davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16

in South America" said MT. McWane 'it will be necessary for the United States producers to do what foreign competitors have done-send our own men down there, men of good charac- ter and habits, to live there, to learn the language, the trade customs and the wants of the people. If we do this the question of shipping facilities will in time take care of itself"
 Practical wisdom boiled down for easy application. MT. McWane is Alabama's representative in the na- tional council for foreign trade and his observations made on his recent trip will doubtless be utilized in the information bureau at the councils headquarters.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16
Carranza's Predicament

Mexico's first chief, caught be- tween the devil and the deep sea, is making frantic efforts to extricate himself. While conservative people in the United States can easily under stand the difficulties in which he is now placed and can sympathize with him to a certain extent, it will be inn possible to comply with his requests without sacrificing national dignity and self-respect. It is easy to twist diplomatic notes and their interpre- tation seems nowadays to depend al- together on the desires of the gov- ernment interpreting them. If United
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16
w1cKEDEsT SPOT IN AMERICA

From the Philadelphia Record.
 Many visitors to the recent expositions in California, who stopped in San Diego, also took look at Tia Juana, Mexico, a little group of one-story shacks. canvas walled and scenery fronted, that lay spraddled out in the broiling hot sun just far enough over the line to escape the legal restrictions of California and the United States government.
 Tia Juana probably was-and is-the wickedest spot on the American continent a sort of a last stand of the "gunmen,' sure-thing gamblers, 'honk-a-tonk" keep CTS and just plain desperadoes, who have been run out of all other sections of the west. Opium smuggling, gun running conducting saloons with win proof" gam bling houses attached, hippodrome- bull fights, in which the tourist was separated from ss for the privilege of seeing fat bull bled to death, were some of the man. fold activities of the place. The only person supposed to have legitimate place of business in the town was a China man, who conducted a laundry, and he was restored to the esteem of his fellow citizens when it was discovered that the laundry merely was mask for an opium joint.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16
Interest in Music

With the festival concerts to be given here in conjunction with a famous New York orchestra, May II, Birmingham will close an exceptional lv brilliant musical season, and ar- engagements will soon be made by the Music Study club for still more bril- liant series of attractions next year.
 In addition to the musical activities under the auspices of the club, which is the center of large undertakings, the biennial convention of the Ma tional Federation of Music Clubs will hold a ten days meeting here, and several symphony concerts will be embraced in the convention schedule.
 Since Birmingham has shown its appreciation of the best in music, the 1917 announcements should include at least four symphony concerts, dis tributed through the season. A sug- gestion is submitted that the Music Study club combine it's artist recitals with a series of orchestral concerts and sell season tickets for a small price-$10 or SIP. By so doing the club would still further commend it. self to the favor of the music loving public.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16

States troops were sent into Mexico under a misunderstanding, the situa- lion is exceedingly awkard for Car
 ranza. but even more exasperating to General Funston and the army offi- cers who have been trying to capture Villa.
 However, it is more probable that
 Carranza, fearing the uncertain tefn- per of the Mexican people, while try ing at the same time to preserve ami cable relations with the United States government, to which he owes in large measure his present position, has been trying to placate both sides and has decided that it is safer to see just how far he can go with the American government, rather than take any further chances with the Mexicans. No dependence can be placed on promises and pledges made by Mex1- can authorities, while trusting to the supposed friendliness of the lower
 classes has already resulted disas-
 trously at Parral. The American
 troops which have penetrated Mexico
 would be exposed to the danger of an
 initiation if attacked by the Carranza
 troops, which have been placed at
 strategic points along the border foi
 purpose which has not yet been
 clearly explained.
 Villa has not been captured, there lis no evidence to prove that he has
 been killed and it is probable that he |still has more followers than the dis patches indicate. The work of tht American troops has not been accom- |plished by any means, yet to with draw them now would be humiliatine to the American government, and t.
 continue the punitive expedition witt lreinforcements will be almost certain
 to bring about intervention.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16
NEW YoRK's CAVE JEWELLERS


 From the New York Globe
 Mayor Mitchell is quoted as opposing the effort to stop cave dwelling in New York because of his fear, if residences in caves were forbidden. 5000 families would not know where to go. This brings to mind the solicitude, when the enact ment of the tenement house law was un- der consideration. of those who feared that the houseless would cucumber our streets if landlords were not allowed to rent pig sites. There is nothing to the argument.
 New York has the unenviable distinction of being one of the few civilized com munities where cave dwelling Is permit ted. Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago, St. Louis and San Francisco do not allow families to be housed under ground Nor do London. Paris and Ber- lin. The idea prevails elsewhere that the right sort of men and women cannot be raised in an environment of dampness and darkness, with disease-laden dirt flowing in at the front and meeting fumes coming from the furnace or boiler in the rear. It is about time for the same idea to prevail here
 When the tenement house law was passed in 1901 it forbade cellars to be used as family habitations unless their ceilings were at least two feet about grade. But through the efforts of the late Senator Grady. representing interests that think more of rent than of tuberculosis, the law was emasculated through the abolition of the prohibition In new tenements it was provided that the basement. if used for habitation. should have it's ceiling four and one-half feet above ground. But in the old tenements underground dwell- ings were permitted. Nearly 20 years have elapsed, and in the meantime de- | teroration has steadily proceeded Ii would seem as if the period of grace should be over.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16
AN IRRELEVANT PEND

From the West Bend, Wis, News.
 When returning from church last Sun day about the noon hour, and while pass ing through Barton, Deputy Game War den Bruce Wescott of the town of Farm ington saw a young fellow on the bank of the river, near the mill, and next to him a bag which seemed to contain good catch of fish, while far away dip net
 was hanging into the water. As this is
 the closed season for game fish, MT. Wes-
 colt suspected a violation of the fish laws.
 His suspicion was increased when he
 heard some one hello to the young fellow:
 Sandy, beat it!'' The latter no sooner
 heard the warning voice, when he took
 lis bag under his arm and ran away
 as fast as he could. MT. Wescott jumped from his buggy and ran after the fugitive When close upon his heels, the latter turned around and shook the bag. The noise which came from it was that oi empty beer bottles striking against each other MT. Wescott saw that he had beer fooled and gave up the chase. The tricR probably was done with beer bottles te make it so much more disagreeable fol the persecutor, who Is believer in tenn perance. MT. Westcott, by his conscien' tious efforts to enforce the fish and game | laws, aroused the anger of some people who still cannot see what these laws are good for and insist on having their owr way But such tricks are irrelevant ane punishable.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16
MuCH-TRAvELED RED CAP

New York Correspondence Pittsburg Dispatch.
 There is fred cap," meaning porter,
 at the Grand Central station who speaks IS languages, who has been with General
 Kitchener all through Africa and later
 was Colonel Roosevelt's guide. His name is George Gabriel and he is an Abyssin- ian. He is toting grips for the sole pur- pose of making enough money to pay for his schooling. George has gone into the
 depths of life and has absorbed from great men and great dangers a certain stern philosophy and some rather serious ambitions. His philosophy holds that all
 men should be free and equal. that char acter is the only thing that makes one man better than another. and that the pigment of ones skin has nothing to do
 with the color of one's soul. His ambi-
 tion at present is to see that small por- ton of the world which has hitherto es- capped him. the western United States, Canada and Hawaii. Later when the war is over, he hopes to return to his wife and two little sons in Austria, take them
 to Abyssinia and write sort of boiledf down encyclopedia of useful facts gleaneN
 from his journeyings, in his native tongue
 for his native people.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16
NED BRACE TALKS ABOUT THE CRITICAL
 SITUATION WHICH CONFRONTS US IN MEXICO

THH Mexican situation appears t ts be very serious and it begins to
 look like the United States gov ernment will be forced to take decided action.
 The Mexican people as a whole-reared on revolutions-are intensely hostile to- wards what they term, "Gringos'
 The better element of the Mexicon peo- pie appreciate the interest and the fair ness of the United States officials in en- deavoring to bring about stability of gov ernment in Mexico. But the masses of the people are uneducated and of the type who. believe that the United States wants to take their country.
 It, therefore, looks as if we shall have to handle the situation in Mexico just as we did in Cuba and in the Philippines, and many of the far-sighted Americans believe that the quicker we do this the better.
 It will mean more or less of a war It will mean the continuation of the march of troops deeper into Mexico. and it may mean the landing of a force at Vera Cruz and at Tampico.
 Carranza evidently fears the populistic feeling in Mexico against Americans. It would, however, be the sensible thing on his part to call upon the American gov ernment to aid him in properly establish ing stable form of government for Mexico.
 The situation Is critical. to say the least of it, and the indications are that we shall find it necessary to make real invasion of the country.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16
Developing New Trade

The results of an organized effort to build up United States commerce with South America, started about three years ago by the national coun- cil for foreign trade under the chair manship of James A. Farrell, presi- dent of the Steel corporation, are now being shown in a most encouraging way by government statistics.
 The United States department of commerce has just issued statement in which it is seen that this coun- try's exporters are shipping to South America twice the volume of goods moving in that direction year ago and leach months figures are sending the record higher" Exports to South America during the last seven months totaled in value $97,000,000, which was double the value of trade with that section of the western hem isphere for the corresponding months a year ago.
 In the two large conventions held under the auspices of the national council for foreign trade-one at St. Louis and the other at New Orleans all phases of the export business were discussed. Many of the papers read and addresses delivered were illu- minating, and all of them were along practical lines.
 The points most stressed were those that dealt with the necessity of com mercial preparedness. Not few speakers harped on the importance of a study of the Spanish language and of better knowledge of South Ameri- ca's social life as well as the business habits obtaining in that part of the world.
 Manufacturers, bankers and other business men have made decided prog. ress in cultivating commercial rela- tions with South America, as the gov ernment figures show, but the next two or three years should witness much greater progress.
 In this connection the interview of I. R. McWane of Birmingham, an en- terprising and markedly successful cast pipe manufactures, which ap- peared in The Age-Herald few days ago, was of distinct concern. This public-spirited citizen had just re. turned from South America, whithel he went to make a survey of the busi- ness situation. He remained in that country three months-long enough tt ret an intimate understanding o1 South Americas commercial attitude toward the United States, and of tht things necessary to be done to de fslnp reciprocal business.
 'sH we ever expect to build trade
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16

The city commissioners of Birmingham are finally getting down to business, and
 lion dollar bond issue for schools is good, provided they exercise due care and proper business judgment in the expendi- ture of this money. Nor Is their plan of increasing the electric light plant which the city has already taken over. a bad one
 In taking in the suburb of North Bir- mingham, the city had to take over the municipal electric light plant of this suburb. They found it necessary to main tain it and to extend it in order to op- terests of the people who owned it. Hav- ing this on their hands, 1t is only right and proper that they should extend it and light the city buildings and city parks and eventually, the city streets with it.
 If this plant is properly managed, and if the proposed bond issue of $500, ,O00 will put it in proper shape, it would be 8 good investment
 As a rule, I am opposed to munich pal ownership of public utilities such as telephones, street railways, etc. But Birmingham was forced to take over this municipally owned electric light plant of North Birmingham and, having it, it was only proper that the city should extend it. Anything else would be poor business Judgment. This plant can be made to pay handsomely and it will save the city large vol ume of money annually if it is oper-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16
THE BRUTE.
From the Burlington, 1a.. Gazette.

From the Burlington, Ia., Gazette.
 Wanted-A refined. attractive and well educated woman, over 35 years old, on Sundays between g a. m. and p. m., to act as companion to married man whose wife spends most of her time on Sunday going to church. Compensation will be from s10 to $25 per day based on qualifications. Very attractive surround ings, with servants. automobiles, boats, etc, at disposal. in fact almost everything desired for pleasure and recreation. Ad- dress Lonely Married Man," care Ga zette.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16
only Foreign order.


 According to Assistant Solicitor Wal ter Brewer, the lack of construction work is due to the fact that the steel and iron industry is mainly occupied at the present time in filling war orders, ' while the temporary market is high.
 'rhe steel men realize'' said MT. Brewer. that the European market of the present day is only good during the duration of the war. and they are strain ing every resource to fill all the de- mands from Europe. This situation works hardship in this country, as railroads automobile industries and contractors are discouraged in their efforts through the fact that their orders cannot be filled And this means that the steel companies are prospering-but the others are go- ing through a period of enforced calm ness"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16
Advertisinr mat Gets Results

That advertising in The Age-Herald sells the goods is again demonstrated by the response to a 5-inch advertisement printed in the Sunday Age-Herald by Joseph Greenberg, agent for Ground Gripper shoes. MT. Greenberg's letter to The Age-Herald follows:
 T wish to say that when opening my place of business about three weeks ago with the exclusive agency for the won- derful Ground Gripper shoe, some very successful business men of this city pre- dicted that my enterprise was doomed to failure regardless of the meritorious qualities of my wonderful shoe, on ac- count of my out of the way location.
 However, they did not take into con- sideration the result-getting qualities of The Sunday Age-Herald.
 Carefully I began to advertise exclu- sively in The Age-Herald and the result was astonishing. l can trace nine sales made on one day direct to a single ad vertisement in your valued paper and I consider the cost of my rdvertisng a very good investment"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16
THE GOLD. OLD SONG"

By Charles Kingsley. When all the world is young. lad,
 And all the trees are green; And every goose a swan, land.
 And every lass queen; Then hey for boot and horse. lad,
 And round the world away; Young blood must have it's course, lad, And every dog his day. When all the world is old, lad,
 And all the trees are brown; And all the sport is stale, lad,
 And all the wheels run down; Creep home, and take your place there,
 The spent and maim'd among God grant you find one face there
 You loved when all was young.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16
REGULATION OF COOKING

REGULATION OF COOKING
 From the New York World.
 Senator Shoots eloquent plea for pre- raredness in the American kitchen de- serves the thoughtful attention of the country. If national defense is to be ade- quate, it must be thorough and should by all means include a satisfactory home commssariat for the husbands and sons who are to compose it's armies. Urging | increased appropriations for home eco romics, he said:
 Ut is crime, and is wicked in the sight of God, to have the products of the farm
 made next to useless by poor cooking. Tens of thousands of homes are ruined | by helpless and ignorant housekeepers, and the American garbage can is the fattest in all the world
 ! A fat garbage can is no doubt a good i index of national prosperity. But if bad cooking is crime, the law should take cognizance of it and, considering it's prev alence the country over, it is obvious that l federal legislation alone can deal com prehensively with it. The appointment l of congressional committee to take tes- l timony on the incompetence of American cooks, to be followed by an interstate cooking act prescribing penalties and ere ating a permanent culinary commission
 to regulate and control the preparation of food in American homes, is clearly in- | dicated.
 Let not our sympathies with Belgium and Poland blind us to the tens of thou
 sands of American homes ruined by bad cooking.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16
HOTEL LOBBIES
Want. Coosa River opened

Attorney George D. Motley of Gadsden was a visitor at the library of the Bir- mingham Bar association yesterday. He reports conditions prosperous in his town.
 Many working people are coming to Gadsden on account of the industrial sit uation there," said MT. Motley. Every plant is either running or being repaired. The Gulf States Steel company is build ing a by-product plant and the Alabama company is repairing the only idle fur mace in the city But Gadsden people are very anxious to have the Coosa river opened all the way to tidewater. They don't care who does the opening-the government or the Alabama Power com pany-just so it is done"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16
ALABAMA PRESS

Albertville Banner: Birmingham and San Francisco engaged in a little tete-a- tete the other day when direct telephonic communication between the two cities was established.
 Gadsden Journal: Indications now are that valuable lead deposits have been To- cated in Marshall county. The mineral , resources of this section seem to grow. rather than become depleted by develop ment.
 Greensboro Watchman: High-priced gasoline has not caused people to stop
 using thenr cars, nor deterred others from buying. The old horse was not disposed 1 of when corn got to be s1 a bushel and l the price of hay in accordance. And so it will be with the automobile. People will continue to use them even if "gas" goes
 to 50 cents a gallon.
 Union Springs Herald: At some of the reunions held within recent years the vet erans have complained that hotels took advantage of the visitors and charged |
 exorbitant rates. The reunion this year
 will be held in Birmingham, and this city lis already publishing to the world that
 no such practice will be seen when the veterans gather there in May.
 Montevallo Advertiser: The Alabama
 Bankers association has not only struck lupon good scheme to foster its own financial resources. by giving valuable in- formation to the farmers of the state through the excellent lectures of Mrs.
 Mathis. but has also devised a praise
 worth plan for promoting more cordial re-
 lations between banker and farmer. fol
 1t would be mighty dull and ungrateful
 man who would not feel thankful for the privilege of hearing Mrs. Mathis. She
 doesn't try to be an orator. but in a plain
 common-sense and attractive way she
 shows how our soils will make Alabama
 rich if her people cultivate their brains as well as their crops.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16

BEGINNING THE DAY--O God or all grace, as Thou forgfvesf, may l. UeIp me to seek out him who mas in nsured me that we may pc ohe' Grant that we shall not 1mprison ourselves fin the ugly dungeon oi misunderstanding and Ill ieeHns' T-,t. -. in our labor and our love and our prayers that we may show sorth 1ybrist to the world. In His name. Amen.-H. M. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16
THE IDLER.

On days like these To take ones ease
 And watch the cloud-ships sailing, Nor vex the heart To play some part
 That time proves unavailing- Beneath tree At rest to be
 And lost in idle dreaming Till sunset dyes The western skies
 And evening stars are gleaming, Seems better far Than senseless war
 And toll, the soul enthralling, In some vast hive Where thousands strive,
 Nor heed spring voices calling.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16

If the number of United States troops in Mexico were limited to about one reg iment of cavalry their annihilation, If that were decided on, would be compar- | atively easy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16
BLURRED BLISS.

What is the length of this movie kiss?"
 'The manager declares it is not over 10 feet"
 Well, if he doesn't want the reform CTS to get after him he '97 'otter tell his operator to speed up the film little and make it appear not more than seven feet"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16
DEADLY STUFF.

Just what is your attitude toward pro- hibition?"
 "one of mild curiosity answered the temperate citizen.
 .'What do you mean by that?"
 "It interests me to see how much punishment the human system can stand in the form of liquor bought from boot leggers."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16
----------s0s----- ALMOST OVERLOOKED
From the Portland Telegram.

From the POftIand TeIegram.
 According to recent cablegram, Chang Chow-fu is Chinese city of 900,000 population, yet nobobdy heard of the town until they started re- bellion the other day. Chang Chow-fu needs a live publicity bureau.