Where there were two or more creditors, it
was the early law that, in the event of final
Failure to pay, they might actually divide
the body of the unfortunate debtor among
them. This amiable custom naturally pre
tupposed the death of the victim. It might
>ecome a serious thing to fail to pay one's
egal obligations in those gentle times. As for
Shylock, he may have been cruel; he may
tiave been vindictive; but he was within the
aw. He has his spiritual counterparts, of
rarious races and nationalities, in modern
times. It is the law only that has changed.
THE PEOPLE SPEAK FOR FORD
Popular referendum on the comparative
merits of the power companies’ bid and the
Ford bid for Muacle Shoals reveals an as
tonishing unanimity of public sentiment in
behalf of the manufacturer. The Mobile
Register fouud that the people in that com
munity stood about in the ratio of twelve
thousand to seventeen for the Ford offer.
The Nashville Banner found that the ratio in
that city stood about 56,000 to forty-nine,
with sixteen votes for government operation.
Now the Montgomery Journal, to offset any
hint that the people of that community are
not favorable to the Ford offer, publishes re
sults of balloting to show Ford sentiment in
the ratio of more than a thousand for to twelve
against, with two votes for government op
eration. Naturally, there are some who dis
like this form of discovering public sentiment,
but it must be evident to even the most
casual observation that such persons are in
an extreme minority.
Switzerland has refused to permit the de
posed Turkish caliph to reside in the little
republic because he has too many wives.
