davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-25
ALABAMA WOMEN LABOR COND|T|O PICTURED AS BAD
Long Hours, Low Wages and Bad Surroundings Is Re- port Sent Out Over
 Radio
WASHINGTON BUREAU THE AGE-HERALD
 NVaahingt0n. Dec. 2A

The department of labor. through the woman's bureau, has broadcast by radio into every hamlet of the country an official and carefully pre- pared statement seeting forth al- legged conditions under which women in Alabama work.
 The statement, by Alabamians in Washington, Is not regarded as com plimentary. In some respects, 1t Is alleged to be untrue; in others, greatly exaggerated.
 In the opinion of practically all, the story will lead to controversy. It follows:
 This Is the women's bureau ot the United States department of labor. We study the conditions under which women are employed in industry and tonight I am going to tell. you about the womensin one of our big southern industrial states--the state of Ala bama. We made an investigation there last spring and got records for < nearly six thousand women in one ~hundred and thirty-one establish ments. These women were working in textile mills making cotton yard goods. yarn and twine and hosiery. Tn other factories they were prepar- .ing food products, and making cloth , ing for men and women. small number of them were doing printing and publishing work, and many others were working in general stores, in 5-and-10-cent stores and in laundries. So you see that as group they represent con ditlons in many different industries.
 "In any study of this sort it is the human side of the story of wom- en in industry which we look for, and the effect of conditions in some industries is clearly illustrated in the remark of one woman worker who said: It just doesn't seem as if l could keep uo any longer-I don't have anything in life except work, feel poorly and tired al the time, and it just about makes me sick to go in to work in the morning. The room is so hot and smells so bad. and get so tired standing up til the time I only made seven dollars last week. too. and that ain't enough to live on
 Report Long Hours
 "The thing that first struck us when we began to study the work
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-25
WHOLE C|TY TAXES
 I |ME T0 JOIN IN CHRISTMAS GIVING
Needy Children Are Remem- bered by Local 0rganiza- tions- All Churches Hold
 Christmas SerVcieS
tContinued From Page one)


 baskets of food were distributed to needy families by the committee.
 l.. D. Taylo. was the chairman of the distribution committee. He was assisted by Mrs. James Driver. Mrs. C. M. Baker. Mrs F. M. Thompson, and Mrs. Litton.
 Following the distribution of the presents to the children, J. T. Wal ker. on behalf of the shopmen, pre- sented Mrs. Litton with pot of i blooming cyclamen. This gift was made in appreciation of Mrs. Littons efforts In arranging the Christmas tree party
 Special Christmas services, fea- tured by appropriate music, were held at all churches in the city Sun day morning and evening. Many churches will hold services today.
 According to those in touch with the situation Birmingham is observ- ing it's greatest Christmas in years today. More people are working than at any time since 1919, s.etistics say, and more money has been put into circulation for this Christmas than any since the boom da.-r immediately following the signing of the armi- stice in 1918.
 SnrlAtmas autet
 Police characterize Christmas this year as the quietest ani iaost orderly
 in the history of the city. Accidents have been scarce and the number of arrests for public drunkenness and disorderly conduct is smaller than usual.
 At the city jail this morning number of prisoners were given their release as a Christmas present. h. mates of the jail who were not so fortunate as to receive clemency will enjoy Christmas dinner at the ex- penso of the city.
 Merchants say that bill for pres ents far exceeding that of last year has been handed the Magic City. while welfare workers state that every needy family in the city has been taken care of by various local charitable organizations. With every one care for, with men
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-25
Ing conditions forbthese women was

Ing conditions for rRthese women was the long hours they worked. Of course some women worked under good conditions, for good wages and short hours. but more than half of them were supposed to work 10 hours a day or more. A 1o-hour day means working from 6:30 or in the morn ing to 5:30 or 8 in the afternoon, with an hour for lunch. These are very long hours, especially for wom- en who have housework to d. before they leave home in the morning and after they get back in the eve ming. In seventeen estab,ishments-- which were mostly textile mills women worked II hours or longer each day. In most states such hours as these would not be permitted by law. Forty-foar states and the Dis- trict of Columbia have found that if women's health is to be safeguarded
 there must be legal restriction of their working hours. In certain states this and women may legally work any hours which their employers require. The long daily hours for the wom- en in Alabama were somewhat frightened by the fact that most of them had a Saturday half holiday, or at least worked few hours less on Saturdays. In stores, though, Saturday was not a day to look for ward to, for most of the women who were working in stores had longer hours on Saturday than on any other day and some of them even had to work 12 hours.
 with such long working hours it is natural to suppose that the wom- en must have been able to make pretty good wages, Unfortunately
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-25

arrests promised by the attorney general was made when former deputy sheriff was jailed and charged with murder. Two national guard companies established camp on the grounds occupied by the court house and jail. and trained machine guns on the jail. The attorney general set JanuaryS5 as the date for open hearings. An inquest was held after pathologists had examined the podles and announced the men ad been beaten and some bones broken De fore they died. The identification of the bodies was pronounced sat- isfactory to the authorities, and they were turned over to relatives for burial.
 Everybody Armed
 Stores and residences are generalN reported as stocked with unusual supplies ef guns and ammunition. and citizens are said to be moving about in vehicles and oh foot with firearms at their side. The Mer Rouge com munity has been divided into hostile camps since the events following last August. it is admitted.
 T. J. Burnett, the lone suspect to reach the parish jail. discussed today with his attorneys the charge of mur- der he must face at the open hearing set for January by the attorney gen. eral. Visitors were denied admittanee today as the military patrolled the jail grounds which are flanked with machine guns.
 Seeks Preliminary Trial
 Burnett has made application through his attorneys for prelimi- nary trial through regular channels to thwart the states program. The attorney general has instructed the district judge net to act on the peti- tion for the present.
 former deputy sheriff of More house. farm owner and a member of well thought of family, Burnett is declared by many to have enjoyed q good reputation, and his friends have come to his assistance. and say he could not have been implicated in the alleged murders
 No further arrests were made to- day. It is now believed the others promised will not be effected until after Christmas.
 At the conclusion of the open hear ing it was semi-officially announced here, the men if indicted will be moved to some other parish for trial. most likely Baton Rouse.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-25

this was not the case Of nearly 5000 white women, one-half earned less than sS.s0 during one week. Of more than T50 negro women, half earned less than s6.05 during one week.
 Salary Scale
 "Of course some of the/women who had such extremely low earnings had not worked full time during the week, but of nearly 2.5o0 white wom- en who had worked practically full time one half earned less than $10.40. That is not much money to get for working 10 hours a day and b5 hours a week in mill, factory, or store. but many women got even less than that and were glad to be able to make whatever they could.
 "Bedsides long hours and low wages. the women of Alabama had to cope with very uncomfortable and sometimes unhealthful conditions in the places where they worked. Many women in textile mills, laundries, and stores had to stand all day long. as no seats of any sort had been fur nlshed for them. There is no accept able excuse for making woman stand for 10 hours a day, without a chance to sit down.
 "Stuffy. badly ventilated work rooms and glaring. unshaded lights, also added to the fatigue of many women workers in Alabama.
 Even as elementary a necessary as the need for drinking water was ignored in some establishments. where no facilities were offered for getting drinking water and the girls had to drink from their hands, milk bottles or tin cans.
 Tt is not surprising that with such conditions many overfatigued and underpaid women were found in the state.
 These women form ar important element in the life of the state and their side of the story is not always understood. The well being of fu- ture generations is dependent upon them and it is vitally important that they should be protected"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-25

working and with moLey plentiful with peace and prosperity reigning with every indication pointing to a sane and quiet observance of the day truly it's
 Merry Christmas. Birmingham,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-25
BODIES TAKEN OUT IF LAKE ARE LAID TO REST Al. HOME
Thousands Present at Funeral Services of Two Men Killed in Disorders in Louisi-
 ana Parish
tContinued From Page one,

 and linking hands, waded through the swampy portions of the lake. A previous plan to drain the shallow waters was abandoned.
 Shortly after midnight on Thurs day, a party of eight or ten men were seen in a boat on Lake Cooper In the area under military guard in which traffic was forbidden.
 Lake Dynnmited
 The men refused to answer calls of the guards, whereupon a machine gun was turned upon them and 150 shots fired. The men escaped. Two guards rushed on foot many miles and reported the event to the com manding officer at Mer Rouge. The entire company was rushed to the scene of the skirmish, but investi- gation after daylight revealed noth- ing.
 While the troops were rushed to Lake Cooper, blasting was in prog ress near the ferry landing on Lake La Fourche, 23 miles away. The concussion shook the houses in the vicinity. Unidentified men had set off at least 1000 pounds of dyna- mite, experts have since declared.
 The next morning when the ferry man went on board his ferryboat he found it had been released from the spot where tied and was drifting along the lake. He saw portion of the bank blown in and hundreds of dead fish floating on the surface of the water. Among the fish he saw two headless bodies, wire ound and in a bad state of decomposition It was believed the dynamiters had attempted to steal the bodies.
 The bodies were permitted to float on the water until sunset, during which time relatives and friends of the Daniels and Richards families recognized bits of clothing remain ing on the men.
 Deputy Sheriff Arrested
 With the first object in the pro- gram attained, Governor Parker inn mediately inaugurated the second phase, arrests of suspects of the crime During Friday an infantry company at Alexandria and ma chine gun company at New Orleans were ordered to entrain for Bastrop' the parish seat of Morehouse. Ac- companying the machine gun com pany went the attorney general, to set the legal machinery of the state in motion. and also two eminent pathologists of New Orleans.
 yesterday. the first of the many
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-25
CyRENE CoMMANDERY

Sir Knights of Cyrene Comman- dery, No. 10. Knights Tempiar. are requested to meet in fuli uniform at the Masonic temple Monday after noon at 2.1s o'clock for the purpose of attending md conducting the Templar funeral services for our Frater Sir Knight Thomas H. Brown. which win he held at the snmiIy residence. 1O33 Twenty fourth street. north, Monday afternoon nt T o'clock, with interment nt Elm- ,xood. A. r. WELLS,
 Eminent Commander.
 CHAs. I. fsEOHEGAN, Recorder.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-25
Hendaches from sltght Colds

Laxative PROMO QUININE Tablets relieve the Headache by curing the Cold tonic laxative and germ de- stroyer. The box bears the signature of F. W. Grove. (Be sure you get BROMOl 30c.-Adv.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-25
BELIEVE FIREBUG IS
 TRYING TO BURN TOWN

MONROE. Mich. Dec. 24-Two fires that broke out almost simuita- neously within block of each other in the downtown section tonight and which were followed by third blaze threatening the destruction of the Monroe fire department head quarters statkpn. aroused police, county officers and deputies from the state fire marshal's office to renewal of their efforts to apprehend Monroe's Sunday night firebug,
 who is blamed by them for 15 fires, resulting in property losses approxi- mating S1OO. 900 since December 1.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-25
LOCAL DATA

E. c. HORTON. observer. ' Summary of observations made at sta tions of the United States Weather Bureau during the 24 hours ending at D. m., 90th meridian time, December 24 1922:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-25
CITY DETECTIVE MARRlES

Detective J. T. Moser of the city bureau left the rank and file of the unmarried men of the Birming- ham law guardians Sunday. when. without serving notice on his boon companions at headquarters, he was quietly married to Miss Ethel A Chambers Immediately after the ceremony, Mir. and Mrs. Mosers left the city for Decatur. where they will spend a few days with friends.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-25
PHILIPPINE OFFICERS ARE SAVED FROM DEATH

MANILA, Dec. 24.-Death sentences of eleven non commissioned officers of the Philippine constabulary were commuted to life Imprisonment and life sentences of sixty-six privates were commuted to seventeen years imprisonment here today by Leonard Wood. governor general of the Philippines.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-25
PROTEST TO FRENCH ON
 TREATMENT OF CHINESE
Bv Assoc,ated Press

PBKING. Dec. 2-The foreign of- i flee has announced\that it has lodged a complaint with the French govern ment against alleged ill treatment of Chinese citizens residing in French
 Indo-Chinas Evidence has been re- ceived. It Is said, that Chinese coolies in Indo-China, working on small pay, were brutally treated, and in cases of alleged crimes were not given fair trials
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-25
THE WEATHER

WASHINGTON, Dec. 24.--Alabama and Mlssissippi Generally fair Mon day and Tuesday with mild tempera- ture.
 Tennessee: Fair with mild tenn perature Monday and Tuesday.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-25

NEW YORK, Dec. 24.--iiow much Is a friend worth? Eight-yearold Johnny Miller can tell you, for Johnny has four friends who stuck Ito tho finish"
 Deserted by his stepmother, both feet frozen, Johnny was found crawl ing across a tenement roof on which he had slept for three weeks.
 ''On'y l didn't sleep much" Johnny confesses. My shoes had holes and snow got in under my feet. My feet would wake me up.'
 From his warm bed in the Heeksher
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-25
MILLER CHAPTER, 0. E. g., TO HOLD MEETING

Miller chapter, No. 30. Order of Eastern Star, of which Mrs. Blanche Hill is worthy matron and Mrs Lula Riddle. secretary. will have an open meeting at Huffman, Wednesday, December 27. The following program will be given:
 E Prayer, the Rev. Mir. Earl; song, "America.p by all present; plane solo. Miss Lois Franklin; reading, Mrs. Watkins Riddle; violin and piano duet, Edwin Ives and Miss Myrtle Self speech. MT. Salter; violin solo, Roy Franklin; song, quartet.
 Everyone is invited.
The Washington times., 1922-11-12

his social extravagances and dissipations
with deep regret, When, his sem-lcgiti-
mate financial speculations began to go
wrong he used all her patrimony.
In recent years the Baron compelled
her to spend all her time at the Chateau
de Couvicourt, where she acted as hostess
for the brilliant weekend parties which
he was in the habit of holding there. The
Baron's chef cooked exquisite dinners and
the cellar was stocked with the choicest
vintages. The company consisted very
largely of foreign millionaires - Ameri-
cans, South Americans, Australians and
others--who were happy to enjoy the hos
pitality of such a splendid member of the
old nobility.
Most of the week, however, he spent in
Paris, dividing his time between the direc-
ton of his criminal operations and the
gay beauties of the Partisan stage, upon
whom he spent much Of his ill-gotten
wealth. OF course, the scoundrel left his
wife out of these amusements, and the,
poor woman was left alone in her vast
chateau to mourn over her husbands sins.
The police found that the Baron's birth
name was simply Richard Reith. He was
of excellent family, born in Paris in 1880,
the son of highly respected English
teacher at the Lycee Fenelon in Paris.
Early he was sent to grandparents in
Germany, where he was brought up in the
midst of luxury and learned to speak the
language with great ease. At seventeen
ne paid short visit to Paris, and then,
for reasons which tho police have not yet
been able to unveil, he left hurriedly for
England In London he went to Fleet
street and was for some time a reporter,
engaged on one of the big daily papers.
Once more he found II necessary TO
leave his employment in a hurry, and in
1899 he took steerage passage from
Southampton to New York. There he
seemed to have struck luck right away,
for, according to papers which were found
in the study at the Chateau de Couvi-
court. he was employed Y the New YORK
state educational authorities as an inspec
tor. There is some wonder what sort OF
The Washington times., 1922-11-12

financial and business edifice built up by
the Baron was on the point of collapse,
and successful burglary was his>only seri-
ous resource. The Baron dropped over
one million dollars in 1921 alone by un-
lucky deals in marks and Austrian
crowns. The money that he lost to the
bankers and exchange dealers came from
clever criminal operations of his own, in
which some confding stranger was the
dupc, or else from the even more fruit.
ful operations pulled off by the faithful
gang of gunmen and burglars, motor car
stealers and bond forgers that he and his
associates employed.
In the office on the ground floor Of
his town mansion in the Rue Alphonse de
Neuville the police found great bundles
of city and state bonds waiting doubt.
less for the acid sponge and the pen Of
the forger who would remove from them
the proper serial numbers. which were on
the black list at every bank and trust
establishment, and substitute others.
These bonds had been stolen at Mines
The Washington times., 1922-11-12

principles he instillcd into teachers and -
pupils when at this educational task. Was
he a "Fagn"? .t
Three years later he returned to France"
to carry out his military service. His >,
strange theories AS to the right form Of
obedience to be paid to his superior au- "
thorities, however, got him in trouble very
quickly He was sentenced to one years
Imprisonment for mutinous conduct and,s
served his term at the Rouen gaol.
From that moment onward he began /,
his financial career. Always lucky man, =
he got four different inheritances, but
with his mode Of living ran through them,
one after the other. His banking and :
other specuations after some years
turned out badly and it was then that he
began to direct the organization of gangs.
of criminals on a grand scale, by scientific
methods, a line of work which he had
doubtless tested on smaller scale before.
He found that Wholesale crime, proper.
ly directed, was much more profitable
and easier than legitimate finance. Bvo
making intelligent use of the thousands:
criminals he carried out his desperate
coups safely. =
The police believe that they have not,
yet come to the end of the list Of indict-
ments that they can bring against the,
Baron de Reith de Baillencourt, though.
he already stands charged with fraud
with theft, receiving stolen goods, cmbez-'
Element, forgery, aiding and ahe.ting Of
forgery, perjury and customs frauds. e..
OF the other three members of the
"Big Four" however, the police say moths
ing. They have allowed It to be believed
that they have lost all track Of them, and
that in the papers found at the Baron's
house there was no evidence which could
be used in the search which would lag,
the other dangerous and interesting mefir.
bers of the gang by the heels. Many per-
sons who have been robbed of their jewEl
cIry ord e~ca'est treasures are hoping
the clever detectives will soon spring
some uther surprising discoveries.
The Washington times., 1922-11-12
(Continued from Preceding Page)

ave represent the law. You are under
arrest" said NJ. Faralicq, with dignity.
The Baron turned in anger at the in
terruption, but his jaw fell and his
great massive. face grew pale when
he heard his visitors errand. With one
white hand, covered with rings, trembling
~ clutching the valuable prints and roll
ing and folding them nervously into
shapeless mass of greyish paper, he ex-
pressed his astonishment at such an in
vasion Of his private study. He was left,
however, very little time to recover him
self. The police were afraid that through
this very genuinc-looking alarm that he
was plotting some clever way to get rid
of compromising papers; that he might be
irving to send a message through hid
den telephone, warning some of his ac-
complices and so, after giving him just
time to send for his fur coat and hat,
they took him from his study, bundled
him into a hired taxicab and sent him
under guard to prison.
Then began the long investigation, the
results of which will be presented in
great mass of evidence when in a few
months time the Baron stands his trial at
the Seine Assizcs.
The report of his arrest was quickly
spread through Paris, and at first none
would believe it. The great, ponderous
figure and massive but not unkindly face
had for decade of years been so ia
miliar in ministerial anterooms, in bank
ers parlors, in newspaper offices, in
cosy boxes at the smaller theatres, and
in so many high society boudoirs-none
could believe that that man had been
arrested as a common criminal.
Everybody Of Importance in Paris
knew the Baron de Reith de Baillencourt
In American circles he was well known
and rather liked, though there were some
who, when they saw him, whispered words
of warning. They were the wiser sort
who can size a man up quickly and arc
not taken in by affability. For the Baron
was a wonderful man. When with Amer
leans he spoke English wonderfully well,
with the slightest trace Of New Eng
land accent. He spoke of his rather more
florid acquaintance and his own adven-
lures in Paris with a tone of regret.
zone has to do so much that one does
not like here in Paris" ] once heard him
saw to a well-known New York banker,
"because il would never do to have the
reputation of prude. II would injure
The Washington times., 1922-11-12

swindles. Accusation after accusation OF
the sale of worthless shares, of loans
unrepaid, of money extorted by black
mail, or by other forms of fraud.
Busily investigating his career, the po-
lice found that the famous Baron had
played many parts in his life.
His title of Baron was not fraudulent,
for he adopted it on his marriage to Mile.
de Baillencourt, who came Of an ancient
noble family and whose father had borne
the title. She approved his adoption Of
IL and his action would be countenanced
by good French society. Under similar
circumstances, in the time of the mon.
archy, he would probably have received
legal permission to adopt the title, IL Of
proper means and social standing OF
course, the Baron de Reith de Baillen-
court, at the height Of his wealth and
success, was an eminently proper person
to bear such an honor
The poor Baroness was cruelly victim
lied by her husband. She had no share
in his criminal operations and witnessed