The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-16
kettig Wants Rufus N. Rhodes to Back Up His As-
 Serti0nS
BELIEVES HE CLUB WILL
 BE FOUND AGAINST IT
Yesterday Was New County Day ana Tomorrow Prominent Speakers Will Point Out Objections
 To Amendment.

The fight for the new county waxes warm. w H. Kettig is out with d spicy reply to Gen. Rufus N. Rhodes The new county advocates held a big speaking at the fair grounds yesterday. The Jefferson county day tomorrow promises to be just as good At Il o'clock tomorrow the representatives of Shelby. Jefferson, Walker and Tuscaloosa coun- ties will hold a conference in the Com mereial club rooms, formulate a broad scheme to fight the adoption of the new amendment. and get right down to three weeks hard work.
 Among those who will attend from other counties are J. s. Moore. Judge J. W, Shepherd, J. C. Brown, Frank S. Moody and several others After the meeting they will join the speakers at the fair grounds, and all the reasons un- der the sun to show why Jefferson coun- ty should not be split up will be given to the winds. W D. Nesbltt, railroad commissioner; Walker Percy, Frank S.. Moody, state senator and others will make addresses
 The following letter has been received from W. II. Kettig, chairman of the Commercial clubs campaign committee against the new county;
 Birmingham, October 15, 1sOs To the Editor of The Age Herald:
 Several members of the Commercial club have called my attention to the fol- lowing editorial which appeared in the Evening News Tuesday. October IS:
 Not Representative.
 "srhe people of Alabama and Jefferson county should not be misled by the cir cuar letter issued by a committee of the Commercial club of Birmingham this morning in opposition to the proposed amendment to the constitution, providing for the creation and establishment of new counties in Alabama. The commit tee appointed at a special meeting, called on 24 hours notice. at which the vote in favor of opposing the new county amendment was about 20. The club has a membership of nearly 800 It is not be- lleved by many that the action taken would be ratified by full meeting of that organization"
 The meeting of the Commercial club was called for the special purpose of considering the new county amendment. The purpose. of the meeting was adver- tised in the daily papers one day in ad- vance and it was known to all those who desired to attend that the new county amendment would be the special business considered At this meeting a resolution was adopted opposing the new county amendment. A committee was appointed to issue an address to the people of the state, and the chairman of the meeting was instructed to appoint a campaign committee. A standing vote on these propositions was taken and there was only one dissenting vote. The dissenting vote was cast by a gentleman who is largely interested in the Bessemer Land company.
 The editorial in the Birmingham News says that the meeting was mot repre- sentative; that only 20 members of the Commercial club voted for the resolution, and that it is believed by many that the action taken by the club would not be ratified by a full meeting of that organ izaton."
 The Commercial club of Birmingham is either for or against the new county amendment. If there is any doubt about the standing of the club on this question (and the Birmingham News seems to think there is), it will be simple matter to call another meeting of the club and ascertain just where the club stands This is a question that is of vital importance to the people of Birmingham, Jefferson county and the state of Alabama. There should be no doubt as to where the Com mercial club of Birmingham stands on the question.
 Now I suggest that if the editor of the Birmingham News has any doubts as to how the members of the club stand, he should at once have called meeting of the club for the purpose of ascertain- ing the attitude of the club on this ques- tion A meeting can easily be arranged next week. Due notice can be given in all the papers, and full opportunity can be given every member to attend the meeting At this meeting the members of the Commercial club will line up and be counted, and it will be found out speedily and definitely how the club stands.
 I believe that nine-tenths of the total membership of the Commercial club and particularly those who are not financially and commercially interested on the other side, are opposed to the new county amendment If I did not believe this I would not accept the chairmanship of the campaign committee which was ten- dered me at the meeting of the club.
 l am not personally interested in the question of the new county. 1 have some business interests in Bessemer, and if l were to vote in accordance with my own personal interests 1 would vote for the new county. As citizen of Birmingham, however l am opposed to amputating any part of Jefferson county. l believe 1t Is to the interest and welfare of Birming- ham and Jefferson county to maintain this county as it now is and not split it up
 l have no quarrel with those on the other side who are deeply interested in a financial and commercial way. The peo- pie of Bessemer are looking out for their own interests, as they have right to do, but on the other hand the people in the balance of the county have the same right to guard their interests.
 No limbs should be amputated from any