davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-23
Tiger Star Is Only IA Points in Front of Last Years
 Champion Batter
ROUSH IS STILL SAFE
 IN NNATIONALLEAGUE
Alexander Tops Pitchers in National and Cicotte in American-Carey of Pirates Leads in Stolen
 Bases, With 45

Chicago, September zz.-Tris Speaker Is
 cutting down Ty Cobb's batting lead in
 the American league. Unofficial aver
 ages released today show only 14 points separating them, as compared with 21 a
 week ago. Cobb is batting .373 and Speaker .35s The averages include games of Wednesday.
 Bush, Detroi shortstop, continues to
 draw away from Cobb In scoring. He has 103 runs to his credit, a lead of five over the Georgian. Bobby Roth of Cleveland added three more stolen bases to his total, bringing It up to 4s. Chap man, his teammate, is far in the lead in sacrifice hitting with 65. Pipp of New York took the lead in home-run hitting with nine. Detroit remains out in front in team batting with .25S.
 Leading batters who have played In half of their clubs games: Cobb, Detroit, .373; Speaker, Cleveland, .359 Sisler, St. Louis, .347; F'esch, Chicago .310; Veach, Detroit, .3O6; Rice, Washington, .3o6; Har- ris, Cleveland, S04; McInnis, Philadel- phia, .3o1; Jackson, Chicago, .299; Chap man, Cleveland, .29s.
 Cicotte of Chicago is the leading pitch CT with 26 games won and 12 lost. In the National league Roush of Gin cinnati, with an average of .342, has an 1s-point lead over Hornsby of St. Louis. Three members of the New York club Kauff, Burns and Wllhoit-are among the 10 leading batters. Kauff is third with .3Os. Burns of New York, the lead ing scorer brought his total to 99, and Carey of Pittsburg increased his mark in base stealing to 45
 The record of F home-runs, hung up | by Cravath of Philadelphia, remains out of danger Deal of Chicago continues
 to lead the sacrifice hitters with 2S. Gin
 cinnati, leading in team batting, has an
 average of .265.
 Leading players as batsmen who have
 played in half their clubs games: Rous.l, Cincinnati, .342; Hornsby St. Louis, .324; Kauff, New York 1908; Groh, Cincinnati ] .305; Burns, New York, .302; Wilhoit New
 York, .296.
 l Alexander of Philadelphia leads the pitchers with 2 games won and P lost
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-23

The second appearance of Elmer Pon- der, formerly the star hurler of the Birmingham Barons, on the hill for the Pittsburg Pirates yesterday was more brilliant than his successful debut. and it now seems as though the National leaguers have found gem in the prod uct of Carlton Molesworth, the chubby local leader
 Elmer hurled another beautiful game in mastering the New York Giants. Elmer was sent to the twirling slap with orders to delay the clinching of the National league rag by McGraw' men. and the former local star certainly did comply with his instructions.
 Pitching two games of the caliber that Ponder has should cause the Pittsburg management to sign him to contract for 19lS Elmer went to the Pirates with the intentions of joining the army should he fail to make good It looks now as if the army will lose a good prospect.
 Meanwhile, all the other Barons in- cluded in the deal have been given the opportunity to show tbeir wares, but none have displayed the form of Pom der. Kid Caton has been playing far game at short but showed up miserably there yesterday in fielding. His hit ting has also been far below that re- quired for major league infielder
 Red Smith is getting turn behind the bat regularly and is also being sent into the fray as pinch hitter. Red has been farng somewhat better Bill Webb has been given but few opportunities. HIS fielding was fine. but his hitting was ex- ceptionally, weak. Just how weak hitters Caton and Webb are regarded is shown by using pinch hitters for them in sev- eral games.
 However, all of Birmngham's fandon is pulling for the quartet to make good Ponder. it now apepars has done great work Consequently interest cen ters to the fate of the remainder of the promoted gang-and also Elmer in his future battles
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-23
Perdue Graduate Named to Lead CentraPs Athletics
 for Coming Year
WILL ASSUME DUTIES
 ON MONDAY MORNING
Prospects Bright for Winning Aggre- gation-Over Fifty Candidates Expected to Try for Posi-
 tions on Eleven

Homer L. Thomas of St. Louis has
 been named by pr. J. H. Phillips, su-
 nerintendent of tho public schools, as
 athletic director of Central High school
 for the coming year. according to an
 announcement last night. MT. Thomas
 is already in the city and will take up
 his new duties as physical director
 at Central High Monday morning.
 Thomas will succeed Coach B. A.
 Pritchard, who resigned several weeks ago. Dr. Phillips has been in toucn
 with scores of prospects for the posi- ton for the past two weeks and de-
 cided upon Thomas yesterday morning
 following a conference.
 The new coach will not only have charge of all athletics and gymnastic
 work at Central High, but will also be supervisor of all athletics and physical exercise at the grammar schools.
 Thomas is a young man, but has had several years experience in the coaching game. Last year he coached a high school team at St. Louis. lie graduated at Perdue university anu played several years on the athletlo teams at that institution He is also Q graduate of the Chautauqua. School of Physical Culture.
 Prospects for Centrals gridiron ma chine this year are exceedingly bright. One week has already been lost Tn practice but the new coach is expect ed to drive his men hard for the next few weeks, thus making up for lost time.
 A number of regulars are missing at Central, but a large group of youth l full prospects are out for the team and all gaps promise to be capably filled. Flemmon Hall is captain.
 Practice will be held daily during | the coming week at East Park, direct 1 ly across from the school Over 20 prospects have been working regularly 1 for the past week without tfie aid or a coach. The squad will probably be l increased to 50 with the announcement of the securing of a leader.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-23
Red Brown Will Be Given Letter Although He Will
 Not Play
BACKFIELD WILL BE
 EXCEEDINGLY STRONG
Stowers and Lenoir Staging Bitter Fight for uarterback-Numer- our Promising Candidates
 for the Line

University, September 22.-(Special.) ) The injury to Red Brown last Tuesday has inspired every man on Coach Kelly's squad to work harder than before for the success of the season and every mar has been urged to thoroughly pad him. self before each practice and if the old jinx does not put in another appearance, indications point to a record practice season.
 Red will be given his letter, in spite of the fact that he did not play in a single game as this is the second year that he has been taken off the team because of injuries.
 The student body has also contributed a handsome watch and football fob as ;t mark of the esteem in which Red is held. Late examinations showed that ais left leg was broken just above the ankle, and he will not be able to play any this season. He is expected to be in good shape for the baseball season though.
 several other members of the Crimson squad have also been suffering from minor ailments. Sessions has had bad case of bronchitis that has prevented him doing his best. Mendesohn has a bad foot that has kept him out of prac- tice for several days. Stevenson was hurt in scrimmage but has recovered and is now back in uniform. All these men will round into form In a few days, however, and will be ready for the whis- tie when the first game is called.
 The schedule. for the Crimson team is still being amplified. The soldiers at both Montgomery and Anniston have asked for games, which may be played It is said that there are a number of old college stars at both camps and that they will have good teams. num- Der of games are being considered for hankSCtying which was left ODen when Georgia cancelled her schedule
 One team that is being favorably con- sjdered is the team of the Ohio Wes-, leyan. If this game is arranged it will be played in Montgomery, as thousands of Ohio troops are stationed there Every other regular date on the schedule is filled, and if games are arranged at the soldier camps, they will be played on special dates pot already set.
 One of the features Of the Alabama team this year will be the strength of the backfleld. The backfield will weigh almost as much as the line and will be very fast in addition. No man has yet cinched a place unless it is O'Con- nor, who will do> the kicking. Mendel- sohn is making the best bid for full back, and Stowers and Lenoir are still having 1t out for quarter. For the half backs there is a profusion of material, among the candidates being O'Connor, Stevenson, Hovater, Shaw, Blair. Blair and Stevenson have been doing especial ly well in scrimmage practice.
 Most of the line positions are still very doubtful. Sessions, KIpotto, Johnson, Brown, Hovater, Boone, Blackburn are being given plenty of opportunities to demonstrate their wares. From the ma terial there will be no difficulty in get ting together team that will be fast and heavy, and that will mxke a strong bid for the championship of the south.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-23

billiard marvels. Every year almost the title changed hands and the game had a new worlds champion.
 Then came Hoppe. And Hoppe was so good that nobody, from the time he de- feated the French marvel, Maurice Wig naux, in 1906, has ever disputed his championship
 Men. to be sure. have played Hoppe, for this or that worlds championship he holds, but the result was always fore gone conclusion.
 Today Hoppe is demonstrating to the numerous three-cushion champions and ex-champions of the world how three cushion shots should be made. But Hoppe doesn't like three cushions, still contends that it entails too much chance, frantic shooting as some put it, and his desire is to stick to balll line, real billiards" the game at which he has high run record of 622. ! Some day there may be greater bill Hard player than Willie Hoppe, but it
 won't be in our time: if you're a betting person you may go and bet your shirt on
 that Hoppe is the original champion of | champions
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-23
All Her Ow.,

From the Boston Transcript.
 He-What. Another new dress? She-You needn't be cross. I bought 1t with my own money.
 He- Where did you get it?
 She--I sold your fur overcoat.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-23
SOUTH CAROLINA TO
 USE ALL FRESHMEN
 ON VARSITY ELEVEN

Columbia, S C., September 22.-Because several of last years players have en- tered military service, freshmen this year will be eligible to play on the varsity football team at the University of South Carolina, 1t was announced today. South Carolina university is the only surviv- ing member of the southern athletic con- ference which formulated the rule for biding the playing of first year men on varsity teams.
 Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia, other members of the conference, have abandoned football this year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-23
Of Course, They Would

From the Philadelphia Ledger.
 Election time was drawing near and an enthusiastic politician was addressing his constituents in a frenzied speech. Not a few of his assertions reduced to cold thought. were diametrically opposed to one another, but each proposal was received with applause. A judge turned to his companion and said: This re- minds me of the Irish leader who was cheering his men on to battle. Min said he 'ye are on the verge of battle, an want to ask ye before ye start, will yez fight or will yez run?
 l" We will came chorus of eager re- plies.
 (Which will veg do?" says he.
 ' We will not says they.
 Aha, thank ye, me min says he; I thought ye would "
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-23
Metzger to Write Special
 Articles for Age-Herald

The Age-H Herald, starting Monday morning. will publish weekly sport ing letter from Sol Metzger. coach of the Washington and Jefferson foot ball team. on it's sporting page. Mir. MetEger, in his articles, will deal with the football situation throughout the country but will place special em- phasis on the southern colleges MT. Metzger is perhaps one of the fore- most men of athletic prominence m the country. and his articles will un- doubtedly prove interesting as well as instructive.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-23

A million immigrants a year were pouring into South America before the war. They came from Italy, spain, Germany, England. Holland, Scandi- navia. Portugal. China. Japan and In dia: but there is no immigration movement from North America
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-23
A Different Implement

From the Boston Transcript
 Red-nosed Tramp Lady. kin cut your grass for a meal? I'm first-class lawn mower.
 Lady-Go away! You look more like an old rake
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-23
A Nut Himself

From the Boston Transcript.
 These almonds look good, but aren't they rather high?'
 These are genuine paper shell al- monds, madam, and you sknow how paper products have gone up
New-York tribune., 1917-07-19
Good Business
"a The Tribune said:

On May "a The Tribune said:
"The Tribune believes that the admin
istration of Mayor Mitchell has been the
best this city has had in recent years.
Certain defects in temper and in judg-
ment on the part of the Mayor have not
prevented his administration, as whole,
from being effective, honest and clean.
Such departments as the Police Depart
ment, the Fire Department and various
others nave been taken out of the realm
of politics, have been freed from all sus-
picion of graft and corruption and have
been restored to public confidence.
-Four years more Of the kind of ad-
ministration we have had now in part
for the last few years and in full for the
last four would serve to destroy the
Tammany menace and to free our local
politics from the reproach that has lain
upon it almost since the beginning Of
its history.
"The Tribune believes that Mayor
Mitchell should be renominated. 1t be-
lieves that he should accept the renomi-
nation, and it believes that if he is re-
nominated he will be elected. Under
the present stress Of war nothing could
be less desirable than a change in ad-
ministration and nothing less attractive
than a partisan fight this fall, when
public attention and public interest will
be centred on larger events. The
Tribune purposes to support Mayor
Mitchell if he is renominated, and 1t be-
lieves it is the duty both of the Fusion
and the Republican organizations to
make this selection"
What The Tribune then said 1t still
believes, and therefore it welcomes the
.ecision of the Fusion conference.
New-York tribune., 1917-07-19

II is far cry TO the time when the britisn
.xpeditionary force landed in france ana
sine. then the little army has grown mar
v.llously. But while increasing IN numbers,
:, has also increased in complexity, and all
sor,, of new branches of the service nave
- c,..,ed 20 meet the exigencies OF q
corA;ct withou. precedent In the history Oh
.rL;nd Not least of these new units IN
irtere.. and importance are the navy bat
talions.
Quite early in the war the British govern.
ment recognized that it had at It's disposai
extensive resources of man-power WHICH,
while unsuitable for the fighting services
were eminently adapted for work oehind tne
lines in France and also at home. Inc uh
loading and loading of government shlps ana
other transport operations, the laying DOWN
.nd repairing of roads, all involved tre-
mendous amount of labor, and it was seen
that battalions could be raised to undertake
these duties for which the men recruited
vera snecially fitted by lifetime spent at
such vocations. Thus, thousands OF men, all
over military age, were drawn to the colors
IN the form of "navvy" battalions, and
worked for the government just as they nad
worked for civil contractors in the days pc
fore the war. They were given dehnite
place in the establishment OF the British
army. and the work they have done mas
amply justified their creation. Though not
soldiers in the strict sense Of the term. their
soldierly qualities, displayed in hundred
and one little episodes on the fringe OF pat
tie. have vindicated to the full their claims
.o the uniform which they wear. Sympto-
natic Is the case of the Tyndareus, where
a "navvvo battalion formed upon the decks
of the sinking troopshp with as great stead
mess as ever regular troops displayed in the
face Of death.
Some time ago we had q "navvy" battalion
stationed near our rest camp behind the
Ynres salient. Their huts stretched along
IN. side Of the road which led US up toward
our trenches, and every time we passed that
wsy the sound Of the pipes would bring them
ont Of their billets In crowds to cheer US IN,
or 70 welcome US back II We were returning
They kept that road in splendid repair de-
spite tho heavy wear and tear OF the endiess
traffic which used 1t, and we blessed them lot
the ease in walking which their laoors gave
US. There was two-mile stretch across
shell-torn, muddy country just peh'nd the
firing line, a regular Slough OF Despond 1or
tired men newly relieved from the trenches
burdened with heavy equipment, but wnen
we struck the good honest surface OF tne
"navvy" battalon's road, though many mile
still intervened between us and our rest Dill
let's. we felt that the journey was as good as
over. so easy by comparison had the march
ing become.
With this patent example Of their useful
ness, IL is comprehensive that close friend
ship should grow up between the two bat
talions. The men fraternized together on
every possible occasion, and the good feeling
at length eliminated in an official invitation
10 dinner from our colonel to their ofhcers:
These latter were all men in the prime OF
life "bosses" Of labor in pre- war days, Win
New-York tribune., 1917-07-19

Controller "became unrecognizable," it is
not to be supposed that as the successor OF
Sir Edward Carson he will be content
merely to obey the promptings Of the
naval advisers handed down to him. The
probability is that we shall see some nota-
BILE changes in the Board of Admiralty
and quite possibly indications of radical
change in the policies now prevailing.
But, however, we have no reason to ap-
prehend that Sir Eric Geddes will fall
into the errors of Mr.. Churchill, for, If
it is possible to judge by his brilliant
achievements in the past, he is quite free
from the peculiar weaknesses of that in
genious and energetic but somewhat i'm
petuous and self-willed statesman. Mr.
Churchill's return to the Ministry has, not
unnaturally, caused great indignation in
some quarters: yet it was not wholly un-
expected, and in his present capacity he is
clearly incapable of the kind of mischief
his critics attributed to him during his
tenure Of office at the Admiralty. 1t is
reassuring at least to learn that the man
chosen to succeed Sir Edward Carson is
one who has the full confidence of those
who are most capable of judging of his
qualifications.
New-York tribune., 1917-07-19
German-American Newspapers
e Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF Inc lrlDune.
Sir: There is much merit In Colonel
Roosevelt's suggestion that the foreign
language newspapers published in this coun-
try should be obliged to print their text in
the vernacular side by side with their foreign
content during the war. This will In no way
be an infringement of free speech or freedom
of the press 1t will, in very fact, be COM
pulsory free speech as opposed to sub rosa
or sotto voce speech, free and frank speech
as distinguished from insidious and fire.
uuently malevolent whisperings designed not
at all for the open ears of all Americans, but
solely for the private ears Of small but
dynamic group of its citizenry who are in
part at least, rightly or wrongly, already
suspect as to their whole-hearted and un-
divided loyalty and allegiance to this coun-
try and its ideals. II they are wrongly sus-
pect, there is every reason why that error
should be speedily and definitely cleared up,
out Of their own mouths. If they are rightly
under suspicion, there Is even more reason
why their sentiments should be stripped bare
and naked before the understanding gaze Of
the whole country.
Aside from certain physical difficulties,
which can easily be overcome, and the mat
ter Of increased cost, which can scarcely be
weighed in the balance as against the coun-
try's welfare and the peace OF mind Of
its citizenry, there should be no objec-
ton even from the foreign-born or Ger
man American point Of view against such
open day publication. 1t would, as a
matter Of fact, II anything, increase the
circulation of such newspapers, inasmuch
as many would read them who are now
unable to do so by reason Of the foreign
language bar. This fact has already been
recognized by the German language news
paper publishers in New York City, who
have ever since the beginning of the war,
made practice Of publishing some Of the
leading articles in the vernacular whenever
1t served their purposes or those Of their
propaganda. Let them extend that wise
practice. Let them extend it willy-nilly.
This is not a time to take chances. It
is not a time 10 suffer one group of the
American citizenry to misunderstood or TO
be misunderstood by the rest. Let all Ameri-
cans stand forth as such on the basis Of
their own undisgused words and acts. There
Is room now more than ever for Americans
of all opinions and all compilations. There
is no room for Americanism made abroad,
clothed in foreign garb Of weave impervious
TO the gaze of Americans, an Amercsnism
taken solely on faith by the great body of
American citizens with their eyes shut. Such
Americanism may, conceivably, justify itself;
but it may also work destructively in the
dark in the country's hour Of test and trial,
spreading everywhere its unseen poison-not
least among those who, secretly nodding and
wrking and gloating, wear it. J.
New York, July 16, 1917.