The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-16
CHAMPAGNE AS WELL
 AS BEER IS STOLEN

It was reported at police headquar- ters yesterday that thirsty burglars entered the freight house of the St. Louis and San Francisco railroad on Ninth avenue and Twenty second street. north, Wednesday night and carried away with them five barrels of beer and two cases of1champagne, besides a bundle of tents.
 It Is not known how the thieves man aged to get away with the goods of such cumbersome weight without being detected. They forced open one of the big doors next to the railroad tracks and, evidently, must have rolled the barrels of beer down the long platform to the end of the freight house where 1t is thought they had a wagon in waiting.
 At any rate they escaped without be- ing seen or heard and the police have no clue upon which to work.
 ---~~4o.~So.~4o-~-o-~-~J~~ came up from Faunsdale last night to address the meeting He made a strong appeal in behalf of the voters of the north. end of Marengo county. We are sorely in need of a new county in our part of the state,' said Mr. Pegram, '.I have had to go distance of SS miles to try cases in court, and while could continue to do this without a personal kick it is a great hardship on the clients and witnesses to have to leave their crops in the spring and the fall of each year. a time when they are most needed at homea and have to lose from three days to a week, when with the facilities that will be given them i by the formation of new county will enable them to attend court and return to their homes with little inconven- ience."
 MT. Pegram has personally canyassed the counties in the lower end of the state, and is very optimistic regarding ! the situation, and says that a large majority vote will be polled for the amendment in his territory.
 Rufus N. Rhodes Applauded.
 Following MT. Pegram Rufus N. Rhodes took the floor and so well de fined have been his views on the ques- ton the Bessemer people resent greeted him with much applause.
 He expressed the view that the form l ing of small counties would do much to promote the interest of the state, and that he was a strong believer in local lf-government.
 Touching on the action of the 20 members of the Commercial club of Birmingham in instituting fight against the amendment he said.
 There are some on that committee of 20 that will vote for the amendment. I helped to organize the Commercial club, and have attended about as many meetings al any other member, and it has been its policy not to take up any question that would result in the dis ruption of it's members. I will venture to say that sh ould full memb ership be gotten together the stand taken by the 20 members would be ruled out of order by vote of more than to l, and I for one would favor waving the rule and putting the new county issue be- fore them for a vote, and I feel sure that a good majority would favor the amendment.
 Don't worry about those 20 members. for when the day of election is at hand I believe that very few of them will be in opposition to you"
 All in all the meeting was a good one, and will no doubt have a far reaching effect through out the state favorable to the Ragsdale amendment.