The age-herald., 1898-10-23
NED BRACE ON
 HOME AFFAIRS

Avondale is vigorous and vicious against being annexed The people of Avondale. I think, are making a mistake. It's because Birmingham likes Avondale, perhaps, that it wants to take it in. I am sorry to note that ex-Governor Cobb brought personali- ties into the discussion 1 rather think it is a mistake. l don't see why the people of Birmingham and Avondale and Wood lawn and the other surrounding towns, can't discuss this question calmly and quietly. l am in favor of Greater Bir- mingham I am in favor of it because believe in progress. But I shall oppose anything that will be an imposition upon any of the suburban communities. l don't see why all the sections shouldn't be rep resented in a conference, say to be held in Birmingham, and let the matter be practically and calmly discussed. If good men are selected as delegates from each section, it strikes me that some terms, un- der the law can be agreed upon which will not work hardshlps upon anybody or any section. I want Birmingham made the great big city which it really is. And want to see all the people of the real Bir- mingham pull together with one ambition
  greatest city in the south.
 And let us keep personalities and unkind and unpleasant utterances out of this dis cussion. It is purely business matter, and it should be discussed as business matter.
 I regret to see that Dr. Broughton has hurled epithets at me from the pulpit be- I to with him in this column. Dr. Broughton is a good man, believe, but no man can accomplish much good who gives way to his temper. pr. Broughton has done good here, and The Age-Herald has endeavored to aid him in it. But The Age-Herald don't believe that good can be done by harsh sayings. It is always easy to lead people, but it's very hard to drive them.
 
 see a suit has been filed against the water company by MT. John s. Clancy, and that Messrs. Denson & Tanner have been retained as his attorneys. The suit seems to be to make the water company reduce it's rates or else deprive it of its charter. There has been lots of kicking in Brming- ham for year past against the water | works company on account of its rates, O@ NNNS>N-A-o myself. I have always believed that pure water was much more important than cheap water l must say for the water works company that they have improved the quality of the water in the past year. I have talked with the controlling spirits of the water company and have heard them repeatedly state that their rates would be readjusted. I don't see why the IL, l0a rI af aldermen can't get together as business men and settle this matter of rates satis- factorily to all the people. I don't believe anybody wants to put the water works company into the hands of a receiver, nor do l believe the people want to make the water works companys securities value less. Every man and every corporation is entitled to a fair and honest interest on public investments. I believe every mem- Der of the board of aldermen, and all the citizens want to see the water works com pany a legally prosperous institution. And if this be the case why can't the two inter- ested get together and peaceably, amicably and in a business-like way settle this mat ter without all manner of expensive law suits?
 So citizens league mas been Iormeu III Birmingham. I don't know who's in it, nor do know the full purport of what it's in- tentions are. But citizens leagues, organ ized with the right and proper intentions, and composed of property owners, are good things. These leagues in other cities have been productive of much good. want to say, however, that these leagues should always do their work within the lines of the democratic party. I hope that we won't have anything in Birmingham like some of the contests which have oc- cured in Georgia recently, where the pur- chasable negro vote was made the lead | ing factor in the election. If there are any disagreements or varying views among the | white people in Birmingham these matters should be fought out in the primaries and. | settled in an honorable manner In con- l tests of this character the right usually