davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-12-08
WILL BEGIN FIGHT
TO HAVE ELECTRIC
BONDS VALIDATED
Weatherly Eager to Get
Half Million Made Legal
for North Birmingham
Plant

The opening gun in the city's fight to
have the municipal electric plant bonds
validated will be fired within the next
two weeks.
Bonds to the extent of 100000 were
voted upon by the citizens of Birming-
ham in June. These bonds were for the
express purpose of building a municipal
electric plant at North Birmingham. An
injunction was filed by T. C. Mcdonald,
thereby tieing the hands of the commits
soners.
A set of accepted facts is now being
drawn up by the attorneys on both sides.
Within two weeks these facts will be
submitted to the city court and argu-
ments presented.
Commissioner Weatherly stated yester-
day that there were only few points Of
difference between the two factions and
that these points in dispute would be set
tied by the taking of expert testimony to
verify the theories advanced by the city.
The main point of contention is that the
ballots which were rendered each voter
to register in favor or against the bond
ISSUE bore the wording, Electric light
and power plant" The opposition bases
its attack upon the validity of these
bonds on the theory that the constitu-
tional right of the municipality does not
inclute power" and that since electric
light and power" was marked upon the
ballots, the entire proceeding was in
valid.
Commissioner Weatherly has had nu-
merous conferences with city officials and
expert engineers, among them being Mar
tin Iide. In speaking of the coming
fight, Commissioner Weatherly said:
I'VE expect to win. The bonds were is
sued according to the law, and the citi-
zens expressed their sentiment in favor
of municipal light and power plant
last June, when they voted in favor of
the bonds. 1t means much more to Biz
mingham than anything else now pend
ing. Lower light and power rates are
being given throughout the country
where municipal electric plants are in
operation. This rule shall apply to Bir-
mingham when our plant is built"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-12-08

When such bargains these are to
be had, is there any excuse for an
hours delay in attending this saIef
If you will hurry up little you will
find all the good pianos in this stock,
such as "Knabe." "Kimball," "Stein-
way" Fischer" "Mathushek," Elm
erson," "Kurtzman' and about all the
other good ones, either new slightly
used or secondhand. All ''red tagged"
in plain figures at prices that will
make them sell.
SPECIAL NOTICE
We have been requested by some
of the makers of the pianos in this
stock not to sell any of them to deal
ers or persons buying to sell again,
which request will be strictly carried
out by us.
Out-of-town people should patron
ize this sale. 1t will pay you to come
hundreds of miles to buy piano.
Every instrument warranted to be as
represented, or your money back If
we cannot please you. If you cannot
come, write, phone or wire us for bar
gain list, or tell US how much you
want to pay, leave selection to us, and
we will please you fully.
Our Thfrty-fourth Anniversary Piano
Sale started December 1 and will only
last a short time. If you can pos
sibly get here, don't miss 1t. Open
evenings until $3.50. 2o17 First avenue.
SEALS PLANO CO.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-12-08
EX-SHERIFF ARCHIE
R. ANDERSON COMES
OUT WITH THE FACTS
Prominent Man Says Money
Couldn't Buy Good Tan
lac Has Done Him

Money could not buy the good Tanlac
has done me, and 1 gladly recommend it
for what it has done in my case" said
Hen. Archie R. Anderson, eX-sheriff OF
Harris county, Tex.
Mr.. Anderson is unquestionably not
only one of the best known, but
one of the most popular men
that ever held office in Texas
After serving as deputy sheriff of Harris
county for II years, he was elected chief
of police of the city of Houston He had
occupied this office only short time
when the sheriff of Harris county died.
Mr.. Andersons friends then persuaded
him to make the race for the uneXpired
term of sheriff, to which he was easily
elected. He was honored with reelection
seven different times and served the peo-
pie in this important office for 10 con-
secutive years. Four years ago Mr.. An
derson declined reelection and retired to
private life. He cast his lot among the
people of Houston and is a large property
owner and foremost citizen of that place.
II was in a run down condition" con-
tirued Mr.. Anderson and had no appe-
tite at all. | could hardly sleep at night
and never felt like getting UP in the
mornings l was so tired. l had the worst
form of indigestion, suffered all the time
from gas on my stomach and was con-
tinually belching up undgested food. 1
had to take my coffee without sugar as
when I drank it with sugar 1 could just
belch for hours. / would bloat and swell
up like I was poisoned and suffered with
neuralgia pains of the worst sort and
nothing seemed to help me, except in a
temporary way. just can't tell you how
did suffer for the past four years. and
up to the time l began taking Tanlac. a
few weeks ago.
when l read the testimonials of some
who had been relieved of troubles like
mine l Just felt like / couldn't make a
mistake by taking Tanlac and il has
done even more for me than I had eX-
pected. began to feel better after taking
my first bottle and have just now
started on my third and I'm a different
man already. I sleep like a log now and
eat just any and everything l want
without the slightest discomfort after
ward. I am glad to indorse Tanlac be-
cause it does the work. and I'm telling
all my friends just what I'm telling you.
] never felt better in my life than | do
since taking Tanlac. l am willing for
you to publish my statement and let
every suffering person who may wish
benefit by my experience with this great
medicine"
Tanlac is sold exclusively in Birming-
ham by Eugene Jacobs drug store and
Patton-Pope Drug Co., in Ensley by ID.
w. Morris Drug Co., in Bessemer by
Pegram- Patton Drug Co.. in Pratt City
by Gale Drug Co., and in North Biz
mingham by Walker Drug Co,-Adv,
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-12-08
Jury Fails to Agree in
Case of CIantOn Banker

Clanton, December 7.-(Special.) "A mis-
trial was the result of the jury's de-
lberations in the case against w. l..
Mullins, charged with accepting depos-
it's for the Clanton bank with the
knowledge that the bank was insolvent.
The Jury was out II hours. The trial OF
this case has consumed two days of the
time of the circuit court, and has cost
the state possibly $500. Two other in
dictments stand against Mullins.
The time of Judge McCoras court was
occupied today in the trial of two muir
der cases. One was a case of a negro
man named Walker Sparrow, charged
with the killing of negro woman. The
Jury retired in this case at o'clock.
The other was the case of J. NJ. Bice
for the killing of Matt Davis recently.
verdcts have not been rendered in eth
er case.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-12-08
I'M THE PICTURESANDOUT
BY H. S. RYALL

AS predicted, Lenore Ulrich. in THE
Road to Love-" packed the Strand yes
terday.
Scenes of the desert, the oasis and
the city; of conflict. daring, adventure,
love and romance blend in this most
fascinating photoplay.
This interesting screen story is the
attraction at the Strand again today.
Jim Grimsby's Boy" with Frank
Keenan, and Enid Marley, at the TRAN
gle, is another delightful play by these
two favorites.
1t is story of the gold regions of
the west and thrills with romance and
adventure. Old Jim Grimsby is a tough
old miner living off in the mountains
with his daughter whom he has raised
as boy. He reads in a paper that a
tenderfoot sheriff has been elected and
to show his contempt he holds IN the
dance hall and lacks UP a note to the
sheriff: Let the tenderfoot sheriff cum
and git me. He knows me, Jim Grims-
by"
OF course Old Jim Grimsby finally
becomes reconciled to his daughter and
the play ends as it should.
Emily Stevens is at the Rialto TODAY
in "The Wager" a five-act Metro Won
derplay, written and directed by George
D. Baker.
1.-THE Wager is offered as an extra
ordinary entertainment and is said TO
offer wider range for Miss Stevens
talents than either Destiny" or "The
Wheels of Justice" two of her for
mer successes.
.
Seventeen" with Louis Huff and
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-12-08
What Is Motive of Penrose
In ReDiDing Sectiondlism?
This is Question Now Being Asked Since Pennsyl-
vanian introduced Measure Which is Identical
With Famous "Force" Bill Aimed at the
South in Years Gone By
By HUGH w. ROBERTS

Washington, December Z-(special)
What is the object of Senator Penrose's
force bill?
For it is true that the Pennsylvania
has introduced such measure. 1t is true
that he processes to be so anxious that
the negro of the south cast his vote as
formerly it was cast that he would send
federal bayonets below the Mason-Dixon
line to put into effect the reformation. 3"
What object has he in view?
This question is regarded as pertinent
because it is common knowledge that Mr..
Penrose could not pass his bill even
through a epublican-certainly not a
democra tic-Congress Since the late
Senators Morgan of Alabama. and Ray
nor of Maryland talked with logic abso-
lutte the old abolition measure to death.
no public man has attempted its resur-
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-12-08
Bankers Buy Dutch Stock

New York, December 1.-THE pur-
chases by Kuhn, Loeb & Co. of $4,000
shares of 100 guilders each of the Royal
Dutch company, the European associates
of the Standard Oil company, was an
nounced by the banking firm today.
These shares will be transferred to New
York and 222, 900 shares of new stock will
be issued against them in American dol
lar denominations. The transaction in
wolves about $2,960000. The proceeds, it
was understood, would be used to develop
oil fields which the company owns in the
Dutch West Indies, United States. Rus
STA, Egypt, Persia, Mexico and other
countries.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-12-08

rection-that is. until Penrose saw new
light in the sky.
1t is said that the PENNSYLVANIA has
in mind two purposes:
/. To keep before the country the Kelfer
issue of 'sectionalism,' for its effect in
the congressional elections two years
hence.
2. To offset the effect, even to Illustrate
the attempt of democrats to find out just
how much money republicans used in a
successful attempt to carry New York,
Illinois and Indiana. and an unsuccessful
attempts to put Judge Hughes in the
White House.
The new force force bill will in all
probability die in committee. 1t is said
that it may never be debated on the floor
of the Senate. If that prediction ma
terializes, then the advertising that PEN
rose is said to seek may never be ac-
quired.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-12-08
THE: WEATHER
Weather Forecast


Washington, December forecast Tor
Alabama: Rain Friday; Saturday colder
and probably fair.
South Carolina: Partly cloudy Friday;
rain at night or Saturday; colder Satur-
day west portion.
Georgia: Rain Friday and probably Sat
usrday; colder Saturday.
Florida: Fair south and central; rain
Friday north portion; Saturday rains ex-
cept fair extreme south and extreme
northwest portions; colder Saturday
northwest portion.
Mississippi: Rain and colder Friday,
probably freezing temperature at night
in interior; Saturday fair, much colder.
Tennessee: Rain Friday; colder west
portion; much colder at night; Saturday
colder and probably fair.
Kentucky: Rain and colder Friday;
much colder at night; Saturday fair,
colder
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-12-08
Atlanta Carman Convicted
of Dynamiting Street Car

Atlanta. December ii. L. Wilson
striking motorman. was convicted by
jury in the superior court here late
today of dynamiting street car on
November z, last. in which several per-
sons were injured. The jury recon-
mended mercy. Wilson is the second
defendant to be convicted on this
charge J. r. Gunter, another strik-
ing motorman, was convicted last
night and a sealed verdict opened in
court this morning. Presiding Judge
Ben H. Hill announced that he would
pass sentence on both men tomorrow.
The penalty is from five to ten years.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-12-08
Shoemakers Get Increase

Lynchburg, Va, December THE
Craddock-Terry company today an
nounced that about January employees
in it's shoe factories here earning less
than 500 a month would be paid 10
per cent bonus for the last eight weeks
of 1916, and at the same time the bonus
will be continued as long as industrial
conditions warrant. The weekly hours
will also be reduced from 50 to "a. The
bonus affects 1900 to 1900 shoe workers.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-12-08
Judge Scores Autoists
Who "Honk" and Expect
People to Climb Trees

Little Rock, December fudge
Robert j. Lea in circuit court here
today scored automobile drivers who
think that whenever they honk their
horns pedestrians should climb trees
or telegraph poles" and told a Jury
which found a negro chauffeur guilty
of involuntary manslaughter that the
verdict was an Outrage"
"a verdict of second degree murder
clearly would have been justified"
Judge Lea said.
The man on trial was charged with
having run over and killed an Swear
old child
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-12-08
Think Bremen Was Lost
in Storm on Atlantic

Amsterdam, December 7.-(Via LondonD
From a statement made by Alfred Lob
mann, president of the board of directors
of the German Ocean Navigation COM
pany, in which he declined to say any
thing about the German merchant sub
marine Bremen except that the vessel
was neither torpedoed nor captured, the
Cologne Gazette infers that the Bremen
was lost during a storm in the Atlantic.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-12-08
18TH .lL HEAR
FFyd[ TO FORCE
oIILES TO COMPLY
Wilkinson Gets Aldermanic
Petition in Courts By
the Mandamus Route
SAYS 1T WAS EASY
TO GET SIGNATURES
Thinks Laferty Law Contains
"Joker," Which Courts viii
Not Allow to Remain
in Force

Following the refusal of Probate
Judge J. P. stiles to receive his petit
ton, which seeks an election on. the
question of returning to the alder
manic form of government, Attorney
Horace c. Wilkinson filed a petition of
mandamus in the circuit court late
yesterday afternoon.
In his petition for mandamus which
will be heard by Judge c. B. Smith
a week from Saturday Mr.. Wilkinson
sets out that he has the signatures of
44S7 qualified voters and that under
the law Probate Judge Stiles should
be ordered to receive and check the
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-12-08
Congressional Library Grows

Washington, December THE Library
of Congress, third largest in the worli
and largest on the western hemisphere
added more than 5000 volumes to it
shelves during the year ending in June
according to the report of the librarian
DR.. Herbert Putnam, presented today q
Congress. The library now contains 2,451.
81. books. 1854, 200 maps and charts, 77o.24
volumes and pieces of music and 1920
prints.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-12-08
Santo Domingo Quiet

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic,
December THE situation is now quiet
in Santo Domingo, in which American
military rule was proclaimed last month.
Payments by the government which were
suspended for several months on account
OF the retention of public funds by the
American officials have been resumed.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-12-08

Jack Pickford, continues today at the
Colonial.
You should see this delightful Booth
Harrington boy story in pictures 1t
lis refreshing and is story that will
please both the old and the young.
"A Stranger from Somewhere" fea-
turing Franklin Farnum and Agnes
Vernon, is the attraction today at the
Trianon.
This is a Bluebird picture and is said
to be one of the best of their late re-
leases.
I read this last night in Opper's
Aesops fables:
"An ass, roaming by the mountain,
saw his own shadow as the sun was
setting, become greatly extended and
magnified and he said to himself: Why
should /, being of such an immense
size and extending nearly an acre in
length, be afraid of the lion? Ought L
not to be acknowledged as king of all
the collected BEASTS? While he was in
dulging in these proud thoughts, lion
fell upon him and killed him. He ex-
claimed with too late repentance,
'Wretched me! this over estimating of
myself is the cause of my destruction
Moral When you measure yourself
be sure to get the figures right"
''Narol When you measure yourself
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-12-08

Berne, December 7.-(Via Paris. )-Ex-
traordinarily heavy snowfalls In the Alps
have blocked roads and railways. The
Milan-Paris express has been snow
bound.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-12-08
HARD TO GET NAMES

Every man with political experience
will verify my statement that it is ex-
tremely difficult to get up a petition con-
tanning 1000 names or more. The oppo-
nents to the Sunday movies worked assid-
uously for months and months. and it
was only recently that they were able to
show more than 1900 names of qualified
voters for their cause
However. think of what it means when
over 400 or more than two-thirds of the
voting strength of the city. voluntarily
sign a petition seeking change of gov
eminent"
Attorney Wilkinson attempted to file
his petition seeking a change of govern
mont yesterday under the provisions of
the Laferty bill. The Laferty law, in
it's caption, indicates that all cities and
towns in Alabama which desire change
of government can do SO by presenting
to the judge of probate a petition signed
by qualified electors averaging at least
three voters to every 100 of population.
Throughout the bill. which is lengthy,
and goes into every detail of the proposed
changes the verbiage is that it affects
all cities and towns in Alabama, but in
the concluding four lines of the law, the
folio wing is inserted: THAT this act shall
not apply to cities having population
of $1,000 or more according to the last
or any subsequent federal census"
According to Mr.. Wilkinson, this leg
islative Joker was placed in the Laferty
bill at it's third reading.
THE JOKER" said Mr. Wilkinson,
will not stand the scrutiny of the courts
1t was put there to deter any attempts
in Montgomery, Mobile or Birmingham
from seeking change in government,
and incidentally it was generally thought
no huge petition could be secured to back
such a movement However, the consti-
tuition of Alabama is very clear on the
matter and the courts will undoubtedly
hold that the last four lines of the Laf-
erty bill, which changes the entire purport
OF the law, have no business there"
With hearing a week from Saturday
on the mandamus proceedings, Mr. Will
kinson anticipates decision from Judge
Smith about week later, and then a
| final decision from the supreme court
sometime in February
81 would like to have the election, -
said Mr.. Wilkinson. Just about the time
| the city commission is starting out on its
| campaign to collect a IS street tax from
| the citizens. The collection of this IS is;
| q source of much qualification for me. as
| it certainly has inspired many signatures
! TO my petition
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-12-08
Local Data
Weather Conditions

Summary of observations made at
United States weather bureau stations
during the "a hours ending at p. M, 18th
meridian time, December Z, 1916:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-12-08
Every Piano Is a Great Bargai
We Started Out Sell 237 Pianos Less Than Three Weeks
Time-Its Big Task But Big Things Possible If You
Use the Right Kind of Publicity
Only the Best Pianos at This Sale
Come and Select Piano of Your Favorte Make at Saving
$780, 5000 to $3.50 Some Styles and Pay It on Prac
cally Your Own Terms-We Want Them All Out
in the Next Ten Days
Open Evenings Till 8:3O-2017 1st Ave.
pIAoNs FOR EVERY HOME

eral way. You should come to see for
yourself just what this sale means to
you
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-12-08

petition and then forthwith call an
election.
Before filing his petition for man
damus Mr.. Wilkinson paid a visit to
the city hall where he conferred with
City Attorney NJ. NJ Ullman regard
ing an agreement as to when the man
damus proceedings could be heard and
also to see if the city attorney would
accept service without the issuance
of the r1i1e nfsf
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-12-08

damus proceedings could be heard and
also to see if the city attorney would
accept service without the issuance
of the rule nisi
ULLMAN AGREES
After brief conference Mr.. I'LL
man tentatively agreed to a hearing
a week from Saturday and also ac-
cepted service on the mandamus pro-
ceedings as the attorney for Judge
Stiles.
Judge Smith when apprised of the
filing of the mandamus proceedings
last night and of the tentative agree
ment between the attorneys, stated
that while he was very busy he would
be glad to accommodate them with a
hearing on the mandamus petition on
the date selected.
eff the attorneys have agreed on a
hearing for week from Saturday, -
said Judge Smith, that will be agree
able to me. even though Saturday is
my busy day. If the attorneys decide
on a hearing sooner than that 1 sup
pose 1 will accommodate them"
1t is understood that no matter what
is the purport of Judge Smiths deci-
sion, an appeal will carry it to the su-
preme court.
Mr.. Wilkinson stated yesterday aft
ernoon that his checkers worked on
the petition until they checked the
names of 4437 qualified voters and
then stopped, although there were still
about 1000 more signatures to be COM
pared with the poll lists.
WITH HIS OWN MONEY
81 have been accused" said Mr.. Will
kinson, 'of being the catspaw of
scheming politicians in this project,
but that is innuendo that emanates
from those who tfemble at the wrath
of a Justly exasperated electorate. I
want to say right now that 1 have no
associates, that no one is backing me
or has been backing me, and that no
money has been spent in getting up
the petition but my own.
In all | can take an oath that l have
spent no more than $50 in the securing of
probably 5000 names of qualified voters,
which all the leading politicians have re-
peatedly assured me could not be done
with any amount of money in Birming-
ham. AS a matter of fact, the petition
itself, printing and ALL cost ABOUT S2o. ii.
and 1 spent about s. more securing copies
of the legislative record at Montgomery.
Now, l will tell you how the sigma
lures of qualified voters came to me.
Several months ago I announced my in
ter ton through The Age-Herald of start
ing petition for an election on the
question of returning to the aldermanic
form of government. My troubles i'm
nediately began. In all hours of the day
or night young men and old men would
call me up. or my wife. or my law part
ner, announcing their support of the
proposition and requesting a copy of the
petition to sign and have their friends
sign. Personally l can state that l have
never requested one voter to sign the
petition, so that l can state with a clear
conscience that the thousands of names
on the petition are the work of the peo-
pie themselves. I was simply the agent
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-12-08

"A Stranger from Somewhere" fea-
turing Franklin Farnum and Agnes
Vernon, is the attraction today at the