The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-03
Brief Nature Studies
By J. OTIS SWIFT

When azaleas are in bloom in the wilder ness nature-loVing Americans go forth to pay homage to beauty in much the spirit that Japanese go out to see the cherry bios sons in spring, It is one of the sweetest memories of many mature people that de- voted mother or father in the long ago led childish feet through the rocky places to where the glory of the purple azalea or pink ter-flower, white swamp honeysuckle, or the rose-colored flowers of smooth a1alea turned the waste places into paradise.
 Near cities and towns the azales's beauty has been it's own undoing, and, like the trailing arbutus. it retreats to distant fast nesses.
 Nature club members walking through the mountains the last of May or first of June have something of the reverence in the heart of Moses when he found God in the burning bush when they turn the shoulder of crag and find the exquisite beauty of the azalea flaming close by the brink of a gorge and overhanging a chasm From Can ada, Missouri. Florida and Texas the pinxter is it's own excuse for being. In murky green swamps it is cloud of flame by day.
 ment to lend boise and balance to the other as occasion may arise. The duties of each department are specified as far as the tram- CTS of the constitution could envision cir cumstances arising in the course of gov ernment. Theoretically, the three branches are coordinate and harmonious. But 1t one exceeds its authority or fails in it's duty, the theory of checks and balances should be brought into remedial action. In the par ticular situation confronting the president, various departments and officials were ar raigned for dereliction of duty, misfeasance or malfeasance of office. The president IS responsible for the facts of these departments, and it is assumed that he, of all men. is efficient energetic and patriotic; that he will keep in touch with the departments Of the executive branch and use the authority with which he has been clothed to see that things go right But the present chief ex- ecutiye has made no such effort. On the con trary he has attempted to belittle and de ride such efforts when made by other gov ernment officials.
 Can D man who seems to be actuated by no higher motives than political expediency and pandering to interests that have corrupt ed his own administration be considered a safe man to entrust with government in times of world crises, when anything may be ex- pected and nothing assured. Is such a man a leader! Can assume, is it safe to as sume, that he possesses the courage, intel lectual capacity and qualities of leadership necessary to fulfill the great duties of the presidency, after his election is obtained in the face of habitual silence and inaction. Silence and inaction when opportunity for distinguished public service crowd upon him in such volume that he seems bewildered and afraid to move. To proceed upon such as sumption would seem credulity and vio- lation of the duties of good citizenship rather than hopeful assumption. He has embraced that element of politics which makes difficult if not impossible either do- mestc or international progress, which looks upon morality and immortality alike with dimmed vision He must pass into oblivion with that political species known as the Old Guard and characterized by Woodrow Will son as the ''pocket-book brigade"
 H. A. ENTREKIN.
 Birmingham, Ala.
 Owing to demands of space some interest ing portions of Mir. Entrekin's letter had to