davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-28
THE RIGHT OF Suffice

India is land of strange things and one
of the strangest is the practice of suffice.
1t has been abolished in so far as the British
law goes, but in spite of heavy penalties for
those aiding and abetting in this weird per-
Torrance instances Of it are still reported,
as recently when young widow from the
Etawah district inundated herself upon her
husbands funeral pyre. The ancient GUS
tom was once matter Of caste and In that
sense an obligatory religious rite. That 1t
is not extinct is no stranger than that it
should ever have existed. The western
mind will never comprehend the inner life
of the east any more perhaps than the cas-.
will ever obey the spirit of the laws tho
west imposes upon it. IT, as it is believed,
the people of these two divisions Of the
world are from the same racial nest in
Asia, the gap between them at present Is
left almost completely unbridged. Which
is not to say that all the virtue is ours, or
all the wisdom and the philosophy of life.
But simply that east is East and West Is
West, and never the Twain shall meet" If
further evidence than Kipling's were needed,
it would be furnished by. the widows of the
western world.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-28
INVITING CANADA

1t was recently announced by John Bar
rett, former ambassador to Argentina, that
. movement was under way to incorporate
Canada into the Pan-American union. This
proposal will prbably be discussed at the
internatinal conference to be held at San
tiago, Chile, next month. 1t is intimated
that Great Britain would be willing for Can
ada to join the union, and she would be
welcomed by the twenty-one states that con-
stitute the present membership.
The need of closer relationship between
Canada and her neighbors in the western
world has long been recognized. Although
British dominion, Canada is in many re-
spects more American than British The
influence Of American democracy has been
strongly felt across the Canadian border
line. The association of Canada with the
United States and the Latin-American ma
lions would strengthened union which has
already done much to promote better un-
derstanding among these countries.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-28
TOO MANY DETAILS
/AT VI IN.

If Senator Capper had been more
hopeful as the possibility of
amending the federal constitution
to permit such an invasion of pres
ent states rights as a federal mar
riage and divorce law would be, the
chances are that, as man with
some inclination toward the prac-
teal, he would have sinplified his
proposal. He would have left out
controversial matters like the re-
quirement Of physical and mental
certification, and he would have
avoided the fixing Of definite Pc
riods between the taking out of
marriage licenses and the perform
ance of the wedding ceremony.
Things of that sort the states could
attend to we'll enough, and slight
differences would be of no conse-
quence. And they would be slight
might entirely disappear-if there
once should be law covering the
main issues for the whole country.
Most progress in the elimination of
marriage and divorce scandals is
likely to be made by working for
such changes in the laws of the sew
eral states as will in TIME bring them
into harmony. 1t would be long
and slow process, but movement in
that direction already is visible, and
it could be accelerated. There is
next to no hope of changing the con-
stitution for this purpose, and Sena-
tor Capper must be aware Of that.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-28

size doesn't get as much for his money as
he who buys dozen eggs of standard size
and grade. Many consumers do not know
that unfertilized eggs keep fresh longer
than fortified eggs When fertilized eggs
and unfertilized eggs are mixed and sold in
discriminatory, the consumer suffers the
consequent loss due to spoilage. If poul-
try community can advertise and guarantee
unfertilized eggs it deserves patronage. In
the same way, friers and broilers that are
plump and in good condition are worth pro-
portionately more than lean or medium
fowls, for the plumper they are the greater
the percentage of meat and the smaller the
proportion of bone and offal.
This show in Bessemer is place where
the producers and the consumers of poultry
should gather in order to gain information
that will be of mutual and lasting benefit.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-28

commission should have been better informed
in the premises so as to have been able to
sense the bearings of the request for the
order, in which even they would not have
issued it. The commission is too remote
from the South in its personnel to act
promptly and advisedly on all southern
freight matters and. car service questions.
It has no southern member acquainted with
conditions in the south and is, therefore,
more or less handicapped in, deciding quickly
the problems arising in the south. There
should be southern member on the COM
mission. And it follows that the commission
should extend its regional powers so that
prompt action on local matters might find
more prompt and satisfying remedy.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-28
COMMISSIONS WISE COURSE

Public approval follows tne unofficial
judgment of the city commission that the
project of selling the city hall and estab-
fishing a civic center is a question for the
people to decide. Disposal of the city hail
and acquiring of the property offered would
have made it impossible for the people to
exercise free judgment in the matter. There
is no doubt, that the present quarters are
not what they should bs, and that the city
needs new administration building, but
to sell the present structure would be au-
tomatically to deprive the city government
of a home and swould force the public to
vote funds for a suitable structure. The
city might find it feasible to build on the
present site, making provision for space to
be rented and otherwise administering the
situation to the public benefit. Certainly
there is no need for such haste and such
irrevocable action as would deprive the pub
lie of any option in the premises.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-28
THE VAGARIES OF CLIMATE

Even the arctic regions seem to be be-
having peculiarly this winter. Certain por-
tions are warmer and others colder than
usual. The matter is of great interest to
our weather experts because conditions
there affect conditions here. In the Green
land sea, north of Europe, the temperature
is higher and there is less ice than usual,
while in the regions north of America the
ice is unusually heavy with corresponding
lowering of the thermometer. In their eff
forts to solve this mystery the weather ex-
perts might, if they were not men Of science,
take into account the workings of a benign
and watchful providence and ascribe these
sno+4e-i. cons:+;aods in cne Tar norUn TO the
needs of the countries to the south of them.
Certainly Europe is more in need of the
warming attentions of providence this VIM
ter than America is. The wintry winds are
tempered unto the shorn lamb, it is said.
The meteoroligist may reply that providence
also works in mysterious ways, and that they
are trying to solve the mystery.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-28
MUNICIPAL BORROWING
Knoxville SentineD

Isl
Tax exemption for municipal Sc
curities is partly responsible, we are
told, for the extraordinary boosting
of Notwithstanding In the last
two years state and municipal Dor
rowings have reached the enormous
aggregate of over two and half
billion Of dollars. The peak was
reached in 1921, with total bond
issues of 383,368,900, accord
ing to the Bond Buyer, New York.
Bond sales by states and munich
palities will total $1,25S, 1862, 437 in
1929. The increase in such bond
flotations-they have tripIed in ten
years-is explained, we are told,
"by the increase in construction
costs, the expansion or the nations
bodybuilding program, the pay
ment by states of soldiers bonuses,
and the normal growth of the
country" It is thought, however,
that 1921 and 1922 were years
when unusually heavy OUTLAWS Of
borrowed capital by local govern
mental units were necessary" The
chief reason why, the investment
markets have been able to absorb
such an enormous mass of securities,
for the most part bearing low rates
of interest, is, We read, "the val
liable exemption from federal and
often local taxation" And then, of
course, there is the inherent safe
ty" Of properly issued American
municipal bonds "
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-28
COOPERATIVE MILK PLANT

Contract has been awarded for the build
ing of the central milk depot and the pas
teurization plant of the Dairymen's Coop
erative Association and announcement is
made that it will be completed and the plant
placed in operation in the next two months.
More than a hundred dairymen, including
the majority of the large producers as well
as small, are associated in this enterprise,
on which they have been engaged for several
months Under operation of the co-opera-
tive plan the dairymen will bring their milk
to the central depot and it is to be distributed
from that depot. The milk rs to be graded
and each bottle stamped with the guarantee
of the association. After the dairynian has
delivered his milk to the central depot his
part in the distribution plan rs over ana he
returns to the work of his farm and dairy
The central station will begin with fleet
of forty wagons and half-dozen trucks for
wholesale and ret Ill distribution. There
will be no duplication of service. Each
wagon and truck will have its route and each
neighborhood will have one steady agency
of supply The dairymen will benefit in the
elimination of an enormous overhead of
time. labor and expense and the consumer
should benefit by having reliable and con-
tinuous supply of milk of uniform and
guaranteed quality, There is reason to be-
lieve that the plan is to prove the same sue
cess it'has been in other cities.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-28
PRIORITY ORDER CANCELLED

The order OF the Interstate Commerce
Commission granting priority servlcH OF
fifteen coal cars per diem has been with
drawn. The order should not have been
issued. There are other coal mines in the
same field producing good domestic coal,
just as much in need Of cars as the Monte
vallo company and just as capable of serv-
ing the public. No one domestic coal pro-
Queer should be favored over others. The
commission withdrew the priority order soon
after other coal producers filed their protest
and made clear the injustice of the proceed
ing, showing the absence OF any spirit OF
favoritisnl. 1T does seem, however, that the
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-28
THE INTERNATIONAL COURT

Notwithstanding the cautious verbiage
in which it was rendered the senate by Sec
rotary Hughes, the proposal for this gov
of the international court of the League of
Nations is generally regarded both by its
friends and its enemies as a step in the
direction of league membership. For that
reason the Democrats in the main support
the proposal, and for the same reason the
Republican irreconcilables oppose it.
AS an example of the irreconcilable view
one may select Senator Johnson's biting
satire: "If we do what is asked the situa-
tion is this: We are wholly out of the
league. We are in part of the league By
reservations we are out of the part of the
league we are in. The part of the league
we are in, and from which by reservation
we get out, functions as part of the league
without our assistance" In like manner,
the Democrats, while generally indorsing the
plan, emphasize the "timidity and half
heartedness' of the proposal. In long
statement, Senator ROBINSON acting Demo-
cratic floor leader said:
My study of the subject, which has
not yet been completed, has resulted Inc
feeling of friendliness to the proposal
that the United States become a party
of the convention. At the same time
realize that it manifests policy of
timidity and halfheartedness which de-
prives this government of any credit
for the creation of the court, and be-
cause of the delay in proposing to partic-
ipate, convicts the administration of the
charge that its foreign policy is charac-
terized by hesitation and INDIGESTION.
Moreover, adherence to the convention,
even under the conditions proposed by
the president, constitutes practical
recognition that the League of Nations,
in creating and maintaining the court
of international justice, has rendered a
service of value to mankind. The SUBJ
ject is entitled, in my opinion, to
friendly and patriotic consideration.
Certainly, if the court functions, as there
is no doubt that it will, there cannot be
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-28
A Timely Editorial

dallas News)


War costs money. From that an
gle it is interesting news that the
New York cotton exchange has con-
tributed $4,000 to a war on the
boil weevil. In all it is proposed to
raise a war chest of $2,500,000 and
then really begin the fight. Hereto
fore individual farmers have as
saulted the ranks of the invader ana
harried him a little on the flanks,
but organized warfare on the enemy
seems to be another matter alto
gether. The control of the boil
weevil has been appropriated in
some districts for a time. But At
lanta, Ca, was recently host to a
national cotton conference which
proposed seriously to wipe out the
weevil.
Carrying the metaphorical refer
ences to war into more literal asso-
Citations of military import, the chief
chemist of the United States chem
ical warfare service urged the use
of gas as the destroyer OF the
weevil. To be sure thesid is not
new. But the application of it may
very well turn out to be of great
advantage. But there are complica-
tions. The gas that kills the weevil
may also kill beneficial life. Not all
insects are the foes of vegetation.
The discovery of a gas that seeks
out only the destructive weevil and
leaves the friendly insects would be
discovery indeed. But discoveries
more wonderful by far are already
to the credit of man.
The point to the meeting at At
lanta, of course, is not that it did
or did not hit upon the expedient
that must eventually rig us of the
weevil. The point is that real war
is in prospect upon the "billion-
dollar bandit" as the weevil has
been called. The whole country has
begun to realize that raising wealth
to be destroyed before it actually
becomes useful to man is a losing
business for the country a a whole.
We have had enough of declaration
of war. We need little ammuni.
ton now. 1t looks like we are going
to pet it.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-28
THE TURKS EGOMANIA

The Lausanne treaty is still held up, the
Angora government still refuses to agree
to the allied proposals, but since the British
warships have mostly gone from Smyrna
harbor, the whole matter has lost its edge
the situation appears far from settled and
capable of giving rise yet to serious trouble.
The repeated concessions Of the ALI I'd pow
ers may tip the scales for peace, and the
withdrawal of the warships seems convinc-
ing of their good faith. But the Turkish
militarists are strongly for the rejection leof
the treaty. Their attitude may resu'.1s IN
counter proposals, which the allies +. g or
may not accept
The trouble with the Turks, which is prob
ably the trouble with the entire situation,
is that their own ideas about themselves
ft.-,ve, as it syere, gone to their heads. They
appear to think and would impress this
thought upon the world, that suddenly the
Turkish mentality has changed; that suddenly
the Ottoman mind, no longer true to IT'S an
cestry, has become a keen and dominating
and dangerous force in the world. Com
menting upon this cause of the hitch in Lau-
same peace treaty, Crawford Price, In the
Christian Science Monitor says:
That new Turkish mentality Of sorts
has arisen is undehiable. Even the
closest students of the Near Eastern
question must admit that there is diff
ference between the cold" Turks of
the Hamidian regime, the young"
Turks of the Revolution and the "Kem-
alist" Turk of today. But the import
ant thing to ascertain is whether that
difference is fundamental or mere
veneer. To a very intimate acquaint-
ance with the Hamidians and the Young
Turks, Lausanne permitted one to add
personal experience of the Kemalsts,
and l. am persuaded that from out the
stress and trial of the great war and
it's tragic aftermath in the Near East,
the Ottoman mentality has emerged
fundamentally unchanged untempered
and unrefined. The red fez has given
place to the black kalpak, victory has
changed quiet dignity to ostentatious
arrogance, and enthusiasm for the state
has supplanted devotion to the Caliph,
But at heart the new Turk has shed
none of the vices of the old Turk, and
l am by no means sure that he has re-
tanned all his virtues.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-28
Poor Boys Who
Became Famous
BY FREDERICK HoUK LAW
Stephen A. Douglas

"The Little Giant" was the nick
name people gave to the powerful
speaker who debated so sensation
ally with Abraham Lincoln in the
days before the Civn war. Well
they might call nm "The Little
Giant" He was broad-shouldered,
strengthening man full head
shorter than most people, for he was
only about five feet tall. He had
huge voice, great self-possession,
and magnetic power of speech. He
was one of the greatest public ora
tors, one of the keenest politicians,
the United States has produced.
Against him Abraham Aincoln came
to debate as if before a giant, in
deed.
The little mans father had died
IN the very year when the boy had
been born, and so "Steve" Douglas
had lived with an uncle, who was
an old bachelor. Needless to say,
he had little care and no special
training. When the old bachelor
decided that bachelordom was too
lonely life for him he got rid of
the boy by making his apprentice to
wood worker.
There was in "The Little Giant"
a spirit that could not be kept
down. He managed to escape the
apprenticeship, to go to school be-
cause he wanted to go. and then to
study law. Many a boy today tries
to, escape school; here was a boy
who fought his way into school.
From the very first Douglas big
voice and unusual power in speak
ing attracted attention. He won
many clients, and was naturally put
forward for public office, becoming
a member of the state legislature,
and supreme court judge in Illinois.
His ability as an orator sent him
on to congress, where his speeches
showed that he had great faith in
the future of the United States. His
forensic ability made him foremost
in much debating. Unlike Lincoln
Douglas was in favor of compro-
missing on the slave question.
Prominent as he was, 1T was only
natural that he should be nominated
for the presidency. In the cam
paign against Lincoln he won 1876
957 votes. 1t is to his credit that
he was always in favor of the union
of states, and THAI ne believed the
south should support Abraham Lin
coin, the elected president of the
United States. He died at the very
outbreak of the civil war. in 1861.
From the time he forced his way
to an education, Doug>as was maker
of his own career, ready to meet
all opponents, an earnest, powerful
supporter of the principles in which
he believed and loyal American.
Such career, even if marked by
errors, is worthy of emulation.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-28

Seventy-five farmers of the northwest
have started an organization, called the Ma
tional Producers Alliance, the purpose of
which is to control production and stabilize
prices. With the whole world only about
two jumps ahead of starvation, it looks as
though more sound program were in order.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-28
Variety of Life
By REV. H. c. OFFERMAN
An ever-changing panorama is hui

An ever-changing panorama is hui
man existence.
Each day has its own hero, its
own novelty, its own craze.
In fact, the thing that makes life
so much chung to, is it's variety.
Whom must we raank for this
but the Gtear Creator, who so WISE
ly made all these different things.
Be thankful for lights and shad-
ows, for sunshine and night, for
laughter and tears, for the multi
plicity and the complexity Of life.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-28

The plan of Mr.. Schwab and Secretary
Hughes to fix final sum for reparations
would have been timely year or SO ago.
But now that France, after having pied
and waited vainly for solution and set
Element, has gone into the Ruhr to collect
these gentlemen with ideas to spare may
find market Indifferent to their wares.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-28

The senate has authorized Secretary
Weeks to investigate the feasibility Of a
coastal canal from the Mississippi to Corpus
Christi. The project may be a very worthy
one, but some wonder why the senate doesn't
feel greater responsibility regarding proper
support and completion of similar projects
already under way.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-28

It Is said that the Chinese are very fond
Of birds as pets, and that to take the bird
out for exercise is regular pass;me Of the
wealthy or regular duty Of their servants.
It must be admitted that the custom is an
innocent one.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-28
Packing Industry Here
Brewton Standard)

The success of small packing
plant started at Brewton, and its
influence upon the surrounding ter
ritory in stimulating livestock pro-
duction, together with the advantage
of ready market for these pro-
ducers, has been notable. Every
hog in proper condition brought to
Brewton is sure of being sold, at
any time; and The packing house
products are being disposed of to
Escambia and adjoining county
merchants. instead of these mef-
chants buying such supplies from
far-off dealers. Over in Baldwin
county there are several flourishing
small packeries the considerable
one at Andalusia is again function
ing and stimulating livestock pro-
duction in that region-and there
may be others in the state. AS I
people we need consume more Of
our own products, and buy less from
far-off markets.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-28

All this congressional activity on farm
relief measures is merely by way Of hang
ing out the busy signal on those measures
that are really worthy of attention.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-28
Diversity in Farming
BALDWIN Timoa

IF we lived in Baldwin county
we would not depend on Satsunas
or any other one crop. It pays to
diversity when it comes to farming.
-Luverne journal. Depending
upon any single crop in any county
or state is mistake. Grow what
the producer needs and some for
sale. Failure never follows such a
system; to diversity means revenue.
Alabama Traveller. (You BOYS
come down here next May with the
editorial gang when the Alabama
Press association comes south, and
we will show you what diversifica.
ton reall means.)
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-28

avoided the consideration of such cases as
affect the United States. If we are part
of the court we can with far more grace
submit to its decisions.