The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-08-28

JOIlty So BIedCly ueSlTeu LOT the lar
reaching influence it would have or
the, general situation, every voter
should be campaigner and keep his
shoulder to the wheel until the polls
close on the 7th of November
A N encouraging sign of the times
"A is the waning popularity of the
problem play. That there is still room
for improvement, both of the stage
and the movies, in the matter of
morals, there can
The Passing of be no doubt, but
the Problem Play it has been proved
that theatrical
managers can no longer capitalize
morbid curiosity.
That certain problem plays of the
past drew crowds and had free adver-
Using out of all proportion to their
worth, cannot be denied. 1t may be
that modern playgoers are too blase
to be startled any more, but more
creditable view to take of the situation
is that the clean, wholesome play is
preferred to the morbid kind, strictly
on it's merits.
During the current theatrical season
there will be few problem plays,
'left-overs" from last season, with
which the provinces" are to be
regaled, but the managerial belief at
present is that plays of this sort are
no longer desired and are therefore no
longer profitable.
4 X *
T HERE is acute depression among
L a class of American expatriates
known in England as Twilight Zon-
ers," because the American govern
ment is in no haste to recognize them
as citizens and permit them to escape
British military service. Of Americans
who live abroad as representatives Of
business houses and in other capacities
demanding their absence from home,
as well as stu
Rather Trying Times dents and the
For Twilight ZOners" like, there is
no complaint
to make. But there is very little SYM
pathy expressed for wealthy snobs
who have betaken themselves to Eng
land to bask in the smiles of the no
bility and after residing there for
many years, are now anxious to re-
sumo their American citizenship.
Expatriates who have become Brit
ish citizens naturally have no hope.
They are done for. But those who
dwell in the Twilight Zone," who are
neither fish nor fowl, so to speak,
have recently bethought themselves
that America is not such bad place
to live in after all, particularly when
it is the habitat of the peace dove.
1t is said that the state department
has refused passports to more than
200 American-born persons of this
sort who have lived in England Cor
periods ranging from 10 to 35 years.
Neither will they be allowed to reg
lister as American citizens.
The fearful attitude of these dis
loyal Americans who are now so anx-
ious to come back home fails to move
the state department. 1t would serve
them jolly well right if every blessed
one of them were sent to the trenches.
4
COLONEL ROOSEVELT evidently
" thought that Mr.. Hughes was
a strong man for the republicans to
nominate and for the progressives to
unite on; but that was because he had
in mind Hughes when he was governor
of New York. The republican nominee
for President said
Enough to Make in one of his early
Roosevelt Weary campaign speeches
that when he was
on the supreme bench he was 100 per
cent Judge, but that now he was
100 per cent a candidate.
One reason why he was generally
esteemed by the people of New York
while filling the executive chair at
Albany was because he defied the stare
bosses. He was so independent of the
republican machine that many of his
partisans marveled at him. But run
ming as he is now for the great office
of President, instead of maintaining
high standard, he has lowered it.
Colonel Roosevelt was heart and
soul in the progressive movement
four years ago. If he was ever sincere
about anything-and he was usually
regarded as sincere in his declaration
of principles--he was utterly opposed
to standpat republicanism and was
actuated by lively desire to bring