The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-11

Alabama is rich in waterways. few
days since, a great demonstration was
made at Tuscaloosa on the arrival of the
first steel barge. Many speeches of con-
graduation were made and future sue
cessful river carriage prophesied. | viii
caution the barge projectors that The
Age-Herald, unchallenged, published that
the railroads would not allow freight car
riage on Alabama waters; that the Louis
Vile and Nashville railroad in the last
few years used s60.00U spent. through
Captain Staples in a single effort to de-
stroy water competition running into the
port at Mobile
Release Our River Highways
While, in every sense of the word, this
is reflection our state and national
government, as no railroad should be al
lowed to obstruct by any tactics what
ever waterways channel or carriage, 1
appreciate that with Mobile awakened to
its possibilities and the Panama canal
opened, that these great resources of the
state will be of much more use than any
new railroad in the state, no matter where
built. So l say, as one of the prime plat
form articles of the future: Release the
railroad embargo from our rivers and
unite these greatest assets of the state.
A Banking Illustration
Recently. the banks of Birmingham
We're in controversy with the banks of
Montgomery over a question of exchange.
Montgomery had advanced the rate from
Is cent to a cent and against this IN
crease the Birmingham banks protested
and fought. The Montgomery banks
could easily claim that with this addl-
tional charge they could better do the
business and while on the subject, would
1t be very tenahle proposition for the
FIRST National bank of Birmingham to
ask the right of charging 10 per cent for
money instead of per cent ON a gen.
eral proposition that with this increase
OF interest it could do more business, de-
velop more land, and help In the general
upbuilding of the state? Would 1t be a
tenable proposition for the Avondale mills
to demand the right to charge X cent
per yard more for goods on the general
claim that 1t would be able to build more
mills, give more people work, etc.? Or,
still again, how would it appeal to the
First National bank that it's state ana
county taxes should be doubled in order
TO establish more schools, build moro
roads, ETC., all of which would increase
our population. Increase our trade .devel-
opment and greatly benefit the state, and
II generally practieed. would not cost very
much to any one citizen?
Congress, under the leadership of Will
son, has just demonstrated the absnrdity
of all such propositions, and for the fun
protection of the people has written the
laws OF the land.
Alabama and Washington
Is the democratic party at Washington
OF any different material from the demo-
cratic party in Alabama? Is the demo-
cratic policy at Washington any different
from the democratic policy In Alabama i?
over the great democratic tariff reduc-
uOn XlCtOrV at Wa shin on sbn
shout our vivas
A Referee and His Paper
What sort of proposition is 1t to have
tne Wouid-be Washington sponsor and
Alabama referee in national democracy
with the jingle of the corporation loot In
his pockets, fighting the ACCOMPLISHMENT
OF all these things in Alabama?
Nnat sort of proposition is II to have
a paper that sold its columns to this grea
corporation to commit libel whose col
unns are on the niercenary and not the
patriotic side; to be the leader to carry
Alabama back into the plunderings of the
invisible government?
Esau sold his birthright for n rness az
pottage.. The dearest right that Alabama
can have is the right to govern our state
our own way by our own people and not
from the OFFICES of the Louisville and
Nashville railroad at Louisville, Ky.
The Senate to Investigate
Under the resolution of Senator Lake
Lea, the federal Senate by a viva voce
voted, instructed the interstate commerce
commission to investigate the methods
and practices of the Louisville and Nash
vile railroad and all of its subsidiary
INES and companies I suppose some
Louisville and Nashville improvised decoy
duck will say that this will hurt business
sion lNttiI1
ing rails and cross ties, etc
The Real Railroad Wreckers
Senator Lea said: "It is fashionable
nowadays to accuse those who insist upon
railroads obeying the law of mpoverish-
ing the WIDOWS and orphans whose in
Vestments are In railroad securities. Phe
railroad wreckers are those officials of
railroads who. blinded by egotism and
brief authority, are determined to run
their railroads In defiance of law and
without respect or regard for public
opinion
The New England Example
He says also that the president of the
New York, New Haven and Hartford rail-
road, Mellen's management, was directed
more toward monopolizing the territory
ms road served, buying out and running
competition and directing legislatures and
coercing public officials, than in running
trains safely, carrying passengers, and
transporting freight.
Its Southern Counterpart
He says that 'the Louisville and Nash
Vile railroad is the New York, New Ha-
ven and Hartford railroad of the south.
It's defiance of public opinion, and an
attempt to control government by direct
Ing legislatures and coercing public Of
fcials. That they continue to oppose Civ
ing their patrons the benefit of 215-cent
fare when other railroads in Tennessee
ana adjoining states are making money
in charging cents and 21a cents fares;
in fighting and defeating just legislat ton
like the employers liability laws; in
crushing out competition and spending
its stockholders money in campaigns to