davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-01
CONTEST FOR A RELIC
State College Wants to Move Or.
Priestley's Home to Its Campus.
Historical Societies object.
Story Of the Great Dis
coverer OF oxygen
BY GEORGE NOX MCCAIN

ONE Of the most interesting controversies
~ of recent years has been going on for
some time, unnoticcd because generally un-
known, between certain Pennsylvania Or
ganizations interested in education, history
and chemistry.
1t has to do with the removal Of the former
home of DIR. Joseph Priestley, the great
English chemist nnd experimental philos-
onhcr, from Northumberland, Pa, to the
campus Of state College, near Bellcfontc.
The organizations interested are the nu-
thorities of State College. various historical
societies and, incidentally only, the Amer
lean Chemical Society.
DIR. pricstlcy died in Northumberland III
years ago and Is buried there.
His life from its beginning to its end was
q constant battle for principle and religious
freedom against poverty, mobs, professional
rivals and bigotry.
He was one Of the most prolific writer's
on theology and chemistry that ever lived.
The one discovery of the great chemist
which has its greatest appeal to the un-
thinking mass Of humanity here and else
where was that of the ever popular soda
water"
His greatest boon to the world of science,
one that rcvolutionizcd chemistry, was his
discovery Of oxygen.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-01

Dr. Gcrsun, Rs~0riatc superintendent Of
schools says stal" slang sounds silly. Though
this was not INTENDED Ns an admiration to
keep it fresh there might be virtue in such a
course Slang is Il more or less necessary
evil out Of which good may come; it is the
poetry Of the vulgar. aud ont Of that poetry
picturesque aud descriptive, which because
Of it, quality becomes part Of the language.
II /, only the inaue that bores with rcpcti-
tiuu. Out Of much droSs one picks an occa-
sional gem Without the dro3s the gem
might not have come into existence Out of
lhc muck one picks n flower.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-01

] notice. remarked the student of the
financial page, that more than one bond is
rising to remark that the Income Tax Law
has fallen down again.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-01

begged Marshal Foch to take them home,
saving they loved America but were lone
some. Even while We realize that their
cake is dough, boys, We mentally annotate
thC itCm with "SOmc crust ~
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-01

The suspicion persists that Germany
would have less trouble in finding money to
equip armies and build wNrShpS than she
is apparently having in raising the wind for
the payment of her reparation debt.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-01

Ever and anon one gets the notion that
with those who see the Washington Con-
ference failure the wish is father to the
thought.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-01

Not the least Of the benefits of an
economic conference would be the instruction
it would give our tariff builders.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-01

American paper money in circulation,
says the United States Treasurer, averages
three bills to every person in the country.
And that's two more than bird has right
to expect.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-01

MarshnI Forh got white pig MS a
present whil" he was in Iowa. Now if
some on" would only make II collection OF
all th" blind pigs and present them to some
foreigner Who would promise to take them
out of tho country, the "wcts" would have
to be "dry' NOR" frequently.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-01
SHORT CUTS

The past does not always spur the
present. Sometimes it ties it with prec-
cdent.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-01
nR. PRIESTLEI was born in England
~ in 1893, the son Of a humble cloth

- IN lIo0, the son of a humble cloth
dresser.
lie lost his mother M an early age and
was reared and educated by an aunt.
lie became n Presbyterian minister, but
so brillnnt were his attachments that when
he was but thirty ono years of age he was
made an LII. ID. by Edinburgh University.
At thirty three he was elected a Fellow
of the Royal Society OF England.
He continued to preach, teach and OK
pertinent in chemistry until the great
dramatic incident of his life drove him from
England and forced him to find q homo in
the United States. where he settled in
Northumberland, Pa.
1t was about 1872 as an outcome of his
experiments with the nature Of gases that
his investigations led to the invention of
'sodn water
Millions of dollars of revenue are col
lrctcd now by this Government today as n
result Of DR.. Priestlcy's discovery Of this
popular beverage.
lfc gained much notoricty from it and
the CoplCy Medal Of the Royal Society was
awarded to him for this phase of his chem
iCnl researches.
During the French Revolution he was
preaching at the New Meeting House in
birmingham.
In his Outspokcn way he boldly and openly
expressed his sympathy with tho revolution
1t was this frank opinion that drove him
from birmingham and ultimately from Eng
land.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-01

NEARLY thirty years ago visited
~ Northumberland and the Priestlcy
house.
II was an old fashioned frame structure
built in square and rigid lines rs / recall it,
Neither pretentiOus nor attractive vet
eycn at the time it was a shrine for visiting
scientists.
The late Dean Pond, of the chemical de-
partmrnt 0f State College. was the moving
spirit in recent years for the removal Of
the PricstlCy home TO the campus of State
College.
II was his thought that it could better
be preserved and cared for. besides serving
as an inspiration to students at State Col-
leg", than to leave it in its original location.
In Il great center of education it would
attract the attention 1t deserved.
To add TO the sentiment. inScparaby at
taChPd 10 the old house. is III" fact that the
American Chemical Society was organized
on the porch Of DR.. Pricstey's home.
Various historical societies, deeply in
tcrcStcd In the preservation Of historical
sites and buildings, have entered objcrtions
to the proposed removal.
Tho contention is, | believe, that tho
venerable building should be maintained in
as nearly its original condition AS possible
site.
l'r. Edgar Fahs Smith. former provost of
III" University Of rrmnsylvnniI. himself nm
eminent chemist, has proposed that the old
nom" be turned into l'r"stl"y Museum,
DR. PRIESTLEY'S discovery Of oxygen
~ was, as have said, his grcutcst gIfl TO
science.
Another great discovery moro than +
hundred years later was that of ''argon''
HH II constituent Of the atmosphere. for Which
Prot. William RnmScy and Lord Ruylcgh
Of London. received the SlO,OOO prize Of
the Smithsonian Institution in lSG5
Thrr" quickly followed the discovery of
krlpton, mrturgon, xcuou and neon.
Ilclium was discovered BY these two
scientists while attempting to find some
natural compound Of urgon,
The great part which this latter gas is
destined 10 play in tho development of
dirigible airships is one Of the most inter.
cstimg problems Of tn" future.
TIlE recent study Of the composition of
i atmospheric mir has been attended bv
many notable experiments and discoveries
More than twenty tive years ago Prof
James Dcwar created Il sensation by his
brilliant experiments in the HqIClactiOn of
gases.
They eliminated in his "freeaing the air''
until il became Il solid.
Later ON the Polish chemist OIsZcwski
claimed that he was able to produce moro
intense cold than that developed bv the
Dewar experiments.
DR.. priestlPy's discovery of oxygen yyos
crowned by the discovery Of Prof. pictet
Of Geneva, Switzerland, who was able to
Uuupfy oxygen and obtain Il tcmDeraturo uf
minus l3O CcutigradC.
In the freak way was the attcmnt uC tyyo
French Savants, BeSaricon and Hern,itc
some years ago to demonstrate by experi-
mcnts with balloons in the upper air that
the earth's atmosphere is vanishing.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-01

when they begin to surn implements Of
warfare into utensils Of peace, the gold
cannon used in firing salute in honor of
III" arrival of the Prince Of Wales at
to help pay the expenses of the Gackwar's
Government.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-01

An astronomer reminds us that the
demon star Algul in the constellation of Per-
Scus can now be seen sparkling between the
hours OF and ~ j. NJ, after which ii dims
about five -SiXthS. Which suggests some
thing Of what has Happened on occasions to
that other demon star Alcohol.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-01

FTlIE University Of Philadelphia, now tho
l. University Of Pennsylvania. offered him,
on his arrival. the professorship Of chem
istry. lie declined it.
The rastornte Of the leading Unitarian
Church in New York was Naccd at his
disposal but he declined that also.
His experiences in England with the
birmingham mob and his forced resignation
as Il Fellow of the Royal Society as a result
of his advanced ideas in politics and re-
ligiOn, together with advancing years led
him to seek the secusion of Northumber-
land County.
lie was further dlshcartcncd by the claims
Of the French chemist LavoSicr, to whom
he impaired the details of his experiments
which led to tho discovery of oxygen, who
subsequently claimed the great discovery
as his own.
DR.. Pricstlcy's life work had practically
ended when lie settled on the banks of the
Su>quchanna.
He was never naturaizcd as all American
citizen. To the close of his life his friends
in England aided him financially.
lie was personal friend and associate of
James Watt, the engineer; John Baskcr-
Vile, the publisher; Josiah Wcdgwood.
famous potter; Sir William IIcrschel, the
leading astronomer of his time, and John
Smcuton, architect and builder of the Ed
dyStonc lighthouse.
DIR. Pricstlcy continued his controversial
religious writings until i'll health compelled
him to Ccas" work in 1903.
In 1902 his friends in England raised n
subscription that enabled him to print his
last great work "Church History" and
Notes on all the Books of Srripture.'' -
lie died February &, 1904.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-01
When NilI,a,


When WiIIian Jennings
While Gray Bryan listened to Pre-
Matter IOafA ui"r Briaud, SAYS Will
liam Allen White. he
wa, 50 carried away 10y the rhythm of the
oralory. its cadence and its tune. that he
Icupod to his feet and wildly npplauIcd but
when he heard the translation he sat glum
and dcjcctcd; for it was tn" sound and not
the sentiment that moved him II is lust
such delightful characteristics that cndear
him To- the rank and file. His heart strings
yibratp with theirs.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-01
An Arkansas Summer Dav

Taylor correspondence MagnoI.a New.
Whenever you come to town and find
everybody gone just wait a few minnie.
They viii soon begin to return from fishing
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-01

Every political contractor knows that
municipal street cleaning costs him more
than il Is worth to him.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-01

Moro than ordinary interest attaches to
tho niun"tion granted by Il New York Judge
restraining garment makers from establish
ing pi"r"Work and l"ngthcuing working
hours IT may h" precursor Of the day
when all imIu>tria! disputes will be settled
In court instead of through costly strikes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-13
THREE CIVIC DUTIES
 PRESCRIBED TO AID
 IN REDUCING CRIME.

Three duties of citizens, if prop erly observed, will enable Birming ham or any other city to reduce the crime problem to minimum, Dr. Paul Smith, the man whos cleaned up the Barbary coast of San Francesca, told members of the kiwanis club at their luncheon yesterday afternoon at the South ern club.
 The first duty is to be on good terms with city officials, sho wing appreciation of work well done by giving a word of encouragement.
 The second duty, he said, is to put up a bold front against the gambler and the crook, for that sort are towards at heart.
 The third duty is to make the city beautiful by helping the city officials to rid the municipality of things which are destructive to good citizenship and good govern ment.
 pr. Smiths talk was much en- joyed by the Kiwanians. His story of the cleanup campaign in San Francisco was interesting and intimate, giving a closeup of ac- tual events
 Wallace Chambers sang for the club members today, receiving considerable applause
 It was announced that ex-Secre- tary of the Navy Daniels would be the guest of the club on April 2s. Other civic bodies of the city have been invited to hear MT. Daniels talk, President Adams stated
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-13
CRENSHAW GOES
 ID TRIAL SECOND
 TIME FOR MURDER
Negro Charged With One of Most Brutal Grimes Ever Committed In the State.
 Verdict Thursday

Greenville, April 12.-(Special.) .)-"I found my mother lying on the floor Tn A puddle of blood, with her throat cut from ear to ear and number of cuts about her face upon my return home with my stepfather, Foster Gafford."
 That was the testimony of Miss Stella Haigler, the first of the states witnesses in the trial of Jake Cren- shaw in the Butler county circuit court today The witness further testified to the fact that her father was with her and at the home of her sister all of the afternoon of the day of the killing, except from 1 to 2:2o o'clock and the time it took her to ride from her home to the Oak Grove church Those are two important pieces of testimony in the case for the state
 The state introduced map of the building surroundings of the Gafford home where the brtual murder of Mrs. Foster occurred on the afternoon of May 16, 1920, and from this drawing the state proved by the first witness that her mothers body was found on the floor in a rear hall, where the state will later attempt to prove that the defendant was seen to leave in trot. Miss Haigler was given a rigid cross examination by the counsel for
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-13
the defense, but they were unable confuse her.
 TESTIMONY TALLIES

The second witness was Miss Mamie Haigler, another daughter of the de- ceased woman, whose testimony cor roborated that of her sister in every particular Miss Lizzie Rogers, daughter of Poster Gafford was next on the stand. and from her testimony the state was unable to prove that the murdered woman was horribly clft about the body as well as the face and throat, and that her father was with her at the home of another of her sis ter's from about the time he left his home until he accompanied his step daughter, Miss Stella Haigier, to hIs home when Mrs. Gafford was found Upon cross-examination, the defense sought to prove by this witness that Buel Powell, another negro, who was first arrested in connection with the killing, but later released. had q grudge against the deceased woman on account of his being prosecuted for selling Foster Gafford whisky. This was not proven, however, in spite O. the large number of hot questions asked by S. Bedeaux, Sr., counsel for the defendant.
 At this juncture, Miss Stella Haigler was again placed on the stand and testified that iron bar, that was later offered by the state as evidence,
 
 blood--stained. It is this bar with which the state claims Mrs. Foster Gafford was beaten about the head by Jake Crenshaw. The states next wit ness was J c. Harper. a neighbor of the Gaffords, whose testimony corro- borated that of the other witnesses.
 PLAN OF DEFENSE It is believed that the defense will attempt to show that the killing or Mrs Gafford was planned by master hand and committed by another person other than the defendant. The state will attempt to prove that while at the home of Foster Gafford, goins there for food, Jake Crenshaw brutaily assaulted Mrs. Gafford and later killed her
 l required all of the forenoon for the attorneys to confer with witnesses and to decide whether they were ready for the case. An attempt to postpone the case until Wednesday by the state and also defense on account of the ab- sence of important witnesses was pre- vented by the court, who in turn re- quested the sheriff to get the two witnesses in question.
 Officer Harris of Birmingham was the witness for the state and a negro pr eacher named Newell for the de- LOhsoc VI rN~otCSuA 9COuHty. IL Wil be remembered that these two witnesses gave scme important testimony in the frs. trial of Crenshaw last year.
 Fully one hour was consumed in striking the jury and the 12 men left to try the case is composed of farmers. insurance men and merchants. The Butle., county courthouse was crowded threr ghout the day by people from all sectioKs of Butler and adjoining coun> ties. It has caused more interest than any previous case during the past score of years in this county.
 It is believed that the case will not go to the jury before Thursday night for there are over 50 witnesses to be examined.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-13

association. said the owners would only enter pooling by compulsion. which meant legislation followed by control.
 FINAL DECISION
 Herbert Smith, the fighting delegate of the miners federation, then an- nounced the miners final decision-that the proposals of L-Jyd George were, with the exception of the one relating to temporary assistance, unacceptable, and if that was all the government and own CTS had to offer, there was no hope Of a settlement.
 "It may be that you have in your minds that it will be possible to starve us into submission, he exclaimed. If you do, it won't bring peace to the coal fields"
 He declared that the miners did not intend to have their wages cut by any method which the owners cared to bring about, and that they were not out for standardization, as that would have to come through the balRt box.
 The miners will study the proposals, he concluded &"but there cannot be settlement on these terms"
 Lloyd George made a final appeal, say
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-13
PE:ONAGE CHARGED
 ID TENNESSEANS
Preliminary Hearing Is Set for
 Friday Before United States Commissioner Hickey
Ry Associated Prcss

Knoxville, Tenn, April 12-Supt H. R. Woods and Foremen c. R. M. Coftram Everett Hicks and J. c. McMilligan, em- ployed by the Southern Construction com pany on the Lee highway in Grainger county, were arrested today by federal officers. charged with conspiracy to hold 75 men in peonage and with ''peonage."
 The accused were taken by Deputy United States Marshal D. J. Hickman Of Johnson City and w D. Cawley ot Knoxville, special agent of the depart ment, who assisted him, before United States Commissioner K. M. Hickey in Morristown this afternoon and are out on temporary bonds.
 The preliminary hearing has been set for 9;30 o'clock Friday morning before Commissioner Hickey. United States District Attorney w. T.. Kennerly, who has been directing the investigation, will appear before the commissioner at the time and ask that the men be bound over to the May term of the federal court in Knoxville.
 Woods is superintendent of a large project about two miles north of Tate Spring. McCottram, Hicks and McMilli- gan are foremen, but officers allege that they are as guilty of the violations of the federal statutes as is Woods.
 The superintendent and foremen told the federal officers it Is said, that the negroes have been working out claims for board bills and transportation charges Evidence accumulated by Special Agents Cawley and William F. Farrell, the lat ter of Nashville, is intended to show that the defense has pursued men, caught them and brought them back to the con struction camp.
 Three of the negroes appeared before General Kennerly last week as witnesses, but stated that they had run off from the camp and had reached Morristown, 10 miles away, when they were appre- hended by the defendants and taken back to the camp.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-13
MINERS REFUSE ID
 ACCEPT PROPOSALS ID SETTLE STRIKE
Transport Workers and Rail- way Men, However, Sus- pend Strike Notices for
 the Time Being
By Associated Press

London, April 12.-The conference of the mine owners, the mine workers and government officials today failed to reach settlement in the miners strike, the miners refusing to accept the prime minister's proposals for national set tlement of wages without national pool of profits, which Lloyd George declared impracticable,
 The transport workers and railway men, however, suspended their strike no- tices, which would have expired at mid night tonight Thus the day, which opened with almost certainty that the transport facilities of the country would be idle tomorrow, ended with brighter hopes, despite the fact that the executive of the transport workers, in sending out notice of the suspension of the strike. asserted: 'The situation is still critical. "
 The only government proposal which the miners would consider was one in which the government offered, after the wages question had been settled, to give temporary assistance to mitigate tho rapid reduction of wages. The others they brushed aside, at times with heated arguments.
 STICK TO DEMANDS
 The premier met the owners and min- CTS in separate conferences, then Jointly, But none of the arguments of the pre- mier or the owners could move the min- CTS. They stuck firmly to their demands, declaring through their spokesman. Frank Hodges, that sthe workmen for the first time arc going to have share of the total prosperity in trade"
 The premier, after a two-hours' session with the miners and again in the joint session, said he knew nothing that would justify the government in changing the convictions expressed in it's proposals, He insisted that national pool Of profits would lead to government con- trol, to which Parliament would not agree. He also entered strong protest against any substituting of wages or profits of industry out of the general taxes of the country on the same grounds.
 Mir Hodges retorted that the miners only asked for temporary assistance, and that their permanent scheme was absolutely free from government con- troL
 Evan Williams, president of the mining
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-13

ing that the government and the owners were prepared to examine the question of wages, but MT. Smith brought the proceedings to a close by saying that the time was late. and we will send 8 written reply
 The miners went direct from the con- ference to a meeting of the Triple AL liance, where their decision was made known It was immediately decided to postpone the sympathetic strike of the railwaynlen and transport workers. The meeting reassembled later in the evening to consider the whole question, but had reached no new decision when 1t ad- journed at 10 o'clock until Il o'clock to- morrow morning.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-13
BIG REDUCTION IN BASE SELLING PRICE OF STEEL PRODUCTS
By Associated Press

New York, Aprif I2.-Substan- tial reductions in the base selling prices of the products of the United States Steel Corporatton and it's subsidiaries were mn nounced tonight by Ebert H. Cary head of the corporation. after con sultation with the presidents of the various companies. The new prices become effective tomorrow, f. q. h. Pittsburgh.
 The list of reduction follows: Four by four and heavier billets, from @.sS.50 to &3z . gross ton: slabs, e42 to &3s . gross ton, sheet bars and small billets, CAT to S39 gross ton; bars. $2.35 to &1O per roo pounds, plates, $x95 to s2.2O per 100 poundss structural, &2.45 to *2.zO per 100 pounds; wire rods, &57 to &4s sross ton, plain wire. base. &s.35 to @a per 100 pounds; tin plate, q to S6 per 2S- hose box.
 Nails in Kegs were unchanged at &J.25 base.