The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-24

To the Editor of The Age-Herald
 In sending out our first natural history collections to the. public schools we wish to express our gratitude to public-mind- ed citizen who made this first gift pos sible. MT. T. H. 'Aldrich is known in Birmingham mainly as a business. man. Tn the scientific world he is known better as a first-rate naturalist and the author of many important scientific papers. From and fossil conchology. His collection of recent shells is now one of the finest in the country and the collection of tertiary fossil shells is now one more even than that; it is the most complete in the world, with the possible. exception of that in the British museum. If Alabama is wise it will try to secure that collection for the state museum thus putting one department in the very foremost rank. Not that MT. Aldrich has ever offered to sell it to us, nor am I at all sure that he would sell it; but it Is natural that we should look longingly on such treasure
 When the museum was preparing for it's formal opening last spring, MT. Al drich surprised us with magnificent gfft-nothing less than all the duplicates of his recent shells More accurately it was a personal gift to Dr. Eugene A. Smith, with the understanding that it was to be turned over to the museum. The immediate effect was to place our con- chological department at once on good basis-not less than 40OO or 5000 species. MT. Aldrich laid the foundation, and ..................ss.sss. drawn and he was unanimously elected to to the chairmanship for the ensuing term.
 After the selection of officers the com uittee went into executive session when some ringing resolutions were intro duced. Among the many was one eugoliz- ing MT Crichton, editor of the Banner, for his loyal support of the republican ticket in the recent election. MT Crichton and his paper have heretofore been dem ocratic, but believing that victory would fall to the side of the republicans ne turned at the last moment and espoused the cause of that party, giving the local candidates enthusiastic support
 For this he received the condemnation of the democrats and the praises or the republicans. Since the defeat of the re- 
 per would be independent in politics
 While the republican committee thanked him for his past support, they said noth- ing whatever about the future and other resolutions introduced and passed by the committee indicate that they propose to let Mr Crichton and his paper weed his own row without assistance from them
 In the committee as member sat wal lace C. Edler, the editor of the Union, tho looa1 replrhIican paper. For years he has been a partisan republican and has fought the organized democracy at every turn. When others have faltered Eder has kept the battle up unceasing- ly However. some of the leaders at tribute the defeat of the republican ticket to MT Edler and did not hesitate to say so. scapegoat had to be found and the committee proceeded to name Edler as the goat. Resolutions were in- troduced giving the chairman of the com mittee authority to appoint committee of five whose duty it should be to formu- late plans for the establishment here Of a republican paper This bears out the remarks of many republicans that the organizations proposed to drop MT. Ed Ter and his paper entirely. Not one woro of praise was offered MT. Edler for his strenuous work, and the paper which he publishes was not mentioned in any connection When this resolution came up for adoption it was carried with the exception of one vote-Mr. Edlers
 Just what the committee will do to- ward the establishment of a new paper and what effect the new paper. if estab- lished. will have upon the Union. is prob lematic. It is certain that MT. Edler and his associates are in bad odor with the party for which he has fought so strong ly. It begins to look as if the Barker forces have come to the front and are not on the topmost wave of success in so far as success for the republicans of Chiffon goes.