davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20
WHO CAN READ THE MIND OF
 SECRETARY WEEKS?

The clash of temperament between Secretary Weeks and Henry Ford is unfortunate. Yet, any fair-minded observer of the way the Muscle Shoals offer has been handled by the govern ment must acknowledge that there is some jus tifcation for MT. Fords impatience.
 The Age-Herald's Washington correspondent says Secretary Weeks did not think MT. Ford sincere in making his bid for Muscle Shoals, and MT. Ford was equally mistrustful of the secre- tary. To picture MT. Weeks as a hard-headed business man, and MT. Ford as visionary doesn't quite iibe with the facts. Mr. Ford may have some ideas about peace and war, the Jews, our monetary system and other matters that do not agree with preconceived notions, but as a business man, captain of industry, his achievements speak for themselves. All the ridicule to which he has been subjected falls rather flat when we stop to realize what he has actus fly accomplished, in spite of powerful opposition, fighting practically single-handed battle.
 Secretary Weeks has created the impress sion that he doesn't think much of the Ford of- 
 fer and doesn't think much of Ford. That is a matter of opinion. The interests who are fighting Ford with every resource at their com mand are doubtless we'll pleased to have the Secretary of War cast damper on the Muscle Shoals project which was worthless until Ford discovered that it was valuable.
 It isn't necessary to explain that Secretary Weeks could not close deal for Muscle Shoals. Everybody knows that, but ever since the Ford offer was first submitted attempts have been made to discredit him and the attitude of the war department has exasperated a great many other American citizens besides Henry Ford. This matter could have been settled and put into the hands of Congress long ago. Why wasn't 1t done? Secretary Weeks says it isn't his fault and Henry Ford says he is not to blame for the delay.
 It looks now as if Secretary Weeks would "pass the buck' to Congress without recom- mendation, which he should make, because he has studied the subject and ought to know whether or not the Ford bid should be accepted.
 The trouble has been caused by too much poli- tics and too much ''wire pulling"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20
MAYLOSE VOTE

Many persons who waiting for the last few days of the month in which to pay their poll taxes are going to be disappointed if they don't look out and may lose their vote as re- suit of their procrastination,' said Dave Will Hams of the tax collectors office.
 "It is human nature to put off things we want to do until the last possible moment, but in this case delay may cause some of these peo- pie to disfranchise themselves. Out of ap- proximately 3O,o00 persons liable for the tax, only about 5000 have paid to date, and if those liable don't show some speed the congestion at the last is going to be great that many are not going to have time to make their pay ments.
 "Of course, the office will make provisions for handling the crowds as far as is humanly pos sible, but given number of clerks only wait on so many people in given time, and time is not going to wait on anybody. When midnight of February 1 it will be too ate as the law is very rigid about taking any payments or issuing any receipts after that time All those liable for the tax should take little time off and pay it now before the rush begins."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20
A DEGRADING INFLUENCE"

From the New York Tribune.
 Twenty-three years ago Mime. Marie Curie, working with her husband in Paris, isolated the mineral known as radum, perhaps the most stimulating scientific discovery of her generation.
 And the world ever since has haled her as one of the greatest of the scientists of all time, one in whom the accident of sex was wholly subordinate to the fact of genius. Last year she made triumphant pilgrimage through the United States, bearing away trophies in the form of memberships in the most august scientific bodies in the country.
 Hence it comes shock to read that there is opposition to her election 8 member of the French Academy of Sciences. Although com- mittee of members reported that her dis coveries were "unequaled by men" and advo- cated that the immemorial policy of the academy against the admission of women be abandoned, the anti-suffragists still hold out. They insist that the prestige of the academy will wane eff the feminine influence is per- mitted to degrade this noble society,""
 The present generation of women some times worry lest their daughters grow up "soft," with no battles to fight or crusades to wage. They should be treasured by this incl dent and confirmed in their faith that for every character which needs to be made strong an "anti" will be created.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20

nection with the advertising matter of motion picture displayed in the lobby of local theatre.
 There probably isn't another city of Birming- hams size anywhere in the country where there is less open immortality and where the Sabbath is observed more strictly. Yet not satisfied with conditions as they are, which place ban on such harmless amusements as Sunday baseball games, although the rich can play golf to their hearts content, the element which has consti- tuted itself the guardians of the public morals, is devising ways to still further restrict the b- critics of the people.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20
MOTOR TRANSPORTATION
From Worlds Work.

From Worlds Work.
 Trucks use the public highways and their heavy traffic wears them out. The mainte- nance cost of state highways in New England is said to have advanced from $100 mile to $1,500 a mile since motor vehicles came into general use. The truck is not bearing its share of the upkeep of the public highways which it uses. It therefore has an advantage over the railroad which must buy and maintain it's own right of way and pay taxes in ad- dition. The public must decide whether it will continue to pay taxes for rebuilding the roads which the motor truck is principal fac tor in destroying, or whether it will make this new method of transportation sand its proper share of the cost of highways and thus place the competition with railroads on fairer basis. Then both these methods of transportation would develop along sound economic lines. The country needs both railroad and motor truck transportation and to permit one, by un- fair advantage, to check the growth of the other would be short-sighted policy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20
FODDER FOR MAN AND BEAST

J. Smeaton Chase, in St., Nicholas.
 In a year or two of wanderings on the Colo rado desert I often had occasion to bless the mesquit. It has been to me house, shade and fuel, as well as stable and fodder for my horse, and, had it been necessary, food for myself In- deed, often thought my mesquit might well have been adorned with a signboard such as the old inns used to carry-"Good Entertain ment for Man and Beast" The one want that it is powerless to supply is the greatest one of all, water With it's bright soft foliage, it seems to promise that also but it draws its moisture from sources far too deep for the traveller to reach. Thirty, 40, 50 feet down, the great cable-like roots go searching for the damp soil, and miraculously find enough of it in the driest of desert for keeping up the struggle for life.
 There are two species of the mesquit the diff ference being most marked in the fruit Both beans, but one is long and narrow, like the string bean, the other is thickly coed into ex act resemblance to screw.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20
REAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DANCE CONTROVERSY

Some of the state editors profess to be sur prised at the furore created in Birmingham over tho question of public dancing. A few readers of The Age-Herald have written com munications to this newspaper stating that the press is giving undue importance to a trivial matter.
 It may be conceded that dancing is not the most important problem before the people of Birmingham, but this controversy means something more than appears on the surface. We might smile over the fool legislator who would attempt to get law enacted preventing people from eating oatmeal for breakfast, but if the passion for reform and the regulation of an in- dividual's rights isn't stopped somewhere and somehow, it will go to even more absurd ex- tremes than it has already reached in Birming ham and many other parts of the country.
 The blue law agitation assumes many dis guises, but its purpose is always the same. It is bred in intolerance and is the fruit of mar row-minded zeal which has notion, disproved by the entire history of mankind that morality can be legislated into people. The old story of the "vigilantes" of small town who put paper skirts on the billboard advertisements o1 a "girl and music show' has been theme for laughter, but something of the same kind hap pened right here in Birmingham recently in con-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20

MT. Bryan opens up the mausoleum long enough to scan the political horizon and predicts democratic victories.
 It takes an arms conference to give striking illustration of the fact that one thing leads to another.
 Mustapha Renal Pasha joins the distn- gushed company who have been caled upon to deny they were dead.
 The fur coat recently made for Mrs. Hard ing would paralyze traffic back in Marion, o.
 
 Occasionally an attempt to rob bank fails, and variety is added to the annals of crime.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20
LETTERS TO EDITOR
DR. FAREWELL AND AMERICAN SUNDAY
To the Editor of The Age-Herald:

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 If 1 rightly interpret Dr. Barnwells article in Sundays Age-Herad he favors "wide open" Sunday for Birmingham. It is a strange posi- tion for Christian minister, and especially q southern minister, to take He seems as badly mixed in his thinking on the subject as some who are on the other side of this question. There is no need of mixing church and state; in fact, there is need of clear discrimination between the relations of church and state to this and other moral questions.
 But that is far from saying that church and state must either actively or tacitly oppose each other in such matters. With the church it is the Lords day, day of worship, or Sabbath, or both, as some regard it; with the state it is a long established and well recognized necessary institution for the good of the public physical and mental and moral necessity to mans highest good It is not proposed that the state shall interfere with any mans conscience except in so far as his conscience interferes with the public interest.
 Dr. Barnwell's plea for individual rights has a familiar sound to those who fought the sa- loon. The plea for "personal liberty is ap- piled to side and as in Dr. Barnwell's case the wrong side of the question. The opposition to a state Sabbath has always been backed by those agencies and institutions for the sake of the money they hoped to make thereby. The liquor forces. fought it, the movies are now fighting it, not for love of the laboring man, as they claim, but for love of the laborng mans money. No right of theirs is involved. But the right of their employees is involved.
 The writer has had members of his church who could not attend church because it meant the loss of their jobs with the movies. Such cases are entitled to the protection of the state. Labor has the right to and does demand of the state that they shall not be forced to labor for unreasonable hours, and the state shuld and does recognize that right, and in it's own interest protects it's citizens in the enjoyment of their rights. The Sabbath law recognizes the right of every man to day of rest in each week. The state fixes that day in the public in terest. 1 cannot but contrast the attitude of Dr. BarnweN and others with the attitude of some Jewish dry goods frms the largest in the city of Richmond, Va, when lived there. Tal- heimer Bros. and the Cohens closed their stores on both Saturdays and Sundays. When asked why, they readily replied that they closed on Saturday to observe their Sabbath and on Sun day in order that their Gentle clerks might observe theirs. Nor can I reconcile Dr. Barn. wells recent articles on this and some other questions with the fine spiritual messages he has so often inspired us in your columns, and for which I tender my thanks.
 J. V. DICKINSON,
 Pastor Uniontown Baptist Church.
 IIniontoWn Januarv 16 1Qo2
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20
ANTICIPATES GOOD LECTURE

"Those who hear Will Irwin when he lec- lures at the Jefferson February 1, under the
 auspices of the Business and Professional Wom- ems club, will be given treat" says Miss Perna Robinson, recording secretary of the club. "He is not only newspaper man of con siderable note as evidenced by his notable stories on the World war while acting as a cor respondent at the front, but he is entertain ing lecturer as well. His wide experience in all parts of the world during portions of it's most trying history give him personal insight into it's affairs that will be well worth listening to-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20
SHOWING UP AUNT ELSA
From Judge.

From Judge.
 Little Dorothy lad just returned from short visit to her Aunt Elsa in Washington when the minister made his annual call upon her very religious mother. After her mother had flutteringly seated him on the plush sofa in front of the fire, the minister turned to Dorothy.
 Well, my dear, did you have nice time at your Aunt Elsas?
 "0h, yethir," replied Dorothy, promptly q had a lovely time"
 "Well-well what did you do?' pursued the minister.
 "Oh, went to the loveliest Thunday thchool The music played, the shade went up and all the grlth dancedP'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 May lift my voice in opposition to the pro- posal to call referendum on the matter of public dancing, to say that it is purely from economic grounds that we should judge this matter. l am not a member of any religious organization, but l do support the church in every move it makes for common good. I cannot be classed a jackass prayer because know how to dance and have no wish to impose my view on others as to how they shall dance, but as a taxpayer I am eternaly opposed to spending cent of the city's money to call an election at this time.
 Every business man knows that what the city and country needs most now is more meditation and thrift, less silk shirts and dances. Partic- ularly is this true of the laboring classes for which Harrison is presumed to stand. We can not ride in autos all the time-some one has to work and walk and there is many business man now walking and wondering how he is going to keep his people employed and meet his bills.
 What this district stands in urgent need of now is efficient labor, and you cannot have efficient labor if it spends half the night in trip ping the light fantastic no matter how well regu- lated What the banks need is more people practicing thrift in order that deposits may grow and surplus funds find outlet in more industries to keep people at work-you cannot make for saving when you surround people with so many avenues of waste. We have more recreational pleasures now than any city that know of, and l am surprised that our future business men should seek to increase public expenditures at this time. Surely the American Legion cannot be placed in the awkward posi- tion of asking that ex-sodiers be employed and at the time fostering the very avenues of waste that make for unemployment.
 Why cannot the business men of this city assert themselves at this time and save the cost of useless referendum? BILL SYKES.
 Birmingam, January IS, 1922.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20
POINTED PARAGRAPHS
From the Chicago News.

From the Chicago News.
 Law suits are apt to wear out at the pockets first.
 The honeymoon often ends with the groom's last quarter.
 In buying poultry in the market remember that the good always die young.
 If man is a good listener woman votes him entertaining conversationalist.
 woman is clever when she makes man think he knows a great deal more than she does.
 Why is the business in which we know we could make money always monopolized by other people?
 The first thing man does after making fool of himself is to try to explain how it hap pened.
 The man who expresses his willingness to obey woman's slightest wish usually draws the line at large-sized one.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20
STATE OFFICIALS PROMISE TO
 BUY HOME PRODUCTS

At the annual meeting of the Alabama Manu- lecturers association a resolution was adopted calling on the governor, the state board of control and economy and other public officials making purchases for public purposes to buy Alabama farm and factory products, as far as possible, price and quality considered L. Sevier, president of the association, has received prompt response to this resolution Governor Kilby says:
 q am in hearty sympathy with the purpose of the resolution, and insofar as lies within my power shall promote it's purpose"
 c. B. Rogers, chairman of the state board of control and economy, writes:
 "We are in very hearty accord with the spirit of the resolution and beg to assure you that, price and quality being equal, Alabama manu- factured goods will be given preference by this board. and where possible other departments will be encouraged by this board to do likewise"
 It is gratifying to see state officials giving their approval and support to movement which The Age-Herald has helped to keep before the public. Alabama products are entitled to fair consideration from all officials who buy for pub lie needs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20
FOR GOOD ROADS

'I firmly believe that the road bona issue will be voted affrmatively,' said B. Higgins, "but we must not be overconfident We want the ma- jority to be so large as to forever silence oppo- sition to such beneficial measures.
 "We are going to hold good roads rally in the Gate City school house Thursday night, and expect to have good crowd out. Of course, J. B. Elliott, Duke of Leeds, will be there. No good roads rally without him would be com plete."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20
A JEST IN COURT

'eYou don't deny that you applied terms of en- dearment to this young woman?" thundered the lawyer for the fair plaintiff
 "No," said the unhappy defendant. "Il ad- init made a fool of myself. Why keep harping on the subject?"
 "I'm harping to the tune of $50, ,o0O, sir, and unless the looks of these intelligent gentlemen of the jury greatly belle them they have good ear for that kind of music" PAUL COOK
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20


 There is something rotten in the state of Li- beria. When members of the Liberian cabinet were meeting in the American legation the floor gave way and the minister of foreign affairs fell into the cellar.
 Miss Annie Morgan says she will finance no more charities by selling ringside seats to mem- bers of the "400." That's rather unfortunate Some of our pugists were beginning to acquire a superficial polish
 "Is the Miami Bimini route safe?" asks the Columbus Enquirer-Sun. Tourists on the way back are usually in such a cheerful frame of mind they don't care whether it's safe or not.
  An admirer of Henry Ford says he hasn't salted his money away. At any rate he didn't get any returns on the money he spent trying to put salt on the tail of the peace dove. Won Ludendorff's decision to visit South America may be due to the fact that the mailed fist" is still regarded as pretty good doc Urine in that part of the world.
 
 Scientists predict that the time is coming when electric power will do away with indus try's smoke screen. That's good news for the owners of lace curtains
 Royalsts who regard former Empress zta as the head of the Karlist party confirm sus- picion we've had for some time that Zta wears the trousers in her family.
 Mayor Oles says Youngstown, O., has been purified. Reformers, as you have doubtless no- ticed from time to time, given to making rash statements.
 Although jazz has been barred from rural pub lie schools in Wisconsin, reform still has some distance to go before jazz will have it's back to the wall
 
 Brother Crafts thinks the movie interests had something up their sleeves when they hired Will Hays. For once in his life Brother Crafts is right.
 The New Jersey masher who has been sen fenced to spend his week-ends in jail won't get run over by an automobile on Sunday. The stranger in our midst who refuses to work has been told to remove himself from our midst That's fair enough.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20
so LIVE

By William Cullen Bryant. So live that when thy summons comes to join The innumerable caravan which moves To that mysterious realm where each shall take His chamber in the silent halls of death, Thou go not, like the quarry slave at night, Scourged to his dungeon, but, sustained and
 soothed
 By an unfatering trust, approach thy grave Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch About him and lies down to pleasant dreams.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20
DERRING-DO

Little ragged fellow,
 With wistful pair of eyes, Gazing at an airman
 As he scars up in the skies. Wonder if he's thinking
 Of the time When he will be Doing deeds of daring
 With multitude to see. Doubtless such daredevil thoug'i.s Stir his youthful mind; Comes speeding motor truck And he swings on behind.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20
A CHANCE TO COOL OFF

"Does that hurt?" asked the dentist.
 'Id like to change places with you about a minute,' said the wild-eyed patient.
 "That being the case I'll put you through the cooling off process"
 "Eh?"
 "Ill give you about 20 minutes of sure enough painless dentistry before I let you up.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20
HE WANTS TO KNOW

To the Editor of The Age-Herad:
 I should like to ask why it is that so much of our reform agitation is started and fostered by people who have become too old to have any more fun.
 As Hashimura Togo would say: q ask to know" c. H. STARLING.
 Birmingham, January IT, 1922
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20
THE STRONGER OF THE TWO

''What is your attitude toward women who smoke?"
 "One of successful competition" said MT. Grumpson.
 "Yes?"
 "When it comes to fumigating the atmosphere a cigarette is practically helpless before well seasoned pipe that has been used regularly for several years"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20
STICKING TO A POOR STORY

'You had $40 gas bill last month," said the dry agent.
 "The wife has-er-been doing little can- hing" said the home distiller.
 Hum. Iwant to sample some of the stuff.p "Wife," called the home distiller, in quaver- ing tones, "open a can of salmon for the gen. tleman."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20
THE FIRST CONSIDERATION

"A man in public life should be well in- formed on variety of topics"
 "Yes," said Senator Snortsworthy, and he's making big mistake if he doesn't keep him self well informed the state of public opin- ion back where he gets his votes"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
FOR CAMERA PURPOSES

Rome was not built in day''-a true And tried asseveration, But movie men, in day or two, Can build fair imitation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20
NEVER sWATTED YET

From the Arkansas Gazette.
 It is rumored that the presidential bee is still buzzing around Herbert Hoover tire less Birmingham Age-Herald.
 And probably the only welcome one in the world.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20
A LITERARY POSE

.'Is Gadspur well read man."
 ''He has the reputation of being caught read ing Shakespeare, when the neighbors drop in, often than any other man in our block"
 "That shows taste for good literature"
 Maybe so, but suspect he picks up volume of Bills works when he hears the door bell ring"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-20
TELL IT TO FRANCE
pm the Pittsburg Dispatch.

From the Pittsburg Dispatch
 Perhaps the removal of Siegfried's sword from that statue in Berlin was merely another step in German disarmament.