davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-01
Proof Of Failure
(Dallas Newsl


 The fact that criminality is so much more prevalent with us is in itself a pretty good proof of fail- ure to enforce the criminal stat utes. Punishment Is no less a de- terrent force with us than it is in Great Britain and France. But there is "a more concrete proof. During 1921 in England and Wales, for example, 115 people were tried for burglary and all but ten of them were convicted. In New York county, during the same year, 565 persons were indicted for bur glary. but only S49 of them con- victed: For us the ratio would mark a high degree of efficiency in the enforcement of the law against burglary if 565 stood for the number of burglaries commit ted rather than for the number of persons formally accused of bur- glary. But 1t doesn't. During that same year 2,660 burglaries were reported in New York county. Hence what we have to contem- plate Is that indictments followed in only one case in five and that convictions followed in only about one case in eight. With the odds in favor of escaping punishment so large, the surprise must be that burglary is not a much more com monly committed crime in New York county.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-01

members. It seeks to correct abuses of the protection policy. In it's second bulletin, which concerns the interests of the farmers of Texas as affected by the Fordney-McCumber tariff, the conclusion is that Texas farmers get $2,667,753 out of the tariff and con- tribute $88, 1901, ,249, which represents excess prices they have to pay for their necessities, mostly manufactured products. A similar condition will be found in the Southern and Western states which are largely agricultural, and therefore are heavily burdened by the tariff because they export their surplus products. Tariff for protec- tion is not a success, but failure. The people would have been better off if they had directly contributed to the government the amount raised by the tariff. Putting money in tbc treasury through a policy that in- creases the cost of living by many times that amount is unsound.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-01

coal strike was made possible largely through information provided by tie coal commission.
 Whatever may be the opinion of in- dividuals or interests as regards the wisdom of the coal commissions rer- concentrations for solution of prob lens arising in the fuel industry in their bearings upon operators, miners or consumers, there can be no ques- tion of the value of services rendered by the commission during it's year of investigation, and study and assem- blaze of data. It successfully per formed an arduous task in high civic spirit and with commendabla singleness of purpose. The effects of it's labors will be seen in future poli- cies and practices bearing upon the fuel industry in it's relation to the public welfare.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-01
THE LAWS COVER IT

Offers of cooperation by one of the civic clubs to have the hedges trimmed on one of the principal driveways in a residential section so that children will not have to walk in the streets are commendable. It might be well for the city commission to take up this matter of requiring property owners to trim trees, hedges and other shrub be1'y along their streets so that pedes- trians can use the pavements without annoyance and discomfort. There are many sidewalks in residential districts which are almost obstructed by over hanging shrubbery and low-growing limbs from trees inside as well as out side of private yards. There are whole blocks where the pavements are viii tually useless because of dense weeds. In some parts of the city these pave ments cannot be used in wet weathcc unless pedestrians wear rain-coats and rubber boots. Heavy dews of early fall season render the same pavements of little service.
 There are ample ordinances to pre- vent such nuisances. A formet city commission enforced them, and after a number of fines were imposed the , trouble ceased. A few fines for prop erty owners who fail to trim trees, shrubbery, weeds and high grass along their pavements would remedy the evil. It is growing steadily worse. The public has every reason 10 ask protection. The duty of the authori- ties is plain. Let the ordinances GOV ering this situation be enforced by the proper officials. There is no req son why civic clubs, social organiza- tions and individuals should have to assume such responsibilities in crdcr to obtain relief.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-01
SELECT THE BEST MEN

Already many names are suggested to the citv commission in connec6Scn with the appointment of four members of the newly-created park board, while any number of recommendations are being made by citizens as to purposes plans and operations of the board. The vitally important responslHrty which rests upon the tity commission is the selection of the four park conl- missioners. That is the big thing to be conscientiously and wisely .onsld- cred. It is the most important prob lem to be solved. If men of proved business capacity, administrative aoll- ity. breadth of vision, high integrity and civic pride are named for tms duty, Birmingham will get creditabie system of parks and playgrounds. If political favoritism, private interests, personal popularity or anything else except fitness for the performance ot the duties and an earnest purpose to serve the public welfare are permitted to determine the choice, the whole pur- pose of the park program will have been defeated. The key to success in the whole project lies in the appoint ment of such men as Have the capacity, the character and the purpose to ad- minister this trust in the best interests of the community.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-01
COAL COMMISSIONS SUCCESS

In it's final analysis submitted to the president, the United States coal commission ended its active labors after a years. careful study and faith ful service in complicated and diff ficult task. The commission had no official authority to put into effect any of it's theories or findings. It was appointed solely for the purpose of assembling all available information bearing on the coal industry and for mulating this into recommendations as to the wisest way to handle the fuel situation. Supplementary state ments may be made on particular phases of the industry, but the main findings are now for public and con- gressional consideration.
 The commission went thoroughly into the subject from every angle. Its work was comprehensive and exhaus- tive; it's task was carefully and con- scientiously performed. Its recom- mendations embody the best thought and the highest purposes of it's mem bers who are men or unusual intclli- gence, unimpeachable character and sincere patriotism. Through their ef, forts much valuable information was assembled and analysed, and pre- sented as basis for consideration by the government. It is fair to assume that the recent settlement of the hard
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-01
AN ABLE REBUTTAL

The replies of Representatives Will liam H. Holcombe and Vincent F. Kill borne of Mobile, to the innuendoes of MT. J. Lee Long, are convincing and unanswerable. MT. Long attempted to answer them, but it was evident to all that he had no foundation of fact on which to base his unjust allegations.
 As contrasted with the legislative record of MT. Long, the records of MT. Holcombe and MT. Kilborne, though both new to the legislative function, stand out in striking and fa- vorable contrast. Both members have lstood consistently for measures Of con. structive moment. MT. Kilborne spoke ably in defense of the right and duty of the press to print all the news of public nature and upheld the privilege of the press to criticize the acts of public officials. His was the only voice raised in behalf of the constitu- tional right and freedom of the press which the resolution of the legislature condemned.
 MT. Holcombe was member of that house committee which throttled the measure to place the burden of proof upon the railroads in cases involving rate adjustment and reductions Only MT. Holcombe and one other member of that committee stood for the favor able report of that measure and en- visioned their public duty to support that measure. The majority of the house favored the measure, which the committee, friendly to the railroads and inimical to the public welfare, prevented the house from considering. MT. J. Lee Long, who finds so much time for innuendo and baseless ac- cusations, as usual stood opposed 70 the public welfare in this case alsc just as he opposed the overwhelming majority mandate of the people of Alabama when he resisted and sought to thwart the application of the sea- port amendment. MT. Long has sue ceeded only in emphasizing to the peo- pie of Alabama the sort of representa- tive he is.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-01
POOR BOYS WHO
 BECAME FAMOUS n.. Hz.,l~
Jerry Mckinley


 An eighteen-year- old boy stood before a judge and listened to words of condemnation. In his heart burned fierce fires of an- ger and of bitterness. He was sullen, ugly looking boy, with an evil look. He spoke in the ian- guage of the criminals, and he was known as the companion and associate of some of the worst people in New York City. Sul- lenly he heard the judge with the severe face sentence him to Sing Sing prison. Who that was in the court that day, looking upon the prisoner and upon the judge, would have dreamed for a moment that the prisoner would remain unknown; that the prisoner would become one of the great forces for good and that the judge would continue on his road of dreary duties! What man, indeed, can worthily judge his fellow -manl
 Jerry McAuley, the prisoner, had indeed been wayward and evil; he had committed more than one offense against the law, and now at eighteen he was to receive his penalty. Like one of Fagin's boys in Charles Dickens "Oliver Twist" Jerry had been brought up In crime. He had come from Ireland when he was thirteen, and for five years had known the slums of New York. He had learned wrong doing as at school for crime. Was there hope for such a man!
 In those days there was little hope for a jailbird. Jerry Mc- Auley plunged back into the seeth- ing maelstrom of the slums, and into companionship with the vi- cious and the criminal. He be- came once more citizen of the underworld"
 Now came the miracle, When he was thirty-three years of age he listened by chance to an earn est preacher who had had the courage to invade the haunts of vice. Like so many others who came to scoff, he remained l to pray. He became a new man, an entirely different sort of a per- son, the sort of person whom liar old Begbie and Professor William James call "TwtHe Born" He abandoned all his evil ways, and from that day forward set out 10 live a good life. and to reform others. He stayed in the slums, where he made the Water Street Mission in New York City famous for it's uplifting work. He car ried message of reform to hun dreds of abandoned men and wo- men, whom he could understand, and who, knowing him, would lis ten. At forty-three he established the Jerry McAuley Mission at Thirty second street. Two years later, at ty-five, he died, one of the most famous men in the United States. man who had done more than almost any other to uplift the fallen. Surely. he had made himself great.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-01
Every Citizens Duty


 To what extent does disrespect for private right and the disposi- ton to impose private conceptions of right conduct upon others by force represent a general tendency throughout America? Even in law the. tendency is revealed by inva- sions of what we once considered the domain of private conscience. Minorities show growing dispo- sition to demand laws which im- pose their own conceptions of morality and right conduct on those who do not have the same conceptions. The field of law ani government control has been per- ceptibly extended, in many cases not by deliberate judgment of the mass of the nation, but by clamor- ous minorities able to exercise their will because of the indiffer- ence, want of respect for, or un- derstanding of our principles of liberty among the mass of our people. This is the most demor- alizing tendency developed by our democracy, and every man or woman who cherishes the system of ordered liberty bequeathed us by our wise and far-seeing fore fathers ought to face tho evil and destroy it. If they do not, the evil Will destroy our society.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-01
TOO MANY LAWS

Congratulating the affiliated ex-
 change clubs assembled at Springfield,
 Massachusetts, in annual convention, for their efforts during the last year to put check on law-making, Ray L. Lange of Birmingham, president of the national organization, emphasized the importance of reducing the strong tendency towards multiplying laws, and declared that there must be a marking back to the principle that the least governed are the best gov
 erned. The apparently increasing tendency by legislators to make new laws covering pretty much every cor ceivable need, real or imaginary, is doing harm, for the reason that the laws are not based on sound under standing of the conditions to which they are intended to apply. There are so many laws bearing upon so many conditions and phases of business, po- litical and financial life that their en- forcement is impossible and in many cases would result in disaster. Ig- norance of the law may not be ac
 cepted by courts as an excuse, but few there be who could, during a lifetime, inform themselves of the laws in force.
 Such situation inevitably leads to non-observance of law. A man who realizes that he is a law-breaker without any purpose on his part to violate any statute is apt to drift into mental attitude towards even those laws that apply to more serious con ditions. There is no reason in the in. discriminate enactment of laws. The most effective way to develop respect for the laws Is to rescind those which are unsound or foolish and enforce to tho letter those that remain. Legisla- tors are not only law-makers-it is as much their function to reject laws of the wrong kind, or founded on mis- conception, and therefore inadequate.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-01
No Problem More Important
(Atlanta Constitution)

(Atlanta ConSlltutlon) ....
 The responsibility for the mal- administration of justice-the de- lays in court procedure and often the miscarriage of justice. as well as the stimulation of the mob spirit by trial delays-were among the principal discussions before the American Bar association at it's recent convention. There is no problem before the American pub lie today of greater importance than the maintenance of due re- spect for constituted authority as against the all too prevalent mob spirit; and nothing will contribute more to the elimination of the mob spirit than stricter and a more general enforcement of all laws, not only to the point of arrestiug those charged with offenses, but the expedition of the court sys- tenn by which the violators may be punished according to law, and the innocent freed from suspicion and punishment.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-01

The final session of the Alabama legislature was marked by the inter- change of tokens of appreciation of merltorious and patriotic service. While the attitude of the public has not been expressed on the mutual ad- miration phase of the situation, it is interesting to note that the legisla- ture recommended itself very highly. If compliments are in order, the public may be inwardly disposed to con graduate itself on the legislatures final adjournment.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-01
One Jurors Power

NDetrolt Free PreSS)
 The, question whether verdicts in civil cases ought to be valid when agreed to by less than the whole number of jurors, which was ds- bated before the State Bar associ- ation, is topic that has engaged the attention of many thoughtful people. It seems unreasonable that one juror should be able to nullify the opinions of eleven others, and the fact that such things happen results in new trials and added ex- pense in cases that might have been settled promptly If differ ent rule prevailed. It also Is true that the rule requiring unanim.ty facilitates jury bribing. Only one man need be bought by the de- fender of a weak case to make sure that he cannot be beaten. even if he cannot win. while the overcoming lawyer may find 1t easy to get at least one friend on a jury.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-01
HOW THE TARIFF WORKS

Quite a jubilation is being raised by it's friends and supporters over re- ported results for the first year from the Fordney-McCumb tariff act. It is claimed that about $550,0oo,000 in revenue went into the national treas ury from collection of duties under this act. On the assumption that the tax is being paid by importers, the tariff bloc is making sweeping claims of good business for this high protec- tive system. This may sound plaus- ible to the thoughtless, and especially to those who care not what the con- sumer has to pay. He is the burden bearer, particularly if he be a farmer.
 Glance at another side of the pie ture. Admitting for arguments sake that the government put over half a billion dollars into the treasury, whence came the money? The con- sumer lost billion dollars or more in order that the government might col lect half that amount. If the gouGe btOppcu IHeIe, the consumer WOulC De bettei off. But it does not. The con- sumet in addition to the tariff, pays bonus on every tariff protected arti- cle he purchases, not to speak of addi- tionsl burdens piled on by those using the tariff as an excuse to add a little more to their gains. For every dollar the consumer pays in duties he pays another dollar in profit, regardless of whether the er- ticle he buys be of foreign or domes- tic manufacture. This is safe esti- mate based upon experience ever since there was a tariff over and beyond public revenue purposes.
 The Fair Tariff League is just now conducting what is called the Far mer's Tariff School" The organiza- tion~is not an annex to the Democrati-. national committee. Its chairman is protectionist, as are most of it's
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-01
4 Depressing Record
Cleveland Plain Dealer)

The criminal situation in this country so far as crimes of vio- fence are concerned Is worse than in any other civilized country. Ex- act figures are given for Great Britain and France. In the for mer country the committee finds that speedy trials are largely re- sponsible for the low crime rate. the cont~u ual appearance of cases and reversals by the upper court being practically unknown. Sta tistics for both countries show but a fraction of the crime rampant in America; and far higher per centage of convictions for crimes committed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-01
DOES ALABAMA WAIT
 FOR A TABERT CASE?
(San Antonio Express)

While the Alabama legislature was in session last spring there was determined effort, sup ported by a powerful public senti- ment - especially among the churches, the women's clubs and civic organizations to put through a bill abolishing the con- vict leasing system. It was char aeteristic of the average legisla- ture's inertia, neglect and stub bornness that the reform proposal failed, though, two or three times. 1t was near final enactment.
 Since Florida, stung into action by young Tabert's martyrdom and the resultant expose of frightful abuses, has banned the farming out of prisoners, Alabama re- mains the only state legaliziuy ton that shames the public spirited citizen. Alabamians now have new and bitter occasion to rue the legislatures failure. Their state Is being pilloried on the front page of every daily news paper. The lash has been restored to the convict camp.
 Governor Kilby abolished th> lash two years ago, and his sue cessor, MT. Brandon, is apologet.c about its restoration. He says the strap will be used only "whers fife and property have been en- dangered." Who is to be the judge of that condition-the whipping boss?
 Prisoners employed in the Ban ner mine gave trouble last week, and the reporters got their side of the story. They were set to an impossible task, digging coal out of a rock seam (like the children of Israel making bricks without straw); the food was poor; and sick men were compelled to work. That all may be untrue, but it so nearly suggests conditions obtain ing in other convict camps--in Florida last year for example that there is reason to credit it. who are leased out like horses or oxen is almost irresistible.
 That is the systems worst evil. It reduces the hapless convicts to the level of beasts and awakens brutal instincts in their masters. The scheme savers too much Of chattel slavery and is an anomaly in the twentieth century, for noda- days, even convicts are regarded as human beings. They have the right to humane treatment. There is no room for the slave driver and the whipping boss in an en- frightened penal institution or else where. The sight of a big, strong man laying heavy blows on the bare back of helpless fellow be- ing Is revolting, and something Is radically wrong with the discip- linary system that is compelled to resort to it to maintain order. I, is a confession of failure.
 Prison officials in other states get along without the lash. and even handle outright revolts against authority withoutNit. Why cannot Alabama do likewise? Be- sides, the use of the cat-o'-ninc- tails Is the exclusive prerogative of invisible government. What right has visible authority to en- croach on that domain? The next legislature in Montgomery surely will bestir itself to wipe out this stain on the state. Will 1t take another Martin Tabert case to sting Alabama into action?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-01
FROM A CAN OF MILK
(Department of Agriculture B,
 letinl

Department of Agriculture Bll-
 letin)
 some interesting figures have been compiled to show what can be made from definite quantity Of milk. Using 100 pounds of milk which tests per cent, it has been found that this quantity will mak e about 4.S pounds of butter, II pounds of Cheddar cheese, 45 fif- teen-ounce cans of condensed milk, l2.5 pounds of whole milk powder, S.5 pounds of Swiss cheese, or 23 pounds of Camembert cheese. The exact amount of these products that can be made from 100 pounds of milk varies with the richness of the milk in fat and other solids. A number of by-products are also formed by the different processes.