davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-26
FRIENDS OF FULTZ SAY HE IS SINCERE
 IN HIS OPINIONS
President of Players Fra ternity Honestly Believes Players Get the Worst
 of Everything

Admirers of David Fultz and he has admirers as well as enemies who can see no good in him, declare David is absolutely serious in his opinion that the ball player always gets the worst of it from the club owner and that it his (Fultz's) bounden duty as a for mer player to secure the rights of the athlete.
 This fixed opinion in the mind of Fultz may be due to an experience he had himself when he first broke into baseball as a youngster just out of college where he had made a reputa- tion as great in those days almost as that which George Sisler in these times brought into professional ball with him.
 Fultz came fresh from Brown uni versity with offers from several clubs in his pocket He declined to accept that of Col. Rogers, who then owned the Phillies, and the contract called for s2400 for the season. That amount was then the National league salary limit and Fultz thus was ranked with the high-priced stars of the game. He
  him he was worth the limit.
 The next year, however he received contract for S1200. and went at once to Rogers to protest "Why," said the latter, surely you didn't suppose you got $2400 for playing? Half of that was a bonus for signing with us.'
 There was nothing in the original contract to that effect" comments Fultz, and I remember going out of Rogers office and saying to myself, My, is that what we ball players are up against?"
 From that day to this Fultz seems to have nursed his grievance. Instead of being a light -hearted college boy, ne changed to a man obsessed with the notion that every mans hand-if that man happened to be a club owner-was against him and every other ball player.
 That little break of Col. Rogers is the sin that is being visited on baseball magnates-most of them entirely inno- cent-todaY.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-26

Three more triple steals went on the major league records last season. two being pulled off in the American league and one in the National. New York fans witnessed the one three-ply larceny that cropped up in the Nationals, the Braves perpetrating it at the Polo grounds on June P in the eleventh inning on 'Rube" Schauer and Bill Rariden. Johnny Evers led this thieving expedition, his accom- plices in it being Edgar Collins and Bash Compton The run the Trojans carried over the plate decided the game in Bos- tons favor.
 The triple steals in the American were made by Johnson, Austin and Sisler of St. Louis, in the ninth inning on Me Tigue and Stanage of Detroit, and by Eddie Collins, Jackson and Felsch of Chi cago in the third inning on Bagby and De Berry of Cleveland.
 The American also came to the scratch with more clean steals of the plate than the Nationals, the Johnsonites claiming r thefts of the home station and the Tenerites nine. Players who stole home in games with the Cincinnati club were Eddie Fitzpatrick of the Braves and Wheeler Johnston of the Pirates, the Reds batteries being Knetzer and Wingo and Toney and Wingo. The date of the Boston players steal was July r, and O. the Pittsburg players September l.
 Four major leaguers made clean steals of the plate more than once, these men
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-26
!
rank TrQsher Threatens To QuH Baseball Unless
 Mack Agrees 10 Terms
One of Most Promising Youngsters the Game May Be Lost Account of Salary Difference Says Atlanta
 Scribe-Showed Good Form Last Year

Unless Connie Mack. manager of the Athletics, gets a move on himself before the 1917 spring training season starts for the big league clubs he may find him self minus one of the most promising youngsters that ever donned pair of spiked shoes and uniform says Harry Lewis in the Atlanta Georgian.
 The party we have in mind is none other than Frank Thrasher. the Wat kinsville slugger," who at present is one of the most prominent business men of Madison, Ga. According to the informa- tion we have on hand from reliable source, Frank Thrasher has not as yet signed a contract to pastime in the out CT garden for the Athletics
 It is said that there is quite a differ ence in. the price that Connie Mack is willing b pay Frank for his season s servics/ and what the former Cracker thinks he is worth. Frank seems to have the edge on the tall Athletic leader, too, as major league scouts who watched Thrasher play during the 1916 campaign with the Crackers know that Frank is a. mighty sweet ball player, and if Mack lets this lad slip through his hands he will be in for some mighty sound abuse from critics and fans alike.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-26
Uncle Sam as Publisher

iInOmaS F. Logan Tn LeSl1eS s.
 The annual report of the public printer is more interesting than some of the other documents published at Uncle Sam's print shop in Washington. The expendi- lures of the government printing office for the past year were $6,214, 4S2. Some thing like half a million of this amount is chargeable to other than direct ap- propriations. Private orders placed by members of Congress amounted to $S1- SS5. Some idea of the vast range of men and machinery. with attendant casualties. in the national printing shop is obtained from the statement that 3197 medical and surgical cases were treated in the emer- gency hospital during the year. Approxi- mately 47,00O,O00 public documents were distributed during the year. as compared with 35,0000O0 in the year previous. While the distribution was largely free. cash receipts for government pamphlets and reports amounted to $195, 507, or $4OO00 more than in 1915. Among the more pop ular publications are the 'ITrrse Book" the demand for which to re- quire large editions, al sar book of the agricultural department of which All, ,0O0 copies were distributed during the year Forty thousand copies of the worthless report of the industrial rela- tions commission were also issued.
 According to the latest published sta tistics of the 3S.516 miles of railway in 1912 in Germany, 35,60S miles were state railroads and s29Os privately owned
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-26
Three Triple Steals Pulled
 Of in Majors Last Season
Braves Pulled Stunt Giants at Polo Grounds June 22 White Sox Worked Winning Tally Across in This
 Manner Jim Bagby

being Eddie Collins of the White SoX, Bert Shotton of the Browns, Bobby Roth of the Indians and Rollie Zeider of the Cubs. Collins and Shotton each turned the trick three times, the others did it twice. Zeider possibly set a record by beating his way to the plate on two suc- cessive days On June 28 the Bunion King stole home in the fifth inning on Mamaux and Gibson of the Pirates, and on June 2S he stole home in the first inning on Steele and Snyder of St. Louis.
 A Toledo boy, Frank Gilhooley of the Yankees and a former Central leaguer, and Charley Pick of the Athletics were the holders of the best individual stolen base performances in the major leagues in 1916, each man, in one game, filching four hassocks. The Mackman was the first to run wild on the bases, doing so in the game of May F with the Browns Fielder Jones' battery in this game was Dave Davenport and Grover Hartley, each of whom hurdled to the Feds from the Reds Pick stole second and third in the second inning, second in the sixth, and second in the eighth.
 Frank Gilhooleys theft average on June 2S, in the contest with the Athlet- ics, was BOO, for. Billy Meyer shot him down once in his five attempts to burgle. Disaster overlook both these men, for Gilhooley wound up the season on crutches and Meyer on his back in a St. Louis hospital recovering from ty- phoid Elmer Meyer was Philadelphia s pitcher in the game in which the Toledoan made a carbon copy of Picks feat. The little suburbanite swped third in the fifth inning and was nailed trying to steal third in the second inning.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-26
FIVE PIRATES HAVE YET ID BE SIGNED Advance Squad Will Leave For Training Camp
 March 10

Pittsburg, February 25.-Five mem bers of the Pittsburg Nationals have failed to sign their 1917 contracts, President Barney Dreyfus announced today. Among them are Honus Wag- 'ner, the veteran shortstop. and Max Carey. star outfielder. Wagner seldom returns his contract until several days before the players depart on the spring training trip so President Drey- fus does not view his delay with con- cern
 No player will be taken south who does not send in his contract before March 10, when the advance squad is scheduled to leave The other players who have failed to sign contracts are Douglas Baird, third baseman. and William Fischer and Walter Schmidt catchers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-26
Edwin Gould, IT,, Killed Accidentally While Hunting.
 Near Brunswic, Georgia

Brunswick, Ga, February 25.-Ed- win Gould. Jr.. son of the New York capitalist, was accidentally killed while hunting near Jekyl Island last night. it was learned here today.
 MT. Gould was hunting coons on a small island near Jekyl and struck a coon on the head with his gun The weapon was discharged killing him. Only one companion was with him and it was necessary to row two miles in a small boat for help. Young Gould was 23 years old.
 New York, February 25.-Mrs. Edwin Gould received message late today from her husband informing her that he was bringing home the body of their son in his private car and ex- pected to reach New York sometime tonight
 Edwin Gould, Jr., went to JelSyl Island about month ago. He was joined there last week by his father and Col Belson Burr. Mrs Gould, who had been detained here by the illness of her mother, Mrs. George F. Shardy, expected to join the members of her family at the island within a few days
 Edwin Gould, Jr., who was 23 years old, was a grandson of the late Jay Gould He had been educated by tu- tors and had been preparing to prao- tice law, but had decided to enter the service of a banking house next fall A younger brother is a freshman at Yale.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-26
Classic of Basketball Season Wednesday

Thrasher proved during his short stay with the Athletics at the tail end of the season that he has the ability to make good in fast company, and it has even been reported tune and again that Frank was considered a fixture in the Athletics outfield, at least for the start of the 1917 season; There is no denying the fact that Frank is a natural born batter He hits the ball to all corners of the field, and, Sammy Mayer re- gently told the writer That boy simply hasn't got weakness at the plate"
 It is also d known fact that Frank Thrasher's wife does not relish the idea of Frank playing baseball. Mrs. Thrasher stated when here with her husband q couple of mouths back, that she would much rather see Frank follow business career, which is a good hint for Car nelius McGillcuddy to get busy, and mighty soon, too
 Frank is at preesnt doing very fine at the head of a large drug store in Mad ison, Ga. It is only the fact that Frank feels that he has bright future in base ball that makes him stick to the game but should he once feel that Connie Mack cannot make it worth his while to report for the coming season, we are not at all too certain that Frank will not forget baseball and give all his time to his business in Madison, Ga
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-26
ADJUSTMENTS
At the Lyric

The five-act programme that will open at the matinee performance at the Lyric this afternoon promises to be one that will entertain every one who witnesses it.
 The start act for the first half of the week is the Blossom Seeley and com pany in which Blossom Seeley, known to the baseball fans as Mrs. Rube Marquard, assisted by two ragtime princes, Bill Bailey and Lynn Cowan. will present "Seeleys Syncopated Studio"
 In addition to this big act four others of first-class merit will be offered, as we'll as new Pathe news pictures, all of which is claimed bill that will sur pass many others that have been shown at this popular theatre.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-26
ADRYS" AND ''WETS" REJOICING TOGETHER OVER LIQUOR LAW
All But One Faction in Ala bama Politics Seem Satis- fled With Drastic Bill
 Passed By Congress
By FRED HI. eoRMLEY

Montgomery, February 25-(Spe- ciaL)-Strange things have happened in Alabama political circles this week. Prohibitionists of the teetotal class, local optionists of the county unit class and died-in-the-wool liquor men are absolutely satisfied with the ac- ton of the Congress this week in ap- pending an amendment to the postof- flee appropriation bill which will have the effect of making this state total 1y dry if the amendment meets the approval of President Wilson. The eff feet of the legislation on the three classes of this state is remarkable. so remarkable that one cannot attempt to interpret the meaning except by the declaration that each class be- sieves the legislation will eventually help the issues or the views supported by himself.
 VIEW OF EXTREME PROS"
 Prohibitionists of the teetotal class believe the passage of the bill with the amendment is the first step to- ward dry America and that the sec ond, third and other steps will be taken soon. They think the bill on the Slalute DOCKS Will mean that Ala bama will become absolutely liquorless because the railroads and express com- panies will not be willing to bring liquor into this state in violation of the mandates of the federal govern ment. Corporations are slow to violate the law anyway and in this instance will take even more precautions as the commission of the offense the sec ond time will mean term in prison.
 LOCAL OPTIONISTS PLEASED
 Local optionists are rejoicing over the action of Congress because they believe it will mean the end of state- wide prohibition in this state unless the voters express a preference for IL at the polls They think the extreme measure which has received Congress approval will force the counties to send representatives to the legisla- lure in 1919 who will be willing 10
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-26
Selma Invites Dr. Stuart

Selma, February Especial. "A Selma church committee left for Bir- mingham this morning to invite Rev. George R. Stewart. pastor of the First Methodist church to come to Selma to conduct revival meeting. Dr.. Stuart was for many years a CO., worker with the late Rev. Samuel P. Jones. The Selma committee included J. E. Wilkinson. H. B. Baldwin, w. E. Allen, H. = Anderson and Arthur. M.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-26
NATIONAL LEAGUE REFUSED ID TAKE
 ADVANCED STEP
Scribes Offer Criticism On Moguls When Player Linn it Is Increased Only
 One Man

New York, February. 25.-Many major league baseball writers take q rather consistent delight in banging the anvil when unraveling yarns about the National league
 Fact, is a majority of the scribes are out of sympathy with the conservative policy which governs the running of affairs in the Tener circuit, and in some ways it appears there is ground for criticism.
 When the National league held it's annual winter pow-wow here the fight made by New York and Chicago 10 have the player limit raised to 25 was one of the progressive moves un- der discussion. but the staid old mags of the mother league voted it down. They did raise the limit-yes, by one player-ma<ing it legal for clubs to carry 22 men instead of 21, as they did last season.
 But adding one to the player limit gives National league managers little more leeway than they had during 1916, and in the way of handling tall ent American league managers have the bulge on their rivals.
 The player limit in the American league is set at 25 men and number of National league managers, John Me- OfaW Tn part1cular, wanted the same privilege. What was wanted by the managers made no difference. The club owners decided that retrenchment was the thing and the thought of carry ing 25 ball players almost gave them heart failure.
 Here was a chance for the National league to take a step forward. Instead of that 1t chose to back water, and that water is just so much more weight on the American leagues wa ter wheel.
 In raising the player limit to 22 men, the National league did not bet ter matters, for it turned right around and put the crusher on the disability rule which allowed managers to tenn porarily suspend injured players. Now, when player is injured he must be counted among the 22, and every play CT under contract to any club in the league must be counted as long as his contract holds good.
 Liberal rules as regards the number or players club may carry and the disposition of injured players give the managers in Ban Johnson's league a better chance to develop youngsters who look as though they are worth While keeping on the bench which is the best school a youngster coming to the majors can attend. This is point ed to by McGraw and others as one of the reasons for the greater number or good players developed in the American league.
 But the National league simply can't see 1t that way. She made up her mind to do a retrenchment slkit b'gosh, and she stuck to it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-26
Worlds Largest Tunnel

From the fOpuidr science Monthly.
 few months ago France Counter parted her remarkable engi~ ~eerng feats along the breastworks of Verdun with an equally great achievement through the peaceful hills of Rove. A tunnel 72 feet wide 52 feet high and Az miles long larger than any other in the world was completed. This spacious tunnel, the result of l2 years planning and labor, is part of a great canal system which will connect the canals of France with the Mediterranean sea. The system will be 51 miles long.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-26
BRANDON MAKING READY

During the week friends of William w. Brandon of Tuscaloosa, probate judge of Tuscaloosa county, announced posi- lively that he is preparing to enter the race for governor and that his announce ment will be made during the next few months. It is understood he will not make prohibition or liquor his paramount issue.
 J. A. Wilkinson of Ausaugaville com missioner of agriculture from 1907 to 1911, will be a candidate for the office again, according to information regarded as re- liable. MT. Wilkinson is the third person mentioned for the office the others be- ing M. c. Allgood, state auditor, and J. T. Watt, state farm demonstration agent.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-26
S23.75 Washington, D. c.

And return via Seaboard Tickets on cale March l. 2, rA and 4, final limit March 10 vnless extended, account in auguration President wilson. Phone Main 2sss fci 1Erther information,
 2-22- If
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-26

One of the first sunrooms of wnfch there is any record was in Madrid, at the home of Canovas del Castillo, prime minister during the regency Dejeuner used to be served at one end of the con servatory. in the shadow of tall palms. while fountains played. birds with gay plumage sang, and the air was as frsg- rant as the tropics. For comfort, deep red rugs were put down on the white marble floors
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-26
interested in the new enterprise, how ever.

interested in the new enterprise how ever.
 number of local business men and bankers, headed by H. c. Policeman, pres ident of the Eufaula Hardware company, are now planning the organization of a. syrup manufacturing company, which will locate it's plants in Eufoula and make this the syrup making center of southeast Alabama. The ever increasing demand for cane syrup, as well as the high prices, are doing much for the pro- posed organization, and it is thought that it will be well under way within the next month. As soon as this is effected the company will proceed at once with the erection of modern plant, which will be in readiness by the coming fall. It is thought that $15,0OO or $20000 will be in vested in the new enterprise.
 The town of Louisville, in the lower part of the county, will send it's chill dren for the first ime tomorrow to it's new $10000 school building, the best i'll the county, and built and paid for by public subscription, without the issuance of a dollar in bonds or without calling upon the town treasury for penny. The citizens of the town are justly proud of their new school, which is of brick con struction and thoroughly modern in every particular. It includes an auditorium that will seat 300 people. This will be used for the first time by the annual chautauqua, which will be held at Louisville in April.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-26
Oil Wells Are Being
 Drilled Near Hamilton

Hamilton. February 25-(Special.) In the preliminary hearing before Probate Judge H. V. Bostick yester- day, Perve Dodson. charged with mur- der of Hall White on February IF. near Winfield, was granted bail in the sum of $30o0.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-26

submit to the people the subject of state wide prohibition, prohibition oy county unit and open saloons or dis = pensaries. They think it means Iii short, that the voters no longer will be willing to entrust the settlement of the issue to their lawmaking bodies. Local optonsts who really be- lieve in prohibition insist that Ala bama will now have real prohibition because the voters will back up the state if given an opportunity to vote. Thousands of local optionists in this state are willing to surrender theIr principle of county unit local option for state unit local option and allow the voters in a referendum election to say ives" or mo" to statewide pro- hibition. They argue that a vote by the people will be local option and that the only difference between it and the old county unit principle is in the widening of the unit
 AND LIQUOR MEN, TOO
 Liquor men appear to be absolutely satisfied; happy probably would be a better word They believe the prohibit tion wave has reached it's crest in this state, that Congress has done the one thing necessary to bring the open saloon back to this state. Of course, they do not believe a majority of the people
 
 the voters step to the polling places again they will express their true feelings in a. way which will send local option leg islature to the capitol, one that will pass a local option law with the county as a unit in the first days of the session.
 ONE CLASS HAS FEARS
 Only one class seems to be dissatisfied the middle class of prohibitionists which fears a bone-dry law will go too far and will bring a reaction similar to the one of 1909 and 1910 which gave this state a local option legislature and returned liquor to eight counties. They claim they have been fighting against reaction and that for this reason they did not use the whip which they held in the legis- lature of 1915 and force through a bill which would have prevented the impor- tation of any liquor into the state In- stead of making the state bone-dry, the prohibition factiion of the legislature per- mitted any person to import two quarts of liquor or AS bottles of beer every 15 days. They argued that education was necessary and that when the people of this state realized what the abolition of the liquor traffic meant to the state from a material and moral standpoint there would be demand for legislation which would prevent the importation of liquor.
 Persons who have watched develop ments in Alabama politics for many years do not remember of political fac tions ever before rejoicing over the re- suit of one movement, especially a movement which has been used as a political issue for so many years.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-26

Much interest is being shown in the developments to be made by the Gulf producing company in this section of Marion county. The company has now at Hackleburg three cars of machinery which they expect to use in sinking wells in and around Hamilton. Well No. will be bored three miles north of Hamilton and it is confidently ex Z pected that oil will be found in pay ing quantities.