Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-09-20
NO PRIMARY FOR LOWRtY
But He's in the Race All the
Same.
PLANKS OF HIS PLATFORM
encouragement of Diversified Industries, Sam
itaton, Repeal of Street Tax, Remod-
cling of Police Commission.
To the State Herald:

To the State Herald:
When the city executive committee
consented to reconsider the plan for hold
ing the city primary, L believed an ac-
ceptable plan would be provided whereby
all candidates would have an equal
showing. l trusted that the people would
be given a regular primary with regis
tration by the new words and "the long
est pole have the persimmon." 1t APP
pears that 1t was only delusion.
The primary should have been delayed
until after the national election, but it
seems that this proposition did not ia
vorably impress those who entertain the
financial views of the so-called sound
money contingent. The conditions sur
rounding municipal affairs should have
received more attention and the require
ments should have been met and q plan
put forth under which there could have
been no question as to the fairness there
Of In other words, the interests of the
business people and citizens generally
deserve consideration first, the candi-
dates last
The time has passed by in Birmingham
when close corporation, so to speak,
can control and manipulate the munich
material interests of the citizens or the
rights of those who may aspire to any
office in the gift of the people. Owing to-
the failure to provide registration by
wards of the legal voters of the city l
do not feel that q nomination under the
so-called Thornton plan would mean any
thing in particular. do not believe the
people Will participate in such an ar
rangement.
hereby give notice now to my friends
and the public generally that
viii not be a candidate before the So
called primary. but will be in the race to
the finish next December.
casual reading of the proposed plan
will convince anyone that the opportuni-
ties for fraudulent voting have not been
reduced to a minimum 1t cannot be de-
termined under the plan who will be en-
titled to vote and who will not. The
manager at the box is given too much
latitude. While would not impugn the
motives of any one, l will say that it is
not justice to any set of men, who may
be called upon to act as managers under
this plan, to place them in a position
where they may be subjected to criticism
and possibly injustice.
[ would advise the people generally to
refrain from participating in said pri-
mary, as the general result may not be
acceptable. BY not participating in the
primary the voter will be free to exercise
his choice in the general election in De-
cember.
The person who may be selected a this
period in the history of Birmingham to
act as mayor assumes an undertaking of
no small proportions. The conditions and
circumstances surrounding the city gov
eminent are peculiar and will not admit
OF anything in the nature Of experiments.
The business affairs need careful atten-
tion and should be guided in close con-
formity to the rules of economy.
The demands of business admins
tration are pressing upon Birmingham
as never before. The issues must be met
soberly, and the best judgment and non
est effort of those selected to direct the
affairs OF the city must at all times be
invoked.
The municipal government of Birming-
ham up to the present time has existed,
to great extent, upon the anticipated
realization of future hopes. The nature
OF our natural resources has produced,
isrematurelys perhaps, extravagant ideas
OF accommodating great wealth in a brief
period of time. Too little attention has
been given the matter of solid growth,
and the city in "a great measure has been
allowed to take second place. We realize
now, as probably few cities have, or will
ever realize, that substantial encourage
ment to diversified Industries is the sure
foundation upon which to build aogreat
city.
The permanent success and growth OF
ment in diversified industries. The limit
of our growth will only be reached when
we utilize to the utmost extent the vast
resources we have around us, placing up
on the markets of the world the varied
products of mining and Manufacture
To best secure SUCH results depends, in no
small measure, upon the administration
of the city government The affairs of
the municipality must be intelligently
considered and directed and the laws SO
executed that the citizen at home and the
visitor within our gates will have conf
dence that investments will not be jeop-
ardized or subjected to unjust demands
or allowed to suffer for the want of a
wholesome and equitable administration
of just and progressive regulations.
Properly managed, the expenses of
maintaining a city government need not
consume vast sums of money. For in
stance by personal attention TO ma tiers
of sanitation and sidewalk improvements,
and such small matters about the prem
Uses Of the individual, much public ex-
pense may be avoided. 400 often it is
considered the duty Of the government
to look after that which IS really the af-
fair of the individual. The real obllsa-
lions resting upon the individual are too
often forgotten.
Sanitation is of much import ance in
city life. and a wise and systematic APP
plication of just rules need non cost the
people tery heavily. Too often this de-
partment is neglected and allowed to fall
into the hands cf those who do not give
it proper attention. The department is
too often made the avenue through which
the treasury is raided by some party
worker. The protection of life AMI the
enjoyment of property should concern at
all times those in authority.
If elected to the office of mayo # Bir-
mipgham 1 shall enforce the ordinances
as / find them. They shall be f5irly ad-
ninistered in justice TO all. a poor law
executed is better than "A good law.
abused.
/ shall advoca te and do all In my power
to bring about an equalization of taxa
ton. In the matter of license. believe
that a scale should be adopted whereby
the burden will fall equitably upon a !.
The license should be graded acc rdiass
to the volume of business.
am in favor OF retaining the poli1s
commission, but l shall favor an
amendment providing that the members
of said board be elected by the peopla.
one to each ward. The mayor should be
ex-ofiicio chairman &c said board. ] do
not know of the existence of such a police
commission as we have in Birmingham.
IL elected ] shall favor and endeaVGr