davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13
BIRMINGHAM AGE-HERALD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13

in battle and won golden opinions by their exemplary behavior while they occupied German territory. The sincere regret with which former enemies bade them farewell testified to the popularity they enjoyed on the Rhine. Nothing is to be gained now by arguing about who won the war, but it is admitted that the course of history was changed by the two million American sol- diers who were sent to Europe to fight with the allied powers whose backs were almost against the wall. They turned what appeared to be inevitable defeat into victory. That credit may be given to the American army without detracting from the valor of the French and British who withstood the Ger man military machine for three weary years. These soldiers who are now at home again kept the American flag in Europe more than four years after the armistice was signed with credit to themselves and the nation they represented. Their withdrawal from Germany means that in a military sense the link that bound the United States to its as- sociates in the World war is broken, but America can never revert to the isolation she maintained before 1914. Other ties bind her indissolubly to Europe.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13
NORRIS WILDERNESS"

Senator Norris of Nebraska niaue long speech over the death of his project to have the government make two-million dollar experiment at Muscle Shoals. He extended himself in explanations intended to show that his amendment to the army p1li was con- ceived in good faith. Not at all did the senator have it in his mind merely to delay indefinitely any action on the Ford offer Blandly overlooking the fact that the Ford offer guarantees to the American people forty thousand tons of concentrated nitrate annually, the senator insisted that the gov ernment should spend two million dollars in trying to discover a new method of pro- ducing fertilizer. He did admit that he could not promise such discovery, and in summing up the situation he went so far as to say: "We are travelling in this matter on a path leading into an unexplored wilder ness" What better description could be found of the direction in which the efforts of Senator Norris and his colleagues have taken this whole matter! They would take it into the deepest tangles of that unexplored wilderness if by doing so they could defeat the Ford proposal. A two-million dollar government experiment would have carried them considerable distance along that path. The motive actuating those supporting Ford is to see Muscle Shoals developed. They be- lieve, as Senator Underwood believes, that "There is no other man in the United States with the required capital who can do that" But most of all they insist on practical ac- tion in developing this great national asset. The duty of definite action on the Ford offer is squarely up to congress.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13
FOR MOSQUITO CONTROL

With completion of the preliminary sur vey for eradicating mosquitoes, the question of securing the needed funds to carry on the campaign is uppermost. It is understood that the heads of large industrial corpora tions, railroad executives and insurance com panies have shown fine spirit of co-opera- tion and that they intend to contribute substantially to the movement. The Cham Der of Commerce will do it's part in keeping the matter before the business men of thu community. It is problem that concerns all. The $40,000, which is estimated as the cost of the work, is paltry when considered in connection with the suffering and loss or time from gainful occupations that are the price of non-control Large employers of labor should especially strive to avoid the labor turnover that is entailed by an epi- demc of any form of malarial disease which is carried by the mosquito.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13
THE NEW VIEW OF POLICE

The civil service plan for the selection or pslice officers in Birmingham raises the position from a job to a profession Per haps no immediate results of the plans workings will be observed by the public The public should gradually experience the benefit, however, in more efficient service and protection of the peace. The officers will more immediately profit, for the plan means that their positions are secure as long as they render faithful and effective ser vice. Indeed, basicaliy the plan means that the holding of the position shall be depend cnt on personal merit alone. As long as the officer performs his duty it is provided that he shall remain on the force. When dis ahled by age or accident, he is to receive compensation in recognition of his service. If he dies, his dependent family will receive material aid. The plan gives each officer something definite to strive fora good record and the compensation that comes herewith.
 Since the position of policeman may thus be expected to be more secure and desira- ble one, there will arise the question of such training and instruction as will enable each officer to take progressively better exami-
 
 nations and to rise to higher grades as a consequence. The protection of life and property and the detection of lawbreakers form a science. and are not something to be picked up in day. There is no reason why a policeman should not strive to perfect himself in the technique of his calling, just as an engineer, machinist or mechanic go to school and profit by formal instruction. New York City has already announced training school for police detectives. and there will probably be additional training for the ordinary patrolman. The New York experiment. will undoubtedly be a valuable object lesson to other cities as to what may be accomplished along this line. At any rate, Brmingham's police are already on higher plane than under the old system of political selection. There is reason to be- lieve that the benefit will not stop there.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13
A Timely Editorial
syndicates Run the Cities
lKansas City Timesl

What is political machine? !? Many persons thlnk of it as simply an organization of enthusiastic party workers, who give their time for the success of the party ticket in elections. They are mistaken. The modern political machine is simply a big commercial syndicate, Its members have a money stake in party sGccess.
 The grand jury at Chicago is letting in the light on the opera tions of the local republican ma chine. The big boss has fled the country. The mayor has announced he would not be candidate for re- election. This dismay is all the re- suit of an inquiry into the work ings of the republican machine in Chicago. That machine is no diff ferent from machines in other cities, democratic as well as repub- lican.
 The professional politicians, who fix up the slates, get out the vote and carry the elections, are not de- voting their time to this work simply because they are loyal to the grand old party or the Woodrow Wilson democracy. Not at all. They are on the job because it pays them to be. It isn't sentiment.
 It's cash. Some of them expect i, positions in the city administration. Others expect to sell supplies, to place or obtain contracts, to sell various privileges, to furniss insur' ance, to sell real estate.
 In city like Chicago there are many thousands of persons who have direct financial stake in the opcr- ations of the Thompson-Lundin machine. All of these persons and members of their families are out
 working for the success of the ticket on election day. That is why the professional machine has such an advantage oyer the anna teur organizations that occasionally
 enter politics. The good govern. ment people have nothing to offer their workers except the opportunity for serving their city. That is noth. ing like the cash incentive the pro. fessionals can furnish.
 American cities virtually have let out their government to big syn.
 dicates that operate on a rake-of1
 basis. Occasionally the syndicate misses it's calculations and the
 courts get away from it, as hap pened last year in Chicago. Then {
 grand jury starts to work and the syndicate goes into liquidation to be
 reorganized later under new ano
 more cautious management.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13
FRANKLIN COUNTY ENTERPRISE

The Young Mems Business Club, recently organized at Russelville, is showing com mendable public spirit in seeking to adver- tise throughout the country the natural re- sources of Russellville and Franklin county. These young business and professional men have adopted an effective method of attract ing new capital for investment purposes and promoting the civic and industrial develop ment of their section of Alabama. Frank lin county is rich in such valuable resources as iron ore, building stone, sand, gravel, clay, asphalt and other minerals Its prox- unity to Muscle Shoals gives it an additional advantage. The young men of Alabama have it in their power to contribute enor- monsly to the progress of this state, indus trialy, agriculturally and otherwise, by such concerted undertakings as the publicity work being done by the club at Russellville. It is encouraging to observe that in many parts of the state the people are realizing the value of advertising Alabama to other parts of the country. No other state in the union offers greater opportunities for the investor and the home-builder.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13

admitting traffic to and from this section over the Frisco and the Illinios Central rail. roads. A large part of St. Clair county, IT which there is undeveloped mineral de- posits and farm lands of great productivity
 will thus have an outlet to the marketing centers. This will undoubtedly stimulate progress in that section and increase land and industrial values. St. Clair county is contiguous to Jefferson county on the one side and Etowah on the other. The new railroad connections will afford St. Clair markets in Gadsden and Birmingham and these cities will benefit in turn from sales to more prosperous people in St. Clair.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13
THE TURKISH THREAT

Just what the willy Turk hopes to gain py his policy of playing fast and loose with the allies is hard to determine. With the guns of foreign warships trained on Smyrna, and their commanders reported under orders to open fire if attacked it would appear that he is in an extremely awkward predicament, as result of the. high-handed demand that all allied war craft leave the harbor. A flat refusal to comply left the Turks in the posi- tion of having to back down or enforce their threat. They chose temporary compromise by extending the "ultimatum" for three days. Despite their aggressive tone, the Turks are apparently unwilling to open hostilities against the allied powers, although there is the possibility that local Turkish officials might get beyond control of the Angora government and bring about clash.
 The Turks have on more than one occa- sion matched their wits successfully against European diplomats, but they are now fac- ing overwhelming odds and it is not so much a question of what they would like to do as to what they dare and are able to do. There is quite difference between the sort of trickery that may be utilized around con ference table and the necessity of making a decision under frowning guns. If the Turk is playing for additional concessions from the allies, he is in fair way to be disap- pointed What they refused to grant at Lausanne would with still greater certainty be refused under threat of war.
 The fact that the Turks hesitate to mako the first hostile move. gives some ground for
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13
THE LAST THOUSAND"

The return of Americas Hast thousand" from the Rhine marks the close of military expedition which was the greatest ever un- dertaken by the United States in the cen- tury and half of its existence. and exerted a tremendous influence in shaping world events. The tumultuous welcome given to General Aliens soldiers on their arrival at Savannah. on board the St. Mihiel. was worthy of men who bore themselves bravely
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13
THE sELFISHNEsS OF NATIONS

A
 While the press of several foreign nations has been bitterly criticizing the United States being of a peculiarly mercenary and grasping nature and bent on extracting it's due to the last dollar, some items In our favor have been overlooked. For example, our laws are so framed as to invite capital for the exploitation of our resources, re gardless whence that capital may come, so long as it is obedient to our laws. As re- suit We have many large corporations in this country which are controlled and financ- ed by foreign interests. This has been true in railroads in oil, in copper, in manufac- turing and many other fields of activity. Huge fortunes have been made by foreigners along these lines. There has been no public criticism of this situation. because we have wanted our resources developed, and have not been selfish as to the profits.
 It appears that in this respect we are far more liberal than those who have criticized US for selfishness. The British, for exam pie, have closed to us many rich oil fields, except for such restrictions as give to British capital all the advantages. The same is true as regards the natural resources of France, Italy, Holland and their possessions. Amer ican capital is specifically barred from conl- peting with other capital, according to the report of the American trade commission. Says this report: "The most important in- stances of discrimination by foreign govern ments against citizens of this country are the exclusive privileges of the governments of Great Britain and The Netherlands in respect to the oil fields of India and the Dutch Indies, and the 1922 San Reno agree ment of Great Britain and France covering the undeveloped oil fields of Mesopotamia and of the British and French colonies. De- nial of reciprocity of treatment to citizens of this country appears to exist with respect to the petroleum industry of Australia, Brit ish Borneo, certain African colonies, Brit ish Honduras, British Guiana and Trinidad; France and French possessions: Italy; The Netherlands and it's possessions"
 In connection with the plan for reducing to these nations, it should be mentioned that France, Italy and Great Britain came out of the war with their foreign possessions inl- mensely augmented. The oil and other con- sessions in Mesopotamia alone should be worth billions of dollars. The United States gained no material advantage from the di- vision of spells, but, on the contrary. took the view that no nation should profit by ter ritorial increases. The other powers did not accede to this view, but took all they could get. Manjfestly, there is no logical material or financial reason why we should forgive any portion of the British debt Let their milionaires and billionaires pay it-not the American taxpayer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13

the belief that the situation at Smyrna will be adjusted without an open break. The ex- tension of the time limit set for the with drawal of allied warships, after the first communication from Angora had been ig. nored, is in itself an encouraging indication of the Turks unwillingness to resort to the last extreme and bring on another war. On sober second-thought, they decided to wait. Further reflection at Angora may be ex- pected to convince them of the folly of maintaining their present attitude
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13
ST. CLAIR WILL PROFIT

A Section of country between Birmingham and Gadsden, rich in natural resources, will be given an opportunity for development through the extension of the Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama Railroad from Gadsder to Odenville and Margaret, where it will connect with the Seaboard Air Line and the Central of Georgia, respectively. These connections will have the further effect Of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13
Character" By REV. H. C. oFFERMAN
Have you character and distinc.

Have you character and distinc- ton?
 It's a wise child that has it's he- roes and it's ideals.
 You may have nothing to start with, but you may end up with more than anybody else.
 If every sort of precaution were taken aganist wickedness, there still would be wickedness.
 And so you ought to be ever on the alert.
 Always with Personality; always with Character; always with Indi- viduality; always with Distinction.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13
The Leap. That Failed

The lady who wanted to die was visiting friends. They partook of their supper si- lently. Something besides fried onions was in the air. Soon after the meal was over the lady begot herself to her room. Don ming her most becoming negligee, she went into the bathroom and opened the medicine chest There were three bottles, all bearing the poison label. She took the bottle hold ing the safest, strongest, surest-looking fluid. With wan smile she drank it's con- tents and screamed and ran to her room. of her hand she pointed to some notes on the dresser which would tell all. The fam fly, sensing the fact that something unusual had happened, called in the doctor, the un- dertaker, policeman and the states attor- ney. After all was said and done, and they went to court about it, and witnesses testi- fled to the lady's insanity, indiscretions, past, present and future, friends, relatives and creditors-the lady herself discovered that she had swallowed the contents of a bottle of liquid cement. Maybe that's why she married a contractor and lived happily ever after.
 Moral-Never take poison in the home of a friend-you never can tell by the bottle what the contents are.-F. A. N.
 We are told that an entomologist, recently visiting Birmingham, tried to capture street light. He thought it was glow-worm.
 Germans Boycott French Sport News" The intensity of national feeling makes them overlook the terrible cost. They will miss the concluding chapters of the Life ana Battle of Battling Ski.
 Foch is overlooking bet. Consider how effectively he could subdue the Ruhr by sending Battling Ski and his press agent to the front!
 Movie star challenges a director, or somebody, to a duel to the death. Curses The weapons, we presume, will be press agents at twenty paces.
 Birmingham police will henceforth be gov erned by civil service rules. The idea is that an officer will be chosen for his physical and mental fitness for the job of keeping the peace, and not because of political ser-
 
 vices.
 Day by day in every way politics is get ting safer and saner.
 At least, we hope so. , Embalmed beef, 3,350 years old, found in the tomb of King Tutankhamen. Somehow, it escaped the Spanish-American war
 The proposal that the girl pay half the expenses when she goes stepping with her beau will never become popular institu- tion. Hast ever seen a number of the fair sex digging industriously in their hand bags, saying, Let me pay for it Y each one hoping that some one else will beat her to it?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13
AN INTERNAL CYCLE

If second war is needed to de- eide who is to pay for the first, then
 logically third will be needed to decide who shall pay for the sec ond. an endless series which should delight people who still believe in the tonic properties of war. It may have been what pessimistic French author had in mind when he wrote in 1919 of new cycle of wars which he called "The Wars of He'll"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13

Senator Lodge Snubbed by Lowly Ele- vator Man" What do they mean, lowly ele- vator man? An elevator man snubs without distinction, without fear or favor; without regard to race, color, creed or previous con- dition of servitude. This is nation of two castes-the elevator man and the proletariat. Archeologists, deving in the ruins of Rome, discovered one day that Nero's palace had an elevator. That is why Nero fidded while Rome burned.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13
Dallas County Second

Dallas county wins second honors among the counties of the state in the value of her field crops for 1922, according to the figures gath cred by F. w. Gist, state and federal statistician. Madison is placed at the head of the list with a total valuation of her harvested crops amounting to $7,027, 1000, while DaI- las is given a valuation of $6,256,- 900. MT. Gist explains that his es- inmates do not include live stock or dairy products, fruits, vegetables or hogs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13
Big League at Huntsville lHuntsuilla l,ailu TinnoeA

The big exhibition here in Hunts vile Monday. April g., between De troit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals will be the master baseball sport event of the year, and will be at
 tended by thousands of fans from here. and elsewhere. This game will be played under the auspices of the Huntsville Daily Times. Ty Cobb of the Tigers" and Roger Hornsby of the "Cardinas'' will be here in person and participate in the game with their full teams. As heretofore announced the big exhi- bition players will be accompanied by. 10 or more national sport writ CTS, thus giving Huntsville the widest possible publicity. Three Pullman cars will carry the aggregatioA. and, it is no wonder, therefore, at tha big interest developing in the bid event.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13

Jackie Coogan is being sued for $25,ooo for alleged breach of contract. That's one disadvantage of being juvenile movie star instead of an ordinary freckle-faced boy:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13
Editors Need Information

The editors of Alabama desiYA to obtain information for the electos rate of Alabama, so that they may vote intelligently. With this end in view, fifteen publicity bills have been drawn and presented to the legislature. These bills will bring out facts that legislators and tax payers are entitled to know. These bills will make for economy and in- crease the public revenues.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13
A GNAWINC. ALLY

(New Orleans Times-Picayune)
 Sure France has an ally in the Ruhr region. It's Heinie's passion for the things we often call vic tuals.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13

A poet proposes to settle the worlds prob lens by organizing League of Bohemians. Unfortunately for the success of this scheme, the average bohemian is strongly disinclined to work
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13
Valuable If'Not Singers
(Talladepa Daily Home,

IIaIIadega Daily H0meJ
 Hogs do not sing as sweetly as mocking birds, and are not as orna- mental and fragrant as magnolias, but they are exceedingly good prop erty, and raising them should also be encouraged~by public opinion and custom.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13
Early Cotton Beats WeeviI (Dothan Eagle)

This doesn't seem to be . good time to plant. but last year, cotton could have been planted this early without damage from cold, although the coolest weather may be ahead = us. February is usually a month you can expect anything in the way of weather. But to plant a few acres of cotton where one has plenty of seed, would net be bad idea, for cotton does come off mighty con- venient when planted early. It gets a crop before the boil weevil can get started good. If one hasn't plenty of seed, however, too early planting would be a bad idea.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13

Congressional junkets are still popular among that limited class of the population who are in position to enjoy them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13
Camp McClellan's Good Results
 (Anniston Star)

Anniston can look forward to a larger number of citizen soldiers and
 more units of national guard organ nations at Camp Mcclellan next summer than were there last sum- mer. Camp Mcclellan has proven it's worth as training camp. Its record was high in health, in
 training facilities and in general res
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13

The Landmark proposes lecture censor in England to keep trouble-makers out of America. It is happy thought.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-13
Jail for Speeders
(Gadsden Times-News)

tGadSden IlmeS-NeWSJ
 The Age-Heralo remarks that "sojourns in jail are taking the speed out of some of the country's confirmed speeders," and we are just wondering if our mayor would try little touch of jail life on some of the speeders around Gadsden if they would not have more respect for human lives.