The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-08
MASS MEETING A
 GREAT SUCCESS
No Doubt Now About Appro- priate Alabama Exhibit
ENTHUSIASTIC SPEECHES
Feature of Exercises at Jefferson The atre Was Stereoptican Views of Ex- position Grounds and Portrayal
 of Proposed Vulcan.

The mass meeting at the) Jefferson theatre last night accomplished in full measure the purpose for which 1t was called
 More enthusiasm was created for an Alabama and Birmingham exhibit at the Louisiana Purchase exposition at St Louis next year than the active workers in the Commercial club had dared to hope for.
 The theatre was filled with enthusiastic Birmingham citizens the speeches were full of fervid appeal for a unity of effort in this great enterprise, that means so much for thls district and the state of Alabama, from the view point of far reaching advertisement. The stereopti- con views of the various exposition buildings aroused great interest in the world show that will attract millions of persons to St. Louis next year.
 The meeting was opened with vocal selection by the Euterpean club of the Birmingham high school, which received much applause,
 President r. M. Jackson of the Com- mercial club presided and introduced the different speakers of the evening. In his opening remarks he outlined the object for which the Commercial club of Birm- ingham was formed and explained why that organization was taking such an &C., tive interest in the matter of a St. Louis exhibit since it means so much for the fu- ture of this city and indirectly for every one of it's citizens.
 MT. Drennen Talks.
 He first introduced Mayor w. M. Dren- nen, who began his remarks by inviting the audience en masse to attend the bazaar of the Hillman hospital, which was in progress at the city hall, after the meeting had adjourned.
 q am heartily in favor of an Alabama exhibit at the St. Louis exposition" he said, land I am glad to know that certain people in the city are opposed to Jeffer- son county's aiding in so laudable an en- terprise for that means that it will be a success
 He told a story of Hicks, the almanac | recommendation of the almanac, and the farmer was so busy ploughing that he could not talk to him. The farmer said that that fool Hicks had predicted that the following day would be fair and he was hurring to get through before the rain began that night.
 Whenever some people predict one | i,,a ifc f1.r opposite" said the mayor. As a citizen and a taxpayer Nf Jefferson county want to say that I heartily approve the recent action of the board of revenue in appro- priating $5oOO to assist in making this exhibit"
 James Bowman.
 James Bowron was next introduced. As a retired capitalist and a man who has been so intimately associated with the progress of Birmingham he was consid- cred especially fitted to address such a gathering. Mir Bowron said in part:
 "We have district here that is un- equaled in the civilized world. Our pig iron trade is gradually spreading out and iron is being exported to all parts of the world. You may think that is something to be applauded, but did it ever occur to you that 1t would be much better for us all if that pig iron were sent out of here in the shape of locomotives and all the finished products of pig iron?
 We have recently erected in Birming- ham three sky-scrapers. Do you know that the very shovels and picks with which the excavations were made, the trucks and wheelbarrows, the hoistng pulleys and all the steel structural ma terial was sent in here from the north?
 What we want is to make a big ad- vertisement to the outside world and this exposition offers Us a rare opportunity. We want to show the world what can be made here if the right men will interest themselves and we want to demonstrate to the nations of the earth the posslbili- ties of the Birmingham district"
 Dr.. J. w. stass.
 Dr. J. w Stagg made some character istic remarks. In addition to telling some excellent stories he very forcibly im- pressed his hearers with the great impor- tance of advertising to the outside world what was in this district
 "I came to Birmingham because I be- lieved that a mighty city was to be built here" he said. How are you going to do 1t? Why you must get the eyes of the world upon you and this proposed statue of Vulcan exhibited at St. Louis will be worth more to the city than any s1O00OO building.
 What we want to do Is to get together The great things in the world have been