The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-14
Housing Meeting Is Held to Protest Against 0ppoSi-
 ton to New County :.
BADHAM STlRS CHEERS
 BY RINGING SPEECH
Incidentally Lays Bare Some of the Weaknesses of Jefferson's Court System-TomorroW New Coun-
 ties Day at the Fair.
By j. F. LEE.

Bessemer, October 1S-( Special. )-Never before has the enthusiasm of the Besse- mer people beer. aroused as it now is over the proposed new county
 The merchants of the town closed their stores in order to attend the mass meet ing called at o'clock this afternoon to hear the question discussed and to draft resolutions in answer to those passed by members of he Commercial club of Bir- mingham
 The meeting was called to order by Sec retray Walter S. Gilbert of the new counties campaign committee. W. H. Dennis was made chairman and J. F. Lee secretary of the meeting.
 By this time the large courtroom at Reble's hall was filled, many ladies being in attendance Some one mentioned H. L. Baaham's name, and immediately there followed loud applause and cries for speech.
 Mir Badham came forward and con- vinced the citizens present that he fav- ored the Ragland amendment not for Bessemer's interest solely, but for the good of the state and citizens at large. lie spoke as follows:
 H. L. Eadham Speaks.
 Tt is not necessary for you to be told why the new county should be formed 4, but l can tell you why you are being fought so hard by certain Birmingham people They would make it appear that lie commercial interests of Birmingham -.re at stake, and have taken possession of the Birmingham Commercial club and are using it as a club, but who wields the big stick? The merchants2 No! Look at the committee of 20 appointed by Mir. ket- tig-only one merchant, MT. B. F. Moore of the Moore & Handley Hardware com pIny. and 1 suppose MT Kettig appointed him in order that his house might have company in this fight The others are principally lawyers or real estate men.
 w. w. Crawford in his interview said: This proposition strikes at-the very heal t # the Birmingham merchants Now, let s analyze. MT. Crawford is president of the East Lake Land company If the new county seat was East Lake 1 think he would say as the little boy with the ap- ole. There ain't going to be no heart, Jut he pays his respects to Bessemer by saying, It is impossible to understand
 
 the richest part of the county See, they admit that the greatest revenue received by the county of Jefferson is from the Bessemer district.
 Conditions at Court House.
 What does Mir Bradley say in his in- terview? The lawyers are actuated by their knowledge of facts and conditions of the courthouse Now, gentlemen, thats s the truth, the whole. truth and nothing but the truth, so help me lawyers. Now as to the conditions. Nine judges mean nine courts Cases on docket for court week, commencing Monday, the first day. Attorneys A. and c. represent defendant in two cases, second division, two cases in fourth division three in the fifth di- vision and so on. Witnesses assemble from all parts of the county. Attorneys A. and C. consult docket, pick out case s that they prefer to have the trial of. A. goes to the second division and as his case is called announces ready for trial. Attorney c. goes to fourth division and announces ready for trial. As cases are called in other divisions in which these attorneys are interested the bailiff gets ID and says, Please, your honor, MT. c. is trying a case in the fourth division. The judge says, Send for MT. A After wait ing for half an hour or more MT. A. comes in-beg your honor's pardon. was in the midst of an argument in the fourth division. The judge says, You represent the defendant in case of John Doe vs. Octopus?' Yes. your honor, and l may get through with the other cases by to. morrow morning. Thanks The judge raps, All witnesses in the case of John