davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-21
GANG LAW IN CHICAGO

From the Chicago Tribune.
 6T5IERE are signs that the Chicago mureerbund is disintegrating S Tohh O'Brien about to be hanged for inc murder of policeman, is tell-
 ing what he thinks. He speaks Of the gunmen as "the corporation" The cor poration failed him.
 Heretofore, evidently. the corporation functioned. OBrien had reason to think it would function in his case. lie was told to cheer up, that the verdict was fixed. The verdict wasn't fixed. so he was urged to cheer again, that inc iudge was fixed. The judge wasn't fixed SO he was bidden to- cheer yet more. that the parole board was fixed But something has interfered with the validity of the corporation OBrien's hanging is imminent So he tells what a nslrderer thinks about. In the first place. of course, he had nistol. He thought that Detective Sergeant Burke was going to shoot.
 sonny Dunn was lying on the fioor'
 o.Hrien Burke had ,nocl<ed him down." We recall that Dunn was once sentenced to prison for life for murder and was pardoneo' The detective was taxing no chances with Dunn.
 q shot first at the wall to scare Burke then I shot at his arm. Just a little touch of protest, no seri- ous offense intended. then sonny Dunn shot him three times in 1 the back and ran" Sonny ran V Diien went. to Joliet and returned 70 niee' sonny with careful or his stool nigeons s+* I was pretty drunk but offered to drive sonny wouldn't let me '"
 Sonny ran: and Sonny wouioh ie' inc intoxicated O'Brien drive saga ! a,o,s Sonny sonny turned him over | to the police. 'ss man tolo nis he was to get the names or the Jury
 men for Messy and he would TX them up to give me a snort plt Tn
 Ioliat was laughing in my sleeve about the way we were fooiing aaryhodv ' Reporters wrote me m saving I was game Then
 tbe verdict came in. I was dum-
 Then they told me the fudge had been fixed = Just stick they
 sa;d stuck sss the su- preme court denied the wrn
 Since then haven't heard from them l All the time I was in jail they didn't i even send me cigarette paper Put me on the stand again and this 1 time I'll tell the truth"
 l Put him on the stand again" When shall the gunner begin telling the
 truth in the first place? When shal
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-21

they quit carrying guns so the oppor- tunity may not present itself?
 OBrien was content to be a member of ''the corporation" He relied on it
 rather than the law. As a part of it's
 law he carried gun. Obeyinx it's in- Junction he fired upon a policeman who he thought" was going to draw weapon He knew that policeman
 tas rlght to carry a weapon. He
 knew that he had no right to carry
 one. He fired.
 Then he was content to place his faith in the corporation" The power or organized gunmen in Chicago had been established in his mind. He did
 not apply to the law. Quite the con
 trary, he ignored it. The law was something to be disregarded by jury fixing, judge tampeArng. by supreme court writs and by parole board appIi- cations
 The corporation failed. The law ont side the law hesitated and broke down. Then. and not until then. did O'Brien turn to the courts ana the governor and the peoples law for justice. When shall the murderous gunner, of Chicago learn that the law is sorne- thing else than lifeline to be seized only when the mafia failse Jt .hau be when the public conscience is hard ened to the inexorable fact that lives are at stake Men are being mur- dered every day by killers who arc
 banded for their own safety. The law Is the public's only safety. OBrien invoked gang law. It failed. Now he invokes the law that honest men have for their protection. If if sustains him what chance have de- 1 cent citizens? What chance had burke? Did 0Brien let Burke go ts the governor?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-21
War brides continue to trichle in.
EAT FAYs COAST DOWN HILL

From the New York World.
 There is a steep, snow-crusted hill in the Ridgewood section of Queens that some married man pleughins home in his rubbers from the lodge one of these fine, starlit breezy even ings, is going to locate. And when friend husband locates that particular declivity-oh. boy--when he does!
 All of which touches on and apper- tains to the Married Women's Coast ing Club of Ridgewood, It meets in formally every night after the dinner is a memory and friend husband has gone out to place himself. if possible, in harmonious juxtaposition with three of a kind. or is snugly ensconced be- fore the library hearth, deep in one of Emersons essays.
 |, only married women are eligible to the club who are victims of what is known in Kansas as the "middle-age' spread. Some married women who, if curves were water. could qualify as the Pacific ocean, discovered that coasting down steep hill. fave down on sled-the boys call it-well. never mind what the boys call it, you know, anyhow--she found out. anyway that exercise of this sort had great ef- feet in restoring ones former perpen- diculatory The glad tidings were com municated to select set of married women who are on the dizzy edge Of .embonpoint. and the club was started.
 The women assert that glimpse of the club in action is no sight fo- any Ridgewood males eyes, be the Ridgewood male married or single. Hence the nocturnal rendezvous of the Stout Women's Coasting Club has been kept secret.
 But it is. safe to maintain that one of these fine. starlit, breezy evenings some husband is going to stumble upon, maybe down, that particular hill, and, as remarked before. when he d s- oh boy,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-21
LIKE M,LITkE SAY,s

A lot of us would be wealthier than we are if we did not try to initiate our wealthy neighbors.
 straw hat in winter and get away with it when man would get ride in the wagon if he tried it?
 A man is an awful coward good old-fashioned stomach ache will make him want to send for his pastor and fess up all of his sins.
 A man can't understand why women hate to wash dishes and love to wash babies.
 Every married woman notices how gen tlemanly and attentive other husbands are to their wives.
 Think it over carefully and you will agree that a man can be pelasant to talk tc and yet be disagreeable to listen to-
 Guess woman's s age ten years toe young and as long as she lives she will have a kind word for you.
 man can lead an aimless existence and vet keep on shooting off his mouth all the time.
 Never try to convince a friend that he is wrong. If you succeed you will gain rothing and you are likely to lose 2 friend. When a girl has fine head of hail her mother wants her to wear it dowr her back when she is 20 years old.
 A 17-year-old girl is supposed to bt hcme by bedtime. But bedtime in soms homes nowadays is a- m.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-21
No Weather Prophet.

T have given up all claims to being q weather prophet" said H. Key Mil ner, for on Wednesday about 12;30 D. Tn. l thought from the looks of the clouds and the feel of the atmosphere that we were on the eve of torrential downpour and so I hurried to the Tut wiler in order not to miss hearing Fred B. Smith. But the rain never came then and in spite of the rising temperature and the prognostications of the weather bureau, we had a fine Thursday and yesterday was an idea day I am not, however, one of those who kick when predicted bad weather fails to materialize. but am always glad when the weather bureau makes a wrong guess.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-21
Senator Underwood pepular

T saw striking illustration of the way Senator Underwood is regarded in the Black Belt when I was in Selma recently said NJ. W. Carlisle.
 At a theatre three pictures of prominent men were thrown on the screen, Champ Clark. Underwood and Bryan. in the order named. Three peo- pie applauded Clark's picture. not a handclao sounded. nor was the least bit of noise made, when Bryans picture appeared but the whole house. men and women, applauded Underwood. q find public sentiment the same wherever 1 go in Alabama I travel over almost the entire state. and 1 believe there is bat one county that will not give Senator Underwood a handsome majority. That county is Walker, where MT, Musgrove makes his horne."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-21
NOT TO BLAME
UNDERWOOD OPPOSITION

the senate who so stands out among his fellows.
 To doubt that the people of Ala bama do not know this, to doubt their purpose of returning him by an even greater majority than they gave him when the picturesque Hobson opposed him six years ago, is to doubt their in- America today there is volunteer and spontaneous movement to make him the democratic nominee for president There is no organization behind this movement; on the contrary the sena- tor and his friends have had to pro- test strenuously against these simul-. taneous, and entirely volunteer move ments, to make him a presidential can didate. The senator himself had con siderable difficulty in halting the Un- derwood movement in Georgia The senator is not only not a candidate for the presidential nomination. but he has told his friends that the volunteer cam paigns for him, as complimentary as they are, are distinctly embarra ssing. If he were to say the word, he would be a powerful contender at San Francisco but he has given his friends to under stand plainly that he will oppose the various movements for him for the presidential nomination. and ask noth- ing more than that the people return him to his labors and his honors in the United States Senate.
 It is small wonder that the opponents of Senator Underwood are making no headway, and that as MT. Lane says. there is no real opposition" The in- telligent voter needs but a moment to compare Oscar Underwood with either or both the men who are opposing him. to have him make up his mind that it would be absurd to think of supplant- ing Underwood with either one of them
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-21
Relief in Sight.

The congested housing condition which has prevailed in Birmingham for the past two years will be some : what relieved in the near future" said c. F, Golson. "On all sides new houses are being erected and the majority of them are occupied really before they are finished. Of course this step is necessary for people to have some Where to live. for with things as they are now several families are resid- ing in one house. I know of instances where three families are living in one house not really large enough for two
 Houses are going up in all direc- tions and if the present building ac- tivity is maintained for several months the congested housing condition will be greatly relieved"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-21
SOUNDS LIKE EXPECTATION N
From The Montgomery Advertiser.

From The Montgomery Advertiser.
 N PROMINENT business man of l BA, North Alabama, MT. Hector D Lane, who like the business men l throughout the State, is supporting Senator Underwood, wonders because there is no real opposition to Senator Underwood, although two rival candi- dates are in the field There must be-
 he said, somewhere some opposition to | Senator Underwood, but after travelling through seventeen counties and meet ing representative men in every walk of life I have not encountered the op- , position. It is difficult to explain, be-
 have some enemies. but outside of the candidates themselves and a few of their friends there is no sort of active | oposition to the senator. The senti- | menk for the senator, as I have encoun-
 tered it. is much more one sided than it
 was when Capt. Hobson was candi-
 date against him in 19l4n
 Much the same sort of news daily
 makes it's way into the campaign head : quarters of Senator Underwood Tt is 1 too one- sided here to be interesting" is frequently volunteer report from va rious counties and communities in the State. The outcome of the senatorial election, from the beginning, has never 1 been in doubt; the people of Alabama
 iare to sensible and toe patriotic to think for moment of disposing of the
 services of Senator Underwood. He is today the great outstanding figure in 1 the United States in either party. l There are senators who are more of ten on the floor in debate, and senators more disposed to make the eagle
 scream and weep for the oppressed vic- 1 tims of an unjust society but for in- l fluence, for constructive labor, wrought in thought and patience for getting things done. there is no member of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-21
Peary Sought the Pole
 More than Thirty Years

TN spite of bitter controversy U which ragged between the two men, echoes of which are still heard, Rear Admiral Robert E. Peary, and not Dr. Frederick A. Cook, will be recorded in all future histories as the discoverer of the north pole.
 The veteran explorer who died yes terday at his home in Washington, of acute anemia, spent nearly half of his lifetime in exploring frozen re- gions of the north. Only a man of the utmost intrepidity, who com bined with great personal courage and fortitude an extraordinary devo- ton to his chosen work could have endured the hardships and disap- pointments Peary did without becom- ing disheartened and acknowledging defeat
 Baffled in his search fer the north pole, again and again he plunged into those bleak and inhospitable re- gions of the Arctic circle, where hun dreds of explorers had perished mis- erably. He seemed to bear charmed life. He survived frightful exposure and always contrived to find his way back to civilization. His eighth ex. petition, thirty-four years after he made his first trip, brought success and Peary announced to the worlc that he had found the pole.
 However, Dr. Cook had made 2 previous claim and in spite of the fact that Congress and various scien tific bodies whose standing is unques toned accepted Peary's proofs anc rejected the claim of Dr. Cook, tho public was never quite convinced anc to this day there are people whc firmly believe the Brooklyn physician if not the actual discoverer of tn, north pole, came as near finding i as Peary. Most of the prejudice against Reary was caused by his rather unsportsmanlike conduct whel the controversy with Cook frs started. In. some parts of the coun try, unjust as it seemed, he becam decidedly unpopular. At one time
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-21
THE HOUSE THAT WAS
rom the London Mercury.

From the London Mercury. Of the old house. only few crumbled courses of brick, srnothered in nettle
 and dock, Or a squared stone. lying messy where
 it tumbled!
 Sprawiing bramble and saucy thistle
 mock What once was firelit floor and private
 charm
 Where, seen in windowed picture. hfffs
 were fading At dusk and all was memory y-colored and
 warm,
 And voices talked. secure from the
 winds invading. Of the old garden. only stray shining Of daffodil flames amid Aprirs cuckoo flowers, Or cluster of aconite mixed with weeds
 entwiningi But. dark and lofty, a royal cedar By homely thorns; whether the white rain drifts Or. sun scorches, he holds the downs in ken. The western vale; his branchy tiers he lifts, ] Older than many generation of men.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-21
Federal Dry Laws
 Being We'll Observed

IE FEDERAL PROHIBITION COM ll MISSIONER KRAMER reports that about one thousand arrests marked the first month of the ma tion-wide amendment. This is good showing, and what is especially grat- flying to Mir. Kramer is the active cooperation of individual citizens in the matter of enforcement.
 The natonal enforcement agency IS now completely organized, and pub lie sentiment for prohibition, the commissioner reports, is steadily growing.
 Chief among the problems con- fronting the government is the smuggling of liquor, and the manu- faeture of moonshine whisky. Kra- mer says that outwitting the 'noon- sinners requires unusual vigilance.
 The wildcat still district centers, it is stated, in Kentucky, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Florida, and to some extent in Pennsylvania. Alabama might have been added to the list, although it is believed there is little corn liquor produced out side of the region around Birming- ham. On the whole, according to the commissioner, prohibition is
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-21
Pershing's Observations
 Regarding Illiteracy

TN his address at Chattanooga, 0 General Pershing spoke plainly about the large percentage of illit- eracy in this country, as shown by the tests of men called to the mili- tary service
 The revelations made him ashamed and he urged the American people to support popular education. Twenty-Five per cent sof the men drawn in the draft, as the record showed, were illterate.
 General Pershing did not specify the states or sections from which the illiterates came, but it is we'll known fact that the south furnished the greater part. In the federal ce nsus of 1910, Alabama was near the bottom of the list of states. Louisiana made the poorest exhibit. and Alabama came only little above | it. It was usually said that the large negro population accounted for the situation, but it is known that the number of whites who cannot read is appalling.
 The census of 1920 will show a re- duced illiteracy as compared with 191O, but the influences that will make for improvement are just now
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-21
ANOTHER sauAwK FROM REED

From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
 In a speech made at Cedar Rapids Senator Reed the other day said the British navy could lick the American navy in 36 hours. It may be lese majes tie. hut it is our patriotic duty to call the Senator what we wouldn't dare call a native Kentuckian unless we had the dope on him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-21
NOT LIKELY

"The defendant says he donated his time and talents to the candidates campaign without pay or hope of re- ward."-
 And what did the prosecuting att torney say to that?a
 He asked the gentlemen of the jury in sarcastic tones if they could con ceive of the defendant giving anything so valuable and getting nothing in return but slap on the back"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-21

going into effect. We have com rulsory school attendance law at last, and an ample school revenue derived from the three-mill tax.
 Schools and better schools are null tiplying steadily. Education boards are allowed reasonable latitude in en- forcing school attendance, but it is hoped they will not be too lax. The stricter the better.
 Before the present decade is ended illiteracy in Alabama will be near the vanishing point.
 General Persbing has rendered good service indeed in emphasizing the shame of illiteracy. Action throughout the south will surely be Ispeeded up.
 # # *
 number of Biblical plays have been put on the stage, but as yet no one has attempted to dramatize Jonahs expe- riences with the whale. Thurston. the magician, might be able to put it oya-.".
 # # x Simply because Italy permitted fool poet to capture Plume and declines to dislodge him is no reason why the Adri- atic question should be settled exactly the way Italy wants it settled
 # T <
 Mir Ford would have been spared many a mean thrust from hia enemies if Easel had gone into training camp. even though he failed to get any nearer the front than Camp Upton
 x x % A Chinaman who made d great deal of money showing tourists the hop smok- CTS of New Yorks Chinatown has left for home He, too, appears to be vic- time of prohibition. 1 * # %
 The republican elephant hopes to be sleek and fat ere another twelve months have rolled around, but there's many a slip between political plots and the pub lie crib. Still, there's no use denying the fact ithat if England, France and Italy decide to worry along without the United States, Ithey will probably be able to do it.
 x * j.
 The Mad Mullah' of Soma1i1and, who has been on the war path again, found that airplanes and tanks considerably ccmplicate modern warfare.
 < x #
 In these trying times Grayson and Tu- multy must have many a heart-to-heart talk in retired corner of the White House.
 The bashfulness of democratic candi- dates for the presidency is only equaled by the calm assurance of MT. Bryan.
 # x x
 Wear corduroy is q new slogan adopt ed by high school instructors in stockton, Cal, to reduce the high cost of living.
 X < <
 A number of railroad executives are ex- pected to be back on s5ooOo a year basis after Monday, March l.
 # % #
 Assistant Secretary Polk realizes that nothing stands between him and the President now but space.
 I: # #
 The death of Peary leaves Doe Cook at liberty to discover the North Pole all over again,
 Mexicans seem to have an idea that an American citizen in the hand is worth two ir the chaparral
 # 1. # The one-man car has another advantage worth noting. It has eliminated rear plat form oratory N
 * * x As a republican 'keynoter'' Elihu Root stands in a class by himself,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-21

ne was compelled 10 cut snort leC- ture tour through the south because of the hostility shown him.
 Like most Americans who have won lasting fame, Peary devoted himself with passionate zeal to the one great object of his life. The world would have continued to rock along quite comfortably had the north pole never been discovered, but as sporting achievement" it was magnificent and during his voyages Peary probably added more to the sum of human knowledge regarding the north polar regions than any of his predecessors or contemporaries.
 ;. $. !.
 Colonel House Is Mentioned
 As Successor to Lansing | INOL. E. M. HOUSE is mentioned S in Washington as possible successor to MT. Lansing, but gossip to this effect is discounted by the fact that nobody seems to know just what are the present relations be- tween MT. Wilson and his former confidential adviser.
 Persons who assume to know say Colonel I-3use would be the logical Successor tc Mir. Lansing and if Pres ident Wilson fails to appoint him, it will confirm the report that the two men are no longer friends. Neil ther MT. Wilson nor Colonel House has acknowledged that they have had misunderstanding, but Colonel House is quoted as saying that In his association with the President and MT. Lansing "there has never been 'disagreeable' difference of opinion between them" This IS re- garded in some quarters as taclt acknowledgment that there has been 1 a difference of opinion.
 But all such speculation is idle. There is no more reason why the President should appoint Colonel House to the vacancy now than there has been at any time in the past seven years, provided they are still friendly. Colonel House is evidently the kind of man who has no love for public office. Compared to the role 1 he played in national affairs, serv- ling as Secretary of State would add nc thing to his prestige, for it is la mentally true that he was treated as d far superior parsonage to the luck lles Mr Lansing, both at home and abroad, although the only title he possesses then or now is that of "colonel."
 MT. Polk, assistant Secretary of State, is familiar with the duties of the place. If he were appointed it would not be necessary to break in new man, but the question re mains, would MT. Folks mind be willing to go along with' MT. Will sons, no matter which way the wind blew?
 ;. k *
 Liberal Response to
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-21
TORTURED SOILS

From the Minneapolis Journal
 Governor Morrow has so far made fifty eight colonels for his staff. Fifty-eight Kentucky colonels and not drop to drink. Isn't that southern Texas in sum mer
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-21
RoNE-DRyNEss

From the Independent. New York.
 Said he governor of New York to the governor of New Jersey. Its going to be longer time between drinks if we don't do something about it.