The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-16
For Good of
 the Community
Keep In Close Touch With Outside World for Their Markets Are Only Means of Build-
 ing Up Great Industries Here

I'M cox out on the world and feel better As A pointed out by J. D. Moore even poor Russia is no worse off, but, on the contrary, in the depths of degradation and despair, senses the wisdom of decent methods that enable as- sociation with decent folk
 \ Alabamians cannot escape this outer world \ It Is true that wall could be drawn about the state and its people could live off what they raise and make, but that would be existence The men and women of Alabama wish the com forts and luxuries of life as do others. Il Robinson Crusoe made him a coat of the skin of goat" which kept him warm and de- lf fled the insect pests. He had mutton for his kill and fruits to diversity his table but he had not all those things which come to civilized men 1 by sharing with one another what each people IhaS.
 ' Mr. Moore pointed out that not more than 40 per cent of cotton, the great southern staple is consumed in this country. Where does 1t go? It goes to Great Britain, to Germany to Czech Slavia and to China and Japan. If the mills of these people are not going, 60 per cent of our cotton raised in Dixie not wished and Ala bamans who have spent money raising it get none in return
 How would Birmingham wholesalers fare if they made no effort to sell outside Birming- ham? Why do our big department stores have mail order departments and why do our retail CTS stand back of the State Fair to bring crowds to Birmingham each October?
 So, it is mighty encouraging to realize that the big world outside Alabama and which takes Aabama's s surplus when 1t is we'll off is in much better form than it has been these many months
 \ Great Britain has settled her big coal strike and the Irish question is undoubtedly in more lamicable way than 1t has been for years 1 Britain and France seem to have reached a basis for determining the Silesian question. The Germans are working overtime. As James Bowron pointed out, Czecho-Slavia and Rou- mania are again prosperous, the grains and oil products of these countries having been abund- ant and finding market.
 The big allies have agreed to disarmament conference That they will confer on that ques- tion is a wonderful thing in itself Prompt ac- tion in accepting the overtures of this country demonstrates the new spirit of the age. Peoples have been weary of wars many generations. Diplomats and rulers have finally realized that sentiment.
 We in Alabama should have kindly feeling to the faraWay peoples. We have lived genera tions off the money which they send us for our cotton. When Alabama went into the steel business the head of the greatest steel concern on earth predicated huge investments here on foreign outlet
 Do we accept for what it is worth the 50 per cent continuous operation of our Birmingham steel mills during period when those of other sections were going at 20 per cent? If we do not, we should face about. And, what is more, we should especially ponder the fact that the Orient has taken more of our steel products manufactured at Fairfield and Ensley during the dull period than the remainder of the world
 The yellow man has come to us within less than three months with orders for 25, 900 tons of Ensley rails Our big Chickasaw ships have been putting out of Mobile all this year and last