, representing the Latin-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-15
Cotton Napkins for Hotels

"Shall S5 dinners be eaten with cot ton tablecloths beneath the diners plates and cotton napkins across their knees? Never!" These emphatic words are credited to Ernest Stevens, man. ager of the La Sale hotel in Chicago, by the Chicago Tribune. Manager Joseph Beifeld of the Hotel Sherman asks "Why not?" Thus the managers of two of Chicago's finest hotels stand deadlocked concerning mat ter of great interest to southern cot ton growers, although members of the Illinois Commercial Hotel association had agreed to substitute cotton napery for linen.
 Manager Stevens declares that he will not make the change. He contends that "cotton napery isn't so good as linen. It isn't so sanitary. After sev- eral launderings-and it doesn't stand the wear and tear of the laundry so we'll, either-cotton napkins and table cloths lose their freshness. They look smudgy even when clean" In his opinion substituting cotton for linen napery is the "wrong kind of patriot ism" Enough for Manager Stevens.
 Quito the contrary are the views expressed by Manager Beifeld of the Sherman. Despite his German name, he's q true patriot and wishes to help the south. "Tm not go- ing to throw away the table linen at the Sherman" says MT Bsifeld, "but as soon as it wears out it will be replaced with cotton When he says cotton isn't as good as linen for napery MT. Stevens is talking about something of which he has little or no knowledge. Let him go down to the Fort Dearborn hotel and see the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-15
"wooDEN LEGISLATION.


 From Affairs at Washington Joe Mitchell Chapple. in National Magazine for January.
 Memories of Mark Twains favorite lux ury were recalled when statistics pre- scented in Washington showed that over 2s,oOo.O0O corncob pipes had been manu- factured in the state of Missouri alone in one year, and that corncobs had been util- fixed to the value of s5o0.0oo in six Missouri factories. A corncob pipe is the favorite of many men from Missouri, in the hours given by them to rest reflection and happy memories of the good old state, and while smoking one the other day a friend called attention to the diminish ing supply of wool and the increas sing population. The wool question was long an issue in England, where it was pro- vided that everyone. though he could not afford to wear 1t when living. must be buried in English woolens. Everything was done in those days to stimulate the use of this commodity.
 Now, how much more logical 1t seeme that people should be encouraged in the use of cotton. which certainly makea great inroads upon its ancient, age-lonG rival, for today even the blankets and all those things that look and appear lik< wool are mads principally from cotton but ever sincs the time whom Abraham divided with Lot the pasturage. and drovt bis hoclks to the plains. woolen legisla' tion has in one way or another alwayi played a part in governmental affairs so much so. in fact. that 1t evoked thu old saying. You can't pull the wool ove' his eyss."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-15
From the Chicago Tribune.

From the Chicago Tribune.
 N it's editorial page the Chicago Tribune prints each day depart W ment called 'The Voice of the People," for the purpose of giving to persons with interesting things to say chance to say them
 Now comes a "Voice of the People let- ter with the interest of front page story. So on the front page it Is:
 Chicago, January s-(Editor Of the Tribune. )-In a recent issue of your pa per an article appeared under the cap
 ton: ''Wealthy Keep Expenses Give Balance to Poor." from which l quote the following extract:
 ..It isn't a thing to advertise, because well, because we are bothered with nun dreds and thousands of begging letters' etc."
 Some years ago wrote to one Of the men named in said article begsfns-not for aims or charity, but for an oppor- tunity to earn an honest living Al tnst time could buy a farm at less than naii It's actual value. and proposed in my pe- tition a mortgage on the farm at per cent interest. being as good security as any municipal bonds. offering to redeem the uoortsage in hvs years by annual pay ments. if he would advance the purchase price.
 An answer came stating that "he wal deluwed with just such letters. and for that reason could not entertain the prop osition."
 The same day I received that letter vas. as usual, out hunting for a job. and in my search called at several places on the north side. At one house begged the lady to be allowed to clean up the yard. but instead she offered me some. thinr to eat. thanked the good lady l for her kindness, but explained 1t wal not charity was looking for. but an | opportunity to earn an honest living. l This remark brought a few sensible questions. told her that after 42 years of faithful service my employer handed | me my discharge on my sixtieth birthday without cause or explanation; that owing | to siclxnsss in my family had been un able to save anything; that my only hops was to obtain possession of farm, ana
 told her of my plans and my great dis
 appointment.
 | Two weeks later was installed on tn, farm and last Christmas I paid the lar
 dollar on 1t. Furthermore. as an appre
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-15
HELP A WOMAN GAVE

citation of my own good fortune, gave a 10-acre farm with half of last years crop raised on it to poor family. starving from want, and intend to give each Christmas the remainder of my life 1O- acre farm to some deserving poor family. Today I have a comfortable home. a good income, am independent and happy, thanks to the good lady and her practi- cal common sense. Through, her aid was saved from the bread line and have be- come a producer. enabled to help others.
 T S p
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-15
LEGISLATURES, UNwRIrrEN LAW


 From the Tuscaloosa Times-Gazette.
 Hugh Roberts, the brilliant staff writer of the Birmingham Age-Herald, is can- did enough to state what Governor Hen derson's open letter to the people of Alabama meant. He says that the men who stand by the governor will have the distribution of the patronage in their respective counties and districts. while those who oppose him will have nothing to do with it. Hugh has hit the nail on the heat. But the governor will need the votes of the representatives, even though they do not agree with him on the pro- hibition question, and they may patch up truce between now and the time when the legislature adjourns. As a matter of fact, a governor has to stand in with his legislature just like President does with Congress. and that is why congress- men are allowed to distribute the patron age in their respective districts. The same rule applies to legislators. A gov- ernor nearly always allows the legisla- tors to control the patronage in the coun- ties represented by them in return for supporting the measures that the chief ex- ecutive wants to put through. It Is not an outright trade. but is the unwritten law of legislatures. MT. Roberts has stated the proposition correctly and il remains to be seen whether the gover- nor and his legislature will get along am icably after the split or whether they will carry bowie knives for each other If the latter, there Is going to be ( hot time in Montgomery town for at leas, 60 days. But 1t is to be hoped that they will get together.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-15
CUTS DOWN COTTON PLANTING From the Washington Post


 "Ten million bales will be the maxi mum of the cotton crop of 1915, in my opinion said Judge Henry D. Clayton of Alabama. former member of the House, now on the federal bench, at the Willard. Many farmers in the south who have grown cotton almost exclusively in the past have planted wheat and other small grains and are planning to put in pota- toes and other farm crops upon which they can live. It Is sure thing that the cotton crop this year will be far less than that of 1914, which reached nearly 17, ,0O0, 900 bales, and this undoubtedly will solve the so-called cotton situation There has been 8 very pronounced i'm provement in conditions all through the south Cotton planters have been send. ing their cotton to market and getting a pretty good price for 1t. The trend is upward all along the line. look fol large shipments of cotton to Europe ir the next 30 to 60 days. Europe needs tn, cotton and we have it, and as Europe has declared and our cotton men have beer convinced that it is not contraband O
 war. there will not be any timidity abou sending it abroad.
 q am much gratifed with the outlook l for 1915 We are sure to have a highl. prosperous year. There Is no country ol l the globe that has such bright prospects
 and, above all, we are at peace with thu world"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-15
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Bishop Mccoy Returning to Texns


 Bishop J. H. Mccoy, who was assigned to the Texas conferences of the M. E. church, south, at the last meeting of the episcopate. and who has spent sometime there, will return to the Lone Star state this week after having spent the holidays in Birmingham.
 Texas is great state,' said Bishop Mccoy. 'It is great in a material way and great in a Methodist way. It is esti- mated that one-seventh of the entire membership of the M. E. church, south, is found in Texas. There are seven con- ferences in that state-five English speak, ing, one German and one Mexican. l have charge of the English speaking con- ferencesI'
 The bishop said he was glad to meet his old friends in Birmingham and that tt gave him great pleasure to see this city going forward steadily in spite of the recent business depression.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-15
Obtaining a Passport

Americans going abroad are advised to obtain passports, but they are not told how or where to obtain them," said F. l. Monks, "and in the hope that my want one I will tell what it is necessary to do.
 ITO begin with, the person seeking q passport can obtain a copy of the form of application from MT Autrey in the customs department on the second floor of the postoffice building, and here I may mention that MT. Autrey will fill out the form if so requested. The applicant must then attach a photograph of himself to the application and enclose another copy of the same photograph with the appli- cation. Then the clerk of the United States circuit court, Major Allison, at- taches his seal to the photograph and also to the affidavit of Identification made by some person who swears that the applicant is the person shown in the photograph.
 "The application being thus filled out and the applicants naturalization papers. if he be a. naturalized citizen, are sent to the bureau of citizenship at Washing ton, and postal money order for $l payable to the disbursing department must be enclosed with other papers.
 Tt takes little time and trouble to obtain passport but it Is well worth both, considering all the embarrassment 1t will save person when he arrives on the other side. I am very proud of my passport and intend to have it framed
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-15
SMALL TOWNS BEST

From the Mayville CAfich.) Monitor.
 People in cities sheer at life in the small towns, but there are worse places. Give us the small town where your neighbors will sympathize with you if you are in trouble-and if you haven't any trouble will go out and hunt some up for you.