The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-06
PERISH, THE THOUGHT

PERISH, THE THOUGHT It has been long time since direct descendants of the Puritan fathers raised their voices against the tariff or it's offspring, the trusts. Not even when shoe manufacturers soma years ago clamored for free hides was tbere a chorus of approval. The people of staid old New England are set in their ways, especially when their ways keep them in good financial status. Hence tbey have been content to let we'll enough alone.
 Lately there has been something of change in this respect. At least, complaints have been coming from, that section of the effects upon dis tribution and costs of codfish since the industry has been to all intents and purposes controlled by a combine. It is serious situation from the New Englander's standpoint. For many years the codfish has been ipseparably associated with patriotism, Philosophy, literature, science, art and even music in the country of the Pilgrim Fathers. The codfish has been second in inn portance to none of the products of that section, not even excepting the revered baked-bean upon which Boston has long flourished and grown proud and self-reliant. Men have clamored for codfish, women have pleaded for codfish, and children have cried for codfish. "Now, in the name of all the gods at once, upon what meat doth this our Boston feed, that it hath grown so great?" Goldfish, to be sure. sure.
 Think of the great men of New England who achieved success from sustenance of the noble codfish. It supplied substance for the heroic achievements of Roger Williams. It developed the patriotism and courage of Nathaniel Greene; the splendid statesmanship and convincing oratory of Daniel Webster; the creative genius of Nathaniel Hawthorne; the sincere philosophy of Ralph Waldo Emerson; the poetic spirit of William Cullen Bryant; the beautiful sentiment of Henry W. Longfellow; the subtle hu- nor of Oliver Wendell Holmes, and the achievements of long line of pa- triots, literateurs and scientists who made the land of the Puritan famous the world over for its culture and attainments. Even the physical prowess of John L. Sullivan, one of the most eminent of Boston's distin- guished men, was developed from cod fish. Of course, the baked-bean con. tributed to the success of New Eng lands famous men in supplying tone and finish. Far be it from us to de- prive the baked-bean of it's we'll earned honors. But codfish was the foundation, and to codfish must be rendered the homage that is due.
 Even before the codfish trust hit it's present stride, there were hints that the baked-bean would be the next vic tim of gr'asping monopoly. Think of it! Both the sacred codfish and the ancestral baked-bean in the clutches of the trusts! What is left for Boston but to rise in righteous indignation and assert its rights as it did more than century ago when dumping into Massachusetts Bay a cargo of tea in protest against tyrannical treatment? There stands famous old Bunker Hill monument commemorating glorious deeds developed from codfish as an inspiration. The existence of New Englanders is threatened. Without codfish and baked-beans within reach of the masses what may they expect to accomplish in momentous achievement? A rapacious trust on the noble codfisl! A grasping monopoly on the splendid baked-bean! Never! A thousand times neveri We think We hear from the rock-bound coast of Puritan-land stupendous diapason of protestA The merits of a nolitical ,oroc.roc.;x,o