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

structure was regarded as an ornament
to the city and a monument to the wis
dom of those who financed the scheme.
By the way. the city then had no law
ful seal and so the seal of the Elyton
Land company was borrowed and
stamped upon each bond which an
was suggested to the board that a seal
could be made for the Mayor and Alder
men of Birmingham, (Which was the
legal title of municipal corporation) for
few dollars, and the fund for such
purchase was appropriated. thus demon
strating the liberal tendency of the ad-
ministration.
Electing DIR. Phillips
That was graceful act the other day,
when the former pupils and other friends
rendered reception in honor of Super
intendent Phillips of the Birmingham
public schools, upon the 30th anniversary
of his work here.
Thirty years ago, How fast the years
are passing. How many people know
how and where Birmingham found John
Herbert Phillips? Let me tell them
Thirty years ago this district was repre-
sented in Congress by Hon. Goldsmith
w. Hewitt of Jefferson a man native to
the heath, known and admired for his
strength of character. his equipoise, fore
sight and public spirit. While in Wash
ington, in 1888, at the request of Hon A.
o. Lane, who was, then mayor of Bir-
mngham, Colonel Hewitt began to look
about for a young, progressive, up to
date man to take charge of the public
schools of Birmingham. His attention
was called to one John H. Phillips, who
was then teaching at Gallipolis, o.
Within a short time thereafter there ap-
peared at the door of Mayor Lanes Of
flee a tall, wiry strong featured young
man in his twenties. He was we'll
dressed, wore a silk hat (stovepipe), was
modest, if not timid, in manner, but ap-
peared impressivey earnest and force
fully intellectual.
Be ii remembered that at that time the
Birmingham public schools were in their
infancy, and controlled solely by the
mayor and board of eight aldermen.
There was no board of education then.
1t was a function of Mayor Lane and his
eight aldermen to elect superintendent
and teachers and otherwise administer
the affairs of the schools, There were
only two schools then, the Powell
where now stands the beautiful modern
building by that name. and little shack
of building on Southside for negroes.
where now sits the Lane Grammar
school for colored.
Shown the Sights
The young man from Gallipolis was
soon shown the sights of the then en-
bryo city. and was introduced TO most of
the prominent citizens. a prospective
applicant for the superntendency of the
schools. From Ohio" didn't sound good
structed old Dads of Birmingham. but
the fact was soon learned that Phillips
was born and reared in Kentucky, but
educated and graduated with distinction
at Marietta, o. Still, as the Ohio river
is the real Mason and Dixon line, the
young man was declared to be not a
Yankee, nor yet a rebel. but an "alf and
alf. Hence followed an "alf and alf'
division by the mayor and eight alder
men as to whether or not the young
Neutrality-suspicious. should be given trial
as superintendent of the Birmingham
public schools.
There have been many warm political
or official contests in Birmingham, but
taking into consideration the population
of Birmingham at that date, there has
never been a more vigorous fight here
than was the battle for and against Phil
lips for Superintendent Partisans on
both sides worked the citizenship of the