The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-05
Council Minority Takes Coca
sion 10 Say Some Spicy
Things About Majority
PROVISION is MADE FOR
ELECTION OF RECORDER
Appropriation for Carnegie Library lie
Held Up When Alderman Moore
Protests-SiIver Service
Presented to Smith.


While last nights meeting of the city
council was one in which little of Inn
portance was done, it is memorable for
the fact that the minority, helpless to ac-
compish anything, expressed its senti-
ments and beliefs as to how the munich
pal government was being operated, and
10 what straits affairs were tending.
To begin with Alderman Cooper made
plea for the death of partisanship and
petty politics. Later, Alderman Estes,
| in seconding a motion of Alderman Gregg,
plead for square deal" in the matter
of eleoting city officials, which, he
charged, had not been given candidates
unfavored by the majority faction in the
past Later still Alderman Starbuck. in
nominating Emmett L. Smith of Avondale
| to a vacancy on the Board of Education,
paid his respects in no mistakable terms
to that power on the board from which
DEGREES come"
The utterances of these members of
the minority faction served to keep alive
interest in view of the fact that other
than reading and passing of reports and
routine matters the council accomplished
very little.
The Meeting Summarized.
John L, Parker, formerly president of
the city council was elected to fill the
vacancy on the Board of Education. On
account of the objection of Alderman
Estes the report of the steering commit
tee, providing for the employment of
Edward D. Smith to represent the city
in five cases at $500 per case, and pro-
vidng for the hiring of stenographer for
the city attorney at $40 per month was
passed to the finance committee to be
acted upon at the next meeting. Alder
man Gregg Introduced an ordinance pro-
vidng for the election of a city recorder,
and the fixing of his salary, which ordi-
nance was referred to the Judiciary COM
mittee. Alderman Gregg's resolution
making the second meeting in November
the time for the annual election of city
officials carried without dissenting vote
These were the important matters con.
sidered last night by the council.
Discussing Mr.. Parker.
Toward the conclusion of the meeting,
under the head of new business, Alder
man Klotz, in a very happy speech, NOM
mated John L. Parker to fill the va
cancy which existed on the Board of Ed
ucation.
Mr.. Heidi seconded the nomination.
In nominating Emmett L. Smith of Avon
dale to fill the position Alderman STAR
buck made the most sensational speech
of the evening.
Alderman Estes seconded the nominal
ton of Mr.. Smith and added:
IT believe we should elect Mr.. Smith
because, In addition to his real worth,
his intelligence, his experience and the
position he holds in the estimation of
his fellow man, he is SO fortunate as
not to be connected with either nGe mi
nority or majority factions or this city
council.
Il object to Mr.. Parker because, in my
opinion, he is not the strongest man NOM
mated for the position. I also object to
Alr. Parker on account of his rank par
tsanship as displayed on this board"
Mr.. Klotz at this point exclaimed: HE
is better than you.'
Mr.. Estes ignored the statement with
a charge that Mr.. Klotz is as yet I'M
familiar with the English language.
Parker Is Elected.
Mr.. Cooper thereupon took the floor and
said: Il wish also to second the nominal
ton of Mr.. Smith. | believe the mem
bers of the Board of Education should
be elected irrespective or petty politics
and fractional differences. The position
is one of grave Importance and should
be filled only after careful consideration
of the candidates. Mr.. Smith will lend
materially in floating the bond issue of
1850 900 for the Improvement of the city
schools 1 think that he should be
elected"
The vote was then called for. Alder
man Burnett-east the first vote. ItNwas
for Parker. The following followed his
lead: Greener, Klotz, Copeland, d. R.,
Copeland, J. r., Gum, Forney, Fulghum,
HEIDI Hogan, Gregg, Causey, Morgan and
Stockmar. The following voted for Smith:
Moore Estes Cooper, Martin and Star
buck.
Starbuck's Pointed Address.
Before nominating Mr.. Smith Mr.. Star
buck, In the following words, paid his
respects to the majority faction of the
council:
''Mr President rise for the purpose of
making a nomination to the important
office of member of the Board of Edu-
cation.
II suppose | am very presumptuous to
speak without first having obtained per-
mission from that mighty and unseen
power from which it is said all edicts
concerning this board are issued,
TT is said that he who dares oppose
this power will have whatever he may
propose consigned to the pigeonhole or
to the waste basket, and himself be for
ever condemned to serve on the 'ceme-
terry committee
Am | to believe that men on this
board whom l have known for years as
honorable and upright in business trans
actions would knowingly be a party to
a boycott ON a member who dared to
stand for a principle or to voice the
sentiments Of the people he represents?
Il would rather forever be relegated to
tie grave yard committee and be alive
to the voice of the people and the best
interests of the city, than to be locked
in the vault of prejudice with the cont
bination set on personal faHors VS.. the
general good
II am new to this board but | am not
new to this city; for % years l have
known those who have built and are
building Birmingham, and know the tenn
per of this people--and know they will
never stand for, at any time, a combina-
ton organized alone to further private in
terests and to thwart the will of the
naoplp