The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-17
JERE KING IS PROBABLY
 HAPPItST MAN IN TOWN
Nelson, Babb, o'Brien and Others Dis cuss the Victory-Grea at Fireworks Demonstration Suggested For
 New Years Night.

With a broad smile, a slap on it's big chest, and an expansion of It's muscles, Greater Birmingham yesterday rejoiced in the news of victory. There was 8 smile on every face, and a feeling in the hearts of the citizenship that no one can down the city in her onward progress.
 With one voice the people join with President Frank Nelson, of the Chamber of Commerce, "Let us get together" They have ceased the struggle against the an- nexation, and now standing upon the threshold of immeasurabIe prosperity, 1t is "all hands together"
 Now Is the time for a jubilee, accord ing to the most optimistic. It is sug- gested that on New Years eve the people of all Greater Birmingham join in a great torchlight procession, with emblems and banners, and that the whole city hold a wake to see the new year come in lead- ing Greater Birmingham, amid the din of whistle blasts.
 There has been suggestion of a paid fireworks display from the top of one of the big skyscrapers. Others also suggest the opening of subscription list to pur- chase a great electric sign to appear above everything else in the city and tell of the greatness of Birmingham.
 King Is Happy Man.
 Beyond question none can feel the de- light that has come to the ardent, untir- ing disciples of the bill the men who fought its battles and stood by it when kt1~ <~f ~ at-- .~k champion, the author of the bill, the man who gave his time, money and brain to Its passage, and to whom Is possibly due more credit than any other one man. had little to say yesterday more than to express his delight
 we will have a population to begin with of not under 12o.OOo people at very conservative estimate, and before the year is out 1t will reach 125,ooo.
 "The fight is won. Of course, the case can be carried to the, United States su- prene court on the ground that it is vio- lation of the federal constitution in that property rights are interrupted without due process of law, but I do not think such course could be puhsued with any success"
 Blackburn Calls It Signal Victory.
 Felix Blackburn, the attorney who put up such strenuous fight against the bill in behalf of Ens1ey, stated last night that he had not read copy of the decision and could not express any opinion, that he had not conferred with the Ensley people and did not know what the next step, might be. Any course pursued will not delay the organization of Greater Bir- mingham. I imagine the next step would be an application for rehearing in order to get the matter before all the judges of the supreme court instead of the four who handled It. However, at first flush, 1t would seem that the Greater Birmingham advocates have won a signal victory"
 Ends Long Battle.
 The victory ends a long battle. For ten years 1t has been an issue in the county and state. Many hours have been spent on plans and bills. Easy referendum measures such as the Smyer bill three years ago were tried and proved too slow The time came to act, or let the 1910 cen sus retell false story. man was need- ed to lead the light, and Jere c. King proved himself that man.
 But without the watchful unerring SUD- port of the Chamber of Commerce, Mir. Kings efforts would have availed little. The chamber. under Presidents Stirling A. Wood, John L. Raul and Frank Nell son. Jr.. has never failed to make the fight at the right time. Twice the city has been held in suspense, but now all doubt is swept out of the way
 "From medley of towns. each with It's own ideas and interests different from the others, Birmingham becomes a com munity of the whole. which should have but one aim--to get together and grow" said Frank Nelson last night. "The greatest result of our fight for Greater Birmingham is the possibility of this sim- pie getting together. No city ever had such a chance. With the proper spirit,