The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-02
Hear Both Sides

Hear Both Sides
 And if such charges are filed.' con tinued the governor, T will give both sides an opportunity to be heard and decide the best way that l know how. l say this to set at rest inuendoes and new per comments and reports which have been freely discussed. 1 have never heard such a report by word of mouth But there is nothing \ to such misleading statements.
 The only way to avoid an error IS to have the fullest information such you gentlemen sbrlng me. l con- fess that l have never been visited by delegation which has impressed me Sd much as this one. l certainly appre ciate your coming and you may rest assured that am not going to keep the commission bill or appointments be- fore me longer than I think is proper and right. I will decide as soon as lime and investigation warrant.
 T have two rules in my appoint ments. One and the first is that q man must be. thoroughly efficient for the place he seeks. The other is he must be in harmony with my policies and ideas. No person eou'd overlook efficiency.
 You gentlemen from Birmingham have my assurance that your three men will be given my careful considera- tion. ] desire to give you three men who will serve.to make the commission government not only a model in Ala hama,. but in all the United States.
 s'I thank you again for coming and express to you my supreme satisfac ton over your presentations
 Escorted to Capitol
 The delegation of Birmingham men who called upon the governor to in dorse the slated commissioners were fa1 Ca1, J,1er . Morrow and Representative Walker Percy. They found the governor out to secure a shave in anticipation of the delegation calling promptly al noon. It was 11:5o o'clock when the governor of Alabama walked into llig office and told bis private secretary that he would receive the delegation in the supreme court chamber. Thither the Birming- ham men repaired. And upon the stroke of 12 his excellency walked in. He found. the somber. dignlied court room somewhat darkened and he hailed the janitor. Let us have more light in here. ! dare say we need all light possible upon thia subject
 The jest of Governor ONeal caused laugh to tricl<le over the gathering. In a moment or two all the delega ton lad shaken hands with Governor o Nea, and dChairr1an Pinckard called the meet ing promptly to order. The entire pro ceedings were characterized by an all most oppressive attentveness and quietude as in every bosom in the crowd it was held that some great question Tor Birmingham was hanging in the bssAnce and that the quiet, dig nifled looking governor would be the judge to solve the case
 Pinckard Speaks First
 Mir. Pinckard opened his story by saying that he had been selected to lra 1if,air, IL |, ,t, : .ymeeting. He added that he was unac customed to speaking on such questions but that he desired to plead for the de- fendants in the case. He said the gov eruor was to decide a question which meant more for Birmingham than per- haps any other pending question before the city.
 With that Mir Pinckard detailed the question at issue and said.
 'a'"YOur excellency, we have called here in the discharge of a fundamental right and personal privilege to lay before you our. Endorsement of three men. As you know, the people of Birmingham voted overwhelmingly for the commission form Of government. And the success of our desire depends largely upon what kind of men we get in Birmingham to start off the new venture. We all realize it is speculative and we desire to make no mis- takes in the selection of the men. We appear here as indorsers of men against whom certain reflections have been cast. If you place these men in the light of the defendants of cause I do not think that a case has been made out against them.
 Weshave come here at common inn pulse and without solicitation to indorse Harry Jones, Cupepper Exum and Judge Lane the three first commissioners of onr city. We desire to bear testimony to the happy selection that we hope will be affirmed by you as chief executive. of this, great state. We do not think the charges or reflections which have been made are worthy of a moments serious consideration and believe them totally in sufficient to deter any change in the pro- gramme Of appointments as announced sv some time ago. We think the men stand ,ihinipeached before the bar of public judgment and wish to testify to their in- .tegrity and ability and eminent fitness for the work.
 "The charges are not only trivial but petty, and I think this gathering of men who typify Brminghams best thought will agree when deliver to you a mes sage that in our estimation you would be performing proper task in the strict affirmation of the indorsement Of the Jefferson delegation.
 "A4 to Harry Jones, meaness Is abso- lutely foreign to his nature. He is honest, fearless, good business man, affable and has served Birmingham for 20 years without compensation. He is a happy helper in all our civic movements and is popular and respected by every one. As for Judge Lane there are no persons wbo can cast the least shadow upon him.
 'Cupepper Exum have known many years. He is broad. liberal, honest ef- fcient man, is perfect gentleman and las made success of his own affairs. He is everything which goes to make ar estimable. capable gentleman and worker .+
 | Dr. Montague Speaks pr. A. P. Montague. president of How ard college, in addressing the governor weht directly to the point, saying:
 ''The highest duty of education is to