The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-04
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
AND ELSEWHERE

"Agitation over certain proposed legisla-
ton at Montgomery is hurting business in
Birmingham, and feel assured that the
whole state Is suffering from the same
cause" said a notable business man yester-
day. ut makes one almost wish there was
no legislature; and what Is true Of the legis-
lature Is true on a larger scale of the ma
tional congress. One or the other of the
two is constantly interfering with the prog
ress and development OF trade and enter
prise. And when our legislative bodies are
not meddling with the private affairs of
citizens, political campaigns are in progress
and are hampering every legitimate busl-
ness. Assuredly, the people should send
delegates to the Alabama constitutional
convention pledged to provide for longer
tenure of office and therefore fewer cleo
lions. We are scarcely out of the turmoil
and evil incident to one election when We
are plunged into more trouble of the same
sort All this seriously effects the sober
ness, conservatism and usefulness of the
citizen, no matter what his position in lie
may be. No elective public servant or offi-
cal sould be chosen for a period less than
four years, and the longer official terms
may be- the better 1t will be for the public.
People have got other things to do OF mora
material Importance than being button
holed and pulled by the ears by politicians
and place-seekers. The coming constitu-
tional convention should do a great deal
towards Kidding us OF our political
troubles"
xaarp drfn 1xd
for persons who drank stimuants at ALL 1t
was a close, stuffy, oppressive, wretched
day, and revived all the quiescent old pains
in Birmingham. The weather was warm
enough for the month of May; and to the
thousands of persons who are recovering
from the grippe 1t was peculiarly trying.
AIore unreasonable weather could not be
imagined. 1t was as abnormal as frost In
June.
A few hours before re committee of the
the house of representatives agreed to an
adverse report on the now famous dispen-
sary liquor bill, at Montgomery Thursday
evening, there died in sight of the state
capitol the oldest and best known saloon
proprietor in Alabama. Mr.. w. S. Doron
kept a popular little place of refreshment
in Dexter avenue, at the head of which
thoroughfare stands the old white capitol
as everybody knows. For many and many
a year legislators going down town in the
afternoon have stopped at Doron's place
for "a drop of stimulant required after
laborious legislative duties. The same was
true of visiting lawyers in attendance on
the supreme court And so Mr.. Doron
came to know personally nearly every
prominent public man in Alabama. He
had lived for more than forty years in
Montgomery, and enjoyed the esteem of
that entire community. He belonged to the
knights of Pythias and several other fra
ternal orders, and was noted for his gen
erous and charitable spirit He was in
his seventy-fourth year. His health had
been bad for a year or two.
Amongst the visitors to the city is one of
the heroes of Santiago, in the person of
Captain M. B. Saffold, of the Thirteenth in
fantry, with headquarters at New York.
He is visiting his sister, Mrs. R. L. Brooks
at 1909 North Twentieth street. Captain
Saffold was recently breveted major for
meritorious services at the battle of San
lldSO III July last, ne VIII SptuQ SSNSItti
days in the city.
Colonel Coulson, of the Fourth Kentucky
Volunteers, is in Birmingham accompanied
by two of his officers. Colonel Coulson,
who is young and strikingly handsome
man, is a member of congress from one of
the Kentucky districts, and is therefore
one of those who are in "the same boat
with General Joseph Wheeler committee
of the house has been investigating the
matter of those of it's members who ac-
cepted appointments In the volunteer SER
vice in the war with Spain.
State Solicitor w. B. Oliver, of Tuska-
loosa, was in town yesterday.
Hon. Daniel Coleman, of Huntsville, is in
the city.