The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-02-15
FOR A DISCUSSION
MIR FORBES THINKS IT WOULD BE
 BENEFICIAL.
He is Neither Eor Nor Against Remsvsl of Fountain, But q PubIic Dis-
 cunsion Wonld Be Bene- ffe1nr.

That he might not be understood as accepting the challenge of the Ladies Memorial Association solely for the purpose of arguing for the removal Of the Court Street Fountain President Forbes has made public his letter of | acceptance to Mrs. Blob. President of | the Association
 President Forbes takes the position that this is one of the opportunities afforded for irupressing ot, the people of Montgomery the benefits to be de- rived from besutifying the city, Presi- dent Forbes has not committed him | self particularly on the matter of ! removing the Court Street fountain, but rather favers allowing those most in- terested to discuss the matter so that | all may know just why it lis desired to remove it and why 1t is desired by others to keep it where it Is. The let ter in full Is as follows:
 Mrs M. D. Bibb, President Ladies' Memorial Association of Montgom- cry. Montgomery. Ala:
 My Dear Mrs. Bibb--Since having the honor and pleasure of receiving xour appreciated letter of the 5th, sug- gesting that I place before the Com 1 mercial Club the request for the selec- ton of champion to meet one of the | city's, orators who will be chosen by  disposition of that historic spot in Court Square on which Is now located the handsome Fountain, have de- layed answering ts;s long, to conclude what good, if any, would result from such debate. E
 While this subject has not been dis cussed or brought before the commer- cial Club since the office building prop osition, which served our purposes weli-see the handsome office buildings and hotels that now adorn the city, you can be assured that the Club will. take no step antagonistic 10 the pres ervation of any spot that should be mas historic, if such were properly used for the memorialization of true history, which the beautiful but mean. ingless fountain does not represent.
 Relieving that such discussion will be edifying to all of our good citi- gems who may be interested, will say for thss Club that we shall be very glad indeed to meet the ladies of the Memorial Association of Montgomery as well as other citizens, In a spirit of friendliness and good Fellowship to discuss the general subject of the beau- tiflcation and the historic Adornment of Montgomery, incidentally taking up in discussion the possible disposition of the question proposed by you.
 Tn my opinion, this discussion should take place at the earliest mo- ment in order to allay possible clamor on the subject because at the present time, everything affecting the improve ment of Montgomery is of vital import. ance to it's citizens.
 T find the only question before the City Council in respect to the Fountain is contained in a resolution now in the hands of the Joint Committee of Streets and Judiciary. which reads:
 Be 1t resolved by the City Council of Montgomery, as follows: That the Mayor be. and he is hereby. authorized and instructed to have the Court Square Fountain moved to such place as the Councils Committee on Streets may direct.
 "'Be 1t further resolved, That said work shall be done under the direction of the City Engineer, and shall be done without cost to the city
 Tt is possible we may prevail upon this joint committee to defer action on the resolution until after the proposed meeting has been held.
 Would. therefore, respectfully ask that you notify me regarding the date, the place and time that will suit you best for the discussion, so that we may select our representatives and cooper ate with you in securing a large and representative audience.
 "I believe that voice the senti- ments of this entire community when I say that the ladies of the Memorial Association of Montgomery deserve all of the honor that their unselish devo- tion to the past should bring to them.
 r "Yours very respectfully
 'A. c. Forbes,
 ''President"
 President Forbes has not yet re- ceived a reply to his letter. but as soon as he does will name an orator to champion the cause of beautifying the city, including the removal of the foun- tain as a hypothetical incident towards this end. Tt"t