davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
POOR CRAFTSMANSHIP

Since the wheat farmers encoun- tered a sharp slump in the price of their product, numerous weird sug- gestions for relief have been made by men like Senators Johnson of Mime sota, Brookhart eff Iowa, and others of the type. It is understood that they have picked up and are undertaking to shove along the view of Governor Davis of Kansas, that relief would be forthcoming if the government would purchase two hundred millions of bush- els of wheat and take it off the mar ket, thereby absorbing the losses of those who over-produced and who face the slump in price.
 It does not seem to have occurred to these so-called statesmen that the wheat producers, as we'll as producers of everything else, are x-payers, and that if the government carries the losses of one class of producers, it would be under equal obligation to absorb those of others. Thus there would be the ridiculous spectacle of the government engaging in specula- tion on a large scale, while offering encouragement to over-production all along the line. The cotton producer would pass along his losses with a smile, as would the man who raises more corn, or livetock, or fruit, than the market demands at fair prices Likewise the auto manufacturer, the maker of straw hats, and so on through the list. General over-produc- tion would be the natural result, and soon there would be no government worth speaking of, because taxpayers would refuse to make up these losses, and the government would have no source of revenue with which to take care of anybody. -
 Embarking the government into the business of buying up surpluses would require immense capital Whence
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
UNSEEMLY SCRAMBLES

| No little disparaging criticism IS finding it's way into the public prints regarding the unseemly scrambles by politicians of high degree to get an audience with President Coolidge even before the remains of his distinguished the final obsequies. One of the incl dents that helped to citizens their first | favorable impression of the new presi- dent was his public announcement that he would consider no official business until after his return from the funeral services at Marion. That was widely approved, irrespective of political af- filiations.
 The nation must have been more pr | less humiliated over the rush of ire concilables, bitter-enders, or whatever they may be called, to confer with the new president in their efforts to upset the Harding foreign policy before the latter was laid in his grave. Presi- dent Coolidge had publicly stated that he would carry out the purposes and policies of his predecessor. Such statement, it would seem, should have been sufficient notice to prevent Brandegee of Connecticut, a member of the hard-boiled group of obstruc- tionists, from attempting to confer with the president before the funeral train had gotten halfway across the continent. Lodge, another persistent opponent of the Harding policy, hur. ries to Washington from his vacation to put in some more of his resourceful work at what may have seemed to him to be the psychological moment, while Chairman Adams of the Republican national committee, repudiated and discredited as far as it lay within the privilege of the chief executive, wlig- gles forward with his protest, and many of the "small fry" edge in as best they can with the hope of getting in some questionable influence under the most inappropriate circumstances.
 Is it surprising that independent newspapers should discountenance such demeanor, and even refer to it as ''the most fragrant exhibition of national indecency known to the political his tory of this country" There is truly time and a place for everything. The period of national shock and grief between the death and the funeral of the late president is not the time, nor IS the temporary White House of the new president who was absorbed in the sad task of making funeral ar engagements for his friend, the place for the introduction of professional politics, which observes none of the proprieties where there be prospects for advancement of it's own selfish purposes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
PEOPLES FORUM
"A Foolish Carfature''

To tho Editor of The e-Heraldi
 l want to express to you & read CTS sincere appreciation of the editorial in teday's Age-Herald dealing with evolution. The breadth of vision displayed was remarkable, and I hope heraldlo of that better day when writers and moulders of public opinion will have all attained to similar high plane of thought. This editorial was courageous and 1t Is from such writings that the people will finally learn that there is no con- fit between idealism and scien- tific research, but just as the as- tronomer Calico, several hundred years ago, was made to kneel be- fore an august assembly and re- tract his statement that the earth moved around the sun, so will many of our senators kneel before what they think is public opinion, and subscribe to resolution which in truth is a foolish carica- ture on the real theory of evolu- tion. All of which makes us won der why the senate wrangles over a question which possibly a hun dred men in the state really under stand, instead of attacking simp- Ter and vastly more important problems with which they could successfully and intelligently cope and of which problems there are untouched legions.
 JOHN sHAHAN, M. D.
 Gadsden, Ala, Aug. 1o,1923.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
REDUCING GASOLINE PRICE

| Governor McMaster of South Da. kota has demonstrated that the way to reduce the price of gasoline is to reduce it. The idea is so novel that other governors are seriously taking it up. Governor McMaster in reality paid the oil companies back in their own coin. He put gasoline on the market at sixteen cents a gallon and announced that he would dump half a million gallons on the market at the same figure, if the price was not re- duced by the oil companies. Oil con- panies have often brought rivals to their knees by this simple process. Now gasoline is said to be selling throughout the state at sixteen cents
 having previously ranged as high as forty-five cents. A similar price war in Dallas, Texas, has brought the price down to a range between eleven and thirteen cents per gallon. It is interesting to note that the big com panies find that they can afford to reduce the price when they must do so to retain their business. There is gen eral belief that the price of the com bustible has been too high. The dis couragement lay in the apparent in ability to make the price more req sonable. If the governor of South Dakota has found way, a multitude will arise and call him blessed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
MOTHERS OF FAMOUS
 MEN
The Mother Of Jame. Madison

Nelly Conway, the mother of James Madison, the fourth presi- dent of the United States, was not strong, vigorous girl, but she lived tC the great age of ninety eight, saw the United States come into being, saw the long years of he American Revolution, saw her famous son increase in power and influence. saw him become the foutrh president of the new coun- try, and then enjoyed his company Tor many years after he left the capitol for the retirement of pri- rate life. This, in itself, is all remarkable story, story such as can be told of the mother of no other president of the United States. Nelly Conway was a Vir- sinia girl. the daughter of pros. porous Yirginian, Francis Con- way.
 In the days when Nellie Conway was a girl, no one in the colonies had what we of today call luxur- es. Nelly Conway had to survey her features in a glass that did not reflect all her charms. She had to endure fireplaces that heated only a part of the house and left the rest cold. She had to use tallow candles, and to make journeys on horseback, most un- comfortably-and worst of all, most ruinous tC clothing. At the same time, she had more than many of her neighbors, and was looked upon by the rough back woodsmen of 1740 as a sort of princess.
 Nelly Conway was seventeen years old when she stepped down the stairs in her fathers home and gave her hand to young James Madison, fine, healthy man of about her own station in life, a man better off than the average, but still a pioneer. When her first son was born, she named 1t after the father-James Madi- son. In the long winter eve nings, when darkness came down over the frontier trees, Nelly Madison, who was very well educated and a very religious wo- man, read tC' her son, and taught him all she knew. She did for him all that a college preparatory school does for boys today. She did so mch for him, indeed, that he never forgot it, but cherished her always. In her extreme old age, he insisted that she continue to enjoy her old home. He felt that he owed all his greatness to her; for she had set him on the way
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
An Appeal to Reason
Chicago News)


 There would be no legal way, of course, of preventing the publication of one-sided and partisan statements on any dispute. Still, the general public not only would make allowance for bias and propaganda in reading the partisan versions, but would possess the means of correcting misrepresenta- tions and forming sound judgments That report would serve in effect as an appeal to reason and the instinct of fairness; it would tend to mobilize public sentiment in behalf of recipro- cal concessions by the disputants, as we'll as in behalf of a proper regard for national interests. The coal con- mission presumably will approve the recommendations of the special com mittee and urge legislation embodying them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
Limit to Tolerance
(New York Herald)

(NeW ' Ork HeraId)
 The coal operators and the union officials have their own ways of trad ing and the dramatic severance of all relations is one that had not been in frequently used. The American peo- pie have been very patient with the anthracite industry and last winter &C., cepted treatment which cannot be jus tified. There is limit to the toler- ance of the coal consuming public, however, and if another interruption to production were to occur this win ter it would be difficult for congress to resist the demand for drastic action.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14

South. The exodus seems largely to have spent itself. If they do not re- turn in sufficient numbers to supply the need for that type of labor on the farms, however, under the application of the principle that necessity is the mother of invention, thrifty, law observing class of whites will be at tracted to the South to supply its ag- ricultural needs; for the farms of the South will not be long idle or aban- doned when the demand and market for their products are constantly in- creasing. The outlook in this connec- ton is no way discouraging, if one will look a little ahead.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
HITTING THE FEE SYSTEM
Savannah NeWs)

4N6WSJ
 The state senate passed A reso- 'utitn to submit to the people the question of whether the legisla- ture may change the fee system to the salary system in counties ot more than 25,00o inhabitants. And what was the vote. Forty senators voted in favor of the resolution and not one single vote was cast against it. In other words, net one senator voted in taVor of the fee system, as such. Not one of them thinks it is ab- solutely necessary for the eff clent service of the people. If he had thought so he would have been expected to vote against any proposal to change to the salary system anywhere in the state. The fee system is doomed. It is costly. It is wrong. It must go.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
Full of Free Lances
Alabama Courier)

(AlaDama COur1er)
 Perhaps there has never been a legislature in Alabama that con- tained as many free lances as the present legislative body has. There does not seem any disposi- tion to follow the leadership of any one man, and the head of the state government seems to have lost his rabbit foot, if he ever had one, with his legislative body, and the men who compose the two houses seem to have determined to take the reigns of legislative mat ters in their own hands and guide the lawmaking department of ths/ state without the advice and di- rection of Governor Bill.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
ALL SHADES (I of OPINIONO
Soft Coal as Relief
(New York Evening World

(New York Evening World)
 The assurance that there is plenty of soft coal in the land is an insurance that there will be fuel to burn this winter, no matter what happens to the anthracite supply. The continued high cost and scanty supply of anthra- cite ought to draw the attention of the ingenious to soft coal that they may provide some safe and economical method for it's utilization. This would end the repeated crises in the hard coal situation and bring much needed relief. Anthracite needs competitor
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
IMPORTANCE OF TRADES
(Chattanooga Times)

The phenomenal growth of the vacation schools idea in this city has proven to be an educational development. Several Nprominent business men have expressed a hope that this project can be CO., ordinated with trade schoo. work a greater degree; and 1t IS un- derstood that the disability of that addition to the work ;s being considered. A plasterer in New York is getting a hundred dollars a week. which would seem to indi- cate that the manual working tradesar not to be lightly re- jected as money-getters.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
Tighten His Burden
(GadSden Journal) J

NNIt1USVNII . OUf fIelIT
 The time is not far distant, the Journal believes, when some change will have to be made in regard to the duties of the man whom American voters put in the White House. His responsibilitie will have to be frightened and his work divided among his asso- ciates. The death of President Harding at San Francisco brings this fact to the fore. The presi- dent of the United States practi- cally sacrifices his health and his chances for long life when he enters the White House. And If he travels extensively hs in. creases the danger greatly.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
On Trading at Home
Tuscaloosa News)

People in the Tuscaloosa district who buy from mail order houses, and those who go to nearby larger cities to buy their goods. make a very great mistake. They send their money away from a satisfac- tory home market into an uncer- tain foreign market, and If they get the goods they are led to ex- pect, they invariably find the diff ference in price is in favor of the firm and therefore their purchase away from home has been an ex- pensive one.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
THE EXODUS" AND FARMING

Just as the advent and multiplica- ton of the boil weevil, at first re- garded by many cotton farmers as calamity, proved blessing in dis guise by increasing diversification of crops, so the exodus of negroes from many farms of the South may be even- tually beneficial through division of many large estates into smaller and more productive tracts owned and cultivated by desirable types of white labor. The Knoxville Sentinel in this connection suggests that such change would make the use of negro labor unnecessary, and adds:
 East Tennessee has never been dependent upon negro labor for the reason that big estates have always been few in this section. The land has been divided into small holdings, as it should be, to assure the greatest prosperity as we'll as that least liable to fluctuation. This fact combined with very wide diversification of crops has produced the happy immunity to financial storms en- joyed by Eastern Tennessee. Time and again the flood of de- pression has swept over the
 country leaving this blessed spot
 safe and serene. If this same system of small holdings and di- versified crops could be spread throughout the whole South, we
 might once more be as universally
 prosperous a people as we were
 before the war between the
 states.
 Already many negroes who went North and West are returnino to fbo
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
One Way to Win

(Kansas City Star)
 President Coolidge is already winning the West. It is now re- liably reported that he Is not ad- dicted tc the alleged New England habit of eating pie for breakfast. but that he eats patent breakfast food just like any other healthy Amerian who doesn't care whether he has any breakfast or not.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
Both in the Swim

(Everybody's Magazine) My daughter sprang from a line of peers," said a proud fa- ther.
 Well" said her suitor. T once. jumped off a uock myself"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14

In Chicago watermelons are re- ported to be selling for dollar apiece. Now is the time for all good citizens to sympathize with the Southern ne gro who moved to the Windy City and hasn't been able to save enough to return home for his vacation,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
Driving Ont Cattle Tick

Casper Mountain Eagle)
 Tuscaloosa and several other Alabama counties have been wrestling with tick eradication work by piecemeal. Walker set an example in tick eradication work for other counties to fol- low. Adjoining counties were still tick infested. which has caused our county considerable trouble. but Walker was cleaned up and released from quarantine in one year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14

One way to tighten the burden on the president would be to cut out a large part of the vicious professional politics which is always trying to put something over on him while he is busy with legitimate affairs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
A WISE CITIZEN

NoI oIOVhIy IT EdSIeJ
 DO as much as you can, as well as you can, as soon as you can, and you need not be afraid of be- ing canned" is the sane advice of wise citizen,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14

Some United States senators, after inspecting Russia on dress parade, have expressed themselves so favor ably that the public has begun to en. certain hopes that they may move over there
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
For Better Schools

Autauga county will soon have the local three mill tax in every district of the county. We need better school buildings and equip ment as well as higher salaried teachers. Other counties of Ala bama are way ahead of Autauga county in improving their school buildings.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14

An exchange says that the time is coming when the government will take nlnety-eight per cent. of a fellows income. That would be one way to develop a nation of hundred-per-cent. drones.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
What He Had

(HOuStOn POStJ Father: Now, lddie, when you stand facing the North, what have you on your right hand?" Eddie: -Four fingers and a thumb"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
No Renson to Doubt
(Monroe JournaN

MOIIIO6 JUuTHdI1
 This paper has not been in sym- pathy with MT. Underwood's views on the liquor question heretofore, but we have no req son to doubt his sincerity when he declares that since prohibition Is the law of the land. he stands for it's enforcement in spirit and in letter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
The Bright OutIeok

(HuntsVilIe Tfmes)
 All of these beautiful highlands and suburbs in and about Hunts vile tell of the wonderful city that is to be builded here. Boule- wards, fine streets, landscape gar dening and all of the effects of the beautiful are just little way ahead. Let's bring them closer and closer, and that speedily.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
THE PARAGRAPHERS
Not so Easy as Expected

(Blocton Enterprise)
 The legislature did not abandon the convict lease matter as easily as it expected to. The revenue hill. too. Is to have a rehearing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14

jured at grade crossings, the further away the railroads from that public good will and cooperation which is their greatest asset.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
Pity fhe Loan Shark.
(Ozark Southern Star)

(Ozark SOuthern Star)
 The loan sharks are up in arms against a bill to limit them to an interest charge of three and a half per cent. a month. It is really distressing. and amounts to cruel ty to animals to prevent by law these philanthgopists from collect ing & measly twenty-five cents a week on every dollar loaned.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14

It has been suggested that a suitable emblem for third party at this time would be a sledge-hammer operated by hot-air pressure.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
THE ALABAMA PRESS
A Bright Future

Autauga county now has the brightest future within it's his tory. All we need now is coop eration and a determination for each citizen to make some sec rifice for better conditions,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
COMING SOUTH
Savannah Ne,ys>

New England is not only mov- ing some of it's textile mills tC the south and planning to move others, but New England capital is now buying southern mills.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14

Lloyd George seems to have mas tered the art of rocking the ship of state without getting sea-sick.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14

One trouble with congress seems to be a growing habit to step on the po- litical gas.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
A Pretty Good Test
(Savannah News)

(SaVannah News) LaFoHette dosnt like MT. Cool idge's views. More we hear about MT. Coolidge the more we like him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
What Is Consfstencyt
(Indianapolis Star)

IITUIdIIdp pUIIS Otdf
 In this restful period following the war to end war, the nations are perfecting some remarkable devices for quantity killing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14

With Hiram, Magnus and Pussyfoot, the Johnson outfit seems to be capable of making itself heard.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14

It has not been figured out just how much MT. Bryan's opposition has helped MT. Underwood's candidacy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14

An exchange says: "The reckless chauffeur is headed either for the morgue or the hospital" Don't stop him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14

About the only advice that is no, cheap these days comes from the ex- pertS.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-14
Ala, August 13, 1923.
Teacher of Little Girls

To the Editor of The Age-Herald.
 In the printed program of South side Baptist church for Sunday. August 12, 1923, so interestingly prepared by Miss Marion Barger. reporter, there appears this sen tence under Bible School Notes: We regret to know that Mrs. Hammond of the primary depart ment is quite i'll and will be away indefinitely" There were many in the big congregation who per haps read this with passing inter- est and a casual sigh of regret. But to mothers and fathers of lit. tie girls in the vast South High lands Sunday school, those who have passed out of the primary rooms and those who are still there, this little sentence brought real heart bangs. For the picture that came to them was that of a strong, beautiful. Christian woman busily and faithfully toiling with their little girls, Sunday after Sunday, and the week days as well, not sparing herself in her consistent, devoted, whole -souled efforts. She radiated influences for good deeds, taking a leading part in such matters, and unsel- fish, withal, willing to leave the glory to God.
 Tears come to the eyes of the little gorls when they are told that she will not return for long time, and they plaintively ask, over and over again, "Why isn't Mrs. Hammond going to hurry back to us?" They have caught the contagion of close association and return the warmth of her af- fiction and love. The superintend- ent of the primary department in that Sunday school, and others engaged in uplift work, will miss her cheerful, tireless and effectual cooperate for a time. Mindful of her practical worth to so many families through her teaching of the little ones, and sensible of the many obligations thus enEendered, and hopeful for her early recovery and return, you will please permit us, through this column, to con vey this little tribute of apprecia- ton and trust to Mrs. Berta Ham, mond, teacher and leader of little girls. ROSS c. SPIER.
 Birmingham, Ala, Aug. 12. 1923.