The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-27

1ection is solely one of form, and if doubts of our good faith be removed lt vanishes Into nothingness
 We confess that we cannot understand concluding sentence of the communica- tion of the mayor to the effect that the promised competition of today may be swallowed up by consolidation on tomor- row Now, we have certainly stated that our object in pursuing this under taking was based on the unalterable de- sire to construct a competitive line and unbottle Birmingham. The mayor rests under no confusion on that point. condition of this franchise requires the express consent of the city before there may be any assignment We have al- ways courtcd a restriction against trans fer to the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company or any competitive or connecting line. To question our pur- poses in this connection is directly to inl- pugn our good faith, and we respectfully suggest that the intense and unrelentinr opposition of the local company, it's per- sistent Interference with our past bank Ing connections, and It's subterranean in- fiuence during the present controversy should vouch for the good faith of our competition. We f1atly deny the justice or timeliness of any suggestion that this franchise Is sought for any purpose un- der the sun except to build, maintain and operate this line through the district. In going beyond the record to intimate the contrary the mayor does us a baseless and gratuitous injury.
 Now, the question Is whether or not anv new interest is to be allowed to enter this town and uncork its traffic connexions We have spent money and we want "a show for our white alley" but we intend to find out whether or not the false circu- lars, narrow-minded envy and chagrin and direct opposition to competition are to be effective In barring out legitimate and highly beneficial investments in this district.
 It is puerile to talk of occupying any street save Fifth avenue The local company has laid rails on every other available approach. It is .vacuous to speak of not using the subway Can we build a viaduct over it? Every child knows that every other ave- nue that intersects the city is per petually blocked.
 The issue Is unavoidable and must be met. No person who has seen the vast convenience of the interurban sys- tems throughout the north and mid dle west can have any legitimate ap- prehension about this line or the type of cars to be operated along 1t. The local company hauls them on the East Lake, Ensley and Bessemer divisions,
 
 may be permitted in spite of sinister opposition and false attacks, to per form the same service in consolida ting this district that Is seen in we'll nigh every established center of population in the older communities.
 For these reasons we respectfully assert that MT. Exum has been mis- lead in his disapproval of the fran chise by considerations which do not go to the merits of the proposition. We need no voucher as to his high motives and good faith. We regret his lack of confidence in our representa- lions, and we resent the deliberate as sertions printed and broadcasted by certain persons over this city. which can only be described by "a short and ugly word" We fear that these attacks have influenced MT. Exum, and in order that there may be no misapprehension in the public mind we intend to have all the facts known and to find out who favors and who opposes bottling up Birmingham for the perpetual enjoyment of a monopoly which must earn speculative profits on a capitalization of $30,000,000 rather than retire the bob-tailed cars and Install adequate equipment in meeting the legitimate competition which would incidentally result from the intimate connection of Greater Birmingham with the suburbs and outlying municipal ities in the district by a modern and independent line.
 LEWIS MINOR,
 c. w. HARRIS,
 w. D. WOOD,
 F.. F. ENSLEN.
 J. D. COLLINS,
 A. R. DEARBORN,
 R. D. JOHNSTON, JR.,
 R. S. WARNER.
 FORNEY JOHNSTON,
 J. R. DEWBERRY,
 A. P. DEWBERRY, s** EUGENE E. MAY. W