davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15
MERCHANT MARINE PROBLEM

tries whose shipping laws contain no humane restrictions. When the great war in Europe came on, President Wilson realized Ameri- cas- need of a merchant marine. He asked Congress to pass the ship bill of 1915. and Congress re- fused. Two years later, when the United States entered the war, a demand for ships was instantane- ous all over America. More ships and still more ships to convey food and supplies to the allies, to transport our troops, to back up our navy. were demanded, and. of course. not an objection to the spendings of billions of dollars was raised. None even now criti- cizes anything that was done un- der the circumstances then extant. All that man has he will give for his life, and no one counts anything lost which is given to save the republic from destruction or defeat.
 In a marvelously short period of time we built a most magnificent merchant marine. It cost, per haps, the greatest amount of money that the world ever saw expended for such a purpose. But the expenditure was worth while, even though the fleet shall disap- pear from the seas. Even though the loss should be total and ac- tual. the fleet was an object lesson to the world as to what America can do and does when called on to act. The world learned what to expect when the rights of America are trampled upon and the con science of Americans is thoroughly aroused When the war was over Congress sought to solve the prob lem that the fleet presented. It enacted the Jones law, known bet ter, perhaps. as the merchant ma rine act of 1920. This did not con- .en1plate plan of permanent op- aration, but purposed the estab .ishment of strategic and essen .ial trade routes. These trade routes were established and now are in operation from all princi- pal ports on the Atlantic seaboard, he Gulf of Mexico and the Pa cific coast. Some 400 vessels, pas senger, cargo and cargo -passen- ger, are being operated over them. The loss to the government is something like s40,000.000 year, but the government properly hesi- ,ates about disseminating opera ion, closing the trade routes. los ing the trade that the fleet holds and disposing of the fleet or tying 1t up.
 Proponents of the ship subsidy bill. which went down in the Sen ate filibuster that marked the wind-up of the last session of the Congress. insisted that the direct aids which the bill carried would cost the government only one-half of the operating loss; that the $40, 100000 loss could be reduced to s20.000.000. and that the fleet could be preserved and regained in the event of another emergency. 1 do not quarrel with them nor
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15
THE TUBERCULOSIS FIGHT

It is noted that the various organiza. tions of Bn ming nam .rc lining Il Tn favor of the proposed tuberculosis sanitarium and are soias on reeor1 as pledging their support and cooper ation in the coming campaign for funds. This organizing of public sen timent beforehand is good strategy. eople are thus predlsposed in favor of the project and know what it is ali about before they arc afploathed fot contributions.
 There is new way cf locking at enterprises of this sort. No longer is 1t proper to regard aH ihstlt.tion this character as mercy charity. Ire thoughtful citizen realizes that a con- tribution to any health activity is also contribution to his vWn health pro- lection. It IS health i-surance oI tlu tiuest type. Ofulnary hoalti insur ance merely provides for the payment of stipens when one iJ ill. Ccntri- buttons to public sanitation mean ac-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15
PRESS ON PROTESTS

This nation heard much about pac- fists during the war, but not much from them. That was one time when any voice lifted counter to our war program was silenced promptly and eff fectually. It may be asked what harm pacifist may do in peace time. That is the time when he really gets in his most telling lcks. In war time the whole nation is stirred up, and he who then cries out upon war prepa- ration is brushed aside. In peace time, when the minds of people are busy about something else, the pac- ifist may subtly spread his propaganda in such wise as actually to block ap- propriations for our army and navy, and thus cause us extra exertion and expense when war threatens, lest we be overwhelmed before we can make ready to defend ourselves. Secretary Weeks is especially concerned over the radical propaganda which is now insensibly menacing our program of national defense.
 One of the few journals to take issue with the secretary of war is the New York World; "In his zeal he goes astray when he says: One may even question the propriety of includ- ing the cost of operation of the pen. sion bureau and the veterans bureau in the list of military expenses. Those prodigious costs are to large extent | the direct result of unpreparedness which was due to pacifist propaganda in the past The statement on its face is so disirgenuous as to raise doubts whether the secretary of war can possibly believe what he says. His argument amounts to an assertion that the losses of the United States in the war were due primarily to unprepared- ness. It follows, then, of course, that Germany, being in state of thorough preparedness for war, had no killed or wounded or crippled. France, be- ing only little less prepared, had only few killed, wounded or crip- pled." Doubtless The World thinks it is reasoning when it draws it's con clusions. But every one with shred of memory recalls that Germany took advantage of our supposed inability to go to war and performed acts of aggression upon our shipping that re- vealed her contempt for our military and naval strength. If we had been regarded as capable of going to war
 without delay, Germany .,o did have taken good care not to give us gratui- tous insult and injury. Thus the set. Ietary of war, and not The World, oc- cupies the logical position. The World also should not forget that many brave American needle ssly died on that W estern front because of insufficient training.
 The Chicago Daily News, while ex
 pressing the opinion that there are degrees in pacifism, yet believes that there arc many Superficial writers who speak out of the fullness of their ignorance on military matters. The News concludes: Ut is of course en- tirely prote CT to urge nlse c-cnomy in appropriations for national defense, but it is hardly sincere to inveig against militarism where it does not exist and give the impression that vast sums of money are being wacted on needless defensive measures" The impression that disarmament by one nation while others are armed leads to peace is not borne out by history
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15
Views on the FIoxginss

To the Editof of The Age-Herald:
 Please allow me space in your valuable paper to say few words concerning the past and present conditions of our community as the writer observes them.
 desire to be understood as be- ing unalterably opposed to any group or groups of citizens as- suming to themselves the right to inflict punishment upon any per son for any imagined or real wrong. I am equally opposed to discrimination in the protection of our citizens who may fall vic tims to any such groups. There fore, 1t Is hard to understand why our citizens and officials seem fnRly acouiesed in the floggings of so many of our citizens without protest until the Bowling flog ging took place.
 Soon after the Bowling incident became known mass. meeting was called, indignation ran rife, various organizations offered re- wards, not for the arrest and con
 
 in any of the floggings, but for the arrest and conviction of the parties only who were impli- cated in the flogging of Dr. Bowling It appears to the writer that rank discrimination was shown in these efforts to protect regard for the protection of all of our citizens.
 Nearly year has passed since the unfortunate incident hap pened, and these seemingly dis eliminating rewards were offered and the public is now taking stock of the accomplishments. Let us notice what they are. It seems that the press and our officials | have forgotten that any one has | ever been flogged in our county l other than pr. Bowling. We are being drenched daily with front page articles in our daily papers concerning the Bowling affair, the most of which articles seem to be nothing more or less than coried repetitions so far as fact is concerned. Men are being in dicted or have been indicted and l world as men implicated in the flogging of Dr. Bowling. It would seem that the doctor himself, aft | CT reading the newspaper ac- counts. morning. noon and night of this unpleasant incident is surely mentally strong man, else he would be driven insane and to suicide. At the same time we are hearing nothing of any efforts Icing made to punish any of the | floggers of any of the citizens in whose cases no reward have been offered
 Now. the writer Is not acquaint- ed with any of the parties arrest ed in this case, therefore knows nothing of their guilt or inno- cence. We are informed that 1 some of them are not even ac- 1 quainted with each other, or with i MT. Tyson. Be that as 1t may, We are of the opinion that no citizen should be so widely advertised as criminal without the accusation is well founded. We also think that the newspaper could do the public and the community a real service at this time by either giv- ing us something new in the Bowling case, or give us nothing. The story Is, now an old one, and has been repeated until 1t has be- come nauseating. Let us remem- ter that reward money often works while justice sleeps.
 J. R. JOHNSON.
 Birmingham, Ala. April IS. 1923.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15

of employment. The states convict population decreased during the flusn times following the wsi end the same reason applied. Men had plenty of work at remunerative employment. The close connection between idleness and crime and between employment and the absence of crime is funda- mental and fully and utterly disposes of the theory of natural depravity. The truth. borne in mind in all the rules and regulations attending the states convict system, will bear fruit of much benefit to the state.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15
JOHN- MS
DREAMS OF STATUES

Marble statues are among the lream visions that foretell the un- usual. Only in a few cases is it possible to define the meaning with any degree or exact,tude--it may be an inheritance, it may be an accident, it may be sudden and most extraordinary voyage which is thus prophesied.
 For this reason, it is impossible to go deeply into detail in speak ing of dreams of statues, but l will cite the few cases which are esta blished.
 The statue of a man usually means that. through a mans do- ings. the whole course of your life will be changed.
 The statue of woman usually means that you and another girl or woman, most likely your dear est friend. will become involved in wild adventure.
 If the statue remains motionless the outcome of it all will be well. If the statue speaks or moves you may prepare yourself for an up heaval in your soul that will last for months. perhaps for years.
 A broken statue is sign of a broken pledge. To step on one of the pieces means that you will be the faithless one.
 If a statue falls on you. some ono will try to make you forget your duty to yourself. or to your home, to your husband or to your parents, to your best interests or to those of your employer.
 To see many statues, esp ecially If you walk between or among them. is proof of wayward thoughts. Try to change the pie lures that crowd your mind.
 Dressed statues are usually in dicative of the things that will happen soon, nude statues of the events of the next months.
 To find statue in your home is a hint that the great and unusual event will have it's beginning in side your own walls. To see it elsewhere, means that your future will depend upon something that will happen elsewhere.
 If you see one or more statues near to your eye, whatever is in store for you will happen in your own city. If they seem far away 1t will occur in the course of a trip. If you view them through opera glasses. you will go abroad and there the unexpected will de- velop.
 These interpretation apply only to marble statues. Of others I will tell you some other time.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15
PEOPLES FORUM
A Word From the Dentists

To the Editor of The Age-Herald: The Alabama Dental association this date passed special resoiu- tion thanking and commenting The Age-Herald for the splendid editorial appearing in this morn ing,s edition. The Alabama Dem tai association requested me 10 convey this information to you and it gives me great pleasure to do so. for the great gospel of preventative dentistry can pc drought to the people through the press much more rapidly than by the dentists, who treat only a bare 10 per cent of humanity.
 J. G. HOPPING.
 Birmingham, Ala, Aprii 13, l922
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15
By THOMAS R. MARSHALL Former Vice President of the
 United States
Copyright, 1923. by Thomas R.
 MarShalD

MarshalD
 The sorriest page in the history of American econmics is that page upon which is written the legislative will with reference to the American merchant marine and l write this without criticism of legislators or of the aims that actuated them. Our efforts to build up a merchant marine failed until the World war came on with it's cry for ships and ships and still more ships" Now we have a mag lificent fleet which We cannot dis pose of to advantage to the ma ton nor maintain without a great annual loss. The government of the United States in relation to it's merchant vessels is not unlike a hungry man holding hot potato, who desires to satisfy his hunger and build up his strength, but Is inclined to drop the food in order not to burn his fingers. The gov ernment feels that the splendid fleet produced in war time must be preserved as a most desira ble. yes necessary. adjunct to the American navy in the event of a future war, for 1t is automatic that navy. however strong in dreadnaughts. battleships, cruis- CTS. sub chasers and auxiliary craft, is handicapped unless it shall have a powerful merchant marine to be pressed into service when war is declared. The fleet is most desirable and necessary to transport our products in peace and to back up our navy in war. but the cost of operation is so great as to make the government doubtful of it's ability to stand the losses. Thus the question: What shall we do with our merchant marine?" has become almost para mount in importance.
 Many causes contributed to the driving from the seas of such a merchant marine as the United States previously controlled. For ore thing both business and gov ernment realized too late that the clipper-built ships of New Eng land could not compete with the steel constructed steam driven vessels of uniform size that Brit ish shipyards were producing. Then the coastwise monopoly lent aid and assistance to banishing our ships from the seas of the world. Finally, the LaFollette act made American shipping next to impossible. The world laughs at America because of it's money making instinct, but it was Ameri- ca s spirit of humanitarianism hat brought about enactment of the I.aFollette law. which Is the con trolling factor in the situation to- day. The law. wholly justifia ble from the viewpoints of morals and humanity, places such restrictions lin the way of personnel and equip ment of American vessels as vir- tua!iy to put them out of compe- tition with vessels of other coun-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15
EMPLOYMENT AND PRISONS

New prisoners and the total of con- victs in the state show decrease. There IS alway a deohne Ill Joe prisor .ccolo when there ic pie.ty oi u9fh or mel. ThIs has been .anlC ,s.rat.
 time and time again. A total of eighty-one new prisoners entered kilby prison last month compared with 145 in March of last year and l15 in March of 1921. There are still more convicts now than one and two years ago, but the total is being grad ually reduced under the wholesome influence of good wages on full turn
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15

I with those who opposed the bill on the ground that it would bestow additional profits on private own CTS. l pass the question whether the proposed policy was in accord with that of foreign governments in granting government aid to private ship operators. To agi- tate renewed discussion of the ship subsidy bill in the absence of Congress to take action would avail little. The question remains with President Harding and the United States shipping board. The President and Chairman Lasker are called on to make decision. Granting our inability. which is manifestly true, to operate these ships along new lines of traffic at a profit. 1t would appear to me that too much stress placed upon
 this fact Is calculated to scare away investors. A little more cracking up of the possibilities of trade and a little less emphasis as to the hazard of loss might pro- duce an added value in the eyes of prospective purchasers. But the hot potato must be disposed of in some way. The government must either sell the ships for whatever 1t can get, charter them under ex- isting law and grant every indi- rect aid possible. or it must con tinue to operate them and call upon the Congress to provide maintenance and new construction and to cover current losses.
 I. myself, am not ship subsidy man, nor subsidy man of any kind. I do not like to have the government hooked up with busi- ness of purely private character
 On the other hand, l do not wish to see our flag disappear from the seas, nor this great auxiliary to our navy disappear If no one will come forward and make fair bid for these ships and agree to main tain them, l should think that the government would be wholly jus tified in transferring them to pri- vate ownership under a strict | guaranty that they be maintained and that the new trade routes be kept open for fixed period of time. Let the loss to the Ameri- can poole go along with the burnt powder and the discarded arma- ment of the war. If no purchasers { of these ships can be found, if no subsidy is to be voted in their be- half.if it is to cost $40, ,000. 000 a | year to operate them as they are now being operated, why not give them away under carefully pre- pared terms. maintain the trada routes and the trade relations these routes have established. and preserve the fleet for subsequent
 return to the government in the event America again is drawn into conflict with any other nation? A government is not different from | in6j Vi6Il3l in c;, resources and powers. and an in
 dlVidual would be apt to give away a thing it could not afford to keep if by giving it away 1t preserved to itself the things that | actual retention made possible.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15
Expect n Response
(HuntsVille Times)

Speaking of the quarter of a million dollar depot and train shed at the Southern. we are just as convinced that the officials of that road will have to respond to Huntsville's reasonable and cour- teous demand as remains the fact that this sentiment is being ex- pressed,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15
stlll Moving Ahead
(Huntsville Timesl

Huntsville's definite step for ward was taken when the old city hall was moved away to make room for tho Hotel Twickenham. Now another substantial move Is on-that to do away with the present location of the county tail, tako 1t out of the downto vn dis trict and make room for att,ac. tive business building proercss. The public at large would favor such a move.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15
Good Drainage Enterprise

(Clanton Union-Banner)
 Don't let anybody put 1t into your head that the drainage en- terprise Is dead. for 1t is not. The petition has a string of names to II already that means a go, and otners are signing up every day. You know 1t necessarily takes a little time to do anything right. and we want this drainage done that way.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15
Thanks From Axis Club

To the Editor of The Age-Herald
 On behalf of the Axis club l wash to thank you for the great assistance given us before ana during the Clark readings. In ev- erything We have ever attempted YOU have leen generous and cor dial with your publicity, and 1t IS my privilege to exten to you the gratitude of a very earnest group of women who are working. as best they know how. for .5irming ham.
 MRS. ANGUS M. TAYLOR.
 Birmingham, Ala, April 13, 1925.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15

It is not pleasant and profitable always to tell the truth in the col umns of a newspaper. Men who have tried this heretofore have all ways come to grief. People do not always like to have the truth told them. especially if 1t happens to be about themselves.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15

Reports indicate that Americans are not the only people that make business of gulllbility. In Japan thous- ands of people lost about forty million dollars traipsing after an artistic hign financier
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15
After New Citizens

The Chamber of Commerce of Brent Is going to send out invita- tions to all of the young married couples to move to Brent. The business men of that town know they have good town and they are right after new citizens
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15
Has the Louder Voice (Mobila RpgiSter1

The president will insist that his proposal that the United States should adhere to the international court of justice does not mean recognition of the League of Ma tions; but Senator Borah will in sist that it does. and Borah has the loudest voice.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15

It should not be overlooked in wid ening First avenue from Forty-first street to Forty-eighth street that it is movement for the public conven- -ence and pubhc we.far. for cen ury or more. Therefore, it is a perma nent improvement, not a temporary eXpedient
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15
Doctors From the Farm

tOneonta Southern DemocraD
 The best doctors and physi- clans this state has produced came from the country-right off the farm. We will see no more of these. The cost of medical edu- cation Is out of their reach.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15

Somebody wants to know if Chicago viii stand for blue Sundays That IS problematical; but it is pretty gener- ally agreed that putting anything blue over in Chicago is much harder than painting things red.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15

That Colorado rancher who twice went all the way to Siberia to get his wife claims the long distance mate hunting record. He now may be in position to enter the sweepstakes for continuous dancing also.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15

Plans to double the capacity of the Albany broom plant is a subject for congratulation. Albany is a progress sive town, and let no one say she is not have a clean sweep for indus- trial advancement.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15
MiEht Try Other sourcc.

(Pickens County Herald)t
 To be perfectly frank. that pen. ny tax proposition b the biggest its subjects. It Is unhandy. wor-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15
Should Teach Saving

Yes. the value of real estate has advanced in Sylacauga-good evidence that the people of Syla- cauga believe in Sylacauga. Say ing is virtue seldom taught these days.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15
ALABAMA PRESS
To Raise the Ante

Casper Mountain Eagle)
 The indications are that south ern farmers are going to raise MT. Boil Weevil's ante this year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15
Crops md Food
Greensboro Watchman)

Greensboro Watchman)
 The farmers are putting in good time. and if the seasons are favorable and the boil weevil Is reasonably well behaved, a veiy large cotton crop will be made in Hale county this year. Apropos of nothing in particular: When We were asmall boy and were fed from the parental table. we thought that something to eat did not cost anything. We've grown wiser on the subject with tre passing of the years. and find that the feed bill IS quite an iter ih the family budget.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15
Gathering the Notes

(Chilton County News)
 Our crop of guano notes is the largest this season of any recent year. We fear great trouble will be had In gathering them all in at harvest time