davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-29
0frnfRER OF AsSOCIATTD PRESS
TIT IS A RESPONSIBILITY

The jitneys defeated themselves through failure to envision an ordi- nance that would protect the public welfare over every other considera- ton. Had the jitney supporters placed the drawing up of the ordinance in impartial hands and sought to rec ognize the public right in every partic- ular, the result might have been diff ferent.
 The Birmingham Railway, Light and Power Company has not so much won a victory as undertaken responsi- bility. Those who voted against the jitney ordinance have really voted to give the utility an opportunity to give that real service to the people of this community which the utility has said that the jitneys prevented it from giving. The utility is now on trial before the people. If it does not make good, there is still recourse to the ini- tiative whereby the citizens them selves, and not merely the rivals of the street railway company, will com pei the proper service, if not by the utility, then by some substitute serv- ice. The people would rather see the utility make good.
 It is reported that the utility will put on more cars, and that there is contemplated a supplementary bus service for those neighborhoods that lie remote from the street-car lines. The people hope that this is so. The utility must remember that this is an age of high competition in its field, not the jitneys, but the private motor vehicle being the principal competi- tor. People will no longer be imposed on by poor service as they have been in the past, for they have other re- course. If the utility will make visible effort to meet the transportation needs of this population, it may be assured of generous support. If not, then the utility, and not the people, must take the consequences. There Is general hope that the officers of the utility realize the situation and are prepared to make wise use of their opportunity.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-29

spirit and purpose will disappear, and the situation promises to accomplish much towards general expansion and improvement.
 Decatur will start out with popu- lation of something like fourteen thou sand. That is a strong foundation upon which to build when the citizens are united in common purpose. In- dustrially, commercially and agricul- turally the city is highly favored. There is no reason why it should not show marked growth in every field of worthy endeavor, the municipal inter- ests, business activities, educational facilities, home attractions and other wise. Much that was acting as a handicap to it's development has been removed. The outlook for the com bined city is bright.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-29

might be employed as an answer Criminals and they criminally inclined are restrained only through the fear of certain and prompt punishment. If they know they will be apprehended, fairly tried and promptly dealt with under the law, they will think twice before killing people on little or no provocation or committing, other se- rious crimes. In London the people believe in enforcing and, therefore, respecting the law In New York the overwhelming majority of criminals are neither apprehended nor punished. Much the same condition prevails throughout America. If the British code and custom in arrests and trials of criminals were pursued in this country for even few years, America would rid herself of one of her heav- lest iabilities-crime and lawlessness.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-29
FOREIGN POLICY AND MARKETS

In some of his recent addresses Senator Underwood clearly set forth the application and effects of supply and demand in it's relation to farm products, as well as to manufacturing and other industries, and showed how that economic law can be affected by transportation facilities and market ing systems. At Selma he told how distribution has become a dominant factor in the regulation of the eco homie structure, and outlined the un- favorable effects upon American busi- ness caused by the absence of defi- nite governmental policy at Washing ton as respects the rehabilitation of Europe. In addressing the Cotton States Merchants Association at Mem phis the Alabama senator emphasized the importance of stabilizing the eco homie situation of Europe not only as a basis for peace, but as a direct aid to American industry. Said he: "Let a man shirk his responsibility to his family, to his neighbor, or to his coun- try, and in the end he will pay for it. A nation is only men in the millions. If our country shirks her responsi- bility among the nations, she will pay for it dearly"
 Such are the views of an obsery ant, conservative thinker who has given careful study to American economic conditions as affected by Europe's plight. He might properly have added that America is already paying dearly for shirking her responsibility to the Old World. The price will increase with continuance of this shortsighted mistaken policy. In this day of quick communication the great markets of Europe cannot be ignored by nation which produces and must distribute a large surplus in the interests of it's own prosperity and enrichment That is the business aspect. America can not claim that she has performed her duty from the standpoint of national honor
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-29
THE ART OF AVIATION

Instead of naval and army flying paving the way for commercial and practical flying, it appears that the re- verse is the case. Army and navy aerial appropriations have been below the requirements of the development of an adequate aviation system, while the postoffice department has had funds for the expansion of it's air mail. The recent demonstration of ocean-to-ocean postal flight in twenty eight hours has further convinced mil itary technicians of the necessity of an air fleet capable of meeting any foe from distance of thousands of miles and yet only twenty-four hours or so away. Consequently, congress will be asked for more liberal appropriation as evidenced by program of air de- fense that will be presented at the same time.
 The value of army and navy avia- tion experiments to commercial flying is not lost sight of. It is perceived that the airplane can be made of great economic service to the American peo- pie, if there is any stimulus for the development of the science and indue- try connected herewith. The sug- gestion is made that accidents to pas sengers may be reduced and a higher degree of responsibility exacted of those who carry passengers for hire. The dangers of properly directed fly ing have been greatly reduced, but the fatalities from unsupervised ana unregulated flying continue almost unabated. Aviation is field of leg islative opportunity which congress cannot avoid considering. The postal successes but reveal the value of sys- tematic airplane experiment, advance and achievement. The army and navy, if properly endowed, should be able to contribute similarly to the science.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-29
Discontinued Story

It was in the winter of 2123 whe ! the vast machinery of civilization broke down.
 For twenty years the human race had been on a vacation. For twenty years the natural energies of earth and sea and sky had been so thorough ly organized and controlled that hu- man labor was unnecessary.
 Man had simply to press a button and his slightest whim was satisfied There was machinery to do all the work. If one craved a dinner, or a movie show, or a collar button, he pressed his thumb, and the dinner leaped on the table, or \the movie flickered before his eyes, or the collar button hopped into his buttonhole. Humanity had become a race of thumb pressers.
 And now the vast machinery had worn out. Dame Nature, too, had be- come thumb presser. She pressed her thumb against her nose and wig gled her fingers.
 A tremendous outcry arose, but nothing came of it. Frantically, men pressed buttons, but there was no din- ner, no movie shows, no collar buttons, no bananas.
 And the leaders of earth gathered hastily to solve the dilemma.
 "We must build new machine at once," they said, and call was sent out for workmen. Here they found themselves up against it.
 After twenty years of thumb press ing, man had forgotten how to toll. There was not a workman left on all the earth.
 The human race was on the brink of destruction.
 Ed. Note-Imagination fails us. We are stumped. If you can evolve a plan to save humanity, hop to it.)
 If the movie magnates insist on filming Romeo and Juliet" our can didate for the part of Romeo is none othen than Bull Montana.
 Arctic explorer reports that his Es- kimos went out on strike. We sup pose they demanded a raise in gum drops and four-month day.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-29
CTDETLIGHTS 4aL HT &rGLN ANNATIONAL
 .I CAPITAL EEF

When Savoyard died the eye of the South should have been dim with tears. For throughout many years he praised and defended and fought for the South against all it's critics and against all It's ene- mics.
 His lance was a brilliant lance. His sword never failed to flash when the South, the old or the new South, was assailed. That sword was never sheathed until 1t had put to flight would-be tra- ducers.
 He was powerful either with the literary napier or battle-ax. He has laughed the bombastic and ignorant out of court. By his pro- found knowledge of historic events he has crushed modern "savants' who took themselves too seriously.
 Savoyard was born In Kentucky. For years he contributed to news papers throughout the country. He was not strictly Southerner. But he loved the South, it's history, its traditions! He gloried in the military genius of the South. He gloried in the career of the states men of the South.
 He was a Democrat, but not a professional Democrat. He knew that men were only "poor, weak mortals after all" But he had a profound conviction that Demo- crats. in the past and present, were just as honest. just as capa- ble, just as worthy, as Rspubli- cans.
 And he expressed himself to that end. And the individual who took him to task was one in search of a literary drubbing-certainly, de- feat.
 All of which leads up to the fact that Frank P. Litschert has written a history" of the Repub- lican party.
 Frank P. Litschert is a private secretary to John T. Adams, chairman of the Republican na- tional committee
 As might be supposed, his "hfs- tory" Is not history" but propa- ganda. It Is a defense of the Re publican and a criticism of the Democratic party. It is a premed- itated disparagement of the South and it's institutions. It is a bitter though indirect attack against Woodrow Wilson.
 It was prepared and circulated at the expense of the Republican party, which has unlimited money for literary propaganda.
 It was prepared for use in the impending presidential campaign
 It would move Savoyard to tears. He would not destroy the author unless destruction should follow his gentle ridicule.
 But in a kindly spirit he would point out the errors the ramph- let contains and tell Ihe country not to believe propaganda. but read history.
 Savoyard knew the story of the Republican party. He would not have written it, perhaps, but he would have told young MT. Liz schert that if he had ambition to retire from politics for a career in literature, he must first read deeply and then tell the truth.
 Perhaps there will never be an- other Savoyard.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-29
AnnenIinr VnInatinn

(Memphis Commercial Appeal)
 Former Secretary of Agricul- ture Meredith announces that he is going to file suit for libel against Senator Smith Wildman Brookhart. MT. Meredith says he does not want any of the senator's money and will be compensated by getting the senator under oath and having him questioned. That, indeed, should be sufficient reward for anyone who is imbued with the desire to put some sort of a check upon the loose and reckless talk indulged in by too many of our present day so-called political leaders. But the amount of dam ages claimed is the finest and richest sort of sarcasm, Without denouncing the loose mouthed and blatant politicians of the hour the value of thirty cents placed upon their mouthings Is most ap- pealing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-29
SAVE THE WATER PowERl

The people of Alabama are unal- terably opposed to such monopoly of the water power in this state as will place the public interest second to the interest of any monopoly. Water power is, next to the soil, the most important and the most permanent natural resource of Alabama. Yet if legislative ineptitude or studious over concern for the monopoly prevents the adoption of wise water-power policy, this resource. will inevitably and si- lently glide away from the people of this state over the widely ramifying transmission wires of the monopoly and be forever gone from the control of this state.
 There is no desire to obstruct in any manner the legitimate and proper de- velopment of hydro-electric energy. The resource is of no advantage un- less it is developed. But let there be such control of this developing pro- gram as will at all times insure to the industry of Alabama first claim upon this energy. Let there be such limita- tions placed upon water power grants as will keep the ultimate title vested in the state of Alabama. As the law now is the Public Service Commission has no recourse except to deny appli- cations or else to give away forever Alabama's title to river beds and wa ter power. The legislators owe it to the public that has elected them to their position of high authority to pro- tect this resource and to conserve it first for the advancement of Ala bama.
 It is understood that some legisla- tors, devoted friends of the monopoly and considering not at all the public welfare, are bent upon giving away all this mighty resource without let or hindrance, or opportunity for re- covery. It is understood that the myrmidons of the Alabama Power Company are continually in Mont 5OAAASA JJ oAih tAActb LllG4l W4lSDGIS SOuHu more loudly in the ears of some mem bers than does the voice of all Ala bama. Are the majority of the legis- lators to permit this sort of thing to continue? Will the majority of the legislature allow this great endowment of nature to be sacrificed to private greed, and will they sign away the title to this great resource which should otherwise be allowed to develop for the benefit of generations of Ala bamians yet unborn? Or will the majority of legislators turn upon these foes of the public right and drive them out of the temple? Will the legisla- tors of Alabama not at least take the steps necessary to protect the public interest to the extent of placing a time limit upon the grants of power rights, in order that succeeding leg islature may have opportunity to pre- serve this resource for the common good? The people of Alabama will soon know what the legislature will do.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-29
LONDON PUNIsHEs MuRpERERs

Recently published statistics com pairing criminal conditions of London and New York and showing the marked difference in criminal trials and their results are interesting in the light of claims being made by some for abolition of capital punishment. These figures show that in London there were twenty-six murders of per- sons above one year of age in year, and all thirteen of those arrested for these crimes committed suicide. In 1922 sixteen persons were tried for murder in London. Thirteen were con- victed and sentenced to execution; the other three were pronounced insane.
 That is record which made itself felt throughout the great city in keep ing down murder. Consider it in the light of New York's showing. In 1921 there were two hundred and thirty seven murders in Gotham and thirty four convictions. The other two hum dred and three murderers escaped justice through failure of the ex- ecutive authorities to arrest them, through technical pleas of one sort or another, through trumped-up testi, timony, or otherwise. At any rate, there was no punishment for most of the murderers.
 The question arises why New York, an old and well-policed city, should have eight or ten times as many mur- ders as London. The above figures
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-29
Departure From Rule (Battle Creek, Mich, Enquirer and
 NeWS)

The suit of E. T. Meredith. for mer secretary of agriculture, against Senator Brookhart, on a charge of libel, ipjects a new and startling equation into the indus try of insurgent politics. MT. Meredith's proposition is that the man who makes charges" in the statement of supposed facts can expect to be brought into court and asked as to his proofs. This is a sensational departure from the established rule. Hitherto it has been the custom for the man who started out to reform politics to credit himself and his associates with all the virtue and charge his opponents with all the vices--and to talk freely and loudly Cn the subject. MT. Merediths action, constitutes a startling interference with the celebrated outdoor sport. There will be considerable ques- tion as to what reform and insur- gency are coming to if man may be stopped in his ready flow ot language and asked to stat: un- der oath how he knows that his sizzling charges" are true.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-29
ALL SHADES
 .% oR OPIMIONO
To Defend TrntK
(New York Evening worl,

(New York Evening World)
 Former Secretary of Agricul- ture Meredith is not the first po- litical leader who has sued for libel. estimating the damage at only a nominal sum. Six cents has been the usual figure. In suing Senator Brookhart the dam ages asked by MT. Meredith are thirty cents, probably because he wants to make the vociferous Iowa senator look like that sum, which is a slang synonym for small potatoes and few in hill" Why not set up a foundation Truth, Inc" might do for a title ito defend truth against the ire sponsible and extravagant propa- gandist, whether he be farmer, manufacturer, labor leader, or what not?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-29

tions, it would have been sup planted by a modern system long ago. It ought to be repealed and this legislature ought to do it and give us one modelled after our state highway system, except we need a commission in each of three competent road men assisted by other competent auxiliaries. Our county governments, 1t makes Io difference who they are, are in- competent to take charge of road system, because they are not elected usually because of any par ticular qualifications for anything. and I believe the only witnesses I will put on the stand to prove the assertion are the empty county treasuries, the incubus bonds that hang over them, and our dilapi- dated roads. I think that is all the county goverAing authorities themselves, after making a survey of the situation would demand to establish the charge. If they want more, the evidence is galore and will be adduced on demand.
 The bill we want is z simple one. One that repeals the system un- der which our county authorizes have vainly tried to provide a sys- tenn of highways. Get all this antiquated rubbish out of the wey, and then go after something up- to-date that will give us a sys- tenn of modern highways at minimum of cost. First, create county highway commissions for all the counties to consist of three members chosenRfor their road qualifications. Get beat supervis- ors to assist the county commis- sion, chosen for the same reason. Authorize the county commission to levy special privilege, or occu- pational and professional taxes, and privilege taxes on every basi- ness concern. light, of courie. in proportion to the capital employed, Levy a privilege, or occupational, tax of five cents per acre on all lands used for any purpose, or merely owned. Don't let anything or anybody, rich or poor, high CT low. escape. Put something in proportion to the rest of them, and then the gasoline tax. That will make a road fund that will make good roads in every part of the county in a few years.
 But the main thing to provide first from the fund is a mainte- nance. Just as well not build rads as to build them and walk off and leave them to the ele- ments, traffic and travel for up keep. Our county authorities have tried that system of maintenance out thoroughly, and it won't work.
 Now, the roads belong to every body, and everybody ought to be made support them in exact pro- portion to his ability and the use he has for them. I think this common public burden ought to be put upon the dollar in place of upon few poor men, as it Is now, and has been since our ia thers began to extend their settle ment from Jamestown. Our public roads in a great wealthy country like ours constitute pub lie shame. J. A. NANCE.
 Collinsville. Ala, Aug. 27, 1923.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-29
2sbB
Aboriginal Surgery

Scientific Note-"Discovery of an ancient skull bearing evidence of era nial surgery when mans keenest in strument was flint knife, was an- nounced today b ythe American Mu- scum of Natural History. The skull, found on the Navajo reservation, New Mexico, by Earl H. Morris, had been trephined, an oval section two inches long having been removed from the frontal bone.O The desert sands are silent in the sun
 sets dying glow, Nor any sign of life except warlike
 Navajo.
 He crouches in the arid sand, An ax of flint is in his hand,
 And all alone
 Behind stone
 He waits his deadly foe. The victim walks the lowly trail as
 calmly as a COW That dreams of fragrant clover fields
 beneath spreading bough. Behind the stone the Navajo Is waiting in the sunset glow,
 And with his ax
 He ups and smacks
 His foeman on the brow. And now the keen explorers come and
 pause in wonder at The evidence of surgery in that far
 habitat.
 But in the redskins simple heart There was no thought of surgeons
 art
 He socked his foe
 And laid him low
 And that was all fthat.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-29
A Pnbllc servIce
(Chattanooga Times)

tOnaIIaHOOBd T IHtsJ
 MT. Meredith has fixed the dam age done him by Brookhart's as saults at thirty cents" by way of showing his contempt for the man and his ways, declaring that 1e is simply bringing the would-be tra- ducer to tell under oath what he based his charges on. His inten- tion is to show to the American people how easy and common it is for demagogues to indulge in abuse and vituperation with noth- ing but personal spleen or selfish ambition as basis for 1t, and when he succeeds he will have performed a good service to the public.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-29
The Home Printing Rsu

Two or three pig printing houses are favoring proposed law such as the nome printing bilr' at Montgomery. Incidentally, these big printing houses are endeavor- ing to kill off the proposed state printing plant at Kilby. So long as it is possible to bleed the state of Alabama by making excessive printing charges, just so long will highly paid Hobbies work against the tax-pay interest. A print ing plant should be established at Kilby and the states printing should be done there at the earliest possible moment. Such a move is in the interest of economy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-29
Thirty-Cent statesman
Chicago News)


 Mir. Meredith says he will bring suit for thirty cents damages against Senator Brookhart. Since flew people give any credence to Brookhart's statements" in MT Meredith's opinion, the amount of damages claimed seems to him ample. The important thing is, MT. Meredith says. to get the sena- tor under oath and find out what he really does think The plan is enticing, The sum demanded seems Aproper. Senator Brookhart, a splendid example of thirty cent statesman, is entitled to be put in his proper class.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-29
Countrx Ready for Hin,

(Lawrence County Times)
 The Times several months ago urged Southern newspapers to cut out the phrase, If a Southern man can be elected. etc.," and to ge; behind and push. A Southern man can be elected and no Southern man has ever had the chance that Oscar Underwood now has. The country is ready for him.