davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-31
In the NeUs

Governor Senator
 Len Small s. w. BrOokhart Senator Brookhart, Iowa, introduces bill empowering President to take over and operate coal mines in an emergency. Resolution ask ing impeachment of Gov. Sm alb Illinois, has been placed before House of Rep- resentatives of that State.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-31

O. B. Phillips, for years chief financial field repre- sentative of Anti = Saloon League, charges he was forced to split huge con- missions with William H. Anderson (above) State Superintendent, New York. Anderson says blackmail. The charges made involve only Anderson.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-01

prise. Already the chambers 3 com merce of the state are embarking on such program, which the legislature can forward in a telling and definite manner by authorizing a complete and detailed survey of Alabama's of feIfngs to capital seeking investment. Such an official catalogue would be a compelling and invincible document. Then, also, the legislature can remove the reproach of convict leasing which undoubtedly has it's effect upon the decisions as to location of new indus tries. What this state needs is not more tax exemption, which is daily growing into more pronounced eco- homie fallacy, but a more equitable adjustment of the tax burden. If the legislature contemplates further tax legislation, let it at least be along modern and approved lines.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-01
NOT OF PUBLIC CONCERN

It is reported that the steel opera tors will experience a lot of trouble in doing away with the twelve-hour day and substituting the eight-hour one. That does not concern the de- mand of public opinion for the change. The twelve-hour day is an institution of the steel companies. They founded the twelve-hour work period; it is for them to undo that system and estab- fish the fairer and more humane one. Neither is the public prepared to lay store by the slowness of many steel operatives in demanding the eight-hour day. These men wished a full days wage and naturally hang fire on sub- stitution of day which threatens less pay, even though the present period of work is overlong. The twelve-hour day is the handiwork of the steel cor porations. It is their job to replace it with the eight-hour day.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-01

bile on Monday of this week. The menace is here all the time and life Is taken all the time, first in one To- cality, then in another, first by one grade crossing and then by another, but by all In good season. The Louis vile and Nashville railroad is com mended for having completed it's plans for beginning work of grade crossings in Birmingham, and further step to- ward actual work is shown in the coming to Birmingham of an engineer of the Southern Railway with reputed instructions to stay on that job ex- clusively until the Southern is also prepared to go ahead.
 Birmingham has been patient under delays, but is no longer disposed to submit to them. All the time needed, and more, for preparation by the rail roads has been accorded. In the light of the daily record of the grade crossing and in that of the special of- fering of thirty-five lives of American citizens on last Sabbath day, it is cer- tainly time to push comprehensive plan for grade-crossing removal.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-01
DISCARD TAX EXEMPTIONS

In considering the proposed legisla- tion granting tax exemptions to new industries, the legislature is reminded that this device to attract enterprise
 and capital has been abandoned in most states, and that North Carolina, which is frequently held up to Ala bama as a model of what she should become, has not offered tax exemp- tions since 1862. There must be more substantial inducement than tenn porary tax exemptions to attract new industries. The inducements must be basic and permanent, such as efficient and economical transportation, prox- imity of raw material, health, labor and other elements of lasting and in- trinsic value. All these clements Alabama offers in abundance. The chief thing lacking is an organized program of making them known to capital and promoters of new enter
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-01
HIS EXCELLENCY, GAMBUSIA

Minnows make good food for game fish, but people usually forget that even minnows in turn have to eat to live. There is one minnow, the gam busia or. top minnow, whose food is of significance to man. The gambusia is very fond of mosquito eggs and larvae. It is said that he will even leave other tidbits for this delicacy. Accordingly, many communities that are trying to get rid of the mosquito nuisance are planting top minpows in ponds and lakes, hoping that their conscience will be their guide. It is reported that the top minnows catch the idea almost at once, and that the way they fall upon the eggs and larvae is delight to the malarial and boon of hope to those who sit in dread of fever. Pike county is among the latest to employ this ally in the fight for better health conditions, although other communities have found the practice advisable. As Horace might with great benificence have exclaimed to the malarial Romans:
 o ions Gambusiae,
 Splendidior vitro!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-01
THE SEASON OF MARVELS

The summer is rapidly growing to close, yet up to this writing few lurid stories of sea-serpents, land monsters and terror-striking phe- nomena have been broadcast among the credulous. Usually by the middle of June shippers headed for American ports tell of startling sights. One runs afoul of a school of man-eating sharks which followed his craft day or so apparently with hopes that a roust- about would topple overheard, but, disgusted at bad luck, topped off the stunt with fight to the finish that reddened the sea for miles around. Another witnesses huge water-spout that threatened death and destruction to shipping as far as the eye could reach. Still another watches battle between a whale and some strange monster with flaming eyes and fright ful claws and voice deafening in it's roar. Sea-serpents are reported that tax the imagination as respects dimen- sions and architectural designs.
 The first shivering story of the kind during this season, strange to say, comes from the interior. In Ne braska, dwellers near a big pond re- late the presence of an amphibious creature of immense proportions that comes out after dark seeking whom and what it might devour. Of course it is of the prehistoric family and gets bigger as each person passes along the yarn. Dinosaur fans far and wide are already staring with soup-plate eyes, and each scientist has different lucid explanation of how it came to be in Nebraska pond. Nobody seems to have connected any of these reports with the return from Europe and en- trance into the political ring of John son and Brookhart, or with the activi- ties of Bo1tah and LaFollette. As yet there has been no suggestion that the terrible visions are due to unsuccessful efforts to obey prohibition. But the season is still young, and a satisfac- tory explanation may still be forth coming. Where there's a mystery there's usually solution, even though it may turk behind various and sundry stages of veracity.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-01
THE GRADE-cRossING INQUIRY

The legislative committee, having under consideration bills proposing to simplify and strengthen existing stat utes relating to construction of via ducts and subways. at railroad cross ings, did well in deciding to come to Birmingham today to see for them selves the extent of the grade-crossing menace existing here. The grade crossing evil throughout the country was gruesomely emphasized on Sunday when thirty-five lives were taken and ten persons injured by reason thereof. One Pennsylvania train killed thirteen persons in two grade-crossing acci- dents, and in Missouri a train killed four and injured others of a Sunday school party. The second and most costly of the Pennsylvania trains tolls of life was caused by the first which made the train late and compelled the engineer to seek to make up lost time.
 The Eighteenth street crossing in
 Birmingham came very near taking four lives in the wreck of an automo-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-01
PEOPLES FORUM
"Barrins tho Public Out"

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 I read with much interest tho editorial contained in this morn ing's issue of your valuable DE- per under the above caption. II would seem that the board of rev. emu are ignorant of the provisions of an act passed at the 1915 ses- sion of our legislature. General Acts Alabama 1915. pages 314-315. The first section of this act reads:
 It shall be unlawful for any executive or secret session to be held by any of the following named boards, commissions or courts of Alabama, namely: The railroad commission of Alabama, the high school commission of Alabama, the state board of purchase, board of compromise of Alabama, state board of con- Vict inspectors, state tax com mission, any court of county commissioner or board of reve- nue, any city commission or mu- nicipal council, or any other body, board or commission in the state charged with the duty of disbursing any funds belong ing to the state, county or mu- nicipality, except that executive or secret sessions may be held by any of the above named boards or commissions when the character or good name of a woman or man is involved.
 It occurs to the writer that any agreement or contract entered into at such executive or secret (star chamber) session would be void as against public policy under the provisions of the quoted act.
 The second section of the act quoted provides the penalty, and provides further: Amy person who remains in attendance upon any meeting of any of the above named boards or bodies which is being held in secret or executive session shall be deemed guilty of violating the provisions of this act"
 In passing this act 1t was prob ably the legislative intent to pre- vent just such proceedings de- scribed In your editorial.
 The provisions of this act ought to be called to the attention of the board of revenue of Jefferson county and to the people whom they serve to prevent recurrence of star chamber proceedings in the future.
 PRO BONO PUBLICO.
 Columbiana, Ala.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-01
Charges and Proof


 The demand for independence by any people is one that arouses sympathy. At the same time, nothing Is easier than to exploit for private ends the desires of a people for political freedom. The allegation can be easily made that any nation that withholds anoth- CTS independence is tyrannous; but 1t Is another thing to prove that the United States is abusing the Philippines. The independence of the Filipino people, when it can be maintained by them, is desired by Americans. Premature inde- pendence. followed by anarchy, foreign domination, or presump- tion of American protection. is not desirable and will not be permit ted by the United States.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-01
POOR BOYS WHO
 BECAME FAMOUS By Frederick Houk Law
Samuel CoIeride Taylor

In 1912 there died a most tal- ented man, genius. in fact Samuel Coleridge Taylor, the ne- gro composer. Like many an other genius. he met an early death, for he was only thirty seven when he breathed his last. It is often the case that the fires of great ability destroy the very one to whom they attract atten- tion.
 In the music composed by Sam uel Coleridge Taylor there is a peculiar quality that comes, per haps from the blending of the emotions and the ability of two races, the black and the white. Samuels father was a black man from the tropical region of Sierra Leone in Africa; his mother was English. The son showed In his short life the intense love of mu- sic of the one race, and the con- structive ability and the directing power fthe other.
 From his childhood he was a lover of music, and very early in life learned to play upon the vio- lin, from which he could draw strains of unusual sweetness. He could not only produce music that others had written, but he could also compose works of his own. His talent was recognized, and he was sent to good teachers of mu- sic, the expectation being that ~he would develop into rare player of the violin. At the age of eigh- teen he was successful in winning a scholarship for musical compost tion. Even at that early age he was looked upon as 8 genius.
 Fortunately for him, he had in his blood the staying power of the white race, and he bent his energies to serious study under the best masters. He was only twenty-t three when he composed his famous cantata called lila watha's Wedding" remarkable piece of music that has in it sug- gestions of open spaces and free life. Music lovers saw in this work such a new appeal that they gave lavish praise to the young composer. At once he wrote two other compositions on the Hia- watha theme, making three most notable contributions to music. After this he continued to write, always with originality and with reaching power, producing waltzes, ballads, operettas and symphonies His early death cut short a life full of promise.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-01
MOTHERS OF FAMOUS
 MEN
The Mother of George F. HOar

The Mother of George F. HORT
 My father was Roger Sher- man.'
 So the mother of Senator George F. Hoar, one of the leading fig ures in the affairs of the nation, was accustomed to say. Well might she be proud of her father, for Roger sherman had made his name name of power and weight in the days when the United States was brought into being as na- tion. He was one of the leading figures in all the deliberations, patriot of unquestioned loyalty, a man ready to give to the utmost, and to serve to the utmost, model of what a self-sacrificing American should be.
 "I do not remember my father as I should like to, but I have d very clear picture of him, and l can still hear his voice." she would add-for she was only ten years old when her distinguished father died.
 She had lived with her mother very quietly in New Haven, Con necticut, and in 1912 had married a lawyer, and good one-for was he not six feet and three inches tall, Samuel Hoar was a man who had ancestors also. His people had been among the leading pa triots in the days of the colonies and of the revolution.
 Senator Hoar said: My family was at the battle of Concord; that is, my grandfather was there; two of my great at-grandfathers were there; and three of my uncles. We were well represented" Miss sherman, who became the mother of Senator Hoar, was a well edu- cated woman. At one time. in fact, she taught small school. She was distinguished for her sympathy to all who were in trouble. "One man is as good as another" -h used to say, in put ting aside Ni thought of rank or place. She was a believer in equality, and any person was well come in her home. From an an- cestry of that type is 1t any won der that there came the great pub lie figure, Senator George r. Hoar?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-01
Question of Jones Act

The Filipino leaders identified with the movement for early in dependence assert that the Jones act provides for a sort of parlia- mentary government. with heads of departments responsible only to the native legislature. This view Is emphatically denied by the gov ernor general. who holds that the cabinet officers are responsible to him alone as the representative Of the American sovereignty. Irri- tating controversies over removals and reinstatements are traceable to the basic disagreement concern ing the status of the governor general and his authority. It may be found necessary to amend the Jones act in order to settle juris- dictional issues. It is necessary, beyond question, to clarify the American position on the general issue of Philippine independence. Drifting at Washington will ere ate increased tension and discord at Manila.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-01
OPPORTUNITY FOR ECONOMY

Although the county board of reve- nue has persisted in carrying out the objectionable real estate deal involving the purchase of proposed new site for courthouse, there still must be referred to the people the question of bond issue. The actual removal of the courthouse to the new site is by no means to be taken for granted.
 There is, to be sure, llmost desper- ate need of a new courthouse. But there is practically equal need of new city hall. There are many who perceive in this conjunction of city and county requirements for new quarters the possibility of an economy that would not otherwise be possible. This econ omy would be taken advantage of through construction by the city and county jointly of a building that would afford commodious quarters for both at minimum of expense.
 The proper way to go about the project, however, is not through se cret negotiations and under-cover agreements which determine the off cial decision beforehand. The plan must be open and aboveboard and the pub lie must be taken into official confi- dence. Otherwise, the people, as they have done before, are almost certain to refuse to sanction the necessary expenditures. The plan also must be free of any suspicion of exploiting a public undertaking for the sake of a private profit or of advancing a pri- vate project.
 The people are averse to any loose proposal for the expenditure of large sums of public money. The day has gone by when the totals of projected bond issues may be arrived at by guess and the manner of expenditure left to official discretion. The people are demanding that there be presented complete outline of the proposed un- dertaking, with definite information as to the exact amount required and the character of construction to which it is to be applied.
 In the case of public buildings the old idea of a magnified farmhouse type of architecture has given way to a desire for modern structure, equipped with all the modern conven- fences and well-supplied with light, ventilation and the other essentials of health, comfort and suitability. h. asmuch as courthouse and city hall are for the purposes of carrying on the public business, the structure should exemplify the most modern and efficient type of edifice. Stateliness, without ornateness, beauty, without extravagant adornment, imposing size, without waste of space, dignity, with out sacrifice of utility-all these fac tors enter into consideration.
 The need for courthouse and city hall is not to be denied. Let there be such approach to this important mat ter as will win public confidence and not destroy it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-01
JOHN-A-DREAMS
Dreams of nm Empty Store

It happens at times that a sleep ing woman will see a store with which she Is wholly familiar. but from which everything has been removed and which now Is as va cant as the day it came out of the builders hands. In most cases the vision reproduces in its outline some store where the dreamer makes frequent purchases, that of the butcher, the baker or the dairyman. Mostly, the vision shows her bare and dirty walls, perhaps few empty shelves or an abandoned counter and few uten- sils strewn about which indicate that the owner has forsaken his place of activity and has no inten- tion of returning. A vision of this sort indicates a complete removal from a dreamer's life of something that she at the present moment considers of vital necessity to her well-being, of almost indispensa- ble value to her existence.
 This dream, to begin with, tells her that the thing she considers of so much worth Is not and never will be worth having. and that she will be better off for losing it. Even though her judgment may tell her otherwise, she will do well to believe the dream because her subconscious mind knows bet ter than her waking thought. Secondly, the dream informs her that something else will take the place of what she is about to lose, of greater value. Thirdly, the dream promises her that in future she will be able to map out her career and her plans untrammeled and unhindered by traditions, re- strictions or other letters which have often cut into the flesh of her wrists. Altogether, then, this vision is good omen and one, if sensibly interpreted, which should hold out great hope for her flu ture,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-01
Battling the weevi1
Tuscaloosa News)

uSCdiOoSd A~S"S(
 Especially interesting to Tusca- loosa county, since the state farm experts have come to this county for some experiments in neighbor hood defeats to the boil weevil. | the promise now being made th cotton planters of the South ths' tlN weevil can be defeated by co operative action. There seems t be but little doubt in tho min6 of cotton men generally that cal cium arsenate will kill enough O the weevils. If applied properly. t. make possible the harvest of good cotton crop. In addition tt this remedy. work Is being don( in Tuscaloosa county toward thS defeat of the boil weevil by early fall blowing under of stalks. Other methods are being tried. and the entire system of methods is being used to one end-the re- moval of the boil weevil from one or two of the cotton growing eom- munities in this county.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-01
Moi Yef ReadY
Washington Star)

" dSHlnBlOn StafD
 Tn trouble in the islands comes from the fact that General Wood. doubtless under instructions based upon his report of conditions as he found them to be. has been try ing to undo some of the unwise work of the preceding administra- tfon with regard to the Philip pines. The former policy was to turn the islands quickly over to native control, and as a conse- quence the insular administration had become rapidly native, with a resultant diminution in efficien- cy. Truth is that the Filipinos are not yet ready to assume the bur den and responsibility of their own government. That is the con- clusion of General Wood, and that will doubtless be the basis of the decision of the government at Washington when the question definitely comes up for action here,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-01
Period for Adjustments

NCncaSo IrlDune)
 We believe that eventually the granting of Philippine independ- ence would be regretted by the Filipinos, or as many of them as did not get their hands on the government. We do not believe that it ever would be regretted by America. We think that some con- sideration In turning the islands loose, should be given to American citizens who are established in them. They ought not to be sur rendered incontinently to the Fili- pino law maker, administrator and tax gatherer. A period could be allowed for readjustments.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-01
Cotton Crop o. II.

(Sand Mountain Banner 70.
 Our cotton on Sand Mountain is looking fine, so far, but the crop is some later than last year and there is still plenty of time for the weevil to put in its work and cause us a great loss. Therefore. every farmer should watch his cotton closely, work 1t at frequent intervals, and also pick up squares and burn them. Don't run the risk of losing that which you have worked hard for, planned for and spent much money on for a whole season. Fight the boil weevtl and fight him continuously.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-01
Advertising Their Unfitness

NCIeVeIand PIa1n DeaIer)
 While crying loudest for politi- cal freedom the native leaders are thus advertising their unfitness for it. Even if they succeeded in getting rid of Wood they would in all probability be no better off for the Harding administration at least would never name a governor general who would submit to any thing like dictation from the na- tive leaders. They would merely be trading one irritation for an- other. Wood must stay. And un- less the Filipinos wish to see post poned to the still more distant future their longed-for day of freedom they better stop baking and play the game.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-01
PAINFUL, AS IT WE'RE

T want to look at pair of eye glasses" said the young woman, with a determined air.
 Yes, madam" said the optician.
 While visiting in the country I made very painful blunder which I never want to repeat"
 Indeed, Mistook a stranger for an acquaintance, perhaps?"
 'No. not. exactly that. I mistook a humble bee for a blackberry"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-01

More and more it becomes apparent that the average reformer loses a con- siderable percentage of his enthusiasm after he gets elected on a reform platform.