davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-14
REFLECTIoNs ON ILLITERACY

With the opening of the schools throughout the state, it is encouraging to note that progress in education in Alabama has been made during the last few years. But that progress is still far behind that of many of the other states, and far behind what it should have been in view of the opportunities offered in Alabama to those who have received even high school training, and in further view of the need for efficient workers in this state.
 According to the state superintendent of education, public school education was confronted with the private school, caus- ing a dual system of education that re- suited in slow progress until the begin ming of this century. He further states that Alabama has been burdened with a large debt from the Civil War, and is still paying interest on a rart of that debt. These conditions, which were du- plicated in other Southern states that suffered as much as Alabama from eff fects of the Civil War, cannot be offered as excuse for Alabama's failure to keep pace with such states in educational progress. Virginia, North Carolina, Mis- sissippi and other Southern states which bore as heavy burdens as Alabama from the Civil War and the reconstruction pe- riod, have made more progress in edu- cation.
 The percentage of illiteracy in Ala bama is far above the average in the United States, and much above the aver age in the Southern states, although this state has made gratifying progress in the right direction. From 1890 to 1920 the percentage. of white illiteracy in Alabama was reduced from 18.8 per cent. to 6.3 per cent. The national average of illiteracy among native-born whites in 1920 was two per cent. Thus | it will be seen that Alabama's record makes a comparatively discouraging showing; for in only six states in the nation is there greater percentage of white illiteracy than in Alabama, which expends less on its schools than forty five other states. For education the per capita expenditures of the states ranged from $4.36 to $24.46, with a national avrage of $11,43. Alabama's per capita expenditure was $4.55, the lowest except in two states.
 It is seen from the figures that the chief reason for the record of~Alabama' s | illiteracy is it's comparatively parsimo- nious policy as respects it's educational interests. It takes money to establish good schools and employ competent teachers. But they are worth every dol lar in the development of higher stand ards of citizenship in the establishment of good government, in better enforce ment of law, in the development of great CT efficiency-in a word, in the creation of those conditions which go to make up a prosperous civilization. When the gov ernment of Alabama realizes that edu- cation is not a luxury, but an invest ment, and understands that as such the state cannot afford not to educate the boys and girls, Alabama's low standing among the states in literacy will be materially advanced.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-14
THE BIRMINGHAM AGE-HERALD, SUNDAY, sE1

obscured somewhat the constructive events at Pekin. A premier, Dr. Sun Pao-Chi, recently retired because of age and illness. Dr. Wellington Koo, able diplomat well-iked in America. has been acting as premier in the meantime. A few days ago Dr. w. W. Yen was chosen premier on the recommendation of Pres ident Tsao Kun. Dr. Yen is a man of high culture and great breadth of view. Unluckily, his real ability will, like that of his predecessors, exert itself with little result against the inert Chinese wall of tradition and established insti- tutions of an o'tworn kind.
 It is related that Dr. Yen is the archi- tect of the standard English Chinese dic- tionary. He is author and editor of many books and translations into Chinese. He has been an educator of great ability, and at the age of forty-seven occupies a position where he may be of immeasur- able service to his country. In spite of their great intellectual attachments, most eminent Chinese appear to lack both ex- ecutive and organizing capacity. Per haps it is due to their training. There is hope that Dr. Yen will prove an ex- ception in this respect, just as he is not an exception in Chinese affairs as re- gards being a scholar and a man of culture.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-14
THE CHASE FOR YOUR VOTE IS ON

sonalities. American politics squints. Oui approach to the polls is oblique. Until cleo tion day we let them prate about platforms then we plump for a man whose personal style we like.
 Here they are:
 Coolidge, man of New England; cool, shrewd, mostly and purposely silent, but with one of the best radio voices you ever tuned in on; the business mans ideal of a public servant waits to be pushed into pol sition, but when he's there, acts epurageous1 ly and minces no words. 4,s
 Davis, man of the South and of the world ; leading a torn party back to dignity hand some, "a woman's ideal of what man should be; ;" lawyer for bankers and corpora tions, but also for Debs and labor unions already talking liberalism.
 LaFollette, man of the Northwest; Bat ting Bob, now old and perhaps too ill to take the stump, but rarin' to go; idol of railroad labor and wheat farmers; boss, zealot, and no doubt, as he sees it, true knight in the cause of the common man.
 Among these we have to choose. But not yet. Let's wait till November-take our time in lining up-hut meanwhile resolve now that nothing shall prevent us from casting our vote. Make the candidates bid, and bid high, for yours. Then cast it and stir up the neighbors to cast theirs.
 Whatever candidate you like, the place to prove your liking is at the polls. Let's make this the year of the big vote.-Collier's.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-14

hundreds of others in your state, and will be revelation to your readers We are en- closing a copy of the story for use in your paper at your convenience.
 The Interstate Rate Association is an or ganization of business men and farmers of the ten Western mountain states-Washing- ton, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming and Califor- mia. The association has successfully resisted attempts of Western transcontinental rail- roads to discriminate against the intermoun- tain country of the West by charging cities and towns of the interior freight rates much higher than those charged to Pacific coast terminals, although shipments of fmanufac- tured goods from the East must be hauled hundreds of miles further than those billed to the intern mountain country.
 Right now we are centering our efforts on passage of the Gooding bill, Senate Bill 2327, through the house of representatives when congress convenes in December. The bill is to amend the fourth section of the transporta- tion law to make such violations, of the long and short haul clause impossible. When the Goodng bill is passed, railroads will no long CT be able to discriminate against the interior by making rates to water terminals so low as to drive our boats from rivers and harbors upon which we have spent millions.
 J. A. FORD. Secretary.
 Spokane. Wash, Sept 8. 1924.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-14
MONKEY OBJECTED TO DISCUSSION

proof of his low mental estate. This proof should not be altered by the fact that thereI are some human beings who would have had but little if any better conception of the| meaning of similar situation.
 At least the monkey, consciously or un- consciously, exhibited some form of mental action for which he is to be congratulated. Doubtless he did not know it, but, even so, he is to be felicited for refusing to permit him. self to be held out as the horrible example, of the origin of those humans who have no more respect for themselves than to claim kinship with him. At least the monkey was possessed of sufficient self-respect to resent being put in the same class with those beings who seem anxious to be classed with him.
 It would be well if the monkeys themselves were able to make known to humans their repudiation of any sort of biological or philo- sophical belief that connects the two classes of beings. Those who admit that their an- cestors had tails and leaped from tree: to tree would be served well and justly if the mon keys themselves could have some way of go- ing on record in repudiating any such rela- tionship. The Butte monkey at least was not pleased even with the discussion of such d possibility. And, doubtless, his brothers and sisters feel the same way about it-Mem- phis Commercial-Appeal.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-14

w YITH August the campaign opened up w in earnest. To Collier's-in the light
 of the principles stated in Golfers platform: that government exists for men, not men for government; and that we must enlist in the public service the best and most capable minds-the candidates look better than usual and whole lot better than in 1920. The platforms look about as usual and seem to mean less than ever.
 For the Republicans and the Democrats, you can say that they acknowledge the ex- istence of some of the issues, but when you have said that you have to stop. LaFollette's 8 is an old, old brand of protest, but everybody knows his campaign will principally be made on the issue of farm relief.
 The real issue on which all three parties will fight it out is the greatest economic good to the greatest number of the people.
 President Coolidge states the Republican position thus: II am for economy. After that I am for more economy" Scientific tax. re- duction, the budget reform, cutting govern ment expense, are the blanks he really likes to feel under his feet.
 Corruption in office has given the Demo- crats their battle cry. John w. Davis says |: The real issue will be honesty in govern ment."
 LaFollette, as always, is driving at the money power" of 'the private monopoly system over the political and economic life of the American people"
 But the voter will finally choose on per
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-14

lunacy of complete prohibition instead ot rational limitation of the use of shingles. According to the general average of the country, the combustible wealth belonging to each citizen of Birmingham is $2,512.SO. His expectation of shingle-caused fare loss thereon is about F 1-2 cents a year. For the sake of that possible saving it IS pro- posed to deprive the people of Birmingham of the right to use the best general utility roofing material known for residences, and subject them to unnecessary high roofing costs.
 Mir. Cloe estimates that one shingle roof is now being put on in from 11O to 1l5 new homes being erected. Surely, if this IS true, the few shingle roofs now being installed could hardly be a fire menace in general sense.
 NATIONAL LUMBER MANUFACTURE
 FRS ASSOCIATION.
 Edgar P. Allen, Director of Public Rela-
 tions.
 Washington, D. C., Sept 9, 1924.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-14
THE TRUE PROGRESSIVE

From my point of view he only deserves to pc called a progressive who cannot see wrong persist without an effort to redress it, or right denied without effort to protect II; who feels a deep concern for the economic wei fare of the United States, but realizes that the making of better men and better women IS matter greater still; who thinks of every gov ernmental policy first of all in its bearing upon human rights rather than upon material things; who believes profoundly in human equality and detests privilege to whatever form or in what ever disguise, and who finds the true test or success in the welfare of the many and not the prosperity and comfort of the few. The CIVIC unit of America is not the dollar. but the in- individual .nan. All that goes to make better ana happier and freer men and women IS progress; all else is reaction.-JOhn w. Davis'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-14

THE Butte minister who took a monkey
 into the pulpit with him when he spoke on
 A evolution, that he might furnish visible evidence to his congregation of the impossi- bility of human beings coming from mon- keys, had no success, or great success, ac- cording as one views the matter. At least he was prevented by the monkey himself from completing his remarks with the sim ian at his side. Although the monkey was tied to a broomstick, he objected to some thing, either the spotlight, the congregation, his position or the remarks being directed toward him. He kept up such bedlam of shrieks that the words of the speaker were drowned out. He became 50 violent In his attempts to attack the minister that he had to be removed and the sermon was concluded with the object of it confined safely in an- other room.
 Doubtless it was a powerful sermon that the minister delivered. At any rate, the few extracts carried in the newspapers are timely and effective. For instance, he said that If men generally should come to believe that they came from brutes they would act as brutes and our civilization, that rests upon the moral law would begin to totter. The fact that the monkey had no reaction to his position or to the minister's words other than his angry shrieks may furnish certain
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-14

to regard these youths as having at one time been capable of training into the paths of rectitude is to discount the alienist testimony to the effect that their acts proceeded from a lack in their men, talities that could not be remedied. Not having the normal repugnance to mur- der, they would have been capable, under stress, of murder at any time, regardless of early training.
 Very tersely the Kansas City Star ob- serves: 'The Chicago judge has sent two wretched murderers to prison from which they expect a pardon in a few years. In doing this he has protected the criminals. He has failed to protect so- ciety." But still the judge should not be held accountable for the venality or weakness of governor. If his sentence holds to the end, it will be terrible pun ishment. If a governor nullifies that punishment, let it be on the head of that governor.
 If it is admitted, as many editors do admit, that life imprisonment is one of the serevest penalty that can be in flicted If 1t is made to stick, then it ap- pears that the censure for leniency in such penalties should be directed, not against the judge that imposes them, but against the executive that nullifies them. If necessary, let the people demand that legislatures shall so abbreviate the ex- ecutive power of pardon as to correct the present abuse of that power. No dis cussion or effort can bring the death penalty now to the Leopold-Loeb combi- nation. But proper effort can bring it about that their sentence shall be fully exriated. If the people are indignant, let their indignation take that practical turn of making executives with, reason apprehensive of injudicious use of the pardoning authority.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-14
AMERICAN PASSENGER LINERS

For some reason many Americans have been led to believe that they will be bet ter served and have more comforts on foreign passenger liners than on those of American registry. No doubt propa- ganda of this sort has been carefully spread for purpose. It is of pattern with the attitude of certain carriers which opposed the application of that sec tion of the merchant marine act provid- ing that American lines shall be given preferential treatment in American ex- port tonnage. Such agencies seek for their own private purpose to frustrate national programs of great moment to the American people and to American commerce and industry.
 As far as American ocean passenger service is concerned, the discerning and accurate MT. B. c. Forbes says: "A number of friends cautioned me against going to Europe on any government operated ship, saying that I would find this, that and the next thing very un- satisfactory. We'll, I have travelled the seas a good deal, and have crossed and recrossed the Atlantic many times, and, in my judgment, nobody need hesitate to use these government-owned ships." MT. Forbes finds that there are yet some minor ways in which the service can be 1 improved, but he declares: General Manager Rossbottom is working most energetically to improve the whole ser' vice, and American citizens have reason to be proud of the progress already made. Running a steamship line is not child's play Running a steamship line under United States laws is a particularly diff ficult task, especially in the matter of personnel. But it is of the most far reaching importance that America raise
 md train men to ge down to the sea in ships. The very safety of the nation depends upon our doing this" In such case Americans might we'll support American liner service, even if there were some inconveniences. But inas- much as there is not such inconvenience, all annoyance is taken away from this patriotic opportunity to forward an in1- portant American enterprise.
 | Naturally, many people who travel think a great deal about the cuisine, for eating is one of the important breaks in the monotony of ocean travel. Mr. Forbes, who himself perhaps does not disdain good things to eat, remarks on this point: "When the Leviathan was first put into passenger service under the Stars and Stripes much was made of the fact that there was a Ritz-Carlton restaurant aboard for the fastidious. So thoroughly satisfactory in every way was the food served by the government, how ever, that the Ritz-Carlton restaurant has gone out of business" Certainly that is a recommendation of American passenger liners that speaks for itself.
 The shipping board would be the last to maintain that the operation and man. agement of these liners is faultless; but they do with reason maintain that they are as good as foreign liners in many respects and better than foreign liners in other respects. Americans can do worse than patronize their own vessels, constructed with. their own money and operated under their own governments auspices. Patronage will inevitably bring betterments of all kinds
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-14
TO DRAFT WEALTH IN EVENT OF WAR

it. We are not Anglo-Saxon in blood, bra we are heirs to the language, traditions, cua toms and methods of thought of the English speaking people, and it may be put dowI that people who speak the English languag| never are ready to meet disaster. They jus| will not prepare. for it. England was corl yersant with what Germany was doing, ye' any English statesman who might have sud ceeded in getting through parliament bil to prepare for the danger would not have rd mained long in public life, about as lonI perhaps, as an American congressman wh| voted large appropriations to increase thl army and navy or to train our citizen sol diery. The history of our race reveals tha' we do not spend any more money to keel peace than is absolutely necessary.
 In the minds of not few persons is th| suspicion that the wars of recent years wer| brought about by the worlds financiers | Whether justified or. not that suspicion hal found Judgement, due probably to the fac| that the wars created numerous millionaire and manifolded the wealth of those who wer millionaires. This sudden acquisition o wealth is responsible for much of the dis trust of government. I have no doubt it il causing many men to advocate pacifism whl really do not believe in it. How, for instance can we defend the taking of young mai lOut Ul d duu hctplHS away lTOu his home and business at $50 month whei at the same time we open up to others ave nues whereby millions are acquired?
 We have been educated up to. the trutf of the statement of the German general staff that in war there are no non-combatants Our interpretation is that everybody in war time is in the war. If, therefore, necessity fnr tad n yya should ever come again, why not put into war every man, every woman, every dollar If we are to conscript for the fighting forcei between the ages of IS and 45 years, why not conscript men of all other ages to do tn, work at home? Why not conscript the fac tories, mills, mines and furnaces, the cattle sheep and hogs and all products of the farm Why not conscript everything, animate ana inanimate, and let the government use every thing and everybody? In other words, why not put into operation the principle that 1T the midst of arms the laws are silent? Why not let the laws that protect a man in in dustry and mohey-making go into the discard along with the law that authorizes one to gc where he wishes and to do as he pleases?,
 The human in America is not a commod. ity; his labor is not a commodity. If for tho defense of those things which we hold to bt right, we take humans and deprive them oi their freedom of action, freedom of contact and freedom of conduct, then why rhall ". not take everything else and do with it a. we will? Now that we have had mobilization day, or whatever it was, it would be no baG thing for the Congress to provide that in tht event of future war conscription shall include property as well as men. No future Congress would dare repeal such a law. If there IS anything in the claim that money is a maker of war, law of that kind would silence moneys war cry. ~
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-14
By THOMAs R. MARSHALL

Former Vice President of the United States
 DO not know whether we have just had
 peace day or war day, whether we showed the world that we could take care of ourselves or told the world it had better look out or we'd get it. was unable to de termine whether it was a mobilization day, defense day, preparation day-exactly what sort of a day.it was. Of one thing am quite sure, howeverz-it was the continuation of q good many "fit' days. The pacifist is certain that the day will lead to trouble He is more than ever con- vinced that nay sort of preparation for war Is an incentive to war. He long ago discov- cred that war was opposed to Christianity If he could have had his way Charles Mar tel never would have stemmed the Eastern invasion, Washington would not have suf- fered at Valley Forge, Grant never would have heard of Appomattox nor Appomattox of Grant. The pacifist would like to adver- tise to the world that the United States is the richest nation on earth, that we worship God according to the dictates of our own consciences, govern ourselves and are filled with charity and good will toward each other-then sit by and see what would hap pen. As war is always and invariably wrong, let the Mohammedan come, let the Buddhist and Brahman come, let the black race or the yellow race come-let anybody and everybody come, take what they want and do with it as they please; we will dis close our Christianity by non,resistance, even though we are wiped from the face of the globe.
 On the other hand, the militaristic among us profess to believe that unless we had witnessed such an exhibition as the day pro- duced these very things actually would come to pass They contend that our ability to defend ourselves measures our chance of safety against predatory nations Some mili- tarists acknowledge the possible danger to come from ornaments, but insist that the danger from this source is more than offset by. the fear that knowledge of the possession of armament throws into others. These have always contended that if England had needed the warning of German aggression and had used common sense in the matter of mobiliz- ing her forces in the hour of peace, the World War probably would not have come, or, in any event, would have speedily terminated. Personally, am not concerned over either of these c6ntending theories. can't get ex- cited over the argument whether preparedness invites war; whether unpreparedness pre- serves peace; whether the ideal state of so- ciety calls for the destruction of all ships, the disbanding of armies, the discharge of policemen whether the doctrine of non.re- sistance and Christian forebearance should be allowed to take it's own chance; whether the National demonstration we have just wit messed was helpful or hurtful to the repub- lie Enough for me is my belief that demon strations never change racial characteristics permanently.
 c.-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-14
cHlNA,s NEW PREMIER

The war in China, which was brought about by rivalry among provincial lead CTS, and is possible only because of the tuchun system in China, by means of which each president of a province is allowed to maintain his own army, has