davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-20
BETTER CROP VALUES

The department of agriculture places the value of this years farm crops at $s,322, 1895, 1000, which is nine hundred million dollars gain over last years values. It is significant that, while the value and yield of wheat declined, the value of corn and cotton together make up the larger part of the appraisal increase. Cot ton alone shows an increased value of more than four hundred million dol lars, or nearly half the total increase in crop values for the entire nation. Thus the South has benefited more than any other single section by farm crop prosperity.
 The increase in the price of cotton has been in spite of efforts to hold the price down, and was due partially to the crop shortage, which could no longer be concealed, and partially to the widespread participation of cotton communities in cooperative marketing. If cotton had been dumped on the mar ket promiscuously this season as it has been in previous seasons, there would have been slump during the picking and ginning period when the planters would have sold at loss, and then a later abrupt increase in price whereby those who speculated in cotton would have profited at the growers expense.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-20
REDUCED INSURANCE RATES

Reduction of fire insurance rates in Birmingham, which is being con- summated by the Southeastern Board of Underwriters, means much in dol lars and cents to the people, and speaks well for that branch of the city gov ernment which has supervision of the fire department. The city heretofore has had three rate classifications, but the change decided upon by the under writers, in the light of recent survey here, will make the first-class rate uniform throughout the city limits.
 Lowering of insurance rates means that fire risks have been reduced, not only by efficient fire fighting, but by inspection work with view to the prevention of fire through faulty build ing construction, accumulation of rub- bish and the many other causes of property destruction by flames.
 The man who witnesses a conflagra- ton and congratulates himself upon not being the loser, because he is Covered by insurance" is keeping books to fool himself, as the saying goes. Every property owner pays, in the long run, for fires, because their recurrence means increased insurance rates for all. Insurance is virtually a form of taxation, because property owners must have it. Reduction of pre- miums means reduction in taxes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-20
TAX REVISION IS NEXT

There is increasing evidence that majority in congress still favors the enactment of bonus, and there is a strong movement in the house to put decision as to bonus ahead of con- sideration of the tax-reductiop pro- gram. Certainly tax-reduction cannot fntelligently proceed without due knowledge of all the obligations of government that must be met. It is apparent to all who study the situa- tion that taX-reduction is only half | the duty of congress. The rest of it is such tax reform as will equalize the burden as we'll as reduce it. It is not inconceivable that provision for the collection of escaped taxes and the discontinuance of exempt securities would contribute sum sufficient to pay4a bonus without in any way inter- fering with the proposed specific tax reductions. The field is sufficiently inviting to call for more serious con- gressional attention than has yet been given it.
 Apparently the Democrats in the house are in the mood to cooperate in any program of national betterment. Evidence of this has been repeatedly given by Representative Garner of Texas and other party leaders, and with especial reference to tax reform. In this legislative interval that pre- ludes the presidential campaign there can be no exhibit of purely partisan policies for purely partisan purposes. The only thing that will appeal to the people at this juncture is results, or else such legislative record as stead lastly. sought to obtain results. The Republicans failed so signally in their last efforts to reform taxes that, if the Democrats could claim the credit for enabling them to accomplish that purpose at the present session, it would be tantamount to Democratic act.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-20
MORE TRUTH THAN POETRY

They promise to reduce the tax; Cheerio and happy day! They'll lift the burdens from our backs. Or that, at least, is what they say; Let's hope their promise may be true, Although I'll slip this tip to you: It seems too pleasant to be true, So keep yourself prepared to pay. They may be honest and sincere, Cheerio and right good will! The happy season may be near, We may be almost up the hill; But take a passing hint from me: There may be bumps you cannot see From where we are just now, so be Prepared to keep on paying still. It's good to hear the words they speak Cheerio and all that stuff; They tell us we have reached the peak, And that we have been taxed
 enough;
 But let me introduce this but: Have taxes ever yet been cut? To mix a metaphor, this nut
 Comes with a shell that's thick and tough.
 Let's hope they'll make their promise
 good;
 Cheerio and pass the cake! Hurry, brothers, tap on wood,
 Pray there may be no mistake; Things are seldom what they seem In the sweet nocturnal dream; When the lights of morning gleam We shall probably awake.
 -S. E. Riser.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-20
WHAT DO YOU THINK
 Rr Th n,nas l.. MaNAOn

The other day man l know who is conducting a magazine Tn a Western city which tells people how to think, wrote and asked me if I would write an article about thinking. My idea about think ing is that is doesn't amount to much. I may be utterly wrong about this, but I will give one or two incidents to bolster up my view. The other night I sat next to one of the most prominent lite- rary mene in this country, a man who had undoubtedly devoted his life to thinking. I asked him if he would have an olive, and then pressed some celery on him, and, shaking his head, he said: 'Lil- Han Russell, whom l have always regarded as the most beautiful woman in America, once told me, when I was at a public dinner, never to eat any fixings, because they were bad for you"
 Now. this man didn't look very well to me. He had been thinking all his life, and that was the con- clusion he reached. based on Lil- Han Russell. I had been thinking all my life, and my conclusion is just the opposite, as I invariably gobble up all the fixings. Neither he nor I is as beautiful as Lillian Russell was, and she may have been right eff she said it), but if we know how to think, we ought to think for ourselves.
 At the opening of the war Judge Gary of the United States Steel Corporation said it would be over in three months. Norman Angel, also a thinker. in his book, "The Great Illusion," published just be- fore the war, declared that there never could be another war be- cause the bankers wouldn't let it happen. He has, been trying to square himself ever since. I could give hundred other instances of how men with regulations as the greatest thinkers in the world have been all wrong on the very sim plest matters.
 Bertrand Russell, who is one of the greatest writers on mathemat- ics. says they are now taking ge- ometry out or the SchOolS Of Eng land, because it Is no longer true. Yet for generations Euclid has been synonym for correct thought. H. G. Wells, in a recent article, declares that both Lord Northcliffe and Lloyd George are failures. How does he know? It isn't so much what you think as what you feel that counts. If you feel right, you will act right. and If You act right, then thought probably helps some to give you confidence. But every deep think CT ought to preface his remarks by quoting the old darkey preach CT: "Bredren, l am now about to define de indefinable, depict de indepictible and unscrew de in- scrutable."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-20

Venizelos, Greek patriot and states man, who was also the war premier and the best known Greek in the world today. M. Venizelos. in spite of his customary exile and repudiation, is the tower of strength to which the Greeks always turn for help when they have gotten things into such a bad tangle that they themselves cannot solve them. If Greece decides on 2 republic, perhaps M. Venizelos will come back. He wants no kings nor other marionettes about him. Greece can do much worse than restore M. Venizelos to authority. Indeed, it is doubtful if she could do better.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-20
A sENSELESS DEADLOCK

With the senate Republicans voting solidly for Cummins and the Democrats for Smith of South Carolina as chair man of the interstate commerce con- mittee, the obstructive insurgents have what is commonly referred to as the balance of power. As used by the in- surgents, however, this power is neg ative and not a positive influence. Merely to obstruct congress is not constructive act. It is instead species of filibuster of the worst sort. It is true that the insurgents offer the Re- publicans compromise, but it is compromise framed by themselves. and therefore cannot be regarded as sincere. Neither MT. Howells nor MT. Couzens, offered as compromise can- didates, is of type to command the confidence of majority of senators in either party. The insurgents would in sincerity have selected men of more legislative experience and more out standing type.
 
 gents, one of which they should choose if their real purpose is to further the public good. Either they should support the Republican candidate, and then seek to alter the rules so as to abolish the rule of seniority under which Mr. Cummins is put forward; or else they should join the Democrats in the election of MT. Smith, a man of the type and experience which render him fit for the chairmanship. Even the Republicans might conceivably prefer MT. Smith to the two alternates proposed by the insurgents. In any event, the insurgents are injuring the public welfare by their attitude of un- compromising stubbornness.
 The fundamental objection to the rules of both house and senate is sound, and every obstacle to consider ation of amendments to the rules should be swept aside. The insurgents, who have proposed an attack upon the rules, should pave the way to such program, rather than stand in the way The procedure in both house and sen ate is in need of reform, but the tac- tics of the insurgents are just as bad as the evils they have declared their intention of abolishinp
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-20
orr Issnc1ArnD PREss
WHY NOT SUBMIT IT?

Recommendation by the Jefferson county grand jury that joint city and county administration building be constructed on the site recently ac- ouired by the county seems to over step the province and function of that official body. The grand jury, of all public bodies, is supposed to defend popular government and safeguard the welfare of the people. It does not ap- pear that its sanction of the board S courthouse scheme without reference to the popular wish is such defense. The board has no definite program for actual construction, nor does the board seem to realize the importance and permanence of the proposition 1t con siders. The people demand an oppor- tunity to pass on definite program
 That there should be new and ade- ouate administration building to take care of the growing business of this county for years to come, nobody questions. It has been long and pressing need which increases with the growth of the population and the pub lie business. That there are advan- tages in a joint county and municipal building which would result in econ omy and prevention of lost motion there is no doubt. Whether the site shall be changed, what shall be the undertakings character and cost, and the means of providing nd administer ing the necessary funds, are among the questions which should be deter mined by the people who pay for the whole enterprise.
 The people are better prepared to decide in momentous matter of this kind than is an official board acting under a majority of one vote, es- pecially a board that has not distin- guished itself by excellence of admin istration of public affairs. The pro- posed project is large and important business enterprise which concerns all the people of this community. Hence they should have the privilege of pass ing judgment upon it. To be success fully carried out 1t must be handled with that business capacity and sa- gacity which the people may conclude the present board of revenue does not possess. In short, just what is the boards objection to submitting this question to the people of this county and community?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-20
TT IS BENEFICIAL
 IF NOT ENJOYABLE
fNeM York Timesl


 If quail have a sense of humor and can exercise it under great difficulty, those of them to whose notice comes several speeches made here this week at the meet ing of the American Game Pro- tective Association must be laugh ing lot. These speakers had been much disturbed by a proposal that quail should be put in the category of song birds, for which there is no open season. To head that off they promptly and vehe- mently protested that a moderate amount of shooting was really good for quAL It made the birds hardy and by scattering the cov- eys prevented in-breeding.
 Other advantages were mention ed, but the number was smaller than 1t would have been if more time had been allowed for thought and the use of ingenuity Ob- viously, it is fine mental and phy- sical training for a quail to be shot at with reasonable frequency. He learns to be alert on >the foot and the wing, to be a keen ob- server of mans ways, purposes and accoutrements. and really he must be much happier in the utili- zation of new or increased abilities than he would be if allowed to live in slothful ease and dull security. The Kentucky mountaineers have profited in the same way from their feuds, and if occasionally their shooting at one another changes from moderate to excess sive, that is only too much of a good thing and soon cures itself.
 Of course, it would be bad for quail to be constantly under fire. They would come to suffer from what is called shell shock-nerve strain carried to the point of nerve exhaustion.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-20
UNFORGIVABLE


 One thing that will be obserya- ble in the national campaign of next year is that Calvin Coolidge created a great number of active, stoutly-lunged enemies by his long period of silence between his en- tering the White House and the publication of his message to con gress. By that course the presi- dent forced silence upon men to whom talking is the breath of life. They couldn't criticise him, be- cause they didn't know what to criticise him about. They couldn't condemn his policies because, for all they knew, these policies were their own favorite tenets. There are things politics never forgets and forgives. and one of them is the smothering of parts of speech.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-20
THE REAL DEFENSE

The indictments and arrests in Mo- bile by federal agencies of the depart ment of justice are beginning to at tract national attention because of the thorough manner in which all al- legged participants in law violation are being apprehended. This time there apparently is no ground for the usual charge that only the little fellows are being molested and those higher up, the "brains" of the group, are going scot free. On the contrary, it appears that the campaign has been carefully planned so as gradually to lead to the detection of violation in its innermost recesses and entrenchments.
 The character of the charges and indictments should reveal to the think ing people of this state that the chief offense, after all, is not the violation of the liquor laws, but the evidence of corruption of public officials and of ficers of the law and the implication of such business men as have not hesi- tated to ally themselves with the &C., tivities that include bribery, malfea- sance in office and similar crimes gen. erally considered of the most serious and alarming nature. And all this for the sake of profit.
 Perhaps among these groupes will be found those who originated the theory that prohibition does not prohibit" and who have carefully fostered the sentiment that prohibition is unpopu- lar and therefore is a statute which the average citizen is not bound to obey. Apprehension and punishment of any found guilty of violation, cor ruption in office, bribery and the like will illuminate what has become a very murky situation and will recall the American people to the folly of their tacit acceptance of the dangerous and unsound theory that general disregard of any law is ever justifiable.
 Perhaps public officials and officers of the law elsewhere will be warned by the developments in Mobile and will discontinue their present course of in difference to, if not actual co-opera- tion in, law violation; for, unless among those whose duty it is to en- force the law, there were also some who abet the infraction of law, the bootleggers and the illicit traffickers in liquor could not have attained their present efficiency of organization, nor could they long continue. Public sen- timent needs to arouse itself to the fact that, because of public apathy, some of our agencies of government itself are selling themselves to the en- emies of law and order. It is not a question of personal liberty or of liquor It is a question of the in- tegrity of the public administration of our affairs. When that issue is pre- sented there can be no divergence of opinion among rightminded people.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-20
SEND SANTA CLAUS
 TO LEGISLATURE
(Memphis Commercial AppeaD

Today there is one acknowledged ruler of the combined Christian nations of the world. He Is known as Santa Claus. Hundreds of good men and women in Memphis are now in his employ. Some of them are handling letters addressed to Santa Claus. The tenor of these letters is varied. Written into the lines of some is that sublirnity of faith to be found only in the heart of innocence. There is an uncon- scious humor running through others that makes the best efforts of the worlds premier fun makers seem commonplace.
 And, again, many of them are written in tears and sealed in an- guish, the desperate plea of the helpless for those whom they love. One woman wrote that loan gent is bounding her doorstep, and that although her husband borrowed only $40 and has paid pack S60 in interest, the loan agent claims that her husband still owes $40, and is threatening to garnishee him and make him lose his job.
 It seems a pity that the law doesn't invest Santa Claus with authority to use a club or cat o'-nine tails. If it did, our recommendation would be that he pay a visit to this loan shark be- fore he begins the distribution of his presents.
 Such bipeds as that against which the woman registers com plaint belong to the species of which varmints and vipers are the prototypes. Soulless things that wallow in the slime of greed, they should be scourged from places of responsibility and exiled beyond the pale of decency.
 Several times we have had oc- casion to refer to the pernicious practices of these usurers, only to be told that they so effectively cover up their Illegal transactions that the law cannot reach hem.
 The law can and should be so framed that these avaricious money-lenders cannot break 1t with impunity. In less than a year from now we shall have elected a new delegation of law makers.
 Why not send Santa Claus to the legislature with instructions to remedy the defects in the law and protect unfortunates from the raids of these vultures?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-20
ICRELIcHTS fsaal ALI
 A\NATIONAL ;IFS OCAPITAL %S

While the life of a congressman or the head of government pu- reau, is hard, it has it's reward not onlv in A sense of duty well done. If Is true that he makes no money hut he lays foundation TOT money making in after years.
 This is especially true of law vers. Some of them, after years of service, voluntarily retire. Others. beaten by the people, find that whatever prominence they may have won in the employ of the government stands them in ex- cellent stead,
 There is the case of former Senator Hoke Smith of Georgia. He was beaten for reelection some years ago. He immediately opened offices in Washington and found clients. They wanted his legal ability, and were not un- mindful that he had powerful friendes in congress and in all the departments.
 And there is the case of Charles NJ. Galloway of South Carolina. When MT. Wilson was president he was chairman of the civil service commission. When he retired he opened an office in Washington. If reports be true. he is doijg splendidly, and making more money in year than he could have made in several years of work for the government.
 The same is true of William M. ioy nf a ho ~t i- dent Wilson made commissioner of internal revenue.
 More prominently in the lime- light today than any of the fore going, however. is James Good of Iowa, former chairman of the ap- propriations committee of the house, the most powerful of them all.
 He voluntarily retired and open ed law offices in Chicago and Washington. He has found so much business in Washington that he has been forced to associate himself with a large staff of as- sistants.
 And he finds time to play poli- tics, too. He has agreed to Hook  out after" the presidents interests in the West.
 Now, MT. Good is man of abil- ity beyond all question. His clients employ him, primarily, it IS probable, because he has ability. At the same time, those who em- play him are doubtless mindful of his influence with the dominant element in congress.
 These cases are not exceptional. There are numerous others. There are lawyers in Washington who, after serving in the departments at very poor wages, have entered practice specializing before the de- partments in which they became proficient and left numerous friends in influential positions.
 In adjusting tax matters for those whose taxes amount to large sums former clerks and now lawyers are -mopping up" in this city.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-20
A Wholesome Suggestion

(DeKalb County Herald)
 While making up a list for your New Years resolutions wouldn't it be good idea to resolve to do your part towards everything that tends to build up your communi- ty? If every one would begin the new year with that spirit much good would result from 1t.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-20
THE PARAGRAPHERS
Easy to See Through Hi (n1+rAtt Lvx~1 D--N

Senator Hiram Johnson is not renewing his activities as an iso- lationist because he sees any new peril coming, but because the date of the Republican national conven- tion is constantly drawing nearer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-20
StfIl Eluiies Pursuers
(Selma Times-JournaO


 The politicians at Washington are conducting a search for the new philosophers stone-in the form of a method of taxation by which the rich man will be made to pay. Up to the present mile post in the legislative experience of states and nations this summum bonum has not been found. For generations the politicians have proclaimed with fervor and hon. esty of purpose in many instances that they intended to devise a scheme by which to tax the rich" But like the cooling mirage, of the desert, the promised land still eludes it's pursuers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-20
Community Chritmas Trees
(ciadsden Times-News)

The Christmas cheer which is brought to many homes through the community Christmas three is the greatest event of the year for many people. The community tree is a wonderful evidence of the spirit of Christmas. which touches all classes. It influences the giver as we'll as those who are assisted. This IS cause to which people should not give through sense of duty. in the meaning ordinarily given to the word. but rather through that finer sense of duty to all mankind which should touch every heart with the approach of the anniversary of the birth of the Great Giver."