davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
, 1923-02-20
Contest OUer
MdyfieLd Suit
Is Threatened

WASHINGTON, Feb. eO.-Polltlcal
opponents Of S-enator.elect Earle Il.
Mayfield, who defeated Senator Cul.
berson, democrat, Texas, for re,
nomination, last November in a cam.
paign IN which the Ku Elux Khan
was an issue, said today that contest
proceedings would BIO filed soon with
the ena In behalf OF George Peddy,
a candidate against MIR. NTayfeld in
the November election. Both May.
field and Teddy are democrats, but
Peddy received the republican en-.
dorsement also.
Some of MIR. Peddy's counsel now
are in Washington and others are
said TO be onroute here. The contest
is to be fled before adjournment of
congress so tat Mr.. Mayheld's right
to tho office "A be challenged as
soon as the now congress convenes.
, 1923-02-20

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.-HOuse
acton on. the senate amendments
to the bin giving approval Of the
British debt settlement agreement
was deferred today until tomorrow.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.-An-
other attack on Henry Ford's offer
for the Muscle Shoals power project
was made in the senate today by
Chairman Norris Of the senate agri-
cultural committee, who read n let
ter he wrote recently to Nebraska
constituents, declaring acceptance
Of the Ford offer, would constitute
"a gift Of the American taxpayers
money, so elaborate and SC great rs
to make every legislative job Of a
similar character since the dawn OF
civilization fade into insignincance."
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.-Possi-
billy Of an all night session faced
the senate when 1t convened nm
hour ahead of its usual schedule
today to resume the fight over the
administration shipping bill with
opponents indicating no intention
Of abandoning their nlibuster
against the measure
, 1923-02-20

TRANSFORMATIONS comp.la-
atoms of costs OF the American
army of occupation show that octo-
Der 81, 1929. the German govern
ment owed the United States s255,
235.s25. Estimates of costs from DC.
tober 81. 1922, 10 February /, 1929,
bring the total amount owed to
s256, 400, s25.
, 1923-02-20

Bates College for the first time in
20 years OF intercollegiate debating
has voted to allow women students
to participate.
, 1923-02-20
OF
NIGHT NEWS

LONDON-French troops accom-
panied by detectives and Eendarmes
and escorted by a score OF dnks,
surrounded the main polid bar
racks in Essen and d.sarmed. the
thousand men within.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-26

been many years since members of congress to whom the inventor of gas light applied for assistance to demon strate his theory expressed the view that the fellow who claimed to pro- duce practical light without a wick was fit subject for observation. Morse was ridiculed when he proposed to send messages many miles over d wire. Bell excited suspicion when he brought out the telephone. Edison was laughed at by some, and Marconi was charged with being mentally un- balanced.
 And so it goes. If half the progress in the field of invention and discovery which was made in the past genera tion is achieved in the next few decades, it is probable that fifty per cent. of the so-called >up-to-date de- vices which now attract widespread attention will be regarded as common place and obsolete. Scientists tell us that this great field of development has scarcely been touched, and some of them predict that within the next few years electric energy will have taken the place of most of the agencies of power now utilized. Much stranger things have happened within the recol- lection of those now living.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-26
FOR THE PEOPLE TO DECIDE

There Is confusion in the minds of many people of this community be- tween the need for an adequate county administration building and the meth ods pursued by the county board of revenue to get it. 1t has been an- nounced that the board would meet today to consider further rlAcs fer the erection of the proposed structure. Nobody questions ths noed for a new building. That is conceded by all, whether it be erected by the county or whether the city and county cooperate in a joint structure for the use of both.
 There are important questions as to the location of the building, its char acter and cost, and definite plan and purpose in its erection. These are mat ters for the people to determine by vote. The people bear the costs. If serious mistakes are made, they bear the burdens and suffer the results. What reason or excuse can be given, therefore, why they should be de- prived of the privilege-yea, the right to say what kind of structure they want, where 1t shall be located, how much it shall cost, and other inn portant considerations that directly affect their interests and their well fare?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-26
SAFEGUARDING
 PARDONING POWER
(Arkansas Gazette)

The first important action taken by Gov. William J. Fields of Ken lucky was the abolition of pardon day" The superintendent of the Kentucky State Reformatory at Frankfort and the warden of the western Kentucky penitentiary at Eddyville were notified by the governor that there will be no days set apart by him for the con- sideration of applications for par dons. Governor Fields said that in taking this action he was living up to a campaign pledge. The granting of pardons has long been political question in Kentucky.
 In the impeachment trial of Gov. J. c. Walton before the Oklahoma senate the first charge to be voted on was that of abuse of the par don and parole authority. The gov ernor was found guilty without dissenting voice, and the vote on this charge determined his removal from office. At about the same time a resolution was introduced in the Oklahoma senate for the submission of constitutional amendment which would take from the governor the present pardon and parole power and provide for public hearings on all applications for clemency.
 In directing attention to this matter the Gazette recently said that from the moment the gov- ernor of an American state, or the governor of many a state, assumes office a certain danger hovers over him-from his possession of the pardoning power. In speaking of the difficulty of finding practica- ble and effective safeguards the Gazette said it would like to be convinced that there can be any effective protection against abuse of the pardoning power save in the character of the executive who ,ex- ercises that power.
 The news from Frankfort would go to show that in Kentucky the pardoning power is going to be safeguarded-in the most direct and effective way-against the abuse that has brought complaint and criticism in many states of the Union.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-26
ON SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS

The twentieth anniversary of the first successful flight of a heavier than-air machine propelled by a gase- line motor is not only interesting from a scientific view, but 1t suggests tho well-nigh unlimited opportunities of fered by this mode of transportation in its industrial application. Within recent memory the claim was made that the proposed flying machine was not practical and would never be de- veloped for service. Rapidly defects and dangers were overcome, until now the hedging doubters say that such a mode of transportation will never be perfected for use within profitable costs. That theory also is fast being exploded, as government mail planes are shooting across the continent at almost incredible speed, while passen- ger and even freight traffic threatens to compete in some degree with rail- roads and motor vehicles.
 It has been predicted by some who have noted the rapid progress made in the field of invention that within an- other generation airplanes will come into extensive use for transportation between cities and points from five miles to hundreds of miles apart. That would be no more progress than has been made not only in this, but in many other fields of scientific and me- chanical development. Few people of middle age suspected twenty years ago that talking through space with out wire was within the realm of possibility. Now news is carried from continent to continent by wireless, and concerts are enjoyed by people a thousand miles from the rendition point through the radio. It has not
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-26
STANDARDIZATION
By Thomas L, MassOn

If the controversy about stand ardization keeps up, there will soon develop a pro and anti-stand- ardization party in this country. Former President Eliot of Harvard is against it. Talcott Williams of the Columbia School of Journal ism is for it. He says that the standardization of newspapers is having favorable effect upon the development of public opinion, inasmuch as it conveys important news to all the people immediately. This public opinion can act with out any delay and important ques- tions tend to be settled. I am in clined to believe that he is right.
 No great things have ever been accomplished without standardiza- tion. Shakespeare plays were the best of hundreds of other play rights, all of whom were trying to produce standardized article. The same thing is true of the Creek drama. For generations the British people, being shut up ! on their tight little island" have subjected themselves to a process of intensive standardization. Re- suit, they are very tough, and have produced 9 great literature. The tendency today is for indi- viduals to assert themselves, so that modern art has been defined as a man talking to himself.
 Individuals everywhere are try ing to accomplish everything that people have done before, with the least amount of effort. They are looking for a short cut to fortune thence the hue and cry against standardization. They remind me of the amateur nurse who was placed in charge of baby, having asserted positively that she knew it all, thatsnobody could teach her anything. The baby didn't thrive and the mother said to her, when you give the baby his bath I wish you would use a thermom eter."
 Not necessary at all," replied the nurse loftily; q don't need it. When he turns red the water is too hot, and when he turns blue the water Is too cold, and there you are"
 She could write free verse, draw modern pictures, or qualify in any other capacity as an intellectual.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-26

is fitting that an institution for farm education should be located there. That section is we'll known as truck growing center. Its shipments of to- matoes, beans, strawberries and other produce have been steadily increasing for years. The act of the Legislature gave Cuba an opportunity to help it. self, and the readiness with which the community took advantage of the op- portunity to secure good agricul- tural school speaks for itself.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-26
TURN ABOUT IS FAIR PLAY

Recent decision of the supreme court of Alabama upholding the city ordinance ordering jitney busses off the streets of Birmingham in accord ance with expressed will of the people leaves a clear field to the traction company for increased business. The people decided by their votes to give the company free hand to make good. There are no longer grounds for the claim that the company's op- portunities to render adequate service are seriously obstructed by jitney competition. In view of the public generosity to the company, and in fur ther view of the need and demand for adequate street railway service, the people expect fair treatment in this respect. They are not getting it. There has been no appreciable i'm provement; the service is inadequate, and the public is put to serious in- convenience and loss as a result.
 Another aspect of the situation en- lists the public interest and causes unfavorable comment. With removal of jitney competition there is large increase of business for the company in the Woodlawn and East Lake dis trict. The convenience and welfare of the some forty thousand people in that section are affected by proper street paving. For a long time the city and county have tried to reach a settlement of the controversy aris- ing from the company's failure and refusal to help pave First avenue be- tween Forty-first street and East Lake. The law provides that the company do its part of this work; but, as the grand jury recently stated, the com pany entrenched itself behind a re- ceivership, and declined to perform its public duty.
 It has been announced that the com pany's affairs would be reorganized and the receivership lifted early in January. In such event there would no longer be excuse. for dereliction in . this proposed public improvement. It fis widely admitted. as stated by the president of the city commission, that : tho people went long way when they { agreed to cut out jitneys, and were surprised when the company assumed an arbitrary attitude towards the First avenue paving project. Whether or not the company's cooperation in the < First avenue paving project would be worth more, through such public good will as it would develop, than would 1 the privilege of parking part of this area, as the company proposes, the fact remains that the people who voted out the company's competition have the power to vote it back. Un- less the people are given adequate oorvice within a reasonable period, they cannot be expected to continue policy of keeping out such supple mentary service as their convenience and welfare require.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-26
HEAVY TAX BURDEN
(New York Timesl

In the years beginning with the outbreak of the World war, the in- crease of taxation was altogether the greatest cause of the increased cost of doing business. Between 1914 and 1919, according to the na- tional industrial board, wages rose 15S per cent, salaries 125 per cent, taxes 371 per cent.
 In 1914 the New York taxes on every s1,o00 worth of products were S14.74; In 1919, S2S.23. New Jersey was even more blessed. Her tax on every $1,000 worth of prod ucts jumped from s12.97 in 1914 to s32.76 in 1919. Her taxes-we may say, generally, taxes in all the states, counties, municipalities, towns and v1llages-are leaping higher every year. In states where there is little manufacturing the proportion of state taxes is usually higher than in industrial states, but everywhere it is high. In some states the continual lacking up of state and local taxes has caused an irritation that has had It's effect at congressional elections.
 In the majority Of states the ra- tio of taxation to state income is moro than 10 per cent. In 1919 the general average was 12.1 per cent In the same year the increase In local taxes levied in forty-onc states was s2 per cent over those of 1912; in 1920 there was a jump of q per cent from the preceding year; In 1921 another jump of 12 per cent In the calendar year 1921 one-sixth of the current na- tional Income was diverted into tax channels for the support of governmental bodies in the United States.
 Before, during and after the war, state and local taxation kept mounting. Federal taxation, nec- essarily pushed up, has been re- duced somewhat, but now consti- tutes, with the heavy state and local taxation added to it, an in tolerable burden upon the business and the economic growth of the United States. The federal part of the burden it is now within the power of congress considerably to tighten. Some part of that bur den weighs on everybody. whether he has tax bills to show 1t or not. The quick popular acceptance of Secretary Melons plan for reduc- ing taxation and stimulating busi- ness and industry and the national prosperity shows that the people know what is hurting them, even if some politicians have glass eyes and seem to see the thing that Is not.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-26
AMERICAN WASTE
(Savannah News)

In summing up the deductions from an annual report concerning life insurance figures for the United States, an eminent insur- ance official declared the other day that only ten per cent. of the brain power of the nation Is at work during this generation. We speak of the wastefulness of the people of America as a general We talk of the waste of food and of money, of time and energy. of the tremendous waste of power annually running to waste" over the shoals and waterfalls of 8 thousand streams. We are a wasteful nation. It is because we have been blessed with plenty in the past-plenty of open spaces, plenty of opportunity, plenty of natural resources, plenty of yield for a minimum of output of labor. We have had things come easy and they went easy. We have thrown away enough food in the course of any year to feed as many more people as there are in the United States.
 This Is material things. But few of us have thought of the enormous, the stupendous, the se- rious waste of mental power power that has not been developed, that has not been harnessed, that has not been trained and directed and specialized and focused on production, that has never been even discovered. The potential brain power that could be dis covered, revealed, developed and trained would turn the world over several times year. And that Is not the most significant waste: The waste of the brain power that is developed and has not some education that is not trained and directed and utilized for society and progress is fearful.
 The most casual survey of the situation must corroborate what the insurance official said-that not more than ten per cent. of the generations available brain power Is being used-with the emphasis on the used"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-26
WHY LESS BREAD
(Houston Postl

The federal department of az riculture, in giving out statistics purporting to show that Ameri- cans are not eating as much wheat bread as formerly, Is naively sug- gesting larger bread consumption as remedy for tho wheat far mer's troubles. Here again we have suggested the theory of un- derconsumption instead of over- production. But why do not the intellectual gentleman of the department look & little further from home in Investigating the subnor1nal consumption of bread?
 We Americans may be eating less bread than formerly, but we are not going hungry. There arc good many millions of people in the world who arc actually going hungry for bread. We may be curtalling our bread purchases be- cause or war saving habits &C., Quired in 1918. and because the price Is not altogether to our -lik- Ing, but there are millions over the sea who arc not buying our wheat to mako their bread, be- cause or a lack of means with which to purchase.
 And. looking & little further. 1t Will De discovered, that one of the reasons why those peoples, who m other times bought, our surplus wheat are eating less American oreaa' Is that by our prohibitive .arlr1 we have shut them out of this market with their wares. and not being able to sell here. are not able to buy here.
 Tn accounting for tho oyerpro- osctioh or the underconsumption oi wheat whichever ono pleases to cal It. let's not overlook the part the Fordney-McCumber tariff Is playlng. That piece of legislation. whlch was doubtless supported by the secretary of agriculture. has not only been hindrance to the economic recovery of Europe, but It has proven a boomerang and struck at the foundation of our own prosperity-the prosperity of the farm, Our curtailment of bread consumption Is slight com pared with that of the people of other nations, whose commerce with us has been suppressed or re- duced. But, strange to say. in the various schemes of Republican poI- it1cians to help the farmer, they overlook the one great obstacle in the way of increased consumption or the farmers products, which is the real remedy for the farmers trouble
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-26
cOMMENDABLE SELF HELP

Largely through the enterprise of the people of Cuba, in this state, state secondary agricultural school is
 to be established there. This progress sive community has taken advantage of recent act of the Legislature, and the Sumter county board of revenue and board of education have pledged substantial sums to augment stats funds for the erection of new build ings, repair of old ones and provision of adequate equipment. The vicinity of Cuba has long been known as prosperous agricultural section, and it
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-26
Make the Most of Them
(Florence Herald)

IFTorence HeraIuJ
 Unfortunately the rural school terms in Alabama are much too short and there seems to be 10 prospect of making them longer in the near future. It is extreme ly important, then, that every child should make the most of the limited opportunities offered to secure an education. Regular attendance and earnest work in school will enable the country boys and girls to accomplish a great deal, in spite of the short term. Parents and teachers must fully cooperate to secure the best results. This is the most impor- tant matter before the rural peo- pie of Lauderdale county today.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-26
 OUR AUSTRALIAN TRADE

Australia IS seldom menCloneo hS one of the nations with which we have foreign trade, possibly because in the past Australia has traded mainly with the mother country. The upset condition in England has now obliged the Australians to look to us for much of the commerce formerly sent else where. Our export of automobiles is one of the chief items in our trade with the island continent. Our chief Australian imports are wool and hides. The value of our imports of Austra- lian products in 1922 was $35,7S2,- 900. In the first half of 1923 it was $32, 2,382,O00, or at almost double the rate of the preceding year. This total trade has been so comparatively small as to pass unnoted among editors in this country. In Australia, however, it has attracted much editorial atten- tion.
 For example, according to the Lit erary Digest, the Melbourne Industrial Australian and Mining Standard finds her adverse balances with the United States alarming and remarks: "This sort of trading has involved us in a departure from the Australian policy of promoting Empire trade, and 1t does not harmonize with the ideal of a self-contained Empire. If, instead of purchasing the goods we have im- ported from America, we had procured similar goods from Great Britain, our external debt would no doubt have increased to the same extent, but we should have had the satisfaction of knowing that the money represented had given employment to British work CTS, and kept British factories going. AS it is, no part of the Empire has derived any real benefit. Australia has certainly not been advantaged by the trade, since it has caused us to go into debt and to add to the interest bill which we have to pay abroad" However, it is all in the family, for are we not their cousins---even if sew eral longitudes removed!
 The onesidedness of the trade seems to be the most ranking thorn in the Australian side, in spite of the fact that ws are buying an annually h. creasing total of Australian products. Therefore, the Standard quoted above suggests this drastic remedy: "The obvious course to take would be to measure the volume of permissible imports from America by the value and volume of our exports to the United States, and to refuse admission to this rountry of any excess. By this means the trade between the two countries could be maintained in state of healthy equilibrium and Aus tralia's economic capacity preserved from Mobilization. America could not object to such program. Indeed, she has already set the world an example by limiting the admission of migrants from all other countries to a fixed quota from each, and by forcibly ex- cluding any excess over the deter mined numbers. We desire to trade with America, but only on a sound basis. One-sided trade is no good to us, and we doubt if 1t be any good to anybody"
 It is strange that tho Standard should choose its parallel from the American immigration restrictions rather than from our tariff. The Standard. however, rejects any sug- gestion of tariff retaliation, perhaps realizing that such policy would, as in the United States, react upon the people and the cost of living.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-26
May Not Be Hopeless
(Selma Times-Journal)

(Selma Times s-JournaD
 Granting the dearth of great leaders, there are no limits to the metes and bounds of the area in- habited by small leaders in this country, and if they can be im- proved and strengthened by more of the leaven of common sense and breadth of outlook the situa- tion may not become hopeless, or the country go entirely to the bOw-WOws