The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-11
PERCY ISSUES AN
ADDRESS TO PEOPLE
Urges Them to Demand Com
mission Government
ATTACKS OLD SYSTEM
Time During Legislative Session
to Getting Commission Form
for Birmingham

Following his nomination to the leg
islature at the head of the ticket from
Jefferson county, Walker Percy has is
sued an address to the people in which
he outlines his future course, and calls
upon the people to back him up in his
fight for the commission form of gov
eminent.
ITO the People of Birmingham:
Il am grateful to my neighbors and
fellow democrats of Birmingham and
Jefferson county for the vote given me
for representative in the recent pri-
mary I take this vote as an evidence
of approval of some of the principles
for which I have stood, valuing II also
as a demonstration of personal esteem
from many of my neighbors whose
views differed from my own as to the
treatment of some of the problems OF
the day. l shall go to Montgomery APP
prehensive lest l may disappoint the
expectations of over-indulgent friends,
but serving no selfish cause and seek
ing no personal preferment, determined
TO give 30 days of the best that Is IN
me to the service of all of the people
of this city and county. l shall have
no client in the state legislature ex-
cept the people of Jefferson county;
my only ambition useful service in the
achievement of some needed reforms.
1.-THE first case to which l propose
to give the best that is in me of
thought and work in the next legisla-
ture is the case of the people of
Greater Birmingham against incompe-
tent local government. l am pro-
foundry interested in procuring a more
efficient and economical form of gov
eminent for the city of Birmingham
I earnestly hope that / can enlist In
this work my colleagues from this
county. Some of my optimistic friends
in Birmingham, overrating my ability,
think can accomplish such a reform
singlehanded and alone. Others ad-
wise me that there is a tremendous
fight ahead. Every energy that l pos
sess will If necessary be consecrated
while In the Legislature to an effort to
secure for Birmin CHAM a form of gov
eminent In which every dollar OF pub
lie money expended for public i'm
provements or public service shall be
so expended as to go as far as possible
and achieve as good results as pos
sible.
1.-THE people of Birmingham must back
up this movement.
Il do not deceive myself, and I ask
the people of Birmin CHAM not to de-
ceive themselves into thinking that any
one man, unaided, can accomplish
reform which will so disturb selfish and
entrenched interests. I am willing to
spend the entire so days of the next
legislature fighting for modern COM
mission form of government for the
city of Birmingham. Are you willing
to cast your vote and exert your in
fiuence IN favor of the adoption of
a commission form of government in
the approaching city primary?
II wish to cast aspersions upon no in
dividual connected with our past city
government, and seek no war with any
member OF our present Board of Alder
men. I shall urge that this reform be
considered deliberately as a cold business
proposition for the NEST interests of every
taxpayer in Greater Birmingham. 1 will
make no fight upon any individual, but II
there must be fight to secure this re-
form. l shall ask no more quarter than
will give. There are some splendid
citizens on our present Board of Alder
dously increased when the members of
the board recently elected representatives
from the suburban districts. l recognize
that many OF our aldermen will consider
this question from an unselfish stand
point. and l earnestly hope no desire for
perpetuation Of ring rule will result in
selfish opposition from our ancient alder
manic rulers.
Captain O'Brien, our present mayor,
- =, oil ~
of Birmingham. So did his predecessor,
and for the long line of good mayors
with whom this city has been blessed we
have Just cause to be thankful, but let
the people of Birmingham pause reflect
and ask themselves the question who has
really dominated the municipal corpor-
alton of Birmingham for many years
past Ask how these men stand on the
commission form of government and
watch we'll how they WELD their influence.
1.-The city democratic executive COM
mittee has ordered that the citizens of
Birmingham in the approaching election
shall have the opportunity of expressing
their choice as to the commission form
of government against the present alder
manic system. The people of Birmingham
who desire a commission form OF govern
ment must back up their representatives
in the state legislature by securing In
the approaching city election an over
whelming expression OF popular approval
In its favor. I am willing to help you in
this fight, but you must help me. Let
there be some organization. such as
Commission league Of Greater Brmfng-
ham; ask every candidate for the may
oralty and every candidate for aldermanic
honors In the approaching contest how
he stands on the commission form of gov
eminent / now ask every candidate for
the mnyoralty to express himself in
writing on this subject. Place principle
above personality and see that no hostile
city administration shall be elected which
will seek to block legislative action on
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