davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-23

and their response, Mr.. Coffman said:
We viii leave next Wednesday for
Camp Wheeler at Macon. Ga, where we
will enter the army Y. NJ. c. A. work
We are looking forward to being of
some real service to our boys and to our
country The call to this great work
came to us unsolicited and served as a
challenge to our manhood as well as pa
triotism. We enter the service as an
organization, but We shall each do indi-
vidual work when not engaged in rem
dering our musical programme at the
hospitals and at the several camps and
cantonments. Each member OF the quar-
tet has given up his business affairs so
as to remain in the service for the dura-
ton of the war. Approaching the honor
and privilege afforded u.s. we intend to
give the best of our abilities, individu-
ally and collectively, to this great work"
Mr.. Coffman has recently entered into
a law partnership with Attorney Hugh
Ellis. who will attend to his legal af-
fairs during his absence.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-23
L. & Ms OFFER

Louisville, KY, December 22.-Miltcn
H Smith, president of tht Louisville and
Nashville Railroad company, in signed
statement today, not only acknowledged
the legal responsibility or the company
for compensation for deaths and injuries
in Thursday nights wreck at Shepherds
vile. but suggested ardently that claims
be submitted to a committee and Iitiga-
ton avoided.
Forty-seven persons were killed in the
wreck and approximately IS others more
or less seriously injured. 1t is expected
that claims aggregating thousands OF
dollars will be presented.
The statement addressed to the public
calls the wreck the gravest accident IN
the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
company's history, deeply deplores the
deaths and injuries, promises the gem
eral public shall know just how the ca
lanity came about, after a complete in
vestisation, and continues:
SUGGESTS COMMITTEE
"In the meantime, however, in order
that the Louisville and Nashville Rail
road company, which has never know
ingly contested a just claim, may do
what it can in the way of compensation,
/ desire hereby to definitely acknowl-
edge legal liability in the case of the
death or injury of all passengers, and
to suggest a method of ascertaining the
amounts to which each is entitled. 1
propose and request that the Hon. A. Q.
Stanley, the governor of Kentucky, APP
point a committee of three men of IN
tegrity and high standing, one each from
the counties of Built, Nelson and
Washington, to whom shall be submit
ted all claims, settlement of which the
company and the claimants cannot agree
UPON their decision to be final.
: This will save the claimants the de-
and expense of litigation, and will
ire a. certain and just determination
their rights and will guarantee the
,/eceiving of the full amount awarded,
Instead of dividing it with others. This
proposition is not dependent upon ac-
ceptance by all claimants but is open
for three months to all who may desire
to avail themselves of it"
The death today of w. c. Johnson o.
Deatsville brought the tota' alraner IF
dead 10 to AZ.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-23
PASS
!. AS SHIP IN NIGHT
/. IN GEORGIA CAPITAL
However 1t Is Exception
When Hail "Ahoy" Is Not
Given in "Sea of
Faces"
BY HERvEY w. LAIRD

Atlanta, December 22-(Special) 1.-The
smiling face of DR.. John w. Abercrom-
bic was CLOSE up" in Atlanta yes
terday. Affable and agreeable, with a
ready greeting and cordial handshake,
the educator-statesman of the county Of
Calhoun looked not day older than
when he began way back in the years
that were to work for educat ton in Ala
bama.
DR.. John came in about the same time
that another distinguished Albanian
signed his name to a hotel book, that
same being John Trottwood Moore poet,
writer and editor, now of the yolun-
teer State. They are not even acquaint-
ed-Abercrombie and Moore-but ii is
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-23

Baptist church: r. d. Coffman, second
tenor, prominent member of the Bir-
mingham bar and an active worker in
the Methodist Sunday schools and broth
erhood work; W. II. Maxim. first bass,
broker and leading spirit in the choir
Of the Norwood Methodist church and
an earnest worker in the brotherhood
class, and j. W. Holmes, second bass,
lawyer and active Sunday school worker
in the Presbyterian church
The West End quartet was organized
about five years ago and it's personnel
has remained unchanged. They have
given freely of their services in every
movement that had for it's purpose the
moral and social uplift of the commu-
nifty. In the recent Y. NJ. C. A. cam
paign these gentlemen worked in three
counties, not only contributing to the
success of the campaign by singing at
the meetings. but were engaged in ac-
tive field work, as all are finished
speakers as well as talented vocalsts.
In speaking of the call to service
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-23

long felt safe in leaving the visitor
in his hands.
This much Is no secret. however. DR..
John did not tell his business over here.
though he was given ample opportunity
TO do SO
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-23

Private Harold Ainsworth. signal enlist
ed reserve corps, on December IL, ar
the result OF an airpIane accident. His
father lives in Swarthmore, Pa.
General Pershing also reported tho
death from coronary embolism Of PHI
waite Orsn c. Hooker. supply train. de-
eemher Il. father. c. J. Hooker. coiora-
do, Tex.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-23

is inclined to cooperate as soon as
existing methods are proved unsound.
Investigation reveals congressional dis
pleasure with the management of the
fuel administration and the shipping
board. The former has been unable to
produce an equitable distribution of coal
That is the kernel of the situation, and
Congress is admittedly unconcerned with
contention of coal operators that rail-
roads are responsible and contentious
of Fairfax Harrison that railroads are
to great degree blameless. The ship
ping board, in addition to continuous
internal dissention. has put to sea just
one vessel and can guarantee delivery
by the end of 1918 of only 100000 tons
of shipping, whereas, in the beginning,
GOO Onl were nrnnnisad
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-23
INVESTIGATION OF
DEPARTMENTS NOT
DISPLEASING TO
PRESIDENT WILSON

in lieu of the present system which is
declared to be lamentably handicapped
by red tape" inhibitions.
BORIES SUGGESTION
A. E. Borie of the Savage Arms COM
pany, testifying today before the Senate
committee on military affairs, urged the
CT cation OF an ammunition department
to be headed by an efficient autocrat
like Schwab or Farrell, a head man with
power to put through a modern pro-
gramme." Senatorial inclination is to act
on that advice. Secretary Baker, charged
by General Crozier with the responsible
ity with shortage of rifles in possess
sion of American troops, and General
Sharpe with the retention of red tape"
methods which resulted in a lack of
winter clothing for the national army,
is said to be convinced that a secretary
of ammunitions is necessary.
PRESIDENT HAS PLAN
The scheme of the President having
for it's object the coordination Of rail-
roads under a single head is the scheme
suggested by Congress for the more eff
fcient management of governmental de-
partments.
Congress will favor the creation of a
department of munitions just as it has
favored the supplanting of Generals Gro
zier and Sharpe in the actual manage
raent al The ordnance and commissary
dapartmsafs 1t is demanding efficiency
i sIiae 81 war, and the administration
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-23

activities reported in today's Official
communication. 1t follows:
Hostile raiding parties were repulaed
during the night in the neighborhood of
the Bapaume- Cambria road east of
Monchy le-Preux, and southeast of Ar
mentieres. There Is nothing further of
special interest to report"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-23
Pershing Sends Report
of Deaths Among Men

Washington. December General
Pershing today reported the death oil
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-23

The side OF a new vacuum washer for
laundry purposes is corrugated so Il
can be used as a washboard.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-23
FRENCH REPORT

Paris, December 22.-There was lively
artillery fighting last night in the region
of Fayette, near st. Quentin, and in the
Verdun region, around Beaumont and
Chaumes wood, as well as in the Apre-
mont wood sector, the war office an
nounced in todays official statement A
successful raid was carried out Dy
French troops near Moronvillers, in the
Champagne.
The statement follows:
There We're lively artillery actions in
the region of Fayette northwest of St
Quentin) on the front from Beaumont
to Chaumes wood. and in the Apremont
wood region.
"In the Champagne our attachments
penetrated the German trenches south
west of Moronvillers and returned to
our lines after destroying the German
works and inflicting serious losses on
the enemy
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-23
AUSTRO : GERMANS
ARE BEING DRIVEN
SLOWLY BACK FROM
ADVANTAGE POINTS
Continued from Pngc one)

NoOhhnued from faSc One)
the enemy position on Asolone. The
fighting was furious all throughout the
day and into the darkness of last night
when the Italians had again mastered
the strategic points of Asolone, and the
enemy was pushed back for nearly a
mile.
The enemy's effor to cross the old
Piave at the nearest point to Venice
has been thrown back by Italian sailors
and marines. The enemy used armed
flat boats carrying a storming party.
The Italians landed a party from the
fleet and engaged the enemy, driving
him back and sinking one of his armed
boats.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-23
SITUATION CRITICAL"

In connection with the situation
termed by one senator extremely crit
ical' theer is more of a silver lining
than the simple belief that despite con-
ditions, the administration has done ex-
ceedingly we'll
Criticism Of the department of the
navy has been unable to obtain a foot
ing. The House committee investigat-
ing that department elicits facts highly
complimentary to Secretary Daniels and
the opinion is general that when peace
is restored, the North Carolinian, in the
beginning bitterly maligned, will have
been developed the ablest of the cabinet.
Representative Oliver of Alabama,
chairman of the investigation commit
tee, while refraining from speech, is
known at heart to entertain such senti-
ment.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-23
OHIO CHRISTMAS
SPECIAL SPEEDING
TO SOUTHLAND

Continued from Page One)
into the camp, where distribution by
companies and batteries will be made.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-23
LULL ON BRITISH FRONT

London, December 22.-The lull on the
British front continues German raids
at several points last night are the only
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-23

in lieu of the present system which is
declared to be lamentably handicapped
by red tape" inhibitionS.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-03
CARRIGAN TO GIVE
ANSWER THURSDAY

Boston, Jan. 3.-Little hope, is en-
tertained by the new owners Of the
Boston American League baseball
club that William F, Carrigan will
consent to manage the team another
year, according to a statement yester-
day by John J. Lane, secretary OF the
club. Lane made this statement after
he had talked over the telephone to
New York with Harry H. Frazee,
president of the club, who had pre-
viously conferred by telephone with
Carrigan at Lewiston, Me.
The secretary added that the sal
airy offered to Carrigan was the larg-
est ever offered to a manager of a ball
club, according to Mr.. Frazee, but that
the amount was not to be made pub
lie.
In addition to Frazee, Joseph j.
Lannin, former owner of the club,
telephoned to Carrigan from New
oYrk in an attempt to induce him to
reconsider his intention or declining
to serve as manager, the secretary
said. Pending a final decision by Car
rigan. which is expected next Thurs
day noon, the new owners have agreed
not to consider any one else to lead
the team this gear
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-03
NATIONAL LEAGUE
MAY CUT PRICES
FOR SERIES ALSO

While the American League came
out fatty for lower scale of prices
for the Worlds Series. which wasn't
concurred in by the National League
at its meeting, and while the National
League recommended to the governing
body Of the game the division of the
spoils among the 16 clubs, instead of
two, which wasn't acted upon by the
American League, it can be expected
that the two major bodies will act
favorably upon both these reform
measures at their next meetings,
writes Lester Rice in the Brooklyn Cit
izen.
BY recommending the splitting of
the spoils among every team in pro-
portion to, the position in which each
club finishes, the National League in
directly committed itself to the lower
scale of prices, for if the scheme of
Garry Herrmann's is to be adopted,
and 1t was his idea which the Nation
al League recommended to the Com
mission it carried with it an increased
number of games and reduced admis-
sion prices.
However, If this had no bearing on
the case the action of the American
League virtually forces the National to
the fan will stand for most things,
he is hardly likely to pay greater
price in one ball yard than he would
In another for the privilege of witness
Ing tn esame entertainment.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-03
SAY WENCK WAS
TRYING To EXTORT
$1,000 For LEASE

New York. Jan. 3-Frederick "A.
Wenck, chairman of the State Ath-
letic Commission, was charged with
extortion and attempted extortion in
the granting of boxing licenses, in at
fidavits filed last night with Cover
nor Whitman. The papers were pre-
pared by Emil e. Fuchs an attorney,
of 81 Chambers street, who called up
on the governor to remove Chairman
Wenck. 49,
The specific allegations were that
to extort $1,000 in return for a license
for Madison Square Garden, and did
actually obtain SO from Harry M.
Pollok, fight promoter, when the lat
ter was about to apply for the Madi-
son Square Garden license.
The complaint contends that Chair
man Wenck has Improperly conduct
ed the offices Of the commission, and
that he refrained from giving a IL
cense to Pollok, John J. White and
Patrick T. Powers because there was
not forthcoming a check for $1,000.
When informed of the charges,
Chairman Wenck said at his home In
New Rochelle last night:
"They tried to get the Garden with
an illegal lease, and I refused to give
it to them. Then they said they
would get me. This is the attempt
to get he. I am glad that the
charges have been put into writing
at last The matter can now be prop
erly investigated. There has been too
much talking. and too little action. l
have no fear whatever of the results
Of an investigation"
The filing Of the charges Is the
elimination Of several attempts made
by few members of the sporting fra
ternity to remove the boxing chair
man. The bitterness Of the feeling
against him was evinced when he en-
gagged in lively fist fight with Pol
lok in the Grand Central Station on
December s. =
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-03
TO STRENGTHEN INTERSTATE
TEAMS FOR THE SECOND HALF
Basketball Magnates Will Drop New York and
> Take Connecticut City.
greatly depend.

greatly depend.
The second tournament will start
as soon as the first closes and many
changes and trades will probably take
effect before that time to be ratified
at next Sundays meeting of the
league. Bridgeport and Danbury
hardly need any further strengthen
ing, as both clubs have far outclassed
the other four in the league race
Paterson has been trying out new
men, and now has a lineup that can
stand strengthening in possibly one
other place in order to have a chance
at the top rung in the second division
shortly to be started. Last year Pat
erson closed the first half with a
percentage Of 500, having won 10
and lost 10 games, but in the second
tournament the men practically made
a runaway race of it from the start
and were never headed. The Silk City
adherents are looking for a similar
repetition this year.
Jersey City has it's iron in the fire
for several new stars in order to boil
ster up for the still more difficult bat
tie that is sure to be provided in the
half now coming up. Stamford. with
one Of the best collection Of stars that
has ever before represented it on the
court, has been unfortunate in that
one or two of its best men were una
BILE to appear at the important games.
with the result that the quintette
was considerably weakened when it
should have shown its best hand. This
defect is expected to be remedied,
and an improvement in the standing
for the Connecticut club is looked for.
New York will probably be dropped
and a fourth Connecticut town added
in its place. The principal drawback
to New York's success was the utter
lack of professional experience on the
part of it's representatives. In another
year the same FIVE men will be in
better position to wear the coIors OF
the Greater City.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-03
MORE HITTING IN
MAJORS is NEEDED
HAUGHTON CLAIMS

New York, Jan. 3-Percy D.
Haughton,N president Of the Boston
Club Of the National League, is OF
the opinion that baseball would be
the better for several changes in the
rules. In Haughton's opinion the
game has reached the stage where the
attack is overbalanced by the defense.
He points to the fact that what the
fans most enjoy is hitting, and that
hitting is decreasing.
1.-THE natural ingenuity of the Am
erican sportsmen," says Haughton, tis
forever destroying the balance be-
tween defense and attack in games.
In baseball the defenders have had
the upper hand for years. It is hard
err to make runs now and batting
averages are dropping, which indi-
Gates that there is something radi-
cally wrong
1.-THE point is to determine what
changes will increase the probability
of the base hit and the earned run. I
have heard six ideas advanced, each
one Of which has merit. These are:
"(1) Move first and third base
about four or five feet nearer home
plate, without disturbing the position
of second base. 90 Eliminate the
spit ball delivery. (s) Permit the
batter to walk on three balls instead
of four. (4J Count only the first foul
as strike instead of the first two
(5) Make the Interpretation of balk
much more drastic. co Reduce the
width of the plate by few inches.
cit is quite possible that the adop-
ton of any one of these suggestions
might establish better balance and
bring about better game"
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-03
QUINN WANTS TO
SECURE ST. LOUIS
CARDS He ADMITS

Cincinnati, O., Jan. st was learn
ed yesterday that Robert Quinn, for
1nerly of the Columbus. Ohio, club,
will probably make an offer to buy
tin" st. Louis National league club
within the rext day or two.
If certain obstacles that NOR ap-
pear to be only Of a minor nature can
he overcome will make bid for the
ST. Louis Cardinals within a day or
two" sail Quinn.
If I am assured tina. there will
be little or no opposition by the fans
to an outsiders coming into pos. ns-
sion of the club T believe that nego-
tiations will consume very little time.
I en- after the club and believe that I
can make proposition tn will be
loek>l: UPON with favor by it's present
owners. however, if any anita gonism
to or tlying the ctI1 is shown by
the st. Louis public it w) ! l he mad
ness to take over the CLUB
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-03
USE BALL PARKS
FOR PROFESSIONAL
FOOTBALL GAMES

Chicago, Jan. 3.-That certain base
ball magnates are considering q plan
to utilize their Ball parks for profess
sional football and to back financially
a league Of national PROPOSITIONS next
fall is the report sbrought here from
Detroit. An agent Of the professioI.a al
fotball team, which played its games
on Navin Field, the American Sleague
grounds in Detroit, is in Chicago; to-
day, according to q morning news
paper to enlist support for his under
taking from the owners OF one of the
major league clubs.
TIL eplan involves the organization
of a league along the lines Of profess
sional baseball 1t is proposed to en-
list the services of those ball players
who are also football stars, and the
remainder Of the teams will be re-
cruited from graduates. Among the
cities mentioned as prospective men,
bers of the new league are Chicago,
New York, Detroit, pittsburgh, Cleve-
land. Indianapolis and Columbus. The
season would begin at the close Of the
baseball season and continue az long
as the weather was favorable.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-03
CONTRACTS
TO GIANT SQUAD;
DON'T. FEAR STRIKE

New York. Jan. 3-Secretary John
B. Foster has sent out contracts to
all the members of the Giants who
are not already under 1917 contracts
It developed yesterday that most of
the regulars have already signed and
the contracts were to the younger
players who were on the squad last
season and the players who have
been obtained by draft. Most of the
regular members of the Yankees are
also under contract for 1917, and up
to the present time not a single re-
fusal has been received by either Of
the New York clubs from dissatis-
fled players.
The fact that SO many of the MEM
bers of both New York clubs are al
ready under contract for the coming
season makes the possibility that the
Players Fraternity will call a general
etrike more and. more dubious. If
those not under contract should de-
eide not to sign for next year, they
will be so decidedly In the minority
that the playing strength of the Man
haitian clubs can be very little af-
fected.
turn of the signed contracts before
the players go to the Southern play
ing camps. but a player, under the
terms of the contracts, may wait I'M
til a few days after the season begins
before signing. The idea of a base
ball strike, however, is ridiculed at
the offices Of both of the local clubs.
Jim Thorpe, the Carlisle Indian,
will have another chance to make
good with the Giants this Spring. It
lis the plan of Manager McGraw to use
the red man as pinch hitter against
lefthanded pitchers.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-03
LAWRENCE CLUB
DROPPED BY VOTE
OF EASTERN LEACTE

Springfield, Mass Jan. 3.-The sit
uation that has been clouding up the
progress of affairs in the Eastern
League, due to the fact that the Law
renee end of the league has been
hanging fire ever since the season
closed was cleared up for good at the
session of the league held this after
noon at the Hotel Cooley in this city.
Joseph P. Sullivan df Lawrence, the
owner of the franchise, failed to put
in appearance at the meeting, being
of the opinion, evidently, that there
was no further hope for him to con-
tinue as owner of the club, and as a
result the league terminated it's con-
nection in that respect and took over
the Lawrence franchise.
That action by the league placed
the club owners in a position where
they had eight active franchises, with
club owners in good standing and they
were ready to do busiess. They i'm
mediately took up the matter of a
1917 season and decided to open the
baseball year Thursday, May IL, and
close Saturday, September s, the Mt
urday following Labor Day. There will
be schedule of 112 games for each
club, and under this schedule each
team will meet sixteen times, eight
games at home and eight away, While
under last years schedule of 1873
games, each team met only fourteen
times, seven at home and seven away.
AS now constituted the league con-
sists of Bridgeport, New Haven, New
London and Hartford on the southern
end, and Springfield, Worcester, Port-
land and Lynn on the northern end.
Unless the proposed sales of the Port
lad and Lynn clubs by their present
owners are made outside Of those two
cities, this will beIthe circuit for next
year.