The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-08-29
MATT MYNOR
in BIRMINGHAM.

I don't know whether I like Birming-
ham or not. Haven't made up my mind.
| Town looks fairly WELL I notice that
some gentleman is writing that the city
days Expect he's about right. know
! It's hard to keep a city clean, but then
you know it's hard to get officers who
will clean city. This thing works both
ways. A city that is not kept clean can
not hope to thrive. If Birmingham was
made very clean city 1t would be worth
millions of dollars to 1T every year. Cap
Iftal won't go where there's filth, nor will
the people, say. clean the city.
I'd like to make suggestion to the
managers of the street railway, espe-
cially the north and south line running
in Twentieth street There is painted at
either end of the blue cars Cemetery"
and on some Cemetery at one md and
Union Depot" at the other. This strikes
me as very funny. Advertising to the
strangers who come here that the only
]
thing th=y can do Is to take you to the
union depot and if you don't want to go
there they will take you to the ceme-
terry. It ought to be that people coming
to birmingham would have no desire to
go to the depot. The people only yield
to going to the cemetery because they
are powerless to prevent 1t. Dead people
tell no tales. That is why there is no
protesting against going to the cemetery.
Why don't they put something on the
cars that signifies more than depot and
graveyard. It's enough to make the
town look dead, and it's dead easy to
have it changed.
I don't believe Birmingham has very
good water, at least I don't like it. I
have drank some twice since have been
hare, and 1 have a right to talk on the
subject. If the people are not provided
with good water they are bound to drink
something. 1t would be hard to believe
that the water works people ars-fn
OF cours=, they may think that people
only want to use water for bathing and
putting out fires, and not for cooking
and drinking. Good water is the right
of every citizen. It's natures own elk
ir, and in some towns where good water
is not furnished there is an occasional
uprising. That may be tbs case here
some time. Better take action before it
Is too late.
I saw Governor Johnston yesterday.
Heard a great deal about this distin-
guished statesman, but never before had
the pleasure of seeing him. Nice looking
man. Looks like he shaves everyday.
don't like the straw hat he wears. It's
not wide enough in the brim. If he wants
the vote of we laboring people he's got
to change hats. Nice clever man, john
ston is. If he lived up North expect he
might be a candidate for president. Re-
minds me of man who would like to
go to the United States senate. I Won
der why he doesn't stay down in Mont
gomery all the time. Pretty hard for us
tax payers to support office holders. 1
don't know the salary he gets, but it must
be as much as $40 per day, and that's q
great deal these hard times. He should
be at Montgomery every day in the year,
Sunday included, with his hat and coat
off, sleeves rolled up, and wrestling with
great state questions. That's what made
Cleveland PRESIDENT by working with is
hat and coat off all day and all night
when he was governor of New York. 1
hear Johnston's made a splendid govern
or. Guess he's pretty strong with the
people. l endorse him for his position on
the back tax law. I believe in making
people who are able to pay taxes bear
their burdens. Too much Sinking In
some quarters We poor devils are made
the victims. Did you ever notice how
some big tax payers look at tax asses
sor? Look at them as though they were
anarchists. Think Johnston's a good
business man. If the next presidents a
democrat I'm in favor of making john
ston secretary of the interior or post
master general He wouldn't do for Sec
rotary of the treausry. Been in the bank
ing business too long, and they would
soon be saying he was a tool of Wall
street. Man like Gov. Johnston must
always protect his reputation. A great
many men in public life haven't got any
to protect, but it is different with Him.
Good business men are needed as cabinet
+ officials.
Had the pleasure of meeting John w.
Tomlinson last night. Heard great deal
about this man. Fine looking man; re-
sembling very much Senator Lindsay, of
Kentucky, except he's younger. Tom
linson tells me he's been in the newspaper
business. Said he was glad to get out
of it. I don't blame him. 1 don't think
he knows much about the newspaper bus
mess. Good lawyer, I guess but he was
never cut out for a newspaper man. He
would write "we'' in the editorials, and
yves" in editorials went out of fashion
twenty years ago. He looks to me like
q pretty smooth citizen. would hate to
80 up against Tomlinson in a trade or
DEAL I don't mean deal in cards. bet
ha r,Io rxr,d Of q