davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-19
SCOPE OF oKLAHoMA's PROBE

News dispatches indicate that the Oklahoma legislature is determined to investigate fully the conduct of the governors office, together with the records of several state off als, and to make careful official probe into the operations of the Ku Klux Klan, looking to the impeachment of the governor and some of the state au- thorities and to the enactment of a law prohibiting parades under mask. Efforts are also expected with a pur- pose of punishing any violations of the law by members of the Klan, if such are shown to have existed.
 Members of the legislature had per fected plans which contemplated a broader scope than the mere ousting of the governor. It has been clear for some time that not a few of the members of the legislature realized the importance of more law and order in Oklahoma, whether violations came directly from any group or organiza- tion, or whether the official acts of the governor encouraged lewlessness. There has been for some time more or less widespread belief that Gov ernor Walton's policies as respects the suppression of lawlessness were doing more harm than good. His record in pardoning convicted offenders has been notorious, as indicated by a county attorney who recently stated in open court that if the governor continued pardoning so many crimi- nals the criminal court might as well be dismissed.
 Such abuse of the pardoning power invariably results in increased lawless- ness. The average person who is crim- inally inclined is restrained from vio- lations of the law by nothing so eff fectWely as by the certainty and promptness of punishment. With all Governor Walton's buster about law lessness in Oklahoma, and his boasts of how he would suppress it; his task would have been less difficult but for his sweeping use of the pardoning power. The people of Oklahoma evil dently found it hard to reconcile his professions and promises to clean up the state with such free use of the pardoning power that it became a statewide scandal. The logical solu- ton of the problem as they viewed it was to get rid of their governor and try another one.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-19
i MOTHERS OF FAMOUS
 MEN
The Mother of Richard Brindslcy
 Sheridan


 The wit and cleverness of the great Irish dramatist, Richard Brindsley Sheridan, author of "The Shool for Scandal and The Rivals" came, without question, from his mother.
 Of that brilliant woman the poet Moore said: "She was one of those rare women who, united to men of more pretensions but less real intellect than themselves meekly conceal this superiority, even from their own hearts,
 Thomas Sheridan. the father. was an actor, and like many ac-i tors he prided himself on what he did. .T&ere. was little, however, to serve as a substantial basis for this pride. Everyone knew that the mother was the greater of the two. If there was but one thing that she liked to do it was to write plays. Is not that start ling fact when we consider thG great success of her famous son in carrying on the work in which she herself delighted most? She was also q WIIleI Ol llONtlSs IlCi book called The Memoirs of Mrs. Sidney Biddulph" was a successful book.
 In play writing. in the making of plots, in the observation of character, the mother showed the way to her son. Dr. Parr said of her: "She is cslestiall" By that he meant that She was a woman out of a thousand-quite out of the ordinary She certainly did not. flatter her children, for she wrote: q have hitherto been their only instructor. .. Two such impenetrable dunees I never met withw And that with refer ence to the brightest, most scin- tillating wit of the eighteenth cen tury She was kindly woman, for all her caustic comments, and put herself to great deal of trouble to train her childrenI Brilliant as she was. she had no forwardness. but subordinated herself to her husband and her home duties In her son came the full developments of the genius that she herself, under otlrer cir cumstances. might have shown.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-19
POOR BOYS WHO ], BECAME FAMOUS
Bv Ffederick Houk Lav

q hear the sheriff Is going to write a book" said man up in Assiniboia in Western Canada about 1s49.
 If he is, it'll be a good one" there's another man up here. who knows more about adventures. than he does. He's had real life, that man. He can just sit still and tell about what he's done, and it's more interesting than any book I ever heard off
 At that time the sheriff" as the people affectionately called Alex ander Ross, was about sixty-six years old. He was a strong, hearty man as befits one who has spent his life out-of-doors and in muscular exertion. He was one of the leading citizens of the sparsely settled district in which he lived, and he had been honored by such public offices as that of sheriff and member of the local legislative assembly,. Everyone in the neighborhood, and for miles be- yond, knew him and something of the story of his adventures in the great Canadian wilderness. Every one respected him for what he was, real man among men, one who had been willing to take his life in his hands and to go out into unknown territory. Now. in his old age, when memories crowded thick upon him and when people implored him to tell them stories of what he had done in the past, he had resolved to write book in which he should recount something of the life that he had led. ,ss
 He was not native born Cana dian, for he had spent his boy hood in Scotland, where he had been born and where he had lived in very humble circumstances When he had just entered upon manhood he went to Western Canada-a fine strong man of twenty-one.l There he took part in the work of opening up new re- gions. He joined parties that went into the unknown forests of the Northwest, and he gave ex- cellent service to that pioneer company, the Hudson Bay Com pany.
 After years of rough adventure, both as pioneer and sheriff, Ross settled down in his old age and began to write books. He wrote so thrillingly and so tputhfully of what he had seen that he made himself famous. People still read with pleasure his adventures of the First Settlers on the oregon or Columbia River" Besides this, he. wrote other books that are almost equally interesting. He was real Western sheriff" who wrote the story of his life,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-19
BIG SAVING TO THE COUNTY

The wisdom and economic benefits of the law which requires Jefferson county's funds to draw interest when placed in banks after bids have been made by responsible institutions is shown in the figures recently compiled by M. V. Henry, treasurer of Jeffer- son county. For the year ended Octo- Der l the county's funds drew 3.36 per cent. interest, the balances vary ing by months. The school funds of the county are richer by $58,806.14, which is the total amount of interest paid on the county's deposits for the year. The interest payments by months for the year beginning Octo- Der 1, 1922, ranged from $3,057.92 in December to $6,64S.77 in May, with an average of $4,90O.51. It required long and earnest effort to convince the Alabama legislature that the heavy bank balances carried by Jefferson county should be drawing interest. Now that it's great advantages of this policy are apparent, no one would be willing to go back to the old system. The banks approve of the present plan, because under it the selection of the institution as the depository of coun1y funds is placed upon business basis. Any bank desiring these deposits has the opportunity to submit it's bid for thot,,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-19
scHEMING FOR FARMER VOTE

President Coolidge's request that the railroads consider the advisability. of reducing freight rates on grain for export as a measure of relief to the farmer is another of the artificial ex- pedients the administration has been proposing in efforts to meet the storm of protest from the wheat farmers of the West. The Interstate Commerce Commission declares that earnings of Western railroad lines are the lowest in the country, and that if rates are reduced on grain for export, the at tendant losses to the roads must be made up by increases in the rates on other commodities. In other words, shippers in general are to be called upon to pay for special concession made in the interest of the wheat far mers. The proposal is not only un- sound, but unfair as well. It is in the nature of class distinction and group favoritism, both of which are repug- nant to the spirit of American institu- tions. Freight rates should be reduced as rapidly as possible, but such reduc- tions should be shared by all of the country's industries.
 When will the administration face the nations export situation openly and courageously? Leaders of the Republicans know that farm prices or any other prices cannot be fixed and maintained by artificial expedients. These things are regulated largelI by the great laws of supply and demand. Adequate demand from Europe is es- sential to the maintenance of proper prices in America, and Euyope will pc out of the market until America does something towards stabilizing indus. try abroad and providing credits to enable Europe to purchase the things that are pressingly needed. Europe has no money and must pay for what she buys largely in commodities, and they are kept out of the United States by ruinous tariff. This is the solu- tion of wheat prices. It were well that farmers be not deceived by make shifts which are based largely on schemes to get their votes in the forth coming presidential campaign.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-19
PROHIBITION ENFORCEMENT

q operation and effect of the national prohibition law, Dr. E. J. Moore, as- sistant general superintendent of the Anti-Saloon League, declared that it | is the most successful law ever writ ten on the criminal statute books of this country, and as such has done more to minimize crime than any other agency in existence. He added what is generally understood by those who have given serious study to the subject, that conditions vary in diff ferent parts of the country; that in the Central states the prohibition law is enforced as well as were the state option laws; and that in the border states the situation is more serious for. reasons which are obvious when it is considered that the frontier line to be protected from shipping in outlawed products, comprises several thousand miles, and that it would re- quire large standing army to enforce the law strictly. Dr. Moore added that upon the whole he is convinced that there is conscientious effort by the officials to obtain strict en- forcement of the prohibition laws.
 With such conclusion from an observant man, it is easy for many to agree. In New York, New Jersey and some other states prohibition has not been enforced as well as it might have been, had those charged with this duty been able to obtain the cooperation of many who claim to be law-abiding and who are concerned for law ob- servance and law enforcement from an economic, if not moral, view. Tn Pennsylvania, for instance, prohibit tion has become more of a political than a moral or economic proposition, and many questionable methods are being employed to make it appear that lit is afailure. Much of this is founded upon the wish and purpose of enemies of prohibition with the hope that modi- fication of the law may be obtained.
 Taking the country over, and es- pecially in the South and many parts of the West, the prohibition law is enforced as we'll as any other law on the statute books. In Alabama it IS enforced better than many of the criminal statutes, and, while there are spasmodic violations in spots, the sit uation as whole is highly encourag- ing to ardent adherents of prohibi- tion as an economic force for the con structive development of the state, no less than as a moral agency for the upbuilding of higher standards of citi- tzenship. Prohibition is going through that period which every change affect ing the financial interests of certain selfish groups has to encounter in the way of opposition. Prohibition is be- coming stronger among the masses, and there is reason to believe that it's bittefest enemies, actuated by per sonal reasons, will at no distant day realize the necessity of observing this law as step towards better law ob- servance and enforcement generally, which is so widely recognized as a pressing national need.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-19
JEWISH LAUGHS
By Jacob Richman The Sweat of the RrO,

The two Israelites occupied one seat in the train. After exchang ing a few formal and conventional remarks they began talking about business.
 What is your occupation2" asked one.
 My occupation is shoemaking, :" answered the other. But times are verX-bad now. You work like a horse and get nothing in return. l canT say about myself that l am actually toiling by the sweat of my brow as the Biblical saying goes"
 And I, also, am making liv- ing by sweating. But I don't be- lieve in sweating myself; I let others sweat for me. The more the 5,, ;, men t sa. :, who sweat the better my
 "Oh, I see" said the poor toiler. who exploits other people for your benefit. Well, I could never You are capitalist. an emNoyer, do that if l knew were to make millions"
 Neither could l." said his new acquaintance. But I have a Turkish bath and my customers all come to sweat. and through their sweating l derive my liveli- hood"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-19
Needs n sound Policy (Selma Times-Journall

The public expenditures for the sschools have never reached the proportions where they could be called excessive; in fact, they uni formiy in Alabama fall far below the standards set by other pro- gressive commonwealths and the announced deficit this year will be disquieting news to the guardians of the educational temple. It is not possible to introduce needed improvements or to lift the stand ards of-the teachers or teaching to higher levels on decreased ap- propriations. The state sorely needs to adopt sound and en- frightened policy of parsimony and vacillation which is superinduced by all kinds of political considera- tions. is discouraging to all lovers of progress who know that i'm
 poverished schools mean bacl
 ward swing of the commonwealts
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-19

part. Perhaps his appointment to handle the anthracite situation and the glory, such as it is, which he got out of that transaction, put the presi- dential nomination stronger into his head than ever At any rate, there is reason to believe that prohibition and enforcement of the prohibition laws are going to be a live issue in the presidential campaign, and es- pecially as respects the Republican nomination.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-19
No Cause for Fenr

A Jewish coachman was con Veying co-religionist of well es- tablished probity and piety. They had been travelling the greater part of the day and the supply of fodder was beginning to be de- pleted.
 It was late in August and huge stacks of soft, luscious hay dotted the meadows. The coachman got orr the wagon, walked over to a large hayrick and reached. down 10 grab some Of it for his horse.
 Somebody is looking" admon- sished the passenger.
 The would-be thief became irightened, dropped the hay. Jumped onto his wagon, cracked ms whip and let his horse gallon at top speed.
 At length he relaxed his reins. looked apprehensively backward to see whether he was being pursued, and perceiving nobody, heaved q deep sigh of relief.
 Now, who was looking there ?" 1nterfogated the terror stricken man, pantingly.
 God was looking" replied the passenger piously.
 "confound it." roared the sturdy 'coachman. And I thought the farmer was looking. Got scared for nothing."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-19
An Impossible Platform (Florence Times)

A large majority of the news papers of the state have been se- were in their roasts of the recent Legislature for it's failure to ac- complish many of the important things that should have been done. It is true that some of the blame rests upon the legislature, but the large proportion rests upon the people of the state who dictated the platform upon which the mem bers of the legislature were se- lected, and they would have been worthy of real censure if they had broken their pledges to the people whom they were represent ing. The things demanded by the voters of Alabama were impossi- ble,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-19
THE RAILROADS
 AND THE FARMERS
(The Prairie Farmerl

The development of the agricul- tural Middle West was made pos sible by the railroads. It was lit tie trouble to raise crop on the fertile prairies. The problem was to get it to market. In those days the coming of railroad was cause for universal rejoicing. Those early railroad builders were pio- neers in transportation while far mers were pioneering the prairies. There was the best of feeling be- tween them as their interests were mutual.
 Later came the era of stock job ping and relating. Control of the railways passed from railroad men to financiers-in too many cases to financial pirates. "The public be damned" policy stood out in the public mind as the guiding policy of the railroads. The railroad question became a leading political issue in the Middle West, and far .mer legislatures established state regulation of railways as a settled policy. This was later followed by the establishment of the federal ] interstate commerce commission. which has since taken over most of the powers of the state com missions:
 The more recent railway history is familiar to every one. The gov ernment took over the railway during the war, increased wages enormously, and then handed them hanls n "a I1o T with greatly increased operating expenses and deficient equipment. Followed a period of car shortage, when the movement of farm prod ucts and other products was se- riously impeded.
 During the past year the rail- roads have spent millions for new cars, new locomotives and i'm proved roadbeds. Service has im- proved greatly and with it the financial condition of the roads. There still remains the question of freight rates. How can that be solved? Freight rates have ad- vanced about fifty-foY per cent, during the past ten years- Pas senger rates have increased about III lty-ilNe per cent. On the her hand, railroad men call attention to the increase of one hundred per cent in the cost of railway labor zoo per cent. in fuel, 15O per cent. in taxes, 125 per cent. in cost of locomotives and one hun dred per cent. in cost of cars. How can we reduce rates, they ask. unless we can reduce costs first? The wise thing for us to do is to turn deaf ear to the politi- clans, stop worrying about things we cannot help. and proceed at once to organize effective -oper- ative grain marketing associations Znot experimentally but on the plan that has proved so successful with other farm commodities. If we can sell our products for fifty four per cent. more than we did in 1914 we can afford to pay fifty four per cent. more for having them hauled to market, That ~is the practical solution of the freight question, and of many oth- CTS as WelL
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-19
GROUNDS FOR SUSPICION

It would appear from dispatches un- der Paris date lines that the repara- tions problem is about where it was before Germany announced cessation of the passive resistance policy in the Ruhr. It is held by the French that Nthe Germans are ready to negotiate only in order that they may have a hand in the Ruhr regime, now that the resistance has ended. That Ger many is making every possible effort to the end that the allies agree to a moratorium is plain, and the repara- tions commission has under advise ment the moratorium proposal, while realizing that some sort of financial relief will be necessary for a fixed number of years. But there is an ap- parently well founded suspicion by the French, if not by other allies, that Berlin is seeking economic accord sa that the Germans might obtain some advantages when industrial activity is resumed in the Ruhr.
 Meantime Herr Stinnes, who seems to have been active in far-reachins schemes to get control of German industrial interests one way or an other, without confining himself to ethical measures, is held in suspicion by the French, and at Paris the inn pression is apparently as strong as ever that every move made at Berlin may well bear critical analysis with the idea that back of it all is the de- termination by Germany not to meet her obligations. but to do everything
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-19
Plea for Bu~fnes. Men


 ,If there Is any bill the average person hates to pay it is his tax bill, and by the same token, if there Is any debt man will try to dodge it is his tax debt. The tax-dodger makes the burden of the taxpayer that much heavier And the taxpayer who is hit hard est is the business man, always. He not only has to pay taxes on what be owns, but must pay a tax fan exorbitnat tax in Florence) flor the privilege of doing busi- ness. Special taxes confront him at every turn. After he has paid his official dues to the national, state, county and city govern ments, he must contribute to a multitude of unofficial, though necessary. civic organizations.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-19
DEATHS OF PRESIDENTS
 Nashville RannerN

Democrats have had 12 presi- dents; the whigs and republicans have had Is. Washington and John Adams are excluded and John Quincy Adams set down as a whig. Of these no democrat has died in office, while six of the other two parties have died natural deaths or been assassi- mated. Of course. 1t has just hap pened that way.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-19
Thanks for One Law fAndalusia Starl

< Alabama lawmakers have, our cordial thanks for one law passed, and that was the law reducing the members of the state highway commission from twelve to three. Any change could not help but be an improvement. And while we know nothing of the policy to be pursued by the new board. we are nevertheless thankful for the change. ~
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-19
1Ee Moving South Talladera .Dailv Newsl

D ." -'1 v @2
 The fact is but few who ever move to a warmer latitude are ever content to make a permanency of the higher and colder. The change adds to health and causes people to live longer. And since good roads. and that mosquitoes and flies are practically things of the past, the boosters of this country are those moving to the South.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-19
More keenIy Needed

lLlfe)
 A special amplifier for political spellbinders relieves the strain on the speakers voice. What is really needed, however, is a device that will relieve the strain on the lis tener's intelligence .
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-19
Concentration

 A small boy kicked an old tin can He cares not whoop for the cosmic
 plan. He follows his quarry with tirelesz
 feet And boots it along in the crowded
 street With purpose firm and a zeal in-
 tense, Propelling it hither and yon and
 thence, He cares not jitney for wealth or Or royal crown or deathless name Or golden curl or turing glance Or the tender thrill of a sweet TO-
 nance. And the cars may come and the trucks
 may go And the sun may shine and the winds
 may blow Apd the rain may fall and the school
 bell toll, But little it means to the fervid soul Of the small boy kicking an old tin
 can He cares not whoop for the cosmic
 plan.
 Swim, play tennis, climb noun tains. That's the only way to get slim" says Edith Mason. Have you little mountain in your home?
 An artichoke's proper name is Cy- nara Scolymus, but if it only knew the improper names it has been called!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-19

The world may as we'll understand that peace is not likely to become 2 permanent institution as long as so large percentage of the existing supply of politics has for it's purpose the gathering up of what is left after the fighting is over.