davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-01
STIRRING SPEECH
 MADE AT OPENING
 OF THE RE|CHSTAG
Eastern Situation Held in Iron Grip by the Teuton Armies, Declares Pres
 ident Kaempf

Berlin, November 30-(via London. De cember 1.)--The opening of the Reich stag today was marked by an address of welcome by the president, Dr. Kaempf, in which he complimented Germany on the highly satisfactory military situation in the west and east Servian campaign; and speech by the secretary of the imperial treasury, Dr. Karl Helfferich, introducing bill arranging the preliminaries for the taxation of war profits.
 pr. HeIfferich urged the speedy dis cussion of the bill so that no war profits could escape taxation and prom ised an actual measure on the tax ation of war profits for the next sit ting of the Reichstag in March. He in tinaated that it would impose 4 gradu- ated scale of taxation based on the amount of the war profits ana also would include a tax on incomes which had increased during the war, but he gave no indication of the extent of the prospective taxation. es.
 The secretary said that the govern ,ment itself had reached no conclusion on the taxation rate and 1t itlobviously would be unfair to make 1t confiscs tory, or regard the project. as some wish to do, as punishment for dar- ing to make profits during the war. The primary object of the measure was to raise revenue toward covering the colossal expenditures of the war and for this purpose a considerable per- |centage of war profits must and should pass into the governments coffers. v The bill was referred to commit tee.
 The presidents opening remarks to the house, which as on previous occa- sions showed q large proportion ot members in army gray, were heard with enthusiasm. He said;
 While in ghe west the enemy attempt to break through undertaken with strong forces. failed when confronted with the contempt of death of our troops and their commanders; while in the east the German and Austro- Hungarian armies hold with an iron grip what they havt (Centl.sed en Pags sevsa)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-01

and shook and startled Wilmington. Workmen ran from every building and shack in the wide area, which the com pany's plant covers. A great column of smoke rose from the spot where the pack ing house stood and when the cloud dis appeared there was only a big hole in the ground
 Twenty-six men were in the house that eisaplsearee. Tie others killnd and tiit, wounded were hit by flying debris.
 The pellet packing house was a one- story frame building, IS by 20 feet, and was divided into six rooms. Nearby buildings were damaged. Company of- fioials said the property loss was small
 One theory advanced by workmen is that the explosion may have originated in a spark from horses shoe or from a spark caused by a small car running over some spilled powder. A workman said that before the explosion a car in which there were several thousand pounds of black powder had been drawn by two horses along narrow gauge track to the entrance of the packing house to be prepared for shipment. The
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-01
,seeeeAeeeeeaes.es..s,.,

powder is packed into boxes holding about 50 pounds each.
 Some of the powder, it was said, may have spilled from the car. Either
 horses shoe or the wheel of a. car could have ignited the stuff and caused q flash to reach the powder in the car explod-
 ing it, and the powder in the house. Every home in the neighborhood is rep
 resented among the employees of the plant and there was rush to all the gates after the explosion H-sscss eqltvalfsS noweNsr, Was barred 5y uniformed ansi armed guards
 Lammott Dupont. director of the black powder operating department, and E. H.. Ford, general superintendent of the de-
 partment started thorough investiga- tion.
 Nothing will be left undone to dis cover the cause of the disaster" said an official we have not a single thing to work on, however, and the origin of
 the explosion always will remain mys- tery. Every precauton has always been taken to guard against accidents" The guard about the plant was increased tonight. The DuPont secret service men
 were active, too, but nothing could be
 learned as to what line of investigation they were pursuing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-01
Remarkable Bank Clearings and Higher Cotton Prices Teli Story cf Wonderful Change for the Better
MANY MILLS GIVEN
 NEW IMPETUS BY
 EUROPEAN DEMAND
Heavy Buying for Christi
 mas Stockings Anticipated
 by Merchants Southern Ports Taxed to Capacity

: Washington, November 30-Prosperity prevailing in the southern states was re- tiected today in reports of business con- diiicns from all the population centers. Heavy early buying presages fuller Christmas stockings than in several years at the close of an autumn season during which regular trade has been unusually heavy.
 : Farmers ia the south having received apcd prices for big crops have been spending money more freely than at any time in recent years. Their prosperity is being shared by merchants in every line, large and small
 A sure index of the wonderfully im- proved business conditions in the south are the rema rkable bank clearings of the larger cities during the past month or more. For last week Memphis reported the high water gain in clearings. an in crease of 63.9 per cent over the same week last year. Atlanta reported an in crease of 47.2 per cent, while every city which reported from the south showed gains of almost similar proportion.
 The restoration of cotton to solid price foundation. more diversified crops and economy in production are declared by business men to be leading factors n the improved conditions. More food stuffs were raised by southern planters than ever before. and thus much of the money which went elsewhere for neces- saries of life in other years was kept at home.
 The south has not prof1ted directly from war orders as have other sections of the country. it is said. but some lines of trade have received an impetus because of the war. For instance. knitting mills have been working night and day, accord ing to reports misunderstanding the cheaper grades of hosiery which formerly bore the familiar trade mark Made in Ger many"
 Although no such freight congestion as reported exists in and around New York. the terminal facilities of every southern port are said to be taxed to capacity by the heavy coastwise and export trade
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-01
TODAY'S AGE-HERALD

1-smyer named as Birmingham post
 master.
 Tide of prosperity sweeps over nation. Thirty instantly killed in powder mill
 explosion.
 Jury unable to agree in Watson case. 2Modish footwear at Birmingham shoe
 shops. S-The Holland letter. 4---Editorial comment 5-Another triumph for Sunday movies. Officers fired by Barber because of
 West End robbery.
 Cotton states bankers to meet.
 Tomorrow final cean-up day for civic M chamber. $ Society. s 7--Dokey ceremonial to be held Friday. S--Sports. s--Birmingham Trusts monthly letter. 11--Markets. ls-Unioue effect of outdoor lighting
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-01
DEMOCRATS TO VOTE E TODAY ON CLOTURE
 AS SENATE CHANGE
Underwood FavOrs Cl0ture, But Bankhead Thinks It
 Might Endanger Demo-
 crats of South in Future
Rx HUGH w. ROBERTS

K Washington, November 3O.-(Spe- Underwood this morn Ing nominated for the position of post naster at Birmingham R. B. Smyer. E It Is anticipated that the appoint aent will be announced to the Senate |farly next week. There Is said to be no question but that Mir. Smyer's appoint nent will be confirmed mt once. l For the position there were four appli- ants, MT. Smyer T. s. Smith, J. B. fobbs and John W. Sibley. Senator Un- |erwood was embarrassed by the knowl- Idge that each had been a loyal support r of his, that each was a warm, per onal friend, and in all respects compe- l ent and worthy.
 Before reaching a decision, the senator
 ave the situation much study and post
 oned the inevitable necessity of making . selection as long as he possibly could. This morning he gave visual proof of sat- sfaction in that he had taken action, and
 l so doing, had removed a problem, try ng and vexatious.
 The term of Postmaster A1drich will ex-
 ire December Il. It is expected that MT.
 myer will assume the duties of the of
 ce as soon thereafter as he is able to
 ualify.
 MT. Smyer is one of Birmingham's best
 nown lawyers. He was born in Chero-
 ee county and has lived in Birmingham
 bout 20 years. He has always taken an
 -A..
 e office except for term of two years
 register in chancery in Cherokee
 punty, MT. Snyer has considerable real Ftate investments iri Birnainghsn.
 He is about 45 years old, is married and
 as one daughter, Miss Miriam Smyer, ho is now in college in Baltimore.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-01
South, East, Middle West and Far West Feel Buoy ancy of Active Business Conditions
PREPARATIONS FOR
 HOLIDAY SEASON
 ON IN FULL SWING
Influx of War Orders Turns Flood of Gold Into Practi- cally All Channels of Com merce and Industry

Chicago, November sO-Merchants and manufacturers have no fault to find with proving and things are looking up," was the genera, verdict in the retail and wholesale districts today.
 Chicago bank clearings for November totaled 1,4S1, ,537, 7s6, an amount exceeded but once in the city's history, the high record having been made in March, 1914. November clearings this year were 27.15 per cent greater than last year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-01
INDIANAPOLIS

Indianapolis, November 30.-For the last few weeks there has been d noticeable in- crease in business in Indianapolis, ac- cording to a statement made by an off, cial of the chamber of commerce today.
 This is shown he said, fin the bank clearances and by the fact that the build ing permits and postoffice receipts have been larger for the last few weeks than for the corresponding weeks of year ago Prosperity seems to be on it's way to Indianapolis"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-01
PACIFIC SLOPE

San Francisco, November 30.-Busness wholly aside from that at tributable to the Panama-Pacific and Panama-California expositions was re- ported from all portions of the Pacific slope and the far northwest today.
 Trade organizations reported that gem eral local business would show an in crease of 30 per cent over last year Agri- cultural conditions in California were re- ported to be the most promising in the history of the state. Money was said to be easier in the smaller centers of popu- lation than for years
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-01

Augusta, November 3O.-After having delibernted for eight hours without reaching n verdict, the Jury trying Thomas E. Watson was ordered at 1O.3O o'clock tonight to retire for the night
 Judge W. W. Lambdin, who had waited in his chambers for n possible verdict, announced that he would re- turn at D:3O n. m. tomorrow to inquire Earlier in the night. after nearly three hours deliberation. the jury hnd sent word thnt it was "irreconcilabIy apart- nnd had made no progress. hut Judge Lnmbdin, nfter stating ''some jury must try this ease and this jury has qualified as competent" ordered further deiiberation.
 Watson returned to his home at Thomson early in the night. Members of his counsel remained to represent him.
 Augusta, Ga.. November so.-Shortly after 6 o'clock tonight the fedora, court jury trying Thomas F. Watson for send ing alleged obscene matter through the mails reported that it was irreconcilably apart and had made no progress" The jury had been out two and half hours at that time. Judge w. w. Lambdin, pre- siding, ordered the jury taken to supper and to continue their deliberations to- night. He stated he would await until 10:9o tonight for possible verdict.
 Watson's case, which began Friday, went to the jury at 2;2s o'clock this aft ernoon, the earlier part of the day having been taken up in closing arguments by both. sides and by the judges charge to the jury The prosecution succeeded in having the issue kept solely upon the grounds of Watson's responsibility for mailing the publications referred to in the indictment. and the question of whether or not the language used was obscene.
 Watson had stated III court that he did not wish to avoid responsibility for mailing the publications and in his charge Judge I4ambdin 80 informed the jury. instructlng them that the sole issue before them was whether or not the lan- guage used was obscene or otherwise ob- jectionabe They were judges of that, he said.
 Watson, while on the witness stand in his own defense and at other times, had sought to get In evidence his mo. tives in using the language for which he was indicted, and also had sought to show that there was an "ulterior motive behind the prosecution"
 Although these Issues were ruled out
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-01
rs MINERS DEAD

Boomer. w. Va, November 30 Nineteen men were found dead after an explosion in mine No. ? of the Boomer Coal and Coke company here today. Eleven others are missing. Thirty miners were brought to the ser face tonight and rescuers have hopes that the II will be found alive.
 The work of removing the de- bris from the entries is pro- gr@ssing slowly and It will be late tomorrow before the in- nermost parts of the mine have been explored.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-01
NEW YORK

New York, November 30.- Merchants here say that Americans have more money to spend for Christmas shopping this year than in any holiday season since the Christmas of 1906 The big stores are preparing for record trade during December and wholesale houses are unable to fir orders in many lines This is ascribed to a rush of buyers from ether cities to replanish depleted stocks
 L. S. Pelz, secretary of the Wholesale and Retail Mercnants' association. said today that the merchants of New York have never known better times.
 People who did not have money to spend q year ago, have it now and have opened their purses, said Mir. Pelz. The business which has come to America because of the war has put dollars in the pocket of the average man, but do not believe this pros perity ia dependent upon rhe war. If the war ended next month there would still he prosperity here.
 "The wholesale houses of New York have all the business they can attend to. Orders are pouring Tn rom the west wher merchants have been buy ing very little in the last year. and
 &Csntinuea sa Page Tweivep
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-01
DETROIT

Detroit, November 30.--Detroit's business situation this year is far better than ever before at this time, in the opinion of Byres FL Gitchell. secretary of the Detroit Board of Commerce. Practically all fac tories are rushed with work and the mer- chants predict record breaking Christmas sales, he said.
 Within the last 10 months the increase in population in Detroit and its suburbs has been approximately 5000, said Mir Gitchell. "In spite of this, "unemploy- ment. is at q minimum and, generally speaking, wages are higher than ever be- fore
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-01
Engineer Burned to Death

Bradentown, Fla, November 5.-J. Howard Gray. civil engineer of Frank fort, Ky, was burned to death in fire which early today destroyed the Sea- breeze inn. small hotel on the water front here. A body found in the ruins of the hotel was identified by dentist as that of Gray. Ten other persons in the hotel at the time escaped without in- jury
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-01
NEW ORLEANS

New Orleans, November 30.-Retail and wholesale interests in New Orleans and the territory served by this city report unusually heavy business for the fall. and especially for November
 Leon simon, gulf coast director in the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, said reports from wholesale mer- chants showed increases in their Novem- ber business of from So to 100 per cent over the same month last year. and that the jobbing business of the present au- tumn will compare favorably with that or several falls past.
 Last year the retail merchants allowed
 <Csntsnuee sn rag, Nins)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-01
WILL NOT CHASTEN

Washington, November 3O.-(Special) In account of the obvious necessity of at all hazards party har- hony, it is said to be true that certain enators, invariable supporters on ad- illustrative measures have abandoned (an to chasten the six democrats who re charged with having defeated last Fssion the Presidents ship purchase bill. lit is understood that the six senators fferred to--Clarke, Hitchcock, O'Gor- |an, vardaman, Hardwick and Bankhead let it be known that any attempt to |lnish one would be regarded as an at Rck against the whole As result it is Lid that old scores will be forgotten, and bat in the democratic caucus tomorrow Iorning, the dove will be the character ling figure While an effort will be l Iade, it is indicated, to defeat Senator
 arke for reelection to the post of pres
 ent pro tempore of the Senate. it is pnfidently stated by his friends that he I'm he able to weather the storm
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-01
Fiercest Battle of Whole War Rages Along Gorizia Front-Austrians Bring Up Reinforcements
TEUTONS EXPECTED SOON TO WITHDRAW
 FROM GORIZIA REGION
Servian Forces Being Re- organized in Albania. Hitch Reported in Allied
 Negotiations With Greece

London. November so.--With the retreat of the greater part of the Servian army across the Albanian frontier, the slow ness of the operations against Montene- gro and in southern Servia, owing to the wintry weather and the absence of any major operations on the western and eastern fronts, interest in the military side of the war Is transferred to the Austro- Italian frontier where King Vic tor Emmanuers troops are waging an energetic offensive against the Austrians
 The fighting on this front has been the most sustained and fiereest battle of the whole war. For weeks the Italians have been attacking the Austrian bridge Tsonzo river and are slowly but surely drawing their nets around Tolmino. Gorizia and Doberdo. Their attacks have been repeated time after time against positions which had been most carefully prepared and while the Austrians report that most of the assaults have been re- pulsed, their accounts are considered here to have been so worded as to prepare the public for their retirement from Gorizia, at least
 This for the time being is Italy's con- trihution to the Balkan operations of the allies. for it Keeps large force of Aus trians busy and makes it necessary for them continually to bring up reinforce ments which could be usefully employed against the Montenegrins and servians
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-01
REVISION OF RULES

In the caucus, it is indicated that kmething in the nature of 8 revision rules of the Senate will be achieved. Ut it is regarded as highly improbable lat cloture will be favored by the ma krity. On this question the Alabama |nators radically differ Senator Bank bad will support movement for re- |sion of the rules, but will oppose |oture bitterly. Senator Underwood will bte for cloture. although he does not Sntend necessarily for a rule as string ht as that under which the House op- }ates
 According to Senator Banxhead, the Ipublicans, when again in power. |ould, by the assistance of cloture,
 duce the representation of southern |Rtes which have practically eliminated ] e negro as political factor. He bints to the fact that it was chiefly as result of infinite debates that the Smocrats, when Senator Morgan was his strength, were able to sidetrack | e force bill, aimed by representatives | the old abolition against the south.
 Senator Underwood is very anxious at the Senate transact business, dis
 se of legislation as quickly as possi-
 e, and in measure reduce the cost ! Congress. He holds that the 'aboli- bnists' could have put through the
 rec bill had they so desired despite
 e right of unlimited debate possessed
 their opponents and he is of the
 inion that the republicans, if ever.
 ain in power, could reduce the rep-'
 sentation of southern states with or Dthout cIoture. He does not believe,
 wever. that republicans as g party
 m ever again attempt seriously to
 sail the south on account of its solu-
 bn of it's big problem.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-01
BALKAN SITUATION

 The servians, unless followed into Al bpnia, will in time probably reappear ,lAs < 4sS.fg @ratea .tgffsS. is that 25o.ooo of them, including soldiers and civilians, have taken refuge there and that they have saved ali their noun tainibatteries and portion of their field guns. Also included in this number are all the youths who can fill the gaps when equipment reaches them from the Adriatic.
 German papers state that Field Marshal Von Maclenzens army. with Bulgarians and Turks, is to be directed against the Anglo-French forces in the south. but doubtless many of them are going down the Danube to meet the Russian menace.
 The public is expecting every day to hear of the movement of the Russian army which the Emperor recently re- viewed in Bessarabia, hut apparently the negotiations with Rotunania for the use of the Danube have not been concluded A Budapest report goes so far as to say that Roumania has refused permission to the Russians to use the river through Roumanian territory. which would be the more convenient route for an attack on western Bulgaria.
 There also seems to be some hitch in the allies negotiations with Greece, for nOtnlng IS yet forthcoming as 10 tue lat ter countrys reply to the latest demands for guarantees of safety and facilities for the entente's armies operating near the Greek frontier. The Creek reply was eN- pected yesterday and the delay in it's re- ceipt leads to the suppositiou that the Greek cabinet is not prepared to go as far as the entente powers desire.
 Artillery, grenade throwers. miners, sap pers and airmen continue their activity on the western front and British monitors also are making things lively for the Ger mans along the Belgian coast.
 The Russians by 9 counter attack in the region of tlloukst have driven Field Mar shal von Hindenburg's men a little further from the Dvina river These. however. are only incidents. doubtless un- dertaken to test the strength of the op- posing forces
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-01
FIGHT TO BE FEATURE

IIhe nSnt TOT anu against clOture |omises to be a feature of the caucus morrow. As written above, this strin- mt rule may be defeated but it is be- we'd to be a safe guess that some easure in revision or modification of listing customs will be adopted
 There are certain to be some demo- hts who will not be- committed to pport the measure. Among the ma Fity senators opposed to radical re- kion of the rules are Clarke of Ar |nsas, Hardwick of Georgia, Hitch ek of Nebraska. O'Gorman of New rlx. Bankhead of Alabama. Vardaman Mississippi. and Oyerman of North lrolina. They are expected to fight
 report in caucus on the ground that ,ision of the rules should not be as party measure and later to op- se it in the Senate. contending that
 Senate should not tie itself down th restrictions Asi1nilar to those opted In the House
 rhe ways and means committee of the uso continued at work all day en- avoring to readjust the committee
 take care of the greatly increased publican minority Their task, not
 hsif done. must be completed in
 a1Qeeti..sa '. Pare sevsn)
The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1915-07-28
Sympathy For City

Chicago, July 25.-Acting Mayor
Moorhouse of Chicago today received
the following telegram from Presi-
dent Wilson at Windsor, VT:
Il am sure | speak the universal
feeling of the people of the country
in expressing my profound sympathy
and sorrow in the presence of the
great disaster which saddened so
many homes"
A cablegram from Sir Thomas Lip
ton said:
Il am greatly shocked to see by
the day newspapers the catastrophe
that has fallen on your city. My
heartfelt sympathy goes out to those
who have lost their dear ones. If
you start relief fund put me down
for 81 900.
A message Of coincidence came
from the organization of the General
Slocum survivors of New York.