The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-17
Must Make Fight if New
Industry Is to Be Secured
for Birmingham
WILL CONFER WITH
STATE DELEGATION
Jemison Thinks Birmingham Has Bet.
ter Claims to Plant Than Any
Other City-Oliver and
Turner Talk

To arrange for future active campaign
for the location here of a federal armor
plate plant, w. P. G. Harding, president
of the Chamber of Commerce, will leave
for Washington Saturday evening or Sun
day morning. He determined upon such
a step within few hours after reading
the report of Joseph Daniels Secretary
of the Navy, that the government should
build armor plate plants TO keep free of
high prices charged by three plants pa
tronized by the government
The announcement that such a plan was
being contemplated by the administration
coupled with the natural advantages of
Birmingham over almost any district that
can be named. created wave of interest
In Birmingham yesterday. The statements
of Mr.. Harding and p. G. Shook that the
government would act wisely by erecting
the plant and that no place was better
suited than Birmingham We're subjects
for discussion yesterday by some of the
most thoughtful men of this community
The subsequent statement of Mr. Hard
ing that in order to strike while the iron
is hot he would make a trip to WASH
ington, was an added impetus to the en-
thusiasm.
To Confer With Officials
Mr. Harding will confer with Senators
Johnston and Bankhead of Alabama, as
well as other members of the Alabama
congressional delegation. as to the natural
advantages of Birmingham over any other
place for an armor plate works, pro-
vided the Senate decides that in the inter-
est of government economy such a plant
should be constructed. The congressional
delegation will be supplied with informa-
ton as to the Birmingham district bearing
upon the location here of such a plant by
the government. Mr.. Harding is expected
to create favorable impression for Br-
mingham as he intends to discuss the
proposition with Secretary Daniels, as we'll
as officers of the war department and
other department attaches.
THE location of the armor plate works
by the government may not come up al
this session of Congress" said Mr.. Hard
ing yesterday. However, I intend to visit
Washington, leaving here Sunday prob
ably and talk over the report made to
the Senate by Secretary Daniels, with
our delegation and other members of both
Houses. 1t will also be possible for me
to discuss the proposition with other gov
ernment officials in Washington.
Must Fight to Get Plant
II think it is well that Birmingham get
ready for battle if the plant is author
lied as many sections will make bids for
the plant. Birmingham Is unquestion-
ably the place for such a plant and can
present figures and arguments that cannot
be gainsaid by any community in this
country. In order to get into the fight we
must make some arrangements so that
when the proper time comes we will be
able to swing the plant to our district
am going on this still hunt alone, so
far as | know now. No meeting of the
Chamber of Commerce has been called 10
takesa ON the matter, yet although
such a step will tiaps come later.
Il believe that this proposition can be
handled as successfully as the gratifying
results obtained In connection with the
opening of the wire plant at Fairfield.
In connection with the proposed armor
plate plant here a few well known citi-
zens expressed themselves as follows yes
terday:
FavOrs Immediate Action
1.-The location by the government of
an armor plate plant here would be of
inoalculable benefit to this district"
said Mr.. Jemison. II believe the propo-
sition is a great one and | cannot think
of any community that could present such
unanswerabe arguments in favor of To-
eating the plant in its midst as can Bir-
mingham | am in favor of Immediate
steps being taken along with the personal
efforts of Mr.. Harding
Should Break Combination
although | am not an expert" said
Mr. Oliver, '1n steel and iron propositions
yet it seems to be clear that the gov
renment would win by going into the
armor plate business. If the three con-
Germs spoken of by Mr.. Daniels. Secre-
tary of the Navy, are holding up the
government, 1t proves the government
will fail in one of it's chief duties not
to break such combination. Birming-
ham is unquestionably the place for such
a plant being located geographically SO
close to the various bases of operations
unapproached by any other steel or iron
community
Should Get Plant
"By all means let us present the claims
of Birmingham for this plant" said Mr.
Turner. I'VE have everything In our fa-
vor and If the government intends to
carry out this manufacturing plan we
should get the plant without fall.