The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-11

Wheeler alone opposing it.
 Percy Takes the Floor.
 Then MT Percy took the floor and made a half hours talk in support of his posi- ton. He argued that this club was or ganized to promote the welfare of this town. and it is called upon to take an in terest In question which affects our deepest concern. 1 do not think there is a man of any nation, party, or color In this county who is not interested in the question of diversion. For years we have been trying to build up Birmingham" and then he narrated numerous results of the disintegration, declaring among them that 1t would give Bessemer the greater proportion of the districts ore deposits, which Is the chief asset of Birmingham. He commended the enterprise of Bes- semer, but said that apathy on the part of Birmingham should be condemned.
 When MT. Percy closed a hint was thrown out by MT. Jenkins that the de- bate be limited to five minutes, and MT. Bowron arose again, appealing to the sense of decency of the members to allow him as much time as MT. Percy. This was granted on Percy's motion.
 MT. Bowron said that he didn't know the proposition was to take the new coun- ty off and dump it in the bay at Pen sacola, and he thought that the upbuild- ing of Bessemer would increase the prop erty value of the neighbor close by. You people would say, Here's one of our chil~ dren that has been growing 20 years or more. The child is now ready to get married and set up home for himself. but he has got to stay here and do the chores. He cannot have a home
 MT. Bowron pitched his speech on the high plane of liberty. He recalled the civil war, and declared that if Birming- ham would not agree to the secession Of Bessemer, the unpleasantness resulting would outlast that famous struggle. He applied the argument of the golden rule. and then said that not dollar less money would be in the Birmingham banks, not a man less would be at work, nor furnace shut down after the new county lines are drawn. He pointed out that Birmingham lives and prospers on the wealth that Bessemer possesses. and then said that one great town growing up beside another does not hurt it, that they could accomplish much more as friends and allies hand in hand. than when fighting and prejudiced.
 Others Make Short Talks.
 Robert Jemison. Jr., made talk importance, a bad precedent, and had within it bad principles. He was de- termined that the bill should be de feated.
 w. P. G. Harding said that patriot ism is-very pretty but 1t was mat ter of selfish business after all. He believed that when called to the at tention of the people of the state they will look at their real interests and turn it down.
 He said that Bessemer Is like the boy who finds out he has a chance out of 40, 0,000,000 to be President that he Is youthful and has big ambitions, but that after awhile he will settle down to some business pursuit He recalled that Birmingham, in her early days. wanted to be the capital of the state, but had outgrown that He called the names of 20 counties who should be personally interested in preventing the passage of the bill because they will have the matter of losing some big chip of their territory sooner or later and he thought that when they begin to think of the trouble and dissension they are laying up for tn emselves in the future they will stand up and vote it down.
 Mr. Wheeler, while opposing any stand on the matter by the club, sad he hoped the amendment would not carry MT. Gibson said that the Ques- tion should come home to every citizen of the state who has the ambition Of seeing one big city in the state to which they can point with pride.
 Robert Jemison, ST., believed that the people could be depended upon to sup press a measure which had been gal loped and traded through the legisla- ture that one member of a family should not be allowed to disrupt the whole family property.
 Captain Crook of Bessemer was given the floor. He explained that under the Ragsdale law no more than five coun- ties can be formed, and speeches by both Captain Crook and other Bessemer citizens were based upon the right of citizen to selfgovernment.
 H. l.. Badham closed the argument with witty speech, backing up MT. Bowron.
 Mir Badham had considerable fun at the expense of MT. Percy and others who are opposing the amendment. He said most of the opposition came from lawyers, who feared they would have to go to the Bessemer courts to try damage suit cases. He said they ought to show a broader patriotism and not stand in the way of Bessemers inde- pendent growth and expansion.
 When the resolution was put to a vote it was carried almost unani- mously.
 MT. Percys last motion was that committee of 20, with the chair as chairman, be appointed to take up the campaign and fight it to a finish. 4nis xvas ca rri ad bN tbe same vote