davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-07
Writes on e
The Drug Habit
american Society, from the
Underworld to the Unem-
pIoyed Rich, Has Its Hun
dreds Of Thousands Of Drug
Devotees."
Bv Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Copyright, 1914, By Star Company.

going to do about It. the Federal
authorities. puhhc-spirtted men
and women. public opinion, the
press3
1T Is a national problem, ana
Watching boundaries, guarding
ports making occasional raidx
can accomplish but little to feep
back the evil: medical mon unit
ed. an aroused public opinion, the
work Of women. the press, cup
pose, could DO everything. Hsrs
are some suggestions for the con-
troll Of the evil:
First. the passing Of strict
laws which win allow habit.
forming drugs to be sold only on
a physicians prescription.
Second, a law that win make
It impossible for a prescription to-
be reflled except through a doc
tors order.
Third. education OF me publio
through the schools, colleges and
churches of the country.
Fourth, Federal and State
sanstoria for drug addicts and al
coholics.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-24
MRS. CHAIRMAN


 Mrs Carman's conduct on the witness stand and in the courtroom is not disap- pointing any of her friends and admir- CTS. It goes without saying that she has both. No murderess. even homely one. fails to create some feeling in her favor vhen she appears for trial one member of the 'sob squad' has already declared enthusiastically that Mrs. Carman is her ideal of an aristocrat. expressing the wish that she. the ''sob squaddist," might bear herself as well in similar circumstances if fate ever led her to commit murderl And so it goes. Mawkish sentimentality and hysteria contrive to make many of our murder trials farcfcal, particularly when the defendant is a woman who has some claims to good looks. So far Mrs. Carman has not aroused a great deal of sympathy for herself, but the influences are already at work to make her sort of heroine. In the meantime there can be no questioning the fact that another woman was murdered. Somebody killed her. It remains to be proved who is guilty. If Mrs. Carman is not guilty let us hope that she will be acquitted with as little hysteria as possible. She seems to have gifts that make her a potential vaudeville star. PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-24
The Murder Record

To citizens of Jefferson county and of Alabama who have come to regard Birmingham as the foremost murder town in the United States, it will be a relief to learn that this unenviabie record belongs to Memphis. At least' this seems to be indicated by figures complied by Frederick L. Hoffman and published in the Spectator. For 1915 the murder rate in Memphis was 6S, or 34 times that of Berlin, 12 times that of New York and times the general average of American cities. Truly. this is not showing to awaken nride! The ten-year average rate in this country from 1904 to 1918 was 7.9 ner 100 .OO0, against 4.9 from 1884 to 1893. In London the recent rate has : been o.9 per 0,oo0 lower than that of any American city. Milwaukee has the lowest murder rate and New York makes very good showing with a rate of 5.5.
 In commenting on these figures the New York World says: "0ur rate is greatest in cities with negro popu- lation. But it is everywhere disgrace fully high. If Newark, Rochester and Milwaukee can get along with a homi- eide rate like that of Paris and Berlin, why cannot Boston and New York ?' Perhaps the character of the popula- ton in these cities, as well as tardy justice, may have some bearing on their murder averages. In the south we know this to be true.
 Both Birmingham and Memphis have a very large negro population. So has Charleston, which is one of the cities given high murder rate. The courts of Jefferson county and of the city of Birmingham are always con- gested with negro cases and among the murder cases there are perhaps ten, or even twenty, negroes tried to one white person. Neither Memphis nor Birmingham is to be unduly cen sured for their murder records. The problem of controlling an unruly negro .ySptia.ion has not yet been solved in the south. No matter how many ne- groes are hanged for murder, other members of their lace continue to slay. As a deterrent hanging seems to'have little effect.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-24
WHAT HAPPENED TO COTTON


 Consider the case of cotton, for exam pie, upon which depends the very life of the south. The land has given forth a good crop, probably in excess of 14.009-Ooo bales. Ordinarily this would be shipped promptly to the mills of America, Eng land, Germany and France. But the war stopped everything. Germany can buy nu cotton at all, and England and France only a comparatively small amount, while our own mills refuse to purchase in large quantities in the hope that prices will drop To add to the crop of 100000 bales there are some 100000 bales left over from last year; in short, the vast amount of 16 00000o0 bales to be sold in a restricted market Think what this means to thou sands of cotton growers i'll the south. They must live, and they must be able to plant their crops again next spring. Itis estimated that at least one-quarter of the cotton cannot be sold. or about 4,e000 900 bales. The financial system of America must provide the money and the credit to hold this surplus. to keep the south going. Here is work indeed, not only for the gen erals at Washington, but for the general staff throughout the country--downright serious businesA
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-24
SOME TRAVELLER

From the National Monthly.
 Some years ago writer in Harper 8 Monthly told of an old colored man. Uncle Joshua, who was fond of boast ing of his travels he had been on with his master As the years passed he added to the tale of his and "Marse Richard's' travels every town and coun- try whose names he learned of, until the itinerary was indeed marvellous in extent, and whenever a new person en- tered the community he immediately tried to find out how much of the world he, or she, had visited.
 On the advent of the new school teacher he was heard to accost Descon Johnson, a member of the board: Well, deacon, what kind of cullud lady do de new teacher seem ter be?"
 s'She pear like right smart little ,yaller lady, she do.'
 Has she done much travelin, deacon. as you knows off"
 T nevvah axed her. but I heah tell ez how she done been through Latin. Alge- bar. an l3ut'ny."
 Uncle Joshua was staggered for a sec ond only, then, recovering himself, he de- clared patronizingly: ''Yes, yes, me an Marse Richard parse through all dem little places in de night time, but Marse Richard low dey warn wuth stoppin' oNah fur
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-24

should be appointed to investigate and report upon our coast defenses. In the meantime Congress should in- crease its appropriations for the national guard and provide some agency for large increase in enlist ment. This country is opposed to militarism and it must be ever op- posed to it. We should cultivate now more than ever the sentiment of peace. But we must take reasonable precautions in the matter of defense, and an increase in the national guard is one of the best and most economical means of meeting the demands.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-24
Rapid Recovery of Business

|
 Notwithstanding the fact that the European war news has the premier position on the first page of New York papers, much space is now given to the recovery of business and detailed reports of industrial and commercial activity.
 | This country's rapidly increasing export business is stimulating every
 branch of trade; every department of
 industry. Even cotton will eventually
 be benefited by it. Not in long years has there been such sudden turn in the tide of business as is in evidence at this time. In New York bankers, manufacturers and merchants are not only talking enthusiastically, but they are acting as if they believed that prosperity was coming in full swing. The practical demonstration of inn proving business conditions in New York means great deal for the coun- try at large. New York was pes simistic when all sections of the Uni ted States outside of the east were inclined to be optimistic. But now that optimism is the prevailing note in New York, the whole country feels heartened, and will respond accord ingly.
 Not since the European war began have business interests in this country been so buoyant as now, and little lima agination is required in forecasting exceptional prosperity in this country during the next few months. Com mercial agencies reports from the west are roseate. The grain growing states are now enjoying a high de- gree of prosperity. The south will participate in this general improve ment in the business world. It may be some months before the farmers can sell their cotton at price that will cover the cost of production. The price of cotton is low and farmers must not be deceived into thinking that they can realize high price in the near future, but the general prosper ity based on Europe's demand for American commodities will be felt in directly by the cotton grower, and ultimately the benefit will be very substantial.
 The war caused serious dislocation of business routine in this country. Had recovery been postponed until next spring cotton would have dropped no telling how low. But the pro- nounced feeling of business better ment in New York should have the effect of checking further decline in the south's staple.
 With the approach of the holidays optimism will continue to increase, and every southern farmer will see clearly the silver lining to the cloud.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-24
LOOMS NEAR THE FIELDS
m the Worcester Telegram.

From the Worcester Telegram
 The. southwest is going at the nanu- facture of cotton goods. Muskogee. Okla. recently started the movement, and has received loom from Massachusetts. set it up and is making cotton cloth. That is the first manufacturing of flores ever att tempted in Oklahoma It has been fig ured out that 1t costs $1S.50 to ship a bale of cotton from Oklahoma to Mas sachusetts and tsing the cotton goods back without reference to the expense of manufacture. That can be saved by making up the cotton where it is raised, and Oklahoma does not feel like giving up the raising of cotton, as the south has proposed to do for year. People out there in the southwest have offered to do- nate the bales of cotton they have bought to be used for starting the manufacturing business. St. Louis and other places have begun to talk about doing the same. There is plenty of power and labor there, and the European war has not struck the people dumb.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-24
LACK OF WISDOM

By David Hume.
 It is usual to compare one man with another, and finding very few whom we can call wise or sirtuous. we are apt to entertain a contemptible notion of our species in general. That we may be sensible of the fallacy of this way or reasoning, we may. observe that the hon orable appellations of wise and virtuous are not annexed to any particular degree of those qualities of wisdom and virtue, but arise altogether from the comparison we make between one man and another. When we find man who arrives at such & pitch of wisdom as is very uncommon, we pronounce him a wise man; so that to say there are few wise men in the world Is really to say nothing; since it is only by their scarcity that they merit that appellation Were the lowest of our species as wise as Lord Bacon, we should still have reason to say that there are few wise men. For in that case we should exalt our notions of wisdom, and should not pay a singular homage to anyone who was not singularIy distinguished by his talents
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-24
Work for British Fleet

News of the sinking of thirteen British merchant vessels in the At lantic by the German cruiser Karls- ruhe does not bear out the statement that the Atlantic has been swept clear of hostile craft. The Karlsruhe has shown all British warships her heels and the nearest she has been to cap- ture was her encounter with the Bristol. The latter planted six-inch shell in the enemy but failed to get closer.
 The British navy has been taxed to meet the demands upon it since the beginning of the war and vast as it is there are limits to the tasks it is able to perform. It has bottled up the German fleet, has escorted transports carrying tens of thousands of soldiers across the channel, has practically cleared the way for English commerce and is now assisting the forces in France.
 It is not surprising that swift ves- sells such as the Karlsruhe and the Emden should have slipped through the net. That they will be captured or sunk sooner or later is a foregone conclusion, and the British admiralty is already taking steps to curb their atcivity and force them either to fight or interne for the war.
 In the operations on land the fiercest fighting IS still raging in West Flanders and along the French coast. The Germans appeared to have
 had the advantage in yesterdays re- ports, but how material this will be is, of course, not known. The Ger man right wing has been reinforced and the-end of the fight is not ir sight.
 A significant item in the days
 news was that the French had taker the town of Altkirch in upper Alsact | at the point of the bayonet. This may
 be an indication that Joffre, having failed in attempts to get around the right flank of the Germans, is now trying the left, believing that the Ger. forces on this front have been weak. ened to bolster up the right. This
 flank of the German army is pro.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-24
Should Increase National Guard

The United States government has for long years taken an interest in the organized militia and since the Spanish war the appropriations for the national guard have been largely increased. The discipline has been brought up to a high standard, and the national guard is now virtually a part of the regular army. It totals about 10000 enlisted men. In each state the regiments are in fine condi- ton and are almost equal in efficiency to the regulars.
 Under the old time rules and regu- lations the citizen soldiery enlistments were more numerous than they are today, but discipline was lax, and the conditions of enlistment were easy. Now that the guardsmen are on a footing with regulars the wedding out process meant considerable decrease in numerical strength.
 The agitation in Congress by Rep resentative Gardner of Massachusetts for betterment of our military es- tablishment has brought to the public attention many important facts. Our coast defenses are inadequate, and oul regular army is barely nucleus. If this country were to be drawn into . big war it's trained soldiers would seem only handful. A commission
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-24
THE DAY THAT IS COMING

By Victor Hugo.
 A day will come when the only battle field will be the market open to com merce and the mind opening to new ideas. A day will come when. bullets and bomb shells will be replaced by votes by the universal suffrage of nations, by the ven- erable arbitration of great sovereign senate, which will be to Europe what the parliament is to England. what the diet is to Germany, what the legislative assembly is to France. A day will come when a cannon will be exhibited in public museums, just as an instrument of tor- ture is now, and people will be astonished how such a thing could have been. A day wifi come wheif. these two immense groups. the United Suites of America and the United States of Europe, shall be seer. placed in presence of each other, extend- ing the hand of fellowship across the ocean.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-24
THE wIrE Or LANDuRs

Gilbert K. Chesterton in Poems of the Great War" Low and brown barns. thatched and rs-
 patched and tattered- Where I had seven sons until today A little hill of hay your spur has scat. tered
 This is not Paris. You have lost your
 way. You, staring at your sword to find 1t brit-
 tie, Surprised at the surprise that was your
 plan. Who. shaking and breaking barriers not
 a little,
 Find never more the death door oa
 Sedan. Must for more than carnage call you
 claimant. Paying you a penny for each son you
 slay? Man the whole globe in gold were no re-
 payment
 For what you have lost. And how shah
 l repay? What is the price of that red spark; that From a- kind farm that never had .
 fnanle? %F B. What. is the price of that dead man they brought me? For other deao men oo not HOOK tns
 same. How should I pay for. one poor graven
 steeple Wherein you shattered what you shall
 not know? How should I pay you, miserable people. How should pay you everything you
 owe? Unhappy, can give you back your honor! Though forgave, would any man for- While all the great green land has
 tramp1ed on her The treason anl the terror of the night
 we ms Not any more in vengeance or in pardon One old wife bargains for bean that's
 hers. f. You hAvd no word to break, no heart to
 havdeps '; 4 Ride On, and prosper. You have lose your yspuft,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-24
LUKE M'LUkE SAYS
ba Cinc,nnati E1knlIirer

From the Cincinnati EQuirer
 What has become of vthe old-fashioned boy who had a cowlick? It Is none of my business but you know doggone well that if you could pick six sure winners at the track every day you wouldn't print your information on cards and peddle it for few dimes. You would hog the information and be- come Pittsburg Phil.
 A woman may look like busted Cubist painting, but she knows that she is we'll dressed because she keeps mp with the ia ashions. It is funny y>how little a fellow and . girl learn about each other when they are engaged for five years and how much they learn about zach other when they are married for five weeks.
 When an erroneous statement gets into a newspaper the Hammer club gets mighty busy. But f you are always as careful what you say as tlfe newspapers are you won't get intc much trouble.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-24

Dr. Mary NJ. Wolfe of Pennsylvania ad- yocates village for feeble-minded wom- en. She recently asked the board of pub lie charities in Philadelphia for a fund for this purpose The plan to found such a village was discussed in the last Penn oylvania legislature and s40,Ooo was ap- propriated to buy a tract of land to be used as q building site. Governor Tener appointed a board of managers, pr. Wolfe
 being a member. In the meantime she is
 acting as superintendent of the institution
 the necessary buildings. A tract of land
 has been purchased near Laurelton, Pa,
 in Union county. It is declared to be an ideal location. In speaking of the pro-
 posed village, pr. Wolfe said: "It is well
 known that feeble -mindedness is hered- itary. We want to make a place in Penn
 sylvania where we can segregate these
 women between 16 and 45 years of age. When we find a means of reducing child birth among them we will have the key for stamping out idiocy. We will require large sum of money to build and equip an institution where weak-minded women may be segregated without being locked up like the dangerous insane. The cost of erecting tho buildings would be greatly lessened because of the large amount of sandstone on the tract purchased. There is enough material to erect the buildings now planned. Another economic feature is that of the water supply. Water will tains, high enough to give good pressure without pumping station.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-24
Tire Department. Effective Work

"1'he fire department should be high ly complimented for the work done Thursday night at the Camp Ware house ire,' said ". C. Radcliffe. The highest efficiency was developed by the department. 2
 "The fire started in a veritable lum- Der pile. The upstairs of the ware house, I understand, Is partitioned off with wood into small rooms, the larger part of which probably contained fur niture. If fire had ever got thorough ly started there it seems to me it would have been impossible to con- trol it.
 "The fire department, however. kept the fire confined strictly to the cor ner in which it started and conse- quently a comparative small damage was done. The chief and his laddies de- serve the highest praise"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-24
IN HOTEL HOBBIES
In Fine shane

There is very marked improve, ment in business hereabouts.'' said " ]. Adams, president of the Commercial Bank and Trust confpany.
 The financial situation in the east is unfestionably improving and fhs effect of the restoration of confidence is hsing felt throughout the country As for local trade. it is reported quit, brisk. In volume of business many mer- cantile concerns here are ahead of this time last year. One retail concern fr which I am interested has kept far ahead of 1913. Collections are fairly good and taken altogether. Birmiug ham is in fine shape
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-24
RATHER SEVERE

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
 Earl Derr Biggers. the successful novel; ist, who used to be local reporter. has this to say in his newest story, Love Insurance, ',~concerning the personal char acteristics of the ladies of the upper classes:
 "Womcn are not what they used to be" said Mrs. Bruce. Either they are mad about clothes. or they go to the other ex- ueme and harbor strange ideas about the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-24
Buoyancy in New York

Three or four weeks ago New York had the 'blues.' and had 'em bad. but turn for the better came and now great buoyancy is in evidence" said Charles c. Whipple of Boston.
 My business keeps me in close touch with New York. When the Euro pean war started the bottom seemed to have fallen out of Wall street. but there has been a gradual recovery and for Il week or more there has been a healthy activity in the financial world and ia all branches of trade. When left New York last Monday everybody was talking of the boom that was in sight"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-24
Can't go the stocklnr.

From the Fort Payne Journal.
 Miss Genevieve Clark daughter of Speaker Clark, is pushing a movement. to have the women wear cotton dresses to help the cotton situation, but Miss Clark has never told those Illinois women that she would wear cotton stockings. They seem to be the limit with her.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-24
IN ALABAMA SANCTUMS
More steak Needed

From the Dothan Eagle.
 Fifteen years ago it is said that a pound of cotton bought pound of steak, and some want to know why is this. Well, it's easy. There has been too much cotton raised and too little steak If we were to all turn in and produce twice as much steak as formerly, and half the cotton, the reverse would be true in little while.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-24

tected by the fortresses of Strassburg and Metz and on the surface it would not seem an easy task to break through, although the allied com mander may have something up his sleeve.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-24
Some Are Not Worrying

From the Talladega Home.
 We note that in a number of places in the cotton belt the people are in no hurry to pick their cotton, and quite a number are attending singing conventions and en- toying themselves in the good old-fash- toned way.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-24
He,s NArInv Is

From the Columbiana Peoples Advocate.
 If you want to wear patches again, keep on voting the democratic ticket, and you will continue to wear them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-24
Lesson for the south

From the Prattville Progress.
 A severe lesson has been taught tho south this fall. No sermons or newspa- per warnings could be more impressive than the real experience Of being caught with all cotton and little food supplies.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-24
Dangerous Women

From the Anniston Star.
 If Mrs. Carman would join Mime. Gail laux at the front, they might be able to clip both wings of the Germans.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-24
Which Ia Much Wor.e
 1A New Orleans SthteS.

From the New Orleans States.
 There will be sympathy for the Hon. Cliff Pinchot in the loss of his voice, but most of the old-time followers of himself and the Hon. Ted Roosevelt are even more unfortunate. having lost heart.