The age-herald., 1897-12-26
MATT NNYNOR MENTIONING
 MEN, MOTIVES AND MATTERS


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 I don't believe that 1t Is in any way to the advantage of Birmingham or any other city to permit such boisterous conduct of people as has been carried on in Birming- ham for the past three days. Flre-eraclSers are all right in their place. But just why the city council or anyone else desires to encourage the firing of gigantic fire crackers in the middle of the streets and on the side walks, and, in fact, in almost any place, is something that the average intellect has not been able to comprehend. Yesterday was not the first Christmas have seen. I freely confess, however, that 1t was the most outrageous and the most boisterous that I have ever seen. The reckless manner in which explosives were thrown in the crowds, was nothing more nor less than a standing disgrace to the city. Such things are menace to the lives of the people. They are calculated to frighten horses and thus increase the per centage of accidents. On Friday afternoon about half past four o'clock I saw a man between 25 and 30 years of age explode mammoth cracker on the sidewalk in Twentieth street, and at the time hundreds of people were passing in either direction. A very large percentage of the pedestrians were ladies. Some jumped, others ran and the majority of them screamed.
 
 have seen more drunken men in Birmingham within the past five days than have ever seen in my life Just what it is that causes men to get drunk on Christmas or the two or three days preceding Christmas, has been a mystery to many of the most learn ed people of the United States. Men who are never known to take a drink at any other time of the year are not content un- less maudlin drunk about Christmas time. It seems to me that Christmas Is the one day out of the year that a man should re- main sober. I have also seen within the past five days drunken men walking in the streets carrying pistols in their hands. How many more walked the streets who had pistols concealed Is not known. If I am to judge by what I have been told by those who ought to know, 95 per cent. of the male population of Birmingham are well fortified with shooting irons in the vicinity of their hip-pockets. This open and fragrant violation of the law is by no means to the credit of Birmingham, nor to the people who make up it's citizens. I am told that there is law in this state prohibiting the carrying of concealed weapons. Yet 1t is violated every day in the year. The courts seem to be intimidated and afraid to enforce the law. If these things con- tinue much longer, some day a reign of terror will be produced by the desperate characters who seem to regard themselves as not well dressed unless armed to the teeth. In Gods name, what is the necessity for many men carrying pistols? This is regarded a peaceable community. The people are educated, refined and in many respects model citizens. The conduct of some of these upon the streets preceding Christmas Day surpasses for recklessness and open defiance of the law almost any thing that might have taken place thirty years ago in the mining camps of the ex- treme west.
 Speaking of carrying guns and shooting naturally calls to mind the shooting by Alderman Ashford Thursday last in Rosenstihl's jewelry store in the presence of a house full of women. It is said that Alderman Ashford was very cool and col lected. That he held his pistol pointing toward the floor when not engaged in shooting at MT. Brown. That no doubt showed thoughtfuness. No one suspects that Alderman Ashford intended shooting any ladies. It did not seem to occur to him, however, the injury he was doing in frightening a number of women almost to death. The shooting scene in the jewelry store might have been all right in bar room, but ladies are not in the habit of going to barrooms If Alderman Ashford wanted to kill MT. Brown that was his business, but to have pursued man into a store, especially a jewelry store, whose Christmas patrons are largely made up of ladies, was by no means to the credit of Alderman Ashford. It may be claimed that he was unduly excited and forgot the sur roundngs. Alderman Ashford is, by vir- tue of his office, oftentimes engaged in making laws for the better government of the city of Birmingham. If a lawmaker goes upon the streets with a pistol in his pocket those who are not lawmakers nat uraly believe they have the same rights as others. I have nothing to say about Alderman Ashfords shooting Mr. Brown. I know nothing whatever about the case or the circumstances which led up to it.