davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26

a political machine for the use and benefit of officeholders. Faithful employees of that department have been discharged without cause and their places filled by political favorites. That is against sound public policy and detrimental to public service. In a less degree the fire departments of munich palities have been subjected to the same detrimental treatment by public officials seeking to reward political friends and pun ish political enemies. The faithful and eX- perienced officer is entitled to fair consider ation at the hands of the community which he has served and should not be the battle dore and shuttlecock of politics. The public welfare is best served by men of proven fitness and experience and that which looks to putting this principle in practice will meet an enlightened public approval.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26
POLITICAL CHOP SUEY
Cleveland Plain Dealer)

The Chinese political pot is boiling nlys- teriously and the mingled ingredients are disseminating a new aroma. When it was sniffed few months ago the mess was very savory. Wu Pei-fu, gentleman and patriot, was establishing a reign of altruism and good will. Everyone was forgiving enemies. The "best minds" were cooperating. And this was strange enough, because only a little time before the 'sbest minds" were all at sizes and sevens. This rosy aspect of millennium dawn was too beautiful to last. The pot has takensto seething again, and the odor which arises dispels all thoughts of Utopia. There is new premier, whose name--if anyone cares to lnow-is Chang Shao-tseng. He belongs to the military party, and is somewhat of factotum to Tsao Kun, chief militarist. Tsao Kun does not like Wu Pei-fu and is said to be pre- pairing to make an ignoble alliance with Chang-Shao-t -tseng, but if they are making overtures to Chang Tso-lin we know that China is in bad way again with such per sons in power at Pekin. seN
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26

Chicago, were to advertise in one of the papers that he desired to be invited out to dinner He would probably receive an in- vitation, unless he was suspected of laborhg under an overdose of strong waters or such mental Authorizations as engage the attention of the psychiatrists, but he would not get so many as he did the other day when he announced in the Gazette that Mrs. White was away and he was in receptive mood as regarded Sunday dinner. Editor White asked the public to telephone him at his office after 6 o'clock By 6 80 he had re- ceived twenty invitations and the telephone was still ringing. When MT. White informed Emporians that he desired to eat at their expense they took him at his word. That is the advantage of being acquainted with your fellow citizens, and the children and the dogs. If somebody would write the music, Emporians might sing, "We all know Bill and Bill knows us"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26
CHOOSING sUPERINTENDENTS

s~ The interests of the schools are best served by keeping them as much as possible out of politics. The proposal to elect county superintendents by the people is open to the objection that it would tend to the cleo tion of men because of their political skill or affiliations rather than for their fitness. Even if successful candidate were quail fled for the duties of county superintendent, he might be under political obligations to those. who helped to elect him, and any commitments of this kind would make it less likely that he would be able to give whole-hearted and disinterested service to the schools. Furthermore, election of su- .perintendents by the people, which would require each candidate to carry on an active campaign, would deter capable educators from competing for the office, since ma jority of the desirable men of this type have no desire to become involved in a rough and-tumble political contest.
 The best way to choose superintendents Of education is through boards of education elected by the people. In this way only the office is removed as far as possible from practical" politics. An elected board of education serving without pay is not so attractive to politicians are offices of profit Should an incompetent man be put in office, whose appointment was apparently due to some other motive than desire to promote the best interest of the schools, the voters could register their disapproval by electing new board of education. Sad experience warns against popular election of superintendents of education.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26
Are We Dead or Not By REV. H. c. OFFERMAN

There has been much discussion lately as to the real status of the church today. Is the church dead?
 It is sad, but true, that only too many would be glad to answer Yes, it is dead.
 And then there are always some pessimistic souls who see only down. fall and ruin and destruction in the future.
 The church, however, to those who are reasonable, presents an entirely different appearance.
 Is it not matter of true marvel, when we think of the vast sums of money that so, year after year, through the hands of the church?
 And then, continuing, does not the tremendous and rapid spread of mission work give the lie to any pessimism?
 When was ever so much printers ink used on the propagation of the gospel?
 Lastly, at what time in the worlds history did so many people believe that there was a higher Be- ing, God, and that, in the fullness of time, He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem the world? q will lift mine eyes unto the Hills From Whence cometh my help"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26
AN ADMIRABLE CHOICE

In appointing Judge Edward T. Sanford of Tennesse to fill the vacancy on the su: preme court bench created by the retire ment of Justice Pitney, President Harding has recognized the claims of the south to additional representation in the nations highest tribunal. At the same time he has honored distinguished jurist who is well equipped for the duties of associate justice and was unanimously indorsed by the bench and bar of Tennessee, including both Democrats and Republicans. The president had previously made appointments to the supreme court from the east, the north and the middle west. Logically the south was the section of the country which expected to furnish successor to Justice Pitney There can be no question that the president has made an admirable choice.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26
Poor Boys Who Succeeded
 By FREDERICK HoUK LAW
Ole Bull, the Grea. violini.t

One day early in the nineteenth century a blue-eyed Norwegian youth leaped into the Seine in Paris and tried to drown him. self. He had no money; he had been sick, and he was starving. Someone had stolen the violin that he loved, and all else that he owned. Fortunately, people saw him leap, and dragged him out, of the water. rich woman gave him help, bought him new violin, and set him on his way to fame. When that same Ole Bull died at the age of seventy, he was known as one of the greatest violinist who had ever lived.
 Ole Bulls whole life was series of fail ures and of triumphs. At various times he met with disappointment in Italy, in Ger many, in France and in England. At other times he was hailed as the worlds greatest violinist.
 When he came to the United States he was given triumphal reception. He went everywhere, playing for everyone, winning hearts as well as dollars. He amassed great fortune which he soon lost through people who pretended to be his friends. His genius won other fortunes, and he settled down in Cambridge, Mass.
 Every summer, in that green old age of his, he went back to the mountains of Der gen, in Norway, where he had been born, and where his father had driven him from the house because he would do nothing else but play on his violin. There, once more among the great hills, he played as before. but now with marvellous lingering and won derful technique. There at last he died, and was buried under the shadow of the mountains in which he had wandered Ole Bull, the great violinist, was man whose soul found it's highest expression in music.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26
BOY BROKERS
(Los Angeles Times)

A ''boy broker" in Chicago has dropped the final 'r" from his ti- tie and thrown himself on the mer- cy of the court, estimating his as- sets at $125,009 and his liabilities at S4,000,000. Brokers, you know, are men who handle other peoples money in speculative transactions. Since it isn't every one of us who can get the use of $4,000,000 of other peoples money to risk on our own judgment, some few may won der how this broker, so youthful that he was known as 'sboy," did it. The secret is this: He assured them he could make huge profits for them. It sometimes seems that no other people are so gullible as those who are eager to make far greater profit out of sudden deal than they could possibly make out of legitimate business investment. The men who sell gold bricks prey on the cupidity and so do the men who sell worthless stocks,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26
TROUBLE IN RHODE ISLAND
 lDetroit Free Presl

The people of Rhode Island are complaining again about their con- stitution. It is the only state in the union in which localities rather than voters are represented in the senate. As a result small fac tion of the population elects a nla- jority of the members of the upper house and therein it resembles in a measure the United States senate. But the Rhode Islanl senate has one advantage, from the point of view of the members. over the United States Senate in Washington in that it does not have to depend upon anything like senatorial cour- tesy when it decides to control nominations. The governor of Rhode Island sends his nominations to the senate for confirmation, but that is as far as he gets. The sen- ate may graciously condescend to approve it or it may reject the ap- pointments and then proceed, after three days, to fill the appointive offices by the vote of it's own mem- bers. When last heard from it had just rejected six of the governors recommendations and was getting ready to act in its own right. Nat urally one wonders why Rhode Is- land does not get rid of a constitu- tion which hamstrings it's governor and gives an agricultural town as much represent .tation in the senate as big city. but the explanation is simple. The towns which now have the representation can block any attempt to submit amendments, and what is mole, a three-fifths vote of the people is required to pass an amendment. Rhode Island, in fact, is tangled up in it's own laws and cannot get loose.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26
MEETS PUBLIC APPROVAL

< The proposal to place Birmigham's fire and police officers under civil service rules :. is based on sound principles. In private
 business enterprises efficient and trust worthy employees are retained as matter of course, because the private corporation
 aims at the service that produces smooth Expectations and net profits Promotions in
 service are based on the same principle. zThe private enterprise seeks service. Its machinery and salary allow Hances are directed toward securing the best
 service possible. Too often in public af-
 fairs the police department has been made
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26
The Peoples Forum
Request. Age.Herald Numbers

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 I have the honor to acknowledge your letter of November 28, stating that you are unable to furnish all the copies of your publication de- sired by the Library of Congress to complete it's file. May l, however, venture this suggestion, that brief notice in the columns of your pa- per, calling attention to the libra rvs needs, might be of great as sistance in collecting odd numbers now out of print. If you are will ing to extend this aid, it may secure to the library the complete file which we are sure it will be your desire, as well as ours, to have de- posted in the National Library.
 The numbers needed are June B, 16, 24, 1922; September 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 80, 1922; October 2, 3, IA, q, "A, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 1922; November "A, 29, 1922; De- cember T, 8, II, Is, 1922.
 HERBERT PUTNAM, Librarian.
 Washington, D. C., Jan. 23, 1928.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26
A Timely Editorial
The Education of Wall Street
Chicago News)


 Senator Brookhart of Iowa, the most militant of the newer agra rians" in Congress, announces that he has been invited by Elihu Root to address the partisan League of Wall street. It is to hoped that he will accept the invitation. MT. Brookhart regards Wall street, no doubt, as "enemy country" Still, he should be glad to present his views on the pressing issues of the day to all sorts and conditions of citizens. Doubtless, too, Wall street would be glad to know what the farmers of the middle west are seeking in politics through such spokesmen as Senators Brookhart, Shipstead and Capper.
 Should the Iowa senator decide to address Wall street he would do well to avoid there such errors and extravagances as those contained in his speech in the federal Senate on December IS. Samuel M. Eel ton, president of the Chicago Great Western railroad, as chair man of an active committee of rail- road executives, has just published a reply to that speech and in that reply MT. Brookhart is challenged not so much because of his opin- ions as because of his miTepresen- tations of railroad policies and railroad finance. There are keen minds even in Wall street and ar gument addressed to them should be based on carefully assimilated facts, rather than on dreams and fancies.
 MT. Felton shows that Senator Brookhart's assertion that prohibi- tive freight rates threaten to force apple growers in the state of Wash ington to dump 10000 carloads of their crop into the Columbia river was based on fancy. Inquiry of the apple growers association brought to MT. Felton the informa- tion that only small percentage of the apple crop may possibly fail to be moved to market, and this not on account of high freight rates but because of shortage of cars. There are, it appears, about $500 carloads of apples to be moved, and there is no apprehension what ever among the growers as to their being moved and marketed, except as to some midwinter varieties, and the probability that those will be dumped into the Columbia river is decidedly remote.
 The embattled agrarians do the farmer little good by indulging in baseless indictments of railroads or financiers. They would better first learn and then not depart from the facts.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26
The report of the state bank superintend

The report of the state bank superintend- of the general improvement taking place last year. The state banks, for which he reports, are direct reflex of the conditions in their localities. They recorded last year an increase of $2o,oo0,oO0 in total re- sources, an increase of $25, 5,000, ,000 in all deposits and an increase of $5,000,000 in savings deposits. The increase in deposits is particularly gratifying, especially that above living expenses and indicates growth of the habit of laying by for the future, which is the foundation of permanent prosperity.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26
NOW IN THE TRADE
(Cleveland Plain Dealer)


 The Hohenzollern, once in the pa- latial pleasure yacht of the former German emperor, is being fitted out as trade ship by the German gov ernment and will be sent on cruise to the British dominions. News that the Germans are attempting to get share of the dominion trade, which is the backbone of Britain's com merce, has caused English mer- chants to fit out two ships for a similar voyage. The first vessel will be ready to sail by February l. Soon after another ship will start around the world in the opposite direction in an effort to beat the German boat to it's goal. The beau tiful rose pink furnishings and ele- gantly appointed cabins of the Hohenzollern have been torn out to make room for stands that will display German goods.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26
BETTER PROTECTION FOR GAME

number of bills for the better protec- tion of game are prepared for the legisla- ture. All wise measures looking to this end are deserving, and all true sportsmen will support them. In fact, the most important of these bills were drawn up at the suggestion of sportsmen from all parts of the state. The point has been reached where birds, the fur-bearing animals and the deer, must be better protected or they will be exterminat- ed. Good sportsmen believe in giving game a sporting chance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26
MIR. WHITE OF EMPORIA

There is nothing like being prominent citizen in your own home town. Some phil osophers maintain that it is better to be a big frog in a small puddle than a small frog in big pond. That might not apply to a person as widely known as Editor William A. White but he gets more out of life ill Emporia, Kansas, than he would in metrop- oils like New York. He has said so, more than once. Suppose, for instance, that Editor White, sojourning in New York or
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26
Roads Thirty Feet Wide Tuscaloosa News)

Roads, thirty feet wide from one end of the country to the other, and hard all over," was the war cry when the big good roads congress met in Chicago. The farmer, his wife, his child. all his neighbors and a thousand other travellers go back and forth at all hours of the day and night in all parts of this coun- try, to say nothing of the constant ly increasing tourist fraternity. Roads must be modernized both as to surface and to width to meet this growing demand. As time and economy will be served by meeting it in the original plans for construc- tion, the Chicago slogan should be the motto everywhere as spring road building starts.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26
Better Cattle and Diaries
(SeIma Times-JournaD

Alabama showed a steady develop ment of her dairy interests during the year 1922, according to a gen. eral survey made by the dairy ex- tension service of Auburn. Six new creameries and fifty-nine milk buying stations were opened during the year, bringing the total number of active creameries in the state up to twenty-eight. which are served by ninety-two shipping stations. But the factor that gives best promise of an suspicious future for the milk and butter industry of the state is the steady improvement in the quality and breeding of her dairy cattle.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26
Adrift With the Times
Two of a Kind

Two of a Kind That type of man I can't abide Who sprinkles ashes On a slide, And spells the fun Of girls and boys Who'd .fain indulge In winters joys. His sort down south Is seldom met: We don't have ice And snow, and yet, We have the old
 Crouch who berates A little tad
 On roller skates.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26

Murderous attacks on the grocers who operate small stores throughout the city, es- pecially in the outlying sections, demand se- rious attention towards devising some means that will put stop to this stream of crime Earnest and continuous effort ought to have that effect It is not comfortable to think that there are in community speciality criminals who cannot be gathered into the laws nets.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26
Alabama Press
Tax Goe. to School.

(Gadsden Daily Times News)
 Every dollar you pay for poll tax goes to the schools of Alabama you are helping in this way to educate your boy or girl or your neighbors. No man or woman should overlook this duty.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26
Money in Pecans
Montgomery Journal)

\MOHCSoiHeIy oouiHdiJ
 The Prattvile Progress makes the gratifying announcement that ''the largest number of pecan trees in the history of Autauga county has been set out this season." It predicts a bright future for the county with this growing interest in the pecan, and urges care and attention to the trees that they might live and bear fruit at the earliest period. Where pecan tree is cultivated and properly fer tilized it will bear some fruits with in three to six years" It estimates that within the next ten years the county would be selling $5O,O00 worth of oceans, and this, added to the cotton and other crops, would make it one of the most prosperous counties in the state.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26
Useless Information

Do you learn anything worth while from the chatter of tourists?"
 'It depends on what they are chattering about" said MT. Bibbles. "An intimate knowledge of the bars and restaurants of foreign countries is of no particular value to person who feels reasonably sure that he'll never get beyond the three-mile limit"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26
A Specialist in Pork"

"You do not initiate the oratory and ges- lures of Daniel Webster?"
 "No,' replied Senator Snortsworthy. Nowadays statesman is judged, not so much by what he says and the way he says it, as his ability to swing appropriation in the right direction
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26
OF PRESSING IMPORTANCE

Although the need for public audlto- rum of large capacity is more pressing than
 ever, yet recent developments in connection { with the letting of contracts counsel thor { ough examination of specifications and bids
 before final action is taken. No time should be lost in arriving at this decision and in getting the examination under way. It IS of no use to spend time in censure ot those whose unbusinesslike methods have brought about this snarl in what would appear to
 be a relatively simple undertaking. The
 only thing of importance is the building, at 1, as early date as possible, of the best and
 most commodious auditorium that can be had for the money voted for the purpose. A building substantial, but not expenslvely
 ornate, so constructed as to convey the < sound of voice or instrument to the farthes5 tier seats, well heated, well lighted well ! ventilated, and of sufficient capacity to
 accommodate at least eight thousand people. Any capacity less than this would merely ; be adding another hall of size equal to s that of number already in existence or aunder construction in Birmingham.
 There is due the citizens and tax-payers : of Birmingham the fullest publicity in re- gard to the progress of the inquiry and the 3 decisions arrived at. Any policy of se- { cretiveness breeds public distrust and fur nishes screen behind which the public welfare may be compromised. There is nothing concealed that may not by proper 7 public action be brought to light; therefore, publicity in the beginning is the wiser course. The attitude of some of the city commissioners is the proper one of co-opera- tion with civic enterprises which call for and are making searching inquiry into specified tions and competitive bids, not for the pur- pose of fixing any blame anywhere, at this stage of affairs, but in order that there may be no mistake in construction that will be permanent drawback to the auditorium's ] ability to serve Birmingham; and no ex- pendture of public funds in excess of the { amount warranted by the specifications ul- timately adopted. In all this, however, there should be no time lost, beyond that period necessary to discover and correct < mistakes that have been made.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26
Diverting a Client

Lawyer Glibwitz," said the veteran pick pocket, 'how long are you going to talk to the jury?"
 "Oh about two hours. It will take that long for me to convince the intelligent gen. tlemen of the jury that you are innocent"
 q wish you could cut it short. I've got keen sense of humor and when you start to tell lem what good guy am it'll be all l can do to keep my face straight"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26
Just to Serve State?
Montgomery Advertise

Montgomery Advertiser
 Governor Brandon says he has learned at least one thing since he became governor, and that is that there are good many more peo- pie in Alabama now than there were before he was governor. At least it must seem to him that way. And he has learned that most of them are patriots, ready to serve their state.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-26
Down on the Farm Stuff

You don't speak dialect?"
 "Only during the summer months,' said MT. Cobbles. 'I have photograph and d radio outfit to entertain them, but the boarders don't seem to be satisfied unless give them little rural comedy"