The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-13

is the real issue in the present cam
paign.
THE measures below will require
popular control of majority of the
commission and ultimately of the dele
Sation to the legislature. But in this
election the opportunity is here to be-
gin to regain popular control of our
government This is the first election
OF a commissioner in Birmingham in
what Is in spirit, a non partisan elee-
ton. one or more candidates will Of
fer who represent the present corpor-
alton ring which controls our city gov
ernment In their desperate efforts to
retain that control we may expect the
usual protestations of love for the poor
laboring man and poor suburban cit
izen, and promises by these machine
politicians of all sorts of reforms il
they are returned to power. These
promises are made only to attract
votes and will be tossed aside as cheer
fully and surely after this election as
they always have been in the past
Ihese interests control not only the
government but the news and editorial
columns of the local press in greater
or less degree and have and will use
| those in this campaign to further fool
the people We may expect the usual
deluge of money in order directly or
indirectly to buy the election. The real
platform on which the other candi-
dates will stand is, L want the Of
flee. Tue only question will be wheth-
er by now the people of Birmingham
are conscious enough of their real in
terests to reject this customary ca
1olery and corruption, or whether they
will continue to be humbugged in the
| future as they have been in the past
we may expect the ethics of nom
partisan elections to be at once broken
| by the corporation ring and their hired
press and appeal made to vote
against Clement r. Wood because Of
his political faith. which is socialism
In this non-partisan election | am, as
| the spirit of the law requires, an in
dependent non partisan candidate. My
views translated into local terms means
the return of government to the peo-
pie, the ousting Of the corporation ring
and the ultimate public ownership of
public utilities On this platform 1 am
willing to stand. This will benefit the
entire city--except that small group
i of corporation men who are unjustly
fattening on the labor of others.
Planks of Platform
IF elected to office I shall stand for
the following propositions and seek to
carry them into effect:
The moral situation. The use of the
police power of the city equally for
the protection or punishment of all cit
liens. whether rich or poor. whether
laborer or capitalist
Complete separation of the police de-
partment from the gambling and vice
| interests
| Public Utilities-The immediate acquire
ment of a municipal waterworks system
either by purchase or of the present sys-
tenn at its physical valuation, or by the
construction of a competing system to
| ba cd tad
for the benefit of the consumers.
The municipalization, as expeditiousy
as the same may be done, of the other
local public utilities, including chiefly
transportation and lighting systems.
The immediate abolition of dangerous
grade crossings in all parts of the city
| Public Education-Sufficient school
| buildings to accommodate all children OF
school age In all parts of the city.
Increase of tho minimum salary of
! teachers.
Text books and substantial lunches to all
pupils at the cost of the city.
Free medical and dental treatment of
pupils.
Increased vocational training combine
| with general education.
| Cost of Living-Municipal markets in
different parts of the city, bringing the
! consumers into close touch with the pro-
| ducers.
Encouragement of truck farming around
Birmingham by allowing truck farmers to
sell their products without city license.
| Municipal sale of fuel ice and other
prime necessities of life at prices covering
production and distribution.
| Public Works and Employes-Abolitior
of the contract system on city works and
substitution therefor of direct employment
| by the city.
| Fair wages and hours of labor for all
city employees.
| A scientific accounting system, including
an inventory of all city property, and the