The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-11

fact that the gentleman has very kindly invited me.
 But want to say,' and Colonel Tom linsons face was white with anger, that he was unjust and unfair. He knows that I'm not in favor of rottenness of any kind nor in it's continuing" followed by deafening applause.
 Gentlemen, when as a member of tho national democratic executive committe, I decided to oppose this bill as a dem- ocratic principle, l did it because I knew that it is not right to strike down a democratic government and substitute for 1t an autocratic government Election from wards Is democratic self-govern- ment. and I tell you if you cannot elect honest men from the wards you cannot elect them from the city. You want to do away with 42 councilmen and substitute for them the rule of three.
 Tt would be just as undemocratic to strike down the representation by coun- ties and have a commission govern the state. It Is a dangerous thing to put the affairs of this city in the hands of three men. We now have checks and balances. They cannot sneak through any graft at one meeting if one alderman objects. If there are only two or three of them they could meet any time and make contract or do any other act without the people have any voice whatever. few men, acting as one man, could build up a ma chine that would be irristable, and you could never pull them out. In a compact body like that how are you going to show up anybody? There is more danger in three than in 42.
 Defends Harding.
 "Now, because MT. Harding saw fit last night to express his opinion on this mat ter his motives are impugned here by MT Beddow and he is held up as being in- fluenced by the city's deposits. l don't deal in personalities. I do not take the position that men who choose to differ with me are acting as grafters. The in- terest in the breast of every man is to rise up and not be lost in the mass of humanity. Men act from patriotic motives and I hope I will never get in that frame of mind where I think my neighbor is a rascal Whenever a man is so quick tc believe i'll of his fellowman, something is wrong In his heart.
 'I am not here to defend the Board of Aldermen but take them as a whole, they are as honorable set of men as can be found anywhere.
 the audience.
 I'd rather trust Dick Gamble than some of these magnates," said MT. Tom- linson, 'samid applause. MT Tomlinson asked for an orderly meeting, announced that MT. Estes had declared that no Vote would be taken and was about to take his seat when someone called: How about your running for the senate?'
 q have aspired to stand high in my country" replied MT. Tomlrson. "and I consider that no grounds for sneering at me. have my suspicion as the Savior did of old of those who stood up and thanked God that they were not as other people,"
 Urquhart Reports Progress.
 There were many cries for Garrett" as Representative Urquhart was introduced.
 letter from Max Hamburger. stating that he could serve the bill best by remaining in Montgomery before the
 aio h'd 1t under consider ation. He narrated the history of the l. ap to the time it was introduced in the senate, and read this telegram from Irnnb' ~oer' .TIe laughs best who laughs last. Committee reports favorably."
 .r ,ruunart then went into the de- tails or the bill. describing the initiative. I referendum and recall, and asked, (Which is the worse form of government one elected by the people or a self-constituted commission of three or four bosses, as we have now.
 ''The type of democracy championed by this guardian of Alabamas democracy, MT. Tomlinson. is different from the doc Urine of that great apostle, William Jen- 'nings Bryan. and I'm going to write to MT. Bryan and tell him to look out for his protege down here." W
 Leath Advocates Bill.
 ]. H. Leath advocated the bill because he thought 1t the only way to get mu-