The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-25

boss rule. I ever saw. Why, l know tbat if it was left to the country peo- ple around Bessemer they would never get a majority in favor of tho new county. The fair way is to take it before the legislature where everybody can De heard.
 .'The trouble and dissension is already enormous. Active committees are trying to organize a new county slicing up Ma rengo. Hale and Perry. Another com mittee would pick out. county rom Clarke. Washington and Monroe, while committees are at work in Jackson and Madison, Picl1ens, Wilcox and Lee.
 Nothing is so filled with matter to breed strife, trouble and turmoil. Take the vicious fight in Shelby over the To- cation of the courthouse. The same spirit of strife will exist all over the state Let's let the people know and do our best to vote 1t down.
 In closing MT Miller said that Jeffer- son now has less representation in the legislature than any other county in proportion to the population and he urged that there is no ground for prejudice on that issue.
 BE. Moore Opposes 1t.
 B. F. Moore said: q call it more home ruin than home rule. It is prop osition for kidnapping in a high-handea way. I oppose it because it is against the interest of the whole state as well as the people of Bessemer themselves. It will help no one except the big array of officeholders which they will have to support The people of the state do not realize the fact that it will soon be local to them' He urged that people in Birmingham write personal letters and let everyone see the matter in the true light
 Gibson Tells of Injury.
 J. B. Gibson showed a map of the pro- posed county cutting off some 400 square miles from Jefferson's 1oso Anything that takes the resources away from Bir- mingham and diverts them to another city injuries Birmingham in many ways He wondered how a proper division of the debt would be arrived at and said that with less aera the same expenses would be incurred, and consequently the limit of taxation would have to be imposed and the tax values continue on their big increase both in Birmingham and Besse- mer. "The growth and glory of Bir- mingham adds to the strength and pres tige of the whole state" He predicted that in 1920 the population of Jefferson county will be 5OO,0OO, and during the next 25 years the people can do ten times more than in any period heretofore. We have almost allowed our birthright to be taken away from us by a corporals guard
 Shelby Next Speaker.
 J. E. Shelby granted the harm which will be done the whole state, and then eliminating the effect upon all except Jefferson, said that such a picture could be painted as would appeal to the patriot ism of the state and the voters would turn the amendment down. He could not imagine any motives more selfish than those which inspire peanut politicians seeking to become officeholders.' In closing he said. We will show these people that the time has not come when the few can speculate with the financial, industrial and commercial prospects of the many"
 Kettig Believes 1t Doomed
 w. H. Kettig, chairman of the campaign committee, gave a short history of the campaign up to date, said that literature is being sent over the state, that he IS receiving every encouragement and that he now believes the amendment will be defeated He believed that the people who understand the proposition will vote on his side.
 MT. Kettig stated that there is plenty of literature at the Commercial club and urged all merchants to send and get some of it to be mailed out in correspondence over the state.
 R w. Ewing president of the Board of Trade believed that the amendment would initiate against the best interests of Birmingham and the state and con demned it as 6 short sighted policy in- sisting that all should pull together for greater county.
 Representative John T. Glover was an- nounced by an ovation. He said that he was proud to be the one man of several who voted against the amendment in the house and he could never understand how any member from Jefferson could vote for that "vicious bill" He stated that while a candidate the people of Bessemer as- sured him that if they could get the jurisdiction of their court restored, they
 
 jurisdiction of the court was restored, but they had then presented the amendment If the people of Alabama will realize the effects of the proposition on them alone. they will certainly defeat it.
 Percy Closes Meeting.
 Walker Percy closed the meeting. This new county would be a valuable thing as an adjunct to the Bessemer Land com pany out there. It was turned down re- peatedly by the legislature for 20 years because Bessemer could show no reason that was sufficient. The constitutional convention turned them down. and know ing that they could get no conservative body of lawmakers to help them, they seek to slip in on the blind side
 "If the purpose is to increase the value of lots and tot establish places for of ficeseekers, then they will accomplish what they desire" MT. Percy devoted most of the remainder of his talk to a jocrlar reply to the arguments of the editor of the Birmingham News. He wanted the editor to explain how, while the money goes by thousands into the building of jails and courthouses at Bes- semer could the same revenues be used to stimulate the building of good roads, and affirmed that under such conditions