davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11
IRON AND STEEL AT PEAK

Available iron and steel producing ca- pacity is practically at its peak. There are antiquated mills and furnaces that might be brought in but for conditions of labor and raw material initiating against their regular and economic operation. Several such furnaces in Alabama that were operated during the war when the world was demand ing a record production are idle and will re- main so unless extraordinary conditions not in the forecast should return. Alabama s January iron production was the largest Tn five years and the pleasing feature of this record is that twenty-five active furnaces produced what more than thirty stacks pro- duced during the war; owing to progressive enlargement of stack capacity when furnaces are rebuilt. Conditions of production in the rest of the country are much the same as in Alabama, Alabama's one advantage possibly being the better supply of labor.
 The condition of producing capacity as related to that of consumption will tend to harmony of supply and demand and are op- posed to the acquisition of an uncomforta- ble surplus. The accumulated void in hous- ing and public improvement has long time to go before being filled, despite the record structural pace of 1922. The neees of the farms for fencing and agricultural machln- cry are just coming to the fore, backed by the money which the farmers have made on their 1922 crop yields. The farmers have a real surplus and that is going out Tor per- manent improvements of farms. Meanwhile the export demand is either normal or suh- normal and the world is not competing for the production of Americas iron and steel mills as during the World war. The lack of a strong export demand will have a qulet- ing effect on prices and serve to prevent them soaring to points at which domestic purchasing must and would cease.
 In short, domestic demand and suppfy, under the conditions limiting production and competition, bid fair to move along more even keel than might superficially appear. Added to this there is commendable spirit of caution brought over from the experience of the World wal and the post-beilum pro- duction and price boom with their painful afterclaps of depression. All this tends to a spread of production over long period with the soft pedal on grasping price ad- yances.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11
EUROPE'S WAR OF LETTERS

A unique war is being fought in Europe. without the use of airplanes, artillery or poison gas, except the kind that is launched
 in heated debate. The scene of conflict is Denmark. Hamlet's observation regarding the state of Denmark might well apply to the present situation, so far as the spelling of the Danish language is concerned. Hereto fore all nouns have been spelled with capi- tai letters. practice handed spwn from the Middle Ages. What is known as the Battle of the Big and Little Letters' is now being waged with ferocity that threat ems to cause grave complications. Profes- sors whose friendship was cemented in the calm atmosphere of academic halls are falling out with one another; politicians are at odds, and, even the royal authority is questioned, all because reformers demand the substitu-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11
BIRMINGHAM AGE-HERALD SUNDAY, FEBRUARY II,

insist on the use of a wasteru1 and excess amount of building material in the con- struction of all classes of buildings"
 According to the model building code sub mitted by the department and indorsed by experts, it has been established that brick walls eight inches thick for the first and upper stories of buildings have proven suc- cessful where tried out over the country, whereas, the present building codes specify a wall of twelve inches and even greater thickness. Likewise it has been ascertained, according to the report, that four-inch brick walls for interior purposes are suf- ficient and that the eight-inch wall pre- scribed is a waste of material without better service. The report further declares that the new brick hollow wall is desirable and safe for "two-story and attic houses" In some instances the model code will save as much as fifty per cent. of the cost entailed by the amount of material prescribed by present building codes. The department will probably evolve similar suggestions in the saving of other building material. It is very live matter and is becoming more and more of a problem as lumber grows scarce and prices of all materials remain hph
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11

the French are discharged by the Berlin government and the occupying authorities discharge those who resist the French. Both sides are losing millions of paper marks.
 There must be times when little Holland yearns for new location farther away from the trouble zone of Europe. Ever since 1914, in one way or another, although stoutly maintaing her neutrality and giving refuge to those war victims, innocent and otherwise, who sought her hospitality, she has been affected by the quarrels of her neighbors. Holland is in the position of a family living next-door to people who air their differences with scant regard for their neighbors. Some day, when the history of the Ruhr occupation Is written, historian with sense of humor may find more to smile over than is just now apparent to the French, Germans, Belgians and Dutch.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11
SHELBY COUNTY REPORTER

Luther Fowler, editor and publisher of the Talladega Reporter, has established the Shelby County Reporter, published weekly at Columbiana. MT. Fowler, who is widely known among the newspaper editors of Alabama, has made a promising start with his new paper, which is consolidation of the Talladega Reporter and Tri-Cities Re- porter of Montevallo, Calera and Wilton. The Talladega Reporter was established in 1843 and was one of the oldest weekly pa- pers in the state. MT. Fowler is concentrat- ing his energies and resources at Colum- biana, where his publication is already re- ceiving gratifying public support. The Age Herald congratulates him on the enterprise he is showing and wishes him a full meas lIre of SUCCESS.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11

tion of small letters for capitals, to conform to English, French and other languages Nat urally, the conservatives are opposed to the change, as is characteristic of reactionaries the world over.
 The minister of education proposes to introduce the new style of spelling in the schools of Denmark next year by royal de- cree. The Big Letter advocates contend hat the king has no legal right to ordar the change. To such pass have monarchs come in these democratic daysl There was time when the nod of royal head meant death, or riches and promotion, but now rulers are so hedged about with consti- tutional limitations that they can hardly call their crowns their own, much less inter fere with the liberties of their subjects. The issue will be settled by the Danish parlia- ment, where the progressives and conserva- tives will argue the merits of big Letters and little Letters. A committee of printers could decide that question in jiffy.S
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11
HOLLANDS PREDICAMENT

The comic opera phase of the French oc- cupation of the Rahr is illustrated on the Dutch and Belgian German frontiers, where conditions remind travellers of the tribula- tions of the Dutch during the World war. They are now erecting barbed wire fences along their frontiers as they did in 1914. Most of the German customs officers in the neighborhood of Aix-la- Chapelle have been removed from office, arrested or ex- pelled. Their places have been taken by Belgians who do not have much to do, since freight traffic is practically paralyzed
 The German government has boycotted Antwerp to prevent the Belgians from col lecting customs duties. Officials are caught between two fires. Those who submit to
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11
THE LEGISLATIVE RECESS

The state legislature, after profitable session, has adjourned to reassemble July 10, but the study of public affairs and pro- posed legislation in which the people of Ala bama are deeply interested will be con- tinued during the long recess. Much of the important work accomplished by law-making bodies is done in committees. By devoting their attention to special matters and talk ing time for a more thorough investigation than it is possible for the legislature to make, as a whole, they may avoid hasty decisions and draw up constructive meas ures that will best serve the public interest. The legislative committee will investigate the financial condition of the state and coun- ties, the states educational requirements, agriculture and needed conservation laws. The new code prepared by Judge Mayfeld will also be read by a recess committee. All of these questions are of public concern, and deserve the very best inquiry and thought.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11
SAVING BUILDING MATERIALS

With the cost of building material at a high point and advances in price taking place from time to time in response to the demand for construction, some of the find ings of the department of commerce with reference to economies in the use Of mate rial worthy the attention of architects, contractors and those who are having homes and stores built. The depart ment has worked out what is called a "model building code" This is the re- suit of the investigation into housing con- ditions in the country made by senatorial committee headed by Senator Calder of New York, beginning three years ago. The primary result of the inquiry, it is officially stated, was the discovery that "the majority of building codes throughout the country
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11

thing i'll advised. In both the ma jority and minority are enough men who know that the spoke that is down today may be up tomor- row to prevent the limitation of debate.
 I well remember an incident when, as a believer in limited de- bate, 1 was compelled to rule against my personal view. Sena- tor Stone of Missouri took the floor and proceeded to dress me down in language as caustic as a presiding officer seldom hears of himself. He ended by expressing i the hope that sometime the sen ate would have a presiding officer with the courage of Speaker Reed to toss the rules to the four winds and expedite business. Later in the day we met in the cloak room. said to him, "You trimmed me and my ruling rather roughly, did you not?" He answered, "Yes, meant to-" But how about it." I asked, Eff that brave man you were talking about had been pre- siding last session you would have ! been deprived of the pleasure of reading Paradise Lost all one night to the senate" He appeared mystified moment, and then i thrust out his hand to me. q re- member," he said. Unlimited de- bate, after all. is the only weapon to preserve the rights of a minori- ty." From that momenc to the day of his death we were staunch friends.
 I recall no legislation from the defeat of which by unlimited de- bate the public suffered great in- | jury. Yet no one can speak with authority as to whether great in- jury came from the filibuster, in the spring of 1915, which killed | McAdoo's ship bill. The necessity l for building ships became appar- ent when we got into the war two years later, and was promptly ac- ceded to. We may have been saved two years useless expense con- sidering the merchant marine at the present time with the expense attendant to the government on account of the seamen's law, pro- l hibition and high cost of opera ton. When a filibuster prevented the arming of merchant ships be- fore we got into war, no harm was done, because inside of two months we were in the war. In- deed, I can think of no instance in which the people were injured by the failure to enact legislation because of filibustering tactics. Whenever the people really de. mand enactment of a remedy to
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11
By THOMAS R. MARSHALL, Former Vice President of the United
 States

The senate is talking again of re- vising it's rules to provide limitation of debate. It always does when a legislative jam exists or impends. Reason now is found in the diffl- culty leaders are having in bring ing the ship subsidy bill to vote. The threat of opponents to filibus- ter the measure to death has re- vived contention over unlimited debate which is as old as the sen- ate itself.
 During the heat of political campaign excited orators may be heard shrieking, Shall the people rule?" What they mean is: Shall our faction of the people be per mitted to do what it pleases?" In way the people have ruled throughout the life ot the repub- lie, and in another way they have never ruled and never will. Au- thority can lay down rules for the government of all the people, but it cannot compel obedience to these rules. A political party pro- ceeds upon the assumption that when it has won an election it must not be hindered or impeded from doing anything it jolly well pleases to do. So the query of the campaign orator, Shall the people rule?" which reverberated from the stump is heard in the United States senate from members of the party in power. Great questions of government may have arisen since the election upon which the opinion of the public is mere guesswork; these questions may be violative of the fundamental principles if not of the fundamental law of the land, yet the majority is apt to insist that nothing must be done to prevent 1t from treating them as it pleases.
 How long, oh, Lord, how Long?" was the way l felt about it when l first ran up agalnst filibuster. That was early in my first term as vice president. I, too, believed in party responsibility and in the right of the majority to rule I was likewise believer m the doc Urine of public business being transacted upon tze public square. As result of my eight years ex- perience, I am not now in favor either of cloture or of abolition of the executive session of the sen- ate. l learned that the majority was for cloture only when cloture would accomplish it's purpose, and that minority always was against cloture for fear it might enable the majority to do some-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11
THE LABOR SITUATION

There is an apparent shortage of labor in America based maximum capacity of plant operations and a present demand for production On the other hand, were this void filled and maximum production main tained for considerable period, there would probably follow another period in which overproduction would be discovered and men would be laid off by the tens of thous- ands. This was the case after the World war and that condition is susceptible of reproduction if the same reckless tactics were pursued. The wise course of action is to spread the production over longer period with the men at hand rather than it would be to let down the immigration bars and bring in more men who, later on, would swell the army of the idle. This country does not wish surplus of the idle any more than it would have harmful sh,rtage of labor
 labor surplus would be much more de- plorable than limited labor shortage, be- cause lipiited production may be economi- cally spread over longer period, while la Dor surplus is present care and expense of which there is no possible avoidance. Many industrial experts are strongly opposed to making another trial of wholesale immfgra- tion. They have paid the price of it and they do not wish to go through that mill again. If American industry keeps it's head holds down the rising trend of prices and judiciously allots production to customers according to their pressing needs, thus spreading the period of production, pain ful period of an unsalable surplus will be avoided and the workers already in this country and entitled to first consideration will find continuous employment at good wages.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11
The Peoples Forum
Compliments The Age-HeraId
To the Editor of The Age-Herald:

10 the Edltor or The Age-defalO:
 In the rush of business and in- terest in our own affairs, we are prone to omit expressions of grati- tude to our neighbors and often wait until they have passed ottheir reward to offer our praises of their efforts and accomplishments. l subscribe to and read six daily newspapers, several of the weekly and monthly periodicals, but have never seen such improvements in any paper as has taken place in The Age-Herald in the past SIX monhts. It is a real newspaper and worth the time of any man in this state to read every day. The news from the various cities of the state is well worth the subscription price and the column under the Alabama Press" is very interesting and en- Tightening to all Alabamians. There is not a better edited paper in the south than The Age-Herald. The editorials are short, snappy and to the point. They express just what is needed in a most constructive manner; they are clean and inter esting. I admire the policy of The Age Herald of showing the people what is best without the villifying process of condemnation and per sonal criticisms. Your editorials are sound, logical, full of reason and helpful to the laity. We may disagree with you at times, yet ad- mire and respect your argument. wish you much success and am proud of the fact that the metropolis
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11
QUESTION OF INTERPRETATION

The interpretation of accounts frequently furnishes the basis for honest difference of opinion. Governor Brandon recently sub mitted to the legislature an auditors re- port on the state finances which appeared to show a critical condition of affairs. The report tended to indicate that certain funds were showing alarming deficits and this was the natural inference on the basis of the figures given. Since this showing diff fered so widely from the account rendered by Governor Kilby, the resultant public con- fusion of mind on the subject was not sur prising.
 In letter to Governor Brandon, as print ed elsewhere in this issue, MT. Kiby goes into much detail to outline the methods en- ployed by him in administering the state funds, and gives explanation of items not clarified by the simple showing of figures. Mir. Kilby holds that the transfer of funds from one account to another is not unpre- cedented nor illegal, provided incoming rev enues will be received in time to meet the drafts on any funds from which borrowings have been made. MT. Kilby calls to atten- tion the fact that the report takes in merely eiAS IooA oliOniilS dN-d SlNei ddle, anu uOeS not charge off the existing deficits against revenues expected within the fiscal period to which both belong. If accounts receiva- ble will, as stated by MT. Kilby, more than meet bills payable or anticipated within the fiscal year, then there appears no reason for public alarm.
 Governor Brandon undoubtedly has all pertinent data at his command and can confirm or disprovG the Statements of his predecessor. There has been general opn- ion that the states, affairs are flourishing. Governor Brandon has intimated it as his chief concern 10 keep them in that condition, and to add whatever betterments he may be able to effect. The question of interpreta- tion of the figures does not affect the un- deriving facts.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11
Sleeping or Living"
 By REV. H. C. OFFERMAN

Said Commander Galbraith of the American Legion, year ago: "We shall live as nation only as we remember our dead"
 It is true that the true heroes are sprung from the blood of he- roes long gone.
 And the thought or by-gone ages are the actions of today.
 And yet, "Give them the flowers while they are alive" advises Billy Sunday.
 To relieve the sufferings of to- day; to grapple with the insinuat- ing vices that are worming their way into the nations life now; to bring living souls to the eternal God-can God want more?
 Eyes down-cast for the past! Bravely fighting for a better fu- tureJGod be with us all!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11

George Windsor, otherwise King George of England, has collected damages of S669 from an American railroad for failure to deliver sixty-four cases of corned beef. Consumption of corned beef by the case speaks well for the vigor and durability of the royal appetite.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11

The Moscow government is reported will ing to enter negotiations for the payment oi Russia's debts, Eff granted adequate credits. "Aye, there's the rub.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11

An air trip of twelve hours from New York to London is predicted. Breakfast in New York and dinner in London. Shades of Columbus!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11

The Italian chamber of deputies has rati- fled the Washington treaty for limiting naval armaments, but we are still a long way from stopping the race for naval supremacy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11

Miss Alice Robertson says women will never rule the United States, but it should be remembered that Miss Alice suffered 2 keen disappointment in politics.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11

If it is possible to steal two-story build. nig in Birmingham, how can a citizen expect to hold on to little thing like a purse?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11

The human heart still beats warm il Wales, where 11,000 miners quit work t, hunt for lost boy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11

, of our great state is able to send out
 to it's citizens such splendid news paper. k. M. JONES, Secretary Chamber of Commerce Gadsden. Ala. Feb. 6, 1923.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11

P. Hampton; J. D. Byars; Charles Il. Tanning; J. F. Ashcraft; w. R. Blackwell; J. c. Nichols; T. Hadley Tyson; $. A. Burns; Y. L. Burton; C. Y. Adcock; J. E. Young; John E. Delany; H. M. Sessions; Oscar J. Mooneyhorn; w. M. Wyatt; John r. Hawkins; J. H. L. Henley; C. $. Carter; Fred Fite; Melvin Hut son; G. Ernest Jones; S. M. Adams; Il. K. Martin; c. R. Horton; w. H.. Howle; George Duncan; J. w. Johnson: R. H. Powell; S. B. Slone; J. P. Middleton; J. M. Pelham, Sr.; s. c. Hudgens, c. o. Thompson
 (Etowah county); w. J. Adams
 (Blount county); Frank B. Embry.
 Montgomery, Ala, Feb. 9, 1923.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11
THE AGE FIR A ID

Entered at the Birmingham, Ala, postoffice as second-ca matter under act of Congress, March 6, 1879.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11

The war cloud in the Near East neve, looks the same two days in succession.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11
Approve. Community Chest

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 Permit me to express my appre- citation of your fine editorial in Fridays Age-Herald on Organized Charity" I believe that most peo- pie who have given serious thought to this question, considering it un- selfishly. realize that one of the greatest needs of Birmingham is a community chest. Such an edito- rial as yours will do much toward the carrying out of this plan. Ger tainly big, fine, generous Birming- ham can do anything any other city can do!
 (MRS.) MYRTELLE w. SWELL.
 Birmingham, Ala, Feb. 9, 1923.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-11
Legi.lator. Approve Editorial

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 We. the undersigned members of the Alabama legislature, wish to ex- press our appreciation of the very able editorial appearing in your is- sue of this date under the title, Alabama Not Impeached." Said editorial presents in a fair manner the attitude of the legislature in voting overwhelmingly to repeal the statute exempting power com panies from taxation. Signed:
 D. T. Ware; Walter Brewer; Mark |. Jeter; R. E. Smith; Lewis Bowen ; Charles P. Odom, w. P. Letson, J. B. Powell, J. M. Snodgrass; M. Sallie; Young Wall; w. M. Gull man; c. w. Ashcraft; E. c. Glover; James A. Parma; Lee Glenn; John