The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-07
Interview With Robert Jen1ison, Jr.
By ETHEL ARMIES, Story of Coal and Iron in AIabnmao

Il and Iron in Alabama" ply as I said, in the way of sugges- tion, have bond for costs required. and let the members of the Birmingham Bar association take some active steps to stamp out shyster practice in this district"
 Calls Spade a Spade
 MT. Jemlson usually speaks, as they say, straight from the shoulder" He takes a practical conservative view point of affairs, aiming always to get at the main facts, and, if it's a prob lem tangling up conditions, he is more or less quick to see what ought to be done about It.
 There are even occasions when con- servative policies he may send gallop- ing, and whip out his sword and clip the Gordian Knot into smithereens.
 Providing, of course, the smithereens are advisable. Being "AleXandrian,' however, Is not long suit of Young Bob's," as his best friends call him. He has not for instance the slightest vestige of "airs." He is so direct, un- assuming, quiet and such a young chap" as a certain Cleveland iron man observed, that, until one knows some thing of his significant and tremendous accomplishments and of the immense power for work surging in him, one would scarcely believe that he has come to take rank with men 20 and 30 years his senior, and is reckoned foremost among the small group of the leading men of the Birmingham district who are coming to have wide recognition.
 Although he is but trife over 30 years old, he has been in the business world since he was in knickerbockers, pretty nearly. Born in Tuscaloosa, where, for generations, the name of Jemison has
  to Birmingham when he was years old. He went through the local public schools, first the Powell and then the High school, and worked not only during vacations, but also portion of each day even dur ing school terms.
 His Start in Life"
 His first job was with the B. F. Roden Grocery company. then in a book store, also for Mims Stone and Fowlkes and Myatt Some of the time he worked for three concerns at oncei
 He liked to make his own cash. He liked, too, the dealing with people and being right in things rather than in books. Dr. Phillips had perfect right to feel melancholy about his pupils future. as scholar. He didn't appear to have anyi
 One occasion, as 1t actually happened the distinguished educator on his way to High school one morning stopped at the old Stone book store and Young Bob. waited on him and half dozen others, tied up the bundles, and made 20-second sprint to get to his class room before the last bell That afternoon after school hours Dr. Phillips stopped at the grocery store and there was Young Bob," owner of all he surveyed and waiting on every body at once.
 Look here. young man, when do you get in a study hour?" the doctor asked, but Young Bob' simply grinned. That same night the doctor chanced to drop in at Mims Stone, and there, smiling and indus trious, jerking soda water, was that ubiquitous and incorrigibe Young Bob"
 'If you would think more about your books, young man." said Dr. Phillips, and less about making money, 1t would be better for you"
 Whenever Mir. Jemison recalls this in- cident today 0 broad smile spreads over his face, and he says the doctor was right He got to college and through college some way, however, probably by the skin of his teeth. He spent two years at the University of Alabama and two years at the University of the South al Sewanee.
 He is today one of the enthusiastic 'rooters' for Sewanee In fact, he has to uo rootlng TOT Dotn the universities, which Is quite the proper penalty for one who worried the professor and who took SO little to Latin and Greek. at either For Sake of Aul Lang Syne For a matter of fact he appreciates Sewanee better today than he ever did The ideals for which that university stands, its grit and gumption; It's sing ular and remarkable influence upon its students, in short, that intangible and vital thing called atmosphere" is even clearer to his mind in the light of re, trospection than in "the old days" when, maybe, getting around the dean and jumping "quiz," constituted the better part of days job.
 Who knows however, but that it may have been up. there in the woods of Big mountain that there was sown in the young workman's spirit certain of the seeds that are bearing fruit today in this community, for the good of all our people, such as the conception and achievement of a city like Corey. gracious place, superbly planned, des- tined to honor the Birmingham district generations to come.
 Yes, at length. ideas in real estates business beyond selling of lots beyond the horizon bounded by the dollar mark. r Moneys not the only thing'' this young business man now SayS-and feelS-