davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17
DIR. LEWIS WHALEY

z The tragic death of Dr. Lewis Whaley at a
 grade crossing Thursday night removes one -sof Birmingham's most widely known and -sbest beloved practitioners of the old school. 5 lie had practiced medicine for forty-eight wears, the last thirty of which were in Bir- mingham, and his relationship to his pa sstients partook of that close personal friend ship which is so often associated with the
 general practitioner of a generation or two
 ago. Although seventy-six years old, he
 drove his own car, and that he was not
 easily daunted is shown by the fact that he
 spent the entire night out on urgency calls
 at the time of Birmingham's recent sleet and
 ice storm--the widest and most tempestuous \ night Birmingham has had in many years. : While his death was tragedy, it was prob
 ably as he might have wished, for it was
 met in the line of duty. Like a good sol
 der he never faltered, but was true to his
 mission and convictions to the end.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17
FARM MORTAGES

Farms in the United States are mortgaged to total of nearly eight billion dollars. The government has made it possible for these mortgages to be greatly increased. That does not matter so much if at the same time there is such an increase in the far mers margin between costs and receipts as will enable him to pay off the mortgage within reasonable time. Many businesses operate either wholly or in part on borrowed capital, and there is no reason to be alarmed over the farm indebtedness. It would be interesting to know to what extent mor.- gages are being retired, and how readily the farmer finds it possible to meet his obliga- tions of interest and maturing loans. Two or three years ago reduction of farm in- debtedness proceeded at slow rate. Now < it is believed that the farmer is finding it possible not only to meet his maturing notes, b but that he is also branching out into inde- pendent investment in improved machinery and equipment, and even into more exten- siye operations. Better prices and better marketing methods contribute to this i'm }, proved situation. The farmer is beginning to pay cash where he once gave notes. He Sis paying notes where once he renewed them He is catching up with his debts and is beginning to experience the glad feeling of solvency Debts are nothing, if one can z see his way clear to pay them as they ! mature.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17
AS TO PUBLISHERS

[ In recent editorial the Louisville Cou- ,srier-Journal says: "As a rule filibusters .gare indefensible. But the filibuster against the ship subsidy bill was merely to
 pass that measure on to the congress au-
 thorized by the people to dispose of it."
 This appears to be dangerous position to take. On such premise any filibustef
 could be defended, for it's supporters need
 only to say that they represent the public
 desire in the matter. Nobody has any wish
 to defend thesmajority party in the recent scongress, but if filibustering is wrong fin zprinciple it is wrong in application, no mat
 ter under what guise it may be fathered. :. This is government based on the rn'r Hs sthe majority. Any ',g.s3 q 'tsr edlt'e to upset that rule ja te Wha't funnGa 9n
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17
AUTOS AND STREET CARS

There are twelve times more motor ve- hicles in Alabama today than there were in
 1914, eight years ago. And so, agamsl 8,O78 motor vehicle licenses issued in 1914 the state issued 97,78S licenses last year. The motor vehicle has become veritable household companion. Henry Ford brought it to the people and they have shown that the low-cost machine that revolutionized the automobile industry It was thus made the companion of the average citizen where it had been the plaything of the well-to-do. Other low-cost cars have followed un.il they are within the reach of very modest pocket.
 books and their utilitarian character, con- bined with the reduction m cost has caused them to become a national necessity as well.
 The building of good roads kas nurtured the motor vehicle and been rurslred by it. They have appeared as flowers after night of warming rain preceded by day of in- vigorating sunshine. They are playing an important part in transportation. Some railroads and some street-car lines already use them as auxiliaries of the steam and electric cars. Many more will see their way to doing so. The people like the motor ve- hicie as a means of transportation. Many have shown a preference for the "jitney" paralleling electric cars. They rode in the buses before they were regulated at all. Cry of danger and lack of financial respon- sibility has fallen on deaf ears. The Ameri-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17
AMERICAS GOLD MONOPOLY

tNew York World)
 Of the worlds estimated gold stock of $9,00O,0O0,OO0 the United States holds nearly one-half, and Comptroller of the Currency D. R.. Crissinger in his current annual re- port expresses the opinion that this oversupply is as harmful to us as an undersupply is to other countries. Economic stability, he says, is based on free movement of the metal in equalizing world industrial and financial requirements. But no such movement now obtains. and in consequence Americas monopoly of the worlds old basic money supply reacts against American business.
 These are surprising views only as they come from the inner circles of the Harding administration. Why does the world still lack a free movement of gold outward from the United States as well as inward? The chief reason is the Fordney- McCumber high tariff, which has the full approval of the administra. tion. It was passed by congress and signed by the president to prevent other countries as far as possible from paying for their purchases in the United States in anything ex- eep. Ho'5, Tt was 1es;T-ed 10 in crease Ameriea's gold sionopoly ara further cripple inc power of h.usiAc t0 ceaAen the monopoly.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17

of our national structure. The quicker the senate frees itself from the foolish rule which protects filibustering the better it will be for the nation. There is an element of cowardice in the majority that will per init itself to be blocked by a minority. It may very well be that the Republican ma jority, on the ship subsidy as on many other questions, shrank from arriving at a de- cison. It may be that it welcomed the pro- tectng shelter of the filibuster. If so, there should be no such shelter provided for those who shirk their public duty.
 As for the public desire as regards the ship subsidy, it appears that the Courier Journal is but reflecting its own opinions, for it would be difficult indeed to prove that the public has put itself on record one way or the other on this proposal. Indeed, if an inference were to be drawn, it would probably be to the effect that the American people would welcome some plan whereby nation hundreds of millions to build and which is not yet paid for, nor will be for years, might be preserved and turned to the national advantage. Those who have re- jected the subsidy plan have not accepted the presidents challenge and offered bet ter one. The question therefore is still before the administration as to what shall be done with the fleet. It has been easy to condemn the subsidy. Anybody could do that, however. Who is about to propose a better plan?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17
MIR. McADOO CLEARS THE FOG

Into the fog of discussion over the ques- ton of whether or not Great Britain guar anteed our loans to the other allies there came flashing the emphatic denial of MT. William G. McAdoo. As secretary of the treasury at the time the loans were made, MT. McAdoo's memory is accepted as fully as dependable as Mir. Balfour's, and in the circumstances much more so. The people of this country are ready to take his word for it without further documentary evil dence. If our government had done any thing so astonishing as to hold another nation responsible for the loans we had made to a third our principal agent in the transaction would know it without consult ing the records. Why the Earl of Balfour should, when speaking from carefully pre- pared notes, as was not his custom, make statement involving such occasion for re- joinder is not apparent. What is apparent is that every attempt to fasten upon MT. McAdoo's war record any shadow of re- proach has withered in the full light of truth which the former secretary has immediately turned upon the situation.
 The vision, commonsense and financial judgment which Alexander Hamilton brought to the aid of our government in it's early financial crisis, MT. McAdoo applied in still more marked degree to the eminently greater problems that faced us during the World war. When our wisest financiers were speaking in terms of hundreds of millions, MT. McAdoo told them frankly that the war could be won only with billions. When they objected that such sums could not be raised, MT. McAdoo replied that he would go to the people-and he did go to the peo- pie successfully, again and again. They did not disappoint him nor show his ap- praisal of American patriotism to be exag- gerated or unsound. The American spirit did not ask any guarantees of any kind either from Great Britain as sponsor, or from the other allies to whom the loans were extended. There was in this country only the thought of how the war could be won. If there had been any question of guaranties, how would such an important matter as the manner of repayment have escaped at tention only to be considered years after the close of the war? Lord Baifour's state- ment, however conceived, is reflection upon the good will of the American nation and the American people. MT. McAdoo
 with word., has convinced the American people that the truth is as he has stated it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17
A Timely Editorial
Freeing . City of Its Nuisanees
 (Kansas City Times1

As result of the survey made by the building inspector of Kansas City, Kas., fifty-three unsightly structures in the form of sheds or garages have been torn down in the residence districts. The inspector was able to show the property own CTS that such buildings were de- triment to values as we'll as an of- fense to the eye; and that in many cases they were fire hazards was pointed out by representatives of the city fire department. So it was pos sible to have the structures re- moved without resort to legal ac- tion. The survey and elimination of the objectionable buildings is to continue.
 It is at once evident that an inn provement of this character is a genuine community benefit. Cheap, unsightly and faulfily constructed buildings are the outgrowth of lax law enforcement, thoughtlessness or shortsighted policy of property owners. Such buildings do not "pay" anybody; their is no form of genuine economy connected with them. They are a part of the gen. eral ugliness of cities, a,ong with billboards, posters, accumulated trash and debris of various kinds.
 A movement such as that going on in Kansas City, Kas., might be conducted with immense advantage by any city. Most cities, including both Kansas Citys, have regulations which would prohibit many of the nuisances. There has been too lit tie attention paid to the laws. A reasonable course is being followed by officials of Kansas City, Kas. Property owners are told of the city regulations and led to see that maintenance of the objectionable structure is in violation of the law, against their own interests and the interests of their neighbors. The response has been encouraging.
 Any city can remove from its limits the ugliness and the cheap ness that beset it whenever there is deliberate effort made in that direction. Appeals of civic bodies or public spirited citizens can ac- complish little. There must be carefully planned movement with the aim of reaching every person responsible for any part of the city. nuiSanceS.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17
Election of Superintendent
(Tuscaloosa NeevN

. NIuscaloosa Neews)
 When the superintendent of ed ucation is elected by dlrect vote he IS responsible to no one but the vast mass of voters who chose him. They do not know until long after possible damage is done that it has been done, and when they do know they are in no position to repair it. The small county board is in such position, and the fact that a man is their own choice render them es- pecially vigilant to see that he meas ures up to their judgment or is re- moved. Superintendents chosen in this way are charged with political activity. There may be such cases in the state, but we submit that if elected by the people it would n- evitably follow that the superin- tendent must be in politics. either to be elected in the first place or to keep up his fences for reelection. He is constantly hampered in the discharge of his duties by the knowledge that he may offend some man powerful politically. We trust that the voters will consider all these things before jumping from the frying pan into the fire. What ever your conclusions. jet your rep resentative and senator in the leg islature know your mind before the recess session convenes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17

(Contributed) So youth must die! They say face
 the years
 When life is low and listless love
 is cold; When feet grow weary in the way;
 when fears
 Arise of things that sleep and
 death may hold; When aged eyes are filled with cas-
 fer tears ;- When I am old! But spite the warning whisper, Youth is best" welcome age! Twill strengthen all the ties 'Twixt man and man, and man and
 God. The test Of years will soften hate, and zealots' eyes Won't see the things that used to keep the rest From paradise. And if, in later years, get to where There's no more joy in hope Gas old men say), l II T., I'll sit awhile and see, in hay way, The old familiar forms and faces fair,
 Of yesterday. If youth and I rushed forward to- ward the fight, With age Pll dream of storms that harm no more, And dreaming-see the stars come out! The night May fam with deeper shadows than of yore But presently I'll walk; in other
 light,
 Another shore. These better things will be when
 have won
 The way to age, and life, in smoother mold, Has fewer 'wounding edges left to shun;
 There's just one thing that can
 not be foretold,- Oh, will the auditorium be done,- When am old?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17
The Anti-Cat Editor

tMontBOmefy AuNertiser)
 The Centreville Press announces itself as an advocate of tax on cats and rule under which a cat found off it's premises could be kill ed. This would afford some meas 'ure of protection to the songbirds, the Press thinks, and adds: "They (cats) roam over the fields and or chards, living off of young birds, while the business and residence sections are alive with rats. They are great, night serenaders, but somehow we have never liked that sort of music. We prefer the song birds." If public sentiment can be turned against the cat, it will not be necessary formally to outlaw the latter. But unless public opinion pretty well concurs in the idea of extirpating cats, laws will do no good. We are sure tne cat has come to stay.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17
Invisible Spirit By REV. H. C. oFFERMAN

The Invisible is the strongest. It's control is through space and time. It inspires to unheard-of deeds.
 The wealth and the possessions of this world are in it's palm.
 It has no limitations.
 All the universe, and all it's mys- teries, and all it's secret powers are at it's command.
 The Invisible Spirit is life and soul and brain, and love, all in one.
 Make yourself a part of the In- visible Spirit.
 "God is a spirit, and they that worship Him. must worship Him in spirit and in truth"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17
Big Crop Means Small Price

NNauSueH IlmeS-NewB
 While there has been much dis cusslon pro and con nthe question of cotton acreage for this year, the opinion of most of the papers in the south seems to be that the acreage should be kept down. This IS no time for the airing of any theoreti- cai opinions, but the matter is one that should command the most care ful attention of all concerned, The fact that the price of cotton was good last year, of course, has the tendency to make the farmers want to plant more cotton this year, and many of them in different sections have announced their intention of doing so. In fact, the indications are that a bumper crop will be planted in all parts of the cotton belt. The best indication of the crop to be planted is to be obtained iron, the figures showing the quanti- ty of cotton fertilizer that is being bought. Why is it that the far mers wifi speculate on cotton? That is what it amounts to when a man plants a big cotton crop because the price was high the year before. It is speculation on the price, for he knows that if the price is not high that he has lost. It would not be so bad if diversification was practiced and ali farm products were produced in quantity. In that event a man might be excused, or even cpcourag- ed, to plant large cotton crop on the chance that the price would be good. The biggest mistake that . farmer could make this year is to piarS ; big cotton crop and neglect other products.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17
Telephone Main 4eo0
THEY COME TO BIRMINGHAM

Brmingham's furnaces and steel mills ara assembling under their caves steady pro-
 eession of melters and fabrcators nesting 2 there so as to be where the raw material
 is to be had without freight rate and where there is center of transportation and dis
 sributing advantages serving economically
 70 get their finished products to destination.
 First came the castiron pipe shop, Birming-
 aam's pioneer friend and one that has never
 failed to this day. The stove works and radiator plants followed. On their heels
 came the ssteel fabricators, first in small way, but gradually and then with rapid pace developing into one of the districts leading industries. Welded steel products plants accompanied the fabricators. Now
 any manner of steel welding and fabrication is done here and no job is too large, be 1t Ia fifteen-story office building, a bridge spanning a broad river or an entire sugar house.
 s A Florida shipbuilder and maker of other sfinished products using iron and steel has secured a site on the eastern edge of the .ty for plant to fabricate steel and iron
 shapes to be used in the Florida plant.
 This experienced manufacturer senses the economy of fabricating these shapes here at : low-cost of manufacture and floating them sdown the Warrior to Mobile and thence to fina use, instead of having some one else here to produce his fabricated material for ! him and charge the fabricator's profits. 'Ths Tennessee company built fourteen ocean freighters on this plan, fashioning the shapes here and floating them down the Warrior to :sbe put together at Mobile. The Brming- s3ham Steel Corporation and the Mobile Ship esbuilding Company built a dozen ships at =s Mobile on the same plan. It has been found ssof advantage to be where the raw material lis most handy and secured at lowest cost. So they continue to come to Birmingham; more and more of them day by day.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17

reaches destination in the shortest sime. It seems strange that more elect car lines have not been able to devise means by which they could make such use of the motor vehicle as to avoid the inroads on their returns caused by the independent mo- tor vehicle lines. It is absolutely certain that the motor vehicle as means of trans portation is coming more and more into vogue and it seems folly not to see, admit and act on that fact.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17
LITTLE THEY KNOW KANSAS

<The Kansas City Timcs)
 Outside of Kansas, where they often know so much about Kansas that isn't so, it was generally taken for granted that the election of Governor Davis meant that the state had repudiated the industrial court law. Yet by vo:e of 31 to 5 the state senate has just adopted resolution calling on Congress to enact a federal industrial court act on the lines of the Kansas statute. No, Kansas is not ready to abandon it's great experiment. in the direction of industrial peace.
 The east has quite a bit yet to learn about Kansas. m time it will discoycrT---
 How little they know Kansas who only Kansans know:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17
Peoples Forum
Appreciate. Cooperation

To the Editor of The Age-Herald: I have read with a great deal of interest from time to time your several editorials on public health matters in Birmingham and in the state. I am particularly interested in your article on March IA on the milk situation in Bessemer. Please accept my sincere thanks for your cooperation in this matter.
 S. w. WEIGH,
 State Health Officer. Montgomery, Ala, March 15, 1923.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17

Having failed to arouse American interest in their aims, the Chinese of the south re- public threaten to turn to England. But wherein lies the threat?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17
Alabama Press
Judges Expense Money

(OpeIika Daily NeWs)
 The poor circuit judges also got theirs from the lawmakers. They can now draw $5 a day "expense money while serving on a bench away from their homes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17

only a crutch to lean upon. We must not count the cost of education except in the measure of its worth. It has not yet been
 shown that the results of training are not many times more financially valuable than all the money that may have been invested.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17

It is far cry from the open spaces of Texas where men are men to the open boule- wards of Paris where men are dress de- signers. But the said dress designers an- nounce that cowboy costumes are the latest blurb in fashionable scenery-cowboy cos tunes 'inconceivabiy dainty and attractive And what could be more inconceivably dainty than cow-punchers layout?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17

Now they are saying that nobody ex- pected any indictments at Mer Rouge. It is noted that it wasn't said, however, until afterwards. A prophecy after the event loses it's authority as prophecy
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17

Won Hindenburg's war talk seems to be little late to do much good. Perhaps he is merely trying to become president of Germany.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17

The storms of the past few days have carried loss and many fatalities in their wake. Storms always catch people unpre- pared, because they know no schedule and favor no localities.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17
The Skidders

A motor bus goes skidding
 Along the thoroughfare. It scorns the drivers bidding
 Without sign of care. And you and I and all Of us Are like unto that motor bus; We spend our lives in skidding thus, And know not where.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-17
Jls7oReEBEARER

No decision yet on the Terminal stations method of answering inquiries as to lateness of trains.
 The only way the railroads can escape their responsibilities in this direction is to run their trains on time.
 That has been done.
 We read a prophecy that Birmingham's $ landmarks are doomed.
 We'll, what with streets named and num- bered and all that, we should be able to get along without landmarks.