The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-18
SAFE AND SANE
FOURTH OF JULY
Was a Pleasing Success IN
New York City
GAYNoR IS INTERESTING
Helps a Woman to Collect sum OF
Money Owed Her BY New York
Firm-Timely Gossip of
Rising Southerners
BY ROBERT LEE CARTER

York's safe and sane Fourth of July was
so great a popular SUCCESS that it Is
pretty certain to be a permanent thing.
Everybody was charmed with it except,
perhaps, the small boy and the fireworks
dealer.
One of the most interesting features of
the celebration was the reading of the
Declaration of Independence by Col. Will
liam D. Hertburn washington.
Colonel Washington is no less known
for his writings than for his position IN
the engineering world or his business ac-
tivities. He is of the family of the hrst
president and more of the blood of the
Washingtons courses through his veins
than through those of any other person
living, for in three ways his ancestry
traces back to John Augustine, brother
of George Colonel Washingtons friends
frequently comment on the coincidence
that both began their careers as survey
ors, and that both began at 16 years Of
age and in the same town.
Colonel Washngton's early business ac-
tivities were in the steam railroad word.
He later became interested in many trac-
ton companies, owning the Dallas street
railway, the Fort Worth street railway,
the Dallas and Fort Worth Interurban,
and building a part of the North Texas
Traction line. He still has railway IN
terests In the southwest, principally In
Texas and in Oklahoma. He has large
landed interests in Texas and In the
east has a number of successful realty
operations. He Is a man of splendid
physique fond of athletics and sports and
prominent clubman. While admitted
to the most exclusive circles he devotes
little time to social enjoyment.
For the past three years much OF MS
time has been given to literary work.
His latest work, Progress and Prosper
ity," Is now in press.
Colonel Washington was the organizer
of the Volunteer Reserve, which at
tracted much attention just before the
Spanish American war Colonel Wash
ington's suggestion that the surviving
commanding officers of the Union and
Confederate armies organize as militia
ry reserve met with instant favor; 100
generals, 80 of whom had worn the gray,
enrolled. Colonel Washing
ton also took a prominent part In many
charitable movements and in the Indus
trial depression of 1893 he organized the
"A-15-99 club" which in six weeks col
lected more than one million pennies for
the relief of the unemployed. He also
organized at that time a free employ
ment bureau. which succeeded in finding
employment for men and women who had
lost their positions because of the condi-
tions He was chairman also of the Gal
weston Orphans fund, which took care of
and provided a home for the many chill
dren orphaned by the flood
These and many other activities In this
section have brought Colonel washington
frequently into the public view.
Mayor Gaynor, whatever may be said
in criticism, is a most interesting person.
atty. He takes his position most Sc
riously and makes himself literally the
servant of the people. One result of this
is that nearly every day sees at city hall
from Is to 20 people with blind faith in
his ability and willingness to take up
their troubles. Their appearance at first
amused old-time city officers. who had
been accustmed to seeing "cranks"
turned away by other mayors; but with
In a short time Gaynor established the
fact that he would receive anyone who
had q legitimate reason for seeing him.
provided he was not otherwise engaged.
Outside the mayors office all visitors
are met by Police Lieutenant Kennel,
polyglot guardian of the law, who speaks
many languages and sings In Yiddish.
Kennel has been there since the time
of Mayor Strong, and his experience
would more than qualify for difficult
diplomatic service. In other days the
were more obstreperous and
visitors than they are now
1non bt,t than Kennel
to the poor, complaining immigrant who
wandered In a courteous attention and
an apparently heartfelt sympathy.
Probably 30 per cent of the people who
bring their troubles to the mayor are
taken care of by Kennel, who Is able to
satisfy them that the police commits
sioner. the district attorney, the chart
ties department, etc., will answer the pur-
pose Just as WELL OF the 70 per cent re-
manning Mr. Adamson the mayors Sec
rotary, is able to take care of about half,
leaving the mayor himself to receive and
handle about IS per cent of his curious
and troubled visitors.
For more than a week one little Ger
man woman kept calling at the hail. It
was at time when the mayor was still
considering and making appointments
and was receiving only persons whose
business was imperative. Neither to
Kennel nor to Adamson would she tell
her business, insisting that the only per-
son she would talk to was the mayor
himself. Eventually Adamson. who is a
suaye southerner with an abundance Of
tact. got her to confide in him to the
extent of learning that she expected the
mayor to help her collect some money
that city office holder owed her.
He suggested that she employ law
- 81 H. ~
she would never have anything more to
do with lawyers
YES" was the reply, but that Is diff
ferent He Is honest"
When the mayor heard of his he
smiled in his grim way and declared that
he would see her. For almost an hour
he listened to her story. which was really
sad one. and then carefully explained
to her that her money could only be re-
covered by process of law, and that he
was unable to take the case himself. II
she would trust him he would get her a
lawyer whom he knew to be honest.
Trust him, of course. she would trust
him. and several weeks ago the young
LAWYER succeeded in making a collection
for her.
A week ago woman from some small
town in Alabama wrote to the mayor and
asked him IL he would not please call on
the head of one of the largest dry goods
Arms In the city and ask If she was
going to get the SIS that the store had
owed her for year-she needed the
money very badly. The dire necessity
Of her case was stated with quaint
simplicity, and the mayor. who has
an unerring instinct for detecting real
distress, sent a letter to the dry goods
arm asking them to look into the
,.+tar long letter came back the