The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-26
0. HENRY'S DEATH
WIDELY LAMENTED
Was One of South's Great Lit
erary Men
PROHIBITION IN GEORGIA
Has Two Defenders Though Majority
Speak Dispara1lns of the sys-
tem-Texns Cotton Crop
VIII BE Large
PROHIBITION IN GEORGIA
BY ROBERT LEE CARTER

New York, June 25.-(Special )-TNe re-
cent death of William Sidney Porter, bet.
ter known the country over as o. Henry
removes another OF the bright galaxy oil
brilliant young southern men who have
added luster to American literature ir
recent years. :.
Mr.. Porter was a North Carolinian by
birth and did his first newspaper work
in the Tar Heel State. 1t was in Texas
however, that he first began really te
climb the ladder of fame. and in New York
finished the work which placed him III
the front rank of short story writers.
Time was when New England arrogated
to herself pretty much all the literary ex.
balance of the country. At that time the
balanc of the country was too busy
building up great nation to pay much
attention to New England's claim of SUI
periority, and the bluff went by default
In recent years, however, there has been
change, and the men who are UNFOLDING
all lines of American literature-dramatic,
fio ton, serious bookmaking and in the
ewspapers-are from the south and west
The number of writer's of current ltera-
ture who are known nationally and who
originated in New England may be count
ell on the 10 fingers, and then l believe
there would be some to spare.
There have been frequent expressions
of opinion from time to time by visitors
to New York from prohibition states, OF
how prohibition was working in their
states. 1t must be said that the major-
ity Of these opinions are unfavorable to
prohibition. l met this week, however.
a couple of Georgia bank presidents who
take different view of it. They are w.
Fl. Toole of the First National of Winder
and L. o. Benton, head of a chain of
banks scattered from one end of Georgia
to the other. Mr.. Benton is In a position
to know how business Is and how much
money there is down there
Everything is In good shape said Mr..
Benton. THE farmers are not so much
mortgaged up as they used to be. The
banks of the state are in good condition,
too. Crops will be little late, owing TO
the fact on account of a cold spell many
og them had to be replanted; but the out
look is very good
How Is prohibition working?" he was
asked,
"Mr. Toole ca ntell you more about that
than l. He is interested in the sub
ject."
YES" said Mr.. Toole. "since we have
had prohibition down there the people
have saved a great deal of money Then
real estate sales have been greater liz
Atlanta by so per cent.
Real estate has advanced considera-
bly, all over the state" supplemented Mr..
Benton.
In southern Georgia more than $780,
900 worth of farm lands have changed
owners during the last few years" con-
tinued Mr.. Toole.
people from the west are coming in
in large numbers, buying property and
developing the pecan industry. Yes, there
is no doubt that prohibition has done the
state q lot of good
The farmers are going in more for d.
versified crops" remarked Mr. Benton.
~Then the advanced price Of turpentine
and lumber has resulted in great i'm
d, ovement in the turpentine and timbe.
business We are developing the water
power all over the state There are a
great many rivers capable Of giving wa
ter power, and these are being rapidly
harnessed up
."rhere is a great deal of northern cap
ital coming into the state for the devel-
opment of projects like these" said Mr..
Toole. I'VE are lust here for pleasure
trip, though Mr. Benton's business brings
him up here several times a'year.'
.There is no doubt that a majority of
the business people of New Orleans would
like to see resumption of thoroughbred
racing remarked Anton j. @ueSdud, b
business man of the Crescent City, who
has been visiting New York; "but In view
of the declaration of Governor Sander )
that he will veto any legislation looking
to that end, 1t appears hopeless.
Mayor Behrman is favorable to rae
ing, and If he could bring 1t about we
would have the sport next winter Since
the closing down of the tracks there has
been a marked decrease in tina number OF
winter visitors. and all of the hotels and
boarding house keepers have complained
I don't know what effect the closing OF
the tracks may have had in other cities.
but surely it has not helped New Or
leans, and believe If a vote of the peo-
pie were taken the majority would be
largely In favor of resumng the sport.
Among the southerners in New York
we're Miss Katharine Donald of Mobile.
Ala, who is the guest of Miss Helen
HYDE in this city; Mrs. F. s. Green and
Mrs. u. W. johnson of Houston, Texas;
Messrs. William Belknap, Jr, and 8. X.
Walker of Louisville. Ky; Mr.. and Mrs.
d B. Fl. Chaffe and sMr. w. b. Spence
OF New Orleans Mrs. A. A. Smith of
Atlanta and her daughter Miss Florence
Smith; Mr.. A. C. Miller of Birmingham.
Ala, and Mrs. R. H. Hardaway of At
lanta, Ga.
Texas will have twice the cotton crop
this year that 1t had last" said j. w.