New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-18
BUSINESS METHODS IN BIRMINGHAM.

BUSINESS METHODS IN BIRMINGHAM.
Unlike the majority Of British statesmen. Mr..
Chamberlain not colege-bred. He received
merely q good common school education. There
are those who would attribute to that fact his
intense practically and his avoidance OF merely
academic politics but not wisely The highest,
deepest, broadest culture makes one no less
practical The absence OF II makes one no less
dreamer Moreover, Mr.. Chamberlain. though
never entered at a university. has always Deen
q lover Of literature and student. and pos
sesses through his reading and research a
degree of culture an Oxford honor-man might
envy. His practically is natural endow-
ment 1t was shown In school. where he was
an excellent student. 1t was shown in business.
which he entered at early age. and In which.
BY means Of energy. enterprise and unimpeach-
able integrity, he was so exceptionally successful
that long before he had come to forty year
he was able TO retire. and thenceforth devote
his whole attention to public affairs. And it was
shown in his earliest political or rather public,
work as member Of the local School Board OF
Birmingham
At the present time. Mr.. Chamberlain IS
leading member Of a Government responsible
for and indeed himself advocate Of. new
School bill which is bitterly opposed by the Non
conformists and which Is charged with being
drawn in favor Of the Established and Roman
Catholic churches. 1t is interesting to recall
that his entrance into political life was effected
as an aggressive and uncompromisng Noncon-
formist champion In educational matters, and
most vigorous opponent OF everything looking
toward clerica, or priesty control OF the schools.
On that ground he arrayed himself against Mr..
Forster and Mr.. Gladstone. and the Education
Act which his own Government now proposes TO
NTH fa, n G h
men. One can readily imagine with what vigor'
not 70 say fury he would have opposed such
measure as that which he IS now supporting.
His opposition then came to naught, so far as the
School bill was concerned. But 1t served two
purposes of far-reaching Importance 1t marked
from. the outset his divergence from and indie
pendence Of Mr.. Gladstone. and IL made him so
much leader in local affairs that he was pres
emily elected MAYOR Of Birmingham
He was, indeed, elected for three successive
terms ana was practically not only Mayor. but
Town Council. too. In that capacity he was the
re-creator of Birmingham. He realized far more
than Augustus Caesars boast about Rome. He
took hold Of Birmingham when 1t was squalid,
unattractve. unsantary. much-burcened town.
He applied business methods TO its administra
ton and made it Of the model cities OF the
world We may we'll reckon him the foremost
municipal reformer Of the age. He gave Biz
mingham its gas ami water systems, its parks
schools. baths. libraries art galleries, the great
Midland Institute. He found Its streets the
worst paved In England and made them the best
He found 1t filled with Sums, and he replaced
them with wholesome homes He reduced the
death-rate from thirty In the thousand to twenty.
Indeed, the work he did for Birmingham de-
serves volume for It's own record, and might
we'll be reckoned fame enough for any one man.