The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-17
VARIANT DEFINES ATTITUDE ON BILL Would Not Take In Town With
 .out Referendum THINKS IT UNDEMOCRATIC Says He Is Under No Pledge But Deems It Simple Justice to AL
 low Vote On Greater
 Birmingham.
THINKS IT UNDEMOCRATIC
0 the Editor of The Age-Herald.

To the Editor of The Age Herald.
 l thought I had made myself clear on the Greater Birmingham proposition, but it seems from the address of Jere c. King, J. E. Shelby and Sidney J. Bowie recently issued "To the People of Jef- ferson County" that had not Now, let me say again that personally I yield to no one a greater desire to see and have Greater Birmingham than myself, but I am unwilling that this much desired re- suit should be accomplished and brought about at the cost and sacrifice of demo- cratic principles. l am unwilling for Ems ley, North Birmingham, Woodlawn and the other municipalities around Birming- ham to be wiped off the face of the map without having voice in the transaction. Democracy means government by the peo- pie. The gentlemen would deny this right to the people of these municipalities and yet l believe even they would be will ing to concede that these people possess average intelligence and are capable of saying what they desire.
 MT. King in the unconstitutional bill which he passed in the last session of the legislature was generous enough then to allow a vote on the question. Why deny it now? If 1t was the right and proper thing at that time. why is it not the proper thing and a good thing now? Not only that, but MT. King has time and again stated that he was commit ted to allowing a vote by the people affected on this question. He was elect ed on that issue and with that under '
 poses since he has been elected to ig- nore and disregard his committals in this matter made when he was seeking votes In other words, he holds his own words for naught and yet he Is the Moses come forth to tell the people to vote against me. Can honesty of purpose and fair dealing be held consistent with his action? The school of democracy in which l received my training taught no such doctrine. Let's keep faith with the peo- pie, though 1t does require sometimes the sinking of personal ambition. These gem tlemen assume to speak that have made some pledge in this matter and by iu- uendo say that 1t was a secret pledge l am under no pledge, secret or open, to any of these municipalities It re- qures no pledge to make me do right Let my position be known and under stood of all men open and above board But l do not concede the right of this self-constituted committee of three to tell the people of this county what they ought to do. l have lived practically all my life in this county. 1 believe in giv- ing everybody and every community a square deal" There are other issues to come before this extra session, which to my mind, are of as much import ance as Greater Birmingham, but if these gentlemen insist, let the Issue be under stood, Greater Birmingham arbitrarily and without vote on the one side, and Greater Birmingham by the ratification and the expressed desire by ballot of the people to be taken in and annexed on the other.
 l stand for the last proposition, be- cause 1 believe it is fair and just to all parties concerned, and 1 had rather go down in defeat than to sacrifice my honest convictions for any office. Re- spectfully. FELIX l. TARRANT.
 Birmingham, June Is, 1909.