The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-09-13
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORLD

there was at least a spirit of chivalry in the world. while many of the worst crimes that blot history were done in a fervor of religious zeal. It is true the Turks think they are justified in prosecuting Christians, but the blame rests on the powers who are afraid to make move. Certain preachers thunder forth from the pulpit that the world is growing more wicked every day and there are many people who will believe them until the Turkish atrocities are ended.
 E The labor famine in the south is reach ing an acute stage. Everywhere in the cotton belt the cry is going up for more piekers." Tempting inducements are of fered. but negroes are slow to respond and the outlook for gathering in the crop is exceedingly discouraging. Added to the planters troubles is the lateness of the crop. The cotton season has hardly open ed but the amount picked is not ten per cent of that gathered at the same time last year. In Alabama labor agents have been at work inducing negroes away to manufacturing plants until it is extremely difficult to keep them on the plantations. The growth of manufacturies in the south has been rapid during the past few years. Negroes realize that they can make more money about the new industries than they made in the country, and as result many of them go to towns of cities. Being now able to live without working, the women and children who once constituted va1ua- ble recruits for the ranks of cotton pick CTS, content themselves with remaining idle at home It has been suggested that planters import white labor, but south erners are convinced that no one can do farm labor as well as the black man. who has now become very independent.
 Within the last decade the American people have become $557 richer per cap- ita. In 1890 the circulation per capita was $22 .S2. Today the figure stands at $29. 50. This is the highest that has ever been known in this country and shows that Uncle Sam is providing very well for his subjects. There is always talk of panics and possible crashes of all kinds. One year the farmers alarm the country by crying that ruin stares them in the face. Next it is the coal opera 
 that there are no more lambs to shear. Those people who allow themselves to become excited over these conditions do not seem to remember that the United States is a large place and that it would take a series of unprecedented calami- ties to involve the nation in ruin. In spite of the fears of business men and producers over all the country the per capita circulation has not decreased and the present era Is one of the most pros porous that the country has ever ex- perienced. Whatever politicians may say about the republican party it cannot be denied that prosperity usually attends their administration of the nations af- fairs. We hear loud protests against or ficial corruption and misdemeanors in of flee but it is a good sign that the coun- try is well supplied with finances since so many boodlers can tap the treasury without throwing the government into bankruptcy.
 It is reported that there will be com paratively little coal mined this winter. Operators in some sections have ample stocks on hand, ana miners VIII plopd- bly be idle a part of next winter. Dur ing the last eight months earnings of the coal diggers are said to have been greater than ever before. A few have earned $200 a month and a majority have earned at least $100. This is not bad wage for man who labors with his hands. but the work of a coal miner is generally worth what he receives. In addition to the dangers he runs every minute of a working day the life itself is without doubt the most barren in the world Shut off from sunshine all day and returning home exhausted in the evening; a human mole who spends brief life burrowing in the earth-the life of coal miner is not to be much envied, even if he does receive big pay.
 P c.