davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08
A RECORD OF RECKLESSNESS

Philadelphia is intensely aroused over the killing last week of mother, her son and young girl by an automobile going at terrific speed past standing street car from which the victims were alighting. Two of the bodies were tossed hundred feet and one even farther. The death car" was driven by Henry G. Brock, banker. He stopped half dozen blocks away when his machine crashed into telegraph post. At first he denied that he had hit anybody, but patch of fur coat was found caught in a smashed headlight of his car. Later he admitted he had had something to drink and it has been charged that he was drunk. Witnesses say that he was going at the rate of seventy-five miles an hour. He may be convicted of murder in the second degree.
 In spite of his social and financial stand ing Brock, when arrested, was put in a patrol wagon with number of criminals and driven to jail. That the man was shocked and suffered great mental anguish from the tragedy he caused was evident when he was taken before a magistrate. Crowds in the court room were so incensed when they saw him that their mutterings had to be silenced by the courts instructions
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08
SUN AS MOTIVE POWER

A graduate of the College of the City of New York is said to have successfully dem- onstrated the operation of small "sun motor." As the name implies, the energy is supplied by solar heat which is trans formed into motor energy. The idea has long been held practicable, but no success full application has heretofore been noted. The direct application of the principle would, of course, not be possible on cloudy days or at night, but undoubtedly the heat could be transformed into electric energy and the surplus stored for use from batteries as needed. As the cost of ordinary motor fuel rises, and as the use of auto-motive vehicles increases, the need for some new source of power grows more urgent. There fore all experiments looking to the solving of this need are interesting. The sun Is an undying source of heat, which requires only to be properly converted and utilized in or der to confer permanent benefit upon the human race. Stranger and more momenrous results have followed even less suspicious beginnings. Who is so bold in this day of wonderful achievement to say that it can not come to pass?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08

to the police. Probably Brock felt the trag- edy as deeply as any of the persons in the room. He had every reason to feel it more deeply. In the mind of the public there was the record of Brock. Fifteen years ago, the Philadelphia papers say, his motor car struck boy, breaking his legs, and Brock didn't stop that time until he was mile away. Then he threw off a part of the boys bicycle caught on his car just as the woman's fur was Since then he had been arrested for speeding number of times. The case of Brock offers an extreme illus tration in this kind of crime. Dashing past a standing street car while passengers are being let off, at speed of seventy-five miles an hour, should be made high crime, even though the dashing killed nobody. When death follows such driving the driver should be imprisoned. The singular thing is that a man with such record should have been allowed to continue driving car and thus constitute public menace, with death to some man, woman or child an ever approaching certainty.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08
------------------ GERMAN INSINCERITY

Perhaps as characteristic as any of its performances is the statement given out by Germany through it's embassy at Washington to the effect the population in the Ruhr is liable to break into acts of desperation acts beyond the control of the German gov ernment, which, the statement assures the world, "maintains policy of mere passive resistance" In the light of recent develop ments in the Ruhr the German attitude even in this matter appears hypocritical. The ac- tivities of Cuno agents in that region have been anything but passive. Their aim has been to create disorder of every kind in every way cunning could suggest, and to bring about the very state of affairs to which the embassy statement now points as beyond control. Thus the population of the Ruhr, by carrying out the orders of Berlin, finds itself deserted by Berlin. Cuno and his advisors will be at a safe distance, while the laborers of the Ruhr and their families are left to bear the brunt of whatever may come as the result of the policy of mere passive resistance"
 Meanwhile, the French seem entirely un- disturbed. They are sure of their course and are proceeding after their own fashion. Considering the circumstances under which they went into the Ruhr the long evasion by Germany of just obligation, and the obstacles placed in the way of its collection by this policy of passive resistance" the French method has been very moderate method. But the French are in deadly earnest about collecting this debt. They mean busi- ness. It is this calm determination that Is
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08
TELEPHONE EXPANSION

Announcement that the Southern Bell Telephone Company is to expend $1,o00,000 year for five years in extension of its service in Alabama, large part of which will be spent in Birmingham, was to nave been expected in view cf the expansion that is taking place in 6thel .ines There is noth- ing tagging in Alabama, either in the city or in the country. There was never more of the spirit of enterprise than now. The state was never in such complete harness of effort. It stands to reason that the tele- phone convenience should keep pace with the progressiveness in other quarters.
 The demand for new telephones in Bir7 minghaml has been for several years ia ahead of capacity for prompt delivery.
 modern times the luxury soon becomes nessity Even the radio is already stan
 ized and is approaching the sts
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08

the needful. Some claim that these means of communication without per- sonal contact are detracting from the social instinct. But that can never be, for the social instinct is basic. Women delight as much in telephone chat as in face to face conversation, and the ease with which the telephone chat is brought about rather serves to whet the appetite than to take from it. Some business that should be transacted through personal con- tact goes over the telephone, but, on the other hand, the telephone capacities business and larger volume is possible in given time by reason of the telephone than if we did not have it. Once luxury, the tele- phone is now necessity, and it follows that the utility will be kept busy matching the expansion taking place in other fields.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08

member that to pass over Twentieth street, track elevation must begin far east of Twenty-first street, preferably about Twenty-seventh street. If track elevation be killed and abandoned, nothing is left for Twentieth street, except miserable tunnel or a clumsy bridge over the tracks at the present elevation, to say nothing of the streets west of Twentieth.
 Moreover, the greatest danger to traffic is at the existing grade crossings at Twentieth, Eighteenth and Fourteenth streets, all of which, and especially Twentieth, are busy thoroughfares. This danger will re- main until the tracks are elevated. Elevating the tracks over these streets would serve a very large amount of traffic, many times as much as would a viaduct at Twenty third or Twenty-sixth street.
 Further, track elevation will at once provide for opening across and under the new tracks number of streets now closed, including Nineteenth street, which is so much needed. and other streets between Nineteenth and Alice furnace, also others west of the xurnace, which now require long Getours to reach the grade crossings that are open. Although the cost of track elevation would be greater than that of one viaduct, the improvement would be greater than that of one viaduct, the improvement would be vastly more beneficial and the danger to life and limb be greatly reduced, besides making sure that the proper grades for the whole system be se- cured. Constructing the viaducts ahead of the elevation of the tracks is proceeding backward and is mak- ing the tail wag the dog. In my files are copies of the original plan, if the original has been misplaced, as has been reported.
 Assuring you that this plea is made wholly for the general good of Birmingham. and is made after mature study, I remain
 WALTER G. KIRKPATRICK. 531 Candler building, Atlanta, Ga,
 March 5. 1923.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08
CHAIRMAN HOOTERS VIEW

Wltnout taking 1t as whole or 2lVlng due consideration to its conclusions, the address of Ben w. Hooper, chairman of the United States railroad labor board, before the Illinois association of insurance agents at Springfield on Tuesday, might be regard ed as pessimistic in the extreme. In sketch ing the disturbed conditions existing dur ing the recent railroad strike, MT. Hooper calls attention to a series of events which form part of our national panorama. In places there were during the strike symp- toms suggestive of large disorder inasmuch as means employed were those which charac- terize civil war. But if it was like civil war it was no more like 1t than miniature is like the sweeping canvas portrayal of Gettysburg. A magnifying- glass of yet un- achieved powers would be necessary to pro- duce scale sufficient to bring out the simi- litude.
 The atrocities at Herrin may constitute stain upon the nation, but they do not point to an uncomfortable national menace. Nor, indeed, do they point to malady which threatens remotely our national life, or even now our national health. Unless the signs of the times are hopelessly awry the turn ing point in the tide of such affairs has been passed. Unless there is nothing at all in human error correcting itself, there will be no more conditions to eliminate as at Her rin. Sound labor leaders are becoming con- vinced that if there can be no strike withou. violence it is time for strikes to end before they begin. The radicals have had their day and have failed. There are humane and effective ways of settling disputes between labor and capital. These ways are being advociated by labor leaders who are capable of leading. The misleading radicals who bore from within have only bored into the vitals of labor and weakened it's cause. That none realize this more than the representa- tives of Americanism in the unions is plain to see.
 Chairman Hooper was naturally inn pressed, and deeply, with developments of the railroad strike. In his position ne saw them closeup as few impartial judges did. And in his closing remarks he eloquentiy presents picture which it would be well for every American citizen to engrave upon his heart:
 It is a weak government that does
 
 justment of labor controversies in the
 essential industries, without permitting
 them to be fought out between the inn
 mediate parties. government which
 stands by and permits capital to oppress
 labor in these great essential industries
 and permits labor to wage civil war for .. the redress of it's grievances real or
 imaginary, invites and will ultimately
 encounter chaos There are millions
 of men in this country who have not
 lost faith in the government bequeathed
 to us by our fathers. It has had the
 strength and flexibility of fibre to
 withstand the shock of every storm.
 Its adaptability to the changing. cond-
 tions of men and things has been the
 marvel of the world. To the conserva-
 tive it has given assurance; to the pro-
 gressive, opportunity Today there is
 no problem of society or industry that 7 cannot be solved within the four cor
 ners of the American constitution.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08

so disconcerting to the Cuno crowd. Having failed to awaken any of the worlds symp athy by their propaganda, they are now trying to exploit the desperate condition of the Ruhr population which they have all along used as buffer and are now about to use as a sacrifice.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08
AUTOMOBILE ENGINEERS"


 An association of men who drive privately owned automobiles in New York announces that the term chauffeur" is objectionable when applied to persons in their class, and that they intend to be known as the society of automobile engi- neers. Chauffeur" they say, is a word that may be used to designate taxi men, truck drivers and the like, with whom they have no connection. The word driver is also obnoxious to these gentlemen of the steering wheel.
 One is inclined to smile at this affectation of superrorfty on the part of these elegant successors to the old fashioned coachman. Yet there is substratum of sense be- meath their notions about the vo- cabulary of automobiling which has French words that were never need ed; the same thing can be said of the language of flying.
 Why should frame be chassis and a shed hangar. Why, also, should not a chauffeur be a dri- yer, notwithstanding the horror which New York's automobile en- gineers" affect when they hear the word? We know they are not, be- cause the French were leaders in the development of the automobile, though they have long since lost their advantage and because they took the lead from Americans in the development of the flying machine.
 Now that America is making more automobiles than all the rest of the world together, it would be a good thing to anglicize the lan- guage of the industry, even as the French snatched leadership in the air away from America and French flied it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08
AN INCONSISTENT ATTITUDE

AN INCONSISTENT ATTITUDE
 It is said that "human fly" who fell while climbing the front wall of New York hotel, and was killed when his body struck the pavement, was under contract to receive not more than $1oo. According to one re- port, his fee was only $50. To the average person, risking ones life for such a paltry sum looks like sheer lunacy, but there are hundreds of men, and women, too, who are professional "daredevils" and perform haz- ardous feats as part of the days work. Recently, a number of these people formed an association in New York.
 The motion picture industry probably em- ploys most of the professional "daredevils," |" in making the ''thrillers" that are greeted with whoops of delight by the juvenile pat rons of motion picture theaters. The stars understudy takes the risk, and the star gets the glory, as we'll as the opulent salary. Stunt flying is another branch of the pro- fession, in which many lives have been sac rificed to please the assembled multitude. Efforts have been made to stop stunt flying, but the principal reason why it is losing popularity is the fact that the novelty has worn off and new sensation must be pro- vided for jaded spectators.
 The "human flies," high divers, parachute Jumpers and others who defy death in va rious ways, are the modern substitutes for the gladiators who fought with one another, and with wild beasts, to make Roman holiday. Our contention that bullfighting is brutal is not consistent with the encourage ment we give to exhibitions in which human life is needlessly imperiled.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08
Organize Poultry Raising
(Collinsville Courier)

NOUIIIISVIIIe COurIefJ
 We have seen the benefits of the Farm Bureau association and wish to cafl the attention OF our poultry raisers in our county, whether it isn't time to start similar organ ization in this line. Other counties have been organized and are becom- ing stronger each season by cooper ating with each other, thereby get ting better results for production. We can do the same by calling a meeting and lay plans for an asso- citation of this kind among our fancy chicken raisers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08

The need for the British trial procedure is emphasized by the exhibition of long-drawn- out litigation at Herrin and Mer Rouge. These affairs have been going on for months without result and without any indication what the result will be. In England, justice would have been arrived at, and the whole situation have been history long ago.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08
Beautifying Anniston
Admission Star)

The city beautiful movement has been' given good start this year, and pushed, as in other years, great progress can be made. Anniston can have program of improvement that will cover all important fea- lures of civic development and reach to every part of the city if we but map it out. Such program can be carried through this year, and it should be. Anniston is mak- ing wonderful progress in every other way that it cannot afford to have needed improvements lacking. We must provide them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08
Selma's Fine Showing (Selma Times-JournaD

The large number of visitors com- ing from far distances to the city yesterday was substantial indication of Selma's fame as great mart of trade. The beautiful and wonder full offerings of the merchants, as portrayed ii, their metropolitan ad- vertisements that practically bring the shop windows into the homes no doubt had great deal to do with this
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08
SOOTHING MACHINE GUNS
(St. Louis Post Dispat

An airplane equipped with eight machine guns and capable of firing 5000 rounds a minute is the war departments latest and most sooth- ing contribution to the state of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08
COURTESY DEFINED

(New York Evening Telegraph
 Courtesy: The art of making the other fellow feel more import ant than you.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08

The president having gone on his vaca- ton, Secretary Hoover proposes to sweeten his disappointment at being left behind by exploring in sugar.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08
It Pays Egg Producers

Alabama Farm Bureau News)
 The Pacific coast egg producers, because of their cooperative selling methods, get much better prices for their eggs than do the farmers of the middle west, is shown in figures prepared by N. E. Chapman of the Minnesota agricultural extension service. Although the egg produc- tion of the middle west is enormous, this branch of marketing has not re- ceived the attention that has been given to the marketing of grain, livestock and butterfat. A few weeks ago eggs were passing from farmers to dealers in Minnesota at prices ranging from IS to @ cents a dozen, according to figufes pub lished by MT. Chapman, while at the same time poultry keepers at Seat tie were receiving 32 cents, at Los Angeles 37 cents, at Ban Francisco 40 cents. These figures show what cooperative poultry marketing Is doing for the California poultrymen when they are we'll organized.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08

Chairman Ben Hooper of the railway la bor board says that civilization is now nov ing towards the jungle. We presume then that the jungle will soon be civilized.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08
Alabama Press
An Independent Farmer
(Sylacauga Advance) )

The farmer who has crib full of corn, bank of potatoes, plenty of syrup and meat to run him through the year, is not looking for supply merchant or banker to furnish him,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08
Telephone nsnss~ Telephone Main AeoO osA3ltt.Gssa9s1SS Main 4sO0
VALUE OF EXPORT RELATIONS

It is reassuring, even in this period of an almost maximum prosperity here at nome with domestic demand for mill products calling for full turn and producing record payrolls that create enormous purchas- ing capacity shared by all branches of trade to realize that our tentacles on ex- ports have not been unswung from thelr moorings. It is good to know that our con- tact with the other peoples is continuous one, so that, when we really and truly need their business, the foundation is there to secure that business and does not have to be formed after the necessity has arrived.
 Birmingham's export business n iron and steel products is on permanent basis. Not only do we send rails and plates to the Orient, but we send wire mill products and coal and coke to Central and South America. Cuba is always taking some Birmingham district iron and steel products. Australia has bought much of our Ensley basic phos
 phate made from steel mill slag. In the re- port of one company for 1922 it is recited that this company did an export business last year with twenty-one countries This export business was only eleven and half per cent. of the total, but its spread shows the territory covered and the hold that our wire-mill products have in the export field. The reports of the other companies are reg ularly large. That is as much stated portion of the business of some companies as the domestic. Much of the export steel business automatically comes to the plants at Ensley and Fairfield. We will not soon forget that it was export steel business which kept our mills going at fifty per cent. in the dull period when the average in other steel centers was twenty-five to thirty per cent. The Birmingham district has two strings to it's bow. We will appreciate that advantage the more as time goes by and there are intermittent periods when the ex- port trade stands out in bold relief the safety factor in the districts makeup. It is one of the basic underpinnings
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08
Prepare for Big Crops

Our farmers are all making prep arations for bumper crop this year., Practically all the land has been broken and they are busy hauling out their fertilizer. You can see strings of wagons, trucks, etc., filing by the fertilizer plants to be loaded from morning to night and it looks like now that there will not be enough to supply the demand. Headland, last year in a small ter ritory, received nearly 10000 bales of cotton, and with proper seasons this year will do even better. We think it would be wise for the far mer to plant plenty or feed, etc., for their own use, and then make all the cotton they can. Prosperity is with us once more ana let's not be caught again as we were in 1920. but be more careful anu try to lay up something for the "rainy day." With sound business methods ap- piled to farming, with the fertile lands that God gave us, there is no reason why this section should not be one of the most 2rospsrous In the country
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08
T H E A c Ell E R A l. D

Entered at the Birmingham, Ala. posto1iee I as second-class matter under act of Congress- NiaFeH 6. 1879.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08
 JlsF:7oReBEBEARER

We note that it is somewhat of an incon- venience to come by street railway tickets in Birmingham. The public is not urged to buy them, and usually doesn't know where they are to be had.
 If we were running a street-railway sys- tenn, said to be in hole, we'd try by every means to induce people to ride.
 We are of opinion that a man or woman, with tickets in pocket or purse, would as a matter of course ride in the street-cars oftener than otherwise.
 If we were running business which had strenuous competition, we would lay ourself out to obtain patronage. . The company makes more money when i. hauls two fares for fourteen cents than it does when it hauls one person for eight cents
 MT. Wrigley made lots of money, millions in fact, off an article that sold for a nickel. When he wanted to increase his profits he didn't raise the price, he increased his num- Der of customers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08
Couldn't Believe It

Younger boys of certain sll mingham have a custom of one of their number tell lately at banquet give sons of the city, some present. The after { to tell of big things/ ten to the bisn11 fea
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-08

There seems to be slight difference of opinion on the age of man. Some scientists claim that he is 500,000 years old, and oth- CTS contend that he will be 5000, 900 on his next birthday. Whats few million years; in the life of man? 25