davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
Telephone Main 1900
PARK BOARDS OPPORTUNITY

With the acceptance of all of the recently appointed members of the park board, that body is expected soon to get down to the serious work of 5 organization and the formulation of plans looking to the establishment and E maintenance of parks and playgrounds adequate for the needs of this great and growing city. It is doubtful if there is city of this size and pos sessing as much potential wealth in the United States which has not done more in the development of. park and recreational system than has Blr- mingham. True, this city has been so busily engaged in the development of it's vast natural resources that it has sgiven comparatively little attention to this important subject. But Birming- ham has long since advanced beyond the experimental stage, and has be- come permanent success as resi- dential city as well as an industrial and commercial center. It has already delayed too long those things that not only attract desirable investors and residents, but which make people who are already here desire to remain, in- stead of to move where better ad- vantages are offered in those fields of municipal development which make a city worth living in.
 There is not a city in this country which is better adapted topographi- cally, scenically, climadcally and oth- er.wise to the establishment of parks and playgrounds than is Birmingham. There is none which so favorably lends itself to the development of this field of municipal life. There are perhaps several public spirited and patriotic citizens of means who would make substantial donations to the park program if they were satisfied that the funds would be wisely and con structively administered in the estab- lishment of permanent park system. It is not improbable, too, that the peo- pie would be willing to indorse plans for further financial burdens to be employed for the benefit of park system, if they were satisfied that the park board will work out a practical, adequate system whereby all the peo- pie may enjoy such benefits.
 These suggestions are made with the hope that the park board will go to work with a singleness of purpose and a strong determination to admin ister the trust imposed in it in such manner as will give Birmingham system of well planned and properly maintained parks that will contribute generously towards the prosperity and happiness of all the people, and con stitute municipal asset whose value would be incalculable.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
TAKEN WITH GRAINS OF SALT

Reports continue to roll in from Berlin telling of riots, bread-lines and disturbances of one sort or another in the Ruhr. Some conditions of dis order are expected in that great in dustrial district under such situa- tion as has existed ever since the war closed, and especially since it was oc- cupied by the French in their en- deavor to make the Germans assume serious attitude towards their in-
 debtedness to the allies. It would have been impossible to have estab- lished perfectly orderly condition of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
SMILES
Something in n Name
(Forbes Magazine)

Mrs. James had just moved into the neighborhood and 1t was her first meeting with the local sew ing circle. As the conversation turned on, the absent men. one of the women said to Mrs. James: What does your husband do?"
 "Oh!" Said Mrs. James. ''he Is manager of pail factory"
 Pail factory?" said the other. Why, I didn't know we had such a factory in town. Where is 1t located?'
 We'll" replied Mrs. James. "hus- band calls it bucket shop, but think pail factory sounds much better"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
MUSCLE SHOALS AND CONGRESS

when the conflicts are under way.
 MUSCLE SHOALS AND CONGRESS r> Secretary Weeks has decided to
 ignore the charge of Congressman
 Oliver that deception was practiced on President Coolidge and the attorney general by withholding important data regarding the Gorgas steam plant transaction. The secretary indicates, however, that he wants the whole sub ject placed in the hands of congress. This is at least in harmony with the wishes and determination of the Ford advocates, but when congress takes the matter in hand the public will De satisfied with nothing less than real investigation of the whole affair.
 The people of this country have formed the idea that Mir. Ford has not been fairly treated. They know that MT. Ford was invited by the war department to make a bid for the Muscle Shoals properties and that it was only after he had complied with this request that others made bids and threw every possible obstacle in the way of acceptance by the government of the Ford bid. Interminable delay was fostered in congress, and nothing had been done at the time of adjournA ment. During the congressional vaca- tion came the sale of the Gorgas plant, a unit of the Muscle Shoals project which MT. Ford considered vital to the development of his plans.
 What the people want is complete investigation of the whole matter so that they may know the truth, and in order that the responsibility for pre- venting the manufacture of cheap fertilizer may be placed where it be- longs; whether that responsibility be upon the fertilizer trust, the power trust, their agents or other selfish in- terests. The people want the original agreement regarding the Gorgas plant with the Alabama Power Company in- vestigated, in the light of the claim of citizen that he is half owner Of the site upon which the Gorgas plant IS located. The people desire an in- vestigati6n of MT. Ford's charges that the secretary of war is playing into the hands of the fertilizer trust by un- dertaking to sell the Muscle Shoals property peace-meal so that there will be no opportunity to utilize the power at the shoals. for manufacturing fer tilizer. They want congress to probe the charge of Congressman Oliver that the Gorgas deal was put through with the consent of the president and attorney general after they were de- ceived about the transaction through the withholding of important facts.
 If congress goes into the whole subject with a determination to Iay bare the truth-and there are indica- tions that the Muscle Shoals project will be one of the livest topics before the next house and senate-ther.e is reason to believe that the people will learn some things that will give food for thought. There is a well defined belief that if such an investigation is made the Gorgas sale may be nullified on the ground of having been made under illegal conditions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
A DANGEROUS EXPERIMENT

tMemph1S Commercial AppeaD
 With the general purpose of Governor Pinchot's new determi- nation to compel loyalty to his administration from all state em- ployes, everyone will be in sym pathy. Bearing the responsibility for all measures he intends for the benefit of the people the head of any state government should have authority to dictate how such measures are to be fashioned and made use of. He is entitled to have state employees who, in mat ters of general policy, will be in harmony with his views, and he is within moral as we'll as politi- cal rights in getting rid of any official who might make use of his position in order to do politi- cal harm to the head of the gov ernment.
 In such a determination Gov ernor Pinchot will have the sup port of fair minded persons re- gardless of their political affilia- tions. If he be moderate and sane in his new course and confines himself to the elimination of poli- ties in the states departments, ae will deserve the gratitude of all right thinking persons. But he stands in the grave danger of eliminating one brand of politics by the substitution of another brand, and if he should submit 10 any such temptation then the plan he has in mind will be more harm ful than beneficial to the state. In other words the people of Penn sylvania will have merely swapped the devil for a witch should Gov ernor Pinchot junk one political machine in order to set up a simi- lar machine of his own with him. self as dictator. If Governor Pin chot is to forbid freedom of choice to the state employees in their thinking and doing, then he stands in danger of doing grave harm to state affairs. State of ficials are paid by the people for rendering the highest form of service. They should specialize on their particular duties to the end of devoting to them their best thought and strongest energies. And if they do that they will be much more competent to tell how affairs of their departments shall be conducted than any other of ficial who has not had the oppor- tunity for such specialization. If Governor Pinchot goes too far in his demands for loyalty he will make mere automatons of state servants and the service they rem der to the state will be far from being the highest or the best.
 It is bad thing very often for even good men to be set up as dictators. Heretofore Governor Pinchot has established for him. self fine record as an honest, high minded public servant, but, at the same time. he has made 1t plain that politics are by no means eliminated from his actions. His mind is not sufficient for all of the many details of state manage ment. and if he assumes any such thing he is riding to a fall. Handled moderately the require ments of loyalty from the state employees will be generally a be- neficent program. but if it should be taken to extremes 1t will be a most evil arrangement.
 There is as much danger as of promise in the undertaking to which<the head of the great state of Pennsylvania has committed himself.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
A Serious Question

The high cost of living is about to get into the limelight again. How the average man with a fam. fly Is going to meet the increase in prices of household necessities Is too deep question for us to answer. By the time we meet the coal bill. the grocer bill, the meat bill, the dry goods bill and a hum dred other bills of minor imAor- tance' where are we going to come in?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
Next Years Crop

(Hartselle Weekly HeraId)
 Much preparation is being made for the crop of next year. With improved means of turning and preparing land the job is not near so large as formerly, and it can be done so quickly and gotten out of the way for other duties on the farm. These labor-saving imple- ments are proving a panacea for the busy man of the soil.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
The Spring He Remembered
 (Canner,s WeeklNl

One summer afternoon some men were driving along country road when they were stopped by a tramp who asked for a ride. As the seats were full they let him ride on the running board. The conversation turned to bathing in famous springs"
 Speaking O bathin' in famous springs" said the tramp on the running board. that reminds me that bathed in the spring of '9S."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
How Did He Knowf

VI all MAI 6dzette, LOnuOnJ
 Magistrates: You are charged with being drunk. Have you any thing to say?"
 Culprit: I've never been drunk in my life, sir, and never intend to be, for it always makes me feel so bad in the morning."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
VIII Re Anprov.z
(DeKalh County uaa,s,

(Dekalb County Herald)
 The state legislature passed 8 bill substituting the electric chair for the moose in Alabama. At least, we are adopting the modern way of executing our criminals. and the new method will probably meet with the approval of the people, if not with the approval Of those most vftally affected.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
A Question of Control

NoUHttT FCUuHty JOurna)
 until we learn to control cotton production to the needs of the market, there will be season after season of long crops at short prices-millions of surplus bales planted and hood. picked and ginned. shipped and reshipped, all eventually paid for with less money than crop one-third less would have been worth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
A Fine Opportunity

We have an excellent opportus nity to put an Alabama man in ths White House and no expenditure of money should be too great to accomplish this desired end. Are you willing to do your part? Of course you are-pride of state and pride of citizenship prevail upon you to do so.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18

Every time Lloyd George makes a speech away from home, he demon strates that he possesses some rare qualities as combination statesman, politician and diplomat.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
Think. George Would Hold 'Em

We are as sorry as anybody to learn that a revolution is facing AlfonsoNof Spain. and we wonder If it wouldn't be neighborly deed to transfer Colonel Harvey and his knee brooches down there so that maybe the anger of the pop ulace would turn to laughter and applause.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
FOOD, NOT FLOWERS
 (Grand Rapids Press)

To all the now friendly garden CTS of the other sex who have of fered to swap pale blue asters for Ponderosa tomatoes we have re- turned the unvarying answer: 'Asters don't make chilli sauce.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18

An exchange says that Americans have hundred thousand laws to obey. There is probably not one American out of hundred who ever heard of ten per cent. of the laws he is ex-' pected to observe, however conscien- tious he may be in the matter of re- spect for law.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18

k Secretary Denby appears to be deeply interested in airships; but President~Cool is expected to stay on the earth where he can keep his ear close to the ground for the time.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
Expert Opinion

Judge: T don't like your com ing here to get your wife off serving on the jury, and I won't excuse her.
 Henpeck: All right, your honor. You'll be sorry before the case Is over."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18

correctly. That is true in many in- stances when the man who does the talking has not fortified his words with any other idea than that of free publicity.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
Here's the Diagnosis

A congressman that advocates price-fixing in the interest of the. farmers of Kansas is afflicted with nothing worse than a bad case of political foot and mouth disease.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18

large supplies when the price drops. It may fall even further as part of the battle for commercial supremacy. Such situations are not uncommon when the conflicts are under way.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
Oue Word ResponsibIe

W aIefIOO ITlDuneJ
 An Oklahoma baker advertised for a wife and got hundreds of an- swers--because the proofreadcr allowed the Linotype operator 10 say banker instead of baker.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
The Live Wire Gets 1t (Canfravilla Pressl

Some cities and towns are not deserving of the trade of the public. They make no effort to get it. It is the live wire that gets the business these days, just like the early bird gets the worm"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
ssHasten the Day!"

IJacKSOnVlIIe ArguSJ
 Tn time the truly good and rep- resentative citizens will arise in their might and smite these moral crusaders fore and aft, after which Birmingham will take her rightful place among the great and progressive cities of the land. Hasten the day!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
Cheering the visitor

(Pittsburg Gazette-Tlmes)
 From the character of the recep- tion given him, Lloyd George wishes that he had not deferred his visit for so long.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
Great Array of Doctors (Demopolis Times)

The array of doctors presented at Eutaw was enough to drive all the microbes, mosquitoes, fleas and flies wild with terror. It is not recorded if there was even a toe ache in all the vast crowd as- sembled to see themf
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
Changing Places
(Dallas News)

It has just about gotten so in this country that when a young man reaches his majority his pa rents become the minority.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18

Prohibition enforcement officers in Connecticut found liquor in mans shoes. He was literally a bootlegger.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18

In his farewell address before the American Legion retiring Commander Owsley emphasized above everything the importance of the constitution and its support as the foundation of law and order. There could be no more constructive work for the Legion than to defend that position against all who would assail it in any way or under disguise.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
THE PARAGRAPHERS
ought'a Add to Gayety of Nation

Cleveland Tim -CommerciaD
 If there Is to be no other joke in the next congress it will be worth going miles to behold Sena- tor LaFollette> entering another Republican caucus.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18

Senator Borah hasn't said anything about Russian recognition for some time. Perhaps he's seeing in some other shade than red
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18

It is said that musicians seldom grow bald. Some of them cause folks to stop worrying over the possibilities of becoming deaf.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
"Man's Inhumanity to Man"
 (Blocton Enterprise)

Solicitor Davis and the Jeffer- son grand jury got an indictment against the warden at Banner mines in spite of administration interference. Some more of mans inhumanity to man" will be brought out yet, probably.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18

Farmers of the Northwest must have reached the conclusion that among other things that are cheaper than their products is advice.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18

A woman objects to her husband talking in his sleep, even if that is the only time he gets chance to insert a word edgewise.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18

Travelling theatrical troups will kindly bear in mind that the people of the South have been fed up on bananas.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
Relief for the NIen

IIdIIdueBa DAIIy TOmeJ
 Tn mems styles for this season we are pleased to note that sus- penders, the good old dependable "galluses,' have returned to favor. We may now let out our waist line and stop jerking up our trous- ers
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18

Reports declare that efforts arc being made to start revolution in Portugal. It seems that Bulgaria hasn't any monopoly on that industry.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
THE ALABAMA PRESS
Hc,s Aour Governoro
Sheffield Standard)

After all is said and done, Bran don's "our governor" and we are for him. If the big dailies will find man to please everyone, we can show the folks a fellow that never did anything.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
European Improvement (ChicagO Newsl

More and more the people of Europe are learning to take dic- tation from dictators.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18

Mr. Edison says that the newspapers do not always represent mans ideas
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18

Public life is full of men whose regulations got lost in the political shuffle.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18
PINCHoT'S STARTLING CLAIM

In his statement that the prohibit ton law has failed, Governor Pinchot of Pennsylvania appears to base his opinion on the situation in his state, where conditions as respects viola tions of this law are worse, perhaps, than in any other state or district. The fragrance with which the law has been Haunted in Pennsylvania has been notorious ever since the federal statute bearing on the liquor traffic was enacted. Such a comparison is not fair to the rest of the country. Gov ernor Pinchot planes vicious politics for the situation. In this view he stands upon logical ground. Much of the failure to enforce the prohibition law has resulted from employment of the liquor traffic as a >demoralizing influence to build up political pull. Liquor has been a powerful factor in the establishment and maintenance of the worse kind of politics for many years, and long before prohibition ex- isted. More strenuous efforts are be- ing made now than ever before along these lines, and more money is em- ployed to that end for two reasons one because of the large profits in the outlawed liquor traffic, the other be- cause of the active and costly fight to break down the law itself with the hope of securing notifications of it's provisions.
 It would be difficult to put into effect the recommendations of Gov ernor Pinchot that the president of the United States take upon himself the duty of seeing that prohibition laws are enforced. Perhaps additional efforts and influences from the chief executive might help some, but his burdens are already about as heavy as any one man could carry, and there seems no reason why he should be- come more personally responsible for enforcement of the prohibition laws than of any other laws, except in so far as the effective enforcement of pro- hibition regulations would tend to in- crease respect for and observance of all laws.
 Governor Pinchot makes a point worth considering when he urges that Washington, as the seat of the na- tional government, should set a better example in the observance of the pro- hibition laws. It is generally believed, upon apparently trustworthy evidence, that more salutary influence could be exercised by some of those who are responsible for the enactment of the prohibition laws. The broad state ment by Governor Pinchot that pro- hibition is failure because it has not been enforced in his own state is illogi- cal, to say the least, though it may be admitted that rotten politics is re- sponsible in large measure for the sit uation in Pennsylvania, which has been notorious for it's bad politics ever since it became a one-party state.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-18

Mistakes are made by great men, the small fry never do.