davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-10

establish the completely of the Ameri-
can government or the American Lee
gion in the abduction plot. After the
verdict, however, Herr Zeiss gave out
that he had found that the govern
ment and the Legion had had nothing
to do with the matter and that the
affair was financed by an American
film company. That the Germans
themselves have had enough of Berg
doll is indicated by Herr Seifert, coun-
sci for the defendants, who called at
tention to the fact that Bergdoll is
held in contempt by Americans and
that "the sooner Germany gets rid of
Bergdoll the better for Germany. Ger
many cannot afford to harbor forever
within her borders man of Bergdoll's
type" 1t is significant that in Ger
many Bergdoll's effort to escape the
draft is not regarded as to his credit,
even though the purpose may have
been friendship for Germany, as some
have alleged. On the contrary, Berg
dolls status in Germany, where every
body fought who was not needed other
wise, is no better than it Is in this
country. The trial may have resulted
in the sending of others to Jail, but
Bergdoll is the one who received the
unacceptable sentence-the scorn and
contempt of his fellowman.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-10

almost summary procedure of par
doning.
1t may be that the findings of the
board of pardons are justified, but
the public, and the law, which place
murder in the category of the most
serious crimes, cannot but view with
some apprehension the fact that half
of the paroles recommended involve
the crime of murder, even murder in
the first degree. If the process of
parole or pardon involved some def
mite and formal hearing similar to,
though not so elaborate as court,
with public hearing and record, it is
felt that the operation would not
smack so strongly of notification of
trial and court sentence. The courts
may err, and there should be recourse
when error is found, but it is incredi-
BILE that the courts should err in The
majority of serious cases, especially
those involving the deliberate taking
of human life. The penalties provided
in our laws lose their force when there
is general understanding that these
penalties may be modified summarily
and at the executive will. There should
be additional restrictions and safe
guards SO as to prevent the abuses
that otherwise inevitably creep in
when there is too liberal use of the
pardoning power.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-10
PARDONS AND THE COURTS

1t is noted that of the thirty-four
paroles and pardons recommended by
the state board Of pardons, eighteen
are for those convicted of murder,
many of them murder in the first de-
gree. Of course, the theory Of parole
and pardon is well-intrenched in our
system of government. Where wisely
administered, there is no doubt of It's
humaneness. Nevertheless, the sit
uation affords opportunity for injus-
tice as we'll as justice. The weakness
in the whole pardoning system is the
lack of formality attending the deter
mination of paroles or pardons.
Whereas the courts are surrounded
with all the safeguards insuring a fair
trial and the protection of the public
safety as well as of the defendants
right to a defense, the pardon author
ity's investigation is more or less of
an ex parte nature, and the expensive
and exhaustive procedure of the court
may be reversed and nullified by the
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-10
THE EFFECTS OF
POLITICS ON TAXES
cleveland Plain Dealer)

A1lCfCiaiiu 1dih 0CdiCi(
Secretary Melons tax letter and
the attention the subject of tax re-
vision has received since its publ
cation promise to make the tax
reduction issue the biggest thing
in the next session of congress.
Everyone is agreed that lower fed
eral income taxes, IL they are pos
sible, are desirable and ought to
be made effective at the earliest
possible moment, but there is now
no assurance that the Mellon pro-
gram, or any other program call
ing for effective reduction, can be
agreed upon.
The indication is, rather, that
the taxation bill will become a
political football and that the
locked. In fact, persons CONVEX
SAINT with the situation at Wash
ington openly express the opinion
that taxation measure of any
kind will not be reported out in
either house. There will be much
talk, it appears, but little action,
solely because a congressional and
presidential election is less than a
year away. and every group in
congress is afraid some other
group will receive credit for re-
duction IL 1t is effected.
The way to deal with the stu
alton is along lines laid down by
Representative Garrett, Democrat
lie house leader, and Senator Walsh
of Massachusetts,. Both have ex-
od will ivo 20 10
with the majority in this matter
with the sole purpose of promot-
ing the public good" The major
ity of their colleagues. however,
are apparently of the opinion that
there will not be credit enough to
go around in a sound tax reduction
measure and that, therefore, the
Mellon plan must not be adopted.
Even among the alleged progress
sive Republicans, opposition is
raised to the administration pro-
gram. 1t probably can succeed
only in the event that party lines
are disresarded and the forward
looking, genuinely progressive
members of both parties combine
to support 1t.
There is no political way of
writing or revising a federal in
come tax law. The present law is
admittedly imperfect and at the
same time, according to the seere-
tary of the treasury, the expendi-
lures of the government now JUS
tify a reduction in rates. Members
of all parties should unite upon a
bill designed to produce the maxi
mum revenue while bearing as
lightly as possible upon all, and as
nearly equally as possible upon
the several groups Of taxpayers.
In such a measure there would be
credit enough for everyone and
every party assisting In its enact
ment.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-10

In recent years the production Of
graphite has been an important in
dustry in Alabama. In war times,
when imports from the Orient were
to a large extent cut off, tho in
dustry developed rapidly, produce
ton being vastly increased. Aft
erward, with peace, came more
normal conditions and lower prices
and graphite mining in Alabama
had quite setback. In the midst
of those discouraging days, how
ever. was the firm belief that this
industry under normal conditions
should be a prosperous one, and
that it could be and would be sue
cessfully developed. Since then,
graphite in Alabama has been In
process Of coming back" and that
it will be one of the permanent in
dustries of the state is now re-
garded as assured.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-10
THOUGHT vERMIN

No garden can grow to advan-
tage If 1t is infested with insects,
We cannot raise flowers, fruit or
vegetables unless we are con-
stantly fighting the yermin. They
deface, they destroy, they make
worthless. And SO 1t Is with the
gardens of our mentaiities. Spleen
did, constructive, wholesome
beautiful thoughts cannot grow
and cone to full fruitage unless
we keep them free from thought
vermin. And 1t takes as much
diligence and intelligence to keep
our thought-gardens clear of dew
astating forces as 1t does our
physical gardens. Yes, and more,
We can so among our roses and
petunias, our tomatoes and cucum-
bers and spray them with insecti-
cides once a week and be sure
that they will stay reasonably
free from infestation. Not SO our
thoughts gardens. The very air
seems filled with destructive
thought-pests, which must be
shooed away nearly every minute
of the day,
|. We have some Colorado blue
spruce on our place. They are
beautiful trees, and we had con-
sidered them immune from insect
pests. Suddenly there appeared
upon them abominable little
worms. They made themselves
silken bags which hung from the
twigs mouth downward. They
would slip out of these retreats,
a M Ia -;
again. Their homes were imper-
vious to sprays. There was only
one thing to do to save the trees.
That was laboriously to hand-pick
every twig on every limb. And
In order to save the spruces we
had to be just a little more per-
sistent about the Manipulating
than the worms were about multi
plying.
So 1t is with our thought-gar-
ders. We may think ourselves i'm
mune from certain temptations,
when suddenly they will descend
on us like a swarm of locusts out
OF the sky. And the only way we
can save ourselves is to hand
pick our thoughts with diligent
persistency. If we keep the bugs
out of our gardens of thought, the
roses will bloom, the fruits will
ripen and the vines will Chamber.
1t takes hard work to make a
garden. 1t takes hard work to
do anything that is worth while.
You will sec a hundred men start
out in the spring to make gardens.
They may all begin in the same
way. But look at their gardens
later. Many will be grown to
weeds and gnawed by insects and
will not have paid their owners
for the seed sown. But some few
will be clean, healthy, profitable
and a joy to behold, And every
time the owners of these latter
gardens look at them they feel a
sense of pleasure and satisfaction.
And ever ytime tho owners of the
former gardens look at them they
are dissatisfied and disappointed
not only with the gardens, but
with themselves.
1t takes lot Of work to make
a garden grow--but that is what
gardener is for.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-10
UNDERWOOD AND
TARIFF REFORM
IEIorida TImes-I1ninnl

Mr.. Underwood led the ablest
fight for tariff reform that has
ever been made in this country.
Large numbers of Republicans
voted for all the bills he intro
duced. A few years later, when
the Democrats gained power, I'M
der Senator Underwood's leader
ship, bill was passed greatly re-
ducing tariff duties, but the fight
to which we refer as the most
brilliant one the Democrats ever
made was made in 1911, though 1t
was made without any chance of
success, for 1t was certain that a
Republican president would veto
any bill furnishing any real relief.
In this case separate bills were In
troduced for each schedule and
every one of them passed the
house by much more than the
Democratic majority. 1t was Mr..
Underwood's consummate general
ship in that fight that caused the
Times-Union in 1912 to support
him for the Democratic presiden-
tial nomination.
AS a matter of principle. tariff
for revenue only is the real Dem
ocratic issue. The vote in 1911
showed it was much stronger than
the Democratic party. Votes cast
since then have proved the same
thing. The Democratic success
last year was due to the fact that
the contest was waged almost ex-
clusively on tariff lines and proves
-;
the tariff would draw extensive
support from men outside of the
party. 1t should be the single-shot
fight next year. for it is the DEM
ocratic principle involved and on
that principle the Democrats would
sweep the country.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-10
BERGDOLL ABDUCTION TRIAL

1t does not appear that the Ameri-
cans convicted in Germany of an at
tempt to abduct Grover Bergdoll were
severely dealt with or that they were
hot given fair trial. The fact that the
period of their incarceration while
awaiting trial was credited on their
6ail sentences, is further indication
that there was no national animosity
displayed. Although the language of
The prosecution was at times extrava-
giant, it appears that the courts atti-
tude was that the real crime had moth
ing to do with Bergdoll, but was the
flouting of German laws against abb
duction and assault.
Herr Zeiss, Bergdoll's counsel, sew
kral times during the trial sought to
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-10
MORE TRUTH THAN POETRY

MORE TRUTH THAN POETRY
The rouble once was treated with re-
spect,
The guinea was thing that people
priced;
The franc, as you will doubtless recol-
lect,
Had merits that were widely recog-
nized;
In other years the humble little mark
Had value that it never will get
back;
I remember, and I'm not a patriarch,
When the dollar was handsome
piece of Jack.
In seasons that to memory are dear
Perhaps you can recall them If you
try
Five thousand good old iron men per
year
Gave one fair excuse for stepping
high;
The sweet stenog who got fifteen a
week
- Wase'envied by her sisters. young
and old,
But the dollar has a manner that Is
meek
When it's handed out where things
are bought and sold.
There was time when ham and eggs
were not
Set off among the priceless luxuries,
When, with a ten-cent piece of pie,
one got
A free and not too stingy chunk of
cheese.
When shoes and clothes and rent and
coal were cheap,
When a derby cost three dollars, and
no more,
When a postman's wages were enough
to keep
The shaggy wolf from scratching at
his door.
The rouble has become a gruesome
joke,
The pound has lost the dignity it
had,
The mark is flattened by a single
stroke,
The francs condition, frankly's
rather bad;
The lire and crown are full of nasty
dents,
The florin isn't soaring very high
The dollar still is worth hundred
cents,
It's little that hundred cents will
buy. IS. E. Kiser.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-10
THE DRUG PROBLEM
Chattanooga Times)

Testimony in case in the Unit
ed States court here shows that
physicians differ as to the wisdom
or necessity of supplying drug ad-
diets with their dope" 1t Is ad-
mitted that these depraved or I'M
fortunate creatures suffer agony
whom deprived of narcotics and
there Is no question as to that.
The problem is again brought
before the official and public mind
by the case in question. 1t Is a
difficult one. but it should be met
with courage, determination and a
dispassionate consideration of
what is the best thing to do. The
conviction or acquittal of doctors
charged with violating the law
will not afford a remedy. Wiser
measures, taken long ago, might
have minimized the evil, but they
were not adopted, and. as re-
suit, Chattanooga has on its hands
some hundreds of addicts, made
so through their own rashness, or
because of addiction from the use
of drugs, prescribed by physicians,
| for relieving pain caused by phys
ical ailments.
Many of these are. in effect. pub
lie charges, revolving to look
upon when in tho agonies OF de-
privation. Many. il not all, of
| them are entitled to the greatest
| sympathy and aid in overcoming
the monster that has gripped
| them. Possibly, the majority of
| them could be run out of town by
| a strict enforcement of the law.
That would relieve Chattanooga
to some extent, but would not tend
to solve the problem in it's broader
sense. 1t would only drive them
| either to suicide or to become
charges upon some other commu-
nifty.
There is a growing recognition
of the evil and of the need of a
better method Of handling it. The
suggestion has been made that the
national government, states and
municipalities cooperate in es-
tablishing more hospitals or de-
| tention stations for the confine-
| ment and treatment of these ad-
diets. It would, of course, in
| crease the tax burden to some ex-
| tent, and some experts declare
| that cures cannot be effected in
that way. that most of the addicts
| resume the taking of drugs after
| their release or discharge from
public or private institution. There
is another school of physicians,
however, who believe that the evil
can be at least reduced by volun-
| tary or enforced treatment. 1t
seems to be about the only prac-
tical plan for the care Of those
already victims of drugs, and II no
better method can be devised 1t
should be adopted.
AS to reducing the number of
addicts of the future, physicians,
the press and others cannot be too
diligent in warnings of the danger
of narcotics nor the government
too vigorous in preventing the i'm
| portation or local manufacture of
more than needful supply.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-10
THE EFFECTIVE WAY
(Memphis Commercial Appeall

(Memphis Commercial Appeal)
Tried and convicted on a charge
of manslaughter, an Alabama man
has been sentenced to serve five
years in the state prison. While
driving an automobile he ran
down and killed a young woman.
OF course, he didn't kill her inten-
tionally. But If the verdict of the
jury is just, her death was brought
about by criminal negligence or
recklessness on the part of the
defendant.
years in prison may seem too Sc
we're. But 1t is the only way. If
executive clemency is withheld
and the man is made to serve the
full sentence, 1t will be the means
Of saving hundreds. II, however,
the convicted man is held for a
few weeks or months and then
pardoned, other reckless drivers of
motor vehicles will smile and con-
tinue to ignore traffic regulations,
with tho result that the inexcusa-
BILE slaughter of human life will
go on.
No law is worth the paper on
which 1t is printed unless it is en-
forced without Partially. Neither
social nor financial position
should be considered in the en-
forcement of law. Too many dri-
vers of automobiles seem to re-
gard our traffic laws either as a
joke or written for somebody else.
The only way to make the public
respect and obey them Is to en-
force them.
When automobile drivers are
convinced that the law Is going
to be enforced, and that there is
an even chance that every man
who violates the law in the least
particular will have to pay the
penalty therefor. all will have re-
spect for the law.
The Alabama way may seem
drastic, but 1t is the only way.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-10
HIGHWAYS AND TOURISTS

The achievement of North Carolina
in being the first state in the Union to
join all it's county-seats in a network
of connecting, hardsurfaced state high
ways, and that too without federal aid,
is one for other states to emulate.
One thing is sure: Good roads breed
good roads. Any state highway COM
mission that places its ideals high and
then seeks to realize those ideals is
far more apt to receive full public
support and encouragement than a
commission that sacrifices efficiency
to expediency. For, just as surely as
good roads breed good roads, SO roads
improperly built and maintained Gre
ate public distrust that refuses adj
ditional funds when additional funds
are needed.
Alabama today stands in a critical
situation as regards her state high
ways. At present, the attitude is one
of dissatisfaction with what has been
in the past accomplished with the state
bond issue. The present commission
has remedied some glazing evils. 1t is
hoped that it will remedy still more
of them, and that 1t will build high
ways worthily, permanently and WELL
1t is hoped that it will maintain these
highways with the most meticulous
skill and attention, and that there will
always be set aside by the commission
adequate sums for this purpose. The
maintenance funds must grow. an
nually as the length of the mileage in
creases. Maintenance must never in
the slightest degree pass out of the
direct supervision and direction of the
commission. That is the law.
The connecting of county-seats by
highway links is the desired and au-
thorized goal. This purpose is not in
conflict with the construction also. of
through trunk highways that shall con-
meet our state system with those of
other states. The opinion has been of
late officially expressed in Alabama
that we don't want to build roads for
the benefit of outsiders. Such a
shortsighted and absurd statement
would deserve no notice at all were it
not for the fact that it was uttered
by one high in temporary authority in
this state. Fortunately, there is an
answer at hand. California has built
her roads in such manner as to col
lect tourists as a river collects the
flow of its tributaries. California has
spent more on roads than any other
state, and for the most part has better
roads than any other state. Yet her
highway engineers figure that Califor-
MIA could once every five years tear
up every foot of her paved roads and
rebuild them out of the money brought
into the state as result of those roads.
Florida builds her roads for tourists.
because Florida knows that tourists
spend within her borders millions of
dollars of outside money every week.
Alabama can afford to build roads to
invite tourists, for they would soon
bring us the funds to build still other
roads.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-10
THE BIG CITIES

Chicago Journal of Commerce)
War, revolution and earthquake
have played havoc with several
great cities that used to aspire to
high place among the worlds ur-
ban centers.
When the car fell, Petrograd
was credited with nearly 1000, 600
Inhabitants. 1t has not half that
many now. Moscow, on the other
hand, has increased greatly, owing
to the policy of the bolshevik gov
eminent of centering everything
in that. city. Vienna formerly con-
tanned about 100000 people. It's
population is much less now,
though figures on the decline are
not available.
Before Japans great earth
quake, Toxic had 2,S4s,000 people.
and Osaka 1,460,000. Japan's cap
ital is naturally out of the metro
politan race at present. China
largest city is Hankow. with
1921 900. Pekin, Shanghai and
Canton each have about 100000,
OF the first five in the metro
politan race. London and New York
are first and second. For the
third place there was close rivalry,
at the last census, between Paris
and Chicago. The official figures
showed Chicago only trifle be-
hind.
Tho most populous cities in the
world, according to the most re-
cent census figures, are as follows:
London 1888, 900
New York .................5 1921 900
Paris =. 2, SSS, 900
Chicago ..................2,7 01, 900
TOXIC ............,.. 224 900
Berlin (about) ...........2,0 00, 900
Moscow (about) ....... 1900, 600
Philadelphia ....s.... Il, 500 600
Buenos Aires i, 637, 900
1t Is worthy of note that the
two leaders-London and New
York-have both annexed vast
areas of populous suburbs that
help to swell their population fig
ures. Greater London is composed
of very many separate "boroughs,"
and Greater New York includes
Brooklyn and other residential
districts. If Jersey City were not
in a different state, New York's
total population would crowd
closely on London's.
Paris would have been out
stripped by Chicago, in this dec
! ade. but for its new policy of an
nexing densely populated suburbs.
1t may stay in third place for
some time by this means. There
are almost as many people in
Paris environs as in the city
proper.
The Greater Chicago of the fu-
ture will have ready-made sub
urban population of several hun
dred thousand. which is now grow
ing nearly three times as fast as
the city proper
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-10

(Oneonta Southern Democracy
One fellow says the thing he
doesn't like about the dairy bust
ness is that it makes him work.
That is really the great trouble
with great many people in this
country-they are afraid of work.
We all need to get this fundamen-
tai principle firmly fixed in our
minds. There is no permanent
prosperity without human effort.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-10
Interest in Schools

(Hartselle Weekly Herald)
1t is very gratifying indeed to
note the increasing interest being
taken in the betterment of the
rural schools. A short time ago,
comparatively, they were few and
far apart, and the buildings in
which, they were taught were in
no wise constructed as they should
be for the very necessary bust
ness of learning. Today, there is
in every community in this coun-
ty good school, and not only so,
but better prepared teachers are
teaching these schools. and mod
ern up to the minute school houses
have been provided.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-10
Appeal for Recognition
(Anniston starr


There Is pretty we'll establish
ed opinion that the people of this
county would Aot vote in favor of
county bond issue until they
have seen some tangible result of
the state issue on which they
voted last year, and il that be
true it would pay the city of An
niston and the county at large to
keep a man at Montgomery TO
make life miserable for the state
highway commission until some
recognition is given to Calhoun
county in a manner commensurate
with it's Importance.