The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-28
ANSWER TO THE
FLORENCE LETTER
Commercial Club Committee
Frames Its Reply.
NO UNDERHAND METHODS
Resorted to in Negotiating for Florence
Industries -Committee Sustains It's
Position by Giving Out Core
spondence on the Question.

The committee appointed by the Com
mercial club Of this city to answer the
charges contained in an open letter from
the business Mems League of Florence,
regarding the removal of the Florence wa
gon works from that city, has completed
its abors and lays before the people Of
Florence and of the state all the facts,
which clearly show that Birmingham used
no underhand methods in negotiating for
the plant. The answer, which is dignifed
in tone and convincing in argument, was
yesterday forwarded to Florence, together
with letters which clearly support the posi-
ton of the club in the premises. The ans
wer is made up of a mass OF correspond
dence
The first letter is from Secretary Gibson,
of the Commercial club
Then in regular order comes the official
letter of the committee. as follows;
Gentlemen:-The undersigned were APP
pointed a committee by the commercial
cub of this city to answer an open Let
ter addressed to this club and signed by
you.
We deem it imperative that you be In
formed of the actual status of affairs, thus
pacing ourselves in proper position ana
al the same time disabusing your mind OF
the unfounded rumors which properly ca led
forth the above mentioned 'Ooen Letter
in behalf of your Business League.
We admit that we have been engaged in
active negotiations to bring the Florence
Wagon Works here, and to do this we nave
been endeavoring to comply With Mr. Bel
lemy's proposition. In this your rumors
were well founded. AT the same time, We
wish to protest against any negotiations in
this matter termed secret. In your letter
when you describe our action as secret,
thereby meaning underhand and unfair
methods, you, or those from whom you de-
rive your information, have done us gross
hi. sndI !, IL,
secret manner whatever. Is 1t secrecy when
the move was discussed at length during
meeting of a club having over two hun
dred members? Can a charge of secrecy
be maintained when mass meeting of the
citizens Is he'd to devise means of bring
ing such industry to Birmingham? We SUBJ
init to you that, in the knowledge of such
facts, there can be no we'll grounded charge
of secrecy.
We appreciate the compliment you pay
our nun c,p ity and club N discreditng u
mors, declaring policy to be the build
ing up OF Birmingham at the expense of
our sister towns. If such were true, you
would do well to Earnestly protest against
this effort to disrupt your industries and
injure your commercial progress" But
such protest should not be directed
against Birmingham in any instance. We
merit your praise and aid rather than your
invectives and opposition.
Agreeing with you that I'VE are all Ala
bamans, proud of state and anxious
to do all in our power TO develop its mar
Vicious resources" We deem 1t better to re-
tain such fourishing plant In our state
rather than allow the bordering states of
tennessee or Georgia pluck the fruit of a
plant which was nourished by Alabama
capital
If Florence is to lose the Wagon Com
pany, which We are assured of from the
evidence before us, which does a patriotic
Alabamian prefer-that it be located in Bir-
mingham, or located in Memphis or Nash
vile? 1t seems to us to permit of an easy
solution
DR.. A. D. Bellamy does not hold your
opinion as you thus express 1t: mo city
In the south, in our opinion, offers supe-
r1of advantages for plant of this char
acter than Florence" but believes it to be
for the good of the Florence Wagon Works
to move to a different location. A perusal
OF his letter herewith enclosed will convince
you that it was not our "bribe, politely
termed dona tions," which influenced him.
The question again presents itself. Is 1t
not better that the factory shall remain in
the state than leave it?
Is 1t not better that Birmingham possess
such plant than it should go to Memphis?
Does Florence wish Birmingham to lose
such an industry because Florence cannot
keep it? We believe such thing. We
think your league was not informed of the
actual facts or they would aid rather than
retard our movement.
We ask that you read the letters of Mr..
Miller, the special agent of our club; Mr.
Malone cha rman of manufacturing COM
mittee, and Mr.. Steiner, the president of
the Commercial club of Birmingham which
letters are hereto attached. We believe
after reading the above mentioned letters
you will see that your position is untena-
BILE.
In conclusion we emphatically state that
company to remain in Florence and not
leave the state we VIII make no further eff
fort to accept Dr. Bellamy's proposition.
But If the company is determined to leave
Florence, even if it does not come to Br-
mingham, we will renew our efforts and
expect your aid in upbulding Birmingham
and incidentally the state of Alabama, our
state as well as yours. Respectfully,
T. H. MOTION
]. D. CHICHESTER,
A. r. DEARBORN,
A. d. SMITH,
w. N. MALONE,
ROBT. JEMISON,
Committee.
enclosed in the answer are letters from
E. b. Miller, industrial agent of the club;
w N Malone, chairman of the manufac-
turing committee, and a statement and a
letter written by DR.. Bellamy.
These letters go to prove that the invi-
tation for the opening of negotiations first
came from the Florence people and that
they were also both in conference and cor
respondence with other cities.
--------------- -