davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-25
BIRMINGHAM TEACHERS DISCUSS THE PROBLEM
 OF THE BACKWARD CHILD
SOCIAL SERVICE DErARTMENP By MRS. SIDNEY M. ULLMAN

At the Monday afternoon meeting of the teachers of Birmingham, held at the Central High school, the teachers were requested to bring in list of the repeat ers'' or backward children in their grades, so that the school authorities might ar rive at the average number of repeat ers' in the grades and schools.
 The problem as to how to assist the backward child has long been one of debate, not as to the existence of the child, but as to the method of handling him. If it is shown after the proper examination that the child has some definite mental or physical defect, it is a comparatively easy matter to cope with the situation, but if the child is only dull the problem is then to gain the co-opera- tion of the parent who probably will re- sent the accusation. This child belongs to class that must be carefully coached and interested, and it is impossible for the teacher, overcrowd as the grades are to cope with this problem. Some authori- ties believe schools for this class of chil- dren are the best methods; others do not advocate segregation for the backward ~AAAtN' NSiASNiH5 bliio AAlClIlOQ Ouly SOOu for the decided mental defective. Others think special teacher at the schools is the preferable way.
 However, Birmingham is only looking into the problem at present for the fu- ture realization of such a plan, as the necessity of it cannot longer be denied. Birmingham has the backward child problem in her schools as definitely as any city in the union
 It has been estimated by experts that per cent of all school children are men tally deficient to the degree that they cannot progress in the ordinary grades They hinder the progress of others and consume the teachers time and energy uselessly.
 The plan of the Birmingham teachers to reach an average of deficient children ;n the schools of this city is to fill out cards that do not state the possible trouble with the child, but simply say. overgrown, too old for grade or what the case may be. These cards are then given to the medical Inspector, Dr. Me- Lester, and he makes the examination. This definitely determines the trouble and the degree of the defect The necessity of this sort of examination will be seen when we note that one teacher reports out of the 51 children in her grade, eight were backward. This is not an unusual amount
 Another class of child that must be
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-25
BUSINESS MEN ARE
 AFRAID STRIKE MAY
 BECOME SERIOUS
Proposal of Railroad Men Will Reach Crisis When Formal Demands
 Are Made

Recognizing the serious effect that general railroad strike would have on the industries of the Birmingham district, business men are taking great interest in the controversy between the railroads of the country and the mem bers of the engineers, firemen's, con- ductors' and trainmen's brotherhoods, which is expected to reach an acute stage early in March when the men complete their vote on their proposed demands and the brotherhoods submit them to the railroads.
 The brotherhoods are asking that eight hours constitute days work in all freight yard and hostling service on every railroad in the country and that time and a half be paid for over time and claim that this is a demand for the eight-hour day.
 Railroad officials deny this. saying that no change in actual working hours is contemplated or desired and that the movement is simply one to have eight hours made the basis for computing a days pay in order that the members of the brotherhoods may get material increases in their wages. which they point out are higher than those of any other class of employees in the railroad service and among the highest paid of any class of labor.
 Railroad officials say that if the de- mands were granted the increase in wages would add millions of dollars to their pay rolls and that they could not possibly pay this increase without asking the public for increased freight and passenger rates. It is generally believed that the men will approve the demands and that the railroads will refuse them. The railroads will have 30 days in which to reply.
 Fear of a general strike results from some of the brotherhood leaders hav- ing been quoted as saying that there would be no arbitration on these de- mands and from the fact that in an official statement the heads of the four orders stated that while not op- posed to arbitration they were not pledged to accept it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-25
PROHIBITION CASE
 NOW BEING TRIED

New Decatur, February 24.-(Spe- cial. )-Trial of the first local case in volving violation of the new Alabama law prohibiting the receipt of more than two quarts of whisky in two weeks by any common carrier was be- gun today in the Morgan county law and equity court. The defendant is T. J. Russell, wealty farmer of Falk- vile, who is charged with receiving more whisky for personal use than the law allows.
 Alleging that the indictment was i'm properly drawn by County Solicitor Melvin Hutson in that no specific of- fense was named. attorneys for MT, Russell succeeded in getting it quashed. A few seconds later. however, a deputy sheriff presented an affidavit that MT. Russell had violated the law and trial of the case was begun again on the affidavit. the defendant having been rearrested in the courtroom where he sat. Attorneys for the defense protest ed against being given no time to pre- pare their case and it was continued until this afternoon. It will probably be finished tomorrow morning.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-25
Champion Spark Plug
 Attains Distinction

ITO make good on strictly eff ciency basis in manufacturing plant where the term efficiency has been given a new significance is the en- viable achievement of the product of the Champion Spark Plug company in the home of the Ford automobile" said MT. Minnich, who is In charge of the Champion spark plug exhibit at the Birmingham Motor company's automo- bile show.
 Every component part of the Ford automobile is tested and proven sat- isfactory according to the strictest in- depreciation of efficiency and while not generally known, Champion spark plugs are the only accessory which has been purchased by the Ford Motor company for four consecutive years.
 While they have purchased other accessories from one concern for four years, they have not been able to pur- chase the entire supply from the same concern, as in the case of Champion spark plugs.
 'In other words. because of adequate facilities for making prompt deliveries and uniformly dependable service. Champion spark plugs have attained this unique distinction."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-25
MRS. THOMPSON ACCEPTS POSITION
 WITHOUT SALARY
Inspection of Premises Where Food Commodities Are Made or Dispensed
 With to Begin March 1

Yielding to the earnest solicitation of pr. R. M. Cunningham, city health officer, the city commissioners and members of the civic board. Mrs. Du- pont Thompson has accepted tempor- arily the position of inspector of prem ises where food products are manufac- tured, prepared or handled, as to clean Illness and sanitary conditions Mrs. Thompson has written the commission CTS notifying them of her acceptance There is no salary or fee attached to the position. She will commence her duties about March l.
 Through the efforts of the womens civic board, of which Mrs. Thompson is an active member, an ordinance has been recently enacted by the city com missioners authorizing the inspection of all premises where food products are manufactured, prepared or handled, and which include bakeries, grocery stores, restaurants, hotels and other places where food products are made or sold.
 Members of the civic board state they had the hearty cooperation of many leading manufacturers, dealers and dis pensers of food products in the pas sage of the ordinance, as well as the unamious approval of the city commits SAOAC1 @AGJ SLdLC ItC OfulnduCb IS HOL intended in any way to enforce hard ships on any one. but is designed to make for better sanitary conditions wherever food products are handled, and that all that will be required is to clean up" the premises if needed and to keep them clean.
 In speaking of the appointment of Mrs. Thompson and her acceptance of the position Dr. Cunningham stated that the city was to be congratulated on securing the services of Mrs. Thompson, as she has given several years study to this problem as we'll as having taken an active part in the preparation of the food inspection ordinance. He said she was particularly fitted to put the new ordinance into effect as she all ready knew, by personal investigation and inspection, of premises where food is prepared, of the places where irn- provement in cleanliness were most needed. The city health officer is great ly interested in the new ordinance and states 1t is of most importance to the health of the city.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-25
POOR ECONOMY ID
 BUILD CHEAP ROADS
McCants Cites Detroit as Example of Profiting by
 Best Highways

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 note your recent article with refer ence to the recommendations made by the committee appointed by the Chamber of Commerce in which this committee recommends that work on the Warrior river highway should be started at once, using chert as material. If this high way is to be put in shape simply to enable pleasure seekers and farm wagons to use the road no doubt a chert road would be of some value.
 Based on the recent report of County Engineer Clark, it would seem that quite sum of money would be necessary to build a chert highway between Birming- ham and the Warrior. In my opinion, money will be wasted in building a chert highway to accommodate heavy traffic. For the benefit of your readers would like to have you publish this letter, and I wish to call your special attention to the following report re- gently published by the Detroit board of commerce.:
 Road building vitally concerns every taxpayer and every automobile owner. right policy makes the road tax pro- ductive. It satisfies those who pay and those who use. A faulty policy antago- nizes both.
 Building the maintenance into the road There are two alternatives in road build ing: l. To build at low initial cost a road that requires periodical mainte- nance, aggregating in few years time more than the original cost. 2. To build at greater initial cost road whose ;,,+.- fc o1v i0ih
 The first road is in good condition for only a portion of the period between times of repair, representing pernaps oO Fer cent of maximum efficiency.
 The second, requiring only atteraion to minor faults which do not affect at all the smoothness of travel, offers 100 per cent efficient service-365 days of every year.
 The first permits greater initial mile age, but heavy annual maintenance charges eventually prevent new roads be- ing built, as road funds must be used to keep the original mileage in passable condition, leaving little for new work.
 The second requires a little greater in vestment and therefore heavier interest charges, but these amount to but frac- tion of the maintenance charges on the cheaper road-leaving generous share of the annual road appropriations for new work. This is building the mainte- nance into the road.
 An economic blunder. Building roads that are not permanent with long term issues is an economic blunder. The roads are gone while the bonds still de- mand annual payment of interest and eventual refunding by a generation that has received no benefit. If, through costly maintenance. they have been kept in reasonable condition, the total initial cost, interest and maintenance is too great, and the burden of refunding has
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-25
Suits Filed

Essie Wright vs. Receivers for St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad com pany; $50O0 for alleged personal in- juries, in the city court.
 F. D. Riley vs. Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company for $35O0, for alleged personal injuries; circuit court.
 Mrs. Josie Parker, sS000. vs. Steele- Smith Dry Goods company, in the cir cult court Personal injuries alleged.
 Sanders Myrick, as administrator for J. H. Johnson, deceased, vs. Rust En- gineering company, for death of Dock Barnes, alais J. H. Johnson. $3000; cir cult court.
 J. T. Talent, sSOOO. vs. Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company; personal injuries alleged; circuit court.
 Henry Edwards, 5000. vs. Clinton Mining company. in the circuit court. for alleged personal injuries.
 John Thomas $3000, vs. Woodward Iron company in the circuit court; per- sonal injuries alleged.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-25

reckoned with in connection with the backward child is the bad" child. Many of this type are the youths who have mind enough to get into criminaliry and not enough to keep out. "In other words they become criminals by defect" says Dr. Laura B.. Bennett, Nj. D., psycho- medical examiner of the Los Angeles public schools. Who's fault is it? We are responsible beings because through normal nervous system the mind Is in control of our bodies and if because of defective or poorly developed nervous systems we fail, who is to blame?"
 It is important then that we find this class of child early, and place him in an environment where he will improve. There is always a chance for some improvement if we look for the remedy and apply it with wisdom. The earlier the defective comes to the skilled teacher the better for both.
 An ideal plan is carried out in the Los Angeles school called the "Twenty-third Avenue Special school" Here all lessons are taught, every avenue of intelligence put into action. Every child is known in- timately to his teacher as to how he Is retarded mentally, what is his aiment, his chief difficulty, his learning capac- ity and in what kind of industrial work he may be trained.
 The best work of this school is that of the manual IrdlnlnS department. rms department Is considered the psycholog- ical laboratory.
 When the psychological laboratory be- comes operative in all cities, as they should be, we will have a better under standing of how to train and segregate the backward child.
 Dr. Bennett, in writing of the labora- tories, which are one of her chief works in. the west where she is considered an authority, says;
 When, however, the psychological lab oratory becomes operative in doing what it can do and ought to do for our schools, mental deficiency will be early and rightly segregated and trained with better under standing. Truancy and delinuency will be more intelligently studied and more sanely managed. Degeneracy and crim- inality will be decreased A large amount of energy hitherto wasted will be con- served for profitable fields of operation. Individual training will receive greater attention. Early fitness for vocational training will be determined and it's bless ings will be more widely Gfscsibuted. Special gifts and aptitudes will more surely find their proper channels of ex- pression. Application of the principles of eugenics will become more general as the main root of most mental and moral troubles is laid bare. Educational activ- itles will become more rational and nat ural and for all and increased efficiency will characterize education as a whole"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-25
FINE PROGRESS ON REUNION EDITION Age-Herald Will Have Mag nificent Issue in Honor
 of Veterans

The Confederate veterans reunion edition of The Age-Herald, which will be published on the morning of May lished will be one of the most com plete editions ever gotton out by any newspaper in the south
 Numerous features concerning the progress of the southland since the war between the states are being pre- pared Interesting articles based on fact, pointing out the many opportu- mites awaiting those who wish to in- vest or live in Birmingham or Ala bama are being written.
 Accurate accounts of the battles in which many of the veterans, who will be the guests of Birmingham, took part will be used throughout the edi- tion. The resources of the richest state in the union will be gone into in detail.
 The edition will have colored front page with the Confederate flag draped about pictures of the officers of the Confederacy. The Age Herald was one of the prominent factors in inducing the veterans to come to Birmingham this year and much interest has been manifested by the business concerns as well as the general public in The ASe-Heralu'S eIIorlS 10 place peIOre the country the many advantages that are offered in the Birmingham dis trict.
 Alabama offers every inducement to those in other sections of the United States who wish to come to a land of greater opportunities.
 No expense will be spared to make the Confederate veterans reunion edi- tion of The Age-Herald a credit to the entire southland. and rare achievement to the progress of this newspaper.
 The veterans are coming. Many who will be here this year will not return to the next reunion, no matter where it is held The memory of the reunion edition of The Age-Herald. however, will live long in the hearts of those who have the pleasure of reading it on the morning of May 16
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-25
ROBSON ARRIVES
 TONIGHT ID BEGIN
 HIS SPEAKING TOUR
Will Probably Confer With Friends and Decide Upon Future Course of
 Action

Richmond Pearson HoDson will be in Birmingham tonight. This is the infor- nation received in Birmingham yester- day by prominent Hobson leaders. The coming of the former Sixth district con- gressman is shrouded in more or less mystery, and the exact time of his ar rival has not been made known. How ever it is believed that he will reach the city over the Queen and Crescent at 1925 o'clock tonight
 The speaking tour which Hobson will make in Alabama does not begin until February 29 when he opens at Opelika The cause for his visit to Birmingham to- night has not been made known, but it is understood that it is for the purpose of conferring with close political friends and with leaders in the prohibition move- ment regarding the political situation. It is believed that following a conference here tonight Captain Hobson will reach a decision regarding his future plans.
 While no official announcement has been made by Hobson's friends as to the time of his arrival or the purpose of his visit at this time, political students of the state are awaiting the result of his conference here with the keenest interest. 1t has been reported from time to time by his friends that he was considering the advisability of making the race for Con- gress from the Tenth district against William B. Bankhead. Upon the reports which he receives while here, and the advice given by his friends is believed to rest the decision which Hobson will make.
 His name has also been mentioned in connection with the race for delegate to the national convention from the state at large. In this connection, the fact that only three nationwide prohibitionists have qualified for these positions, when four are to be chosen, is believed to in- dicate that an opportunity has been left for Hobson to enter for the fourth place should he decide not to run for Con gresS.
 Captain Hobson will speak in Birming- ham on March 2. Other engagements in this state which have been decided on are: Opelika. February 29; Montgomery, March 1; Selma, March ?; Ozark, March B Troy, aarch 4; Mobile, March 5; Tus- caloosa, March 6; Birmingham, March z. Several other engagements have not yet been announced 1t is stated
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-25
City Rattles With the Roller Skate
By MRS. J. B. REID.

The whole resident part of the city has gone skating crazy. You are not in the game if you are boy or a girl and have not a pair of skates.
 This fad effects the pedestrian in dif- ferent ways Many are delighted to see the sport, others are worried to death, in constant fear of being crushed by the thoughtless or inexperienced fun loved.
 Wherever there are children or young folks there is going to be an overflow of energy that has to be worked off some way, and most always It is a noisy way -or the one that will not please the ner- vous or sensitive. The exercise is health ful, and youth never fears broken bones or torn-up clothes; somebody else has the job of mending.
 On the cars, in the shopping hours one can hear about the skating season. It rolls around just as regularly as spring
 Birmingham certainly needs skating rink, and it is coming at an opportune time. The Orpheum certainly fins use
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-25

been passed on to a generation already burdened by excessive maintenance.
 Bonds should pay for permanent roads only. Permanent roads built by bond issue maturing within the reasonable ex- least cost to the taxpayers, at 5, 10 or 20 years. Each year Of road service is paid for in that year.
 Maintenance, the heaviest expense with the cheaper type, has been built into the road.
 The facts are known. Wayne county. Mich, is spending annually an average of about SO per mile to maintain the surface of it's 128 miles of concrete roads, some of them in their seventh year of service. Auto traffic is exceedingly heavy.
 Certain eastern states whose policy was in the past to build impermanent roads, are spending $500 to $1O0o per year per mile to keep those roads passable. With out this costly maintenance the heavy automobile traffic would soon make them impossible.
 Wayne county can continue to extend it's county road system until every farm has a smooth highway to market and every point of interest made accessible to Detroit tourists. Whenever the in terest on bonds plus the annual refund- ing charges reach an amount beyond which further investment in new roads will not give proportionate benefits, then new work will stop.
 Communities which have a big propor- ton of impermanent roads are helpless The roads must be maintained and the costs are rising steeply as auto traffic increases. Maintenance is even now paid out of the proceeds of bond issues which should go only for new work. But 1t is significant to note that the new con struction is with more permanent mate- rials
 A plain conclusion. The plain lesson for communities having heavy traffic is to build permanently. It is better to aid a small annual mileage of low mainte- nance roads than to gamble with the future on a less satisfactory type. It has already proven costly.
 Earth and gravel roads have their place as feeders to the main highways and for districts too sparsely populated to finance better construction. Light traffic does not demand more.
 But where traffic is heavy and the com munity demands good roads 1t is eco- homie wisdom to build permanently-a blunder to build less well.
 For permanence means least cost.
 Yours very truly,
 J. l. MCANTE. Sales Manager Southern Portland Ce- ment Company.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-25
Marriage Licenses

\ Following are the marriage licenses issued from the probate court yester- day:
 Felix M. Jones and Miss Minnie Floyd Stewart.
 John Justice Dolomite, and Miss Car rie Atkins.
 J. B. Morris and Hermone Elizabeth Lee.
 Homer Ellison and Miss Berline O'Calligan.
 w. F. Reir, Bessemer. and Mrs. Geneva Louise Watkins
 Ezekiel c. Fanchep, Rock Castle, and Miss Mary Ellen Fancher.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-25
NEGRO MUST DIE
 UNLESS GOVERNOR
 EXTENDS CLEMENCY
Sam Martin Will Be Hanged in County Jail Yard This Morning for
 Killing Negro

Unless unlocked for interference comes from Governor Henderson, Sam Mar tin, a negro, will be hanged in the county jail yard by Sheriff T. J. Batson between 10 and Ii o'clock this morning for killins James Little, negro, December 25. 1914. Two negro preachers were with the con demned negro most all yesetrday, and a number of relatives and friends were per- mitted to see him.
 There will be no visiting allowed this morning and the negro will be led straight to the gallows from his cell. Cards of admittance were issued by Sheriff Bat son yesterday and each person present will be sworn to act as special deputy.