The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-08
ABOUT 10000 HAVE
SIGNED THE PETITION
TO DROP STEEL SUIT
But Twenty-Five Men of All
Approached in Birming-
ham Have Refused
EQUAL SUCCESS
IN OTHER PLACES
Nearly Fifty People Have Written
Jacobs Giving Him Authority to
Sign Their Names TO
Document

Between 5000 and 1900 names have been
secured in Birmingham to the petition
to be sent TO President woodrow Wilson
asking him to dismiss the suit against
the United States Steel corporation, &C
oording to a statement made yesterday
afternoon by Solon Jacobs, who is at the
head of the movement.
An Interesting feature is that, according
TO Mr.. Jacobs there have been some 30
or 40 persons living within a few miles
of the city or Birmingham citizens who
happen to be out of town, who have writ
ten to him giving him power of attorney
to sign their names to the petition for
fear that they would not secure the op-
portunity themselves.
Out of the great number of people ap-
preached, Mr.. Jacobs said yesterday that
by actual count there had been just 20
men who had declined for some reason
or other to sign the petition. He says it
is one OF the most remarkable demon
strations of public sentiment he has ever
witnessed.
Being Signed Elsewhere
The petition, which will be presented
to the President by delegation of cti-
zens from Birmingham, is very brief in
itself and merely states that the under
signed citizens of Alabama ask him to
dismiss the suit against the Steel cor
poration because they cannot see any
good to come of it. 1t is being circulated
in all parts of the state and Mr. Jacobs
says that while no official reports have
been received from other communities
he has received word that the petition is
meeting with phenomenal success every
where in the state
similar petition has already been sent
TO the attorney generals department by
employees of the local subsidiary of the
Steel corporation the Tennessee Coal,
Iron and Railroad company. 1t is on
behalf of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and
Railroad company that the petition is
being circulated, as it is believed that if
the government wins the suit against the
Steel corporation based on the Sherman
antitrust law that the local subsidiary
would be divorced to the great detriment
of the Birmingham district.
1.-The whole thing Is an illustration OF
the place the Tennessee company holds
in the hearts of the people. 1t is the
-efTorts to take care of and protect its
employees and the people of Birmingham
know it, said Mr.. Jacobs.
Educational Work of Company
1.-The educational work OF the company
has made 1t many friends. 1t has re-
modelled and repaired all of its school
houses and they modern in every re-
lspect. The corps of teachers which they
employ in these schools are under the
supervision of the the assistant state pub
lie school superintendent, who himself
is employed by the Tennessee company.
There are some people who do not know
such things, but nevertheless they are
true. The Tennessee company pays the
salary of this assistant state school super
intendent. These teachers have to stand
the regular examinations as in the other
public schools of the state.
.sAnother thing they do for these teach
ers themselves is the maintainence of a
normal school every summer. This school
was held on Shades mountain this sum-
mer and was attended by all of the Ten
nessee companys teachers. They also
have physicians to examine the pupils of
these schools just as the pupils are ex-
amined in the Birmingham schools and
they are treated for minor diseases.
"The company employees professional
gardeners to teach its miners how to keep
gardens and they give them open hearth
Stag which is a very good fertilizer. They
have been swatting the fly for years.
They have been doing everything to run
the mosquito away from the camps by
drainage and by the use of oil. They do
everything possible to look after the
health and education of their employees
That's why people are signing this petit
ton and j think that it is a mighty good
rea son, too.