The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-11


 in their own hands the articles they
 purchase. In many ways they apparently
 have not the expenses which face the city
 merchant.
 In addition, these commissaries are very
 large buyers, buying direct from first
 hands and in very large quantities In
 fact. in some respects their purchasing
 capacity is far ahead of that of many
 wholesalers combined Let the committee
 go thoroughly and fairly into all of these questions and then make a public re- port.
 Stop Newspaper Notoriety. Pending that time, stop all of this vague and more or less aimless newspaper ho- toriety. Substitute for it the encourage
 ment to everybody interested, to collect 1 and send in writing over his or her sig l nature to the chairman, MT Barrett, l heard somebody else say, but such | detailed facts as are personally known to the writers, and which will help the committee to reach a conclusion Such an investigation and report by such representative and trust worthy men, who would undoubtedly be
 willing to act in such capacity, should quickly get at facts and settle things. This agitation has reached that stage where it cannot be ignored, and should not be suffered to gradually peter out.
 On the contrary, it should be pressed in a quiet, yet thorough and fair manner. to a reasonable conclusion. To my mind 1t
 would have been much better from the first to have started such quiet and bus like investigation. rather than to have heralded far and wide to the outside world in a vague and hearsay way that it costs more to live in Birmingham than anVyyharp else on the glODe,'
 Conclusions To Be Reached. In advance I confidently affirm that this committee will reach some, if not
 all of the following conclusions. viz. That
 while in some respects living Is higher
 here than in some other cities; on the
 other hand that wages are higher. that
 men, women. boys and girls are paid bet
 ter here, if they desire to work; that
 more money is regularly in circulation :
 more healthy and proper sources of amusement and recreation, those blessed
 boons and recuperating places for those who labor, whether with brain or with hand that Birmingham housekeepers, as a rule, demand the very best grades Of eatables made or grown On the other hand that our merchants carry large and varied stocks in all lines and have good
 goods suitable for all purses. rich or poor. That our religious, educational, phllan- thropic and social advantages are simply unparalleled by any town anywhere near ours in size and age. That our street car and interurban facilities and our vast
 system of radiating railroads offer to
 those who wish to either live or buy sup plies outside of Birmingham ample oppor- | tunities to do either or both. That our real estate agents have houses and stores for
 rent suitable for respectable persons, rich or poor What that committee may re-
 port as wrong, unfair or prejudicial to l Birmingham's best interests can then De taken up and remedied.
 Let this committee meet at once; get right down to business and report In the
 meantime, let everybody stop Knocking. On the contrary, let us all get together pull and work Loyalty for Birmingham and the Birmingham district, as the healthiest, best and most attractive place in which to live that mortal man has
 vet discov vered or built Very respect fully, J. A. NANiioo'H'
 Birmingham. March 10, 1908.
 M,rrIane jcenses Issued,