The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-01
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORLD

earth a plot which was supposed to have been formed for revenge on the governor. An attempt of this kind has already been made by an ex-convict and may be repeated. Since the days of Charley Ross kidnapping has been employed many times for the purpose of revenge or for gain. Although authorities have always made strenuous efforts to stamp out the crime, 1t is exceedingly hard to reach, and their labors so far have met with scant success. In many cases the kidnap- Ter is caught but this does not alleviate the fright and intense anxiety experi- enced by the child and it's parents before the capture is made
 An unique state of affairs exists in Vir- gina. where the Chicahomming Indians have been forced to quit riding on South ern passenger trains to avoid being class ed with negroes. The registrars refuse to register them with the whites, and they have appealed to the govrnor and depart ment of education to prevent their chil- dren being sent to negro schools. The latter problem has been solved by provid- ing a separate school with a white teach CT. It is so very seldom that a complca- tion of this kind arises that much interest has been awakened. We have been ac- customed to consider the noble Red Man entirely removed from the negro although he is in fact below the black nIan in all things pertaining to higher civilization. In fact 1t is puzzling to decide just where in our social scale the Indian does stand On account of his blood relationship he has been accorded more social freedom than has been granted negroes, but yet less advanced members of the race do not make very desirable acquaintances. Out in the west where the Red Man remains to himself he given no trouble in this respect, but in this part Of the country where it is necessary to ride on trains and enjoy other conveniences of civilization we are placed in an embarrassing position. As for people in the south. 1t is quite likely that no one would object to riding in the same coach with a sober Indian brave any more than with Chinaman. as the "king of Forgers." has been re- leased from the California state prison and bankers are now trembling less his old tactics be resumed. As evidence of our helplessness before criminal of brains, 1t is reported that the American Bankers association will pension Beck CT in hopes of preventing him from com mitting any more forgeries. fine state of affairs, certainly, when we buy off criminal for protectionl And, yet the bankers would be justified in such a course. Although our detectives are probably as fine as any in the world, they are utterly powerless to keep down forgeries and there Is no telling when a stupendous fraud of this kind may be perpetrated by which certain banks will lose heavily. In the first place. a forger to have any success at all must be past master in his art Men are caught every day for passing bogus checks, but they are merely bunglers The real art ists are exceedingly dangerous. Now. if MT. Becker of the facile pen is wise he will give his consideration to the generous offer of our bankers and spend the remainder of his days in comfort Truly, the devil cares for his own.
 Are we to have a cotton trust? It be- gins to look that way. The Arkansas Cotton Dealers association recently per fected at Little Rock, completes the string of organizations that have now been formed in all the cotton growing states. The organizations are The South ern Cotton Buyers association, The Southwestern Cotton Buyers association. The Mississippi Valley Cotton Buyers assoeia tion and the Arkansas Cotton Dealers association It is stated that in a short time a meeting of these associa- tions will be held to organize a national association. The union of Southern in- terests will be productive of much good for the south, and will place buyers in position to compete with eastern specula- tors who so fond of buffetng the sta pie about for mercenary reasons. P. c.