The age-herald., 1898-04-01
EXPRESSIONS
 OF OPINION By Some Of Birminsham'S Leading Cit- zenS on MCKinley'S Actions. A MAJORITY CONDEMN HIM There Are Those Who Think That He
 Has Acted Wisely. EVERYBODY VENTURES AN OPINION The Strained Relations Between the United States and Spain the Topic of Conversation.
 War" Talk Is Abundant in All Quarters.
EVERYBODY VENTURES AN OPINION

The all predonidnating topic of conversa- ton in Birmingham as elsewhere is war, or the possibilities of g. peaceful settlement of tn estrained relations existing between the United States and Spain over the Maine disaster and the Cuban question.
 Of course, everybody ventures an opinion a majority of which condemn the action oi President Mckinley in the premises There are those who think that the president has acted wisely and that the matter will be amicaby settled without resorting to arms.
 An Age-Herald reporter interviewed some of the leading citizens yesterday as fol lows:
 WALTER MOOREa Mckinley is am chored over & submarine mine, 50 to speak and that is Wall street. When he gets a little way off from his mine he shows some glimpses of being a read man, but last Mon- day the mine was right under him and Ing acted the coward"
 GEN. LOUIS V. CLARK: 1.-The situation has at times looked very serious, but have never believed that there would be war. l do not mean to say that the Cuban ques- ton and the Maine disaster must not be settled, and settled in the near future But I think that a strong, determined policy on the part of the United States will settle the matter for good and all without any con- f1ict."
 SID JONES---'McKinley acted fool the other day, I don't say that we want war, but nearly every man in the United states demands something more positive than Mckinley has given us"
 F. LESSER-"McKinleys message was the weakest message I have seen. It shows more conclusively than ever that Mckinley is bound hand and foot by the monied in fiuences that are now doing anything Tor peace at any price,"
 JACK w JOHNSTON-"I don't think Me- Kinley will ever recommend war meas ure; but for that matter, don't thlnk there will be any necessity for war. be- lieve the whole matter can and will be set tied amicably and honorably.
 COL. D L. HIGDON-"Mac played the baby act the other day, so far as IS shown by his message If he had any views on the situation for settling the difficulty he should have expressed them or at least given the public some intimation that ne intended to do something. But on the other hand, he didn't do thing: just re- ferred the report to Spain and iert IL 10 the good graces of the queen regent. Ine fact is the American people nave aoout had enough of Mckinley ..
 RIPLEY F. BEASLEY: From all The information I can get, peneVe President Mckinley Is adopting the wlsest course. Any declaration of his policy at this time would precipitate war. and not- withstanding the extensive preparatiohs that have been made, I don't think the country is yet ready for war. MT. Mckih- lev stated in a well authenticated interview the other day that if war were to be oe- clared at once that we would not nave enough ammunition to last ten days"
 ROSS c. SMITH: 'I think the press or the country is little too severe on President Mckinley. I have nor the slightest doubt that there Is dipio- matfc correspondence being carried on be- tween this country and Spain which the public knows nothing of, and lone which makes the proper demands on Spain.
 SAMUEL SULLMAN: 'I think that war should be averted by all means possible without sacrificing honor. President Mo- Kinley has shown himself a wise and con- seryatiye statesman in the position that he has taken, and has been actuated by the knowledge of the fact that the United States is not prepared to go to war with Spain or any other country. Peace is pref erable to war at almost any sacrifice"
 ALBERT STRADFORD. CHIEF CLERK IN THE sHERIFF'S OFFICE: 'I almost wish I were dago, so that I would not be ashamed of my country. I shall send President Mckinley bill for a.5O. as bet the treats for the crowd that war would be declared by next Saturday, and it looks like am going to lose"