The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-12
Letters To the Editor
me New County Movement.

The New County Movement.
 Editor The Advertiser:
 Now that the battle of the ballots IS over and the proposed New Counties Amendment is defeated. we rise to ask the question, Is there anything else that can be done7 A casual glance at the official returns clearly indicates two or three things.
 In the first place, 1t seems clear that a very large minority of the people Of the State favor Asmailer and more com pact counties. This assurance eou- pied with the fact that such change IS an absolute essential in many places safe working foundation for the fu- ture efforts of those who have this great cause at heart: Even though the majority may be temporarnty tied till 1t is settled right. Some of us who are in actual touch with our local conditions are sure that the pres. ent arrangement does really retard development along certain great lines of civic improvement. And we be- lieve that very valuable change could be made without prejudice to the in- terests of she State. It Is readily ad- mitted that smaller counties would re- strict the area from which county of- feers and lawyers collect their fees While we half suspect that these par ties have been strong centers of oppo- sition, no one of them will dare come openly before the people and claim that their personal interests are to
 
 civic arrangements. Through all the buncombe and political claptrap. which with flare of trumpets and flame Of color. has been served up to the peo- pie by the interests" we have sought to find one sane, we'll founded reason showing that the cause of the people would be hurt by a reduction of our counties The one great theme of the opposition, worked out with many va riations. was that under the proposed law many counties would ask for change: Now if, as we think it can easily be shown, that a reduction of counties in accord with the conditions suggested would be a great benefit to the people at large, then certainly the claim of the opposition that the law. making such reducion possible. Is a bad law. falls to the ground. There would doubtless have been some tenn porary confusion and unsettling of present cohditionB: but these are not bad In themselves and may become the means of great blessings if they clar- fly and improve conditions. So we feel that through argument and defeat our cause is unscathed and in the interest of civic righteousness and betterment ought to be pressed to victory.
 Again, the official count emphasizes very strongly an argument already made in favor of the amendment, viz: the concentration of too much power in one district so that 1t may have the balance of power In the whole State. It Is evidest that the great vote of Bir- minghafn defeated the amendment. It is not difficult to conceive conditions in which the power of Jefferson coun- ty would dominate the. affairs of the whole State. It may seem anomalous that, single State should hold the balance of power Tn our nation. Yet It seems to be a well established say Ing that "As New York goes. the ma tion goes. <. There are many potent reasons why we should not create a power like that fin our State. Of course the interests of the Blrming ham district. as such, will always act as a unit. but politically 1t ought to be safe-guarded in every possible way. And we believe this course would be as much in the interest of Birmingham as the rest of the State.
 Now In view of these and other en- couraging conditions. we want to move New County Bureau, whose object 1t shall be to continue this fight till 1t wins. There are many facts and ar guments which can yet be brought to the edge of Marengo eighteen miles by dirt road. 103 miles by rail from the county site. is city of 5000 peo- pie without a court adequate to dis the law. Around us is a section whose people are eagerly anxious to unite with us in new. county. Its soil would be largely homogeneous. thus uniting the people in their efforts for better highways. Its people would also give hearty support to any move- HlenL WHlcn alneQ aL better eQuca- tfonal facilities or a more prompt and impartial execution of the law. A point could be easily selected for the county site which would be readily accessible to all. In short such a new county would be ideal in every respect. And it's creation would not effect in any way. than benefcially. the sur rounding territory. It would certainly bring their people closer together and thus give them the same benefits asked for ourselves. We dc not beiIeve that future legislators or the people gem orally will much longer permit the selfish. sordid interests of few to defeat our Democratic request that we be allowed to apply the principle of local self government to our own af- fairs But we must get our case clear ly and plainly before the people; we must give them the facts. Most of our progressive papers recognizing the justness of our cause, have given us valuable aid, and we believe that their columns will still be open to us. Though for the time defeated. our cause is just. Let us get together our forces, organize anew, and carry the fight right on. and we have every req son to believe that 1t will not be long before we shall win.
 L. c. Flames.
 Demopolis. Ala. Nov. 10. 1908.