The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-13
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORLD

[ one else can convince him that he is not right. Although crop liars may make a woeful blunder sometimes it does not dis- courage them a particle and they are perfectly willing to start again when the time rolls around. Our southern commits sioners of agriculture have announced an ultimatum of ten million two hundred and seventy-one thousand bales. It is to be hoped they are not far wrong. This year the boil weevil has been added to our dis cussions and typos have set these two words up so many times they have be- come nightmare. From year to year damage to the crop, conditions of the crop, prospects of the crop, estimates of the crop. and every stage of its cultiva- tion from planting time until the glad tidings of the first bale, cotton is the big gest feature of southern life Without 1t we would be lost.
 It is noticeable in American life that there is nearly always some big trial taking place that attracts national atten- ton. As fast as one is disposed of an- other is ready to begin. We had the cele- brated Molineux case. then the Missouri boodlers and postoffice entanglements, then the sensational Buffalo tragedy, in which the Pennells played such con-S spicuous part. After this came the Ken lucky trials, and now we have the Till man trial This succession seems never to end. Perhaps the Kentucky trials and the one now in progress, where former Lieutenant-Governor Tillman is charged with murdering Editor Gonzales, have attracted most attention in this part of the country. For picturesque features none has surpassed those of Kentucky, while the Buffalo affair was perhaps most mysterious of all.
 New Orleans shipping interests have had a stormy time for the past month or two, as result of strikes among longshoremen, screwmen and other freight handlers. While these men are already well paid 1t cannot be denied that their work is fearful drudgery and they no doubt feel justified in asking for more Such a class of toilers is i'm ortant in a seaport town where large numbers of vessels are to be loaded and when they go out on a strike shipping is seriously tied up. In case where perishable goods are on board and every additional delay means a corresponding los 70 owners it can well be imagined that the situation becomes extremely interesting. Negoti- ations have long been pending on both sides but without appre ,.ahle results. As soon as one faction Is satisfied trouble breaks out anew in some other quarter. Efforts to import non-union labor have also met with little success so that the screwmen who are now on a strike come very near to being masters of the situ- ation.
 At least one man has stepped out of the postoffice department with no breath of suspicion against his conduct as an official. The resignation of G. A. Chris tiancy is announced on account of ill health. He departs from the office of assistant attorney in the office of assistant attorney general for the postoffice de- partment with an excellent record Other resignations have also been rendered dur ing the past few months but unfortunate ly for more cogent reasons than the mere matter of health. It was at one time predicted that Postmaster General Payne would quit his job, but that gentleman has proved the error of such a statement to his own satisfaction and that of every one else.
 Recent disturbances at Cripple Creek, which seem now to have been finally settled, remind us of time when the town was not so tame as it is now, even with a strike on hand In the early days of the gold fever Cripple Creek was noted for its lawlessness and many sensational episodes have occurred there. But we have outlived such times now and the eastern tourist who ventures into the town need not fear that he will have to dance a jig to pistol accompaniment or drink a glass of fiery dew without talk ing breath. Such pleasantries belong to an age that Is gone. An age when there were no trusts and very little law in cer- tain parts of the great United States
 P. c.