The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-15

To the Citizens OF Greater Birming-
ham:
The next city attorney of Greater
Birmingham will be in a position to
aid or hinder, more or less, the move
ment for a commission government,
and, unless City Attorney Thach has
recently changed his views, he is still
opposed 10 a commission, and very
much in favor of the a1dermanic sys-
TEN for Birmingham.
OF course nobody expected that the
many and complex problems of the
consolidation could be properly adjust
ed in six months, but II is plain that
the suburbs, al least, would be much
better satisfied with q paid commits
sion 10 expedite this work. On &C
count of my participation in the hard
Eight for the inclusion Of Ensley il
Greater Birmingham and the dissatis-
faction IN Ensley with existing condi-
lions. I have come in for q great deal
OF bitter criticism from some Of M
neighbors and best friends. They
charge me with organizing the hgns
FOR the amendment OF the bill SO as
ro include Ensley, and they claim that
II / had quit the fight after my de-
feat for the legislature last summer
BIZ DR. Tarran1 that Ensleya Wylarn
and Corey would have been left out
Of the greater city. I is trHe that
1 gave about two months OF my time
and several hundred dollars in behalf
Of Greater Birmingham and I always
ccntendsd that i would be a palpabIe
discrimination TO take in the other
suburbs and then leave out Ensley.
But I also believed that the consolIda-
ton would not only promote the well
fare Of the general community but or
-nsley and vicinity as well; and thai
the census would surely show that
the popuious territory OF the Ensley
district was needed TO land US where
we properly belonged. with cities Of
tue 100000 class. 1 have to frankly
acknowledge my share OF the respon-
sfbility for Greater Birmin CHAM, in so
far as Ensley is concerned and under
the circumstances feel in duty bound
&c now help, as best I can, in the
light for a commission government for
the next four years, or until the prob
lens arising from the consolidation
can be fairly solved. A mere handful
of men had to bear the brunt of the
fight for Greater Birmingham and 1t
ought not to be that way in the fight
for the commission. The publication
last Thursday by the city attorney Of
his Endorsement by all but about a
hundred prominent members of the bar
forces me to explain that these names
were secured largely through the COM
men6able diligence of a few of the
assistant city attorneys before tn ere
were any other candidates in the field,
but since that time a number of the
attorneys have voluntarily assured me
THAT, in the event of my candidacy,
they would take the proper steps 10
give me their support. However the
court records themselves ought to be
the best evidence on the question Of
competency, and an examination of tn e
records Of the state and county courts
!, will show that during the five years
M represented the city of Ensley as
Getty attorney that a respectable ma
1s.1ority of the 70 to 100 city cases tried
: were decided in favor of the city, And
h happens that City Attorney Thacll
and 1 have each sub omitted about the
same number of city cases in the SUI
pReme court, 80 that an intelligent COM
par1sOn of records can be easily and
readily had. Invite such n COM
parisOn and 1 challenge the city attor-
per of Birmingham to join me in rest
ing our respective candidates. on the
result of such comparison. Finally
think that the city committee is to
4be congratulated on making the city
attorney elective by the people, in
stead of by whatever faction or circle
happens to be In control of the CITY
souncil. The city attorney should be
under obligations to the people only
Very respectfully,
ROMANO BOYD