davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-02
PEOPLES FORUM
setting Forth the Record

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 In yesterdays paper you show an illustration of the Coffee hos pital at Florence which you say was "erected in memory of Mrs. Amelia Coffee" Al,
 Your correspondent goes on to say "the Coffee hospital was es-' tablished in 1919 when the need for such an establishment was acute."O and further pn states Mrs. Amelia Coffee, wife of Gen. era1 John Coffee; came to the as- sistance of this hospital and made one of the most generaus gifts in many years, that of $5,000." It-so happens, according to history. that Mrs. Coffee was named Mary, moved to Alabama about 1920, and died full of years and honors at her home in 1871, at the ripe age of 78 years, 4S years before the Coffee hospital was erected. The donor was Mrs. Alex Coffee (sec- ond wife) nee Vanilla Madden, and the gift was made in memory of her only child, Eliza, named for her maternal grandmother. It will probably make no difference to the tbeneficiaries of this charity who made the ehdowments but 1t is just as well to place the honor where 1t belongs.
 ALEX JACKSON.
 Brent, Ala, Dec. 31, 1928.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-02
GRADE CROSSINGS FIRST

x Heading the improvement program which the president of the city commits sion says that body will undertake to carry out in 1924 is the construction of viaducts and underpasses at the s dangerous railroad grade crossings. Next othe protection of life and prop erty under an effective enforce ment of the laws, this is the most im- portant public improvement the of- ficiai body could achieve. There is no more pressing need, no project with greater promise of practical results Tho construction of viaducts and un- derspasses at the numerous death-traps would contribute very largely to the protection of life and property, and is clearly identified with law enforce ment, because the law provides that the railroads shall provide adequate safeguards against the dangers of their own creation in cities, and the responsibility for invoking that law rests directly upon the city comi- mission.
 Cooperation of the public is asked by the head of the commission in car rying out the proposed constructive program. The most effective cooper ation the people can give as respects the proposed viaducts and underpasses is, and long has been, clearly in evil dence through the overwhelming rec ognition of the need for these safe guards, and the steadily increasing de- mand for relief. The entire commu- .nity favors action by the city commis- sion in getting the railroads to per form this duty to several hundred thousand people who contribute gen. erously and in ever-increasing meas ure to the railroad prosperity. The public necessity for relief becomes more insistent with the increasing dangers to human life and the heavy burdens to business from the cross ings.
 The direct responsibility rests upon the commission to obtain action with out further unnecessary delay. Not only has the commission the legal power to require action, but this power is supported by public sentiment founded on just claims for relief. The commission will find that just so soon as it takes definite steps to see that the needful viaducts and underpasses are constructed, there will be no lack of cooperation from the long suffer- ing public. Less talk, fewer confer ences, and more action are the pressing need. The public cannot cooperate when there is nothing with which to cooperate.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-02
OUR AVIATION PROGRESS

Although our government has been reproached, and perhaps with some justice, for inadequate provision for aviation development, yet the achieve ments of the year just closed indicate that the quantity rather than the quality of our development has been affected. During the year, army and
 navy fliers broke thirty-three air rec ords, besides accomplishing other aerial feats that stimulate interest and pos sibly contribute substantially to air progress. Altitude, speed, distance and endurance records are all ours-or at least we may safely claim them in the absence of protest from foreign quarters. In addition to the army and navy successes, the postal department has added night-flying and reduced its inter-ocean schedules by many hours. Commercial planes have travelled sev- eral million miles, and have proved their dependability. Passenger planes are not yet established here in the generous schedules prevailing in Flu rope, but that is coming.
 Our new rigid airship, the Shenan- doah, has had it's first successful try out, and the worlds largest airplane has been built by us and piloted in a test that proves it's worth. Smoke screens for air fleets, and the develop ment of air patrols for forests, and for extensive surveys are among the contributions to the public service. Aerial spraying for agricultural and orchard pests has been demonstrated as
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-02
A MISSOURI INNOVATION
(Macon Chronicle Heraid)

N-@SNA ChA OAtALl G-AI NAdluJ
 Four men of Shelby county have agreed to let stheir whiskers .de- velop until March l. Personally, We're on the side of the. men who want to grow a crop of whisaxe CTS This was virile country when all the men who could grow .one had beard. Grant wore swhiskers. So did Lee and StonewaH Jackson and J. E. B. Stewart-fighters all. During the days about the battle or Waterloo 1t was the mark of distinction for a soldier to wear a beard. Sometimes the soldiers would get mad at civilians for wearing hair on their faces. Van ity Fair" by Thackeray, tells about 1t. It may be these four Shelby county martyrs have started some thing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-02
PROPOSED CONVICT PLAN


 :, Alabamians will read with in- sterest that plans are under way whereby the abolition, of the pres ent convict lease or convict con- tract system may be near at hand. There are some advantages to this plan. For instance, it would pro- duce greater revenue for the state, the convicts, and 1t would pro- duce greater revenue fo rthe state, while cutting down that of the coal operators who are now using convict labor Nevertheless. the lease .or contract system is still there, and the state twill continue to make money on It's convicts. or to capitalize on, it's. crime. The plan is an improvement on present conditions. but is not yet what a very large number {. of citizens would like to see.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-02
ANTI-BROKE SERUM
 Ky Wickes Wamboldt

A young friend of mine who had been under the weather for some time said to me the other day: rI'm, feeling fine again, They gave me four shots of -anti-cold serum and, 1t did the business. They'll have a serum some of these days for every disease in the world. Geew he added wistfully, "I wish somebody would discover an anti-broke serum"
 Now, the funny thing is there is an anti-broke serum. All around us we. can observe men who are steadily moving forward in a financial way. We look on and wonder how they do it. They are not saying much about it, but they are using some anti-broke compound. There are a number of such compounds and they are all effective. But the men who get the best results work out their own formulas to fit their own cases.
 You are~expecting me right here to hand out string of hackneyed words. such as industry, faith, courage, intelligent application, persistency, and so on. Those are not formulas. Those are the names of finished products-the~ results of formulas. I can tell you of a man I know well who brought himself from state of poverty, to one of easy circumstances by means of an anti-broke treatment.
 He used two formulas. For mula No. 1 was the Twenty-third Psalm. He began to take this when he was so hard up that he did not believe there was any money in the world. He memor- ized that Psalm and, each night after getting into bed he would repeat it until he went to sleep. Then he said 1t again the first thingsin the morning and at inter- valss during the day. It sounds like a simple thing to do, but he said there were times when he be- came so disheartened that it took much will-power tot repeat the formula. But he kept it up. In about three months time he began to believe the statements made in. the Psalm. Simultaneously his money COnulllOnS began to HI prove. He continued Formula No. 1 until he was out of the financial woods.
 " Then came the time for more progressive treatment, and he be- gan, on Formula No. 2, the Ninety first Psalm. He used this in the samesway as Formula No. 1.
 That is the whole story. The man, practically penniless, began with Formula No. 1. which de- clared for bounty. After he had realized this bounty, he adopted Formula No. ?, which declared for protection. Anyone can do it. Yes, there is an ianti-broke treat ment all right. And 1t doesn't cost anyone a nickel to get all he wants of 1t. q
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-02
DANGER OF NULLTFIcAr1oN

It now appears more than ever likely that the lineup in the house on the tax-reyision measures will be between Republicans on one hand, and irregu- lars and Democrats on the other. This does not mean that the irregulars and Democrats are at one on the essentials of tax reform, but rather that they may unite to defeat the Republican program as now constituted. The lack of any, real unanimity between the and Democrats is shown by the fact that both groups will intro duce separate and perhaps conflicting measures. If this situa- tion is developed in it's logical se- quences the result will be a hopeless legislative muddle.
 That would not be happy result nor one calculated to advance. the Democratic cause. A policy keeping in mind the greatest good to the great est, number would perhaps counsel a series of amendments to the Republi- can tax measure, with the accompany ing prospect of actual accomplishment, rather than the prospect of nullifica- tion as consequence of three-cor- nered activity. The Democrats have an opportunity to achieve a construc- tive record in this session and their best intelligence should be directed to- wards coining this opportunity both to the public and the party advantage.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-02
FARMER AND HIS, TOWN NEIGHBOR
(Kansas \ City starJ

Sometimes the man, on the farm resents the growth of the city as in some way reflecting on his oc- cupation. To him it indicates that the door of opportunity opens from the farm toward the city. In so far as this is true, the attitude of the farmer is sound. But we must not lose sight of the fact that ag- riculture Is not an expanding in- dustry in the sense that the mak- ing of motor cars is and that talk ing the years as they go more persons are born and brought up to working age on the farm than the farm can employ advantage ously. To>avoid the overcrowding of our farms there must be some outlet for this surplus of workers; they must either go to the city or leave the country altogether.
 Aside, too, from affording an outlet for surplus country people the city is the farmers principal market and furnishes about the only outlet he has for the products of his labor. Cotton is about our only farm product a large pro- portion of which is sold in foreign countries. If we werF now con suming at home all the wheat we are growing so that wheat price could be based on American levels instead of world levels the eco- homie distress of the wheat far. .mer would be immediately re- fieved.
 So the farmer should look upon the. growth of the town and city as to his definite .advantage-pro- vided that city growth is within reach of his farm and not so far removed that all his profits are absorbed in the cost of getting the products to market. Therefore, the farmer is to have city grow the best thing that can happen to up alongside his land, furnishing him home market for his prod ucts and permitting him to di- versify his agriculture to & degree quite impossible with the city far away. L.
 The thoughtful farmer realizes that there are as many workers in agriculture as can make a living there. And he. does not wish flor further competition in his basi- ness any more than the corner grocer would be likely to encour- age the setting up of a competitor on an opposite corner. That gro- cer. however. would do everything within reason to encourage the location of factory or school in the neighborhood that would null tiply the number of consumers of food-possible customers of his. Just so the farmer, while not wanting more farmers as competi- tors, ought to want more city consumers as ctstomsrs.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-02
JUSTICE TO WATERWAYS

The plan to operate the Warrior barge service under corporation con- trolled by the government and capital ized at five million dollars, while per- haps feasible, yet in reality presents to congress g means of evading another duty to the Warrior. Those who pre- sent the corporation plan say that the Warrior is not self-supporting for two reasons. The first reason is lack of suitable modern equipment. The sec ond reason is unfair rate discrimina- tion. Any business except the public business would be so administered as to remove the visible obstacles to sue cess as the first intelligent step. It is believed thatscongress, if properly informed of the visible obstacles to the Warriors success, would remove them. Certainly 1t would do no harm to seek to educate congress as to the salient facts of the Warrior dilemma.
 The purpose of the proposed incor- poration is to obviate the necessity of frequent application to congress for necessary appropriations. If that were the only resort, then by all means should it be adopted. But it is quite evident that the incorporation is an indirect method of doing what should be done directly. The plan would doubtless provide the equipment, but it would not abolish the unfair rate discrimination in favor of the rail roads. The result would be to protect the railroads in the enjoyment of a revenue that represents an injustice to the public and is founded on rail- road opposition to the governments experiment in waterway development.
 The public interest needs a more sturdy championship in congress. As far as the Warrior is concerned con gress should do two things in the dis charge of it's duty to the people of the United States whose money has been invested in the waterway. Con- gress should first order such further adjustment of rate divisions between the rail lines and the barge lines as will iron out the injustices overlooked by the Interstate Commerce Commis- sion; and congress should then make such appropriation for equipment as will put the barge lines on a proper competitive basis with respect to the capacity to handle freight in any quan- tity offered and with dispatch. Hav- ing done these two essential things, it is believed that the public investment in waterways will have been protected and the commerce of the interior served as it should be served. Then if the incorporation plan still seems to be desirable expedient, the way will have been cleared for it's fullest SUCCESS
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-02
BIRMINGHAM PREFERABLY, WEDNESDAY,, JANUARY 2 .1s24

feasible. Experiments along this line are still under way. Airplanes for commercial and advertising purposes are commonplace in populons dis tricts. New uses are constantly being found, and drawbacks to sRviation, are continually being overcome. All in all, we have less reason to be ashamed of our aviation record now than a year ago. Indeed, we have much reason to be very proud of it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-02
RUHR DEADLOCK BROKEN

Now that Germany has ceased her official policy of "passive resistance" France has inaugurated her policy of s.invisible occupation" Germany has } announced a resumption of payment of costs of allied occupation, and France has redeemed her pledge to begin withdrawal of troops when pay ments were resumed. It may be that both Germany and France have been somewhat chastened by outside dis approval of Germanv's dedication on the one hand, and Frances opposition to intervention, on the other. The prospect of an allied investigation into Germany's resources and liquid assets has undoubtedly caused Germany to perceive that such an investigation would reveal deliberate evasion on her part; while France is perhaps com ing to view such an investigation as better vindication of her position than any obstinate clipging to technical ad- I. vantage could be.
 It is not to be understood that France has withdrawn her authority from the Ruhr, or that she expects to do so, until regular reparation pay ments are resumed. Rather does she believe that she can accomplish her investiture of the occupied territory with skeleton army, leaving to the Germans themselves the task of keep ing civil law and order. The presence of French troops, even in reduced numbers, is still evidence of Frances authority and of the French intention sn collect the sums due. The removal
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-02
Plea for Good Stock

The idea of encouraging farm childpep to raise thoroughbred poultry and livestock is whole some. It should be promoted to d greater degree than 1t is at pres- ent. On the other hand, it must be. borne in mind that the greatest asset of the farm is, neither it's livestock nor its poultry. but it's boys and girls. They themselves are entitled to as scientific care as they are taught to give the anl- mals that they raise. In order to develop Into strong man or wo- man every child must have a we'll balanced Tdiet which is eaten at regular periods; long hours of sleep in a well-ventilated room; activity as expressed in wholesome work, study and play; instruction concerning the care of the body: and periodic physical examina- tions by a reliable physician.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-02
Admission Star)

The announced plan of the Brandon administration to make a change in the method of working the states .convicts does not give promise of being very much of a change from the present leasing method. The convicts. 1t appears, still would be working for the pri- yate gain ,of mine owners. The puzzing feature of the proposed planis the insistence that the con- victs must work in mines, and jprivatelyowned mines at that. when they could be used by the state in highway construction to much better advantage. The only practical way to abolish convict leasing, 1t appears to the average mind, Is to polish 1t outright, not merely dodge the issue by making the labor of the conviets for indi- viduaIs and corporations appear less like leased labor, One trouble with the situation, as viewed by The Birmingham Age-HeraId, is that Governor Brandon seeks to set up cross-currents to the pro- gram already inaugurated for this state The present administration appears bent upon avoiding any thing like constructive work, but rather is inclined to tear down the work that the previous admin fstration had 'inaugurated.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-02
|f6E Fl! 5 E 1s
 NGAPITAL ii

V. -H& & A 4 U -
 Admiral R. E. Coonts,> chief of naval operations. has the square jaw of. the fighting maA 9Ht n is the bigness of his hearr ~sra innate simplicity thatnmake him the idol of his men.
 He has just sailed for the Indies for. the winter cruise. K But before he sailed he told story in Washington of the be- ginning of his career.
 He was born in Hannibal. Mis- souri, of poers parents. One or his jobs was that of guide. Now, no guide to serve. visitors to Hannt- bal itself was ever necessary,
 But Hannibal has a cave
 The cave is not one of the won ders of the world. But many peo- pie have heard of z. It featured, some. stories of Mark Twain
 After the books of Twain be- came widely popular, everybody in the enyirons of Hannibal wanted Ito see the cave. So young 'Coontg, who knew the cave just as Tom Sawyer knew 1t. became a guide. - And then Coontz became river pilot. And then someone secured for him an appointment to Annapss oliS. He entered the academy and was graduated with honor. s.,3 7 He carries with him always however, his license as first class pilot. He deosn't know. he says, when he will be out of 3 job, "and an old man, once cut loose, has trouble in finding eMploy- ment." 2 aitr
 According to Coontz, the Twains were very poor until Mark found a ready market for his volumes. And then, according to CooIlts,. the author before succoring himself repaired the family cenetery. |4Sunkens graves were elevated. and Ecovered with properly engraved Eslabs, x4-.,-s5 The site of the old home will be transformed into a park. ands ac- cording to the admiral. 1t is an ideal site.
 eOf course, Hannibal is . little place, comparatively speaking" said the admiral, but 1t is famous. One never thinks of Hannibal without thinking of Mark Twain. nsri of Twain without giving g thought to HannibaLs
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-02
SAFETY IN A NUTSHELL

15-year- old girl has written these slogans for automobilists:
 Drive right and more pedes- trians will be left
 Watch your step on. it"
 Taking the other fellows dust IS better than to dust returheth.' [" Six feet have awaited many a driver who wouldn't give an inch"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-02
Remedy for Crime

There is too much ipaudlin sem timent for the culprit who whips out his gun and takes the life of his fellow man. particularly after the victim has been dead 6 few months. Sentiment which has for
 It's purpose only the aproviding of an open road to freedom for the criminal is harmful to society. We are glad that our own Judge w. l.. Parks is stressing the point that he expects the laws to be enforced in his circuit. And what is more. every man or woman who may be called to do jury service should go to court, regardless of the sacrifice Jentailed, and there perform his duty as a good citizen. If the business men, the farmers. and all good citizens will get ir the game and place ban on crime in any section, the criminals win either reform or move ons Crime Is rampant onlyT where the chance of going unwhipt is at least fifty- fifty or better.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-02
Assuming High Air

(kansas Clty Star) T ,s PeMaps Harry Sinclair's idea is that, no mere group of senatoFs has any business to cross examine
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-02
Y Q Fun ia That Career

. .-..'-. skA9uS.IuI .IuIlt7IlrahscrIpt1 N
 Bobby:S T don't think I'll be a sailor when I grow up.l after aii,i mother.,',, l < .5S .} N
 Mother; .Why not. dear?'.
 Bobby.5"i was just talking to did Joe on the wharf and he Says he's been a sailor for forty years 2 an never been shipwreeked yet"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-02

It is estimated that half a million boys took part in football in America this season. Probably more than that number were tempted to kick because there were not enough casualties to pep-up the scrimages properly.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-02
Keeping te the, Point

lpry Goods EconomistD
 Porter: This train, goes to Buff falo and points east, :. ].
 Old Lady: T want a train that gets to Syracuse, and I done care which way 1t points, ffat
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-02

A contemporary declares that the Russian people; IS a rule are intelligent and honest. Proving that the Russian people are not in control,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-02
Qualified

HarpeF's Magazine)
 An inmate of a certain penal institution recently received call from the warden, who said:
 T understand you got in jail on account of a glowing mine prospectus"
 Yes" admitted the gentlemanly prisoner. T was quite optimistic" tWell'' continued the warden, the governor wants 8 report orf conditions In this jail. I want You to write 1t up" sa 1sg
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-02
SMILES
Hush. Effiets

Effie: ''why hasn't daddy much hair?" Y '{
 Mother: "Because he thinks a lot, darling" YsN '
 Effie (pa1se): ..But why have you got such q lot, mummie ?"S
 Mother; Get on with your breakfasts" -
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-02

Senator Reed of Missouri says that he does not expect to get the Demo- cratic presidential nomination. This is one expression from him which the public can indorse.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-02

It is not surprising that Germany gets hungry, considering the long hours it. puts in turning out propa- ganda and working on schemes where by to evade it's debts. t-