davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-12

ton of their working forces Well
intentioned creditors are aided in their
collections, while many debtors are
enabled to liquidate their obligations
and to become trustworthy in meeting
their responsibilities, instead of being
forced into bankruptcy.
The project, as outlined in its pur-
poses and operations, promises prac-
tical business benefits to this commu-
nifty where there are many who pro-
vide rich pickings for those pursuing
unethical and oppressive practices in
this field. If the proposed enterprise
accomplished nothing more than ma
terially to reduce the number of loan
sharks and their ilk, it would serve a
good purpose not only to their victims,
but to employers of labor, reputable
merchants and reputable lawyers. The
bureau is not money-making project
it is a civic enterprise working for the
good of the community.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-12
THE GREAT DEBT
DUE GOOD ROADS
(Lyons, Ca, Progress)

That civilization owes great
debt to the highway builders can
be understood by reference to his
tory. The first European high
ways were those which went out
from Rome, that the Roman SOL
dier might have easy and quick
access to the remotest bounds of
his great empire. With him went
law and order. Later, over the
highways, went the school master
and the college, the education, the
institution and its teachers. The
missionary of the Cross used the
highway, the church spread It's
doctrine over the highway. and to
this day the great churches,
schools, colleges, hospitals and in
situations for the amelioration of
the condition of mankind, are
found always on, never away from,
great highways. 1t is the high
way which made the city, mot the
city the highway. 1t is the high
way which made the demand for
the railroad, which is but a steel
highway for cars of steel. Where
good highways are, there is a
good civilization. Where there
are poor highways are usually ig-
norance, poverty. disease, iawless-
ness, lack of culture, poor stand
ards of living, misery. Invest
ment in highways means invest
ment in civilization
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-12
goods to the railroads cannot b
doubted.

goods to the railroads cannot be
doubted.
For distances varying from twenty
five to hundred and fifty miles the
motor truck has some advantages over
the railroad. Truck transportation
over good highways for such distances
is rapidly increasing because it is
quicker, in many instances cheaper
and generally more satisfactory. Dis
tances will gradually be extended as
the public appreciation of the value
of paved highways increases through
experience and observation. The auto
bus crowded with school children IS
becoming more familiar every year.
This is not confined to centers of pop
ulation, but includes remote sections.
The area from which school children
are gathered is rapidly widening.
During the last year these buses car
ried children to about twelve thousand
schools, and it is estimated that some
twenty-five million school children
ride in motor buses annually. This
number will be steadily increased with
the building of more highways.
Railroads are wasting valuable time
and energy in opposing directly or in
directly the use of the motor truck and
the motor bus. They are the natural
evolution of the times and conditions.
The old horse-car had place in city
transit. Soon the electric car took its
place; then came the motor car. 1t
was all the practical expression of
progress. Within the next few years
the motor truck and the motor bus
will be hauling more freight and more
passengers than ever. The railroads
would be wise to tie in with them.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-12
WHY FIGHT McADOO?
(AndaIusia Daily Starr

It is a cheap brand of political
strategy that some of the state
PAPERS are using. They, in their
zeal for Senator Underwood, are
making straight out fight
against Hon. William G. McAdoo.
This is certainly a short-sighted
policy, There are thousands OF
voters in Alabama who are more
than friendly to McAdoc. and yet
who are willing to forego their
preference for him in order to
support Senator Underwood. an
Alabama man. These are certain
" put to severe test of loyalty
to Senator Underwood when they
see such a selfish spirit manifested
by the leaders in the Senator I'm
derwood publicity campaign. Any
dement's that Mr.. McAdoo may
have will certainly not add to Sem
ator Gnderwood's qualifications.
Why not base the campaign for
the senator upon his own merits,
and he has many of them, and
stop this campaign of detraction
against Mr. McAdoo?
The 1act Is lHdt MT. McAuOu
may be the nominee of the Demo-
cratic party. More unlikely things
have happened. and if he should
be, the editors of the big Demo-
cratic dailies in Alabama who are
now writing their vitriolic edito-
rial castigations of the former
secretary of the treasury, would
feel somewhat embarrassed when
the campaign is on for election
If their editorials were to be used
by the Republican committee in
their fight against the Democratic
nominee Besides. Mr.. McAdoo is
a Democrat who has always rem
dered yoeman service to his party
and he is making no bid for Ala
bama's vote in the national con-
vention, and to make a fight on
him at this stage of the game
gives evidence more of fear of his
strength as candidate than of
fear of the policies he will adyo-
cate in case of his election to the
presidency.
We believe in giving Democratic
candidates a square deal. Ala
bama editors can be one hundred
per cent loyal to Senator Under
wood and yet accord to Mr.. Nc
that his more than twenty five
years of service to the party en-
title him.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-12
THE LECAL-AID BUREAU

Worthwhile results are promised
from the proposed establishment of a
legal-aid bureau in Birmingham under
direction of the chamber of commerce
and working in affiliation with the
National Alliance of Legal Societies.
About thirty chambers of commerce in
as many leading cities of the country
are operating such bureaus, which
have proved beneficial to wage earners
\ and employers of labor, as well as TO
merchants and other creditors. The
Enterprise is not founded on charity.
rs protective in character, and rem
lers service to many wage earners,
hot only in helping them to escape
ambulance chasers" and shysters, but
to work out their indebtedness with
but imposition at the hands of cred
ltors.
The. primary purpose of the bureau
to provide legal advice to those
Who, through ignorance in such mat
er0 cannot wisely choose legal coun-
\. br who are unable to pay for it..
(hdugh the bureau their cases are
ssktigated. and settlements are made
,r out of court with the aid Of
hsnIbers of the local bar association
EuAing in cooperation with the bu-
aq4 Thus not only are wage earn
protected from unjust judgments
establishments by loan sharks and
rs. but many employers of labor
as,afeguarded against disorganiza-
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-12
MANY MILLIONS
FROM GAS TAXES
(Wall Street Journal)


State gasoline taxes, collected in
thirty-five out of forty eight
states, at current low prices for
gasoline form a considerable por-
ton of its wholesale cost. Aver
age tank wagon prices of gasoline.
exclusive of tax, in thirty repre-
sentative cities is now 1859 cents
a gallon, while state taxes range
from one cents to three cents a
gallon. Averag tax of the thirty
five states is 1.s1 cents. or four
teen per cent. of the average tank
wagon price.
Percentage in some states Is
much higher. Georgia. for exam
pie, having a gasoline tax of thre e
cents a gallon, while tank Wagon
price in Atlanta is thirteen cents
gallon. The tax thus adds
twenty-three per, cent. to whole
sale cost. With the addition of
service station charges of from
one and a half to four cents a
gallon in various localities, tax
becomes a somewhat smaller pro-
portion of the final cost to the
consumer.
N>diS aHu u ShS NJ" III use III
the United States are estimated at
about 1900, 900. and, based on Ma
tional Automobile Chamber of
Commerce calculation of 424 gal
Ions of gasoline used a year by
each vehicle, domestic consumption
of gasoline by motor vehicles Is
estimated at 5,9S6,000,000 gallons
in 1923. About ene-half of this is
in states having gasoline tax laws,
and total yield of gasoline taxes
will probably exceed $50,0O0,000 in
1924. when a number of state tax
laws become effective.
Massachusetts passed law i'm
posing a gasoline tax of two cents
gallon, but this must be ap-
proved by referendum vote befora
it can become effective.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-12
AS TO AVERSIONS
By Wickes Wamboldt

There seems to be some strange
perversity that follows the per-
son who goes through the world
trying to dodge some particular
antipathy. Let girl declare
against red-headed men, and the
chances are the hair of her hus-
band will be vermillion. Let a
man have a pet aversion to cross
eyed women, and the odds are that
such one will face him across
the breakfast table every morn
ing.
There is something that seems
to draw to us or draw us to the
thing we fear or would shun. Job
expressed a psychological truth
when he said: THAT which I was
afraid of is come unto me-" Per-
haps we collide with the things
we fear just as a bicyclist learning
to ride hits things he tries TO
avoid. Because he keeps his at
tention fixed on what he would
not encounter he steers directly
into ii, Undoubtedly our bent for
smashing into situations we would
avoid is due to the fact that we
focus our thoughts where we do
not want to go instead of
where we do want to go. Our ca
reers will pretty much follow the
direction in which we are persist
emily gazing. If we are looking up.
we go up. II we are looking
down, we go down. If we are
looking every which way. we will
wobble every which way. If we are
- L..
we are looking toward good for
tune, we reach it. If we are look
ing toward failure, we arrive
there. If we are looking toward
achievement, we land there.
And sometimes it looks as If
Fate out of pure devilment posters
us along the lines oflour fears and
dislikes. Maybe it is done to cure
us of our weakness. just as boy
will torment another until he
learns to fight and defend him
self.
There was a rich man who
seemed to be always in the posi-
ton Of having some one trying
TO get his money away from him.
All rich men have something Of
this experience. But this fellow
was particularly harassed. At
every turn some one tried to sue
him for damages or blackmail him.
SO thoroughly did this prey upon
his mind that he became obsessed
with the fear that when he died
his body would be stolen and held
for ransom. And thus at his death
it Was found that he had left IN
structions that his remains be cre-
mated and the ashes scattered
from a high river bridge. They
did as he requested and one of
his ashes flew into the eve of a
woman crossing on q ferry boat
and she sued his estate for dam
ages.
There is not much use in try
ing to dodge around our obsta Giles
in this world. We get along bet
ter If we inset dur difficulties face
to face and so over, under or
through them.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-12
RAILROADS AND MOTOR TRUCKS

To those seeking reasons why some
of the railroads are one way or an
other putting obstacles in the way, of
the development of public highways,
some general statistics showing rela-
tive freight movements of railroads
and trucks may be of interest. Last
year the railroads carried 1,642,251,-
600 tons of freight During the same
period motor trucks carried 1,430,-
100000 tons. With improvements and
extensions of hard roads motor trucks
will soon be carrying more tonnage
than the railroads. That the motor
trucks were carrying much of THEN
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-12
The European Plan

The youthful intellectuals would tie a
tinkling can
On college sports that emphasize bru-
tally in man.
They crave to train our students on
the European plan.
The brutal game of football is a source
of endless harm;
1t leads the youth to worship force and
strength of leg and arm;
And SO they take their pens in hand
and view it with alarm.
The European system tends to elevate
the brow;
1t trains the growing brain to know
the wherefore and the how;
1t leads the youth in ways of truth
and look at Europe now!
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-12
The Mule Still Here
(RusselI Register)

or course, we must take into
consideration that automobiles are
used for business as well as pleas
ure; that auto trucks have in many
instances taken the place of wag-
ons and mules and all that sort of
thing in some measure, but the
probabilities are that there are
not many fewer horses and mules
in the county now than in former
years. Some of our farmers are
using tractors, but the mule and
the horse have not beens eliminated
as a great factor in farming in
this county and will not be fos q
lopr while
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-12
SMILES
Conflicting Orders

(kansas City starr
Buddy was visiting grandmother
and she was doing her best to
show him good time. The morn
ing after his arrival she called the
neighbor boy over to play with
Buddy.
There now" gradma said, you
boys have a good time together"
But the boys merely stood and
stared across the room at each
other. Grandmother could not
quite understand it.
Come on, you two" she encodr-
aged. "Go on out in the yard,
Buddy, and strike an acquaint-
ance"
But grandma Buddy pro-
tested. mamma ts-d me the last
thing before l left home not TO
fight"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-12
WON'T CURE THE CONDITION

rs reported that Mr.. Coolidge
coldly upon the bill of Senator
OF providing for an appropria-
If twenty million dollars to feed
eople of Germany this year. In
of the fact that Germany's de-
ate policy of debt evasion and de-
nent of her currency is in large
ure responsible for the plight of
people, it does not seem right for
any manner to subsidize such a
ken program. There is kind Of
ty that creates its own opportu-
by. encouraging the continuance
conditions making for distress.
There are rich profiteers in Germany,
So Macmillan Harden tells us, who
are making their wealth out of the
distress of the people. 1t seems that any
relief measures for Germany should
be far more fundamental and far
than the plan contemplated by
Senator Lcnroot. Twenty million dol
lars would not go far, but twenty mil
lion people at work would give them
selves more efficient help than they
could possibly receive in the form of
charity. Besides, why pick on US?
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-12
THE GIFT OF TUTANKHAMEN

" IL
The examination of the various
"shrines," cabinets, chests and rooms
in the tomb of King Tutankhamen is
proceeding, now that the summer heat
has given way to the cooler weather
of the Egyptian winter. Although the
discovery of the tomb and the dramatic
bringing to light of the ancient king s
body was the most spectacular part
of the performance, the real benefit to
lies in the examination of the trap
pings and the heraldry of the period.
Because most of the tombs of the
Pharoahs had been disturbed and par
TALLY rifled, or else the monarchs had
been laid away in simple fashion, there
is much that is unknown, except from
pictures, concerning the personal pos
sessions and equipment of the king
and his household.
Luckily King Tutankhamen's pre-
cautions fooled the vandals, so that his
pomp was untouched for all these
centuries. Fortunately also the king
had foreseen his death no doubt and
had determined that he should be en-
tombed with all his imperial array,
the accessories of his rank and splen-
dor In other words, the king had
had all his furniture, his robes of
state, his engines of war, his panoplies
of peace and Of war, his various in
vestitures as king of Lower Egypt,
king of Upper Egypt, king of the
two countries, and lord of war, his
treasures of art and of adornment,
his most intimate articles of daily life,
and the very hangings of his palaces,
together with the utensils of his entire
menage from bedroom to kitchen, care
fully packed up, inferred with him.
1t may be that Tutankhamen expected
to come to life some day, and he
wanted to be equipped for the imme-
date resumption of his rank and COM
fort. Even if his fate were to be his
rediscoverey and disinterment by the
descendants of an alien race, un-
doubtedly the Pharoah would have
taken the same precautions to impress
upon these sacriligious investigators
the splendor of his position and
period.
Already there have been sufficient
discoveries to reveal the find as the
richest in archaeological and historical
interest yet unearthed. Perhaps never
again will the scientists have similar
opportunity to study the domestic life
of king of ancient Egypt. Within
a year or two no doubt somebody will
write book about it, and the curious
may read how Tutankhamen lived and
moved and had his being, what food
he ate when we'll and what medical
ments he resorted to when ill. Per-
haps some Rider Haggard of later
day will visualize in romantic fashion
some dramatic episode of this remote
time and put it forth in novel form
for the delectation of millions of read
ers. The possibilities are all there,
for King Tutankhamen has bequeathed
to this generation stores of informa-
ton hitherto locked and denied to HUI
mankind for centuries.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-12
FILL THE COMMUNITY CHEST

If people are really and truly tired
Of drives, the way to get rid OF them
is to support such comprehensive CAM
paigns for charity as is now under
way for the Community Chest. To
support the demands made upon pub
lie generosity is an obligation that
rests upon no one in particular, but
which has to be met by somebody. The
burden is lighter according as 1t IS
more widely distributed among
greater number of people.
The effect of any widely co-opera-
tive movement or force is well-nlgh
Irresistible. Let this first Community
Chest be a success, and let its working
throughout the year be marked by
economy of administration and eff
iency of result, and the thing will
become an institution. To provide for
will come to be taken as matter
course in this community. Soon
will be recognized as indispensable
the proper extending of charity
,ere charity is deserved, and to the
.rection of conditions making for
verify and deprivation.
% be sure, when charity is con-
1 to the mere relief of such cases
me to the attention of the benevo-
the poor we shall always have
us. But when charity is organ
o that it not only takes care of
sedy, but also operates to search
and cure the causes of such need,
men indeed have we passed from the
felief of. symptoms to the cure of the
disease itself. In charity as in medi-
cfne, prevention is the only sensible
policy.
I T&e goal of enlightened policies of
pubM benevolence is the adjustment
of The incubators of poverty, want,
distress and need. 1t is believed that
a central cooperative agency studying
the situation as whole and filing its
datd for comparison and reference IS
the fonly means of arriving at pro-
gram for the prevention of poverty.
The thing for the people of Bir-
mingham and the surrounding commu-
A9es ito do is to contribute to the
IMMUNITY Chest and then demand
.ults of both immediate and per-
anent nature. Perhaps the first
ar will be largely one of temporary
lief, of preparation and of survey
-
{ more far-reaching nature are to
e expected. 1t all depends on the
ding of the Community Chest.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-12
Plea for LAW Observance
(Brandon Times)

We want. need, and must have,
law enforcement in this oommu-
nifty in order that the lawless ele-
ment which has been harbossd here
for decades may be kept from de-
bauching another generation of
boys and girls. But IL this COM
munity is to grow and prosper and
become the home of citiSenry to
be proud OF, we must have OBJ
servance of law on the part of all
our citizens.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-12
FEMININE AHEAD
New Orleans States)

In the matter of people between
twenty and forty years old, France
now has six women for every five
men. So several million women
are concemded to spinsterhood.
Professor Girault. French sociol-
ogist, studies this lack of balance
between the sexes and decides that
Europe III general. France in par
ticular, is destined to undergo a
long period of feminization. He
apparently believes that. the mi
nority always rules, and he is
right. The majority just thinks it
rules. Bolshevik Russia isn't the
only sample.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-12
Beyond Belief

London Tit-Bits)
The professor had been dining
out, and, as most of the guests
were ardent fishermen, he had
had to listen all the evening to
stories of the size of their
catches.
lie was extremely short sighted.
and as he was crossing a field on
his way home he. came across a
scarecrow with arms outspread.
Memories of the tail" stories he
had heard that night floated back
TO him. and he halted in front Of
the scarecrow.
my dear sir" he exclaimed, Il
simply refuse to believe you; there
never was a trout that length
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-12
with Convincing LeaAs

Commenting upon Senator John
Crafts article on highways. The
Birmingham Age-Herald supports
with convincing logic the Jour-
naps main contention that the
building program proposed by the
state highway commission Is -
unwise policy and should be de-
clined by the governing bodies Of
counties desiring to realize per-
manent value from the expenditure
of the quota of funds to which
they are entitled under the con-
stitutional amendment and statutes
enacted in pursuance thereof.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-12-12
PEOPLES FORUM
The Poultry show

To the Editor Of The Age-Herald:
The time has arrived; the Inter
state Poultry Show is on in the,
old postoffice building, and for
four days and nights there'll be
an exodus of people from all walks
of life to this, the greatest of all
poultry shows or exhibits, ever in
our great Southland.
We want the readers of The
Age-Herald to know there'n be
no admission. It's all free, in
Guiding lecture at night also.
great variety of chickens (the
feathered kindl is on exhibition,
numbering several thousands, and
some of them very valuable. Here
is chance to learn, get advice and
Information about breeding and
feeding. care. ct cetera 1t is
hoped that the people. both city
and country folk, will avail them
selves of this opportunity to see
some real enough chick also
get information and inspiration.
The field is open with great mar
kets. Our good state of Alabama
has many advantages for chicken
raising. Let the good work go on
Let's 60. j. P. HOLM.
Birmingham, Ala.
Our Progress Demands Highways
To the Editor of The e-Herald:
I am inspired by an editorial APP
pearing in The Age-Herald of last
Monday to write few words on
the permanency of our good roads
system in Alabama.
There is no argument against
this movement. Birmingham and
vicinity with its annual payroll of
over fifty million dollars; Mobile
with her improved harbor facili-
ties and our rich agricultural Sec
tions, together with the future de-
velopment of Muscle Shoals,
which will prove to be a valuable
asset to our entire industrial sys-
tenn, should inspire US to make of
our state what it should be-the
first state in the South, economi-
cally speaking, and in every other
way. We will fail in this respect
without the proper means for mo-
tor travel. Invite the tourists
and a flood of gold will follow.
We know this is true from the ex-
perience of other states which
have prided themselves on good
roads. Thousands of tourists have
been diverted over other routes
owing to the poor condition of our
main highways"
C. S. BOSWORTH.
Birmingham, Ala, Dec. II. 1923.