davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04

perhaps, as one of his own genius summoned, million-volt flashes of lightning"
 As an estimate of Steinmetz' practi- cal value the Dallas News declares: "The greatness of Steinmetz appears to be that he was able to bring a DOT ton of physical knowledge into sub- lection to the equation of the mathe- niatician. And having brought it into subiection, he had the imagination and the vision to see where men might harness it and pake it do the work of the world" Likewise the Chatta- nooga Times: Every house and home, all buildings and factories, in practically every development to which electricity is applied, his genius found the means of making the application"
 An estimate of his practical contri- buttons to human life is given by the. Kansas City Times: Something like one hundred inventions in the cleo trical world are to be credited to Steinmetz. In the trolley car, the ele- vator, the motor vehicle, the develop ment of water power, the conservation of energy in various directions, he had an important hand. His was a tire less brain, alert, quick to catch the relations of things and to detect the weaknesses of systems of transporta- tion, use of fuel, labor and communi- cation" All in all Steinmetz was one of those peculiarly gifted persons who, because of, or in spite of physical in- firmity, was able fruitfully to concen- trate his whole life along the lines for which he was by nature fitted pr trained.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04

idea, but declared; "We are perfectly willing to do whatever is right about it; we always wish to do our part.
 The point is that two of the most widely known contributors to con- temporaneous literature should reduce mans boasted progress to transition from liar to imbecile, while retaining the attributes of his former state. It is not flattering conclusion, in view of the commonly accepted theory that man is the highest expression of na- ture's development. That all men are liars, as Kipling seems to think, and that education produces intellectual and moral imbecility with the return to savagery as the only hope for re- lief, as Shaw openly declares, may extract some of the conceit from man. kind of this day; but acceptance of such theories in the scheme of human progress will have to be left to the skeptics and pessimists.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04

lowest ebb in it's history in some cities is not denied. That the federal gov ernment has laid itself open to just censure for it's failure in law enforce ment is equally demonstrable. But Governor Pinchot has in his own state city that is among the leaders in open disregard of the Volstead act and of the state statutes supporting that act. Governor Pinchot has sworn to uphold and enforce a code of laws that forbid and penalize such trade in intoxicants as is said to be con ducted on a large scale in Philadel- phia. Were he to use all his authority to enforce the law in this one city and call upon the treasury department and the federal authorities for assistance it is very probable that he would re- ceive assistance in full measure and without bubble.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04
FROM LIAR TO IMBEcILE?

A famous English poet of the post Elizabethan period declared in sub- stance that the surest way to make a financial future was to buy the average man at what he is worth, then sell him at the price he sets on him. self. That was another way of say ing that the average man is hopeless victim of his own conceit. Two dis tinguished authors of today must have been actuated by the purpose to take some of the conceit out of the modern man by expressing their respective views based upon the theory that man is an example of the process of transi- tion from liar to imbecile. Rudyard Kipling, upon assuming his office as rector of St. Andrews University, de- clared that primitive man was, above everything else, liar, and added that "the first use made of his power of speech when he evolved from the monkey was to tell lie."
 That was back in the hay past. But George Bernard Shaw, who is noted for his enunciation of startling theo- ries in his analyses of mans mission, service and achievements, takes up the case of the descendants in some published comments on "the marks of an educated man." Mir. Shaw is not very encouraging. He declares that ''the marks of an educated man are intellectual and moral imbecility," and adds that for this condition "the only remedy yet discovered is the de- struction of civilization by the action of educated men. This involves in- cidentally the destruction of educa- tional institutions and the consequent escape of mankind from education 70 the comparative sanity and mental competence of savag gery."
 We are not sure that we always catch the drift of MT. Kipling when he wonders into philosophical fields. As for Shaw, the British satirist' s definition of metaphysics as what is left when sharp stick is poked into a pile of wet sand, then withdrawn, automatically asserts itself. Shaw frequently reminds one of the Texas editor who obligingly undertook to review a magazine article of the mean ir~ of which he had not the remotest
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04
GOVERNOR PINcHoT's GESTURE

Having made one reply to the charges of Governor Pinchot with re- spect to the treasury departments policy concerning the enforcement of the Volstead act Secretary Hughes declines to continue the controversy, doubtless rightly concluding that dis cussion would be both fruitless and endless. The weakness in Mr. Pin chot's position is the easily demon strable fact that he as governor has failed to do what he accuses federal officials of not doing with respect to law enforcement. Thus there is sus- picion of political motive rather than of sincere desire for law enforcement behind MT. Pinchot's attack.
 Had the governor of Pennswlvania been content to rest on his laurels as arbiter of the anthracite strike, and had he sought resolutely to make good his stipulation that prices should not advance as consequence of the an thracite adjustment he would now oe enjoying high prestige. As it is, he has sought to point out the errors in the conduct of others while ignoring equal errors in his own conduct. No matter how accurate his observations nor how true his criticisms, they lose weight because he has not applied the same severe test to his own official duty and record.
 | That law enforcement is at the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04
HOW ENOCH FAILED
By Wickes wnmboIdt

When I was a little fellow I used to get big-eyed overN the story of Enoch Arden. The thought of that lonely wanderer coming back and looking through the window of the cheery home to see the wife with whom he had been so happy. and who thought while Enoch stayed out in the him dead, married to another man. identity, made me resolve never cold and wet and concealed his to be seafaring man. Because Enoch got in that fix through go- ing to sea. A thing that haunted me as much as Enoch's plight was that the erstwhile Mrs. Enoch and the children had to put up with that strange man in the house. Later. when reached the age looked at my feet whenever I saw a girl approaching, I began to understand better how Enoch must have felt about 1t.
 Enoch Arden has been the sub ject of much praise and adulation for the high ground he took. But, between you and me, I must ad- init that I consider Enoch after all pretty much of a pil1er. He When he saw his wife and chill dren happy with another husband and father, he did not throw any monk key-wrenches into the ma chinery. He saw that Mrs. Enoch loved this other man and had be- appearance. Therefore, sick, pen come reconciled to his own dis niless, homeless and broken hearted, he decided to efface him self. Enoch almost did a God like thing, but not quite. Be- cause, just before he died, he yielded to a last-moment weak ness and told his story to his landlady. Now, you know as well as l do that that was equivalent to putting it in the town paper on the front page with a seven column heading.
 Thus Enoch made worse than useless the sacrifice he had set out so nobly to achieve. Mrs. Enoch not only had the humilia- tion of knowing that in the eyes of those puritanical people she had been living with another man, but also she and the children all their lives would carry the soul-har- rowing picture of the forlorn and broken-hearted Enoch Every thing that Enoch had done was undone, and more.
 Houy rnopu of ,,r
 thing! We start out with noble resolves, we give of ourselves to -the brim and overflowing; and then, like the old COW, kick the whole business over. Incidentally, Enoch got into that mess by not taking his wife's advice.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04

AS LLOYD GEORGE DEPARTS

Although the visit of Lloyd George to the United States did not stir up great enthusiasm, the former premier was we'll received and his own conduct was admirable. That he did not come from political motive is likely, even though certain unfriendly brlasn journals sought to give such complex ion to his tour. His addresses were marked by a good sense and modera- tion that elicited the approval of the American press. Like all European statesmen, Lloyd George regrets that America has not seen fit to interpose her good offices in the settlement of the problems created by the. war in which this nation was participant. There is logic in the argument that the United States has a vital interest in composing the difficulties, which, If they developed into ungovernable outbreaks, would again draw us into a war of self-defense. Prevention is cheaper than war, and far more con- formahle to American tradition.
 That the most statesmanlike minds in this country, regardless of party affiliation, are in agreement with Lloyd George on this point has been demonstrated again and again. Only partisan limitations prevent Secretary Hughes from joining in such foreign conferences as would seek to effect betterment in political and economic conditions over there. Mir. Hughes goes on the theory that we cannot escape damage from European bank ruptcy any more than we can escape a share in the profits of prosperous Europe. He has good economic law on which to base his theory, as well as the record of experience. The pros pect of our diplomatic participation in a committee of inquiry into Germany's industrial and financial situation in- dicates that President Coolidge is in- clined even more than was President Harding to undertake a certain share of responsibility with respect to the process of rehabilitation abroad. The fact that MT. Coolidge makes no pub lie statements lends strength to his position and gives his critics within the party little opportunity to attack him. An act is less open to dispute or debate than statement Or an ad- dress recommending or supporting an act.
 It is significant that Lloyd Georges opinion with respect to our participa- tion and the extent of it differs in minimum degree from the opinions of other foreign statesmen who have vis- ited us, regardless of nationality or party. As he increases the distance between us as he pursues his home ward voyage, his stature becomes even greater than when he walked among us and his words take on greater em- phasis. It looks as though the policy he advocates is about to come to pass.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04
The Hand of Man Needed (Florence TfmoJ)

Resources of coal, iron, timber, rich lands, etc, with which Ala bama is so bountifully endowed, are assets in name only until the hand of man puts them to use. Upon mankind solely depends the wealth or poverty of a state or nation, and the development of the youth of city, state or na- tion constitutes the basis upon which Its material wealth may be founded. The development of youth is only by education, and IS the potential wealth of the child hood of city or state is devel- oped by education, it's material wealth unerringly follows, and to this IS added the even greater as- sets of improved living, social and moral conditions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04
Sacred Right of Petition Badly Abused By Americans

tions upon subjects wholly de- tached from that purpose.
 This direct action, or attempt 10 force direct action, is to be de- plored. What business, for in- stance, has an organization that is purely fraternal in it's character to take hand as such in the politi- cal affairs of this country? Every member of it may hold the same identical view and as citizen each has a right to express it. aye, it is his bounden duty to do so. But the fraternal organiza- tion to which he belongs has noth- ing to do with the case. An or- ganization should do the work for which it was organized; it should not slop over and induce the American people to believe that it is expressing the solidified view of it's members on every evtFane- ous subject that may momentarily be agitating the public mind.
 This seeking to control conduct by petition and resolution has sinister aspect along the executive side of government. Regardless of the enormity of the crime, the justice of the conviction, the ne- cessity for punishment, you can always find numerous persons urging clemency at the hands of the chief executive. More than once I was upbraided for the ex- ercise of executive clemency by men who had signed the petition on which I acted. Their lame ex~ cuse was that they did not know what they were signing. Seekers of appointive offices, no matter how worthless, wholly unreliable and unfit they may be, can always present testimonials of their fel- low Citizens that they possess the necessary virtues and qualifica- tions. In states where the refer endum goes into effect upon peti- tion, persons have been known to receive pay for their signatures. Out of this has grown business of obtaining signatures-not al- together an unprofitable one.
 Yes, the strike is to be deplored. It is to be hoped a way may be found to eliminate it; but the evils that flow from unwise legislation, unfortunate appointments, laxity in imposing the penalties of the law. all of which may be influ- enced by petition and resolution, although not always visible 10 the naked eye, have perhaps wrought more harm to the peo- pie. There is no way to prevent the i'll effects of this exercise of direct action until men take as much care in signing petition as they do in signing a note. The worst of life comes from the brain, not the fist, and the fist never acts until the brain ap- proves or does not care.
 Copyright, 1923, by Twenty-first Century Press)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04
Better Place to Live

This good old world is so close akin we are all getting in such adjacent touch with the other through the telephone. radio, air plane and in every other way that there is practically no dividing line, and as resul the great big old world of other days is becoming a mighty small place after all
 hence, the desire and effort to make it better and happier place in which to live and do business.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04
ESTIMATES AND FLUCTUATIONS

IS JNoGASS AlA CAS criticism, by farmers organizations, of the department of agriculture re- ports of probable yields based on the estimates of its correspondents all over the country. Nobody can with any degree of accuracy determine in mid-season the extent of the harvest. Sometimes when mid-season reports indicate a good harvest, the opposite turns out to be the case, and vice versa. Yet, closely following these reports there come fluctuations in the exchange quotations, the price sliding up or down accordingly. AS conse- quence, these preliminary estimates give opportunity for gambling in fu- lures and on margins without helping the cause of the producer one whit.
 An indication of the effect of es- inmates on quotations is found in the fact that, on announcement of the departments recent estimate of a total cotton crop of only 10,248,000 bales, the exchange price at once ad- vanced eight dollars bale. That is, of course, gratifying to the producer, for he thereby sees the value of his product suddenly boosted. But those who have been caught before are more wary. They know that next week or the week after the "condi- ton" may abruptly change and there may be issued later estimate show ing the cotton yield to be several hun dred thousand bales more than indi- cated by the previous estimate. Presto! The planter sees his fancied profits whisked away from him in twinkling through the immediate de- cline of cotton on exchange. And he properly has sense of injury, for he has been vitally affected by a va riation in guesses without having had one bale added to or subtracted from his harvest.
 Of course, the department of ag- riculture cannot be charged with re- sponsibility for the operation of ex- changes. Congress is responsible for that, and congress has repeatedly re- fused to impose such regulations upon cotton gambling as would prevent the injury to producers, manufacturers and consumers of cotton alike. But the department of agriculture could so develop it's policy as to minimize the ill-effects of what in itself is desire to be informative. It could make more emphatic the suggestion that advance reports are, after all, only estimates which the harvest may show to be en- tirely erroneous. It could warn against the fluctuations in futures that are based upon chance and not upon fact. Cotton is an essential commodity of most substantial na- ture; yet this year to have crop may be an asset, and the next almost liability. This is wrong. Instead of being as variable as weathervane, the price of cotton should be as steady as clock, for tKe intrinsic value of cotton as human necessity does not vary. The department could scon- tribute to such steadiness.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04
CalhOun's Great Need (Appictnn CforN

A permanent county fair, held each fall, in suitable and conven- iently located fair grounds. with suitable and adequate exhibition buildings and ample room for out side features. is great need in Calhoun. This is one of the lead ing counties in the state, has everything to make a county fair creditable in every way and should have had such fair long ago. We can have such a fair hereafter if all hands will unite in making the county exposition in November a success this fall and in giving support to the plan for converting it into a real county fair.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04
Crop Under Estimates

IFIOrenCe DalIy NtWSJ
 Somehow the estimates seem 10 have been all wrong. It begins to look as though the cotton crop would be shorter than set by any prediction. Locally it is going to be very much under most esti- mates and this is apparently a common experience all over the belt. Apparently the thirty-cent price is Justified and has come to stay.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04

Commenting on a paragraph in The Age-Herald that "the trouble with the average train of thought is that it is likely to run into an open switch and get wrecked" the Arkansas Gazette says: Another trouble is that it is too often a train of 'empties.' Yet there are plenty of people who are ready to load it down with dead weight.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04
Good Results Hoped For
(Montgomery Times)

TMOhtgOmeTy IImts1
 The eyes of the federal prohi enforcers are turned to Alabama, and with the hearty and honest cooperation of the state and fed eral enforcers, it Is hoped to get good results in Alabama and break all records here. There is abundant material for work.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04
Admission of Weakness

 In advising all small merchants to close their stores before dark as protection against the danger of the ax fiend murderers the city of Birmingham makes pitiful ad- mission that it cannot give that measure of protection that tax payers pay for.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04

thing that should be given pri- mary consideration, and that Is the establishment of several smaller industries to take up the slack left by the passing of the car works. Several smaller in- dustries would eliminate the dan ger of such a situation as hap pened through the sudden decision of officials of the Southern Rail- way
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04

An exchange says: ''No govern ment can repair the injury that man suffers because of his own laziness and his own profhgacy." This is ire, quently applicable to has-beens and would-bes who are loud in their com plaints of the hundred and one things that are the matter with the govern ment
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04
school is taking it's

consolidated school is taking It's place. Good roads, easy transpor- tation and the better facilities of- fered by such consultations have made the idea more and more pop ular throughout the country. In Alabama many counties are push ing the consolidated school idea. They have found that, in this way, 1t is possible to erect larger and better buildings with more equip ment, and it also is the means of employing full corps of efficient teachers which can give the child training from the primary grades through the grammar grades and then through the high school.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04
IF SPACE MEANS ANyT4Yxc

Judging by newspaper space devoted to him and preparations for his reception, Papyrus Is about the second most important Eng lishman to visit the United States In years.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04
THE ALABAMA PRESS
Some Solemn Facts
(Guntersville Democrat)

Senator Underwood has been telling the Texans some solemn facts-and he displays good poli- tics in telling them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04

An Alaska beauty wants to become an actress in New York. A little thing like a cold reception would prob ably have no discouraging effect on her.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04
SOIND ADXICE
(Toronto Mail and Emnir

(Toronto Mail and Empire) Students are advised not to ge: married until they are earning 5000 year. Even then they may find something else to do with
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04

If the Indians who are suing for {. large part of Chicago should win, they would have some big feathers in their caps.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04
Of Primary Consideration

While Gadsden will of course be glad to get larger industries and will do everything possible to bring them here, there is one
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04
ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS

(E. w. Howe's Monthly) am compelled to confess I have no great Influence; I am simply an amazed observer and dub taxpayer.