davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-26

to grating officials who have made practice of shipping quantities of food to Cuba and the border seem to have some basis of truth, for the Mexicans are notorious grafters and these re- ports have come from many sources.
 A fairly we'll disciplined form of military dictatorship conducts affairs in Villa territory and seems to be more business-like than the regime in Carranza territory. Naturally when conditions are so much disturbed business will suffer and the industrial affairs of Mexico are practically at standstill.
 Americans in Mexico are having trying time and they are exposed to great deal of hatred, but considering the circumstances, they have fared better than might be expected. It is significant that the larger interests, both American and Mexican, are op- posed to American intervention chief ly because they are meeting with less opposition in carrying out their schemes than ever before.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-26
Regarding sunday Amusements

thoroughly agree with the re- marks of J. H. Doughty as printed in triday mornings Age-Herald regard ing the lack of proper Sunday diver sions in Birmingham" said Robert F,w- irg.
 T have had experience along this very line myself and I know that am compelled to pay men higher wages to come here and work for me than they would get elsewhere. simply because they demand more wages in recom- pehse for living here where on Sun days they have no amusements of any kind whatever.
 "The life of industrial Birmingham is skilled workmen. And that kind of men who work all through the week must have on Sunday some place to pass the time in clean, manly amusements, such las picture theatres, baseball games and things of the kind. I hope the day soon comes when we have such in Birmingham"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-26
The Situation in Mexico

An American traveller, who recently returned to this country from Mexico, has given the Washington correspond ent of the Chicago News some inside observations on the situation in that troubled republic. According to this gentleman, starvation is a fact and not a theory, and Americans in Mexi- co do not desire American interven- tion. Neither do the larger business interests of the country favor such a step. He also thinks that the "band wagon" element in Mexico, which is quick to side with a winner, will eventually help to bring about set clement of the nations affairs without the interference of the United States.
 While there is actual starvation in the northern part of Mexico, it seems that stories of peons dying in the streets of cities are exaggerated. But there has been acute suffering since last January and prompt aid will have to be given, if the Mexican people are to profit by it. Reports that some of the shortage of food in Mexico is due
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-26
Nothing to Indicate Early Peace

Col. E. M. House, President Will sons close personal friend and un- official envoy, on returning from Europe where he had met and talked with high officials of Germany and Great Britain, did not bring with him any tidings that would indicate an early peace.
 The Presidents tender of good of- fees to the belligerents, made at the outbreak of hostilities, will be ac- cepted when the time comes for medi- ation, but when that will be no one connected with the administration ventures even a guess. President Wilson has of late made it plain that he saw no prospects of the war end ing very soon. And yet steps toward peace negotiations may be taken sooner than now seems probable.
 Many neutral observers of the war situation are inclined to think that sheer exhaustion, financial and physi- cal, on the part of the belligerents will bring the war to a close before the summer is ended.
 At present the Teutons have by far the best of the allies. Germany's pre- paredness and the solidarity and self sacrificing spirit of the German peo- pie easily explain the wonderful achievements of the Kaiser's legions. But the allies with all their slow progress are still determined to fight on with the firm hope of many de cisive battles in their favor.
 The masses in England are being aroused from their lethargy. And when Britons ponder the desperate words of Lloyd-George and realize the danger their country is in they will doubtless redeem themselves and give good account of their deeds. Tho munitions of war are what the allies need and England is now making ; mighty effort to provide them.
 As to peace the difficulty will b' not only in getting the different gov ernments to agree upon terms, bu
 
 the people themselves are going t' insist upon being heard and that vii mean politics and more trouble.
 In the meanwhile many fierce ant bloody engagements will probabl. take place and when the autumn comes the peacemakers may still b. marking time.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-26
DOGFIsH TRAINED FOR WAR

From the New York Times.
 A man who described himself as Isaac Blake. better known as like the Inven- tor, walker into the Brooklyn Borough
 hall yesterday and unfolded brand new scheme for protecting American ships
 from attack by submarines.
 "I live down at Hook creek said Ike,
 and I own lot of dofgsh, which I have
 tanned and trained. If the government
 will hire them I will send out a pack of my sea hounds to escort any American vessel bound for the war zone. When the ship reaches there my trained dogfish will go ahead of her scouting for sub marines Spotting an undersea boat they will come to the surface and bay lustily. 'The man on the bridge, thus warned of danger. will change the course of his ship so as to elude the submarine. To prevent the submarine from following it. prey my dogish will bite and otherwise | harry it until it is driven off l am look 1 ing for somebody in the service of the government to whom I may properly sub | init this scheme"
 Ike was advised to go down in the navy
 yard and tell it to the marines.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-26
Complexities of Life

The life of the modern man is cer- tanly complex" said G. w. Pittman. No matter how insignificant man may be or how remote ap event it is pretty sure that it will have some effect, direct or indirect on the whole civilized world
 For instance, take the price of lemons. I want a lemonade I go to a fruit stand and am told that lemons are 35 cents a dozen. Two months later l go to the same fruit stand. get the same oozen lemons for b cents. It certainly doesn't look reasonable that the war in Europe should effect the price I pay for lemon- ade.
 Here is the explanations: The greatest part of the world s supply of lemons is grown in Italy. When the Italians en- tered the world-war it automatically shut off trade with Austria Hungary and Ger many. Now, in previous years these eoun- tries had absorbed their share of the Italian crop and the fact that this year they bought nothing created surplus That surplus America is expected to take care of and consequently lemons in the Birmingham market are cheaper than usual
 Tt is a bit hard to understand why the European war should decree that the children of a farmer in the piney woods of Alabama should go without shoes and should attend school four months less than usual, but by forcing down the price of cotton this was done.
 The European war has brought home to many people who probably never gave the matter a thought before the bound less complexity of life in the twentieth century,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-26
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO LUXEM-
 BOURGt

From the Philadelphia Public Ledger
 When Belgium refused to accede to the request to permit the passage of Ger man troops through her territory the Ger man government pretended to deplore the necessity of violence, and pointed out the superior wisdom of Luxembourg in per- hitting a violation of neutrality by great and good friend. It now appears that the little Duchy, if not devastated as Belgium has been, has found German occupation intolerable. The public build ings and railways have been seized, the inhabitants arrested if they protested, and thousands have been reduced to starva- tion. The youthful grand duchess is quoted as saying that she envies the Queen of Belgium, for her own plight, prisoner in her palace, is the more bitter She also makes the interesting statement that the Luxembourgers would have fought the Germans as the Belgians did, if they had realized how they were to be treated. The whole world understands now the processes by which the spread of kutur is accelerated.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-26
LUKE M'LUKE SAYS

From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
 They claim that beer is food. But that doesn't keep some fellows from ab- sorbing about 15 cents worth of free lunch every time they purchase a schooner of hops.
 The man who goes around bragging about his conquests over the fair sex Is a harmless liar But look out for the man who never talks about women and who never seems even to look at them.
 A girl will spend four whole hours doll ing herself up so she will look good to you when you see her. And then she is supposed to get mad because you rubber at her
 We never attended barber college. But from actual experience with most of the graduates, the first thing you learn at barber college is to put all of the
 witch hazel and bay rum into man s eyes and ears and let his chin and upper lip run for Sweeney. You need not be afraid of the lad who is hunting for trouble Rap him on the
 nose and he won't come back at you. But look out for the man who is trying 1 to avoid trouble, and don't monkey with | him.
 | When the stock of hypocrites begins to | run low. the devil tempts some lad to start reform movement and the stock is
 soon replenished.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-26
Recent Wrecks

Railroad wrecks are becoming quite common of late" remarked J. F. Wither- spoon, but they are no more frequent in the south than in other sections, l be- lieve.
 ''The whole state was startled few weeks ago when a fast train on the Ala bama Great Southern was wrecked near Wecms, in the Birmingham district, and when a confession was secured by officers of the Birmingham police force from mem
 bers of gang of rough men there was a shudder felt by the travelling public.
 This gang was composed of desperate characters, and accounts of the affair in
 The. Age-Herald were read with great interest at the time.
 Tt remained for Davis confession Thursday to wrecking the Seminole linn ited at Nauvoo to cap the climax. There seems to De something contagious concern ! ing the manner in which the vicious or diseased mind works. There have been other wrecks which have gone without vengeance at the hand of the law; and
 now that several real criminals have been l captured almost red-handed, such pun
 ishment will be inflicted as to serve as n warning to all miscreants for years to
 come."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-26
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Pay Rolls Increasing

The industrial pay rolls in the Blr- mingham district have been increasing steadily since the first of the year, and today many of the large plants and some of the smaller manufactures are operating at almost full capacity; all of which makes for better conditions in the retail trade" said Felix NJ. Dren- nen.
 If the merchants find business dull just now, there will surely be marked improvement as the summer advances. The Birmingham district is in better shape than it has been for more than a year, and whenever the European war ends unparalleled prosperity will colne to usn
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-26
CIGARS AND BLUE EYES

From the Indianapolis News.
 A gray-haired man who wore a skull cap had operated the cigar and news-
 stand for years. An air of quiet and peace, sometimes the omnibus forerun- ner Of commercial disaster, had lately hung over the place.
 One day there was a change. Even from across the street it could be dis cerned that metamorphosis had taken place. An air of brightness and business surrounded the old newsstand. On closer investigation it was found that the out side had been repainted and an attractive window display arranged. new name had been painted in gold letters across
 the window. And just outside the door
 stood the new proprietor. She was
 vision in light blue, carefully tailored
 dress, big blue eyes and a mop of blonde
 hair arranged in an intricate but ex-
 tremely attractive pattern. A bystander
 continued to gaze surrepttiously at the
 apparition under the pretense of looking
 at some magazines fastened in the win
 dow When the vision started toward him
 he was too startled to retreat. The door
 opened and a soft voice inquired if he
 would not come in and look at the better
 things that were on display inside He went in, although he wanted neither mag aZines nor cigars. Inside there was an unw onted air of order and business. Under
 the spell of the blue eyes and the blonde hair the man bought two two-for-a-quar- ter cigars although he had always found 5-cent ones perfectly satisfactory before, and a 35-cent magazine that he had never seen before. and in which he was not at all interested.
 Soon others discovered a new interest in cigars and magazines. Business grew better with each day. A group of young fellows who spent money as well as talked constantly about the place, and it's presid- ing genius served all with impartiality. Business was good. Another chapter,
 however, remained to be added to story which properly should end here. The young woman proprietor was missing one day and young man was in her place.
 He was one of the young men who had hung most faithfully about the place for sometime preceding. He seems now to be a permanent fixture at the old stand Ocoa sioDally the young woman relieves him for an afternoon, and sometimes she comes just before closing time, and they
 go away together, but the young man seems to be directing the business. And business is not so good now.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-26
The Trip to Rome, Ga.

think We will take a large automo- bile party to Rome, Ga, for the Fourth or July celebration in promotion of the the Birmingham-G Gadsden- Rome high way to be named officially the Forrest highway,' said John w. O'Neill. presi- dent of the Jefferson County Good Roads association, and vice president of the state association.
 everybody in Birmingham and 9adsden Is invited to Rome on this oo casion believe the Birmingham Cham Der Of Commerce will be represented by at least 150 members. Gadsden is going to send big delegation. This Rome to Birmingham route has aroused an im- mense amount of enthusiasm"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-26
Duty of Delegation

The city commission, as soon as a majority of the members of the lief ferson county legislative delegation signed a statement which in effect acknowledges the right of the people to be consulted in matters of govern ment, repealed it's ordinance under which a referendum would have been held Monday.
 The city was moved to take this course because in the event that a referendum on the same or any kin dred subject is necessary in the future, it could be held under the head of elections authorized by law.
 It is obvious that legal election is preferable to an extra-legal election, and inasmuch as the delegation has retired from it's original position in which it purposed to change the form of government without consulting the people, The Age-Herald has no crit icism of the commissions action to offer.
 This newspaper fought the five commissioner bill because it is weak, in some of it's sections dangerous, and on account of the fact that it was born in, and has been surrounded and constantly buoyed up by an in- sanitary atmosphere of politics. Had the referendum been held, the people would have overwhelming ly rejected the bill, and thus rebuked and embarrassed the legislative dele gation, it's chief support. Although it was natural that this paper on the eve of a battle in which it's cause would have been so gloriously sus- tained, should have harbored for a moment a desire to reap the fruit hanging ripe, it could not see the wisdom of checkmating a compromise which, in itself, constitutes a notable victory for the people.
 In this moment when the clouds of battle have rolled away, it is we'll for the delegation to realize the fact that no form of government in Birming- ham can prove entirely successful un- less the city is givcr oy the legislature the right to collect through taxation greater revenue When it is known that it is to the can<er of "no-money" to which the delegation must address itself, the folly of attempting to check the disease simply Ky hanging the form of government, is apparent.
 The people, it is evident, have about made up their minds to express, on the first opportunity, desire for the "city manager" plan of government. Without more money, however, even that plan, which represents still more concentration of executive thought and action, would disappoint. Let us first of all obtain at the hands of the legislature the right to tax our selves in that our government might be adequately supported, and then, If we should be dissatisfied under the ree-commissioner" form, we may in wisdom proceed to work a change.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-26
Save the "Jitneys"

The sage advice of Americas rich est man to "save the pennies" has in everyday vernacular been revised to read "save the jitneys."Y
 And a little Mexican bootback down in Beeville, Tex, has given d demonstration of what can be accom- plished in the way of systematic sav- ing by one of very slender means.
 The bootblack, whose name is Pablo Ysarro, is but Is years old, and he supports his mother, young sister and helps an older brother who has been out of work.
 That sounds like man-sized under taking, doesn't it? But the swarthy little bootblack, bending early and late over sundry boots, never loses his courage, nor seems to recognize the burden resting on his thin shoulders. Only the tinkle of small coins as they drop into the old tin cup on his tool box brings slow smile to his lips.
 Pablo wanted bank account like any other business man, and with this end in view every nickel that could be spared from living necessities was stored away in boxes at home. After a year of such saving he made his initial deposit, putting, few days ago, $13f in nickels in the First National bank of Beeville.
 Such record puts to shame thu
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-26

Tho Cummns ba ggage law is causing
 put salesmen. Jewelry concerns are. es- petially hard hit. The law makes it a nlisdemeanor to overvalue or undervalue the contents of trunk. If the value i5 s19o or less the railroad carries toe trunk free but a cnarge of 10 cents is made for
 each additional s10o in value A sales
 man with @ trunk containing $500O0 worth
 of samples would be compelled 10 pay the railroad company $49.9O as insurance against loss, making it possible in case
 the trunk were lost, for the jewclry com
 pany to recover the full value of it's con- tents. Il ls estimated that jewelry firms
 pay bout s270oO,Ooo annually for insur-
 ance, and this railroad insurance would be an additional burden. In the past nom
 inal value was paced on jewellers trunks. which were sent to their destination as or dlnary baggage. If the trunhs were lost the owners were indemnified by the regu- | lar insurance agencies. The Cunmins law also requires that tags be placed
 on baggage plainly stating the value of
 the contents and jewery firms point ont that this would greatly increase the dam ger Of having trunks of vaulbles stolen. Other manufacturers are finding the law troublesome. It is hoped that the next session 1f Congress will make some I change in the law.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-26
HarbOr Pilots

I have been very much surprised at some things contained in recent attacks on the Mobile harbor pilots" said Sterling A. Wood. Very few have been brought in actual contact with harbor pilots, and when they do casually meet them, and observe their apparently happy lives on pleasant days on beautiful harbor waters, are filled with the desire to take their job and do the work free. Consequently, that they should charge anything some- times passes the up-countrymans imagi nation But the truth is that the pleas ant day of the life of the pilot is not the rule, but the exception.
 Prom time to time I have been thrown with them, and always, as befited the landsman departed when anything was doing. It was the pilots business, how ever, to stay out whenever anything was doing and to take their chances. Thus in fair weather and foul and especially in foul, their duty is to guard the harbor entrances, to be ready at any minute of the day or night to board incoming steam CTS and to bring them into port; to be ready for week, when no boats came, and to be ready and able to handle all boats that did come even if a week s supply of boats came in one day. Our southern coast Is known to have terrific storms frequently, and 1t is the pilots s business to face them and to take what comes, good or bad, and if need be, after | the storm to have quiet funeral in Navy Cove as one of the incidents of the life
 ''If the charges are too high. let them | be settled on some conservative basis; but
 don't let us abuse the pilots: the profes, | sion is like that of soldier and they are
 always ready to give all they. have, il need be, including life, as a part of theil profession.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-26
VIEWS OF THE FRANK CASE

versity it may place Governor Slaton, he will have the satisfaction of knowing that the greater part of his fellow-citizens ap- plaud him and that he has clearly demon- strated the part executive clemency is designed to play.
 Houston Post: Governor Slaton, in com muting the death sentence of Leo M. Frank to life imprisonment. did exactly what he ought to have done and what the Post believed he would do the moment it became necessary for him to act.
 He need not fear he will suffer in pup- lie opinion because of his action The peo- pie of Georgia, even those who for the moment disapprove his course, must know that he did what was right under the cir cumstances and that the cause of justice has not suffered because of the commuta- ton of Franks death sentence to life Imprisonment.
 Baltimore Sun: Leo M. Frank, whose death sentence was commuted to life im- prsonment by Governor Saton of Geor- gia. can thank the people of other states and the newspapers of the country at large for having saved his life. It appears that the mob demanded a life because there had been a number of crimes like the Phagan affair. Once determined to
 get life it made little difference whose
 it was as long as there was possibility | that the accused was guilty. It is never
 wise to trust to the judgment or the de-
 mands of the mob Frank should have had as fair chance to prove his inno- | cense as had, for example, Becker. This
 was denied him. and so the only thing tha governor could do was commute the sen l tence which in the circumstances is to be commended
 Youngstown Telegram; Governor Slaton has saved his state from disgrace. He has spared it the ignominy of adopting a scale | of civilization somewhat lower than that
 of Turkey. He may have signed his polit- ical death warrant in Georgia, but he ia | free of the troublings of conscience and that is worth more than transient political preference.
 ! St. Louis Globe Democrat: The law
 abiding, self respecting citizens of Geor- gia must be humiliated by the conduct of the disorderly element following Governor Slaton's communication of the se- nce of Leo Frank. If the mobs had 50. ght to get at the prisoner for the pp--ose of ex- ecuting the terrible senteA the gover-
 nor had commuted, 1t would ha>e been
 comprehensible, although indefensible.
 But when they showed intentions of lynching the governor for the conscien- tious discharge of a constitutional duty.
 they branded themselves as reckless out.
 laws, actuated by murderous spirit