The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-29

Going ahead industrially as we are-with
everyone prosperous-attention should be
given to making Birmingham a city of
attraetiveness for homes. This means an
increased police force, a larger fire de-
partment, more schools, better streets and
all of those things which go to make
model city. Those who are at the helm
Of city affairs should give these matters
attention and quick attention.
There Is much merit IN the utterances
of Senator John T Morgan of Alabama
as to the next democratic platform and as
to the selection of a candidate. lie de-
elares. that it is a democratic doctrine
as well as a Christian doctrine that when
a man repents he should be taken back
on the same footing as If he had never
sinned"
Unless the democratic party does this,
there is but little hope for future success.
Every man of education and brains must
think for himself. Undoubtedly the demo-
cratic party went off on a tangent several
years ago, and many of us who supported
the Kansas City platform are Of the opin-
ion that 1t was radical In several of its
features. Senator Morgan wants to go
back to old democratic principles in maxi
ing a platform. and I am OF the opinion
that he is correct in this. A political party
makes q mistake In building platform
with too many planks of detail. Situa-
lions change and have to be dealt with as
they present themselves. The democratic
marty should therefore select its best men
for public office-men in whom the people
OF the country have confidence.
don't believe In decrying a man be-
cause he has been financially successful.
I see no reason why ]. p. Morgan or
any other rich man should be made the
target of political bullets simply because
he happens to have made money. If he
has made 1t honestly he is entitled to as
much consideration as any other man in
any party. This talk of plutocrats and
criticism of aspirants for political honors
because they happen to be close to men
of wealth and men who control great in
dustral and financial enterprises. is abb
surd. If it were not for the men who
are able to finance great corporations,
build great factories and railroads, the
mechanics, worklngmen and business men
could not thrive and would be in many
instances without the things which are
today considered among the necessaries
of life.
y
have no respect for the apparent grow
ing belief among many people that the
government should become paternal. Our
government owes us nothing except pro-
lection and just the equitable laws gov
erning all things. As it has been re-
Gently, every congressman feels that he
wants to get something from the gov
eminent for his own constituency and for
his own district. Some of the northern
and western men are still working for
pensions and the pension list has grown
now to such an extent that thousands
and thousands of people entitled to moth
ing are living upon the government. In
the last congress a law was passed al
lowing a pension to the widow of union
soldier who having married again after
the death of her union soldier husband,
provided the second husband had died or
she had been divorced from him. This
congress likewise increased pensions al
lowed to those who had lost one hand or
one foot, or the total disability of such
member, to $50 per month; and the loss of
both feet to 800 per month, thereby add
ing nearly a million dollars to the PEN
usx ia