davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-31
THREE NEW H|GHW|EE 0F GRADY WEBB SCHOOLS ID BE BUILT SECURES A DIVORCE
Decree Granted on Statutory Grounds and by Judge
 Dan Greene

Divorce and custody of her two chill dren was granted to Mrs. Elizabeth Maybelle Webb, wife of Henry Grady Webb now serving a 25 year sentence in the United tSates penitentiary for the alleged belonging to the famous Harrison gang of train robbers some years ago, yesterday by Judge Dan A. Greene of the chancery division of the circuit court upon the grounds that Webb has been in the penitentiary for two years past and is serving a sen tence for more than seven years and she is given the right to remarry after the expiration of 50 days.
 The suit was filed by Mrs. Webb's at torneys, Stokley. Scrivner and Domi- nick. Gibson and Davis as attorneys for Webb filed an answer and an agreement to take the testimony and submit tle case for final decree with out notice to the respondent Monday and the case was submitted Wednesdty
 In her suit Mrs. Webb alleged tha, for the greater part of 191s Webb was a fugitive from justice and alleges that during that period she was with him twice
 The filing of the suit and the grant, ing of the decree recalls the sensational train robberies alleged to have been conducted by the Harrison gang and the sensational seach, evasion and final capture of Webb by police and federal officials.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-31
.ROTAR|ANS 4SPREAD
 JOw AT LUNCHEON Members Force President to Abdicate, Following BOl-
 shevism Charges

Rotarians bodily removed their presi- dent Morris w. Bush, from the speak CTS stand at the high life weekly luncheon of the Rotary club held at the Tutwiler yesterday following asyerbal at tact on the conduct of the president, al eging that bolshevism IS appearing at the Rotary luncheons, made by John Sparrow. Uproars of laughter greeted the removal following allegation that the officers have been using privileges rot allowed the floor" The meeting was the merriest Rotarians have held re- gently.
 A feature of the luncheon was the mus ical number rendered by the Misses Sheldon and Daly of the Lyric theatre who sang some of the most acceptable songs that have ever been offered the Rotarians at their weekly meetings.
 Fred Shireman was officially awarded the dollar that is to be given weekly to the seventeenth man who shakes hands with the holder of the dollar, who is to be a different member at each meeting.
 Julian Caheen and l.. F. Kleybecker new members of the club, were admit ted to the Birmingham Rotary club at the meeting.
 The "tardy table, was officially estab- lished The table is to be provided each week for the tardy members, who are to be subject to orders from the club.
 General George McCleery made short talk to Rotarians on Being Embar- rassed" The attendance was declared to be good.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-31
WOMAN CHARGED WITH UNLAWFULLY
 CASHING U. $. CHECKS
Wife of Soldier Arrested on Charge of Receiving Allotment From
 Husband UnlawfuiIy

Mrs Pearl Cox was arrested yester- day on warrant sworn out before Kenneth Charlton, United States com missioner, by Mark Hanna, of the de- partment of justice, charging her with fraudulently accepting approximately $500 war risk insurance from her hus- band who was in France, after she had married another man. Her bond was fixed at $500 and in defaut of same she was placed in the county jail. Mrs. Cox was married to William Q. Cox on October 23, 1916, and lived with him until early in April, 1918, when he joined the army. On April IS, 1918, she is alleged to have married Frank Handley, giving her maiden name as Pearl Reid without securing a divorce from her husband, After her second marriage. she is alleged to have ac- cepted and cashed the allotment checks sent her by her husband, William Q. Cox. and the government when she was not entitled to them. She will be given a preliminary hearing before Commissioner Charlton on August 8, at o'clock.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-31
If the 3-Mill Tax Is Voted $S5,O0O Will Be Put in
 Buildings

Three new high school buildings, costing approximately sS5,ooo, win be erected in Jefferson county if the loual three mill school tax passes September at the special election on this date, according to an announcement of N. R. Baker county superintendent of education.
 District S-A. which includes Boy Newcastle districts, are expected to add s15.O00 wing to the new high school building there and construct an elementary school in the district at cost of about s25,0o0 and also a sio.- GOO building at Garoendale.
 District GA. embracing the territory of Bessie Mines, Porter Flat Top. Glover and Quinton. will erect a high school building at a cost of S2o, DUO, while district 13-A, winch includes Oak Grove. Cohort, Big Creek, Mud Creek and vicinity. contemplates the erection of a s10.000 addition to the Oak Grove high school. Contract for the erection of a mod ern four-room frame school building at Maxine for s9100.ro the H. A. Lock hart Construction company has just been let by the county board of edu- cation.
 Only two special school districts, 5-A and 9-A. surrounding Trussville. Clay, Pinson and Mt. Cavalry. remain to pe- tition for the special three mill local school tax
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-31

crimination against the ~lsiness interests and industries of the mineral district of this state; it ls a blow alike to labor and capital and it's only effect would be to cripple our industries, injuriousls affect our real estate, commerce, transportation and all other busi- ness enterprises and,
 Whereas, it is viciously dis criminatory in that it singles out the mineral district and imposes the tax burdens of the whole sta,e on said district Now. therefore.
 Be it resolved, that we unquai- ifiedly and unhesitatingly condemn the imposition of such tax, and re- quest the legislators from this county to interpose their deter mined and unflinching opposition to the measure, and that the gov ernor of the state and other mem bers of the legislature be earnestly requested not to inflict this hard ship and perpetrate this injustice upon the mineral district"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-31

Absolutely loyal to cotton! whole people!
 If cotton were threatened as coal and iron now are, Montgomery would not hold the people who would crowd to its defense. From Selma and Troy Greensboro and Eufaula, Mobile and Huntsville from the furthest nook and corner, from the great plantations and the fence corner patches, they would come trooping and overrun the town and the capitol, and no legis- lator and no governor ever lived who could face them down.
 Not half so dependent on cotton are Uniontown and Union Springs as Bir- mingham on coal and iron. No baby draws life more completely from it's mothers breast than we do, each and everyone of us. from the mines where sane men spend their labor and others their money, that the rest of us may sell goods and lend money and teach school and physic the people and preach the gospel, and trade and try in Birmingham instead of where We came from.
 And yet, if the coal operators and iron masters fail to stop this most monstrous onslaught being made on them at Montgomery, it will be be-
  the rear.
 The best that I can come at r. the domestic consumption of coal in Jefferson is about 300,00O tons. In all the counties where coal is product of importance the consumption will reach a total of 50o,000 tons. If the 2o.Ooo,0oo tons produced in Alabama could only be sold at s1o the ton. it would bring into the mineral coun- ties s2O0 O0O, ,0O0 and for their fuel the people would give up only s5,oW,Wo. As a matter of fact, coal is still less than twice what it has been all these years before the war. What else Is less than twice? Cotton is not and sugar is not and hats and shoes and pots and pans are not
 What fools we mortals me! To man we ought to be in Montgomery holding up the hands that feed us.
 CHAPPELL CORY. Birmingham, July 90, 1919.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-31
NOT TOO EARLY ID BEGIN PLANS FOR
 ENTERTAINING THE
 RAINBOW DIVISION
Colonel Screws Says He Gets Letters Every Day From Maine to Califor- Promising tOCOme
 to Birmingham

Birmingham's entertainment facilities will be taxed to the
 utmost when the famous Rain
 bow division holds it sfirst an
 nual reunion here next year, ac-
 cording to Col. William P Screws, of the 167th infantry
 who came up from Montgom- 1 cry yesterday to muster in the two companeis of the national i guard last night.
 You have never seen anything like the desire of the Rainbow boys to visit
 Alabama said Colonel Screws. q am getting letters every day frosh men all the way from Maine to California and they say that they may have to bor- row the money to get here, but they are certainly coming down to old Ala | bama next summer. The reunion date is July Is, but it may be advanced a couple of months.
 Tt is not too early for Birmingham to begin making plans for their en- tertainment, because I asure you they are going to be on hand in great num- bers. It should be regarded as a spe- cial honor to Birmingham to greet these
 boys, too, for. they come from every nook and corner of the United States. There were units in the Rainbow di- vision representing 20 states, and after we had been filled in with replace ments, every states in the union was represented Some how or other they all have warm place in their hearts for Alabama, and Ithink 1t is that
 which makes them say now so unani- mously that they are going to be sure to attend the first reunion in Birming ham.
 Even the Chicago men who lost the fight for the first convention, tell me there will be more enthusiastic
 bunch at the Birmingham reunion than
 the men from that city.
 Tt was a great contest we had at Coblenz, for the honor of having the first reunion of the Rainbow. The race was between Birmingham and Chi cago. After we had won, Father Duff fy, the well-known chaplain. said to me: Well, colonel, I now understand why it is that you men from the south
 run the United States. I have never
 see na more finished performance of the business of getting results
 "The Chicago band was on the plat form while the ballots were being counted and I turned to them and said, Well. boys, you might as well get out Dixie for you wil lhave to play it. We knew it all the time, and we have already got Dixie up. so here she goes, said the leader. I really think every body was glad that Alabama won.
 But we must realie that we have
 quite a responsibility on our shoulders,
 for the entertainment of>a whole di-
 vision of soldiers is no small task and
 Birmingham's reputation for handling
 big things will be put to the test"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-31
Big Mass Meeting Called For
 Tonight in Protest Against Unfair Tax on Coal and Iron
Why Alabama Should Be
 As Loyal to Coal and Iron
 As toHerCotton Production

To the Editor of The Age Herald:
 A man who was born in Lowndes, raised in Autauga, went to college in Tuscaloosa, started life in Selma, lived in Montgomery for 10 years and now lives in Birmingham, has been in con- tact with cotton from the cradle to this good day, forSn Birmingham the population is as much cotton as iron and coal, having mostly moved in here fpom the cotton fields The first money I ever made was from the little cotton patch which my brother and l had for our very own, as did most of the boys then and now The only physical labor I ever did was as hoe .hand in the cotton fields. The only cash money I ever saw till l was 90 years old, came into the country. as the cotton went out. Swathed in cotton as a baby, I start ed life on cotton, and with no direct interest in it for over 30 years past, even to this present moment, I look at the market page for the price of cot ton every morning. For the first 30 years of my life I never heard talk of anything but cotton and the war.
 From beginning to ending, I never heard anybody say a word against a high price for cotton. I have never seen human being in the south who didn't back cotton for a rise; who wanted it to sell cheaper, who wasn't ready to fight and die if need be to raise the price of cotton.
 I have never in this land so abun- dantly supplied with ignorant men, selfish men, and mean men, run
  white or black, so low down as to ever mention that if cotton went up clothes and bedding would be dearer, or if it went down cheaper merchant disc would reward the consumer. have seen big planters and small farmers and negro renters and town hangers-on around the bucket shops, make money on rise in cot ton, but I have never seen man begrudge another man the money he made through a higher price for cot
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-31
Warrior Riuer Committee
 Win in Through Rates Fight
Victory for the Warrior de veopment committee the trough rate ed

After fight lasting eight months. in which the committee, backed by the local civic organizations and the busi- ness men of the city, sought to have through rates established from New Orleans. Mobile. Memphis and st. Louis tO Birmingham, o. l.. Bunn, chairman of the special committee on getting the through rates. yesterday received q telegram from the railroad ndminis- tratiOn saying that the rates had been granted. They will be 20 per cent less than the former rates by mail.
 The telegram was received from Theo Brant, traffic manager who had been instructed to authorize the new rates. It caused much delight among the members of the board of directors of the chamber of commerce when it was read at the meeting held yester- day afternoon.
 The shipments that will be made un- der the new rates are to be shipped
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-31

up the Warrior river to Tuscaloosa er Cordova, coming from there to Bir- mingham by rail
 The matter had been agitated by the local committee for approximately eight months The committee was es- pecially anxious to get the matter through before the roads revert to prs- vate ownership, because, it has been pointed out. after that the matter would have to be taken up with each of the various roads which would re- quire much time and trouble and proo- ably much difficulty would be exreri- enced in getting it through
 The importance of the action is seen when the saving of 20 per cent shat will be affected on the estimated one and half million tons of freight Is considered No effort or trouble has been spared by the committee in get ting the matter through and it is con- sidered a great saving to Birmingham directly.
 Opposition to the through rates was met on many sides and for various req sons it was said. All these were over ridden
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-31
'CROIX DE GUERRE
 !. FOR CORP. FREEMAN
Member of Famous Quartet Who Took First German
 Prisoners Decorated

Corp. Edgar l.. Freeman of Montevallo, who was a member of Company D. 167th infantry, Forty-second division, reported at the local army recruiting station, 2Ul Clark building, yesterday and received the cnoix de guerre awarded him by the French government
 Corporal Freeman, with Sergt Warner Hall of Boyles, Corp. Homer Whited of Eessemer and Corp. Amce Terrel of Coal Valley, all of the 167th infantry, were the first Americans to capture German prisoners unassisted by the French or British.
 These men were in a rading party sent out by the 167th infantry in the trenches on the Lorraine front near the town of Ancervilles. They were attacked by a German patrol of II men, and in the hand to-hapd fighting nine Germans were killed and the other two Germa prisoners were brought in wounded. These men were awarded the distinguished ser vice cross by the United States gov ernment as well the croix de guerre Corporal Freeman was later wounded in the fight on the Ourcy river on July 2S, and was given 60 per cent disability dis charge. He has been sent by the fed eral board of vocational training to the Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical college at Starksville. Maj. H. B. May of the local recruiting station has gone to Mobile on a tour of inspection of the sub station there
 The following men were accepted for service during the past two days: Arthur w. Johnson, Birmingham; James D. Shpp. Mobile: Marshall T. Streatman, Florence: Harris l.. Tidd. Girard: William E. Davis Decatur; Jake Snider. Tusca- loosa; Kirby Cole, Athens; William T. Lindsay Florence: William F. Brown Florence; Samuel D. Watts, Girard . Charles w Gregg. Birmingham; James Muckenfuss. Brmingham: Beaters l. Whitaker. Decatur Richard Van Den Bosch, Mobile; Murray Dodd. Birming- ham: Ben Stewart. Decatur; Connolly Livingston, Troy; Arture c. Ball, Banks;
 Floyd F. Stokes, Florence.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-31
NEGRO WOMAN IS
 FATALLY STABBED

Alice Spatten, negD. 121s Fourth ave- nue, was stabbed in the chest with . knife and probably fatally injured by Julia Trammel at the home of the for mer last night.
 According to information at police headquarters quarrel over domestic af- fairs led to the cutting. Alice was car ried to the Hillman hospital by Echols & Strong, negro undertakers, where she Is said to be in critical condition Julia Trammel was arrested on charges of as- sault with intent to murder and placed in the city jail
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-31
OF COMMERCE ACTS

At an executive meeting held by the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday at o'clock in the directors room of the Chamber of Commerce building, resolutions were adopted and passed by that body in- dorsing and standing behind those drawn up and passed by the Civic as- sociation. They also passed resolutions calling upon the membership of the chamber to attend the mass meeting that will be held at Woodrow Wilson park tonight.
 Not only are the leaders of the in dustrial and business enterprises of the district against the proposed tonnage tax, but the mine workers and em- ployes of these enterprises are against it also. J. R. Kennamer, president of the United Mine Workers, stated Tues day afternoon that they were against 1t and yesterday reiterated this atti- tude. A great number of working men and miners are expected to be present at the meeting tonight.
 Charges made against the proposed tax by the various enterprises en- dorsing the stand taken by the Civic association, are that it is "a gross dis crimination against the business inter- ests and industries of the mineral dis trict and is a blow alike to labor and capital, and its only effect would be to cripple our industries, injuriously af- feet our real estate, commerce, trans portation and all other business enter prises.
 That it singles out the mineral dis trict and imposes the tax burdens of the whole state on it
 The real estate exchange will take up the discussion of the revenue bill and especially that clause of it which deals with the tonnage tax at its re- 1y-r. the Southern club today, to which the city commissioners and board of di- rectors of the civic organizations have been invited to attend.
 The subject will be thoroughly and informally discussed by all present and it is thought that resolutions will probably be adopted indorsing the pro- test
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-31
BOdeker to Talk on
 Worthless Checks

George Bodeker of the Bodeker Ma tional Detective agency will address the members of the Associated Re- tail Credit Men of Birmingham at their regular weekly luncheon at l2:lo o'clock In the private dining room of the Civic association today. MT. Bode- l,ar will talk on the best means of de- tecting and apprehending the passers of bogus checks upon the merchants of inc city It is claimed that there has been an unusual amount of worth less checks passed on the merchants recently.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-31
To Build s1. .0eO Store

A permit was issued yesterday by the city for the erection of $10, 900 store building at East Avenue D and Nineteenth street. The permit was is- sued to Ramsay and Mccormack, a calls for a two-story brick structure A permit was issued to Mrs. NJ. R. Clark to erect frame residence on Ea st Twenty fourth street. between Avenue D and Avenue E. The building is to cost Sa5O0
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-31
Strong Kilby Supporter
 Thinks Mistake Is Made

ing, looking to the general ad- vancement of the public good.
 .sHe also knows that ! am very much opposed to his unreasonable attitude toward special tax on the product of the mines of our state. His stand and that of his friends sin this matter Is unreasonable and ,untenable and their efforts to force this on us will not be successful and should not be.
 '.I believe that their second sober thought will convince them that they are making n mistake.
 'sThere is Il more equitable way of raising a sufficient revenue and 1t will he found"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-31

Fred NJ. Jackson, for many years leading prohibition worker and an ardent supporter of Governor IkiIby thinks the governor and his friends will yet realize their mis- take in putting n special tax on the In a statement yesterday MT. Jack son said;
 "GOvernOr kilby knows that I am in favor of n bill to raise more revenue for all our institutions, especially the schools. I am with him in all the things he is attempt
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-31
Negroes to Have Sings
 Every Sunday Afternoon
Colored Fairgrounds Association Ar ranges for Programme by Com
 munity, Singing Club

committee has made arrangements with the officers of the Co.ored Play grounds association to have the Com munty Singing club render a programme every Sunday afternon, directed by P. T. Massengale of Tuskegee institute
 Commencing Sunday, August 3, pro- gramme will be rendered by the Com munity Singing club and Hoskins band at Dozier's park on the Pratt-Ensley car line, Thrash station.
 All visitors and friends of Greater Bir- mingham are invited to attend
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-31
Merchants, Civic Bodies and Individuals United in Con- demning Discrimination Proposed Against Bir- mingham

Voices of protest have arisen from all portions of the mineral district of Alabama against the proposed tonnage tax to be im- posed upon the coal and iron industries.
 A big mass meeting of representa- tive citizens of the district has been called at o'clock tonight at Wood row Wilson park for the purpose of protesting against and condemning the proposed tonnage tax as unfair, arbitrary and a gross discrimination against the business interests and in dustries of the mineral district of this state.
 Industrial and business enterprises and clubs called special executive committee meetings yesterday and passed resolu- tions endorsing the stand taken by the Civic association, Kiwanis club and oth CTS against the proposed tax. Messages from adjoining counties have been re- ceived by the Civic association stating that they endorsed the protest and all nearby points will send delegations ito the meeting tonight
 Senator Frank s. White will be the principal speaker of the evening, while talks will be made by Representative William l.. Harrison and other repre- sentative men of industrial and busi- ness enterprises throughout the mineral district A band, probably the Indus trial School band, will play on the streets of the city during the afternoon and a, the meeting tonight. Representative Harrison will preside at the meeting He will arrive on an. early train from Montgomery today.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-31
Scott Elected Director of
 Community Boys Work

At recent meeting of the West End community boys work committee H. l.. tor of boys work to succeed Joseph F. Gibson. MT. Gibson is leaving on the first of August to accept the position of superintendent of schools at Amory. Miss, the place he held before going to the army. Mir Scott is a graduate of Trinity college and of Yale University and has had 8 large experience in com munity work.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-31
ARMSTRONG CORY
 REACHES NEW YORK

Mrs Chappell Cory yesterday re- ceived a telegram from her son. Lieut.. Armstrong C6ry, announcing his ar rival at New York from France. He will be at Camp Dix until mustered out. He was with the Eighty second division, but when it returned. was left behind at Beaune. where he took the college course offered by the gov ernment