The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-17
UNDERWOOD IS HE . PREMIER DEMOCRAT  President Atkinson Boosts Alabamian for President LOOKING INTO MERGER President of Atlanta. Birmingham and Atlantic Here to Confer With
 MT. Woodward Regarding
 the Consolidation

That Oscar ". Underwood is tho premier democrat of the time, that safe conservative business men Of Boston and New York would feel that in his hands the country was perfect ly safe and that he would personally rejoice to see this favorite son of Ala bama nominated and elected. was the statement of Harry M. Atkinson, presi dent of the Atlanta Birmin gham and Atlantic railroad who was here yes terday
 l Added to his indorsement Of MT Un- derwood. was statement that he came over here to confer with A H. Wood ward relative to the merger of the Birmingham Coal and Iron and the i Woodward company. a statement that business was good. that 1t was absurd 1 to say the Louisville and Nashville was after the Atlanta. Birmingham and Att Iantic that the receivership of the Att lanta, Birmingham and Atlantic would remain as It is. he believed for sev eral months. and other items of general 1 interest.
 | In speaking of MT. Underwood, Mr Atkinson said. My frequent trips to New York and Boston has convinced me that MT. Underwood stands stronger than any man, either republican or democrat, for the nomination. He is. to my way of thinking, about the only man that embodies all those traits that are required to safeguard this counNye-
 Republican Unrest "From the republican camp there arc cries of the deepest unrest. MT Taft has pleased nobody that I find on either side. MT. Roosevelt would be glad to come back. but do not believe | he can, and as for that crazy man. LaFollette, I am sure he has no chance at all Mr Underwood compared to any of the foregoing republicans Is head and shoulders above them all. I am sure that Boston and New YorSs | thoughtful men see no danger in Mr l Underwood and 1 know perfectly well | that he would receive the New England conservative support If he Is given the democratic nomination. l. person ally. would give anything to see MT. | Underwood receive the nomination." In speaking of his visit here, MT. Atkinson said: "I ran over here for few hours to see Mr. Woodward about the merger of his company and the Birmingham Coal and Iron company. | There is nothing 10 De done now except straighten out mere routine matters, after which I believe the proposition will be closed. l am of the opinion q p-II la ended by February l, at the latest. or course any one can realize that in such business transaetion there are hum dreds of small matters to be straight ened out in order to satisfy everyone connected with such proposition. Tho deal has been thoroughly made as for | that matter and there is nothing to keep it from being eonsummated at once except the small details of which 1 l speak
 Rumors False Referring to the continual rumor as to his company being bought by the Louisville and Nashville railroad, Pres 1 fdent Atkinson said. There is abso- lutely not the slightest particle of truth to that rumor It has been continually circulated, but 1t is absolutely without foundation. The Atlanta. Birmingham and Atlantic Is not negotiating with the Louisville and Nashville to sell it's property, either directly or indirectly, and any rumors otherwise are pure buneombe"
 Business is very good.r concluded Mr Atkinson.- we have been able to show a substantial increase month oy month on our line, and I think the sit uation is decidedly encoura ging. Our company has recently entered the mar ket for 10 new locomotives which will be secured within short time. We have no orders under contemplation for additional equipment. The general situation is very encouraging and as far as Birmingham is concerned, I see exceptional activity here. I do not an- ticinate that the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic receivers will be removed any time soon. The plan to reorganizs the road has been discouraged. and rightly so. 1 think
 MT. Atkinson was accompanied to Birmingham only By his secretary. He visited President George Gordon Craws- ford of the Tennessee company. and other local industrial leaders and left at o'clock over the Seaboard for New York lie will go later to Boston.
 
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