The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], September 21, 1914, Page 4, Image 4

About The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950

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THE AGE-HERALD
E. W. BARRETT.Editor.
lMiicieu ai mu bmunigiidiu, Am.,
postoffice as second class matter under
act of Congress March 3, 187V.
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No communication will be published
without its author s name. Rejected
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not be responsible for money sent
through the mails. Address,
THE AGE-HERALD,
Birmingham, Ala.
----■ —-r—
Wafahingion bureau, 207 Hibbs build
ing.
European bureau, 6 Henrietta street.
Covent Garden, London.
Eastern business office, Rooms 48 to
60, Inclusive, Tribune building. New
York city; Western business office.
Tribune building, Chicago. The S. C.
Beckwith Special Agency, agents for
eign advertising.
TELEPHONE
Bell (private exchange connecting all
departments). Main 4900.
Thin Battle fares like to the morning’s
war,
When dying clouds contend with grow
ing light.
—HENRY VI.
An Official’s High Record
The certified report which the state
examiner of Public accounts, W. R.
Foster, has made on the office of the
treasurer of Jefferson county, Cleon
P. Rogers, is most flattering.
According to the report which was
published in yesterday’s Age-Herald
the receipts of the county treasurer’s
office from January 20, 1913, to July
31, 1914, were $1,939,225.08 and the
disbursements were $1,429,789.10. In
the words of the report, “the treasurer
has correctly charged himself with all
moneys coming into his hands” and
“holds vouchers for each and every
item disbursed by him.” After giving
in detail the items of receipts and dis
bursements, the examiner concludes as
follows: “The books and accounts of
Mr. Rogers are models of accuracy
and be is an officer of unusual caution
and ability.”
The bond which the treasurer of
Jefferson county is required to give
is $400,000. This is the largest bond
given by any official in the state of
Alabama, the next being that of the
state treasurer, which is $250,000. The
office is of great importance. It is,
in fact, the clearing house, so to speak,
of all the county’s financial business.
Those who know Mr. Rogers or
who have intimate business relations
with his office would naturally expect
of him the very highest efficiency. It
is gratifying to his friends, however,
and should be a source of pride to the
public in general to read the official
words of commendation of so expert
and painstaking an auditor as Mr.
Foster, the examiner of public ac
counts.
Growth of Buenos Aires
Long called the Paris of the West
ern Hemisphere, Buenos Aires has
been accredited the most splendid and
beautiful city that South America can
boast. Even with this knowledge be
fore us, it is something of a surprise
to learn that the capital of Argentina
is the third city of the western world
in point of population and the second
in tonnage and foreign commerce. Ac
cording to its latest census Buenos
Aires now has a population of 1,700,
000 and supplants Philadelphia as the
third American city. As a shipping
center it is second only to New York.
Forty-five years ago, when the first
census was taken, the population of
Buenos Aires was estimated at 177,
000—approximately the population of
Birmingham two or three years ago.
Since that time, as the figures show,
the city has had a remarkable growth,
not only in size, but in wealth and
culture. Famous for her beautiful
tmiidings and parks, handsome homes
and magnificent streets, Buenos Aires
is a veritable queen among cities and
is well entitled to be called a second
Paris, for the life there is the gayest
of -the gay and money is spent with
a lavish hand in the pursuit of pleas
ure. It is well knowm that Americans
ambitious to shine as diplomats, but
lacking wealth, fight shy of an ap
pointment to Buenos Aires, as the sal
ary is out of all proportion to the ex
penses of living a public life in this
luxurious capital. .
Buenos Aires not only has the finest
theatre in thp world and the most rev
eling boulevard, but it possesses a fa
mous newspaper plant and is prepar
ing to build “another subway.”
Travelers who have visited Buenos
Aires have extolled its beauty. A noted
globe trotter once said that he had
■ailed the seas the world over and had
seen many beautiful sights, but noth
ing ever stirred him so deeply as his
first glimpse of Buenos Aires, caught
when the vessel on which he was a
passenger swept into the city's mag
nificent harbor. The tourist who be
lieves that the true “joy of life” i?
found only in Paris may revise his
opinion after a visit to Buenos Aires.
~ —■ —» - ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
No Advantage in Big Battle
The gigantic struggle on the Franco
German frontier continues to rage
without material advantage to either
side.
In the opinion of military experts
the battle will be decided by the ar
tillery, and the French, recognizing
this, are bringing up heavier guns
with which to dislodge the Germans.
Until this has been accomplished the
infantry will hardly be loosed in full
strength.
Historic buildings have suffered
heavily during the war and the latest
to be devastated is the cathedral at
Rheims, which is reported by both
German and allied bulletins to be
greatly damaged. The Germans are
not exerting themselves to make the
war any the less bilutal—especially as
they are fighting on alien soil.
The first few paragraphs of a dis
patch from Berlin received from Lon
don and passing through the hands of
the censor and one received at the
Sayville, L. I., wireless statioff was
identical. This is significant, indicat
ing that the censorship is relaxing.
The situation in Galicia is growing
darker for Austria and one of her*
armies is reported as being entirely
surrounded. Despite this, reports from
Vienna speak of “glorious victories.”
It would be amusing were it not so
tragic. In East Prussia the Russians
claim to have checked the German of
fensive movement.
As a whole the situation appears to
be very encouraging for the allies and
if the French can get their heavier
guns placed quickly enough and to
sufficient advantage there will be
nothing for the Germans to do but fall
back.
Dr. Pettiford’s Death
In the death of Dr. W. R. Pettiford,
the negro leader and banker, Bir
mingham sustains a loss that will be
felt throughout northern Alabama.
There are thousands of good negroes
in this district—negroes who by their
industry contribute to the wealth of
the state, but Pettiford was pre-emi
nent among his people. He was well
endowed mentally, while morally he
was high above reproach.
A minister of the gospel Dr. Petti
ford continued to preach after he en
tered the banking business, and in the
dual capacity of religious leader and
president of a financial institution,
his influence as a negro imbuijder was
far-reaching. He was quiet and un
spoiled by his success in the business
world and was cordially esteemed by
his white acquaintances.
Would that Birmingham had a hun
dred Pettifords.
A Week From Today
Birmingham’s State Fair opens a
week from today, and it will be the
greatest fair ever held in this section
ol the country. The fair last year was
a marked success. In fact all the Bir
mingham fairs held within the last
four or five years have been up to a
high level of excellence; but the man
agement this year has made unusual
efforts to vary the attractions; and
as for the agricultural exhibits, the
farmers have vied with each other in
their endeavors to illustrate the splen
did resources of Alabama.
The cattle show will be a revelation
to the people of this community. Many
of the finest cattle in the TJnited
States will be displayed here, and as
for the “Alabama-raised cattle” the
exhibit, in the words of the Fair asso
ciation’s announcement, will be “posi
tively the biggest and best cattle show
in the south.”
It is stated that more counties will
have exhibits at the fair next week
than was ever known before. Space in
the agricultural hall is already at a
great premium.
The poultry exhibits will be remark
ably attractive. It is estimated that
5000 fowls valued at $150,000 will be
displayed.
During the years past the women’s
department has been a most interest
ing feature of the fair, and the women
are going to great lengths this year
to exceed their display as compared
with any previous year. All sorts of
handiwork, and in fact, pretty much
everything that a woman makes will
be on exhibition.
While there has been a horse racing
programme at all the fairs the turf
feature has not ranked very high since
pool selling was prohibited. This year,
however, there will be lively sport. It
will be clean sport, of course, but
horses greatly esteemed on the grand
circuit will be on the Birmingham pro
gramme and nearly $12,000 in cash
will be given away In prizes.
The free acts will crowd upon each
other, and.with anything like good
weather record-breaking crowds will
attend the fair. Last year 247,000
people passed through the gates. The
management estimates that the record
this year will be raised to 260,000. It
r..
should not be surprising if the .300,000
mark was reached.
The fair will continue two full
weeks, and Birmingham will be in
gala dress during that period.
Although Germany lias devoted more
attention than any other country to the
development of the dirigible for military
purposes, she has not overlooked the pos
sibilities of the aeroplane. German mili
tary experts claim that the Zeppelin type
of airship has met all their expectations,
but the aeroplane corps of the army is
also being developed to a surprising ex
tent. It is estimated that Germany now
has 13#0 war aeroplanes and perhaps the
largest corps of trained military aviators
in the ■world. All the German aeroplanes
are comparatively new and equipped with
the latest Improvements. It is said that
one German motor firm has produced
140 aero-engines a month for the past six
months. A conservative estimate places
the total output of these engines at 250
a month, which means a production of 250
^aeroplanes a month, an unprecedented
record in the manufacture of military
aeroplanes. The German government en
courages civilian flying schools, and has
thus been able to obtain a great many
trained flyers. Each aeroplane firm that
is important has a certain number of
soldiers allotted to its aviation schools,
who are trained by the firm's pilots. The
German government pays well for this
training, and as a result the most ex
pert aviators act as instructors and the
finest' machines are used for practice
flights, it is believed that the German
and Austrian aviators together outnum
ber those of France, Russia, Great Brit
ain, Belgium, Servia and Holland com
bined.
A Munich paper says French soldiers
are being exhibited to curious crowds for
an admission fee of 5 cents. Still, French
prisoners would probably prefer friat sort
of treatment to being forced to work in
the fields of Germany.
Mexico still shows signs of internal dis
turbance, but for tlie present at least
the President's policy of watchful waiting
seems, to have been vindicated.
With a total of 5000 big guns roaring
along the Murne, the noise even surpasses
that of the old-fashioned Fourth of July
celebration in the United States.
The difference is that English soldiers
are volunteers, but German soldiers were
told to get to the front, and get there
in a hurry.
Peace having been declared temporarily
in Colorado, we may now turn our un
divided attention to the conflict in Eu
rope.
So far the war has been an enveloping
movement without anybody being en-1
veloped, unless it is the hapless Austrians.
—— — ———••«
The battle being waged by Henry Wat
terson and Herman Ridder is a bloodless
one, but it's making printer’s ink fly.
Although small, Montenegro shows a
disposition to pick up whatever spoils
of war may be lying around loose.
The Kaiser seems to think that the
place for President Wilson to suggest
peace is in the camp of the allies.
There is a growing belief that old Ana
nias was at sometime In his career a war
correspondent.
The Turk chose what the powers seem
to think was a very unfavorable time to
feel his oats.
Everybody seems to think that Carranza*
has the chance of his life to make good
in Mexico.
The progressive party may only be re
tiring to a strongly fortified position.
FILMS FOR THE KAIgER
Copenhagen Correspondence in New York
World.
Germany is making vigorous efforts in
this country to gain favor toward her
side of the war. One of her methods is
by use of the cinematograph.
Representatives of the German govern
ment have arrived here with a series of
film pictures showing the Germany army
on Its best side. The pictures are said to
have been taken under the Kaiser’s per
sonal supervision.
They sjiow the magnificence of the Ger
man inarching and equipment. The
Kaiser himself is shown in a number of
“close-up” views. One picture labeled,
“The Kaiser under fire,’’ shows him look
ing through field glasses, presumably at H
distant battle. Another shows his “war
quarters at the front,’’ of a series of as
bestos “huts,’’ very comfortably fur
nished.
The films are to be supplied to moving
picture theatres in Denmark, Norway,
Sweden and other neutral countries at a
very low price.
There was also today a free distribution
of pamphlets in this city, written in ex
cellent Danish, telling of the splendid
financial condition of Germany and de
claring she was forced Into the war. The
pamphlets deny reports of British, French
and Russian victories.
LUKE M’LUKE SAYS
From the Cincinnati Inquirer.
The old-fashioned woman who used to
rock the cradle now has a daughter who
rocks the auto.
It all depends. You never heard a con
demned man holler foP an eight-hour
day. And you will never see a strike
for an increase in the wages of sin.
Sometimes we wish that the men who
are always gabbing about the war were
over in Holland with the rest of the
windmills.
The meanest man we know pf is a mutt
who sits around the house and tells his
wife how hard some other woman works.
One thing we like about the American
farmer is that no one can call him a
peasant and get by with It.
Somehow or other a man never dis
covers his affinity in a woman iVho is
older and uglier than his wife.
When the average princess goes down
street in her fall togs she could be ar
rested for disturbing the peace.
Most of us hate ourselves so much that
when we measure our good points we al
ways atry to stretch the tape.
You may have noticed that the man
who starts something is usually willing
to let someone else finish It.
A deaf man isn't as lucky as he may
imagine. Where he w'oulddiear one com
pliment ha would hear a thousand com
plaints.
Maybe Upton Sinclair’s wife knew what
she Was talking about w'hen she called
him ^in “essential monogamist/’ But the
son-a-a-gun la always making goo-goo
eyes kt Miss Trouble.
Th# old-fashioned fool w'ho didn’t know
anyrning now has a son who knows it all.
/
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Will He a Great Fair
"Birmingham’s State Fair, which open«i
Monday, September 28, will be. I am
sure, the best, we have ever had," said
B. B. Burton, former president, and now
a member of the board of directors.
"There will be an unusually large line
of exhibits. The agricultural features
will surpass anything of the kind ever
seen In the south, and we have been for
tunate In securing splendid amusement
features. The indications are that the
attendance will be ahead of that of last
year when nearly 250,000 people passed
through the gates."
Rack From a Northern Trip
"There can be no question but that
President Wilson comes nearer satisfy
ing the public than any President since
Abraham Lincoln, although Grover Cleve
land was held in very high esteem," said
James F. Slater, who has recently re
turned from a trip north.
"The business men of Cincinnati,
Wheeling, Pittsburg and other cities who
in the past have thought everything would
go to ruin if any reduction were made
in the tariff, talk differently now.
"In fact, they generally predict that
when the confusion growing out of the
European war wears ofT there will be a
decided improvement in business, and
that as soon as the hostilities end a solid
and enduring boom will set in.
"When heavy capitalists like the Henry
Schmulbach company and the Herkeimer
company and the iron people of Wheel
ing and Messrs. Lockhart, Oliver, Dil
worth, Hamilton and numerous other
Pittsburg capitalists of many years’ ex
perience in business, speak so optimisti
cally, that the people of Birmingham can
feel that matters are fundamentally
sound."
The I,ule M. J. McDonough
‘The tragic death of M. J. McDonough
brought sorrow to the hearts of every
merr^ber of Birmingham council No. 635,
| Knights of Columbus, of which he was
J for many years an active and enthusiastic
I member," said State Deputy M. E. Lin
| nehan. "With a cheerful disposition, he
j easily made friends of all with whom
he came in contact.
"He was ever ready to help a W'orthy
brother in distress and in this respect
he was generous to a fault. His wife,
family, brothers and relatives have the
most profound and heartfelt sympathy
of every Knight of Columbus, not alone
in this city but in many cities through
out the south, where he was well known."
Flue Oyster Season
"This is a good oyster season," said
John O’Donnell, secretary and treasurer
of Chris' Place.
41 have never known oysters to be so
large or fat as early in the fall as
they are now. There Is a brisk demand
for oysters cooked in various styles, but
few restaurants have started to’serve
oysters on the shell. Next week, how
ever, the oyster openers will be busy."
This Week’s Rotary grams
In order to meet the eager demand,
Editor Oliver Cox gets out the Rotary
grams. the official organ of the Birming
ham Rotary club, ahead of date line time,
after the custom of monthly magazines.
The publication for ttys week is No. 22
of volume 1. Among other bright fea
tures are two biographic sketches—Her
man M. Beck and Dr. Dunbar Sibley. Mr.
Cox is on pleasantly familiar terms with
every Rotarian and editorially treats all
of them in free lance style. He speaks
of Mr. Beck as Herman Money Beck,
alius the Kandy Kid.
"Herman Beck," he says, "is the man
who put the stick in stick candy and
then for shame painted it red. Herman
has some of the good qualities of his
candy. He is sweet, but not mushy."
Of Dr. Sibley the Rotarygrams editor
says: "Dunbar is the only man In the
club who can look down your throat,
tell you what you've got and then work
to get it away from you." .
In the IIuniiicmm World
Henry Clews, in his Saturday review,
says in part:
"This country Is rapidly adjusting itself (
to war conditions and already shows vis
ible signs of recovery from the terrific
blow which fell upon the entire civ
ilized world more than six weeks ago.
That blow smashed the world’s credit
system In a fashion never before experi
enced and never expected by those re
sponsible for the war, or by those who
were able to estimate its effects. Never
theless, the shock has been met with re
markable success in this country, thanks
to Intelligent co-opsration between gov
ernment, financial and commercial inter
ests: and, while the difficulties to over
come are still of the gravest character
and while further disasters may yet be
possible, the situation Is vastly better
than at any time since the war began
and the outlook is certainly for steady
improvement.
"In home industrial circles a niore con
fident feeling is developing. Good crops
are helping the west wonderfully.
Throughout New England there are
signs of recovery. The actual stoppage
of industry has been less than expected,
and in some cases increasing activity is
already noted. Our textile mills stood
the shock well, some of them being en
gaged on foreign orders; and our steel
Industry is also giving a better account
of itself than at one time anticipated;
an increasing interest being shown In
export trade. Vigorous efforts are al
ready being made in the latter direction
by our bankers and export merchants
with indications that a considerable In
crease in foreign trade will eigne to the
United States as a result of the war.
"There is just one other element for
revived confidence, which has been al
most lost to sight by the European trag
edy, which is the abatement of hostility
at Washington to large corporations. The
government Is already showing a more
friendly attitude to big business and there
are signs that the spirit of prejudice is
giving way to reason."
SEEKING INFORMATION
From Everybody's Magazine.
"Bob” Burman, record holder in motor
car racing, tells the following story:
Recently I was talking with a woman
whose husband had acquired consider
able wealth suddenly, and who was quite
new to the social world and its customs.
She was particularly anxious to appear
as if accustomed to all the luxuries of
life.
She began a conversation with me on
motoring.
"Have you purchased your new car
this season?” I asked.
"No. Mr. Burman, not yet," she saJd.
"I can’t make up my mind just which
make of car to buy. Maybe you wftl!
help me."
"What is it that you cannot decide about
them?" I asked.
"Why, I can’t decide whether I should
get a gasoline car or a limousine car.
Tell me, does limousine smell as bad as
gasoline?"
I WAR ECHOES' |
Rochester Herald: Every now and then
some silly person, who belongs to what
the Scottish people call the “Unco guid,”
makes a noise about the decadence of the
French. It is seldom that he affects to
define his terms; he does not tell us what
he understands the word “decadence” to
mean, but he uses the word over and
over, until one gets the impression that
he thinks the French have become a na
tion of weaklings. How erroneous that no
tion is ought to be evident enough today
to anyone who has noted the bravery of
the French troops as they have fought,
against terrific odds, the German hordes
rushing upon Paris. A decadent nation
does not furnish such an exhibition of
courage.
There is nothing finer than devotion to
one’s country, when one believ'es that
his country is in the right. For his coun
try a man will leave his wife and child
ren and Society; he will forsake all the
pleasures of life and the lure of wealth.
There 1h not of these so-called de
cadent Frenchmen who is not a zealous
patriot; not one who is not anxious, if
need be, to die in his country’s defense.
W e have heard Pierre I^oti called a de
cadent, but Pierre Loti, though no longer
young, asked for a commission in the
navy, to which he formerly belonged, as
soon as the w^r began, and he is now
on his ship. Maurice Barres, another
well t known novelist, is fighting in the
same regiment as his son. And there is
Gustave Herve, the famous anti-militarist,
who has spent 11 years of his life in Jail
for his bitter attacks on the French poli
cy of maintaining a standing army, who
was one of the first, to enlist for the
war. Paris has already become another
Sparta.
All the talk that one has heard about
the decadence of France sounds very
cheap now. As a matter of fact, most,
of this kind of talk really came from
very cheap people. When it is recalled
that for >ears the French have been I
the greutest masters in belles-lettres of
any people In the world, and that in
art, in science and philosophy their claims
for consideration have always been al
lowed by all authorities worth considering,
it is evident that the French have never
been decadent. But all the world loves a
good fighter, ^id the French have lost
none of their capacity for fighting.
St. Louis Post-Dispatcli: That Germany
planned to violate not only the neutrality I
of Belgium and Luxemburg^>ut that of
Switzerland is a mooted question. The
finding of documents tending to prove that
Germany intended to invade Swiss terri
tory so as to turn Belfort is now an
nounced by the authorities at Geneva.
If such was the first intention, the Swiss
mobilization of 250,000 men in 48 hours was
amply calculated to inspire second thought
with another 250,000 to back them up.
To violate Swiss neutrally would have
stirred up not only the Swiss hornet’s
nest, but the ire of the world even more ,
deeply than by the invasion of Belgium.
It W’ould have been more than ignoring
a scrap of paper; it would have been a
1 blow at the world’s traditional and mon
umental example of neutrality.
Tn 1815 the allied armies passed through
the territory of Switzerland which had
j to yield to Europe's general necessity.
Switzerland was practically under du
ress. But free to assert itself, in 1870,
it refused similar permission to the Al
satians, in which refusal the world upheld
it, and its Inviolate character has been
strengthened by every recognition, con
sensus and expression of world opinion
since then.
Baltimore Sun: With all our improve
ments in naval archltegture, oiir fast
ships, long-range guns, searchlights and
means of wireless and cable communica
tion the oceans of the world are still
mighty expanses, and in a war like this
offer many opportunities for the enter
prising officer. This thought is suggest
ed by the statement that the German
auxiliary cruiser Luxemburg has recently
captured and sunk three British freight
steamers in South American waters, two
others in the same quarter being report
ed “missing,” and by the cable from
Toljio that the German cruiser Emden
has sunk five British steamers off the
coast of India. Those familiar with our
Civil war history know what terror and
demoralization the Alabama and Florida
caused to northern commerce and how
long it took to suppress them. The Brit
ish navy will, of course, eventually clear
the seas of the German commerce de
stroyers, but, meanwhile they serve to
keep British shippers uneasy. t However,
if they want to be secure, there is a
flag which they can fly that will give
them protection.
Washington Post: Predictions that
Ireland would seize upon the confusion
attendant upon a great European war
to free herself from the control of
Great Britain were evidently based
upon false analysis of the conditions
prevailing in the policies of that coun
try. Not only has Ireland refused to
add to the confusion of England, mak
ing the military engagements of that
country a bridge to revolution and
freedom, but she has come to the sup
port of the empire more 16yally than
Premier Asquith or any other mem
ber of the government dared hope.
What a sight it must have been to
those who expected Ireland to revolt
to see John Devlin, the nationalist,
rush across the house of commons and
brandish his fist In the face of Kier
Hardie, the labor leader, shouting that
the socialists in the reichstag could
teach him a lesson in patriotism and
loyalty. Alone of all the factional
leaders in Parliament, and significantly
enough the reproof came from an Irish
man.
Hence the call for an Irish regiment
to aid England in her war was not
wholly unexpected. “The democracy
of Great Britain flave kept faith with
Ireland,” said John Redmond, the leader
of the Irish party in the House of
Commons, “and it is now the duty of
honor for Ireland to keep faith with
them.” In the manifesto, calling on
Irishmen to bear their share in the war,
Mr. Redmond says:
We have, even when no ties of
sympathy bound our country to Great
Britain, always given our quota, and
more than our quota, to the firing line,
and we shall do so now. We have a
right to claim that Irish recruits for
an expeditionary force should be kept
together as' a unit and officered, as
far as possible, by Irishmen—to form,
in fact, an iMBh brigade, so that Ire
land may gain national credit for their
deeds, and feel like the other commu
nities of the empire, that she, too, has
contributed an army bearing her name
in this historic struggle.
Diplomats wrhe counted upon the dis
loyalty or even the lukewarmness of
I Ireland, when England became Involved
in war, failed to count upon the na
CONGRESSMEN ALSO SUFFER |
By BJI L VIKEi fl
Washington, September. 20.
(Special.)—There can be no
question but what there has
ne\ er been a revenue bill written
which has created the mental, physical—
and. if there be any other kind, that also—
anguish than the one Just given attention
by the ways and means committee. Moans
of the possibility of a tax being levied
section of the country, and from every
possible source, over the mere mention
of the possibility of a tab being levied
on anything in which said moaners were
In the slightest degree interested. This,
of course, is but natural. The war in
Europe has brought distress to all kinds
of business in this country, and the neces
sity of being compelled to add to this
distress an additional burden has been
productive of a regular chorus of yelps
of the most distressing and painful char
acter.
But while the country may be, and un
doubtedly is, profusely perspiring over this
hitter dose—which is to be most reluc
tantly administered by the administra
tion—the country’s anguish is positively
cheerful in comparison to that under
which the members of Congress labor. No
scheme, can be devised which does not
touch intimately some part of every mem
bers constituency, and said member im
mediately, and promptly, thereupon picks
Put a nice, clean place and throws a
series of perfectly lovely fits. This has
gone on for weeks until at last there
has been an agreement—and it may be
said a satisfactory agreement, if an agree
ment over the kind of gunpowder one is
to use, or have used when he is to be
shot at sunrise—may be called satisfac
tory. Anyway, Congress has agreed that
the bill now prepared is a bill which
levies a tax where it is less likely to
cause distress and less likely to be a
burden than any other tax suggested. It
is a tax, as nearly as one can be levied,
upon the luxuries, and those w'ho enjoy
luxuries should pay first.
But while this is true it pains Congress.
Nothing which has happened to Congress
for a long time has caused it so much
real and imaginary pain. Congress Is
really in the attitude of the father who is
*••••••••*••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
about to reluctantly apply to Ills youngs!
hopeful the business end of a shingle
such a manner and on such a spot cal-lj
culated to do the most good, who informs;'
the said hopeful that said application is
to be as painful to the applyor as to the
applyee. There is always a lingering
doubt in the mind of the boy about the|
absolute and literal truth of that state- ’
ment, but there is no doubt about it so !
far as Congress is concerned. They are
perfectly sincere; they sure do hate to 1
have to levy this tax.
So the country ought to at least derive j
the satisfaction of knowing that while it
may pain them to separate themselves
from the needful, that their represents- '
tives in Congress suffer likewise, and
are completely discouraged over it. The
blow to the industry of this country is
quite as severe, if not even more so, than
that which existed in our little brush
with Spain—the reduction in the govern
ment receipts are greater. Indirectly it
will cost the government more, and there
is greater excuse for the collection of a
war tax.
This fact does not prevent the astute
Mr. Mann of Illinois from gloating over
the fact that a tax must be levied, and
he is disposed to make the most of it.
Mr. Mann *is a first-class gloater, and
he has had so little to gloat over that he
is considerably behind In his gloating.
Consequently he clasps this war tax to
h)s bosom like a long lost brother. He
purrs over It between meals and every
chance on the floor he rises i^p and makes
a noise like a troop of cavalry going over
a wooden bridge over a stunt his party
pulled off, with less reason, in 1898. Ws
must hand It to the minority leader, he
can make so much out of nothing that
one Is bound to develop a certain amount
of curiosity to know what he really could
do if he had something to work on. The
great things the party in power throws
out its chest over and points to with
pride as achievements, the persuasive Mr.
Mann can almost convince a cSst iron
billiken that they are, in reality, liabili
ties, if not In fact crimes. Mr. Mann's
distress over the war tax is, Indeed, so
genuine, that he almost believes It him
self.
IN. ALABAMA SANCTUMS
Prohibition Pay*
From the Selma Times.
A western minister asks. “Does prohi
bition pay?” Well, prohibition in south
Alabama certainly pays Pensacola along
about holiday season.
The Manly Cournr
From the Ashland Progress.
The fellow who has extended .you credit
and sold you supplies on time is not re
sponsible for the present condition of the
cotton market. Don't lie down on him.
Meet him frankly and do the best you
can for him. That's the manly course.
Buy That Bale
From the Pickens County Herald.
If you have $50 that is not working in
vest in one bale of cotton. It will bring
you a profit in the near future and you
will at the same time help out some poor
farmer who can not afford to sell his cot
ton at the present market price, and pay
his living expense. You will not only
help the farmer but possibly help your
self by allowing your $50 to go in cir
culation and enable somebody to pay if
he owes you.
Stokey Buy* Cattle
From the Tuscaloosa Times-Gazette.
The Livingston Home says that Mr. J.
T. Stokey of Marengo county came over
to Livingston and purchased 200 head of
Aberdeen Angus Shorthorns and Here
ford cattle, paying from 6 to 6^ cents per
pound for them right off the grass. The
200 that were bought were for stock and
breeding purposes. That looks like the
people of Marengo were getting ready for
the boll weevil wave that is upon them.
They are going into the cattle business
on a large scale.
In “Dr>” Anniston
From the Bullock County Breeze.
Two more brave officers of the law in
the performance of duty in enforcing the
law against the liquor traffic, at Annis
ton. have gone down before the murderous
gun of a whisky desperado. People of
all classes in Alabama should unite in
eliminating this menace to the home and
good government.
The Man Who llan
From the Troy Semi-Weekly Herald.
The tenant who has the meat and bread
to run himself another year will have no
trouble in getting the other little extras
that he needs, but the man who has not
tl.ese things had just as well make up
his mind now as later that he will have
to work for wages.
••••••••••■••••••■•••••■•••••■••■••••■•••••••••••••a
tional spirit. Ireland’s close associa^
tion with England made harmony natu
ral at a time of a great European war.
What the result will be in Ireland can
hardly be foretold. It may heal the
religious breach which nearly caused
civil war or the struggle may be taken
up again, after the war, Just where it
was dropped. But, in either event,
British regard for Ireland will be
strengthened by the present develop
ments.
GERMANY’S LOST HER COLONIES.
From the Philadelphia Ledger.
If Germany has any territory left
outside of the continent of Europe aft
er the war is over it will be because
the British have overlooked it. British
forces have already taken Togoland;
they are attacking German Southwest
Africa; they have seized the German
Sumoas, in the Pacific, and news has
just come from Australia that a British
force has taken the chief city of New
Pomerania, the largest island In the
Bismatck archipelago. It will not be
long before the world is informed that
the German part of New Guinea has
been attacked, and it will be surprising
if the Caroline and Ladrone islands
do not surrender to a British warship.
And Japan is laying siege to Kiachau
on the China coast.
. The Kaiser’s advisers, who did not
expect the 'British to enter the war,
will have much to explain to their chief
before a peace treaty Is signed. They
have already been rebuked for the con
sequences of their contemptuous al
lusions to a scrfcp of paper. And the
worst is yet to come.
IN SPITE OF HIMSELF.
From Harper's Magazine.
In Denver they tell of a young Brit
isher who will some day inherit a title,
and who not long ago married the
daughter of & supposedly wealthy man
of that town.
A month or so after the marriage the
father-in-law took the husband aside.
( Beware the Weevil
From the Centreville Press.
Fall gardens can greatly relieve the
situation and every farmer and tenant
should look after this at once. They may
be in need before the boll weevil situation |
is relieved. i
Result In Maine
From the Mobile Register.
The New York World says that the re
turns from Maine show that the progres
sives have returned to the republican
party by the thousand. The democrats
have a reduced majority in the House
of Representatives, but have recaptured j
the governorship which they won by a
brilliant victory four years ago, and lost j 1
two years ago to a coalition of repub- J
licans and progressives. A few months ago
everybody was predicting that President \
Wilson and the democratic Congress hud I
about killed off the chances of demo
cratic success this fall; but sentiment has
greatly changed. If the result in Maine
is a sign, the democrats will be as strong
In the next Congress as ever.
Anniston's Hard rlnh
From the Oneonta Southern Democrat.
Anniston is having much trouble en
forcing the prohibition laws. Two po
licemen were killed Saturday night while
attempting a raid on a blind tiger. An
other officer was killed a short time ago
while performing the same kind of ser
vice. In the past five years five officers ,1
have lost their lives while trying to rid
the town of blind tigers.
Cotton Seed Advance i
From the Evergreen Courant.
The price of cotton seed is now $10 per
ton, just $2 more than the trust-fixed
price. The price usually commences at $13
on Monday and graduallly creeps up dur- ,
ing the week. Some people sell because i
it'seems as If they are forced to do so, '
but many of them are taking their seed
home. This matter of price fixing is being
investigated b*y the federal authorities.
nid Iluerta Salute f j
From the Talladega Home. ;
Tlie evacuation of Cera Cruz by the
American troops has been ordered. In
the bigger events now transpiring in Eu
rope we have all but forgotten that one
Sunday last spring when we hung around i
town all day to see ir Huerta was going
to “salute the flag.'’
Betting on The Governor
From the Opelika News.
Tt is still a 100 to 1 shot that our gover
nor will not call an extraordinary ses
sion of \he Alabama legislature.
“I am ruined!” he exclaimed. “Practi
cally every cent is gone!”
Tlie Briton was a good loser, how
ever, for he gave vent to a long low
whistle, and exclaimed with a little
laugh;
“By George! Then I did marry for
love, after all.”
THE SOLDIERS DREAM
By Thomas Campbell.
Our bugles sang truce, for the night
cloud had lowered.
And the sentinel stars set their watch In y
the sky; ?
And thousands had sunk on the ground, *
overpowered,
The weary to sleep and the wounded to
die.
When reposing that night on my. pallet
of straw, I
By the wolf-Bcaring faggot that guarded 1
the slain, \l
At the dead of the night a sweet vision
I saw.
And thrice ere the morning I dreamt
It again.
Methought from the battlefield’s dread
ful arrhy.
Far, far, 1 had roamed on a desolate
track;
Twas autumn, and sunshine arose on th#
way
To the home of my fathers, that wel
comed me back.
I flew to the pleasant fields traversed so
oft
In life’s morning march, w'hen my bos
om was young;
I heard my own mountain goats bleating
aloft,
And knew the sweet strain that the
com reapers sung.
Then we pledged the wlnecup, and fondly
I swore
From my home and my weeping friends
never to part; \
My little one kissed he a thousand
times o’er,
And mjrwlfe sobbed aloud In her full- /
ness of heart. i "w
i
Stay, stay with us; rest, .thou art
and worn,
And fain was their war-broken
to stay;
But sorrow returned with the d
of morn
And the voice In mv dreaming ear
away.
i