davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05
oTIR CHARITABLE PROGRAM

The difference between unorganized charity, such as has prevailed III Blr- ninpham hitherto, and the Commit nitv Chest, is the difference between . querilla warfare and the operations of regular army. Guerilla warfare is intending, without cohesion and with out result. Organized warfare is deti- nite, purposeful and leads to definite results. Through the Community Chest the various forces that have been working to charitable purpose are banded together to fight the forces of poverty and disease. From such united effort backed by the money and sympathy of a great and prosper GUS community some definite, sub- stantial and lasting good may be con- fidently expected.
 It is an ancient saying that the poor we have always with us. Perhaps in a measure that will always be true. But the margin by which we reduce poverty may be taken as an accurate index of our progress along humanl- tarian lines. The too prevalent idea of charity is confined to the act of giving. There is far higher charity than this, which consists in removing the causes of poverty and dependence. This is the only permanent charity. To help man help himself is far bet ter than merely to help man.
 : The Community Chest means far more than the mere assembling of several funds into one fund. It is predicated upon survey of the char ftable needs and the causes of such needs. It looks over the whole field for the purpose of co-ordinating char iable activities in such manner as to save duplication of expense and ef fort and to extend the purchasing power of the charitable dollar. If it is properly conceived and envisioned, it looks to the permanent remedy of conditions that give rise to cases call ing for charitable response.
 Of especial interest to busy people is the fact that the Community Chest unites in one grand effort all the charity drives that heretofore have been scattered indiscriminately over the entire year, and have been the source of repeated demands upon the charitable impulse. By determin- ing how much per week or per month they may devote to charity and then Subscribing that amount to the Com nunity Chest, the people of this com munity will have relieved themselves of much repeated annoyance, dis charged their duty to their conscience hnd paved the way for grand total of actual benefit to humanity greater than has ever before been locally accomplished.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05
ICDErLICHTS fnazl AGSJ
 k\ k\NATIONAL- SxiTN NU CAPITAL %zsggs sssIse ]

Of the million letters which an- nually pour into the local post office practically every one is ad- dressed In the following style:
 MT. John II. Smith.
 1475 Columbia Road,
 Washington, D. c.
 Those who employ that form do not blunder, for the letters are in- variably delivered. The form is technically incorrect, however.
 If you would be technically cor rect, address your letters:
 MT. John H. Smith,
 1475 Columbia Road,
 District of Columbia.
 Under the law, there is no Washington. The city planned and mapped out by the first presi- dent and the Celtic architect LEnfant, disappeared with the en- actment of the law extending the boundaries of the old city and es- tablishing the District of Colum- bia.
 There are other laws, it is some times alleged, which are generally ignored. There are others still which are honored solely in the breach.
 That which eliminated the city of Washington is of the latter cat egory. It has another distinction. It will be permanently disregarded, though never repealed.
 It requires mo statute to make this capital city a living entity. 1t is enshrined in the hearts of all the people.
 The passage of the District of Columbia bill, eliminating Wash ington, is an example not neces- sarily of the stupidity of congress, but of the carelessness of con gress.
 No member, assured of. the e1-. tinction of ashington aby the en- actment of the bill, would have supported it. No member would have dared face the storm the peo- pie, once awakened, would have precipitated.' But the members slept and the people slept. And the law is on the books.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05
THE HOUSE sPEAKERsHIP

Inasmuch as congress usually does very little until after the reception of the presidents message, perhaps the battle over the speakership of the house may not be regarded specifically as time wasted. The handful of Re publican insurgents, because of the narrow numerical Republican majority, wield more than usual power, so compromise with the Republicans or union of Democrats and insurgents offers the probable alternatives. For the Republicans to compromise with the insurgents is to give the latter the whip hand, while union wiSh the Democrats would give the minority party an unusual opportunity. A un- ion with the Democrats would mean the speakership for Representative Garrett, in itself an advantage greater than a bare numerical ma jority would be. 9
 It appears that, however divergent their ultimate programs may be, the Democrats and insurgents have common desire to amend the rules of congressional procedure, so as to re- duce the power of committees to smother legislation and to give fairer opportunity for open discussion of measures over which there is contro- versy. The Republicans, on the other hand, plainly do not want such re- vision of the rules, because it would take away the intrenchments of spe- cial privilege and remove the chief weapon with which tottreing major ity might continue to stifle legislation on which it dreaded debate. No true Democrat would willingly see the mi nority make such an alliance with the insurgents as would obscure the Dem ocratic purpose, but the opportunity to unite on definite program as far as there is any common ground to both would be strategic triumph that is not to be rejected.
 The Republicans have behind them no record which entities them to con- tinued control. The present congress, like it's predecessor, will be failure, unless there is definite legislative policy honestly conceived and reso- lutely pressed. Such policy has not been found among the Republicans. Perhaps it exists in the other obvious combination. Representative Garrett, who has practically tied with MT. Gillett in the balloting, is man of parts. If he should be selected as speaker, and stranger things have hap pened, not only would he prove to be an impartial presiding officer, but he would have opportunity to compose committees in large measure free from entangling alliance and chosen with view to getting done some important work of public benefit.
 The Democrats cannot afford to make any damaging concessions to the insurgents, but they should be able to make working agreement for such portion of the legislative journey as their ways may honorably lie together.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05
BARGE LINE FACTS
 SHOULD BE FACED
St. Louis Globe-Democrat)

General Manager Theodore Brent laid all his cal Gs on the table when Chairman McCormicl<'s senate com mittee, which visited St. Louis, reached New Orleans. His show ing is just about what might be expected when we remember how
 the barge line had It's beginning in
 hasty, extemporized organiza-
 tion, brought into being under war stress when all attention was cen tered in another direction.
 The first fleet was made up Of
 more or less nondescript craft as-
 sembled from all places on the
 rivers where bottoms coui5 still be found. The only craft ad6e,i to the fleet since are craft ordered either during the war or soon afterward and even part of this needed tonnage was withheld for
 months by private interests under
 a lease whose legality is still a
 subject of contest. Operation has been on hand-to mouth basis and no one has known at what time the intense hostility to river serv- | ice might triumph and when the
 annual appropriations might be cut off.
 The barge line history is known of all men and in it are no facts
 to be concealed. It has incurred total loss of $2,000,00O, chiefly in the years before it was we'll estab- | lished, though low water brought | a large deficit last year It's in- 1 come suffers from the unjust di- vision of rate on goods brought 70 the river bank by rail. What ship per would disturb arrangements perfected during many years of transporting his goods in order to favor a new rail line that might cease to exist in each recurring June? The barge service is in the haphazard position of such an ex- nerimental rail line. It must struggle against the possibility l that as each fiscal year approaches l congress may pare it's appropria- tion or withhold it entirely.
 But the barge fleet is now show ing a profit and will make up the deficit ultimately-can make it up
 within a short time if it's equip-
 ment is enlarged and it's turnover tripled or quadrupled. It is now
 operating on definite time sched- l ule-with sailings out of St. Louis on the fourth of each month and
 every six days thereafter, and out
 of New Orleans on the first of each l month and every six days there after. Dependability by single trip is important. but dependabili- ty insured for a term of years is
 far more important. It's operating
 organization should be as direct
 and alert as that of the railroads whose competition it must meet Conducted on the lines of an ex- pertinent. 1t cannot be made a permanent success, says Mir. Brent flatly. But managed as a going concern, under all conditions us- ually provided for going concerns, it can be made tremendous sue
 cess and the status of a going concern is the status it must have.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05
COOLIDGE AND THE SHOALS

It IS rumoreQ CnaL Henry fOro $ visit to President Coolidge Monday was the occasion for discussing the Muscle Shoals project. The opinion IS confirmed that the president is in favor of settling the Shoals matter at the present session of congress, and that he strongly approves of MT. Madden's plan to build another aux Hilary steamplant, to take the place of Gorgas, and to accept the Ford offer. The attitude of the president on this matter is important; for, while his support would not insure success, his opposition would spell certain de- l feat.
 It may be that MT. Coolidge, who is the very soul of thrift, so it is said, is greatly impressed by the argument that at present the national invest ment in Muscle Shoals, huge as it is, represents a dead loss unless some thing is done with it. He doubtless also keenly feels the folly of permit ting such an enormous power to con tinue to run away, when there is ready to take it over and put it to work man who has shown the ca- pacity to evolve mammoth industries where in the beginning there was noth- ing but the opportunity.
 Henry Ford is not only a great in- dustrialist, but also a great conserva- tionist. He makes millions out of what many others regard as waste. He cuts timber strictly in accord with modern theories of forest conser- vation, and turns the slabs and saw dust into merchnatable products. He transforms his slag and steel refuse dumps into castings. He rescues mil lions from his coal smoke. He so manages his own business that it con- stantly crowds the limits of it's own capacity and makes constant additions and expansions imperative. He lays down a program for Muscle Shoals, that, while it swells the Ford millions, also brings to the nation a wealth of benefits that politics has so far denied it.
 It is expected as the inevitable con- sequence of Ford's operation of Mus cle Shoals that our capacity to make explosives in time of war would be heightened and expanded. That fer tilizers needer for our farms will be produced in quantity at such a price as will cause all fertilizer prices to decline. That the raw materials in the vicinity of Muscle Shoals will be fab ricated into world commodities through the power there generated. That power will be sold to other industries. That transportation adequate to carry away these products will be developed. That, ir short, the public and popular belief in Ford's industrial ability and the demand that he be given the op- portunity will be abundantly justified.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05
Crimp i'm Hog Industry

The demoralization of the hoo market, the prices being the low est in years, mas put a crjmn Ir tn,s lndustry in Dale county. Whereas' heretofore. at this time oi tne year Ozark had shipped many cars of hogs, this year not a singie car has moved. Those farm CTS who have hogs to sell find themselves in serious dilema. The mild winters make slaughter ing them hazardous undertake ing, ana the low price offered on root Is no incentive to raising them. The projected cold storare plant. when in operation, will part ly solve the question.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05
Ontstanding statesman

N4HOTtS VfHcIy IIIfIeSJ
 Senator Underwood is au out standing and leading Southern statesman, lie has proven his worth and his ability to hope with the best and the highest indorce- ment that he could receive is the encouragement and support that he is now receiving from all parts of the country in his candidacy for the presidency of the greatest of flee in the gift of the greatest and the proudest nation onsearth,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05
Big Cabbngc Hit

(tlorence Dally NeWs)
 A farmer in Walker county has a half acre of fall cabbage that is proving very Irofi.able. Jle raised six tho issnd Leaos of caE- bage on a half acre that is whole sailing for ten cents per head. SIX hundred dollars from half an acre of cabbage .s not SD bad! And Walker county is not so far away, either. If this can be done Tn Walker county, why not in Lau- derdale?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05
Everything in sIts Favor

(AShIanU FrUSTESSI
 Ashland and Clay county have the leading requisites, such as skilled native labor and abundant raw material, for number of new ndustries-industrie that will furnish work for the laborer and bread for the eater. Industries seeking a location would do well to investigate the advantages to be found here.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05

Two railroads are contesting the cause of wreck in Georgia in which the combined casualties were one killed and twenty injured. Meantime the surviving victims are doing as we'll as could be expected under the cir cumstances.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05
The Greatest Menace

The greatest menace to human life on the highways and in the cities is the grade crossing. Daily 1t takes it's toll of life in some part of the United States. 1t is bid for carelessness and reck- iessness in drivers and pitfall even Tor those who would be care . ful, it holds a constant danger. no matter how many safeguards ars thrown around it, and the only possible safety lies in eliminating II. This, fortunately. Alabama ha 2 decided to do.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05
Male Water Sheep

(Boston Transcript
 A San Francisco hard'ssre firm received a request from the Orient for quotations on male water sheep No one in the office could understand what article was meant and the letter was posted on the bulletin board for all to see, with the three words underscored. Finally some outsider scribbled the suggestion, Maybe he means hydraulic rams and this interpre- tation turned out to be correct"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05

The Houston Post asks what's wrong with this sentence: "He retires from office with the distinction of having expended the public money economi- cally and wisely and lowered the tax burdens of the people," It's simply too good to be true.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05

A Chicago man declares that ne can prove that the planets are respon- sible for the weather; but so far none of the office-seekers has declared purpose to have the government over haul and regulate the planets.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05
The Story of Alabama


 If the governor docs call a sns- clai session it is to De hoped that ne will include the Greater Ala pama movement so that it may be acted upon. This movement is ona that deserves careful considera- tion before it is cast aside. lf the matter can be arranged so thnr value received can be assured for the money provided. there is notb- ing that could be of more service Tn developing the state and its rs~ sources The resources ana nos. sioiii.ies or the state of Alabama are oi untold value. They but nesu .he proper development. ier t,'a states have demonstrated oau oau ', wohaertul advancement that tional advertising. Why nnt Aas bama? Aoe Aia-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05

Some ambitious statesmen with eyes on the White House are figuring on the relative percentages of conserva- tism and progressiviYn they can af- ford to adopt without net loss in votes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05
Acting With a Lion

(Everybody's Magazine)
 A Hollywood motion picture di- rector was trying to persuade super to wrestle with a lion.
 You needn't be afraid" he said, "the beast is perfectly tame. He never tasted raw meat"
 No; perhaps not" replied the perspiring actor. But that doesn't mean that he may not have curi- osity."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05
The Greatest Play

he Greatest Play The greatest play I ever saw in any football game Was made by me, myself alone-no other was to blame. The halfback had been wounded by a wallop on the chin; There wasn't any other sub, and SO they sent me in. A tumble nd the pigskin ball came bouncing straight at me; l grasped it in my earns and ran like wind across the lea. The yells that broke behind me were like music to my soul, And with a wildly beating heart I plunged across the goal. My playmates gathered round and wept as if their hearts would break, And then they gently picked me up and threw me in the lake. They all agreed that I had made a most astounding play And would have won the game if I had run the other way.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05
SMILES
True to Form
London Mail)

 MT. Brisket (the butcher); My son-the one that used to help me in the shop here-he's gone in for boxing. Won a championship, tool"
 Old Friend: "Ay, I remember him. l suppose he'll have won the lightweight championship"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05

A controversy has arisen as to King Tht's age when he died. Un- fortunately, there are many men in this. country who are constitutionally opposed to splitting wood for the kitchen stove until they have settled momentous questions of this kind.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05
For Ex-servIce Men

Last week the Birmingham Age Herald carried an able editorial in support of the national bonus. We commend that great paper for it's fearless stand for the ex-serv- ice man, and it is directly con trary to some of the other papers who say plainly that the ex-sol- diers are attempting to rob the treasury.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05
THE PARAGRAPHERS
Up to Florida

est Louis-Globe-D -Democrat)
 California already has two pres idential candidates in the field What has Florida to show for her climate?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05
MORE TRUTH THAN POETRY

A heaven must be somewhere for the
 man who never cheats, And for the one who doesn't boast and
 and buster when he beats. A day no doubt is coming when the
 saddened will be gay, When they will all be riding who must
 go afoot today. A Paradise is surely waiting for the
 noble soul Who would rather be respected than
 be adding to his roll. There is, of course, heaven for the cook who doesn't quit At the moment when her mistress will
 be sure to throw fit. There must be some bright future
 where the man whose top is bare Will awake and be delighted with q
 second crop of hair. Oh, surely there's a heaven where the 
 henpecked man will smile, While his, wife obeys his orders in a
 very humble style. There must be an Elysium where the
 homely girls will all Cease at last to sit neglected, with
 their backs against the wall. Pm sure a heavens waiting for the
 man, however tough, Who is willing to be silent after he
 has talked enough. Do not tell me there's no heaven; am
 sure there must be one For the man whose ways are honest
 when deceiving might be done And l don't doubt that there some
 where is a heaven paved with
 gold
 For the woman who refuses to repeat
 all that she's told.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05


 his car downtown in New York, Chicago, Pittsburg and other cities. but why try to make Bir- mingham like them; why try 10 make it hell when 1t is a nat ural heaven for automobilists?
 For twelje years I have driven a car practically every day in Birmingham, and have never been arrested but once, which was over ten years ago, and that was for going over eight miles an hour at Third avenue and about Sixteenth street. I have never knowingly parked my car wrong till this morning. I parked it on Avenue near Twentieth street at an an- gle. for the simple reason that the only place l could get in was be- tween two cars already park ed that way, but it was raining and l did not have time to drive half an hour to hunt for place wide enough for me to park parallel l have. never seen real congestion on First avenue in all my years of driving, and do not believe l have ever been held up there as much as three minutes, while have waited on Eighteenth street twenty minutes many times for the Louisville and Nashville train to move. Many times I have been held up in Pittsburg and New York for ten to fifteen minutes.
 The right-hand turns are all right. but some exceptions should be made, due to the peculiar con dition caused by so many railroad tracks immediately south of the business part of town and the linn ited number of crossings. Under tfe new law man coming to town on Twentieth street and desiring to go any place on First avenue west Of Twentieth street will have to go entirely around the most congested block in town, stopping at each corner, and adding greatly to the congestion
 Some days I am called mon to use my car ten times or more and other days not at all. but I have no way to tell when it will he needed, and this is true of several other cars we operate, as we'll as those of thousands of business men Birmingham. The city commission will say to this: Well. what do people, in other cities do?" I will answer this by saying that because one man has his legs cut off why should I cut mine off when it isn't necessary: If "a man has a lame horse, and wants a team, is he going to look all over Pittsburg, New York, At lanta and other cities for another lame horse, when he has a perfect ly sound one offered him right here in Birminghan?
 E. J. LEE RUST.
 Birmingham. Ala, Dec. 3. 1923.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05

Whats the use? After weeks of campaigning against the high cost of eggs, along comes the announcements: "Dinosaur eggs $2,o00 apiece"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05
why Should Theyf

Springfield, Mo. Leader)
 The Democrats in congress have put the ban on peanut politics. Sure! Why feed the elephant?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05

Republican leaders appear to have lost hope for cooperation within their party, and are. bidding for some from their political adversaries.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05

If the program in the East to print all menus in English goes through, the cafe patron may be able to save some thing when ordering potatoes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05

Problem in Higher Mathematics If 10000, ,00O-year-old dinosaur egg is worth $2,000, what would dozen of strictly fresh dinosaur eggs cost?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05

It is noticed that good many peo- pie who were puzzled over one Fin stein theory are beginning to under stand another.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05
A Big Load
lDetroit Free PressA

Detroit Free Press)
 Very soon President Coolidge will have congress on his hands. At present it is only on his mind, but that is a considerable load.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05

According to Dr. Sawyer a man can hold a public job if he is hard-boiled. Many of them instead are thoroughly roasted.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05

Even tke Republican tariff does not injure the wheat farmer as much as the boil weevil does the cotton farmer
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-05

The Des )Moines speeder who was sentenced to five days on bread and water will have some food for reflec- tion.