The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-13

!
 cational frills and furbelows of the young man who is already fairly well educated. Would that we could have 1t all and a free university, too, and hope VIC soon shall have; but in providing for a new high school building lot us be sure to pro- vide ample buildings for the common school pupils who are earnestly seeking the rudlments of an education.
 r the meantime let us not cease in our efforts to build up a moral sentiment against the 4plstol-toter." Suppress him, educate the youth, talk enthusiastically about the town work for it's upbulldlng and make Birmingham not only the most prosperous and substantial city in the south, but the most cultured. refined and peaceful community in the world.
 There Is a fight on in this state which is directed toward the destruction of the great Birmingham district It is the rail- road commissionership contest in politics. It is not intended that way it is true. But 1t is a vigorous and almost vicious fight to punish the railroads of Alabama be- cause the local rates on certain classes of freights are higher than in Georgia Certain rates here, it is true, are higher than in Georgia and other rates are very much lower. The high rates are exhibited before the footlights The low rates are on coal, iron ore, limestone and pig iron. The railroads have been partisan parties to the development of the Birmingham district into the great iron, steel and metal manufacturing district of the south. They have built lines to it's every mine and given rates which enable competition with Pittsburg on iron and the Virginias on coal. They have hauled at cost to develop us and have made the Birming- ham of today.
 Concentrating their efforts upon this feature there may have been neglect of other interests to the advantage of Mont gomery or Selma or even Atlanta or Nash vile. We cannot expect the earth and the fullness thereof and because of this or that rate which we might think dis eliminating against us is no reason for a hue and cry against all railroads and a great hulla baloo to elect railroad com missioner so antagonistic to all railroads as to want to carry the fight through all state politics and force them to stand and deliver.
 There are bad rates in Alabama which should be adjusted, but the great iron and manufacturing interests should not be jeopardized in doing so Where is the wholesaler or jobber in Alabama who is not making profit? Of course they want more. That's their fight. But why make political campaign to pun ish these blank railroads for what they have doneT' They have done good to the many. To few they may have seemed to be unjust. None of them show any great volume of earnings They are simp- ly hoping for it in the future.
 I believe that railroad corporation, which is but mass of individuals, should be treated as fairly as a single individual, and dot not believe that political aspira- tions of would-be future governors and United States senators and others who want political honors should be permitted to play conspicuous parts. based upon ability to arouse prejudice. in the pun ishment of the whole, because of certain alleged errors of certain traffic managers in the making of rates.
 A
 Railroad commissioners should be judi cial-men of sound. honest judgment, de- termined to do the right thing without prejudice
 There is undoubtedly merit In some of the contentious against certain existing rates but not in the general all around fight against railroads as dragons with eyes of fire and tail of flame. They cr. of us and part of us. aiding to make us every hour and every day I fear MT. Conner is wrought against them as a whole However conscientious the man may be I hardly think his speeches make him competent to act as judge between tho cbiDpor and fha railroad