The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-23
ANSWER TO THE
OPEN LETTER
The Commercial Club Committee Held
Meeting.
QUESTION FULLY DISCUSSED
Mr. Turnbull, Formerly Of Florence
Wagon Works, Spoke.
MOVE HAD BEEN CONTEMPLATED
For Number of Years, and He Would
Put No More Money Into
It Until 1t Was
Moved.
MOVE HAD BEEN CONTEMPLATED


mercal club to formulate reply to the
"open letter" of the Business Mems
League of Florence in which 1t was charged
that the club had carried on secret negotia-
lions to secure the removal Of the Florence
Wagon Works to this city, met last night
in the Commercial club rooms and after
making full Investigation outlined letter
which will be gotten in shape and mailed to
Florence as soon as possible.
The meeting was called to order by Chair
man T. H. Motion with the following MEM
bers present: Prof. A. D. Smith, A. r.
Dearborn, ]. D. Chichester, President B.
Steiner, Commercial Agent e. B. Miller and
D. B. Turnbull, representing the Florence
Wagon Works were also present.
Chairman Motion stated the object of the
meeting and explained the necessity of dis
abusing the minds of the people of Florence
as well as the minds of people in other por-
lions of the state of the belief that Biz
mingham was acting in a way dishonorable
and underhanded in the endeavor'to secure
the plant and save it to the state.
Mr.. Steiner was called upon and gave
history of the negotiations as far as he was
concerned which were first taken up about
one year ago when it was learned that the
plant was seeking a location in Memphis.
The matter, he said, had been brought to
his attention by Chairman Malone OF the
Manufacturing committee, and some CORE
spondence with DR.. Bethany, general mana
ger of the plant followed, which resulted in
Dr. Belamy coming to Birmingham. Moth
ing was done at that time and the matter
was dropped until some months ago when
1t was learned that DR.. Bethany was nego-
tiating with Memphis and had been offered
a site with buildings, besides other induce
ments. 1t was not until then that Mr..
Miller the Commercial agent was sent to
Florence and then only to see if the plant
was worth securing in the event of its
being moved.
Would Move the Plant
Dr. Bellamy came TO Birmingham and
stated positively that he would move the
plant, as 1t was necessary for him to secure
better railroad facilities. At that time he
made a proposition, in writing, which was
entertained by the officers after having
brought it to the attention of the club at
a regular meeting.
A letter from DR.. Bellamy, In which he
stated that the plant would be moved was
read. Mr.. Miller briefly told of his connec-
tion with the negotiations, stating that pre-
vious to his connection with the club, he
was in Memphis and understood that DR..
Bellamy had been in that city as the guest
of the Chamber of Commerce and had
decided to accept a proposition made him
by the Memphis people. Shortly after be-
coming associated with the club, the ques-
ton was again brought up, when it was
learned that DR.. Bellamy had not closed the
Memphis deal, but 1Yas considering other
places. At the inst hce of Mr.. Steiner he
went to Florence to look at the plant and
found 1t exactly as had been represented.
No. proposition was made DR.. Bellamy to
come to Birmingham; the only proposition
that was ever made having come from him.
Contemplated for Several Years
Mr.. Turnbull, who represents the wagon
works and was formerly connected with
the management, stated that the moving OF
the plant had been in contemplation for
some years. He said that he had with him
letter from the Commercial Club of Men,
phis under date of October. 1896, in regard
to moving the plant to that city, and that
the delay had only been occasioned because
the proper location had not been found.
Mr.. Turnbull stated that at present he
was not stakeholder of the company, but
expected to put money into the concern
when 1t moved, but not before.
Mr.. Motion had prepared the outline of
letter framed in dignided language set
ting forth the plain statement of facts
which was carefully gone over. 1t was
decided to attach to this letter the written
statements of Mr.. Steiner, Mr.. Malone
Mr.. Miller and copies of the two letters
from Mr.. Bellamy, and the letter from the
Commercial club of Memphis. AS soon as
this is done the reply will be in proper
form and will be forwarded to the COM
mittee of the Business Mems league of
Florence
1t was also decided to have several hun
dred copies of the reply printed and dis
tributed among the commercial bodies of
the state in order to SET Rrmin CHAM right