The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-05
MEET TOPROTEST AGAINST CONTRACT Judge Lane Speaks at City
 Hal Arm0ry ABOUT 200 PRESENT Huddleston Presided and Other CnaaLars Includad Cant E c
ABOUT 200 PRESENT
Huddleston Presided and Other Speakers Included Capt. F. s. White, Sterne, Ben Davis
 and Professor Walker

mass meeting last night at the armory in the city hall to protest against the new 10 year contract with the Bir- mingham Railway, Light and Power company. but despite the number pres ent the meeting teemed with interest and the speakers of the evening were each recorded rounding ovation,
 The principal speaker of the meeting was Judge A. O. Lane, member of the city commission. who has taken such an active stand in fighting the con tract. Judge Lane was presented by Attorney George Huddleston. who pre- sided as chairman of the meeting. In his speech of presentation MT. Hud- dleston took a little fling at Com missioner James Weatherly by saying Tt was a great day for corporations in Birmingham when MT. Weatherly was placed on the board of commits sioners." This remark elicited prolonged applause which only abated at the ap- rearance of Judge Lane on his feet on the platform.
 The keynote of Judge Lanes speech was municipal ownership of the light, heating and power plants. The com missioner stated that this would be ;he only way in which the people would escape the persecution to which they were now being subjected
 Any differences between himself anu other members of the commission were entirely eliminated from his talk and not once did he refer to them except as his associates in the government of the city.
 He highly praised the action in the committee from Ensley who appeared before the commission a few days since in taking the part of Wylam when they lodged their grievance against the contract before the com mission. Judge Lane stated that to hear them plead for Vivian along with themselves was the most plasant fea- ture of his entire official career.
 In concluding Judge Lane urged ev- cry man present to keep up the en- thusiasm against the contract and not to let interest die in even the slight est degree.
 After making his talk Judge Lane begged to be excused as he had an important appointment, which proved tos be on the telephone rate increase proposition, to which he has taken an adverse stand. He was dismissed with tumultous applause.
 SaPtoht W bitS oPSohS
 Captain Frank S. White was the next speaker and he enumerated the favors that had been granted the Birmingham Railway, Light. and Power company since it's first organization, by grant ing 1t first one street and then am other until it practically owns the city" He lauded the commission form of government inasmuch as it pro vided that on such questions as they wished the people themselves could vote and have their way.
 s. B. Sterne conducted a stinging ar raignment of the position that Commis- sioner Weatherly has taken in regard to the plausibility of the contract Armed with several newspapers of Birmingham containing recent interviews with the commissioner along this line, Mir. Sterne figuratively shelled him with. cannon, grape shot and minnie balls, much to the delight of the audience.
 An appeal from the young men of the city was voiced in the speech of Ben Davis, one of the younger members of the Birmingham bar. He entreated those present to conscientiously study the sit uation and to act as they thought right and just in order to pave the way to pros- perity for the younger generation which must take up the work where those now in charge have left off.
 Wylam Represented
 Wylam was represented in the person of Prof. Thomas R. Walker of that sub urb, who spoke feelingly of the in terests of Vivian in the matter under discussion. Through him, Vivian ex- presesd her indignation at being left out of the 5 cent fare zone by the cor poration and attributed this action to the fact that Wylam was not in the Tide water zone" He pictured the motives of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Pow CT company as purely selfish ones.
 AS was said before the revolution, An attack upon Massachusetts Is an attack upon Virginia said Professor Walker, ''an attack upon Wylam Is an attack upon East Lake, Woodlawn, Ensley, Brming- ham and all other parts of Greater Bir- mingham, and from word we have re- ceived in the past fortnight, those sis ter portions of the city of ours are fer vently saying amen.
 After Professor Walker closed his speech, Chairman Huddleston announced the meeting closed and urged those who had not done so to sign the petitions to invoke the referendum on the contract. About 50 or 60 last night signed, the rest of the crowd having affixed their names to it in other parts of the city. Chair man Huddleston stated that it was the intention of the committee working against the contract not to present a pe- tition signed with only 1000 as required by law, but to present one signed by 400O or 5000 voters of Greater Birmingham.
 He announced that other meetings would be held this week in different parts of the city
 
 W;I1 CnrI no1orafoc