davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12
THE PENSION ROLLS

The argument adduced against the proposed bonus that deserves most se- lrious consideration is that it presages long raid on the public treasury. Those who advance this argument cite in their support the increasing pen sion rolls of previous wars. Thus it is shown by the records that, whereas the number Of pension recipients de- 7sfeased from 999,446 in 1902 to 539,- 756 in 1923,, the total pension dis bursenents increased from $137, ,5O4,- 267. .99 in 1902 to $253,807, ,583.37 in 1922. It has long been admitted that the pension rolls of Civil and Spanish American wars are greatly in need of purging and revision, on the ground that many are drawing pensions who have neither legal nor moral right to them. For some reason congress has not only lacked the courage to investi- gate this question, but has actually and steadily increased the appropria- tions, with a prospective increase for the present session of about twenty six millions annually.
 The best reply bonus advocates in congress could make to the genuine apprehe~ siops of those who fear simi- lar abuse when pensions are in years to come established for veterans of the World War would be to proceed to
 xamination of the pension records
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12
pUNIsHlNG TRAFFIC VIOLATION

Depriving of their cars automobile "speede1-s and others who habitually vio- late traffic ordinances, as the judge of the court of misdemeanors says he will do as preventative of these offenses, will prove effective only if rigidly adhered to. The average speeder is keenly interested in motoring. Use of his car means much to him. If this be taken away for considerable period for repeated offenses, prac- tical results should soon be per- ceptible. The remedy as proposed would be effective according to the certainty of its application. The trouble lies in a tendency to discon- tinue application of preventatives be- fore there is fair test of their effec- tiveness.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12
CONDITIONS SOUND
s(Atlanta Constitution.)

Earlier in the year 1923 when a violent weakness showed up in the securities markets there were numerous predictions from outside observers that the markets were reflecting a period of business de- pression. Prices of oil shares, Che class of issues which had swayed the market more than any other, dropped on reports of unexpected sharp cuts in California, and other stocks in sympathy were forced down. Then in the same period came the bucket shop" expose and the failure of two or three stock exchange members. All of this helped to accentuate the feeling among many that the pe- riod of business depression was approaching.
 But wiser minds knew that con- ditions "in the markets" and not in the business or industrial world had brought about thea slump In prices. They saw a sound busi- ness condition throughout the country, not 'boom period" but a healthy, strong tone.
 Moderate rallies were seen in the markets during the late sum- mer months, but the untrained public fear of coming depres- sion had sunk too deep and the lowest prices of the year came in the latter part of October. Then the turn came.
 Business and industry, despite reports, were found in a strong position. The markets began to show an upward trend and the forward march, with the excep- tion of technical adjustments, has continued upward. On theeeve of the New York business and in- dustry throughout ther.coantry is in a. most healthy position with cred& and money conditions sound. The expected period of de- pression is "a ghost of the past" and all signs point to strong and healthy markets, not only for the opening of the New Year, but for many months. to come. The only fear Is Congress.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12
BIRMINGHAM AcE-HssALD SATURDAY, JANUARY F, Is24=

petitor, the average person wonders why such consideration should be shown to this third 'party and not to MT. Ford, who is the one who saved the Shoals project from being junked. The public is convinced that there is much going on behind the scenes that will scarcely bear publicity, or else secrecy would not be- the watchword., Perhaps if MT. Ford found himself confronted with another's bid that was truly competitive, he might want to revise his own offer. And perhaps there are those who wouldn't want him to do that. Ss!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12
TEazSaeOPCH @BEAPEP
Today's Horoscope

You will be happy today if you are an Eskimo.
 Janitor is in the ascendant, having influence over furnaces, steam pipes and radiators. Tenants who failed to remember him on Christmas are out of luck.
 Very few icemen are destined to become wealthy overnight.
 Motor cars will develop sudden craving for intoxicating drink and will adopt the slogan: "No alcohol, no work"
 It is not an suspicious day for base ball games, basket picnics or lawn ten his tournaments.
 Engaged couples are warned to avoid spooning on park benches lest their love grow cold.
 You may go swimming today with out the slightest fear of sunburn or freckles.
 If you eat too much ice cream to- day, don't call the family doctor-see an alienist.
 There will be a great number of accidents today, but few will be over- come by the heat.
 Watchword for the, day: "Go. South!"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12
BLIND MOTHER LOVE 5N By wfckes vVamboldt

We had 2 Jersey COW once. She was Q very. rational creature as cows go, except when she had a young calf. She was just as ura- manageable then as she was trac-. table at other times. I remember once her calf was sick. A storm came up and 1t was necessary to move the little animal to shelter. It took two men to keep of. the old COW while a third put the calf where the storm would not kill it. A naturalist said he had time once keeping an old mother bear from tearing him to pieces while he rescued her little cub from cleft in the rocks where 1t had fallen and was caught.
 We quite rightly excuse the mother COW and the mother bear on the ground that dumb animals have no better sense. But there is many a human mother whose senseless naneuvers parallel those of the mother COW and tne mother bear. I knew of a mother, for in stance, who refused to have her children's teeth fixed because it would hurt. She was told by her physician that if the first teeth were not filled and retained until the second teeth were ready to come. a child's jaw would not de- velop properly. But the children objected, so she let their teeth go, jaw or no jaw.
 Another human mother I knew refused to permit her boy to be sent away to school simply be- cause she did not want to be parted from him. The boy showed marked mechanical ability. A wealthy uncle wanted to send him to technical institution and make a scientific engineer of him. But the mother insisted on keeping him at home. As result the boy, who Is 8 young man now, is a jackleg mechanic.
 There was a similar case where a womaf's husband had died and left her penniless. Wealthy friends desired to give her son a college education. She refused be- cause she said she would rather have her boy go without a col- lege education than accept charity. She put false pride ahead of her sons welfare. She would better have said, "I will accept this help as a loan and John shall pay it when he makes good" And she should have held this obligation up to John as a big reason for making good.
 Such mother humans are worse than the mother COW and the mother bear, because they should have better sense. Blind mother love is unfortunate wherever we find 1t.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12

with a view to detecting and eradicat- ing their abuses and misrepresenta- tions. Congress, having done this once, would find it easier to do so again at later period, should abuses mount to a point where such action would be called for. True, such an argument against the bonus is not fundamental, for the, logic of the bo- nus cannot be destroyed by existence of some abuse in some other particu-
 lar. Nevertheless, whatever abuses
 exist should be corrected. ...
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12
THE 1924 WORLD ALMANAC

'. The annual revised edition of the New York Worlds Almanac is one of the years most welcome visitors to the editor's desk. The Almanac is perhaps the most com pact and complete compendium of miscellaneous information in ex- istence. Data and facts of histori
 cal importance and outstanding significance are collated with an accuracy and brevity that, present the desired information at the ex- pense of a minimum of effort. According to the editors: "As a ! handbook of politics it M un- equaled and essential to the equip- ment of every man and every wo- man interested in the public af- fairs of the; United States. Be- cause 1924 is presidential year a compact political history of all the past presidential conventions, par ty platforms and elections Is given In addition to the election tables, lists Of primary dates snd represen- tation in the national conventions, The big problems of the year in- clude the, railways, the United States shipping board, the soldiers bonuses given by the several states and the federal bonus now before congress, the budgets. Sec. retary Melons plan for reduction, of taxes. the foreign debts, repa- rations and the Ruhr' occupation. the administrators foreign policy the proposed reorganization of government executive departments ana the enforcement of the prohi- nitlon law" In addition to this the worlds. records in varioms fields, new wNscientific, discoveries notable deaths. public benefac, tions, natural disturbances. ca. lamities. phenomena, chronolopies and'all the thousand and one items and subjects on which anybodv might desire specific information are comprised within the sSs pages of printed matter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12
JOHN SPARROW
Accident Thursday removed

Accident Thursday removed from
 s life John Sparrow, whom the people of Birmingham have long known, not only as a newspaper and advertising man, but also as leader in civic and patriotic activities, and of lovable disposition. During the World War he headed various of those campaigns that cenented the public morale and contributed so ma terially to the final victory. MT. Sparrow was of personality that won him a wide circle of friends, which -rew continually as the years passed.
 hat a man may win friends, and,
 ying won them, hold them, is the
 d test. It requires real manhood
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12
SURPLUS AND EFFICIENCY

The annual financial report of the city, as set forth in figures recently published in The Age-Herald, and GOV erinr the municipality's assets and liabilities, shows that the net value IS between four and five million dollars. On its face the statement is creditable, asgnming that public properties were .conservstively appraised. It Is stated that, after meeting operating expenses investing . little over $162,o00 ip equipment and other needful proper ties, paying moro than $5e, on the Twenty-First street viaduct, and set ting aside more than $1s7,ooO as a sinking fund to retire bonds as they mature, there was a surplus of over s37. 1000 at the close of the last fiscal year.
 The costs for equipment and viaduct were part of the expenses required ,.b by public necessities. The sinking fund referred to constitutes legal obliga- tion which must be taken care of from regular receipts. The surplus of $37,- ; 900 may appear favorable as a book value. Whether it represents economic and efficient administration must be considered with the character and ef- ficiency of the returns in public ser vice. On it's face surplus in muni-
 icipal accounting appears encourag-
 2. Few cities can boast of such 8 condition. It may or may not have value, according to how much the tax payers received in service for the money they paid into the public till. It would be easy to increase the sur plua on paper by reducing costs to the point of wholly inadequate and inefficient service. That would not command commendation from the pub lie whose needs and conveniences were made to suffer approximately.
 As an illustration, a Birmingham man once boasted to som& Baltimore business men that Birmingham's city tax rate was at the time only one dol lar. He was advised not to brag on 1t, because the point is not so much the size | vf the tax rate as whether the taxpayers get value feceived. He was also advised not to expect much from so low a tax rate. So with book surplus. It may reflect the reverse of efficient service. The Scriptural story of the five talents and how they were used is in point here. One man had his intact when asked for an ac- counting; but he was condemned as a poor manager.
 What the people need and demand is service, including adequate police protection, proper garbage collection and disposal, sufficient street lights to reduce crime and disorder, ct cetera. These and other items in Birmingham's administration are inadequate and in- efficient. Until they are brought up to standards that cover the public needs, a book surplus proves neither economy nor capacity in administra- tion
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12
Alabama's Four Candidates

'
 Alabama, first on the list of states, is the first to have more than one candidate for the high office of chief executive of the nation. Senator Oscar Underwood, Colonel l.. B. Musgrove, Hon. M. A. Dinsmore of Birmingham are the Democratic candidates, and Hon. w. L. Chenault of Russell ville is the Republican candidate. We believe that only Senator Un- derwood expects to poll any votes outside of the state. Of the four candidates only Underwood will be the national candidate, and that he will carry the state delegation Is claimed by all who are ex- pected to know a thing or two about Alabama politics.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12

One of his biographers says that Henry Ford's income within ten years ought to be million dollars day. Then one-ha1f the world would know how the other half lives.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12
Tender-Hearted Clara

NPittsburg Chronicle Telegraph ! George was courting Clara. Clara had a dog-one of the kind that barks but seldom bites. George knew the old saying, Love me, love my dog," and so he courted the dog as well. One day the dog didn't bark, but did bite.
 "Oh, George" cried Clara, Awhat is the matter?"
 That confounded dog has taken a piece out of my calf!"
 Good gracious" exclaimed Clara, wripging her hands in an- guish, "I hope 1t will not make him ill!"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12
SMILES
How Our Troubles Started
(Kansas City Starl

(Kansas City Starr
 At the early age of five Mary Jane had been learning her cate- chism. One of the questions put to her was:
 Did Adam and Eve remain faithful to God?"
 Now Mary Jane Is nothing if not original. Still the pastor him. self was amazed at the child, and turned aside for a quiet laugh when she replied without blinking an eye:
 No, Adam and Eve did not make faces at God. but broke one of His commandments by eating ferment- ed fruit"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12
SOME AcE-HERALD IMPRESSIONS

SSNAS <>AGs1AEsN<AAD ANNE ENG0SA0INo
 On the first visit to the twenty-six- story Age-Herald Building since that property was acquired as home for this newspaper, as an editor who takes an interest in the evironment in which he thinks and writes, we felt a thrill of pride. However worthy ones thoughts or purposes, they must get across, so to speak, to the people in order to produce results. Here is where the mechanical factor comes in. We found large force feverishly striving to finish the necessary changes for our removal. The com- posing rooms include every possible facility for efficiency. A powerful battery of fnotypes of latest model and Improvement for speed and ac- curacy, with the last thing in stereo- typing outfit on the same floor ad- joining the Associated Press and other leased-wire distributing agencies, and the completely-equipped news depart ment adjacent, afforded an idea of the facilities for quick and complete ser- vice, not to speak of the giant presses in the basement which roll out the folded papers at. a capacity of over a hundred thousand an hour.
 But this was not our deepest thrill. That came from contemplation of the real purpose of it all. The people of Birmingham and Alabama have been good to The Age-Herald. To them and their confidence in the principles and policies of this newspaper is large ly due the credit for the development of the institution which is striving to advance their moral and material in- terests. The Age-Herald believes that a newspaper which is worth while should be every day in every year a tribune of the people through its res olute purpose to serve them. Any body can buy newspaper plant. Only money is required for that. The higher motives come from a different source. They are founded on patriot
 
 ism, civic pride, the desire for service.
 While The Age-Herald takes pride in its new and improved equipment, that feeling grows out of recognition of the scope afforded for larger role in community and state development, whether it lies in wider educational opportunities, better observance of law, higher standards of government, broader views of commercial ethics, or any of those things which lift the plane of citizenship. With ample phy- sical means for carrying the, truth to every part of the state, The Age Herald will find its, greatest reward in the consciousness. of duty performed. Its magnificent new home and com plete new plant to meet every mechan- ical demand creates a larger sense of responsibility than ever to champion the right, to oppose the wrong, and to keep ever in mind its obligation to the people of Birmingham and of Alabama.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12
That's Another Matter

NNdIISdS OIIy OIar1
 The winner of the Box peace prize probably will not have to fork over income tax on the funds. on the ground that 1t was a gift, But suppose he develops into a professional winner of peace-plan contests?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12
Too Much Conversation

(DenVer tNeWS)
 Two drovers were sitting in the inn of an English village. They had been sitting there for nearly an hour, and so far neither had spoken. At last one of-them open ed his mouth.
 "Dids't see old brown COW on the moor?" he asked.
 Another half hour elapsed. Then the second drover spoke. "It wasn't brown cow" be said, '"Twas brown bull"
 Silence again for another half hour. The first man rose and made for the door. seF
 "GoingT queried the other.
 Aye" came the reply. Far too much argument here for me-"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12

The Tampa Tribune says that Get the ax for Old Man Tax" is suggested as campaign slogan this year, but the trouble is somebody will be apt to come right back with "Let's be just, to the soldiers fust.'"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12
Is He Becoming Distastefuls


 Isn't the name of W. J. Bryan becoming distasteful to the Demo- cratic party? How long will he toy with the party, always to fail to get elected himself. or to per- init anyone else to be-. that does not suit his run of politics? It is not yet forgotten that he even bolted instructions. to defeat Clarke at Baltimore. and who does not see the aim to beat Under- wood in his newly discovered cam didate in Texas? What will his newly-nested state of Florida say of it? }t
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12
Want Time to Rest
(Opelika News),

(Opelika NeWs),
 Us farmers are getting all-nred tired of being be-deviled all the time to work, work. work. We have gathered our last measly cotton crop and ought to have a few weeks of real rest before 1t is time that we just hsys tb gat out and put in another bie,f Pro. tecting stock from weatheH f4edy ing stock heap of costly <>e4 m winter and all such 5peppY ceck ~ just time and money was<e4
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12
THE ALABAMA}PRESS
It Seems Queer

VAIdDdIId oDPeESSI n @e r If the government is not !temy porizing with the etghteenth' amendment, it does. seem queeH why it would set in ons way withz reference to tobacco and in quite another way with reference tG liquor.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12
sIighted Visitor
(washinrtou Starl

WV dSIIIIB IOII bldTJ
 Columbus was sadly disappoint- ed after discovering America"
 "Yes," observed Miss Cayenne. "The dear old fellow was ahead of time. Our continent wasn't pre- pared to invite him to a few ban auets and start his out on a lec- ture tour"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12
Trying to Muddy the Waters

VT IUIeHC5 DdIIy NeWSJ
 New. offers for the shoals at this late day are designed for no pur- pose other than delay. The Ala bama Power Company and it's as- sociates are merely trying to muddy the waters. They said the whole proposition was so much scrap and advised the government to junk it and consider the invest ment lost. It was the Ford bid that gave 1t a new standing as a valuable proposition, and it will be the magic touch of Ford con- trol that will bring out it's true intrinsic worth, because with Ford ownership comes the assurance that nothing will be left undone to make the unde, s.sti 2. q saecess.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12

It would be hard to determine whether the personal courage of the army man who has undertaken to clean up Philadelphia is not exceeded by his optimistic hopes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12

It seems that Secretary Hughes ad- vised the Russian outfit that if they want the quarantine lifted, they will have to undergo complete political Immigration.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12
Flea for Law Enforcement
 (LY,,pfcI-i1la TipoaaN

This is a day of sober officers and sober citizens, applicable to tience is absolutely worn out the way some people have and are conducting themselves, and the law enforcement cannot proceed too strongly. And when officers go wrong. or fail to do their sworn duty, the public should see to it that they step down and out. That sort of a sentiment has developed here and is going to exert itself.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12
He KneM Retter

(St. Louis Globe -Democrat) Roosevelt was a brilliant man in multitude of ways. He never tried a third party more than once.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12
The Awakening

Cleveland Plain-Dealer)
 President Butler of Columbia says that Zangwill's estimate of this country as, half-educated puts the fraction too high. It seems that we have been flattered and we didn't know 1t.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12

Raisuli is the only semi-public man, since Rancho Villa, who frequently derives amusement from reading his obituary notices in the newspapers,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12

Those Chinese bandits don't seem to have any patriotism foreign or domestic; they show no disposition to avoid trouble for their own or any other government.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12

An exchange says that celery is too noisy in mastication; which recalls physicians observation that there is not much nourishment in celery, but lots of fun.