davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-06
AN UNSTABLE INDUSTRY

According to statement issued by coal
operators in the fifth and ninth districts
of Illinois, forty-nine mines have been op-
Grating on an average Of one-third time since
the strike Of bituminous coal miners ended
last summer. For the past five months these
mines have been worked about two days
week. This is another illustration of the
instability that exists in the soft coal in
dustry. In the case of the Illinois mines,
it is claimed that the loss is working hours
and low production are due to lack OF
transportation facilities. Although coal is
in demand, the railroads have not provided
a sufficient supply of empty cars. What
ever the reason, such conditions, which &C.
cur at frequent intervals throughout the
bituminous fields, indicate the need for a
reorganization Of the coal industry, as well
as improvement in the transportation sys~
tenn. The Illinois operators could dispose
Of more coal than they are producing, but
it cannot be transported. Usually, mines
are worked on part-time because OF fall
ing off in the demand. In either contin>
gency, the miner suffers reduction in his
income. A miner who works but two days
a week does not earn enough to support o
family in comfort. Periodic intervals Of
unemployment have been largely RESPONSE
BILE for the wage controversies between
miners aud coal operators.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-06

propriated in 1918, the year preceding the
World war. This action was taken in spite
of the British protest, voiced, by the Earl
of Balfour, that appropriations for arma-
ments did not afford a practical basis on
which to estimate proportional reductions.
1t is now admitted that the Washington con-
ference did not go far enough in placing re-
strictions on naval building programs and
because of the fact that it included only
the major powers, it did not provide Tor
worldwide disarming. 1t will be necessary
to call another arms conference to stop the
race for naval supremacy, which is stili 60
ing on, but the League of Nations can per-
form worth while service by supplement
ing the work done in Washingtn. If the
major powers reach an agreement among
themselves for additional limitations and the
league succeeds in bringing about restrictive
measures among its members, for the first
time in the history of the world universal dis
arming will be an accomplished fact.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-06
REVISING THE DECALOGUE

Dissatisfaction with the state of human
affairs is coming to be a common nantes
tation. In many directions revisions are
being made, to fit our newer needs. The
old order, according to the radical few, is
in need of change solely because it is the
old order. The more open-minded see spe-
cific benefits to be derived from making
over certain matters badly clogged with the
accumulations of time. One of these con-
Germs the law. The mills for turning out
justice not only grind exceeding slow, but
they too often fail to furnish the finished
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-06
NO BAVARIAN "PUTSCH"
,Washington Starl


Adolph Hittler's monarchical re-
volt at Munich seems to have been
a worse fiasco than even the Kapp
"putsch" at Berlin was some
months ago. Unless the censor
ship has interviewed TO drop an
impenetrable veil around Bavaria
the uprising of the fascist" under
HITLER, and, in fact, actually under
Ludendorff, did not come off ac-
cording to schedule. Hittler's plan
was to hold an enormous mass meet
ing Of anti-republicans. The Ba-
varian government declared Munich
to be in a state Of siege, and sum-
moned the military reserves and all
of the police for possible service.
So far as the dispatches run that
was the end of everything. HITLER,
who seems to have been bit pre-
mature in his announcements, may
have decided that this is not the OPP
perfume time for a demonstration.
If this time is not opportune, how
ever, what time can be? French
troops are on German soil, penetrat-
ing far into the richest industrial
region. The German working forces
are on strike. The republican gov
eminent at Berlin, by its maneuvers
regarding PREPARATIONS, has put the
country in a lamentable condition,
the end of which no man can fore
see. Certainly this ought to be a
favorable time to start something
on behalf of monarchism. Maybe
l.. L ,c{r ar
GUS as suspected. Perhaps they are
not as we'll armed as certain hints
recently dropped have indicated.
Evidently, at all events, the republic
can government in Germany is
strong enough to withstand for the
present any reaction or "putsch."
Monarchism, it would seem, is not
yet worth much more in the Ger
man political market than the mark
is in financial circles.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-06
THE GRAVE OF POCAHoNTAs

One of the most picturesque characters
in the early history of America, is Poca-
hontas. Historians may discredit the legend
that she saved the life Of Captain John
Smith by interceding with her father, Pow
hatan, but that story will continue to be
pleasing bit of fact or fiction to the school
boys and girls of the United States. There
is probably more basis for the alleged ex-
plot of Pocahontas than the preposterous
yarn Of little George Washington and the
cherry tree. Be that as Il may, Pocahontas
was young woman of many admirable
qualities who married John Rolfe; was the
first Indian woman to visit England and
died prematurely, about the age Of twenty
two, on the eve of returning to America.
Historians are agreed as to these particu-
lars, also as to the fact that she lies in St.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-06
NEEDS OF THE WARRIOR
It is hoped that Secretary of War WeeE

~ 1t is hoped that Secretary of War Weeks
Nsll reinstate the $1,000 item for adj
gtional equipment on the Warrior, requested
by the general manager of the Mississippi
Warrior barge line system and clearly shown
to be a justifiable expenditure. A delega-
ton of Alabamians is in Washington now
on that errand and has the support not only
of the Alabama senators and congressman,
but also of the congressional representatives
from the Mississippi Valley, who sense the
value of the Warrior river in indicating
all serviceable inland waterways. The War
rior would have proved its value long ago
but for two drawbacks, namely, the dis
proportionate share of the through rail and
water rate accorded the rail carriers and
lack of equipment. 1t is in the province
of the Interstate Commerce Commission to
rectify the rate discrimination and it is in
the province of the war department to pro-
vide the Warrior with the craft for which
remunerative freight is being offered.
There are classes of freight going to the
Gulf by the tens of thousands of tons that the
Warrior could handle with advantage, both
to the shipper and itself, if it had the equip
Tnent. Notable in this respect are the heavy
movements of cast iron pipe that have gone
TO the Pacific coast in the past two years.
. 1he Warrior has handled very little of this
freight on account of lack of facilities.
Thousands of tons of steel products offered
the river have been transported by the raj,
carriers at higher cost in order to reach the
Port of Mobile in time for the departure Of
ships. The government has undertaken the
Warrior project and spent millions on it. 1t
would seem poor judgment, indeed, to with
draw adequate support after the river has
made good according to the facilities that
have been provided and a growing traffic
demands the service that will make the War
ror paying proposition.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-06
INJURED INNOCENCE
avail Street JournaIl

The inhabitants of Guayaquil
must be extremely well informed
in economics if the reason why
$4,000 of them-one out of every
three men, women and children
marched in revolt to the govern
ment palace was to protest against
the low rate of exchange for the
currency of Ecuador, deprecated
So per cent. Enrique Baquerizo,
ex-mayor of Guayaquil and brother
of the last president, says that was
the reason, and protest against his
deportation on the charge Of stir
ring up conspiracy against the gov
eminent. He may have been un-
justly accused, but the fact re-
mains that he has been requested
by former executives in 1882, 1895,
1896, 1898 and 1907 to leave his
country for its good.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-06

product. Laymen have long been cognizant
Of this fact. At last the experts have set
about throwing out the useless wheels, and
simplifying and gearing up the machinery
Shortening and simplifying man-made laws
is assuredly desirable thing. But pre-
sumptious man does not stop at that. In
England he is now trying to modify laws
which he did not make, the ten command
ments. Six of the commandments have al
ready been shortened in the new version.
The trouble with these laws is not their
length They are models of conciseness,
but the way they point out to us is not
smooth enough for our careless feet.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-06
THE IMPASSABLE BARRIER
fcI y; D..% n;s,otch\


Science has discovered the seat
of the hitherto incurable a hered-
itary disease, epilepsy, and it IL
announced from Chicago university
that Professors L. R. Gragstedt and
A. B. Luckhardt each nave devised
separate means of cure or control.
Another marvel of the days news
is revealed in the announcement
that the world may look on through
the cinema film as the remains of
King Tutankhamen, of about 1400
B. c., are unshrouded in the SUM-
light. In rocks and ruins geolo-
gists and psychologists have read
the story of mankind and animal
kind for millions OF years. Radio
transmission has calloused the mind
against miracles which do not trans
gress natural law. No mechanical
obstacle or problem is proof against
mans genius. The only citadel
which remains contemptuously OBJ
livious of human effort is simple
and universal formula which VIII
restrain men and nations from in
fringing on on eanother's rights
and induce them TO leave one an
other alone for the enjoyment OF
peace and plenty. What child's
play, after all, is the conquest OF
the sky. the sea and the earth and
the currents under the earth. even
of the secrets of other worlds era
died in eternity. as against the I'M
fashionable darkness of mans In
tolerance and his passion for prey.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-06
IMPROVING THE ROAD SYSTEM

With seventy miles of hard-paved roads,
six hundred miles of surfaced roads and two
hundred miles of graded roads ready for
surfacing, Jefferson county may be said to
have made substantial progress in develop
ing its highway system By the addition of
twenty-nine miles more of hard-surface
roads this year and the surfacing Of
others, the system of the county will be still
further advanced. The wisdom of hard
surfacing roads leading from the city has
been proved by the manner in which outlying
territory has been building up. Home build
ing follows the hard-surfaced road. None
benefits more from the suburban roads than
the man of small means who works in the
city, now that the motor vehicle has come
within reach of most pocketbooks. Good
highways are overcoming distances and in
creasing neighborliness. There will soon
be no country and city folk, because the
hard road will place then, in such continu-
Gus contact and make their business rela-
lions SO constant that they will be one and
the same people, with the same viewpoint,
the same conveniences and homogeneity
that will make them unit in progressive
eurns
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-06
A BREAKDOWN AT LAUSANNE

With American, British, French and Ital-
ian representatives struggling desperately to
save the situation, the Near East conference
at Lausanne ended in failure. After nearly
three months of negotiations, during which
one crisis succeeded another, the treaty of
peace submitted by the allies to Turkey was
flatly rejected, amid scenes seldom, if ever,
witnessed at an international conference.
Lausanne thus becomes another milestone to
mark the disasters which have followed the
attempts of European diplomats to settle
the problems of Europe and the Near East,
What the future holds in store may well
cause the world grave apprehension. War
looms more darkly on the horizon, but not
even that threat could move the Turks. II
seems incredible that we are about to wit
ness another outbreak of hostilities, with
all its tragic consequences, and a resort to
arms may yet be prevented, but such
deadlock as now exists gives little promise
of an early resumption of negotiations.
There is but for4orn hope expressed in the
statement of M. Bompard that, Perhaps
we can negotiate peace later"
It is deplorable that the conference failed
when agreements had been reached on about
eighty per cent. of the treaty's clauses.
The Turks maintained to the last that the
allies were attempting to strangle Turkey
economically. They refused to accept the
clauses dealing with Turkeys economic fu-
ture. The question of juridical guarantees
for foreigners, which were to replace extra
territorial privileges, also proved stumbling
block. In effect, the Turkish delegates dis
claimed all responsibility for contracts and
concessions made by the old Ottoman en-
pire. They took the position that the Angora
government could not be held to obligations
assumed by the previous regime. While it
is true that the Angora government had no
part in making these agreements, a change
in the form of a nations government does
not justify the reputation of contracts. It
was on this rock that the Lausanne confer
ence split. And as if to make matters worse,
a last-moment attempt to persuade the nus
SLAMS to sign the straits convention proved
futile.
Official notification that the Lausanne
conference has closed brings the Mudania
armfstice to an end. Although the Turks
profess a willingness to resume negotiations,
they declare that no further compromises
are possible. As result the situation IN
the Near East is left as it was when the
conference convened. With the expiration
of the Mudania armistice state of war
practically exists in the Near East. Alone
and unaided, Turkey might hesitate to fight
the allies, but secret military agreement
between the Turkish nationalist and Rus
STA would menace all Europe. The sinister
figure in the background at Lausanne was
Russia, with her formidable army and her
out-spoken sympathy for the Turks. A war
involving Russia and Turkey, with the posi-
biity of Germany joining these two nations
against the allies, might lead to a greater
catastrophe than the World war.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-06
A Timely Editorial
The Only One in Danger
CIV ashington Starr


1t is pity rhaG drivers of motor
cars DO not more, generally recog-
nlZe the fact That the PEDESTRIAN Is
the least OF their troubles, certainly
the least menacing OF all obstacles
TO their progress. The man aIoot,
or the woman, IS in no sense or de-
gree dangerous to the motor that Is
pelng carefully driven. A rapidly
driven motor-may swerve to AVOID
striking person atoot and then
get in trouble with another car,
perhaps because OF the narrow mar
gin leIt TOR maneuvering. But the
pedestrian himself is not menace.
II he Is struck the car can be, and
often is. driven on unframed.
If all persons afoot at crossings
looked III Dotn direction before
leaving the curb, and MADE their
way with circumspecJlon across the
pave they would be safe, SO long
as the motors were driven carefully
at those points. But very lew mo-
tors are slowed down on approach
ing a crossing, unless 1T Is under
the control OIL a traffic policeman.
There is no assurance to The person
afoot that the path will be clear
all the way across. For from
around the corner may come car
that was not in the reckoning when
he started forth, or from across the
interesting street may come an
other car that was at the far slde
when he started.
All these contingencies are to be
considered by the pedestrian, who.
in practice, at the crossings assumes
virtually all responsibility for his
passage. If all cars were driven at
the crossings within the specified
speed limit that responsibility would
not be so heavy. For car going
at that limit OF speed is not to be
feared so greatly as one that Is
moving more rapidly.
The usual traffic casualty is
caused not by the crushing of the
victim by the car, but by the inn
pact of the head in being thrown
to the ground. A car moving at
the limit of speed specified will not
hurl to the pavement a person who
is hit in a way to crush the skull
and thus cause death. only very
infirm person is likely to be badly
hurt by slowly moving motor
Moreover, the chance Of lodging
car depends maninly upon its speed.
1t is difficult to ges out of the way
of a machine moving rapidly, while
relatively easy to do so when it Is
moving slowly. And, again, the
slowly moving car is not so terrify-
ing as the one that is speeding, and
the moment of fright is often fatal
in it's consequences.
Less speed at the corners, whether
the car is going straight across the
street or is turning, is imperatively
necessary if the lives of those afoot
are to be secured. No argument
can prevail in behalf of speed, any
where. as against the security OF
life. Washington, made compare
lively "safe" for few days by a
week of intensive demonstration
and education in the matter of care
fitness on all sides, has suddenly
become decidedly unsafe again.
Evidently the speed habit is reas.
sorting itself, and the only people
who are paying the penalty are
those afoot, those who are not dan
gerous to anybody and who alone
are in danger.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-06
Only One Man
(Florala NeWs)

Governor Brandon is as good a
governor as Alabama could have
gotten, unless it had been discovered
that the editor of the Florala News
was the proper man. He is about
the only fellow that could have
done better. OF course we think
che" could have done mighty won
ders, in fact everything that ought
to be done and still "cut out all
useless offices and reduce taxes"
But Governor Brandon can't do it.
Nobody can do it but us. eN'
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-06
Alabama Press

(Montgomery JournaI)

Alabama's educational and benev-
olent institutions received from
the state treasury for the year 1922
$7,046,0S3. This is more than one
half of the states income. Will
some one or more of the 396,949
children in the elementary schools
last year tell the teacher Just what
amount this was for each child at
tending school?
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-06
What the Farmer Needs
alabama Trayeler)

The farmer does not need, does
not want, sumptuary faws in his
behalf. He wants the sumptuary
laws favoring others and hurting
him repealed. He does not want to
pay nearly double freight rates to
market his stuff. lie does not want
to pay his labor a minimum wage
and pay excess rates to pay railroad
labor a maximum wage. The far
mer does not need coddling. He
needs the burdens to him to benefit
others lifted from him.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-06
More Kind Word.
lCullman Tribune)

The Birmingham Herald has
stepped into the front rank as one
OF the newsiest and ablest edited
dailies in the state news depart
ment, a feature worth while. The
Age-Herald has special corresopn-
dent nj practically all towns in a
radius of hundred miles that fur
nish news each day over special
leased wires into The Age-Herald
editorial room.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-06
THE TOLL PAID TO FIRE

There is an appalling destruction of life
ard property by fire in the United States
annually. The nation is slow in adopting
measures that will reduce this loss. Among
the items of destruction are S500,o00,00O
worth of property and $4,000 human lives
year. This is the report Of George w.
Muldauer of the United States Underwriters
Laboratories of Chicago and New York.
The toll we pay to fire is all the more in
excusable because the major part of the sac
rifce is the result of carelessness. Ninety
per cent. of all the fires in America are
directly traceable 20 the carelessness of per
sons using fires in their homes, Offices store
, rooms, factories and other buildings" de-
clares Mr.. Muldauer.
\ Some progress in the reduction of the tire
loss is being made through more systematic
investigation of fires by state and city au-
thorities with a view to discovering their
cause. More progress is being made through
the use of fire prevention materials. The
fire-pfoof roof is becoming almost universal
following the manufacture of dozens of
roofing materials that are non-inflammable
The home owner has become appreciative
of the non-inflamma roof through the
reduction of MS fire insurance bill. Grad
ually the open CRATE is being replaced b.
apparatus that affords more heat and at the
same time is less dangerous. The statistics
of fire loss, however, go to show that care
essness still works a fearful havoc and
that there is need of more stringency in
such protective measures as the governing
authorities may enact, as will as further
education of the masses in fire prevention.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-06
Delay in Port Bill
(Demopolis Times)

Those in charge of the bill sub
hitting the matter to the peopl
neglected the little matter of au
thorizing the state 10 issue bond
to carry out it's purposes. And S
the passage goes for naught, excer
it was sort of straw vote and e
the sentiment of the people on tt
subject. A resubmission will ]
provided for, of course, and it
to be hoped men VINO have sen
enough to fix it right will have t,
matter in charge, but, in the mea
time, there is the delay and the e
pense that was caused by son
body's carelessness.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-06
lAndalusia Starl

There are more terraced farm
lands in Covington county than in
any other county in the Wiregrass
section. That accounts Tor the evil
dent prosperity among Covington
farmers. They are farming intelli-
gently. When we have every farm
stumped and terraced with silo on
each forty-acre- section of farm
lands, then we will be on the road
to real prosperity.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-06
Winter Melodies

Sweeter sounds than e'er broadcasted
from that station S. O. S. softly steal unto
my senses with the voice of caress. The
music SO enhancing (now don't envy-'tis
a SIM, is the rattle of the anthracite a-fall-
ing in the bin. Though know that months
before me while the summer zephyrs blow
I'll still be making payments on that treas
ure down beow: still I'll WELD wicked
shovel where no janitor shall cuss, and, dis
danful, eye my neighbor who must burn
bituminous.-H. H. B. H. S.
Every columnist needs last line. How
about
Here we rest?
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-06
THE LEAGUE FOR DIsARM1NG

The council of the League of Nations
seeks to extend the provisions for the limi-
tation of naval ornaments adopted at the
Washington arms conference. It'has decided
to call an international conference of all the
naval powers not signatories to the Washing
ton agreements. All members of the league
will be asked to limit their annual expen-
ditures for ornaments to the amounts ap-
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-06
For tuberculosis Hospital


One of the most important b
thus far introduced in the legis
ture, from health standpoint
the measure providing for a st
tuberculosis sanatorlum, not
to take care of those afflicted v
the white plague" who are
able to pay for treatment, but
provide place for the treatn
of those who. are not SO forum
and also to conducs a corresp'
ence treatment in the form of
vice as to methots; of proven
This forward step in the car
tubercular patients in Alal
was first actively fostered by
Federated Club Women Of
state.