The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-21

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 As one of the citizens of Birmingham whose business is suffering from the coal miners strike, wish to enter my pro- test
 Let us look at the facts. Up to July 1 our business was gaining in volume steadily, and we felt that the end of the hard times was in sight. On July 1 the United Mine Workers of America called a strike-for what? Judging by the ar ticles which have appeared in the press, and my long residence in the district, l say unhesitatingly, that 1t was for the purpose of enforcing unionism in the mines of this district Certainly 1t could have been no question of wages because l know that miner who was willing to work could make $100 and over net per month in any of the mines, and 1 am re- liably informed that the average wage was higher in this district than in the Connellsville district in Pennsylvania. Furthermore, there were mines like the Empire which had never reduced the wage scale, and at which strike conditions reign. From all of this it would appear 
 pose of again bringing the business of coal mining under the thumb of Messrs. Fairley, Kennamer Clemo ct al.
 
 course, they did so to benefit those who bought homes from them, but there was no one on the board who was in any way connected with this company. l offered the motion to name the school "Gibson school" in honor of the man whose in- fluence had given the town a lot to place a school on, and I might also add has done more for the good of Wodlawn than any one else. Now the people elected me on the board because. I promised them that I would do all in my power to give them better school facilities, that l ad- vocated a grammar school in each end of Woodlawn and I led the ticket on this issue, and fulfilled my promise to the people; and owe no apology to any man. shall always feel grateful to the people of Woodlawn for their loyalty to me-; they elected me twice on their board, and insisted on my accepting another term, besides I might mention that more than once have been urged to run for mayor of our prosperous little town. Now, MT. Editor ask MT. Lindsey how many times he has asked for office at the hands of the voters of Woodawn and as many times turned down. He sets himself up as the Moses to lead the people out of the wilderness, but the people of Woodlawn have refused more than once to be led by him, and, will refuse again. Of course. there are few kickers in our little city that tell him to go on, but they are in the very small minority. Woodlawn has amble room in the three schools to head, who do business in a business way, besides we have two colored schools to take care of the colored children, which Mir Lindsey failed to mention in his enumeration. Now, Woodlawn has conservative set of business men at its head, who do business in a business way, and do not spend their time and the peo- ple's money in fussing between them selves. but work In harmony for the good of our little city. There are several more points in MT. Lindsey's letter that might mention but know that the voters of woodlawn will show him on September 15 that they are satisfied with the board of mayor and aldermen that they have placed at the head of the town.
 Thanking you for your space, am. vours truly. R. K. KENNEDY.
 Woodlawn, August 20, 1908.