davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-15
A Timely Editorial
For Better Postmasters
Providence Journal)

With Postmaster General Work s opinion that the quality of the ser vice rendered by our postoffices ought to be improved there can be no quarrel. From time out of mind, political considerations have interfered with the appointment of the best available men as postmas- ters. and the public has suffered in consequence.
 Postoffices have been pretty gen. erally employed for the payment of party debts. Of course in the last forty years there has been a great improvement, thanks to the spread of the civil service reform idea. Gradually the business of the spoils- man has been hampered by the in- troduction of examinations, for which, of course, no old-fashioned politician has any use whatsoever. Safeguards have been erected for the protection of faithful public servants-and yet the old notion of fonr-year terms for postmasters survives, and it is regarded as the most natural thing in the world that an incumbent official should be turned out in the cold world when ever a president of his political af- filiations leaves the white house.
 Postmaster General Work says that he would "dignify the office of of postmaster by making it attrac- tive to able men," And he goes on ]: Appoint without term, subject to removal for inefficiency or moral delinquency. Consult local cham bers of commerce and similar busi- ness organizations in their selec- tion. Remove residence require ments, so that postmasters for cen tral accounting offices, new branches of the department in the field, could be filled by promotion on merit"
 There is question as to whether the best results can be secured through the method of selection that Dr. Work has in mind, namely, ap- pointment by the postoffice depart ment. Theoretically this seems sound, but as a matter of fact our postmasters general and their first assistants have been to a large ex- tent recognized dispensers of party patronage. In a number of in- stances the chairman or the success full national committee in a presi- dential campaign has been reward ed with the position of postmaster general. and many of us can re- member that one of MT. Cleveland's 8 first assistant postmasters general, who afterwards became vice presi- dent of the United States, was ir- reverently known as Adlai the Ak man.
 In behalf of Dr. Work it must be said that his recommendation comes at the close of his service in the department, and that therefore, he can be acquitted of any personal bias in the matter. He was watched the operation of the existing system and is gravely dissatisfied with it. He would not turn over the depart ment to the spoilsmen, but on the other hand the competitive method, as is now maintained, does not please him. He is right when he says that the postoffice should be a business organization; that in fact goes without saying. The country deserves the best postal service that can be secured and it should not rest until it gets it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-15
SMALL WATER-POWER PLANTS

There IS power Wherever water flows and no state in the Union has this water power more generously bestowed or more advan- tageously situated for being brought into use by men than Alabama has. There are the large power sites which require millions for their development and there are the sites where more modest capital will serve the pur- p0se Water power at reasonable cost is available to any community close to swift flowing stream. They are realizing this
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-15
sjlsIoReEBEARER'

We note that paint is being boosted as preservative.
 Does that include complexions?
 The wimmen might retort to the men that rouge is more becoming than nosepant.
 Still, we don't want to suggest any re- torts. They know enough of 'em already.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-15
Alabama Press
Limestone Leads

Limestone, Madison, Elmore and Autauga are the leading counties from the standpoint of deliveries in the Alabama Farm Bureau Cotton association, according to the last report. Limestone is far in the lead in first place and the other coun- ties rank second, third and fourth in the order named.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-15

The Chamber of Commerce of the United States is making study of transportation and European problems That program Is not so foreign to our national needs as may appear, for our foreign sales depend upon foreign ability to buy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-15
A Ch.rtes Member
Treat 'Em Rough

A rude and reckless pest know is seen at every boxing show. He swings his elbows and his mitts as if he had conniption fits and every time boxer smites his enemy with lefts and rights the pest beside you does his best to break the ribs beneath your vest.-Spike R.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-15
HISTORY AND STATESMEN

World problems slowly adjust themselves, and only heaven knows which stateman will De given the credit by historians.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-15

Postoffice employees complain that econ of11y measures put in force to reduce the postal deficit are resulting in impaired and curtaied service. The object is praise worthy, but the public must have results.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-15

The government is conducting prelimi- nary investigation in Cuba to find out why the retail price of sugar is so high Why look in Cuba?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-15
The Peanut

The Peanut There is pest in the movie show. He sits in the gallery-I sit below. He eateth peanuts, at least peck, And droppeth shells right down my neck.
 George XIII.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-15
Mosquito Time at Hand

tOzafK Southern BtarJ
 Mosquitoes spread malaria, not all mosquitoes, but certain species. But on the safety first plan, war to the finish on the mosquito tribe is necessary. Bad sanitation and un- kept premises furnish breeding places for mosquitoes. Correct these conditions and there will be no mosquitoes. Spring, mosquito time, is again at hand. Will it be that the cold must be turned in Ozark's city of the dead this year for innocent victims of somebody's callous indifference to the ordinary sanitary precautions?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-15

Today the government completes its in- como tax collections. It is Uncle Sam's share of the general prosperity.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-15
In Class. By Itself

In Class By Itself
 Dear Torch Bearer: Saith you: "Now, if ever, come perfect days. There will not be another session of congress until next De- cember."
 Why knock the present congress? Hasn't it done enough? Really, it has done more than enough. It has done too much. It surprised everybody. It will seem incom- prehensibe if the people allow it to do any more. The voters would be perfectly satisfied if it did no more. In truth, few congresses have done what the present one has. There never has been one, in fact, just like it. It is doubtful whether there ever will be another. Think on that.-Dexter Hood.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-15
The Just-as-Cood Pest

Of all the human pests that irk, my fa- vorite is the drug store clerk who has the nerve and hardihood to sell me something ''just as good" I ask for Doctor Spavin's Pills to cure me of my aches and ills. The clerk replies with lofty brow: "We're out of Spavin's Pills just now but we have Doc tor DumbelPs Cure, reliable and safe and sure, and it will drive away your ills more readily than Spavin's Pills" So chuck him through the pest house door and feed him pills and nothing more.-Are Oh Bee.
 A Chartee Member
 Of all the pests that detest
 There's none like Big Bill Blow; His only song when go wrong
 Is this: "I told you sop
 -Vylee.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-15
Sen. Williams Leaves
Cleveland Plain Dealer)

If there is an "old south," John Sharp Williams belongs to it. Dri- ven from Tennessee as boy by the war, educated in half a dozen American and one German univer- sity, he speaks the language of the cosmopolite. His office in the sen- ate building had more the air of literary studio than or political headquarters. He gave his name to few bills, seldom IT ever pre- pare da speech, but when the spirit moved him to address his colleagues did so with such terseness, with so many apt citations and with so ready a flow of incisive argument that his appearance on the. floor was a treat.
 (New York Tribune)
 MT. Williams long took pleasure in describing himself as "provin- cial American" But the war and his party loyalty transformed him into an internationalist. His con- version was one of the. political cu- riosities of the war era, for under other circumstances he might we'll have been destined to be as much of an irreconcilable in the Versailles treaty as MT. Borah. MT. William independence and old-fashioned statesmanship will be missed in the senate. He voted his own mind, not the mind of some bloc or outside agency. His last not able service = in the congress just ended-will be gratefully re- membered. He was one of the few democrats who resisted the tempta- tion of partisanship and helped to sustain President Harding's veto of the bonus bill.
 (New York Times)
 The senate is poorer for the vol untary retirement of MT. Cannon's old friend and foe, John Sharp Will iiams-"John Sharp" as MT. Can non and General Grosvenor and John Dalzell and all the Washington world and Mississippi loved to call him. He has been in one house or the ether most of the last thirty years. For six of them he had the thorny post of leader of the demo- cratic minority-a tough herd to lead. According to Sam" Mccall of Massachusetts, "John Sharp" was the ablest "catch-as-catch-ca debater the house has had for fifty years,". and Senator Spooner, mighty competent judge, said sub stantially the same thing. His wit his satire, his ample, scholarship are as well known as the capitol. In the senate, more and more, he has taken a perfectly independent posi- tion. He has talked and voted ex- actly as he felt and without any regard for consequences. In his political habit and attitude he seem- ed a revival of an eighteenth cen tury or early nineteenth century type. He was frank and fearless. But he got sick of the show. He has gone back to his books and his plantation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-15
The Mail Pest

The Mail Pest Another Pest Is Postman Gill; When I look for check He brings a bill. IF. R.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-15
Richest in the World
(Anniston Star)

(Anniston Star)
 At the recent highway conference at Auburn one of the government officials in attendance there made the statement that the territory em- braced within a radius of three hun dred miles of Muscle Shoals con- prised the richest territory in the entire world. That is 8 very com prehensive statement, but it may bs verified through the development of modern mining methods plus creative chemistry. At any rate any young man who has any con- siderable interest in Alabama land will do well to hold tight to his es- tate flo ra fe wyears longer at least. This is one of the virgin fields of industrial America and the capital ists of the country have turned their attention southward.
 Selling Gasoline on Sunday ~ (Franklin County Tinss)
 The city board has been peti- toned to pass an ordinance pro- hibiting the sale of gasoline on Sum day. The proprietors of all gaso- line stations have agreed to close. The closing voluntarily is a good thing, but it is to be hoped that the city will not pass the ordinance for bidding them to open because of tho large number of tourists who pass through Russellville on Sunday. The ordinance, if passed, would greatly inconvenience the tourist and oth- CTS and would in time encourage violations of the law. Leave the gas stations free to serve the tour ist and travelling public who pass through the city on Sunday. Let them close between time on their own accord.
 South's Exhibition in New York
 tCarbon Hill JournaD
 A south-wide exhibition held in New York, setting forth the ad- vantages of the south from every angle, would perhaps do more and go further toward educating the people of the north as to true con- ditions in the south than anything that could be done along this line. The advantages and resources of the south are too great ana 700 varfed for any one state to alone attempt such an undertaking. Conditions in Alabama and North Carolina are entirely different from those pre- vailing in Louisiana and Georgia, or Mississippi and Texas, therefore, ali the southern states should unite in promoting one great exhibition. If every section of the state would do it's full share in promoting an educational exhibit destined to en- tighten our northern neighbors, the results would be of untold ben eft, not only to the north, but like wise to the south. And the expense of an exhibition of this nature would be small as compared with the great good that would be ac- complished. Nothing is plainer than that the people of the north are not going to voluntarily inform them seivA as to the true state of af- fairs existing in the south, there fore it behooves us of the south to lose no time in putting our condi- tions, and incidentally ourselves, in our true light in the eyes of the northern people.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-15
Fir,t Aid to Insomniae.

There came bedtime Story
 Across the wireless deep.
 Believe me, bo, it tired me so
 That soon fell asleep. Jason. Do you know that Mexico was highly cultured state centuries ago, when King Tutankhamen's great-great-great-gran ther was knee-high to scarab? Or are you more interested in the fourth race at Tia Juana?
 If we were going to reform the movies, we'd begin with the kindergarten in the ef- fort to evolve population with more dis eliminating taste.
 American Bankers Visit Constantinople." Attracted, no doubt, by the Golden Horn.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-15
I H E AGE- H E R A ID

Entered at the Birmingham. Ala. postoffiss as second class matter under act of Congress. March 6, 1879.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-15
The Springer

Upon one pest
 I crave to swing The bard who writes Of Gentle Spring.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-15
The Wrecker

There was man in our town Who is a wondrous pest. He says: I've heard that yarn before" And wrecks my favored jest.
 ID. D. s. The man who drives the fastest usually has the least to do when he gets there.
, 1923-05-20

OF CAR Tires
ASTONISHING
Goodrich Company Points
Out Advances in Rubber
Industry.

A comparison Of tire service stand
ards today with those of ten or fiji
teen years ago reveals the fact that
the development in the rubber indus
try has been most astonishing.
The b. +. Goodrich Rubber COM
points out thai the develop.
ments in the rupber industry have
been more revolutionary from an en-.
cheering standpoint and more bene.
ficial to the wor.C than those of any
ether industry in the same length Of
time.
The chemist has played one OF the
most important parts in this business.
On him rests the responsibility of
having brought tires out of the $500
and 1000 mile class into n service
rangc three and four times larger.
In the Goodrich factories at Akron
there is one of the largest and most
completely equipped chemical labor
atories in the country. In this labora-
tory a large staff of chemists. phvsi.
cists and experimental engineers are
constantly studying new materials
n their action in connection with
rubber compounds.
There is n huge testing laboratory
also, where new mixtures are vulcan
lied and put through tests to deter
mine wear, strength and deteriora-
ton. These tests provide conditions
of actua, service.
A section of the rubber chemists
laboratory contains miniature ma
chimes for mixing compounds. milling
and v~ulcaniing. These machines.
though in some cases resemble toy
models. are the same In principle as
the mammoth machines used in the
factory-and they do practically the
same work except On a smaller scale,
In this section the chemist obtains
the fundamental information that
VIII enable him to know his expert
ment will work on a big sca,e.
, 1923-05-20
IS HELP
In Obtaining
TIRE MILEAGE
Phenomenal Life of Tire Due
to Kindness of Fate and
Owner.

Phenomenal tire mileages are a
source of perpetual amazement to the
average car owner. He wonders how
1t is that his neighbor can get $4,000
miles out of a tire whereas the best
he can do is 10, 900.
Contributing to long mileages are
great many factors. 1t isn't hat the
manufacturer builds more miles INTO
one tire than he does another. 1t has
been long the case that Miller tires,
for example. give uniformly long
mileage.
The tire which escapes destruction
until 1t has Travelled an unusually
long distance can attribute its long
life to the kindness of fate. but more
especially the kindness OF its owner.
The first thing to do toward long
mileage is to give the tire the care
No man who neglects TO brush his
full attention 1t deserves.
suit and have 1t pressed at regular
intervals dares feel put out IL It
wears out quicker than he expected.
II he abuses the suit 1t will give mute
evidence of the abuse.
The very same thing is true of n
tire. If a tire is RUIZ underinflated
for days at n time. II tread cuts are
neglected. If faulty tubes are permit
ed to remain faulty, then the chance
for exceptional mileage is lost.
, 1923-05-20
RECORD /.
MONTH, AUTO
FIRM SHOWS
Maxwell Chalmers Has Larg-
est Period Both in Sales
and Volume.

DETROIT. May. 1s.-Maxwell and
Chalmers. which by their tremen-
dous growth in the past two years
have given automotlve market ex.
perts cause to rank the advances
made as forming one of the greatest
achievements in motor car history.
again hold the local business spot
light with he announcement by Ar
thur e. Barker, vicepresident of the
companies. that April was the largest
month Maxwell Chalmers has ever
experienced. both in number of sales
and in volume. The records of the
present organization as well as its
predecessors arg surpassed in the
sales figures for the month.
Mr.. Barker states that s,5S7 cars
were sold for the month representing
a total business of 1855 76. This is
about twenty per cent greater in
number of cars and about twenty
per cent greater in volume than the
highest previous month in all Max.
pointed out that despite this i'm
production and sale, orders on
hand May LIST exceeded by a liberal
margin the total on hand April LIST.
This applies to Maxwell and Chal.
mers collectively and individually.
Chalmers. 1t must be remembered,
only recently came under the com
plete control of the same interests
which own Maxwell, and the growth
and development which Chalmers has
shown in short time is considered
highly remarkable. Those close to
the Maxwell Chalmers organization
are reminded that this growth has
taken virtually the same curse that
was followed by Maxwell IN its
rapid rise to a position of greater
dominance In the last two years.
Indications for May point to a
sales volume that will probably show
an appreciable increase over the
record month of April. High pro-
duction is being reached in all Max
well and Chalmers plants in De-
troit. Dayton. Ohio. and New Castle.
Ind; and with orders steadily reach
ing new peaks. there seems but
little question that Maxwell. Chal.
mems has set a record for one
months business on'y to shatter
that record within another thirty
DAYS.
, 1923-05-20

teen out of f~orty-eight states changed
either personnel or plan of admins
tration or usually both in three
months. The average term OF office
of a state highway executive is two
and a half years according to the
statement of a well known state high
way official. t
The observations which have been
made by the Good Roads Board of
the American Automobile association
emphasize the necessity OF close CO.
operation between the motorist who
is Interested in highway improvement
and the state highway departments.
1t is the opinion of Chairman Shirley
that the frequent che.-es in per-
sonnel and plan of administrator Is
largely due to lack of understanding
on the part of the public OF the plans
Of the department and just how the
states money is being expended for
construction n maintenance of
highways. 1t is tho belief of the
board that the motorists through the
organized effort of their clubs can
materially help in building up public
confidence in their State Highway
department
, 1923-05-20
COLUMBIA HAS
NEW SERVICE
SYSTEM TODAY
National Organization Now
Rounded Out, President
Bayerline Announces.

The Columbia Motors company. &C.
cord,ng to President j. G.. Bayerlino.
is now able to announce the rounding
out of a truly national system OF
service to Columbia service owners.
The Columbia service plan is said
to be the most complete and far
reaching system ever placed at the
disposal OF the owners OF any car
selling at or near 81. 900.
This assertion Ia made possible by
the fact that Columbia service faclli-
ties include not only 1900 well organ.
lied Columbia dealers. but literally
thousands OF parts and service depots
maintained by the great specialized
unit manufacturers who's products
are embodied in the notably efficient
specialized Columbia chassis.
Prompt service and parts supplies
for the Columbia Six are available
wherever automobiles a travel. No
Columbia owner need ever be forced
to tie up his car in some garage wait
ing for parts or service.
Parts depots are maintained by the
manufacturers of Columbia Six units
in every large distributing center. In
every garage. in every town, the
motorist win ind at least one me.
chanic who knows how to service
Continental motors, Timken axles
and the other nationally known stand
ard units that contribute 30 ma
terially to Columbia dependability.
Columbia owners tell u.s." says Mr..
Bayerline. that this highly developed
distribution of parts and tho univer-
sal availability of skilled service on
Columbia a great economy to
them. and contributes to much longer
life for the car.
THE quality and length of service
one gets from an automobile depend
30 much upon the availability Of
standard parts and upon the familiar
ity OF mechanics with the units they
are working On. Such service is
rarely needed by Columbia owners.
but we have seen to It that 1t is avail
able anyhow-the right parts at fair
prices. and men who know exactly
how these parts should be installed
so as to function properly"
, 1923-05-20

turnover in management of state
highway departments does not take
in consideration the changes which.
occurred during 1929 and the years
preceding, but represents the legisla-
tive or political product OF three and
a half months of 1923. When is it
considered that these departments
have the expenditure of from s2.0O0,-
900 to $4,000, 900 annually unCer
their direction. the economic loss re-
sulting from the frequent changes in
administration with the correspond
ing changes in policy is appalling.
points out II. G. Shirley, chairman of
the Good Roads board of the Amerl.
can Automobile association.
The Good Roads board recognizes
that changes in personnel and plan
of administration of State Highway
departments are sometimes advisable
just as changes r advisable in pri-
vate business, said Mr. Shirley. Any
changes made argues the Good Roads
board. should be mace on sound busi-
ness principles looking to the highest
efficiency and economy of admins
tration rather than through political
expediency. as seem to be indicated in
the record OF some of the recent turn
overs in state highway administra-
tion.
The changes made in the State
! Highway departments in 1923 vary
from the usual change of tho chief
executive of the department with the