The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-18

The silent forces of Nature are the
most powerful and effective. Electricity
and gravitation are neither seen nor heard
and yet the former drives the. mirhtiest
machinery and propels vast Industries,
while the latter holds the spheres in their
appointed places. The same principa!
is true of certain individuals. They
achieve great enterprise silently, un-
ostentatiously, but effectively.
John Hollis Bankhead, Alabama's $ senior
United States Senator, belongs to this
type of men. Without the blare of trump
cts. often without public acknowledge
ment, and mainly without public knowi-
edge as the steps are taken, he quietly
performs his duties in Washington,
whether in the interest of individuals
seeking patronage or IN matters pertain
ing to the general good. Rivers and Har-
bors, Good Roads, Water Powers Trust
Regulation, Agricultural betterment. Ru-
raj Mail Delivery. Parcel Post, more
liberal system of farm credits are among
the things that have received the greater
part of his consideration and services dur
ing his career of more than quarter CEN
tury in national legislative life.
Two Powerful Committees
Alabama is to be congratulated that
Senator Bankhead stands at the head OF
the Senate committee that most Intimate
ly concerns every individual in the state
the Postoffice and Post Roads Committee
having to do with that phase of life that
has been his special labor and in which
he has been the leading sprit-Good
Roads He ranks high also on the Com
merce Committee, having in charge rivers
and harbors appropriations.
For many years, while in the lower
House as representative from the Sixth
Congressional District. Senator Bankheed
served upon the Committee on Pubic
buildings and Grounds, and during DEM
ocratic ascendency in the House. was
Chairman of that Committee. During g
number Of years the Congressional appro-
priations made to Alabama through the
committees upon which Senator Bank
head served, we're greater than the entire
taxes of the state
Transportation questions have al
ways Interested Senator Bankhead and
nffice appropriation bill, although lost
at the time, called FOR $5U0.VOU Ior ex-
perimentation in government aid to
good roads. opened up the entire dues,,
tton for future consideration. and
brought to the attention of the public
and to Legislators historical precedents
and constitutional provisions, whereby
the government might lawfully engage
In this great internal Improvement
While still In the House ne was lead
ing figure In this cause and is now
recognized as the Apostle of good
lie He has long contended that so many
vital questions of life are bound up. In
good roads that the subject Is worthy
the serious consideration OF me pes.
intelIeots and most earnest efforts OF
legislators Production, markets,
school attendance, social life, church
attendance, civilization itself. Is vital
ly concerned with the subject. He has
pointed out that 90 per cent OF all com.
kI.o ,4vxr ic
over wagon roads and good roads are
a more serious matter to country peo-
ple than agitation about railroad rates
He is the bitter foe Of what he calls
"the mud tax Of America.
water Ways Big Question
While Senator John T. Morgan was
making his winning fight in the Senate
for an inter oceanic canal John III
Bankhead was fighting over in the
House for appropriations for Alabama
rivers and harbors, and now when the
great Panama canal is almost ready to
throw open Its gates to world trans
porta tion the harbor at Mobile and the
rivers of the state are developed to dc
their part in this world commerce
Water transportation as the natural
method of regulating railway rates
has been urged by Senator Bankhead
for years.
In a speech in the Senate he said an
Alabama there are nearly two thou
sand miles of surveys. and approved
rivers, some OF which are being i'm
proved, but the progress is very slow
on account of the inadequate appropria-
tions made by congress. Some of the
most important of these rivers are
being neglected and are flowing idly
to the sea. All of them reach the Gull
of Mexico through the harbor at Mo-
bile, the Tennessee alone excepted
This harbor is the nearest port of i'm
portance to the eastern terminus OF the
Panama. canal.
"The rivers Of Alabama traverse the