The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1920-01-31
LETTER TO EDITOR


l
politics. I am constrained to write this
letter and would appreciate it if you will
publish it.
| II was great war which we sent our
year that were not pertaining to the
League of Nations, and it seems that our
United States officials have forgotten
e, erything else except the league.
Il was a great war which we sent our
boys to take part in. and they did their
" ork nobly; they drenched Europe with
their blood fighting for world democ-
racy," and now | ask IL we have not
done enough for the eastern world?
W hatever we do towards adopting the
League of Nations Is done from a char
table standpoint. with the only aim to
help foreign humanity, for we certainly
do not expect any benefits from it for
our own people.
We should be willing to help the weak
nations, but we must keep the United
States first in our minds; our duty is
first to our own American citizens, and il
we keep admitting men into our coun-
try that not only opposed to our gov
eminent but to any form of govern
ment we win not have to go to Europe to
find trouble, for we will have plenty at
home. | think the greatest question con-
ltOiliItE US HDN Is NhC ob~hNAaSt ohN
others with the same ideas.
We have the greatest country on earth;
in fact, we have the only true republic
We onght to be proud of our country and
We that live in the south should boast OF
Its greatness and our people, but we
will not always retain the high and loTsy
position which we now occupy If condi-
tions are not changed.
We sent over 100000 of our best man
! IN In fiOht that.
where should have an equal ehaSce I'D
life, and yet / read in your paper that
there were over 100000 white men in Ala
bama that could not vote. May | ask
where the trouble is? is 1t because our
laws are too cumbersome and difficult for
men to comply with so that they may
vote. or is it the Indifference on the part
oil cur young men? Why is il that they do
not take interest in public affairs?
Is it because there is no contest between
two strong parties; in other words, do
they think it will make no difference in
results whether they vote or not?
AS a southern man and southern born,
with sympathies for our people first / am
thinking of what is best for the south
and what is best for the United States.
We must remember that i'm reconstruc-
ton of the country the south should De
in position to stand with outstretched
arms and invite all good citizens to come
and be one of us
There is at this time a great RESPONSE
bility resting on the newspapers of the
south. Will they do their duty, or will
they only see what is best for the demo-
cratic party? DO you believe if the Pres
ident had been a republican and had
brought back the same league that all
the southern newspapers would have
asked that it be adopted? How long will
every public issue be decided on politics?
wouldn't 1t be a glorious day for Ala
bama il every public question could be
desided on its merits?
All men in this great country Of ours
have the same right to say who shall be
the rulers We contributed to the defeat
OF the Kaiser so that the German people
might have peoples government, and
at the conclusion of the great war our
own President brought us an instrument
for our Senate to ratify. but he said
You must take it as l present it to
you; you must not cross 81 or Got
an a." 1t seems that we are about to
lose our own rule of the people here at
home.
| have recently read in nearly all the
daily newspapers that no one could be
candidate for the presidency in the dem
ooratic party until Mr.. Wilson said what
he was going to do Are We going to set
UP one-mans government at home a>e1
we have fought Europe to destroy a one
mans government? Don't you think we
should have two strong political parties
in Alabama? Do you think we can have a
good gov eminent IL we do not?
The south has hac to take back seat
in the affairs of the nation for some
time. Because there was no hope of elect
ing republican the democrats have not
had to put forth any efforts for success,
and for fifty years the south has voted
for past memories.
Look at woman's suffrage. It's sure to
be ratified this year, and the south will
have no part in it. We are going to let
the old line of politicians stay by the
old guard and still boast of our south
ern traditions" and what for? Just to
give the same crowd positions. / firmly
believe that Alabs would have voted
FAY ora bly, on the amendment IL 1t had not
been for the effect it would have on the
present senatorial contest.
| hope to see a new Advancement in
public affairs in Alabama. l think | see
a brighter day for the republican party
and ! know II would be good oppor.
tunity for Alabama to divide its voters
between the two parties. and this would
wake up both the democratic and repuf-
lican parties. and then we would attract
the attention OF the nation as we have ,
never done before.
fully grown in politics, and we need
ever expect any attention from the pow
ers that control the nations. The south
has furnished the votes for the demo-
cratic party since the late war. and we !
never have democratic President to /
,ven visit us. How long will we be con- |
ent with this condition?
In conclusion permit me to sas that |
he spectators have run wild since the |
var. Such profits have never been i
hought of as are being exacted on the |
common people today. ! read two adver-
sements In montgomery paper, one |
irving the market on hogs and beef cat
lie. the other giving the price of pork |
md steak; the market on top hogs was |
III cents gross, and on such beef as |
he farmers in Alabama raise 81 to |
ents per pound; pork chops. As cents pA |
'ound and steaw Is cents per pound Has |
my one ever known SO much difference |
n the price of cattle and steak and hogss
md pork?
Taxes are getting higher and higher |
very year. There Is license or every !
lind of business. new offices are being !
;reated every year. I honestly believe
hat I,a