The age-herald., 1897-11-21
MATT MINORS
 TIMELY WISDOM.

Those people who are afraid of tar. nishing the judicial ermine of Alabama are to be pited. They have the sym pathy of the community. They are car rying heavy loads. It would be won derful disgrace to throw mud on the judicial robes. That Is nice talk It amounts to nothing. If the judiciary of this state had never-thrown mud at the people who don't wear the judicial robes 1t would be different I don't care a continental who is elected to any place on the supreme bench. Like the rest of mankind, I want honest judges. l don't know of any candidates who are not honest If they are dishonest I have not heard of it. If knew they were dishonest, I would not hesitate in say ing so. I believe in telling the truth. For the benefit of those pure, unde- filed citizens who sit up O nights wor- rying about the possible soiling of the judicial ermine, let me tell them little bit of history as it comes to me from men of reliable authority. There are some candidates for judgeships who have been the best political wire pullers in this state in the last quarter century. In political mud up to their neclzs. They know it. The people know it. If there is to be a reform in the Judiciary, let the reform begin with the people who are most guilty. I have nothing against Judge Coleman. I don't know him. l don't know that I care to know him. Judge Coleman is not stranger to poii- tics or political methods. His past poi- tieal manipulations will not warrant, in my opinion, his excessive virtue from political motives at the present time. Judge Coleman appears to me as very much of a straddler. That is his own business. The people, however have right to know whether a man is slrad- dler or not I don't know any other candidates for judge or any other office. One man is as good as another as far as I know. They are all out for office. When man is candidate for office he usually pursues the ordinary porih- cal methods to get it. There is going to be an issue in this state and all the candidates know it. Judge Coleman has not said where he stands on the money question. Until he does declare himself, the people have right to look upon him with suspicion. l don't under stand that the campaign is going to be
  Every candidate for each office will have to be on one side or the other. They are all in the same boat. When candi- dates for judge go around the state set ting up political pins for themselves, they are then placing more or less mud on the judiciar ermine. If they are to pursue the tactics of politicians, they must expect the people to demand po- litieal expression.
 Wonderful lci5 of kicking going on in town. Seems Nike half the population IS mad. dan't know anything about the circumstances. I don't want to know It is none of my business to know. I have a right to talk about it. On next Wednesday night the Phoenix club opens dts new club house with a magnificent receptisn. On the night fol- lowing the Southern club gives its am nual reception. Of course, it is imposs!- ble to invite everybody. great many people who are not .nviteld, expected to be invited. That is why So many people are mad. I have sesn invitations from both clubs. The invitation of the PhJae- nix club is as handsome an fnvitallon as was ever issued by any organ-Zation It is the work of an artist, and shows superb taste of the committee that formulated dt. Can't say so much for the invitation of the Southern club. It carries with 1t the impression that econo- my was the principal thing considered by those who got up the invitations. It does not compOgt by any means with the dignity of the Southern club. One would not suppose from the style of the invitation that the Southern club IS one of the most arlstocratic social organ,za- lions fin the city of Birmingham. I hear the Southern club regards Itself as the real thing. Men who are not membse5 of the Southern club are not, according to the opinion of scms' of its members, entitled to much sod.al recognition. I don't believe that impression prevails among the older members. The young sters are very much inflatsd. If the .nvi- tations of the SouthSrn club aiHe a sam pie of real elegance some people will change their views about the aristocratic tendency of that club. Also hear that great deal of partial.ty was shown in the distribution of Southern club invitations. There were seward lines drawn, but who was responsible for the drawing of these tiliSSt lS itOt hLOWu Ol bersh-p of this club. A club has the right to invite to its reception whom 1t pleases. In the matter of soeial affairs the club is the same as the individual. man don't have to invite to his house disasreeable people. I don't see why people kick about not receiving invita- tIons There is one good thing about the Phoenix and the Southern clubs They attend to thetr own business. They don't mix in affairs that don't concern them.
 would like to make three or four sug- gestious to the street railroad companies of this city. People who pay money for services are entitled to services to the value of their money. If there is amy timing that win make a man or woman feel like swearing, and perhaps swear, it is to ride on the Birmingham street railroad cars when they are crossing the railroad tracks at the east end of the