The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-07-29

year when the $25, 100000 distribution
the grand prize-will be in order,
this states allotment will be $780,
744.5O.
All the state highway engineers
have been requested to meet the direc-
tor of the division of rural roads and
road engineering in Washington, Au-
guest 16, for the purpose of discuss
ing details in connection with the
Bankhead measure, and not until after
that conference will the money COM
ing to the state be apportioned
the counties.
But early in September the actual
roadbuilding under the federal plan
should be we'll started. The work can
not begin too soon.
A CAPTAIN in the National Guard
IN writes to the Montgomery Adj
vertiser that young man loafing on
a street corner in Montgomery was
twitted by one of his friends for not
enlisting. He answered, mo. l am not
going into the Ma
Social Standing tional Guard as a
and Patriotism private. Very few
men of my station
in life are in the National Guard"
In his letter the captain expresses
a contempt for this. superior lounger
that is richly deserved. Whatever his
Station in life," it is certain that he
reached it through birth and inherit
ance and not by his own efforts. His
pose on a street corner
sums up pretty accurately his worth
to the community.
Intelligent people have no patience
WIFI SIllTheI VI any SoCl1Ptloii, o"o
the snob who is above shouldering a
gun and fighting for his country be-
cause he may come in contact with a
farmers boy or mechanic with none
of the drawing room arts, would be
even more exasperating if the figure
he presents were not so ridiculous.
m WO weeks ago The Age-Herald
/ stressed the duty of the citizens
of Birmingham and of every other city
in the state to begin the collection of
relief funds for the flood sufferers in
south Alabama. The Tennessee COM
pany acted promptly and sent $1,000
to Mobile to be
Urgent Call for applied to the
Immediate Relief needy, but only
two or three in
dividuals here have made contribu-
tons so far as reported.
The cases of distress are multiply
ing. Hundreds of families are on the
verge Of starvation and unless aid is
provided without further delay a large
death list will be Acknowledgements
and children dying of hunger.
The south, like other sections Of the
country, is visited from time to time
by tornado and flood, causing loss
of life and great loss of property.
The recent floods in the southern part
of Alabama have been the most de-
known in many years. But
the sufferers have been slow in MAX
ing their condition known. Indeed, so
backward have they been in this re-
spect that the public outside of the
stricken sections were coming to the
natural conclusion that the extent of
the impoverishment and actual starva-
ton had been exaggerated.
But never were flood victims in
greater need than those of the mum
dated districts of Alabama. There has
been no exaggeration. The United
States government has been appealed
to for aid, but it is the manifest duty
of every state to render relief before
calling on Congress for an appropria-
ton.
Governor Henderson has issued a
proclamation setting forth the ap-
palling conditions that prevail in a
large portion of Alabama and appeal
ing for contributions to a relief fund
of which Gen. c. H. Hooper of Selma
will act as treasurer. The people liv-
ing in counties and cities where the
long continued rains did little serious
damage should be prompt and liberal