davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-27
PESsIMIsTS NEED TO BE INFORMED

average man is still new thing in theoy world. 1tjdOes not exist in the greater part X of Europe. In the United States it still has
 the conditions incident to youth and growth ss-
 It's finer flowers are yet to appear" But it z even now holds out more hope than angaS other nation! There is, with safeguaFdedf B economic stability, a spirit in the peoplesz which will insist upon a clean national house.
 hold from cellar to attic, and which prompts this financier, whose roots are deep in the
 soil of America to Advise the public that "the
 United States is today the safest investment In the world" '4ij.
 We have succeeded, the ex-secretary con. tends, despite all our mistakes and failures
 and official shortcomings, because we have
 had, on the whole, competent peopIst,tf ., And he adds the cofOllary that the right kind. lot people can run any sort of government;
 while the wrong sort can net run any kind. .ssl <.
 1t is a thesis like that which MaeterlEncs < has supported in his study of the intelligenes
 of the flOwers--that the genius of the species a, saves them from the errors of the individuals. z It is, after all the one hope for democracy that the upward urge of the mabs, the species, seeking higher levels of right living, will over.
 come and nullify the dishonesty and perver-s sion of the individual. One can not read AIrg
 HOuston's article without new hope foroy America, and even for Europe, unless -asz. chronic and irreclaimable pessimist.-New3a z York Times. +' ''f@
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-27
INVENTION AS BUSINESS FACTOR

The automobile is doing q great, many things that are troubling other business. For instance, the manufacturers of men's and women's clothing say that the widespread use of the motor car In the United States has had serious and detrimental effect upon the clothing business, owing to the fact that people who have cars do not feel that they are called upon to spend as much for dress as they once did. @3
 The boot and shoe manufacturers have ar. rived at the conclusion that owing to the fact that people now quite generally make use of the motor car the life of pair of shoes has increased 25 per cent What this means in the shoe making business an be easily imagined.
 When q pair of shoes lasts fifteen months, let us say, instead of twelve--on the aver. age-the result can be nothing but al lessen. ing of the demand for footwear in a Igiyen length of time. The manufacturers have diss covered that what has happened to sl8S up their businesses is due to the 1a0dern khs- lportation aystens, but chiefly to the auto- mobile.
 The presence of fifteen millien cars in daily use in the United States has meant a great deal to many businesses W6ich, before the gas propelled car came, had maved along year after year in q staid and sober fashion, seemingly immune to change.
 F One of the penalties suffered by tie ssinno- cent bystander" in the commercial life of l the world comes from modern inventions of the sort we have referred to- AnofheR incl dent of the same character is now with us. The radio is supplanting the talking machine in some considerable degree to the detriment of the interests of the manufacturerB of that novelty which, in It's turn, affected the sale of pianos and other musical instruments.k Also the radio is competing for popular favor with the movie, thus lessening the at- tendance of the picture shows, just as the latter hurt the legitimate drama. c
 Recently, in these columns, we pointed out the widespread and important influence the coming of the balloon tire will exercise upon the motor car industry. It will Iengthen the life of the car equipped with them-thus pro fo1ndly altering the future of the car making industry-eut down the yearly numerical de- mand for tires and in that way lessen the demands upon the tire factories, affect the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-27

Any who find themselves in 6 state of despair or qualm over the condition into which the world has come will do well to read a refreshing article by David F. Hous- ton in. the June number of Harper's Maga- zine. Entitled "An Answer to Pessimists," it is not statistical opiate. It is not verbal intoxicant.i But it is clear, dispassionate presentation of the things that are, especially in the United States, in the light of the things that were.
 Those classical pessimists who hark back to the golden age of Pericles are asked to remember that Attica had fewer people than Buffalo now has, and that 90 per cent of them were slaves. Those whose comparisons are with the heroic days of George Washing- ton are reminded that he was by some of his own day called hyp0crite, an imp0ster and murderer. These whose political demigods are the Clays, the Websters and the Cal nouns are told that Cleveland, Wilson and Richard Olney were more worthy to be fol- lowed than these statesmen of the former days. And to those who do not look back at all, but only about them in bewilderment and disgust upon scandals, class conflicts and blocs, Mir. Houston brings the cOnclu- sion that no one class OF "bl0c" has sense enough to govern all the other classes, and that present "blocs' will disappear even as did the ones against which Washington warned the people. .-..,.-..,
 A democracy which has a concern for the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-27
GERMAN GUARANTY ESSENTIAL

Those who are watching the London conference in the anxious hope that some definite contribution to the economic betterment of Europe will result, find that the chief division of opinion appears now, as before, to be on the matter of guaranties. France demands the reten- ton of some sort of military hold on Germany which will be able to compel payment or resume the occupation in the event that German faith has not under gone a transformation within the past year or two. As the Philadelphia Public Ledger expresses it: German good will is not enough for a guaranty. The in- vestor will think long and hard before putting his faith in nation that repeat edly has evaded, lodged and defaulted. Somewhere there should be the power coupled with the will to put pressure on the Teuton, when and as 1t is needed"
 Inasmuch as the security for the pro posed loan to Germany as we'll the surety of the reparations pledges demands sim. liar machinery it is difficult to see why
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-27
By THOMAS R. MARSHALL


 Former Vice President of the United States
 A PRAYED in the habiliments of c "A doctor of laws, had the honor of 4 4 addressing the graduates of Culver Military Academy and of presenting the awards to the cadets most proficient. As each honor student approached the platform slip bearing his name and the reason of his se- lection for an award was handed to me. My funny bone was tickled when read that q medal was to go to the next cadet for having made the greatest gain in the athletic de pertinent by losing thirty pounds.
 How a man could gain by losing was ex- plained to me after the exercises were over. This particular cadet, was told, had got rid him in athletics. By dint of careful training, he had reduced the fatty tissue until his muscles had become hard and clean. Profi- ciency in athletics had quickly followed his period of banting.
 In contemplation of the young man s achievement, I applied his experience and the methods of Culver to the country at large. It was a great lessoh for me. Out, of it came this thought Could not much superfluous fat in the affairs of life be eliminated to the benefit of the individual and the welfare of the nation Envy came to my mind as an adipose tissue which well could be lost. Envy helps no ore; in fact, it flinders and ennbarrasses. Much effort is retarded and defeated by this attitude of mind Why not get rid of it as the cadet got ridSof his super flous fat, 90 we may go forward all the time?
 Observe Lfmitatlens
 All of us could put up better fight if we did not waste time and energy over con- temptation of our own unjust treatment What if some one else is the recipient of un- due favors? We would be happier, all of us, if we would accept cheerfully and gratefully the gifts the gods give us and cease bestow- ing covetous glances on sehe gifts of others. It is all right, of course, for one to have faith in his possibilities, but 1t is more con dueive to ene's happiness for him to possess an accurate knowledge of his limitations.
 Great wealth, improperly accumulated and too tenaciOusly clung to, may, prove to be a useless fatty tissue, hurtfuI rather than help ful. A man may accumulate 50 much of wealth as to become incanaGitated to make the real fight of life He may become so en- grossed over watching his fortune grow that
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-27
PRESS INFLUENCE WORLDWIDE

One of the interesting developments arising out of the murder of the Amer ican vice consul in Persia is the atti- tude of the Persian press, which is al- most unanimous in deprecating the oc- currence "at time when the cordial relations between Persia and the United States are unrivaled." Time was when every effort would have been made to cover up the crime and protect the per petrators, because of the hatred of for eigners. Now new vision has come to the peoples of the world, and Persia joins the nations in perceiving that mar rowness and provincialism are the most self-injurious policies any nation may in- yoke.
 In this enlightenment no one can deny that the press has played and is playing an important part. In spite of stock criticisms of lurid journalism and in- flammatory expression of opinion, it is apparent to any one who studies the question that journalism throughout the world is temperate and constructive. If at any time there is excitement over any question which momentarily ignites the press, it is always found that eventually sanity and moderation of utterance re- turn, and that the press influence united ly deprecates violence and ill-considered action the world over. Even in Japan, when there was much popular indigna- ton over the exclusion act, there were many newspapers that eounseled diplo- macy and not retaliation, no matter how severely they may have condemned the act itself.
 As the enlightenment of the masses grows the press influence is extended more deeply into popular thought. Even as it is, the leaders of thought in all countries can read and can communi- cate their sentiments to their following. Bad leaders as always exercise bad in fluence, but the press influence is grad ually carrying the message of independ- ent thought and action into the most remote countries that boast any culture whatever, or a printed language. The editorials from Persia are such that the authors should not be ashamed of them, even when compared with the most en- frightened opinion anywhere. The press at it's best transcends prejudice and bigotry, and everywhere it is becoming more influential for good.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-27
GOING DOWN!

Dear Reader: A grouch is a very selfish mental attitude. You are the only one who enjoys a grouch and it may make others very uncomfortable.
 The man with q furrowed mental attitude does not get very far in this world, because we are too busy to bother with him. Cheer fulness is the watchword of success today and the successful carry the spirit of good cheer along with them.
 When you are tempted to be q groueh. re- member that you can at least shake your. self which may or may not wake you up It will. however, do you no harm.
 Tours very truly,
 ALFALFA SMITH.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-27
THE UNOFFICIAL NATIONAL FLOWER

The rose is the unofficial national flower of America. Thirty-seven states have desig- mated as many different flowers as their floral emblems. The list includes the cactus, sagebrush, sunflower and golden rod. Special days have their special flowers; the lily for Easter, the pOinsettia for Christmas, the car. nation for Mothers Day.
 Yet the rose remains the first choice of those occasions where words fail to say all that needs be said. June brings them forth in their finest profusion for the happy bride
 Gay affairs are not complete without the American Beauty. The sick are eheered by them. While the last token of sympathy and sorrow that man can offer to man is tho spray of roses 4-
 The rose is q national flower ih a. geo graphical As well as a sentimental seAbe. Ae' cordiAg to 6 map issued by the AepaEtAaeAi 6f agriculture, thers are but few places ln
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-27
JAPAN WILL NOT RETALIATE

Retaliatory talk in Japan against the United States appears to have died down. Aside from all other considerations Ja- pan is in no position to take retaliatory measures against us. We can stand it far better than she can. Japan's trade balance for the first six months of the calendar year shows an excess of inn ports over exports of 660,000,000 yen. Part of this is due to the effort to re- build where the earthquake destroyed, but not all of it. On the other hand, the United States purchased ninety per cent. of Japan's chief article of export, name ly, silk. We have been her chief GUS toner of other articles. It is true that Japan buys heavily of us, but it is un- likely that she would peevishly divert that trade elsewhere, for then she would be inviting her best customer to reject her goods.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-27
SHOULD GET RID OF SUPERFLUTTIEs

I he would lose even q simple fight for the finer things of life. Kindly deeds and the re- ception of kindly deeds may become well nigh impossible under the deadening influencs of, selfieh wealth. It is not q question at all of governing men by laws. The Thou shalt nots" of civil and religious life oftimes are very irritating and sometimes valueless Rev erently speaking, God Himself found this out. He turned the "Thou shalt nots" of His old dispensation into Thou shaits," and it was only when these Thou shafts" found lodge ment in. the heartsfof men that real eiYiliza- tion began to take its upward trend.
 Too much wealth is calculated to destroy the owners usefulness as an American. It. establishes between himself and others gulf that is difficult to bridge Less money would probably mean more friendships, more rel sultant happiness, greater contentment, Large holdinga of property undoubtedly cuns stitute q superfluous fat which well could be eliminated to the benefit of the holder.
 Can Attain Superority
 Desirous Of becoming proficient in lAfh- letics, the young cadet on whom I conferred a medal voluntarily submitted himself to the regime of Culver, and came out not only fit but superior to his fellows. Our country can become eminently superior to all other coun- tries. It is a giant when all it's muscles are eo-oFdinated. But whenever we put into 1t or on it anything that flinders the perfect working of this organism, we reduce it's use fitness, impair it's value, lessen the assur- ance of its ultimate triumph.
 This is not question of regulation by law, but question of voluntary refusal to retain anything, do anything, say anything when retention. or act or word will weaken this great body polite. And such voluntary refusal is very apt to require courage. None hhut A coura Raf,,m eteo rich man eouId hA exsy pected to say !: s1 will get rid of part of my riches for thg common good" None but courageous politician will pledge himself not to impair his usefulness to the state by thought of personal advantaea None but courageous working man will toll merely be- cause he is needful to perform the work of his country. All this is supreme consecra- tion to one great ideal-thst of eliminating the superfluous inf thought and word and deed if thereby the essential may be made stronger for the common veal. Since my experience at Culver I am convinced that what we need today as much as anything else is treatment for too much fat. .s.t...s.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-27

this country where rose of some sort scan not be grown.
 E. T. Meredith has said "NO decoratiys plan has been more closely identified with the progress of western civilization than sthe i, rose. It is an insignia alike of joy of sorrow. of love and of war. It is a flower beloved by all. Those who contribute in any way to its propagation are adding much to thet joys and beauties of nfe." talS
 The grower of roses knows this and finds 1t no hardship to rise early and labor late I over his beloved bushes, nor any expense too great to bring these blooms to perfection.
 Other flowers seem to have limits beyond which their culture may not be pushed But the rose Is the flower of infinite possibilities No matter how perfect one bloom may seera,,, it can be satsly said that a more perfect, hloem may be achieved. r@ sS .s.
 Yes tho rose is unotfieially our national flower Rochester Times-union.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-27

abandonment of the practices of taking from the conservation department funds which were designed for it's work, and dumping them into the general fund. The conservation of the states wild life is economic in it's purpose, and should be as far as possible removed from political influence. The most effective way to get the cooperative support of the sportsmen and conservationists in this enterprise is to assure them through leg islative action, not only that the states wild life will be protected in ways com
 nensurate with it's value and possibilities, but that effective measures will be main tained against diverting funds which should be devoted to this work. When that is done, long step will have been taken towards development of this im- portant economic field
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-27

trade in long staple cotton and act generally |, as q disturbing clement commercially. ], rsfrssta
 The element of uncertainty is projected forcibly into business by inventions. The railroad put the horse-drawn coach out of gs business, as well as the canal, 1t built Vfp q cities and it enabled the Western farmer :, to compete with the crops from his rich and { already cleared land with the Eastern farmer to the latter's detriment. s
 The discovery of petroleum at Titusville as killed the whaling industry, which up to that ! time had furnished the bulk of the fliu1ni4 < nant for the world; electricity, in the form of light, hurt the Illuminating end of the7eg gas business, but did not put a stop to maksz ss ing gas, because 1t is now demanded as a 4 fuel field in which electricity cannot cons { pete.
 The invention of artificial silk has, cug deeply into the natural silk business. The ei use of steel aud iron in ship hnlls Killed 4hess feekfoh and cheapeuing of cement has vS0fked to tho detfzment Of the cut stone and brsekags making businesses. sss a at6s
 There is--as an outcome 0f the inventions of this age--a seemingly endless list of {, changes taking place in almost every phase of 7. life. = T
 The motor car has taken most of the
 horses from tine streets of our towns and cities and the English sparrow has thinned out in numbers where he once was numerous, because the food he once got from the drop
 pings in the streets no longer provides him with nourishment. ns#'
 It may be that human happiness and com fort are no more in evidence now-as some
 assert-than they were a hundred years ago, < but we do not. believe it, Such changes as
 are constantly taking place and which have come about as result of the inventive ge- :, nius of men have given most of us things
 unattainable by our ancestors-things which
 make our lives fuller and more satisfying.
 But that blessings are always and at all
 times attendant upon their coming is not true, 4Fl, l4 The metamOrphoses incidental to our mcda : eEn commercial life are kaIeidoscopic and in 2's teresting. They affect the lives of all of us 2 and sometimes they upset the best laid plans n of the ablest minds by the weird things they
 do to business enterprises-New York Com. ag mercial a I.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-27
The Peoples Forum.
Letter of Thanks for Pittsburg Plus Fight To the Editor of The Age-Herald:

Letter of Thanks for Pittsburg Plus Fight To the Editor of The Ase-Herald: et
 On behalf of the Western Association of Rolled Steel Consumers wish to thank you for the notable aid rendered by you in the fight upon "Pittsburg Plus" against which vicious practice the Federal Trade Commis- sion has just handed down a sweeping de- cision.
 This decision, which gives to every com munity in the country it's industrial rights accruing from geographical location; which reduces the burdens placed upon the con- sumers of steel through the abolition of the fictitious freight charge resultant upon "Pittsburg Plus" by millions of dollars each year, and which insures real competition in the steel trade, is an epoch-making event in the industrial history of the country.
 The steel producers, against whom this decision has been rendered, may still, 1t is true, appeal to the courts, but we do not be- lieve they will do so, as the press of the country has been practically unit against the "Pittsburg Plus" practice. A return to it, even by decision of the courts, would there fore be extremely unpopular, and through alienation of public good will, would proba- bly, invite a drastic regulation of the steel industry by government, to which we believe the steel producers are strongly opposed.
 This seems to be assured by the action of the great newspapers of the country in giv- ing the public adequate information regard ing "Pittsburg Plus" and it's effects, and for this the public owes you a great debt of grat- itude which, SO far as this association is con- cerned we are extremely glad to acknowl- edge. W. E. MCOLLUM, Secretary.
 Chicago, July g, 1924.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-27
PROHIBITING WILD LIFE

There is practical suggestion in the appeal of State Commissioner of Game and Fish Quinn for cooperation by sportsmen, farmers and conservationlsts in every part of the state in proposed constructive program to propagate ana protect game, fish and wild life. Com missioner Quinn outlines the duties of the state in this respect, which include the building of fish cultural stations, clearing of streams from pollution, estab- lishment of wild life sanctuaries. He emphasizes the practical value of bring ing together sportsmen and farmers Tn common understanding of their respon- abilities, while impressing the public with the practical value of wild life.
 Commissioner Quinn quite properly puts the enterprise on an economic basis. The economic value of wild life in the state has never been properly recog- nized by the people in general. The state itself has not given to this matter that sympathy and support to which it is entitled. Organization of the conser'va- tionists has done much to bring this sub ject before the public attention, and to inaugurate plans to foster the work. Un- fortunately, these plans have not been afforded proper encouragement by the state. No conservationist who has given study to the possibilities easily within reach of development doubts the value of the states wild life. There are abun. dant water courses, forest cover and food supplies in Alabama to make it's wild life large public asset. What is needed is serious effort for protection. This car best be done largely by the state itself
 One of the important steps in this di rection needed for effective results il
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-27

radical at heart or by instinct. Perhaps he is posing somewhat, because of his prominence in connection with the probes; but he has pullified the credit he might otherwise have brought his party as 6 result of those probes, and has not been able to transfer it to his new allegiance. He has sought to be an opportunist and has lost his opportunity.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-27

If the price of wheat continues to rise, Senator LaFollette may find the political situation increasingly embar- rassing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-27

A sheriff was recently defeated in a fish-eating contest. But then sheriff s training keeps him from swallowing too much.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-27

President Coolidge has been assured that he need not worry about how Ohio will go in the coming election. That is right. Worry will not help.