davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25
LETTERS TO EDITOR
MINERS WAGES

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 wish to congratulate you upon the clear ness of your analysis of the coal miners earn lngs, expressed in recent editorial, and crave the liberty to ask question I hope you will pass into your Letters to the Editor. column. Probably some one can answer me who reads this.
 As look into the future, see no hope for this particular body of industrial workers in our state. Drained to the last atom of their power to resist the will of others thrust upon them by the suffering and privation brought on by II months of non-employment q am speaking of the nonunion miner) they present pitiful picture-it is doubtful if paralleled by any in Europe, toward which we extend al. ways helpful hand. When Is 2-3 per cent wage cut was offered them some six weeks ago they accepted hopeful of greater employment There was no greater employment, though and now a wage cut of over 45 per cent is forced on them, and in face of a strike throughout the northern states, too. Almost 70 per cent loss in wage rates in six weeks Not possible" 1 hear some one say. Well, listen. Here is the proof: I know a man whose vocational rate as paid under the Garfield agreement was $4.0S per day; six weeks ago this was reduced to 9o.4V per uay, a JOSS or -loo per cent; begln- ming February 15 this is reduced to $2.25 per day, loss of .3SS per cent, and in addi- tion one hour is added to his working time, a loss of 12 12 per cent, equals .679 per cent. not issuing tirade against the heads of our coal companies. know personally many of them, and know them to be sympathetic gentle men, but is not the fact apparent that in plac- ing reduction of this magnitude on one class of labor setting the stage for battle of "clubs and fangs" that may result in untold in- jury to our business and civil morale? Such combat is by means improbable if these nonunion miners line up with the organization.
 Now, it looks to me as if the characteristic of the situation is that the retail price of coal is too high Grant that it is. Is it fair to place the entire burden of lowering it on the weak est shoulders?
 Is there other item entering into this ul- timate cost that can absorb its proportion? Can not other groups of wage-earners and interest bearing investments be made to share their burden of lower final cost and give the miner a chance to a good living that will more surely make happy and contented nation, than the fact that every one is hungry beast, some for money gain and power, others for the merest necessities of human existence? A miners wife, MRS. IDA o. PERKINS.
 Maylene, Route 1. February 23, 1922.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25
 METROPOLITAN CRITICISM

George Jean Nathan, in Judge.
 Give the average New York newspaper any play that does not show an illuminated troll ley car crawling across the backdrop in Act III, and that newspaper, believing itself sud- denly called upon to discourse on art, will adroitly seek to conceal its embarrassment by dismissing the play altogether and by dis tracing attention with an extravagant eulogy of the man who painted the scenery, of the costume designer and of the leading actors, and with chronicle of the amount of cough ing indulged in by the audience (which the reviewer craftily hints confounded his clear addition of the play), the selections played by the orchestra between the acts tan opppor- tunity for the reviewer to get in a snappy wheeze and thus further distract attention from his failure to have an opinion on the play itsef), the tardy rise of the curtain at the premiere, the speech of the star at the end of the second act, the poor quality of the act ing on the part of the gentleman cast for the role of the butler, the confusion in seating the late-comers, story told about the author by Sir Herbert Tree at the Savage club in 1913, and lengthy resume of the plot
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25
SWINDLING A FAVORITE PURSUIT ' IN THE UNITED STATES

With confidence men operating briskly at the fashionable water resorts, and in many other parts of the country; get-rich-qu pro- motors fleecing the unwar yof millions. black mailers busy and forgers and 57 varieties of bandits apparently more active than ever. America seems to be suffering from mania to get something for nothing.
 Millions have been made out of the illicit liquor business and other millions from the sale of drugs, but those methods are too slow for the kind of people who are now conspicuous in newspaper headlines. They want to make a fortune overnight, and are not particular about the way they do it.
 Greed ruins the dupes and makes it easier for thieves to rob the American people of bil- lions of dollars. The farmer from the agri- cultural districts who becomes acquainted with prosperous looking strangers in Florida and is persuaded to bet on "sure thing" would not be such an "easy mark if it were not for his own cupidity. The deluded individuals who pour their savings into the eoffers of such swindlers Ponxi and Bischoff are led into the trap through avarice. They might them selves emulate the Ponzis and the Bischoffs if they had the brains.
 The vigilance of police and detectives and the warnings of the press will have little effect as long as "one is born every minute" There will always he bumper "boob crop and alert gentry who go merrily to the harvest.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25
SOUTH MAKES A GOOD START IN BUILDING

From reports of building inspectors in 65 cities in 16 southern states, compiled in its of flee, the Manufacturers Record estimates the increase of structural activity measured in valuations as S5 per cent over that of Janu- valuations represented by building permits amounted to s12,a2s,0oo. In the first month of this fear they were $22,977,Ooo
 Seven southern cities issued permits aggre- gating more than $1,000, 900. These included Atlanta, Oklahoma and those two breezy southwestern cities, Dallas and Houston. Bir- mineham was we'll to the fore as usual in the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25

Citizens of Nevada who object to executions by lethal gas as being cruel have possibly never seen gallows in operation.
 X x While Balfour doesn't deserve all the credit for the success of the arms conference, he was helpful-decidedly helpful.
 < coal strike coming along about the time baseball begins to absorb attention would oe easier to bear.
  It looks as if our drigibIes were not much more durable than the toy balloon little Johnny plays with The suicide of one of his victims in Chicago will not disturb the mental poise of Wizard" Bischoff.
 < Surely it wasn't farmer who first made the charge that Congress is to blame for the Roma disaster.
 < Suppressed desire" may be fatal to rich people, but poor people get used to that sort of thing.
 Running a theatrical boarding house has become an extra-hazardous occupation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25
POINTED PARAGRAPHS
From the Chicago News.

From the Chicago News.
 The man who does right seldom gets left
 Lack of cash causes more poverty than any thing else.
 It's wise to know little more than you let people think you know.
 It takes woman or photograph record to talk while running around.
 Every newly married couple should occupy apartments in which there is no room for sus- picion.
 If a man is unable to sleep in the morning when he ought to get up he has insomnia in the worst form.
 Though girls features may be stamped on young mans heart, it's her complexion that looms up on his coat collar.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25
DTRIGIBLE TYPE OF AIRCRAFT
 OF QUESTIONABLE VALUE

The disaster of the Roma, following the de- struction of the zR-2 in England, the fate of both ships being almost identical, has revived the controversy over the value of the lighter than-air craft for military purposes. For the present, at any rate, there will be no haste to invest money in another dirigible of the Roma's size.
 It is reported in Washington that the army air service will make thorough inquiry into is quite likely to be recommendation that no more aircraft of the Roma stype be construct pane'sssuperiority over ''blimps'' or any other lighter-than-air craft The war showed that superiority, even in the case of Germany's boasted Zeppelins- A ship like the Roma is cum bersome and urwieldly at best, costs a great deal of oneyto'build and because of the high ly inflammable nature of hydrogen gas, is apt to become a fiery furnace when an accident occurs, as was the case both with the Roma and the zR-2.
 Cheapness, speed, maneuvering qualities and safety give the heavier-than-air machine great advantage. The airplane has decidedly made good, but it remains to be seen whether or not the government would be justified in spending any more money on dirigibles.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25
DRUGGING PRISONERS
From the St. Louis Post Dispatch.

From the St Louis Post Dispatch
 Nothing reveals quite as shockingly the seventeenth century state of mind that seems now generally to permeate police and pros ecuting officials throughout our cities, as the experiment with so-called truth serum" in- jected into two prisoners in the county jail at Dallas, Tex, recently. According to the news paper accounts, it's results were highly satis- factory; the effect of the hypodermic doses seemed ''to paralyze their will to lie" and it is believed they gave the officials valuable truthful information.
 Truth serum" is drug having stupe- flying effects and is known by the technical name of scopolamine. It was tried on negro charged with murder and upon a white pris- who has appealed from conviction on charge of postoffice robbery. Doctors who present said they would come out from under its influence without any ill effects, says the dispatch. Whether they actually did, are not informed.
 In this outrageous proceeding we see con. frmed the view held by those in authority dealing with the penal laws, that whoever is accused of crime is guilty and therefore desti- tute of rights. Once in the power of the po- lice you may be dealt with as a stray cur des- tined for the table of the viviseetionist.
 One of the essential safeguards of liberty, designed to prevent all third-degree methods, including this process of "anesthetic sweat ing" is the rule of law that no one can be compelled to incriminate himself, and that no> testimony extracted by such methods can be used against the accused.
 If the courts of Dallas are still self-respeet- ing there in some public excoriation in store for the authors of this diabolical experiment.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25
DISARMAMENT CONFERENCES
 EFFECT ON BUSINESS

At the close of the disarmament conference in Washington a Birmingham manufacturer is- sued circular letter to the trade in which he predicted better business as the direct and immediate result of its work. He took the po- sition that the stand for peace which this con- ference represented would reflect itself in the bartet and sale of goods.
 One sentence from the letter reads:
 "So the great conference has ended, and thus has been accomplished another firm step toward worldwide betterment. Millions which have heretofore been spent to main tain the big naves of the world will now be spent upon public improvement, and lessened taxation will mean more money for home build ing and construction"
 It sounds very simple after it has been done. It is so easy tol see the pith and point of it all. We do hope that the disarmament con- ference has done something toward the elimi- nation of wars waste and paved the way for the diversion of the cost of wars into the build ing of homes, industrial plants and highways We know it
 The business man appreciates what the dis armament conference has brought about as fully as the scholar in his closet and the hu- manitarian who thinks in terms of racial pro- gress The business man sees more demand for what he manufactures, more men employed more pay rolls and eventual lifting of some of the load of taxation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE
AUBURN A PRODUCER

q was greatly impressed with what I saw on my trip to Auburn to- attend the semi-cen- tennial celebrations" said w. Carson Adams. Auburn is like a vigorous, healthy, over grown country boy whose brooches are too short, jacket too little and who is barefooted and has no hat. All the institution needs is little money and attention from the people of the state.
 For many years we have encouraged the best boys to strive for a professional educa- tion, to become doctors, lawyers, dentists and other professional men until we have too many of them and not enough of the real pro- ducers of wealth. What we must do is to equip Auburn to produce the producers who will make Alabama the great state she is des- tined to be.
 "We must train boys to return to the farms and to make the farms so productive that the profits and pleasures of farm life will appeal to the best of them. We must build up Au- burn it can meet the need of the boys of the state for the kind of training which will make them stay the farms and become prosperous there rather than wander off to cities to gain an opportunity"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25
FoRD's PERSONALITY

To the Editor of The Age Herald:
 The people seem unanimous for Ford getting Muscle Shoals.
 Without taking sides, two or three things come to my mind for consideration.
 believe Ford, in making the light car, truck, tractor and light engine for railroads, has shown more sense than all other men com bined in the United States, but there is another side to his character.
 Give him power and he is autocratic. See his action towards the Jews. See how he cut prices to the bone, to the benefit of the public it is true, but he bankrupted his agents an;s cost the country banks of the United Statea their heaviest load
 The local Ford agent at Taladega in Is2l charged off loss of $7,5o0 on cars and srar- tors, not one cent of which came out of Tds pocket, but we bankers must carry the Iona
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25
EARLY ROAD BUILDERS

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 discussion good roads last night brought up the subject of early builders, Desoto be- ing the first when he cut road from MoLle to Natchez.
 But it is within the memory of the middle aged G894), when J. s. Coxey acquired na- tional notoriety by his scheme of leading an army of the unemployed to Washington, mon- ster petition in bonds, to Congress. The move ment was intended to demand the creation of a country road fund of $500,0O0, ,oOO, to be issued in non-interest- bearing bonds to furnish the work. Sad to relate, the petition never reached Congress, as Coxey and his cohorts were arrested for failing to Keep off the assSs." Though much ridiculed Coxey had the syn pa " of the masses. The late James Eads, noted a1gineer, once said at dinner at the Ssnters hotel St. Louis, 'If the government Vould suild national highways the cost of liv- na uld be reduced 25 per cent.'
 FRED POTTS. Waodstock February 2s, 1922.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25
NEW LINCOLN PICTURE UNEARTHED

New York--A picture of Lincoln, painted as he looked eighteen days before the mar tyred President died, has been given to the Chicago Historical society Fer fifty years it lay unnoticed in family storeroom.
 The painting was made by C. P. A. Healy, an American artist It shows President Lin coin, General Grant and Admiral Porter in the cabin of Porters flagship, hearing Gen. eral Sherman's account of his march to the sea, which had ended the day before.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25
SHEFFIELD PROPERTY GOING UP

Property in Sheffield is rather hard to buy at present." stated Roland Lide, promi- nent local realtor, who recently made tour of the Tri-Cities. With the probability of Ford taking over the Muscle Shoals project everything in the Tri-Cities is seemingly in high degree of anticipation.
 "One thing I noticed was the fact that scores of people who live in Detroit, where Ford lives, are buying up much property. These people are not only buying business property, but also purchasing residences"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25
UNIQUE CAR LINE

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 little suburban car line near Washington, D. C., which runs from Chevy Chase to Ken sington, Md, is very unique in that the owner of the road is president, motorman conductor, general utility man and bureau of informa- tion, all in
 There are just 32 curves in the few miles covered (three, think, and when the motor- man is collecting fares the car gides, unassist- ed, as it were, around the shortest curves with perfect ease and safety, CD at least so far. Certain customers take the 730 car every morning and of course everybody knows every body else, and quite socable time is enjoyed each day. The conductor -motorman knows each one by name, and when the car is ready to start, if Miss Jones happens to be late, which is often the case, the car is delayed few min utes for her. And after she has sprinted breath lessly down the hill and been helped on by two or more polite gentlemen, we are off to the city.
 One day last spring, when the car was crowd ed with government clerks hurrying to office, the presdent-motorman stopped the car while passing through an old field and politely asked permission of the ladies aboard to shoot very troublesome hawk which had killed many chick ems in the neighborhood. After the shooting the only other wait was for Mrs. Smith to send her little boy back home for her glasses she had forgotten MRS. K. LHUNGERFORD. Washington, D. G., February 22, 1922. 1o12
 Thirteenth street, N. W.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25
THE TINKER

From Punch. Why were the wonderful hours so brief When the blackbird sang so sweetly? And what, in sooth, is the coin of youth But elfn gold, gone fleetly,
 So fleetly. Oh, why was the halcyon all too fleet For ever an eye to follow, His diamond day and the songs of May And the bluebells ip the hollow,
 So.holow? Times tinker and Times a cheat; You'll know him when he passes For he takes the wine of the spring sunshine And leaves empty glasses, The broken empty glasses. And the silver cord of the golden harp That once was rung so dearly? 'Tis woful frayed for the tunes been played, And the lit forgot-or nearly, {.
 So nearly. Times tinker and Times sharp As all his tricks do teach one, And harp and merle or singing girl He'll steal the song from each one, The May-day song of each one. And the loves you loved and the laughs you
 laughed? An, Times the cutpurse clever They're in his pack and they're on his back, And he's down the road forever,
 Forever But Times the tinker that knows his craft In every sign and token, And soon or late, tis as sure as Fate, He'll patch the things left broken, heart or aught that's broken.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25
A DISTRIBUTOR

'Mr, Wadegh must be prominent man." 'fYes?"
 Delegations of citizens are always calling to sec him, and there is one prosperous looking in- dividual who makes frequent visits, but never has to wait for an interview" 'I think I know the fellow you are talking about. Before the eighteenth amendment went into effect he had no regular empic yment"
 PAUL COOK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25
THAT'S DIFFERENT

'Is this stuff good?'
 You can taste the wood in it. Do you want to blind me? Take it away" T was referring to the flavor of barrel coopered in 19f0."
 Hand it back"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25
UNCONSCIOUS HUMoR

Do you find much entertainment in detec. tive stories?"<
 Lots of it," said the man who was chuckling over the latest volume of crime specialist q haven't had many laughs in month of Sundays. l used to be detective"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25
HOMEMADE PRODUCTS

''In this mornings Age-Herald was an ar ticle regarding the reluctance of some of the Birmingham merchants to allow posters, ad- vertising an exhibit of homemade products, to be placed in their place sof business' said M. B. Gottlieb of the Studio Book Shop, yes- terday
 ''No one in my place was approached in this particular instance but I am Birming- ham booster and feel that we should all push. articles made in Birmingham to the full est extent. l am always glad to help by all lowing posters to be placed in windows of my place if find that they are worthy"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
STILL WITH US

When peace rules OCT the seven seas And armies cease to shoot, We may inter that time-worn wheeze
 About the second "1ieut."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25
A MILITANT MOVEMENT

Some flappers raised their voices shrill, By indignation fired, And swore that they would flap until Their last foe had expired.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25
MOST LIKELY

"Ah, bunch of beautiful roses from Mr. Jobson," exclaimed Miss Teacher. q wonder what is on the dear boys mind?"
 Probably the price of the roses,7 said her sarcastic friend.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25
zULULAND IS LOOKING UP

From the San Antonio Express.
 "Zuulands first cotton-ginning plant is in operation" Bully! This means that Zululand has outlived the blight of traders gin
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25

until more prosperous times with security im- paired.
 The Alabama Power company offer will not cost the government one cent and when they sell power it must be at a rate fixed by our public service; whereas, Ford in charge, will act as an individual free to follow the bent of an eccentric mind and it is only question of time when this character of mind will act automatically. Nay, more, it is only question of time when such mind becomes merciless.
 HUGH L. MELDERRY. Talladega, February 20, 1922.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25
ONE MUST BE AMUSED

How did you happen to lose your cook?" T blame the motion picture industry" said Mir. Gadspur.
 How so?"
 "she didn't like the kind of films shown in our neighborhood movie theatre"