The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-22
HANDSOME SERVICE PRESENTED ID KING Bowie. Babb and Others Make
 Short Talks MIR. KING APPRECIATlVE Babb Thinks It Fine Thing for Bir- mingham When Workers in city's
 Behalf Are Remembered
 So Gratefully.
KING APPRECIATlVE

The presentation of beautiful silver
 service to Jere c. King, author and cham
 pion of the Greater Birmingham bill, de-
 veloped into a love feast on the part of
 those who had labored for the passage of
 the bill.
 That Birmingham has become big
 enough to evince it's appreciation for
 public service was a matter of comment.
 Secretary Joseph B. Babb of the Cham
 Der of Commerce declared that Tt is d
 fine thing when a community reaches
 the point when it begins to show tangible
 appreciation. It is right that we ex-
 press our feelings to the living, for it
 will serve as an inspiration and an in-
 centive for honesty and efficiency in pub
 lie life and in service to the community"
 In the party which made the presenta-
 ton were Sydney J. Bowie, b. D. Smith,
 Joseph B. Babb, Robert Jemison, Jr.,
 and Romaine Boyd. The silver service,
 which was considered the most beautiful
 in the city, was opened on MT. King S
 desk by MT. Herzog, of the firm of Her
 zog & Thompson, the Third avenue. jew
 elers, who made a special reduction for
 the committee on account of the semi
 public nature of the gift.
 MT Bowie said: q am deputized by
 number of your friends to testify to you our appreciation of the valuable work you have accomplished. We feel that without you all our efforts would have
 been without avail, for at least much longer time.
 .aThe entire community has received a great benefit from the passage of the bill. Some suburbs may imagine for the time that they will suffer. but I believe that the outsiders will all come to realize that you rendered them all great service. Now, on behalf of the large number whom
 I represent I wish to present to you this
 testimonial of our esteem and regard.
 Joseph B. Babb said: T wish to add my testimony to the appreciation shown in an all too inadequate amount Having
 been associated with Mir. King, there IS no one better capable than l to appre- ciate the game fight he made over great obstacles, and his self-sacrifcing course throughout.
 .He has shown an intelligence Tn piac- ing the necessary legal safeguards which have been proven by the decision of the supreme court. The people of Birming- ham feel deep down in their hearts that MT. King is their unselfish champion, and honors even greater await man who has done such signal public service In reply MT. King said: While 1t IS out of the ordinary for anyone to give mere member of the legislature anything, when you come with a present to mem Der of that last legislature l am amazed. He related something of the fight in be- half of the bill and said: ''I feel that the personal importance has been overesti- mated If I were to tell you the keynote of the victory would say that it hasn't been ability, it hasn't been political shrewdness, but 1t has been civic pride and continuity of purpose. No man ever called upon more willing help"
 He spoke of the newspaper boys, giving them credit for having filled the papers with optimism. and put good cheer and confidence in the people of Birmingham. In closing he said Whatever humble work I may have done I assure you it has been a labor of love. My heart has never yet learned the alphabet of for getfulness, and to you I am profoundly grateful"
 Robert Jemison, Jr., beside indorsng the sentiments with reference to MT. King, also spoke of the yeoman service done by MT. Babb. and the whole com pany applauded the thought.