davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-28
THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT

Since the law enacted by the last legisla-
ture permitting the people of Birmingham to
change their form of government from the
commission to the mayor and alderman plan,
provided no means whereby the change can
be made, referendums with such a purpose
would be useless at this time. The next
regular legislature will not assemble for
nearly three years so that there will be no
legal machinery for making the proposed
change before December, 1925, at the earliest
Meantime a change will be made from a
Sive-eonnmissioner to a three-commissioner
form of government after the next municipal
primary.
The situation raises an important ques-
fion in connection with municipal govern
ment. There are advocates of half dozen
different systems. For many years Birming-
ham was under the aldermanic plan. That
was not satisfactory and the people de-
manded a change, which they got through
legislative action setting up a three-commis-
sioner form of government. That brought in
q number of desirable changes, but the voters
later changed to a five-commissioner system.
Now they will return to the three-commis-
sioner plan, while there are some who de-
sire a return to the old aldermanic system,
others who want a nayor-aldermanic form,
SeueTHl~mduHkef
system, with one executive and small board
Of aldermen to serve in an advisory ca.
pacity.
While the commission form of government
has worked satisfactorily in some cities, and
the generalmanager plan has proven ac'
ceptable in others, the success of any munich.
pal government depends upon the ability and
character of those who are chosen to fill
the positions of authority. This brings the
matter directly to the people. They can In
duee candidates of business capacity and
personal integrity to offer for election, then
elect them, or they can, and frequently do,
sacrifice their own interests 81 indifference
and by permitting candidates of little ca.
pacity to fill the positions. 1t is not sc
much the system of government, as the ca,
pacity and character of the men who ad
minister the public affairs, which insurei
success or promises failure in municipal adj
ministration. 1t is for the people to say
whether they will have business in their
public affairs, or professional politics, which
Invariably leads to extravaganza, waste, graft
and disaster.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-28
Watching The Parade

My young friend Sim has been treading
measure on rotten ice. Being young and un-
lined, Sims. is full of knowledge and laugh
ter. At least he was full of EN-. Today
Sim is a good deal older than he was yes
terday, and he knows so much less than he
used to know that he is on the verge Of
wisdom.
There is no such thing as a perfect friend.
ship between man and a woman" j said
to him Il may not know much, but
know that. I've experimental"
Sim and the girl laughed at me. They
used to pick me up in Sims runabout and
tote me to my humble home. Then Sim,
having put on a fresh collar, would call on
the girl to whom he is engaged. All was
as merry as a grig. The other girl and
Sim had jokes together and each paid his
or her own check. On occasion Sim swore
at her and she swore back.
The girl Sim was engaged to approved
of the friendship. She thought it was won
derful that two young folks could have a
magnificent comradeship without a thought
of love. She had two or three friendships
of the sort herself she said, except that they
were not as close and dear. Then, last night,
the other girl rode home with Sim in silence.
At her door she asked him TO come in for a
moment. Then she hurled herself In his
arms.
owl" she howled. "Ow! ow! ow! ow!
Sim cannot give you up ow, Sim, love
you so-o!'
Sim found himself kissing her before he
remembered Just sort Of a reflex action.
Then he put her away and she went into
strong Mysteries. He told the girl he Is en-
gagged to about it and she gave him back his
ring and called him dishonorable hound.
First, because he kissed, and second, be-
cause he told and third because it was all
his fault anyhow. Then he came to me for
comfort and 1 laughed.
There are no perfect friendships between
man and woman" said. "There never have
been. At any moment kisses may spoil them.
But don't worry. By and by you'll grow
up"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-28
VICTOR HERBERT

America can afford to lose few of her
musical composers. Those of merit which
this country has produced are not numerous
When Victor Herbert passed away, the must
cal world of America sustained loss. He
was not only composer of distinction, but
was in some ways a real musician. One Of
the best American operas is his-"Natoma."
ThiA carries an American atmosphere.
Mr.. Herbert was one of the comparatively
few musicians who excelled both as a com
poser and a performer. He was master OF
the cello, and earned an international repu-
tation as a cello player. He was, too, a
good pianist. His nature was rich in melody
Many of his songs are classics in their way,
even though he was, as some think unjustly
accused of plagiarism. Through not a few
Of his operettas run strains that are reminis-
cent of other works, though ont to such ex-
tent as to have made him guilty of unethical
methods in composition. Herbert was more
an absorber than an Greater of music. With
the exception of "Natoma," most of his
works lack originality, though nearly all Of
them are tuneful.
H6rbert's chief charm in composition, as
well as in performance, was a genius for
appeal. He found out what the people
wanted and gave il to them. Hence his pop
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-28
INTERNATIONAL PEACE

President Coolidge will be asked to call an
international conference to protect migratory
game and insectivorous birds. This viii be
sort of secondary peace conference, for 1t
will confine itself to the prevention Of war
fare on winged travellers. 1t is a good be-
ginning Perhaps IL there can be interna-
tional conventions preventing the slaughter
of birds, the next step will be to afford
similar protection to migratory animals like
moose or caribou. Already seals are thus
protected, which makes the neglect of wan
dering walrus all the more glaring. Whales
also move about rather freely, and are sub
jected now to the harpoons of the Jap, again
to the barbs of the Russian, only finally to
fall a victim to the explosive bullets OF the
New Highlander. This should be stopped.
Perhaps no better medium for the trial and
punishment of those who infringe these cove
nants extending international peace to mi
gratory beasts, birds and fish could be found
than the Lodge court Of international rela-
tons. This would avoid forcing the animals
with Republican inclinations into the League
Of Nations, which must be guarded against
at all hazards Having insured the safety
Of animals from human warriors, the conven-
ton could next turn its attention to inter
national runners, and finally could
achieve some benefit to people in general.
The questions of comparative navies, inter
national disarmament and the like would
thus be approached gradually, 90 as not to
brighten the political partridges which sit
trembling under the dead leaves, Of the pop
ular mandate against the league" which fell
in the fall of 1920.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-28
The Need Of Poetry
By DIR. FRANK CRANE

The fundamental need is the need of
poetry. ~
Verses and rhymes may be poetry and may
not be. They are frequent form for the
ntterance of the poetic feeling, because any
high emotion naturally falls into rhythm
and music
But the great mass of poetry in the world,
that which feeds souls, brightens minds, and
cheers hearts never gets utterance at all.
We absorb 1t directly, as we absorb air
Marriage is intolerable without poetry
When the romance dies between man and
woman nothing remains but the intolerable
chains, chatting and heavy.
The business Of mothering would be be-
yond human endurance were it not for the
poetry Of it. The mothers heart puts some
thing fine and wonderful into her daily
round, otherwise the fret, sameness, narrow
ness, and irritation Of it would wreck her
nerves Thanks to the Unborn poetry of
woman, a child is not burden but a song.
The nation needs poetry. If we were only
a community of buyers and seller, If there
were no currents of patriotism to fuse all
hearts, if the flag did not inspire us, and
THE Star-Spangled, Banner" when the band
plays it, did not rouse us, the state would
60 to pieces as a heap of pebbles without
cement, and we should be helpless before the
enemy.
The church needs poetry She is strongest
always when she has wings. Her arguments
leave us unconvinced. Her visions capture
us.
The schoolmaster needs poetry. Only when
some irresistible enthusiasm, some stubborn
love of an ideal, burns in his heart, is his
teaching a joy to himself and a moulding
force to his pupils
| The best locomotive engineer is one who
feels the poetry of his calling. He may not
acknowledge it, but say simply that he
likes his job" vet it is the fascination of
| it that sustains his soul while his hands
work. To feel the monstrous power beneath
has feet to know that the huge horse of
steam and steel obeys his touch, to rush like
meteor through the night, to realize that
hundred lives depend on his Brain and
hand, all this sings in him this is what his
spirit lives on--poetry. not wages.
| Whatever a man does If he can squeeze
out of it he can live by it. II be cannot. he
dies by it.
And when the poetry is gone, when it is
a dull grind, when we work not as creative,
disposing spirits, but as oxen or dumb slaves.
that is when we grow old fast, the soul wears
itself out.
We are beginning to feel the poetry of
business that is, of feeding and clothing the
world, of building bridges, piercing noun
tains, annihilating distance with steam and
electricity, and making the cities and farms
of men as splendid as their dreams, and in
proportion as we learn to sing of business
and fqfget the songs Of war we move tor "a
the golden age.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-28
Brief Nature Studies
ny J. OTIS SWIFT

In shrubby pastures at Rocky Lonesome,
where apple trees, cherries, sumachs, sassa-
fras and gray birches are fast turning an
old Dutch field back to Dame Nature, the
junior section Of Der Touristen Verein "Die
Naturefreunde' stopped spell.bound in a
woodsy path as a canary-like, lively little
MARBLE came from the top Of cedar tree
where there was flash of indigo blue in the
sunlight. Another little bird, brownish with
a flicker of blue on tail and wings, sat lis
tening entranced by her husbands music. 1t
was the indigo bunting family back from
Central America and looking for house to
rent.
Coming late in May, staying until Sep
TENDER, the nest of grasses il built low in a
bush, the pale bluish-white eggs, four or five
in number. Very often the indigo comes
into the orchards, but mostly 1t Is seen in
rundown fields growing up to golden rod
and bushes, or along the edge Of forests
where the dogwoods make airy white clouds,
and near swamps where button-bush alter
mates with marshmallow.
Good humor and cheer are Characteristic,
but being Of a Southern genius 1t departs
early.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-28
Commends Officers

To the Editor of The Age-Herald
These few lines are for the purpose Of
strongly and heartily commencing the SPLEEN
did service performed by Police Officers N
c. Propst and Woode Sandifer for their
capture of the axman, who, early Sunday
morning waylaid and seriously injured two
white men. The officers certainly rendered
wonderful work and we'll did their duty As
law enforcers when they subdued the noto.
rious would-be murderer and successfully
lodged him in the county Jail. Although the
officers, one might say, only did their duty,
this duty is certainly one that should gain
the close attention of the citizens Of Bir-
mingham and the writer strongly recommends
that their good work be recognized in more
substantial way by the city commissioners.
It would be good thing If the citizens would
recommend to the city commission to reward
Officers Propst and Sandifer by giving them
thirty days vacation with full pay, and this
letter is intended for an earnest appeal to
our commissioners to seriously consider the
reward to the officers as recommended here
in. The fine work of the officers should
also be an incentive to others to always be
on their guard and exert every effort to rid
Birmingham of notorious lawbreakers and
highwaymen, especially those who pitilessly
attack their victims with axes.
JOHN HOWE.
Birmingham, Ala, May 90, 1924.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-28
THE KIpNAPPERs or CHILDREN

As might have been expected, the ques-
ton has arisen in connection with the now
famous Chicago kidnapping case, whether
parents should pay if they can, money de-
manded by kidnappers for return of their
child, and let the criminals go free, or should
they at once make appeal to the police and
refuse to compound so grave a felony. While
every such payment does encourage Grim
inals of the kind further to extend their
operations, many parents have found by ex-
perience that appeals to the police frequently
are futile A large percentage of such cases
result in no arrests or convictions of the
criminals.
1t is all we'll enough to talk of ones duty
to the public but when parents are tor
tured by fears of mistreatment or murder
of their children, their first and most nat
ural thought is to save them from the cruel
est fate. Nobody would blame a father or
mother for employing every possible means
Of getting back a child against whom threats
of death had been made. Such action would
be more widely understood and more gen
orally commended than if the parents should
take serious risks Of never again seeing their
children alive in order to perform q doubt
full civic service. For the duty of the police
is not nullified by the course the parents may
take.
In a considerable percentage of kidnapping
cases the police have granted immunity from
punishment to the kidnappers on condition
of safe return of the victims. Such a policy
would do much to encourage this crime. and
few would contend that the police should
give such assurance. Parents might do that
without censure or criticism; but law en-
forcement agencies would destroy much of
their usefulness by such a course.
Commenting on the Chicago case The New
York Times says What makes these
crimes so appalling. and what justifies the
severest of legal penalties for all who par
ticipate in them, either as principals or ac-
cessories before or after the fact, is the
almost insuperable difficulty, in any grade
Of society, Of guarding against them com
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-28

pietely. A child hardly can be watched 20
carefully that a determined kidnapper never
can reach It, Yet, easy as it might seem
thus to extort money from parents, such
thefts are among the rarest of crimes. The
rarity may or may not be due to the fact
that still more rarely are the demanded ran
SONS paid and again stiil more rarely does
the blackmailer escape to. enjoy his gains"
There is no punishment within the law
that is too severe for the man or woman who
would inflict this most agonizing torture
upon parents. even though the direct vic
tim of the crime be not harmed. Vile a. is
the blackmailet who preys upon the indis-
cretions of men or women Of means, he 10
less evil than the kidnapper of children,
who is the most cruel and conscienceless Of
all. The sooner he is put beyond the posi-
bility of repeating his offense under the law.
the better for society.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-28
SENDING CHILDREN TO PRISON


A depressing spectacle was witnessed at
Houston, Texas, the other day, according
to The Houston Post. Three negro women,
with their small children, passed through
that city en- route to the penitentiary. What
ever may be said of the hardship upon a
child through separation from its mother,
there is no excuse for committing children
to prison to become criminals through asso-
citation with convicts When children are
sent to prison with their parents, the limo
cent are made to suffer with the guilty
through most effective method of turning
the former into criminals. Penitentiary life
at best is one way of training for crime
through association.
THE state has no right to put this blight
upon childhood" says The Post. Such a
policy is no less unjust to the state than to
the child. It raises the problem of what to
do with children of those who are con-
victed of crime. While society must be pro-
tected from the criminal element by proper
punishment of the guilty, society suffers
just so far as it fails to solve this problem
of the children of criminals. 1t will never
be solved in. the interests of society when
young children of convicted violators of the
law are sent with them to prison. Instead
of reducing crime through the warning in
fluence of punishment, subjecting children
to the environment of prison walls fosters
and develops a dangerous criminal germ.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-28
Neighbors

Harry ]. Williams in Farm Life)
When Elmer Warden bought the place
Across the road from mine,
/ didn't like his beaming face
And manner quite benign.
said that one who had a smile
For all he CHANGED to meet
Undoubtedly was full Of guile,
And practicing deceit.
didn't give my sanction when,
He spoke of changing work; b.
1 thought. These over-eheerful men
Are pretty apt to shirk."
But when typhoid had brought me low
Upon a bed of pain,
I saw this neighbor come and go
Each day through sun and rain.
He did my chores, and shocked my corn.
And sat with me at night,
And drove away my thoughts forlorn
With manner gay and bright
That first impressions often lead
Us wrong, we must agree,
For Elmer Warden, eoneede,
Was what he seemed to be-
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-28
The Right Word
By CURTIS NICHOLSON

Find the Error in This Artiele) A.
To Henry Freeman, New York The proper
spelling is pinnacle.
Choir Causes Discussion
That is to say, the word choir causes dis
cussion. But the individual members Of a
choir might so act that they would cause
discussion, and then we would say that
the choir are causing discussion.
G. Q. NJ. De Marque of New York insists
that only a singular verb should be used
with choir. He does not grant that the num-
Der of the verb is determined by the singular
or plural sense of the word choir. He argues
that the word ever has been, is and ever
will be singular.
THE Right Word" has all ready declared
it to be correct to say, The choir we're fer
ried across the river" What is your opin-
ion?
Determined by Usage
Clara Hammond, Columbia, S. c.: SIS
there any reason because you buy milk by
the quart and butter by the pound to say
that it costs ten cents the quart instead Of q
quart, and fifty cents a pound? You hire
a man to work by the day, but when you
pay him at the end of the week, do you pay
him dollar day or the day?
There has been some discussion here on
the point. Some hold that the is the better
usage and others prefer a. while some say
that either is correct"
Right: ten cents a quartz fifty cents a
pound; dollar day.
Yesterdays Error
Wrong: One is really declaring that the
raising Of chickens is his hobby.
Wrong: One is really declaring that the
raising az Ghickens il ones hobby
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-28
DEMOCRATIC TAX PLAN WINS

With the approach of adjournment anI
the conventions, congress is obviously speed
ing up its program, not so much moved By
the early adjournment as by the necessity
of having some legislation to show to thu
conventions. The passage of the immigra
ton bill, highly restrictive and more selec
tive in its nature, was compelled by the ex
piration of the present measure on June 30
The passage of the tax-reduction measure
is the tardy fulfillment of a pledge made by
the Republicans on their accession to au.
thority. Tax reduction is in reality a Dem.
ocratic and not Republican doctrine which
the Democrats were prevented from carry.
ing out during the final months of the viii.
son administration by the unfortunate fact
that congress was then composed of a Re
publican majority which blocked action. The
present measure is principally owing to
Democratic activity, backed by Republican
irregulars. On the final action a majority
of Republicans also swung into line, rather
than have all the credit go to the opposing
party. -.-.....-. ...--..
1t is noted that Secretary Mellon will not
ask the president to veto the tax measure,
because, while it differs very materially
from his original plan, it does provide tax
relief. Perhaps Mr.. Mellon realizes that
there could be no success for any other plan.
especially when his own schedules, launched
with such prestige and acclaim, were so COM
pletely defeated and the substitute schedules
so cordially endorsed Republican division,
countered by Democratic unity directed in a
mastery manner, could not hope to prevail.
The relief provided in the new measure is
very definite, cutting in half the rate on
smaller incomes and materially reducing the
rate in the highest brackets. The new
measure actually does what the Mellon plan
incorrectly purported to do 1t provides re,
lief where relief is most needed Much credit
belongs to Mr.. Garner of Texas for his
prompt assault on the Mellon schedules as
being designed to relieve the rich at the ex.
pense of the poor, and for his aggressive
fight for a transfer of the reduction to the
lower brackets. Mr.. Garner in the begin
ming absorbed much criticism, both in con
gress and in the press, from those who
blindly committed themselves to the Mellon
plan without examination. The criticism
however, caused his Democratic colleagues
to rally to his support, and gradually the
popular vision clarified as more information
was gained by people and press.
The result is Democratic triumph in
behalf of the people of the United States
Tax relief is a fact, and it is owed primarily
to Democrats The record is unmistakable
for it shows the Republican leaders active
in both houses seeking to forward the Mellon
plan at all costs. Now that the people un
derstand how the Mellon schedules sought tc
lessen the burden principally for those best
able to carry it, the Republican record is not
one to win popular favor. The opportunity
is one which the Democrats may well mint
into an irresistible appeal for public sup,
port in the coming elections.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-28
Modern Maids Maxin.s

OF course a girl cannot be sure that there
are many hidden good qualities in the dissi
pated youth who takes her to ride in his
expensive car-but she's usually willing to in
vestigate for herself
Some wives with the Eyes, dear" habit
are meek--and some merely discovered that
if they say what pleases him they may do
what pleases them.
80 far as can see" remarked the elderly
flirt, ''the only difference between spooning
and petting is that the former used to be
done on the family sofa and the latter takes
place on the back seat Of the family car"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-28
Attention.

Readers are requested to contribute !;
All humor, epigrams Tor humorous mot
toes), jokes, anecdotes, poetry, burlesque,
satires and bright sayings of children
must be original and unpublished. Ae-
cepted material will be paid for at sched
ule rates, which will be furnished on APP
plication. All manuscripts must be writ
ten on one side of the paper only, should
bear the name of this newspaper, and
should be addressed to the Fun Shop,
care Age Herald. Unaccepted contribu.
tions cannot be returned