davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-10
BRANDON WILL NOT DEBATE
 WITH COLONEL. GRAVES

Judge W. W. Brandon has wisely refused to take part in joint debates with Col. Bibb Graves, the rival candidate Tor governor. There would be little possibility of Judge Brandon's be- ing worsted. The people of Alabama who are well aware of his ready wit and oratorical gifts will not suspect him of being afraid to meet his opponent.
 In declining Colonel Graves challenge, Judge Brandon declares that there are no is- sues to be discussed Both candidates are dem ocrats. Party harmony will be best maintained by the attitude of Judge Brandon, who has no wish to stir up strife and contention among the democrats of Alabama.
 It would have been better for Colonel Graves political chances in the future if he had not made belated entry into the race as the opponent of man who cannot be defeated. His failure to make political capital out of joint debates with Judge Brandon will make it even more difficult for him to get the voters of Alabama to take his campaign seriously.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-10
LETTERS TO EDITOR
THE NEW BOND ISSUES
To the Editor of The Age-Herald:

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 According to reports made by The Age Herald April the voters were put on notice by Dr. Glenn, and backed by the city commission, that $5,000,0oo would be required to carry out a school improvement program, which suppose will be dictated by a globe trotter Architect from St. Louis, who the papers say will be in Birmingham this week.
 How, when and where this money would be spent could not be told. In other words the voter was just told to "sign on the dotted line"
 Now, voter would like to know if this globe trotter architecS from St. Louis is to get S50,000 for his visit as he did out of the last money voted for schools?
 Next, I would like to know if the bond sellers are to get 20 per cent discount as l hear they did on the last sale.
 Next would like to know why we have to go to St. Louis for an architect?
 As voter, would like to know if the city board and commission think the architects of Birmingham incompetent? If so, will they go to the new Masonic temple and examine that.
 Home architects made these plans details and specifications and home builders did the work Then why should we have to go to St. Louis for advice and pay such extorton prices for it?
 hear this architect has a patent on school teaching which makes it necessary for him to make his own plans If the voters will look at the scheme they will find the city comms- sion tied to this bond issue $750,O00 for play grounds and $500,000 addition money for an auditorium, because they knew the people would not vote additional money for either at this time.
 Now, let me say to you, MT. and Mrs. Voter: The school board has been appointed, the com mission elected, so we have but one hope to de- feat this scheme; that is to refuse to vote the money.
 We have on hand now $420, ,000 for an audi torium. As to the $725,0O0 asked for play grounds, I would suggest that this be voted on after every child in the famine stricken country have had at least one "nubbn."
 This scheme reminds of an old darkey in flush times, who asked to buy piano. The salesman said, "Uncle, I sold you a piano last week." "Yes, boss, but you see I got two gals, and da both wants to play at de same time"
 CLAUDIUS w. BROWN.
 Birmingham, April 8. 1922.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-10
BUSINESS RECOVERY IS A GRADUAL PROCESS

Business depressions and recoveries do not come with rush.
 We are inclined to accept the business recov- cry as beginning in January. It did not It began on the turn of the half year, last July. August was better than July and the fall months were better still. December apparent ly brought a setback, but that was only ap- parent.
 For instance, the recovery of the pig iron market did not begin in January. It began in August, following the low point of production of July. We produced only 66,000 tons in July. By October we were up to 99oO0 tons, by December to 1o8,ooo, in January we went to 121, 1000 and in March we reached 157,0o0. In March for the first time we went ahead of the production of the previous year. By March we had increased production 165 per cent over the low point in July and we did better than March of the year before by 50 per cent.
 There was long-drawn out period of eight months with gradual improvement so slow that
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-10
TELEPHONE TELLS NO TALES

From Popular Mechanics Magazine.
 Confidential secrets and intimate business matters be discussed freely over the tele- phone henceforward-and no one except the persons concerned will be the wiser-by the of device that prevents the tele- phone from telling tales"
 This telephone invention-the 'superphone" as it is called-is an outgrowth of the wired wireless" or "line radio," developed and per fected some years ago by Gen. George o. Squier, chief signal officers of the United States army. It consists of small portable set of instruments which can be readily con- nected to telephones in residences or office buildings. It only takes a few minutes to hook up one of the devices to the regular telephone. The apparatus is incased in small wooden box and hooks directly to the bell box of the tele- phone. Once adjusted and in place, the super phone is ready for constant service It does not require any readjustment at regular inter vas. It occasions no more bother than the ordinary telephone so far as upkeep is con cerned All the user has to do is to close a switch or press a button to connect in the superphone in place of the ordinary phone. A special advantage is that it permits number of secret telephone conversations to be car ried simultaneously over the same line without interfering with each other.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-10
IS THIRTEEN uNLuCKY2

My boys are still trying to figure out whether there is anything to the superstition regarding the number 13," remarked Jack Hovater, athletic director at Ensley High school. "We attended the track meet at the University of Alabama Saturday, and a series of unusual events rather upset our equilib- rum.
 "To begin with, there were exactly 13 boys in our party. We made the trip in automo- biles and exactly 13 miles from Bessemer we had our first puncture As we passed the mile post denoting 13 miles from Tuscaloosa we had another. In all, going and coming we had Is punctures.
 Arriving at Tuscaloosa, we were placed in room No. 13 at the hotel ,and were assigned table No. 13 at dinner time. Then, to cap the climax, our track team won 13 medals in the tournament.
 "It may have been coincidence, but the boys at Ensley probably will remember that day of 13's for a long time, especially as the only boy to bring any money back with him totaled his capital at 13 cents when he ar- rived at Ensley."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-10
LIKES TO VISIT HERE

q always enjoy my visits to Birmingham" said Miss Margaret Miles of Montgomery, daughter of the late George G. Miles, pioneer Birmingham citizen. q like it because my father and mother participated in the early growth of the city, assisting, among other things, in the organization of the First Baptist church congregation and because l have rela- tives here still But loves Birmingham also because it is place to be proud of.
 Birmingham is the states big city It has proven to the world what the south can do in making iron and steel and also building beauti- ful homes and streets at the same time. No matter how much We love the places in which we live, all Alabamians should be proud of Big Sister and rejoice in and help her grow, because she reflects credit on all of us.
 "The wise ones put their money here. know Montgomerians who have done well by investing in Birmingham"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-10
BACKED BY OLD RING

To the Editor of The Age Herald:
 Regarding the agitation on change of gov ernment, I believe that most votes cast in favor of the aldermanic form of government are by those "old ring" leaders that used to be trying to get rid of when we had that form, or it is their packers.
 Have you heard of the graft charges and charges of crookedness that were continuously being made under the old form?
 Remember how few playgrounds and parks were purchased under the old form and what has been acquired by the commission.
 If people want to be real sick let them return to the aldermanic form for awhile and then they will realize what mistake they have made.
 JAMES c. COLLINS. Birmingham 1924 Third Avenue, west, April ', 1922
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-10
Are Railroads Doomed?

Robert W. Ruhl, in Leslie's Weekly.
 "In 50 years the railroad train will be as as a horse and buggy is today. The steam engine can no more stand up against the gas engine than the stage coach could stand up against the iron horse. The automobile and the motor truck will handle the passenger and freight traffic of the future, and the paved highway will be the roadbed"
 This was the glib statement of the owner of motor bus line, running on the Columbia highway from Portland to Hood River, delivered to the writer early in October, 1921. The speaker rolled corpulent perfecto in his mouth as he spoke, and twirled jeweled watch prosperity about him, and an air of great self-confidence Friends said he was making money. He looked it.
 While prominent railroad officials on the Pacific coast do not share this gloomy view of their business future, they do generally agree war to the death between the railroads and motor carriers is on, and that unless there is some public regulation of the automotive transportation business as there is of the railroad business, the time is not far distant when every railroad on the Pacific coast will face bankruptcy.
 In fact, few months ago the Hill lines, operating in Oregon and Washington, officially admitted as much.
 The railroad from Portland to Linnton. Ore. in fact, has been abandoned and railroad men refer to this incident as one that can point a moral and adorn tale.
 The United Railways, providing transporta- ton between these twoi places, applied to the public service commission for a Decent fare The people of Linnton protested and finally secured an injunction against the increase, en- forcing their argument with the 10-cent jitney fare then in force.
 The line was abandoned and since then there has been no transportation other than that supplied by auto busses and auto trucks. The auto busses, enjoying monopoly, promptly boosted their passenger fare to 25 cents, which it is now, and the people of Linnton are now engaged in movement to build their own rail road to connect with the United Railways.
 Which indicates that automotive transporta- tion, for the people, may not be all peaches and cream. In fact there is overwhelming evil dence that the pioneer automobile operators are behaving very much as the pioneer rail road operators behaved They are after all the traffic will bear, perfectly willing to damn the public, if it happens to be profitable.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-10
HAVE KNOWN LAUGHTER

Wade Oliver, in Contemporary Verse. I have known laughter and the mist of song Trailed by the lark from blue September
 skies;
 Night has enthralled me with her starry
 throng
 And dawn has painted magic for mine eyes. The hoyden banter of the winds of March Has raced along my blood on shining shoon; Perched on the. shy branch of swaying larch Ionce saw three stars and hooded moon. I have been ambushed, spied upon, waylaid By sudden loveliness down all my days, Yet only now my spirit, unafraid,
 Comrades with Beauty in divine amaze. Surely beyond the sun and wind and rain We two shall hold high rendezvous againi
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-10
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE
BIRMINGHAM CRIME RATE LOW

Birmingham should shake hands with her self on crime prevention" said Sergt. W. L. Brannon, chief of the Birmingham bureau of Identification, recently returned from visit to Pittsburg to return a negro gunman. By comparison there is no crime here worth men, tioning.
 "Pittsburg, during my three-day stay there, I observed abounds in crime. Of course, Pitts burg is much larger than Birmingham, but in proportion the crime wave which has swept that section of the country is easily five times greater than we have ever had here at the crest.
 Although the police department there is larger than here and quite efficient, small sentences have been instrumental in handicap ping the work of officers against criminals While highway robbery in Alabama is a capital offense, in Pttsburg hardened criminals get by with six-month sentence, and one read fly see why this character of criminals thrive on 8 people.
 "Then, too, penal institutions have been con- verted in large degree into playhouses and flower gardens, and in a measure when a criminal is committed to these institutions he is given only sufficient time to rest and fatten for the next planned crime harvest"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-10
BLOSSOM HUNTERS

Automobiles profusely bedecked with wild blossoms were again much in evidence yester- day afternoon, despite the protests made against this form of candalism,' said Hardie Brown.
 "In many instances, whole branches of blos- som-bearing trees had been broken off, un- doubtedly to the great injury of the tree itself. There should be some plan devised to stop this wanton destruction of these beau- tiful trees, if it does not come under the law.
 If it is unlawful, the authorities should make an example of some of the offenders by the imposition of such penalties that may be provided as a warning to others who are in- clined to such practices"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-10
TRUE HUMOR AND
 "SNAPPY" WRITING
7rom the Louisville COurier-J ournaI.

From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
 Carlyle, who called humor the finest perfec. tion of poetic genius, would have been shocked had he heard J. P. McEvoy treat humorously the subject of newspaper humor before the Me- dill School of Journalism of Northwestern uni versity.
 According to Carlyle, the foundation of hu- nor is sensibiity, warm, tender fellow feeling with all forms of existence. Tt springs not more from the head than from the heart; it is not contempt it's essence is love; it issues not in laughter, but, in still smiles which lie far deeper"
 Coleridge declares that man of humor always is in some degree a man of genius, and Goethe called humor one of the clements of genius
 Real humor, as anyone will agree who is capable of distinguishing humor and cheap wit that amounts to no more than the pertnass of Smart Aleck, is founded upon penetraucY and sympathy. It is by no means the simple art of saying nothing in snappy way"
 The great humorist and the great comedian, each in his way an interpreter ture, reflector of life, are co-m5skse4 13t comfort and happiness of mankind.
 The "snappy" writer who fills daily colu1ns  by rule-of-thumb is 2 figure in contemporary journalism far less rare than the humorist. He may be commanded by any newspaper willing to give him space iii which to employ the for mula revealed by MT. McEvoy; formula fol- lowed widely; formula by which some quan- tity of barren columnists contrive to live, while the judicous grieve.
 The highest type of humorist is at' heart 1Ind fO ,1la the part of the man always ready to provoke laughter, he may wear the players mask and strut like the tragedian who must convince the onlooker, even off-stage, that he has within him the elements of Caesar
 The real humorist knows that his is a deli- cate and difficult art, his success yesterday lucky achievement, his success tomorrow by no means certain.
 The fellow who takes humor lightly; the cocksure fellow who mistakes flow of flip pancy for fountain of humor, may hold "job" with newspaper or with a syndicate. He will not be at 50 famous man, although he may have filled a column 365 times year since he 25.
 Humility is not possessed by the man who boasts that it is among his virtues. Genuine humor, which is akin to humility and grows out of proper study of mankind by sympa- thetc student, is not the possession of the man who believes he possesses an unlimited store of it and who is prepared to reel it off by the yard or by the day. and in accordance with the stipulations of contract calling for given quantity of it at stated intervals.
 Real humorists are few and they are not forgotten. Snappy writers are as the sands of the sea for multitude Tomorrow their work is obiterated like tracks in the sand across which the tide has flowed and ebbed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-10
EMPLOYMENT INCREASES

q received a bulletin from the department of labor yesterday in which it stated that an increase of 33 per cent in the employment of eight of the largest industries in Birmingham has been reported" said Charles L. Harold, secretary of the Civic association.
 "This is a splendid record and hope that it will be kept up and soon will be back to the pre-war conditions. The majority of the casual and itinerant workers were hit very hard by the depression and it is good to see them get ting back on their feet"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-10
FAvoRs MANAGER PLAN

To the Editor of The Age-Herald
 am in favor of "city manager plan," as fol- lows
 Said city manager to be appointed by board of directors. Board of directors (not exceeding ID to be elected by qualified voters of the city of Birmingham, said board of directors to meet not more than once each week, and each di- rector to receive $10 for each attendance at each meeting the city manager to receive not more than $10,O00 per year. All contracts and improvements to be approved by the board of directors before work is commenced. All subordinate officers and employees to be ap- pointed or hired by the city manager. Yours truly, HARRY LYON,
 Birmingham, April ', 1922.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-10
CONSERVATION OF FLOWERS
April 8. 1922

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 Having been appointed by the Alabama state U. s. D. of 1872, chairman of it's committee on the conservation of the wild flowers of our state, this is written to urge that all who go to the country to gather wild flowers exercise care and moderation in so doing.
 There is no objection, probably, to picking a few flowers, provided heed is taken not to tear up the roots and that enough flowers are left for seeds. A strong protest, however, is entered against the wanton destruction of plants and shrubs-the plucking of them by armfus and basketfuls.
 Automobiles are frequently seen returning from the country laden with flowers more than anyone needs. The results of such wholesale breaking off of the branches and the uproot- ing of the plants is that many of our most pre- cious flowers will soon be exterminated.
 An effective aid in the conservation of our flowers, fern and shrubs wou;d be the posting, by the owners of the lands. TLa ''No Trespass- ing' signs displayed along the roadside would greatly lessen the vandalism-such as it s-in wood and field by those who while they root up and destroy the flowers, really think that they love them.
 Let everyone join in protecting our native flowers and plants. Most sincerely,
 LILLIAN FINNELL.
 1872, Committee on the Conservation of
 the Wild Flowers of Alabama
 Tuscaloosa, April T. 1922.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-10
POINTED PARAGRAPHS

From the Chicago News.
 It is better to be lonely than bored.
 Money is everything to the poor fellow with out a cent.
 Smiles being sunshine, frowns are cloudy weather.
 Charity never begins at home while house. cleaning is going on.
 Every woman has certain look with which she thinks she squelch
 As a rule when begins to look for trouble he overestmates his capacity.
 Getting into trouble is generally expensive, but some people just will have expensive things. You can never make man believe that the way to sew on a button is not to stab it through the heart as though it were enemy and then strangle it by winding the thread around it's neck
 Bushes are also only skin deep.
 You can flatter any man by asking his advice. Like money, people borrow courtesy and never pay it back.
 It's easier to pray for forgiveness than to fight against temptation.
 It is easier for borrowed umbrella to keep lent than it is for the average man.
 When you wake up at daylight and can't go to sleep again it's sign it's holiday.
 Wise is the man who is willing to climb down off his dignity long enough to do his duty. It is an open question which bothers the household the most-what she shall wear or how he can pay for it.
 If a man were wise he would cry "Help, helpv' when he sees his wife coming at him with sweet smile after she has been downtown shopping.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-10
MORNING PRAYER
GOVERNOR COX DISCUSSES
 LACK OF LEADERSHIP

Formor Gov. James M. Cox is more temper ate in his public utterances thar he was dur ing the presidential campaign, when some of his closest friends feared that his attacks MT. Harding and other republicans did the democratic standard bearer more harm than good
 Addressing the National Democratic club in New York, Governor Cox said that ''the aver age person of the average community believes there is something radically wrong in Wash ington, and that it consists chiefly of lack of leadership" But Governor Cox hastened to add that "while there is much regret through out the country over the aimless way in which things are drifting it is not fair to crticse the President of the United States. He is simply keeping his contract with the people. He was open and frank in expressing his opinion as to what the function of the executive is. The campaign waged by his party largely di- rected against the alleged autocratic policies of MT. Wilson, In making the distinction which both he and his party made between what had been and what was to be in this regard, the re- publican candidate specifically promised what he would do. He has kept the faith He doubtless believes his performance is in pre- else harmony with what he accepted as man. date adopted by a 7OOO,OOO plurality"
 This is mild talk, indeed, compared to some of his fiery charges made by Governor Cox when he was fighting uphill battle against an inevitable republican victory, but he takes the same view of conditions in Washington that is taken by other prominent politicians, re- publicans as we'll as democrats.
 Mr. Harding with all his amiability and his professed desire to cooperate with Congress and not drive it, is finding himself in an in- vidious position. There is widespread disaffec- tion in republican ranks and resultant satis- faction among democrats, who an oppor- tunity to regain lost ground. MT. Harding has not yet had an open break with Congress- but he acknowledges that his opinions have under gone change and circumstances may compel him to assume the disagreeable duty of wield- ing the "big stick" In fact, it was reported some days ago that he was planning to assert his authority.
 The President who does not come to grips with Congress occasionally runs the risk of hav- ing his administration go down in history as a . failure. As between the easy-going methods of MT. Harding and the so-called autocracy of MT. Wilson, there is much to be said in xI. L tween MT. Wilson and MT. Harding is no great CT than that between Mr. Harding and Theo- dore Roosevelt.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-10

did not observe it until very recently. But the figures show that the turn was made three quarters of a year ago.
 Wall street spectators saw the improvement last fall, and that is why they bought securities obtainable then at $1O to $2O per $1OO under present quotations.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-10
BRYAN AND DARWIN

From the Florida Times-Union.
 According to Bryan, making monkey out of Darwin is more profitable, via the lecture platform and much writing, than permitting Darwin to make man out of monkey. Either way it looks like ''monkeying" with the truth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-10
WARMING UP

From the Kansas City Times.
 Indiana's senatorial campaign is warming up, ex-Senator Beveridge already being ac- cused of attending tea parties. Looks like hard fight