The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-14


lists and chorus will be accompanied by g
q music festival"
Platforms, Past and Future
The state democratic convention, which
meets in Montgomery Tuesday for the
purpose of making a party platform, vii
include many able and patriotic men, ano
the deliberations of this representative
body will be watched with uncommon in
terest" said an old democrat.
1.-THE convention will doubtless readopt
the twenty-fourth plank of the platform
of 1906. which declared for local option
but which was repudiated by the Conner
administration and the Conner legislature
The recent primary showed very clearly
that the majority of the democrats OF
Alabama are opposed to statewide pro-
hibition. Local option is sound demo
cratic doctrine and when the party inserts
it in the new platform 1t may be assumed
that it will not be kicked aside when the
next legislature meets as it was in 1907.
But there are many planks of the 1901
platform that will not be reafflrmed-
those antagonistic to railroads and for
eign capital Alabama is naturally a pro-
sressive state and capital must be en-
couraged to come to US.
an looking over the platform of four
years ago it is interesting to note how
the political situation has changed. FOR
example, PLANK two Endorsed William Jen-
nings BRYAN, .democracy's great leader.
1t went on not only to proclaim him the
greatest democrat of our time, but de-
clared a belief in his Overwhelming cleo
ton as President of the United States
plank three favored the complete con-
troll and regulation of all corporations.
The democrats still favor the control ano
regula ton of corporations. but the party
is animated today by conservative prin-
cinles rather than anti-corporation feel
ing. Plank four expressed unlimited con-
fdence in our fearless leader, Hon b. b
Conner. the nominee of the democratic
marty for governor These personal pianks
are now back numbers, of course ana 1T
reading them In the light of recent events
one is apt to smile or exclaim over the
transformers of politics.
pro~r.mmes should Not BE Long
what applies to concert programmes
and concert audiences in New YORK
win apply equally well to those Of
other citles," said a music lover
Here in Birmingham fashionable
concert-goers seem later and later ir
arriving This is due largely TO the
fact that a large proportion of then
live far out and that the number IN
oreases. Those who have Z o'clock DIN
ner or 1890 supper find 1t almost mi
nossible to get through and reach the
theatre before quarter TO CLOCK
INT the remedy sh ould be easy enough
The evening meal could be pushed up
half hour when concert Is the al
traction. The Musical Courier has this
TO saw of New York habits and; condi-
tons:
1--WE hear no end of Complaints abou
long programmes, and again and agar
we are asked to arouse concert giver'
to see the folly of stretching ou
their evenings beyond the reasonable
limits. concert was given in New
York church last week which begaI
nearly 80 minutes after the advertised
hour. Then the encores dragged thu
concert on until fully an hour and {
half after the time when concerts
should be over. This sort of thing
cannot/go on-that is, If those giving
the concerts wish to have their anairi
ranked with artistic evenings. In thu
first place, all concerts should begin a
the hour advertised. Not to do so Is at
insult to those who arrive at the hall ii
time. Later Corners merit no consider
alton whatever.
Second, encores should be cut out
save in the case of exceptional artists. ant
even in such cases applause does not al
ways mean that the public wants to hea
more Is It not strange that those lack
ing In the wisdom of arranging short pro
erammes cannot see the restlessness o
the majority In the audience when once
the city clock has struck 10. and no con
cert, not even New York Philharmonic
should last longer? Orchestral concerts
should never be longer than one hou
and three-quarters. Song and piano re
citals should not endure beyond an hou
and half, counting intermissions. Or
gan recitals should last about one hour
never longer. Oratorio concerts are to-
long, Teachers who give pupils concerts
should invite no one but relatives Of tn,
performers unless their invitations O
tickets are accompanied with promise
that the programme Is short and tina
cncores are tabooed. Long programme
are death to music. for at every such con
cert there will be some not in the habi
of attending musical events, and by loni
ana tiresome programmes, with every
tody good, bad and indifferent, oncored
those who might with proper treatment b
trained to love music will be inclined II
tho future to shun anything described a
concert, no matter how meritorious tn
artists and programmes may be. y
The Iron Market
While the pig iron market is still dul
the recent curtailment Of production 4
already beginning to have the effect Of
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