The age-herald., 1900-12-15
No One Would Take Initiative
 at Pubic Meeting
SAREWD POLITICAL MANEUVER
Everybody Came to Hear and See. Neither of the Chairmen Seemed to Know for What Purpose
 the Meeting Was Called

The game of politics was played to a finish at the Commercial Club rooms last night where q meeting was to have been held to start a reform movement in muni- cipal affairs, and although there was as- sembled fully three hundred representative citizens, not one was there who would father the unborn child by taking the ini- tiative in the proceedings.
 It was perhaps the strangest political gathering ever assembled in Birmingham, and while the "reformers' did not show their hand 1t was stated tbat their silence was the shrewd part of the play, in that they believed that tine meeting had been packed, and that any proposition looking to such movement would have been voted down by the friends of the administration, who charged with packing"
 The rumors of the meeting and the pub lished statements that have been going the rounds for several days brought together a representative gathering of citizens. Many of whom declared that they were present merely through curiosity, and when the hour set for the meeting arrived the large reading room of the club was unable to hold the crowd which overfiowed into the halls and adjoining rooms. Among those present were a number of Aldermen who mingled with the crowd which, while wait ing for the call to order, cracked jokes about municipal matters, the "Ullman in- cdent" playing a prominent part in the good natured discussions.
 After waiting until 8:10 o'clock T. H. Molton rapped for order and eated that as the time set for the meeting had passed and no one had seen fit to call 1t to order, he would do so, and proposed the name of Nat c. Miller for temporary chairman. The motion met with a second and was unai- mously adopted. In assuming the chair manship Mir. Miller stated that he had come to the meeting to hear rather than to be heard, and that he not familiar with nor had any knowledge of the purpose of the meeting.
 On motion of John c. Pugh, John Spor- row of the Ledger, J. R. Hornady of the News and M B. Mayer of the Age-Herald were made temporary secretaries
 City Attorney Robert J. Lowe asked that the call for the meeting be read, which brought the response that the call which was signed by more than three hundred and fifty citizens had been lost
 G. B. Burkhalter asked that some mem- Der of the committee explain the purpose of the meeting, adding that it was possible that those present might coincide with 1t. This brought no response and after few minutes wait MT. Pugh moved that the temporary officers be made permanent, which brought MT. Miller to his feet with the request that lIe luOllOi pS hOe on He stated that he would decline to serve.
 MT Lowe was then placed in nomination and declined on the same grounds as MT. Miller.
 In order to get something before the House. A. J. O'Keefe proposed the reading of the call, which appeared In local paper, but was declared out of order by the chair, who held that nothing could be done until permanent organization was effected.
 E. l.. Bridges suggested that in stating that the call had been lost, the gentleman had solved the question, and might properly be termed a lost cause.
 w. c. Garrett as finally placed In nomn- alton for permanent chacman, and was unanimously elected, and on motion the temporary secretaries were also made per- manent. In assuming the chair, MT. Gar rtt stated that he appreciated the unex- pected honor and was heartily in favor of law and order. and that from the size of the gathering there were evidently others who did the same. He further stated that he was not familiar with the purpose of the meeting and called upon some one who was able to state 1t.
 About this time some one in the crowd moved that the meeting adjourn to the courthouse which was put from the floor, and unanimously carried amid shouts and laughter. The chair declared that the pro- ceedings were not regular, and recognized
  that the meeting had been called in good faith
 He further stated that he presumed that the call had been signed by three hundred and fifty citizens stated, and that it was presumably for the e-betterment of the city whom he said every citizen loved He thought that the matter should be consid- ered and moved that some signer of the call state the purpose.
 John G. Smith was recognized, and stated that while he had nothing to do with the movement, he understood that it was d. rected against the city government, and that he agreed with MT. Lowe that some one who was familiar with 1t should make a statement or else the meeting should ad- journ; and those present So home.
 Mir. Lowe's motion prevailed, but no one volunteered to comply. and after waiting for a few moments, Col. w M Graves moved that tho meeting adjourn, which was promptly second. put and carried and the crowd dispersed