davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-11
Forum, Of The People
Too Many Bonds
The Editor of The Age Herald :

To the Editor Of The Age Herald:
The people of Birmingham and jefferson
county are about fed up on the issuing of
bonds. Millions of dollars have been voted
for various purposes and still the cry has
been raised for more. What has become of
the enormous amount of money that Biz
mingham and Jefferson county have received
from the sale of bonds!
Our city commission and boards of revenue
have been composed largely of men who
have had no experience in large business en-
terprises. Vast sums of money have been
placed in the hands of men of whom a ma
jority never made a success of their private
affairs.
The twenty-four candidates for board of
revenue are nice fellows and have to vote
for five of them; but would much rather
have an opportunity to vote for five good
business men, and / am sure echo the SEN
timent of thousands of other burdened tax
payers. This being the case, why should
we need more bonds?
l have been a citizen of jefferson county
for twenty-three years. l have seen the
board of revenue created in order to Gust a
commission that was unsatisfactory. / have
helped to elect members on every board since
the board was created. Sometimes there
have been as many as four Of the board
whom / voted for. / have voted for bonds
for these men to spend, millions of dollars.
They have spent the money. yet the old
courthouse is unpaid for. Where has that
money gone?
We are now called upon to vote more
bonds. Our taxes have become a burden
We are told that we must have a new court
house, public library, new parks, etc.
until there seems to be no end of bonds All
of this vast sum asked for will be placed
in the hands of inexperienced men, while
we taxpayers must bear the load.
1 believe l know the people of Birming-
ham and Jefferson county about as we'll as
the average man and I will make this pre-
dictien; school bonds alone will be voted.
Mix in new courthouse, library or any
other kind of bonds and the entire batch
will be voted down. The trick was tried
once before. Some other bonds we're mixed
in with the school bonds in order to carry
them through as rider, The taxpayers got
wise and voted the scheme down. They will
do it again.
AS for the library, offer this suggestion {:
Fix up nice place in that white elephant
we are going to call an auditorium. for the
library. This can be done at a small cost.
1t will give the taxpayers something for the
money that has been wasted in that build
ing. To say the least, bonds for library
will never pass. The time was when any
kind Of bonds could pass. The majority Of
voters were renters. Today, the majority
own their homes or are paying for them.
They are more careful about how they vote
bonds. w. H. PARKER,
Birmingham. Ala, April 10. 1924.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-11
Watching The Parade
BY JOHN PILGRIM

Howard Dustin said to me, about q. year
ago:
"It certainly does look as though some one
had put q pinch Of salt and a couple of
crossed hairs under my doorstep. have had
nothing but hard luck" -.
There was a good deal of truth in~whet
he said. He had been the head of big Of
flee Made good. Then he and the repre-
sentative Of the bank locked horns. The
banker thought that a certain thing should
be done. There was money in itls he said.
Howard admitted this, but urged that the
firms reputation would not be bettered
by it.
"You must do it my way" said the
banker.
IT won't" said Howard. I'll quit
He got job with another concern and it
blew up. He went to another and hard
times forced him out. He got third posi-
ton, was making good, and then offieo poll
tics got in his way. Every one liked Howard,
but some of the office politicians saw a way
to get more money for themselves, and How
ard got the gate He had just bought a
new home on the pay-a-little-every-month
plan.
Going to quit?" asked.
"Not me-" said he. I'm better than ever.
] have learned something In each place and
WIFI cdCu dAI1 a. 0caN oAOAo as q
man can be who still has money in the
bank, but my upper lip is stiff as board"
1t happened that friend knew of place
in which Howard's specialized knowledge
might be of value. But the masters of the
place didn't know it. II Howard landed he
would have to sell himself and his ideas,
and that under the handicap of having been
intermittenly, jobless for six years. Likewise
there was his own mental hazard to consider
that Of being on the monetary edge. But
he got the Job.
I've just finished my first year." he told
me the other day. Il made more money than
ever made before In my life and there IL
so much money ahead Of me that get dizzy.
OF course, I'll have to work"
1t didn't seem like good luck while it hap
pened. But that in-a-job- and-out-of-a-j
sequence Of, his had educated him. 1t fur
nished the capital with which he is building
his present success.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-11

guards as wouid prevent technical and super
fetal flaws For some reason the legisla-
tures have preferred to leave such matters
to chance rather than to have them gov
erned by reasonable certainty. As long as
Legislatures are of that mood. 50 long will
important aspects Of their work be nullified.
The present custom is no less foolish than
that of a man who would throw sack of
grain over his shoulder without holding or
tying the mouth of the sack. As it is, an
other wise and intelligently conceived law
has gone into the discard because Of 1egisla-
tive slovenliness The first subject the next
legislature should consider is a wise meas
ure for the proper safeguarding Of statutes
from obvious and avoidable technical errors.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-11
WHERE WE HAVE BEEN FOOLISH

There is more than ordinary significance
to the people of Alabama in the fact that
the annual meeting Of the American Insti-
tute of Electrical Engineers came to Bir-
mingham this year. In this new age Of
electrically driven industry Alabama is TAX
ing rank among the foremost. Gifted with
natural water-power resources eQualled by
few states, Alabama's development along
this Line has outstripped even some Of the
more populous and more strictly industrial
states She has reached a point where her
excess power goes far and near to drive the
wheels Of factories beyond her boundaries.
Her own Industries have been stimulated to
greater expansion because Of the availability
Of electric current in adequate quantity.
But not only in water power does this
gtate possess potentialities of immense en-
.ergy TO be Transmitted into electricity. The
day 10 rapidly approaching when her coal
win come moro and more to be converted at
or near the mines, instead Of being trans
ported at great expense to be burned In
steam boilers at a tremendous sacrifice of
both energy and valuable by-products, thus
Lost beyond recall. We of this country have
been prodigal Of our enormous heritage of
natural resources, and only of late, with the
graphic spectacle Of our disappearing for
ests and our vanishing petroleum supplies to
warn us, have we become constrained to
Cunh91Vo our resources ana TO uLlllZe tnem
to the fullest advantage. The process of ex-
tgaeting rich by-products from coal, includ-
ing articles Of merchAntable value, besides
the treble sources Of energy represented in
the gas, electric current and residual car
bon we call coke, has long been known and
recognised as the only sensible and most
highly profitable method of utilizing coal;
yet, with a perversity giving the lie to our
hpasted progressiveness, we have kept on
suuandering this diminishing resource in the
most reckless and foolish manner.
Those who will lead US back into more
efficient and profitable ways are just such
trained men as the electrical engineers who
have paid US this visit and who have in
aDected some of our outstanding plants.
They, Of their technical training and practi.
cel experience, untrammeled by selfish con-
aiderations of immediate profit, perceive
most clearly the folly of our industrial ex-
travagance, and their voice at length will
be heard and obeyed. It is hoped that, in
apired by this conference and the attendant
discussion, the Industrial leaders Of Ala
bama, the producers and the consumers of
coal, and all others directly and indirectly
concerned, will unite in a program of plac-
ing Alabama among the foremost Of the
states in conservation and utilization of
power sources of all kinds.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-11
DRILLING THE CANDIDATES

while the League Of Women Voters had
none but a worthy purpose in having seven
cen candidates for the county board OF reye-
nne set forth their positions and ATTITUDES
On several questions Of public policy as Dear
;nx npon local interests, efforts OF the
Wornen, like those Of the Physicians League
- The Age-Herald, recently stated, came TOO
1afs to be of far-reaching public benefit.
The various candidates promised all sorts
a. things. One aspirant declared he was
fcr anything the ladies want, and figured
thaf he was qualified for seat on the board,
because he always listened to his wife,"
Another promised always to follow the
wishes of the people"-which is broad and
presumably safe platform-while still an
ether announced that he was qualified for re-
siection because he had served four years
ana had always been in favor of protecting
the public health.
And SO it went down the line. Some were
for the new site for a county administrative
hufIding, others favored the present site,
while still others thought the people should
decide the issue by vote. Most of the as
pfzants were for good roads" and plenty OF
lam. one or two didn't think such roads as
thnre are were properly built, and all seemed
to be In favor of whatever happens to be the
hast thing for the people.
Replies to the questions were complained
81 Dy one or Two OF LnOSe putting LhcH oh
the ground that they were not sufficiently
dsfinite. There was also criticism of some
% the vocal volume and force Of gesticu1a-
tiop. At one time additional life was in
iscfed into the meeting by an attendant
who charged "misappropriation' Of part of
khe road fund by the old board, and there
vas an impression that the county might
hope for big developments under the new
boards administration, judging from the
pledges made.
One curious feature of the replies was
that they showed remarkable unanimity of
sentiment, in that each aspirant recommend
ed himself very highly for the job. An
other noticeable thing was that while all
expressed desire to serve the public, none
referred to his individual need for emolu-
ments of the office.
Getting down to the more serious aspect,
the League of Women Voters have done
some very fine, constructive and unselfish
work in this community. They have it in
their power to do much more, as their pur-
poses and plans develop One of the largest
public services they could perform would be
to exercise their judgment and exert their
influence to induce men or women Of bust
ness capacity, administrative ability, pa.
triotic spirit and personal integrity to an.
nounce themselves for public office, then get
behind these candidates and work for their
election.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-11
The Right Word
By CURTIS NICHOLSON
From A High School Pupil
(Find, the error In this article)


Rosemary Gorsuch of Cincinnati, Ohio,
has written "The Right Word" very logi-
cal letter. Miss Gorsuch Is in her second
year of high school work. Her letter fol-
lows: III
II am in the second grade of high school,
and never miss reading your column. /
have received much help from 1t and very
frequently find the errors. ] love to speak
correctly. ! confess am puzzled over the
ninth question In the test. 1t seems that
into halves would literally be correct, for
one really does cut the appla into halves
yet have always said in half and it sounds
right to me, but 1 don't know why. Will
you please EXPLAIN"
Miss Gorsuch has answered her own
query. Furthermore, she wrote into
halves" In her test and was marked correct.
All Right
Isaac Cunningham, teacher in the Law
renee county schools. Dennis, KY. asks for
a decision on whether alright or all right are
correct. He writes, "Will you please give
US a discussion Of the words alright and all
right? One Of our high school teachers says
that it is always spelled all right and used as
two words.
II am very much interested in your dis
cussions. consider your discussion of shall
and will and should and would the best I
have ever read.
II find in Wards Sentence and Theme
that the infinitive is always used as noun.
l don't agree with him. Will you please dis
cuss the following sentences relative to the
infinitives: She came to learn He went to
see the race; He is anxious TO go; He is we'll
enough to work The house is to be. Sold
The correct spelling is all right. Alright
is archaic. To learn is an adverb; to see
an adverb; to come an adjective; to go an
adyerb; to work an adverb; to be sold an
adjective.
Yesterdays Error
Wrong: Try and make the 100 per cent.
class.
Right: Try to make the 100 per cent
class @
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-11
Robbed Hair And Nursss

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
have. read with interest and amusement
the criticism about bobbed hair for women.
There is one class that should be required
to wear their hair long and be plainly
dressed. They are, graduate nurses, women
whose work carries them into the sacred
precincts of the home. and who come In
such close touch with life and death, should
be well dressed wearing a plain uniform
and their hair dressed In a manner befitting
their profession and uniform which is not
complete without the cap. The latter is GER.
tainly not becoming or professional with
bobbed hair. Let the superintendents of
training schools for nurses insist that no
nurse bob her hair during training or after
she has finished. Let her have sufficient
professional pride to dress as becomes her
profession.
GRADUATE NURSE, CLASS 1905.
York, Ala.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-11
THE WORD "MANN1K1N

The word "mannikin" looks English
enough on the face of it, but 1t is a French
word of comparatively recent coinage, cor
rupted into the phraseology of the American
dressmaking establishments or show window.
Though the word man" figures so con-
spicuousy in mannikin, the mannikin of
commerce is always woman, generally
young and Of good figure. For a mannikin's
business is to show on her own figure how
an article of womans wear looks in action,
so to speak.
The time for inducing men to buy trousers
or coats by showing them how "too lovely
for. words they appear upon lay figure has
not yet arrived.
The. French form Of the word ''mannikin'
is "mannequin." The French word was
originated by the Paris dressmakers, a food
many of whom are men.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-11
DAWES COMMITTEE ACHIEVEMENT

One of the reflections induced by the re-
port Of the Dawes economic committee is that
the program has been formulated and adopted
with such short lapse Of time The task
wos viewed as tremendous one, rs being
much larger than it really was, for the sim
pie reason that, while many were willing to
pass judgment on how it should be done, few
were ready to step in and begin actually
to do the work. Because many had failed
to achieve the economic regeneration of Eu-
rope, there was growing feeling of despair
whether anybody could do it. And yet, in
almost o twinkling. world sentiment has
changed so that what short time ago ap-
peared hopeless now seems entirely feasible
1t offers curious study in human psy-
chology.
The task was big and the way was long,
but Mr.. Dawes was encouraged by the con-
viction that large business proposition is
no different from a small one exception size,
and that the same principles apply in both
cases. Therefore, he handled the German
dilemma as he might have handled a similar
dilemma on a smaller scale in one of his
own corporations. The method of gathering
the necessary data respecting German eondi-
lions and finances was characteristic. In
stead of having various subcommittee
travelling hither and yon throughout Ger
many seeking first sources, he invited Ger
man statisticians to come to the committee
with pertinent records. In this way much
time was saved.
This achievement, accomplished with such
frugality of time and debate. should furnish
a worthy example for the emulation of the
statesmen and diplomats who, in twenty
times the period, have been able to accom-
plish nothing in the way of reconstruction
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-11
Using The DINNERS

How far should a man go in letting his
good deeds be known. Some folks announce
their worthy acts with megaphone. These
should bear in mind certain admonition
about keeping the right hand In the dark
concerning the activities Of the left. Other
people do good deeds and never let them be
known. To such folks might be quoted a
passage about not hiding ones illumination
under a four-peck measure.
There are times when good deed should
be made known. When it sets a good ex-
ample it encourages the rest Of US to so and
do likewise. But when a man does good
deed, it cannot stimulate the rest of US to
good deeds unless we know about 1t, Be-
sides, a man who is in position to do good
deeds and who does them in secret may be
criticized for his apparent failure to live up
to his responsibilities and he may also have
the effect of setting a bad example.
l was well acquainted with the business
head of large organization who had
keen aversion to letting people know of the
many kind acts he performed. He was in
structed by his board to discharge a man
who was not doing we'll. The man demanded
that be be paid salary for the balance of
the year. The board refused this.
The executive, knowing that the man was
for half the salary demanded, and not wish
ing to humiliate him with the offer of gift
did this with no explanation; whereupon the
recipient of the check, vituperatively broad
casted the statement that the executive had
beaten him out half the salary due him.
This executive so completely covered up
his good deeds that he won a reputation for
selfishness and reconsideration which even
tually caused his removal from the institu-
ton. This is an exaggerated case, but it
serves to illustrate reason for not being too
close-mouthed about worthwhile deeds
Many rich men make practice of giving
away money secretly. II is rot modesty that
makes them do this; it is self-protection.
They do not want to draw the attention of
contribution seekers.
Generally speaking it Is better for man
not to douse his glim entirely In the matter
of well doing. Just put on the DINNERS, so
as not to dazzle the other chap, and at the
same time let him see which way you are
going. DESTINATIONS display is one thing and
legitimate publicity is another.
-N4---~-
CONGRESS is RUNNING TO FORM
The president wants taxes reduced scien-
tifically, but congress is bent upon manipu-
lating them politically-Detroit Free Press
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-11
The VIII

(w. H. Davies in Harper's Magaziqe.).
If should die, this house is yours lA]
A little money, too.
It's but a poor reward / make, 4.
For all this care from you.
And though you take a second mate,
And think that man the best, =
l would not change-if dead men could
One word ~; this bequest.
Would that could bequeath to you
Ny joy in earth and sky
Worth more than gold or precious stones
To be remembered by.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-11

and rehabilitation Of friendly international
relationships, trade, business and diplomatics.
But it is not easy TO expect the diplomats
or the international politicians to profit BY
worthy example. Therefore the world, the
people of this mundane sphere, will have to
take the lesson unto themselves, and IN any
future crisis of similar nature, must call in
a voice that will not brook denial for another
such COMMITTEES to bring order out of chaos.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-11

At this particular time there are candi-
dates for office who profess to believe that
the country is in danger of bolshevism; but
whose fears will Immediately disappear If
the voters are sufficiently impressed to put
them in office as a means of salvation.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-11

The announcement that DIR. Nansen viii
try to fly from Russia to the North Pole
suggests that he figures that there's nothing
to lose in getting out of Russia, regardless
of what may happen thereafter.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-11

I. 1t is reported that a number of alienists
still differ as to Harry Thawis mental state.
Several lawyers seem to do likewise. Mean
time the public has lost interest since it be-
came apparent that the dollar mark is one
Of the chief factors in the issue.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-11


They now play it safe by putting mp their
hands and putting up the order afterwards.
The National Storekeepers' Association
held meeting last evening and voted to de-
mand that the bopbed-haired bandits set a
regular hour for their daily visit 50 the
to themselves. -.
II waited until nearly o'clock yesterday
afternoon" declared Jacobus Tripepickler,
spokesman for the grocers before any ban
dit showed up. The day before that she
came at IL in the morning and today she
How can storekeeper get his mind on, his
business and the regular customers II he
never knows what time to expect these
women robbers?
H.
The ooooed-haired iooters say the fault is
all with the storekeepers. III they don't
want us popping in whenever we get the
time why don't they make deliveriesF they
ask.
linen ooooed-naired oandit could Just
phone over ner oroer ana nave tne STORE
send tne money 70 ner
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-11

Aside from the merits of the controversy,
it will be generally admitted that in express
ing his views Of the former attorney general
Senator Pepper seems to be trying to live up
to his name
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-11

1t Is now proposed to try electricity on
the boil weevil. 1t is hoped that the cur
rent will not go dead. when the weevil
takes its heaviest meal.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-11
CAUSE FOR GRATITUDE.

Alas! I fear haven't written anything
that will live"
Cheer up! Be thankful you are alive in
spite of what you've writer" Boston
Transcript ...,
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-11

One way further to increase the popularity
Of the radio is to allow the public to tune
in on all features that sound as IL they
might promise get-rich-quick opportunities. 8
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-11

Getting out of Germany costs hundred
and twenty-five dollars; yet there are those
who contend that there are few good invest
ment opportunities in that country
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-11

If this keeps up, the nations political
headquarters may resemble suburban back
yard on wash day.