davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31
In pefense Of Brick PaYlng

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 I have been reading with much interest the editorials about the First avenue paving con- tract. especially what is said about the base under other types than one-course concrete paving.
 We would like to say that we believe you have confused strength with wearing surface. A -1S3-6 mix will not last as wearing sur face. Therefore, the concrete paving must have a richer mix for wearing surface, or lay ,two-course paving. We have no defense for any type of black top paving, but we are defending "brick" paving. Brick paving is not an experiment. However, it has been m proved from time to time. The nearest to brick has been an experiment for several years and is stin in that stage. It is being built today at the least minimum. It IS safe to say that ten years from now they will be laying a thicker pavement, and possibly a two-course paving. Brick is being built at q maxiuium. and has been proven to be the only tyne to withstand the heavy traffic. Pave ment built to stand the traffic of today will not stand up ten years from today. The spec ifications for brick on First avenue were three-inch vertical fiber brick on slx-inch concrete base, 1-S-6 mix, one-inch saId tcush- ion. This type of paving will last at least thirty-five years, under any traffic with less maintenance cost than any other type of pave meut put on the street. Just figure while and you will see which type had the lowest bid.
 want to say a word for Engineer Rogers. believe he is sincere in his views on the base, although we elcan't agree on the differ ence in base between brick and black top. A fiye-inch base has proven its worth under brick. If it is sufficient. why put on more
 want to. point again to Twenty first street paving of twenty-two years standing. That alone should be considered when there are dozens of streets in Birmingham Of >haif that age that are in worse condition.
 =, D. H. CONAN.
 Birmingham. Ala, August 30, 1924.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31
CAN PUBLIC MAN SERVE TWO MASTERS

of the people should be identical. If this were true then no, lobbying would be necessary. And if the interests of Senator Bonner's clients and those of the people are opposed to each other, the question naturally arises as to which of the two is he serving? Ger tainly he can not serve them both with equal fidelity. He must choose one or the other. And of course both employers Tare interested in his choice.
 But since the senator is unable to recognise the incongruity of his position, it will be for the public to decide as to whether he has his political virtues on straight or not. It wifi naturally come back for the people to gay as to whether or not they want a servant who harbors that. brand of ethics. If the servant is unable toisee his duty in the same light as the master, ie may be wellito try 3 new serv- ant Also, it may be well to lay down the general rule that undivided effort and ale glance is required from all our public serv- ants. That service to the state precludeg service elsewhere, especially to conflicting in- terests.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31
E BIRMINGHAM AGE HERALD. SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 1s24

to whom General Dawes publicly gave more credit in working out the plan than to any other man, and who contributed more to its success, is Democrat, a fact which discounts boosting claims of Re- publican leaders that it was through the efforts of that party that a solution of the reparations plan was reached. The appointment of Young as agent-general was recognition of his invaluable services in solving the reparations problem. This appointment is in no sense political or influenced by favoritism of. any kind. It is intensely practical. The reparations commission had far-reaching economic responsibility. That appointment of the man who was regarded as the most ca pablo and efficient, and who was believed to know more about the complexities of the situation than any other man, to this keynote position, was recognition of his indispensable services in making possible the solution of the problem.
 As we expected, there was more or less politics injected into the discussion of the experts plan, and not until some trading was undertaken did the opposi- tion yield. It was expected that the plan would be successful as soon as the Al lies agreed to abandon their differences and adopt it. There was nothing else for Germany to do without additional and irreparable injury to herself. That na- ton has suffered severely from the eff fects of failure to pursue practical and economic policy in accepting solution of the separations problem long ago. The longer the delay the greater the injury not only to Germany, but to the rest of the commercial world.
 The big thing to consider is thara new economic era in European affairs has ar rived, and that rehabilitation of that country seems well on the way. Not the least beneficiary will be America, not only the farmers of this country, but every industrial and commercial interest.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31

THE fact that a state senator has been
 found to be in the employment of the
 Alabama Power Company should be in- teresting to the people whom he is supposed to serve. Senator Bonner tries to compare his own corporate employment with that of John W Davis, but in this he is wide of the mark. Mr. Davis showed an entirely differ ent attitude toward his public trust He promptly rel ized the impropriety of cor porate eonns Ions by ~disassociating himself from all such relations. Mir. Bonner tries to justify his employment by various irrelevant claims. Some difference in moral sentiment as we see iti
 4 But the difference comes in the fact that the corporation represented by the state sem atoF is one that is especially under fire. Be tween the people of Alabama and the Ala bama Power Company there is more or less open warfare. The power company through various lobbying has directly sought the fa- vors of the state. It is quite unlikely that the interests of the power company and those
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31

XVTHERE are the wasps, and what are W they doing? One rarely sees them, and
 yet there must be literally thousands and thousands of wasps on the wing these summer days.
 In the early spring, one caught sight oc- casionally of the queen wasps when they first came out after their long winter sleep. But they disappeared, every one of them, and the strawberries and raspberries are ripening without any interference from them. Yet as soon as autumn arrives, there will be plenty of wasps to be seen.
 Because they damage ripe fruit in the au- tumn and freely use their stings, no one has a good word for the wasps. But consider for moment the facts of the case.
 All through May, June, July and August and often through September and October as well--they are absorbed in their daily duty of feeding the. young wasp-grubs in the nests
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31
A GOOD WORD FOR WASPS

with aphides, small caterpillars and flies, just the things that, all the summer, we are trying to get rid of.
 An ordinary wasp's nest may turn out, during the season, about 50,O00 wasps. It may be imagined how hard-worked the nurses are, hunting and killing and preparing food for all the grubs.
 The insects eaten by wasps include bud and blossom destroyers, leaf rollers and min- CTS, stem-bofers and leaf-cutters- -minuts vegetarian pests that we are doing our best to exterminate by sprays and insecticides.
 Another point to be noted is that the wasp catches and eats the egg-laying insect itself; {; our sprays and insecticides can aim only, or chiefly, at killing the grub; and when that bud, then we are absolutely helpless So, in spite of its sting and it's liking for fruit, when on holiday in autumn, the wasp is far more of friend than a foe,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31
Bv THOMAs R. MARSHALL

Eormss Vice President of the United States InUBLIC men, whether statesmen, politi-
 clans or just plain office seekers, are
 usually under public suspicion. Even the high character of those of high character does not render them immune from whispers and open attack. We seem to breathe suspicion in our political atmosphere. Perhons who would not think of questioning the veracity of their fellows in private life assume that a public man rarely if ever tells the truth in a campaign. This deplorable condition is trace able in large part to the methods of political organizations, which spend vast sums of money to influence the voters All parties are equally guilty in motive. The only differ ence in guilt is one of degree commensurate with the amount of money that party sue ceeds in raising.
 So tremendous are expenditures in our cam paigns that voters are led from he-clear light of facts into the darkness of a wilderness of doubt. They become confused and uncertain Not knowing which way to turn for political truths, they end up by holding in distrust every one connected with politics. Hence de- velops the general suspicion which charac- terizes American campaigns.
 &tB,OO0,000 Not Needed
 I assume there is no reason to believe that any departure in this respect will mark this year's campaign. In fact, the merry and un- important controversy over the manners and customs of the candidates already is on. h. cidentally it is reported that the three parties are out to raise $15 ,000, 900 for the campaign. No such sum would be required if the party managers would get away from the silly idea that success comes through undue 1audation and extreme criticism.
 Newspapers, which have a finer sense as to what readers desire than any hog ever had for mushrooms, consciously or unconsciously Inspire the political managers. Editors know the value of printing little intimate facts concerning persons in the public eye. They learn of candidates, of their home life, their dress, their pleasures and, unhappily, their scandals, if any there be. Political managers, sensing the value of all this, went farther and reached the conclusion that the way to boost a candidate was to advertise him, extol his virtues, paint him in bright colors, accentuate all his good points It vas only another, short step for the political manager to assail the candidate of the opposition. Many manager does not seem to realize that where dragons teeth are sown armed men in due season are likely to spring up.
 Like Abe Martins Hall
 Each party condemns as outrageous the expenditures of all other parties to corrupt the voter or to prejudice him or to deceive him through false information, while holding expenditures other than it's own '"unreason- able" All parties defend reasonable" expen- ditures and each insists it is keeping within proper bounds. Their protestations are not
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31
The IxIan Yiew. in fndiana

To the Editor ofIThe Age Herald
 Please publish in .Forum of People" the following:
 It is with surprise and disappointment that K1anHmen of Richmond have read the article in Sundays Age Herald of an interview of a high official of the Invisible Empire" with an Age-Herald reporter when he states that Coolidge will jump on us next and he and the boys down South are going to vote the straight Democratic ticket anyhow. That erring brother needs a little brushing up on Klancraft and on some parts of the obliga- tion. We KIahsmen up here are neither Re publicans nor Democrats. We are Klanstnen first, last and all the time. We use our bal lot for the upholding of Americanism aAd protestant, gentle supremacy, and not for any political party. Thus we have Ed Jack son, who has Klan support, running as Re publican nominee for governor of Indiana, not because he is a Republican, but because he is a protestant Christian gentleman and a firm believer in pure Americanisnl. As long as Coolidge don't condemn us we ought to support him, regardless of politics., We have with us a brother of Robert E. Lee Klan No. 1, Birmingham, who will no doubt be very much surprised when he reads the ar tiele. 1t is the sincere wish of Whitewater Klan No. 60, Realm of Indiana, that Robert B. Lee Klan and Nathan Bedford Forrest Klan remember these things at election time and hopes all other Southern brothers will do likewise. LII. THOMAS.
 Richmond, Ind, August 26, 1924.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31
NEW ECONOMIC ERA IN EUROPE

By a vote of more than the necessary two-thirds majority the German Reich stag ratified the reparations plan of the experts, and the reparations commission will start the machinery Monday to put the plan in operation. The commission also decided to announce the appoint ment of Owen D. Young as agent-general to direct the application of the formulas and the collection of the reparations. Young will act in this official capacity only a few months, owing to his pressing business and interests, when a permanent agent-general will be chosen. It is ex- pected that by that time details will have been worked out and any problems that may arise will have been solved for car rying out the program.
 It is interesting to note that the man
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31
MY LADY ANTINICOTINE

In the year 1899, when Miss Lucy Page Gaston founded the Anticigarette League of America, about three billion cigarettes. were smoked in the United States. In 1921, when she resigned from the league, her methods being, as the directors stated, ''more drastic than the methods approved by the league board of managers" the consumption of the little coffin nails,' as they were pleasantly nicknamed, had risen to more than 50 billion. Miss Gaston's crusade was not eminently sue cessful, yet she could point to statutes out laying the cigarette in several states of her Middle West. At all events she was perse- vering hater, unremitting in her efforts to break the spell of 1nicotine.-New York Her aid Tribune
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31
The Making Of Gold
By JOHN CARLYLE
.NE of the great mysteries of the cen
 turies has been the mystery of gold.

N turies has been the mystery o1 SoAu'
 The alchemists of the ancients sought the philosopher's stone. Hermes, Egyptlan king of the long ago, founder of alchemy, be- ieyed that with the hard-sought philosophers stone he might turn base metals into gold, and that he might prolong the life of man.
 To turn earth's commoner metal into gold and to live foreVer-these were the far-flungy high and hopeless aims of the science of an ancient day. | t~
 Comes now Meithe, wise German, profes- sor in the engineering university at Char lottenburg, Germany, and tells us that he has made. gold.
 Has the dream of the alchemist come true? Has the hope of Hermes turned into reality at last?
 But the gold-making of Meithe is faced with an insuperabIe difficulty. The process or making gold is so expensive that the, manu- facture of gold costs more than the gold IS worth.
 This gold is made. from mercury. Other chemists, hardly daring to believe what they see with their own eyes, watch while Meithe performs the experiment oyer and over again.
 Like the circus-goer who saw the rhinoc- eros for the first time, they look and say {: '"There isn't any such thing"
 And there never will be any such thing as the manufacture of gold in any practical measure. And the little gold that can be made will hardly be pure gold.
 How similar is gold to the finer qualities in human lives!
 We pretend to have character, but if it is only pretense, it is silt, not gold.
 We can cover baser metals with goldrfoil and gold plating but the baser metals are not gold.
 We gloss over personality with manners that are not the product of a good heart But manners, unfounded on character, are not real.
 Character is pure gold. Anything less is gilt
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31

ing secret bloc in Texas have f4llgd to consider how utterly inconsistent with the fundaments of free government their course has been," yet the rpurging of the Democratic party is not complete. With Fergnsonism re-enthroned, solemn task yet remains for the ,virtuous citizenry to perform" On the whole, it seems that the Post Dispatch has the clearer vision. Ferguson was removed for cause, and the people, in reinstating that influence have but laid the foundation fora future con- test.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31
WAY TO REDUCE CAMPAIGN COSTS.

unlike Abe Martins description of the public hall in Pendieton, Ind. He said it viii hnlf 400 at Democratic meeting and 1000 Progressive meeting.
 When the supreme court of the States decided, correctly in my opinioz the congress had no jurisdiction over elections, it opened the flood gates paign expenditures. DisclosureRf pis had shocked our sensibflities and our faith in persons who offered tn for public service The decision also to confirm the incorrect belief that an unforbidden by law was justifiable part of a political organization. Yet th things in life are the things that q controlled by ats6tery law.
 Could Do It voluntarily
 Our political parties could bring aE ut great reform by doing voluntarily tad which they are insisting in half-hearted wlgy, the government should do by law. They c4uld of their own voIition restrict expenditHrNa and make sure that no questionable use of tmoney was resorted to. If the outery agafnkt ex- travagance in campaign expenditures lwere sincere, the major parties could put the re- form they talk about in instant opera tion. The present time is particularly suspicious for the reform The average voter has con plete confidence in the integrity and ability
  for president. No money is needed to disclosb the fitness of either of them to execute hont estIy and honorably the office of president Any expenditure to attack either will be un- justifiable.
 If we could eliminate from the campaign the money that usually is spent by each pa ' in touting it's own candidate and assaulting the candidate for the opposition, we could get the American people to thinking of prinv ciples rather than of personalities. ThiS would be worth more than the money that would be saved.
 Both High Type Men
 No decent American can truthfully say any thing to the detriment of President Coolidge or Mir. Davis. The men are different, but their points of difference have to do with personality and views, not with integrity, character or fitness. There is no occasion to exalt either into deity or to debase either into devil. The conservation of both to the public service is sufficient to eliminate all questions save those of views on principles of government, If men and not principles are to be the moving forces at the election, the American people would better stay at work attend strictly to business, pay no attention to what campaign managers and Earty news- papers say and make up their minds on the way to the polls election morning which is the better man. Or, on the other hAld, if real principles are involved, suppose we QEit wasting money by digging up the bones of the direct and collateral ancestors of the candi- dates and berly consider which party is more likely to bring peace and prosperity to all the people. sN
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31
Forum Of The People
Advocates a LIbsrai Watsfways Policy

A0vOcaees LiDefA WaSefwAys Policy To the Editor of The Aee-Herald:
 { am ever so much obliged to you for what you. said-we are all obliged to you-about < Transportation vision" and am further obliged to your thoughtfulness in giving me . copy. have just received copy of the New Orleans Times Picayune of August reflecting the efforts of someone to stir up antagonism between the lower Mississippi Val ley and the Great Lakes district That is too bad: The ive-and-let-live policy Is the only one that is wholesome and constructive.
 Your editorial shows how the people in all this country may work together. Every To- cality pressing its own claims and urging it's own needs, and all seeking the common good. I hope our friends in the Northwest win never fail to give due consideration to the needs of every other part of our common country. And hope and believe that. your neighbors in the South will abide by the broad views which your editorial so splendidly ex- emplifies. JOHN s. PARDEE,
 Assistant Executive Director, Great Lakes
 St. Lawrence Tidewater Association.
 Duluth, Minn., August %, 1924
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31
FROM THE WISE

The biography of poets must be sought in their works there Ire to be found their most confidential confessions.-Heine.
 He who has. less than he desires should know that he has more than he deserves Anonymous.
 Satire is sort of glass wherein beholders do generally discover every face but their own Swift.
 Reading is thinking with some one else's head instead of one's wn.-Sehoepenhauer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31

Of course, Houston did not expect that the Prince of Wales would accept it's in- vitation, but even it's tender may have afforded thrill to some of the Houston f1anners
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31

With all that has been written about Ma Ferguson since she was nominated for governor, nobody has stated officially whether she powders her nose or uses lIinstick
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31

Somehow. those reports about the president raking hay down on the farm in Vermont carry a suggestion that he may need more votes from the agricul- tural sections.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31

There was never poet who had not the heart in the right place.-Emerson.
 We are such stuff as dreams are made oe, and our little life is rounded with Q sleeps-- Shakespeare.
 It matters not how long you have lived, but how well,-Seneea,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31

It is not surprising that the announee- ment that an Oklahoma fisherman found a jelIyfish in small creek created no astonishment, when people are accus- toned to seeing them every day in pro fessional politics.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31

A Danish scientist claims that Dane, and not Columbus, discovered America. Still, the fact remains undisputed that we are here.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31

1T the choice were left to me, whether to have q free press or free government,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31

If fall crops continue to advance in price, MT. LaFellette may be deprived of one of his stock campaign arguments.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31

Attorney Darrow is reported to have said that great wealth curses everybody it touches. Who has been touched this time?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31

This country operates in theory on ma. jority rule, but in practice it attends to much of it's business on the bloc system
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31

President Coolidge is reported to have presented Henry Ford with sap bucket. No reflections intended.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31

STILL WITH US Some eccentric people fstin take old-fashs toned walking tours and enjoy than. Chicago News.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31
] HE AGE-HERALD

Entered at Birmingham. AA post office seeonde @atteE, set ot Congress. March 6. ls7s
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31

MEMBER OF ASSOCIATED PREss-The As- scciated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for publication of all news dispatches credited to st, or not otherwise credited in this paper and hieo local news published therein. All rights et republication of special dispatches are also Deserved.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31

Telephone (private branch exchange connect Ing all depaftments)s Main 4soo.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31

EXCLUSIVE MEMBER OF NORTH AMERI- CAN NEWSPAPER ALLIANCE IN ALABAMA.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31

By carrier. where carrier delivery is main StAfneds zoe per week. s5c per month
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31

SUBSCRIPTION RATES-By mail payable fn Advance. in United States and Canada: Daily and Sunday, one year, $500; six months. S4.00;
 ehrees months. &27s; one month. s5c Daily only: one year. $s.50; six months. $s.25; three
 monfhs f1.7b: month. 75c. Sunday only: sQne year, $2.so; six months &1be; three months. sl6cs one rnonthh. 2sc.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-31

HREpERIcK L rHoMPsoN. :. PRESIDENT