The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-20
PENDULUM BEGINS
 ANOTHER SWING AIabama's Future More Hope-
 ful Than Ever POLITICS AND INDUSTRY A Few Dead Ambitions Strewn By Waysde Will Not Hamper the Coming Prosperity of This
 Great State.
POLITICS AND INDUSTRY
BY WALTER HARPER.

more complicated or unfortunate political condition perhaps never be- fore presented itself to the people of Alabama than now exists.
 But 1t is the natural consequnece of the evolution of public sentiment. Like the pendulum in the clock, human ac- tivity and thought swing rapidly from one extreme to the other. No human power seems able entirely to impede the progress until the limit is reached. Though just as the pendulum passes the medium or center point the reac- tionary influence begins its work, tug ging at the pendulum to carry it back to the extreme from which it came, the reactionary power is equal at both extremes.
 Such has been the history of human activity since the world began. At times the tension of the extreme rel suits in disaster. Cities and nations have crumbled in the wreck and gone to decayl but the world of humanity has swung along just the same. The decay of a state or nation Is only an incident In the history of the world.
 
 ger. The extreme to which the reform sentiment in Alabama-in the south would not say one word against the the limit is in sight. The pendulum will swing back with ease and the state will not be hurt.
 There may ba wreckage along the way, political afrships may be caught and wrenched to scrap iron in the whirlpool, but that is part of the price we pay for ennobling history. The history of people would be without interest or value if it were devoid of failures. Waterloo and St. Helena complete the story of Napoleon's life It would not be complete without these incidents.
 Extreme movements with their wrecks and failures teach lessons that are invaluable to the human race.
 Now let it be understood that this correspondent Is not arguing against the reform movement that has been on 1n Alabama for the past two years. am only leading up to my real story with review of historical facts and conditions.
 Those who know me know that I favor prohibition and temperance, and termination-of the liquor traffic, but reasonable control-even the total ex- some of the good features of the states every movement has it's extreme and this movement in Alabama has reached that condition. Be careful that 1t does not wreck the entire fabric of reform
 
 far.
 In the series of letters have been contributing to The Age-Herald dur ing the past summer I have tried to keep before the disturbed public mind someo the good features of the states progress. I have tried to dwell down on the happy medium where the hens are cacl<ling. the plowman is singing his glad morning "hallo," where the factory whistle and the iron furnace sing a glad accompaniment to the ap- petizing rattle of the pay envelope
 Alabama Is teeming with golden promise; brimming over with gracious opportunities; lavish with riches that ' are yet undeveloped and of which the average citizen dreams not.
 It is to these things that I have tried to call the attention of the read CTS of The Age Herald. It is duty of love-a task that carries its own reward We have the greatest state in the Union with the most perfect combination of every known advantage for the pursuit of happiness. Political contentious of a day or a year cannot stop the progress, but in them we are apt to forget some of the blessings we mi md 4tx ,1, she comes knocking at our individual doors.
 That the sun of peace and promise in Alabama still shines Is matter Tor reorganization. Indeed the current of progress the pursuit of happiness, seems not to be disturbed by the clam or on the hills At intervals the peace full husbandman comes up from the valley to join in the hurrah but he soon returns to his quiet quest of vir- tuous contentment
 It is of these that I love to write The rehabilitation of the farms laid to waste in the flood of war; the new awak ening of the sedge fields and the blooming of the alfalfa on gully banks is far more interesting than the waste full display of political fireworks.
 The opening of new coal mine, the <. building of strip of good road, the stringing of teleph one wire to the farmers kitchen the shooting corn, the cackling of the hen are far more mo- mentous than the blazing of political reform trumpets.
 Listen. ~
 Do you know that Alabama, with the south, has struck a new gait?
 Do you know that the advancement is geared to a high speed and that we are making longer industrial strides than ever before in the history of the state?
 The new spirit of progress has reach ed the heart and is whipping out the cream It is not spasmodic nor is it confined to any class or classes of human endeavor.
 The farmer (the producer) has caught the gait and is swinging mer- rily along the road to wealth and in dependence. The world never before witnessed such period of industrial and mental awakening. This new life thrills through every sinew of the state. Its demands are taxing every resource The drones are being crowd cd out They must make room for the man with brains and energy.
 The hills are being melted down for the wealth they bury. The valleys are being torn for the diamonds of agronomy. The rivers are being made to bear their share of the burden of I oo y,trr sfraa ma in fha