davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-28
Your Opportunity
By H. ADDINGTON .snUCE

So, young man, you feel that you had bet ter look for another job, as the one you have ! is without opportunity for you? l Are you sure of that? Are you absolutely sure of that! 4. -iaa | It must be poor job, indeed; if it does not give you opportunity to demonstrate that you are a willing worker and thorough worker, an honest worker and a loyal worker, $,
 It must be miserable job if it denies you all opportunity to be energetic and re- sourceful, patient and persistent. thought i fully intent on accomplishing in the best pos sible way whatever tasks are assigned to you.
 But, you say, you don't mean exactly that you mean opportunity to get on in the world, opportunity to improve your financial status and make Il name for yourself. Still, doesn't the kind of opportunity you mean depend, after all, your possession of the traits and qualities fostered by the kind of opportunity I mean? 1 Getting in the world, improving ones financial status. and winning a name for oneself, it is most important for you to rec ognize, are by no means self-determined con sequences of being placed in this or that job Suppose you do make change. will you | advance any more rapidly if you neglect op- portunity for self-development and growth in efficiency, surely the most important of all | kinds of opportunity and present in every worthwhile job?
 | Here are few words from clear-seeing observer, words well meriting your considera | tion:
 Opportunity in the highest sense of the term is opportunity for education, for mak- ing ourselves men. This end every occasion | should serve, since for this we are born.'' Perhaps this is something of which you have not thought before.
 Perhaps-though I trust not-you have been failing to utilize your present job as | the character-builder and mind-buider it ought to be to you.
 | Perhaps, if only from sheer annoyance be- cause of what you regard as your present jobs lack of opportunity. you have drifted
 into the unfortunate habit of sighting your
 work of doing it carelessly and with mind | intent on other things
 That is habit you will have to break,
 whether you remain in your place of present
 occupation or find something else to do.
 Whichever course you decide to adopt-to stick or to change-the opportunity you1
 crave can never come to you unless you seize
 the opportunity which l have stressed and
 which every sort of work puts within your
 reach.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-28
REPUBLICAN DESPERATION

Perhaps because of its desperation over the revelations made by the senate inquiry into the official conduct of leading Republicans, the Republican national committee has been misled into it's counter-attack on Senator
 Thomas J. Walsh, head and front of the investigation. This counter-attack has caused an even wider split in the Republican ranks, for it has impelled Republican Senators Len root and Shoot to rise in defense of Senator Walsh, and has made Senator Lodge and others stand aloof from the attack No better proof of the injustice of the committee effort can be forthcoming than it's failure to enlist the sympathies of regular Republicans in its defamatory, campaign.s Senator Lodge it is true, has repeatedly blocked the senate eff fort to ask for the resignation of Mir. Daugh- erty. but he may very well be influenced by the belief that the matter is for the president to handle. Besides. it will be enough for the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-28
AN ENGINEERING BLUNDER

Highway Commissioners Scruggs and Suttle deserve public commendation for their formal disapproval of the engineers policy of cov- ering up the deficiencies in the construction of the Shelby county highway instead of cor recting such deficiencies. There can be no general public confidence in any engineering force which seeks to suppress structural weaknesses in direct coptrayention of the ethics of the usineering profession. There may be engineers who express resentment at what they are pleased to call the interference of laymen, but when lay criticism is based on errors so psteut as to be evident to all who examine them, then it is indeed time for engineers to look to their laurels. As far as the Shelby county highway is con cerned, their policy has been first to indorse an inadequate construction and then to seek to bolster it by admitting still further i'm perfections. If the true history of the Shelby county construction were to be impartially laid before a competent body of unprejudiced engineers of national standing, the public may rest assured that it would not be ap- proved by such body as an example of correct engineering policy.
 Commissioners Scruggs and Suttle having publicly disclaimed any approval of the high way and the manner in which construction changes have been allowed on the authority of the engineers, now need to go one step further in the public behalf and seek what redress is yet possible, if no more than the completion of the highway in the proper manner.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-28

that duty, does not function with any degree of certainty. Proximity to the police station apparently cuts no figure, when those who direct the police department are too busy with their personal political interests to see that the police curtail activities of burglars and other law-breakers. The police them selves realize this, and. having often their own side-lines, are too busy to worry about law enforcement. Indeed, time and again there are disclosures from big city police de- partments that those who are paid to pro- tect the public against law-breakers connive at the operations against the public.
 It is this condition of inefficient law en- forcement that is contributing largely to the loss of confidence in the law by law-abiding people and defiance of law by those who are inclined to lawlessness The inevitable result is more or less shocking disregard for law. The more certainly and promptly it is enforced, there will result not only the greater respect for. but the wider protection through, the law. Lynch law and the mob are the outgrowth of laxity in the machinery of the law.
 Let the law take its course" is sound in principle. The more delays, technicalities and failures in the administration of justice, the greater the difficulty in applying the principle. Enforcement of law is just as progressive in its influence and effects for the public protection and welfare as failure of enforcement is in the creation of public menace. Law enforcement begins with ap- prehension of viOlators.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-28
Watching The Parade
By JOHN PILGRIM

Old man Fosgrave welcomed his son back from college not long ago. The old man is gray, grim, honest, all that sort of thing, but not blighted by prosperity. He owns a l house with a few elmss around it. you know, and a faded car and carries life insurance, and has several notes in bank.
 'What are you going to do, sonW he asked Jimmy when the kid had run off some of his homecoming steam. ',ss 4s4sf3'gs Dunno" said Jimmy. q thought of go- ing into the office with you" Think it over, son." said old man Eos grave. Look around bit.'
 That day Tommy Plaskoupolous, or there abOuts, fell ill down the street. Tommy came to our town twenty years ago, which was about fifteen years after old man Fosgrave opened his law office. Tommy had no money, no friends, a wife, the first of a full set of kids, no work. No one knows just how he got along at first, but later on he devel- oped into business man. He did not work for wages at all. Not even during those first few days, so far as can be discovered. He was always his own boss, on his own. Of late years he has been the public utilities of our town. He runs the express wagon, the taxicab, the shoe shining plant, the news paper stands, the cobbler's shop, a score of little things Every one is necessary and every one pays a profit. Old man FOsgrave drew TOmmy's will and his son Jimmy wit messed it.
 More than one hundred thousand dollars in cash" Jimmy said to his dad Not to speak of real estate. And one little Greek made that in twenty years"
 Jimmy isn't going into the law. He pro- poses to find some way to serve. The basic reason why Tommy was successful is that he filled q need-several needs, in fact. Jimmy does not believe our town needs any more lawyers. He has an idea that success today is intimately linked to shirt sleeves.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-28
MORE COTTON TO THE ACRE

The following sensible comment is from the Florence Times: "The cotton farmers of the South have adopted a slogan which, if lived up to, will hasten greatly their inde- pendence and prosperity. Not more acres , in cotton, but more cotton per acre. is a slogan that will mean for the farmer cotton produced more cheaply, in less danger of loss from boil weevils and army worms picked more cheaply and handled throughout the season more economically and intelli- gently"
 It is a slogan which carries practical sug- gestion worthy of consideration by every cotton producer in the South. There is an ,ld saying that what one saves is more i'm ,ortant than what one earns. That principle directly involved in mot more acres in
 otton, but more cotton per acre." Under Iuch a policy intelligently pursued the cotto T industry will come into it's own. The cost } pet bale will be less, and the margin of profits greater. Such a policy follows the principle that he who makes two blades of grass grow where one grew before is public benefactor
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-28
LAXITY IN ENFORCEMENT

Of the large and increasing number of law abiding citizens who are becoming discouraged over the inefficiency of law enforcement as an active agency for the increase in crime, many will sympathize with the New York barber whose pitiable experience was recently pub- lshed in The Age Herald. His place of busi- ness was three doors from a police station |; vet burglars robbed him six times ina year. Finally he abandoned hope for relief, and put up notice advising burglars that in future his front door would be unlocked, and inviting them to take what they wanted con cluding with request to close the door, and assuring immunity from police interference.
 1t seems that in some large cities like New York. law enforcement by those charged with
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-28
The Eternal Verities
By JOHN CARLYLE

What do you know about the eternal veri- ties?" Preachers, teachers and writers who are supposed to bring us inspirational mes sages talk often and deeply about the eternal verities. They mean truth and love and hon. esty and virtue and life itself and death. They would have us believe that these great fundamentals of life are ali that is worth our striving, our prayers, our hopes and our performance.
 Just what do they mean and what have we to do with the eternal verities? Has it occurred to you that they are of no value to you unless you are engaged in the constant task of translating them into daily practice
 If the verities are good for eternity, they ought to be good for day" says Arnold Bennett. If I can not exchange them for daily A,in--if I can't buy happiness for a eternal verity about me and nobody has suf- ficient change-then my eternal yerity is not one at all. It is merely an unnegotiable piece of glass;"
 What do you know about eternal verities and what do you think about them? Are you merely an emotional lover of truth and virtue and honesty of sweetness and light or are you really making daily effort to pay all your debts to the letter, to live up to whom you live, to be thoughtful, to keep your self-control and to keep sweet? 
 Are you daily trying to do these things specifically, persistently, faithfully, or are you just high-toned, abstract lover of the eternal verites? "
 Do you who read this live truth and vir- tue and unclouded honesty on Sunday and go about your business in an altogether diff ferent fashion on the other days? Do you smugly subscribe to all sorts of sweet and ennobling sentiments when you read them--or write them-and lay them forgetfully aside when suddenly faced with something that you want very much to dO but which you know that you ought not tO do? There are very many men and women just like that.
 They are in love with the emotion of good ness. They are in love with distractions They love to hear about and think about the eternal verities. Trey keep them in bills of big denominations. But they do not change them into the small coin of everyday business.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-28
The BeI0Ued Unseen

(Mary Stewart Cutting in Everybody's) Dear secret friend, who stays with me To minister invisibly,
 You laugh or sorrow with such zest You lend my life fresh interest It matters not that l have passed Into the quiet years at last For when you take my hand find New pathways ever for the mind. My days are full of stirring things Wrought by your fars imaginings. With you l heed no time nor space-- hit the ball, l run the race speed the motor flaring by, I guide the plane that trails the sky, Or sail for hilowing. miles on miles To reach the luring South Sea Isles l ride. l ride with shining lance Across the border of romance, And then beneath your magic sway l sing the song. act the play Your name: lis Youth. Oh. fond and free Once you were mine for all to see. But though 'tis said that you have flown, Beloved. my heart is still your owns
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-28
Did It For Mir. Underwood

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 In your paper of February IT, published just after the Democratic executive commit tee had adjourned, was an article in which appeared what member of that committee said, namely, that he and other members of the committee had voted to sustain what the chairman of the committee had done, though 1t was much against the grain to do so. and we only did so because we did not want to do anything that might injure Mr. Under woods chance for the nomination. ard other things.
 l am now and always have been MT. In derwoods friend and supporter in his every endeavor, and when my services to him were sorely needed 1 gladly gave them withour fear, favor, reward or the hope thereof but do protest against the proposed plan of se- lecting delegates to represent Alabama in the national Democratic convention
 The right to select such delegates to that convention is vested solely in the Democratic men and women voters, and neither the legis- lature, executive committee or any individual. neither Mir. Underwood. Mir Musgrove or MT. Conner or any other power can legally exercise that right. That committee has the duty among other things to form and adopt the party platform, which is vastly more important to all of the people of Alabama and the United States than naming a stand- ard bearer. A delegation so selected might. and probably would, contain some who are as wet as the recent weather has been. If n delegation should be so chosen and sent to the national convention. the Democrats of Alabama are not going to submit to any such doings, but the Democratic men and women voters will send delegation there legally and honestly chosen, and they will be seated. all of whom l am sure will be for Mir Un- derwOod, and for the good of the party and the people. Mir. Underwood. in my opinion. will at the proper time publicly and positively announce that he did not organize or take part in the proposed plan, and l suggest that he earnestly pray to be delivered from his Over-zealOus but misguided friends l hope to see goOdly number of our talented and discreet women on that delegation. The ability, honesty and good judgment should be fully recognized and appreciated, and they should De made use of in the management directing and shaping of our state and na- tional affairs. F. A. TUTWILER.
 Greensboro, Ala Feb. 22, 1924.
 It is believed that the committee had the legal right to take the action it did SItnou.h h The Age Herald is time and again on record in support of election by the people as the more in accord with Democratic principles Both Mir Underwood and lis campaign man. ager have given assurance that the delegation will be for law enforcement.-Ed Age Herald.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-28

When men like Warren H. Manning, dis tinguished consulting engineer and landscape architect express faith in Birminghams fu- ture, there is further reason for optimism among those who have cast their fortunes with this community. Mir. Manning is keen observer, a careful student of economic con- ditions and possibilities. and bases his Opin- ions on facts and reliable data as gathered from actual surveys. He has frequently wis., ited and studied Birmingham and its environs in the light of possible industrial and resi- dential development. He, therefore, speaks with authority.
 In this connection he said: When Bir- mingham can fabricate its own products here such as it is not now doing-it will take its place as the greatest industrial center of the United States He further stated that, because of its location and those con- ditions which future developments will ere ate, traffic will pass through Birmingham by three great lanes-along the Piedmont pla- teau, the Appalachian valley and ridge. and the east and west trans-contnental route be- low the snow and ice line.
 Already results from progress made in the fabrication of this districts products are en- couraging. A few years ago the Birmingham district produced only raw materials. The output was basic and quite restricted in va riety. Today, not only have the raw ma teral fields been extended in quantity and diversity, but hundreds of finished products are turned out from these materials. The scope of diversified industries is being con- stantly extended. At the rate of progress made in this field,> as we'll as in the develop ment of by-products, the Birmingham dis trict is becoming great center of diversified industries with the expansion and enrichment which logically follow.
 To have man who is recognized as one of the worlds authorities in his profession point out the community's advantages and give unanswerable reasons for his cOnclu- sions is a source of encouragement. Several years ago MT. Manning was enthusiastic over Birmingham's opportunities for civic develop ment. His recent visit and inspection oi park properties and residential districts con- firmed his former high estimates of the com. munity's capacity for constructive expansion and civic development.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-28
Gothan,'s Reputation

New York's hotel men are by nature opti. mists. They are going ahead with their plans for insuring a comfortable sojourn for delegates and visitors to the Democratic con vention. People of less sanguine tempera- ment might be tempted to fear that when the oil inquiry is over there will be no candidates left to stage either a Democratic or d Repub- lcan convention.
 Assuming this peril averted there is still the question whether New York City ought to try to make her Democratic visitors too comfortable. The opportunity has been well comed by many New Workers as one to make the rest of the United States better acquaint- ed with a much misunderstood metropolis. Now. the great complaint against New York is not only that it is excessively wicked, but that it is excessively comfortable-in other words, effete. Supply your Texas delegate with a good room and bath and three meals for $15 day and he will enjoy himself while he is here. But after he gets home he will find himself wondering whether city so full of pleasant living is the right place for the cultivation of the stern virtues that go to the making of manhood and true citZen- ship. If the legend of an effete Babylon be- tween the Hudson and the East rivers is to be finally disposed of the delegates should be shown the other side of New York. They should be taken on subway trip at 5:3U in the afternoon. They should be invited to private homes on the days when the plumber is ill possession and the hot water turned off. They should be invited to dinner just when the cook has quit without warning. They should be sent to the box office to buy their own tickets for the evenings show. They should be invited to join in days search for larger and cheaper apartment. They should be encouraged to bring their children along and try to get them into part time double-session school. After all that, Teyus might be convinced that New York is not inhabitated exclusively by bedizened boule- vardiers, but by human beings and fellow sufferers-New York Times.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-28

A dispatch from England bears the news of the death of the author of the song "Tip. perary." The dispatch also states that the song encouraged the British troops to battle and was the official campaign song of the British army. That may have been in the beginning, but was there not an official or der later banning that song within British jurisdiction? To Americans the song seemed jovial and innocent enough, but some perspi cacious Britisher detected a mocking and dis loyal note in it, or thought he did, and hence it's ostracism. Now that the author is gone perhaps the song will come back.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-28
WORDS OF wJSD0M

Love seldom haunts the breast where learn.
 ing lies
 And Venus sets ere Mercury can rise.' -. Pope. Life is the jailer, Death the angel sent to draw the unwilling bolts and set us free. Lowell.
 He who is servant to the public is a poor animal he torments himself, and nobody thanks him for it.-Goethe. Life without loves a load, and time stands
 still: What we refuse to him. to death we give. And then, then only, when we love we live.
 -Congreve Marriage is feast where the grace is sometimes better than the dinner-.-ColtOn.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-28
ROLIGEE FIGHTS MALARIA

Boligee, in Greene county, in deciding to spend thirty thousand dollars in draining a swamp near that town to get rid of source of malaria, is making a wise and practical investment, This disease has caused much loss to that community-perhaps more than thirty thousand dollars in one year. The public health is the one indispensable com munity asset. Kidding a town or region of malaria is worth in dollars and cents much more than it costs, not to estimate the sui fering and danger from that disease.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-28
THE BUILDING RECORD

Birminghams building record for Febru- ary, short month, will be little. if any, less than January's showing of nearly $1 300, GOO. The building industrs has been unusually ac- tive for some time, and indicates highly en- couraging business conditions. It would not be surprising if Birmingham's building record for 1924 schould coms to represent a total investment of eighteen million dollars or more. The industry is headed that way.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-28
Forum Of The People
Wants The Direct Route
Editor of The Ace.Herald:

To the Editor of The Age Herald:
 Read your editorial this morning pertain ing to good roads via Boligee. While not T citizen of Alabama, we do considerable busi- ness with towns between Meridian and Eu- taw, Alabama, and heartily favor your stand for right in locating roads in the most direct route. We are also large taxpayers in Ala bama. SAM MEYER
 Meridian, Miss, Feb. P, 1924
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-28
Approve Highway Stand

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 We congratulate you on the stand that you have taken relative to the road betweeen Eutaw and Livingston. We hope that you will continue to agitate this matter and keen it before the public
 CITIZENS OF EPES.
 Epes, Ala, Feb. p, 1924.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-28
The Proper Route
Tn tho Ed;.or ot rh. u.,,.

To the Editor of The Age Herald:
 We congratulate you on your stand for right with reference to good roads direct through Boligee and Epes, which is proper route from Meridian to Birmingham. Keen up the good work. You are sure to be re- warded A. J. LYON X co
 Meridian, Miss, Feb. 27 1924.