The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-08
LETTERS TO EDITOR
Suggestion for Commissioner

To the Editor of The Age-herald:
In Sundays Age-Herald l read of man
who had been elected to office 179 times.
This news item reminded the, writer of
jealous young man who had been MAX
ing himself CONSPICUOUS by his verbosity
at one of the Northfield religious con-
ventions When it was decided to call
a special meeting Dwight L. Moody called
for a leader, and oLr verbose friend was
Immediately on his feet proffering his
services. You might do" replied MIR.
Moody, but don't want you. l have
been noticing during the course of these
meetings that you have been forcing a
large number of hetter men than yourself
in the background and this time I'm
going to give them chance" There is
nothing exceptional in the type of this
religious young man, and nothing par
ticularly brilliant in the reply of Mr..
Moody The incident | intend solely as
an Illustration applicable to present local
political conditions and especially as ii
applies to the coveted office of city
commissioner.
A few days ago a friend asked me to
support certain candidate for commits
sioner. The candidate 1 understand is
a good, aggressive man, but | asked my
friend why l, or wny he, should sup
port this man in preference to half a
dozen other men | could name. nv
friends answer showed that his reasons
were purely psychological; my friends
candidate was a politician. He had been
elected to office before and according
TO report would like to hold office
again, and being a good man, rea-
soning following the course of least
resistance says, Lets vote for him." But
putting reasoning TO the task of analy-
sis, we reply is it not possible to find
a more suitable man? In other words, a
man who is not a politician man who
is not self-seeking a man who has the
welfare of the people at heart in a dis
interested sense, man who is capable.
fair minded. and who can wisely steer
Birminghams ship of state clear off tho
rocks-is It not possible to find such
man among the rank and file of the peo-
pie? L asked my friend why 1 should
support his professional candidate to half
a dozen other private citizens / could
name. 1 named Vassar L. Allen, one
of the leading members of Birmingham's
bar association. I submit Mr. Aliens
name to the public through the medium
of this letter. Mr.. Allen may not thank
me for the publicity / am giving his
name, for he knows nothing about my
political ideas, but if Mr.. Allen would
consent to serve as a city commissioner
where could Birmingham find a better
man? His family has lived in Alabama
for several generations. Perhaps no man
in the state knows Alabama history better
than he. Champion OF the oppressed,
friend of the influential, fair minded,
honest, humble of mind, capable III his
profession, a keen student of human
nature, respected by all, where, | re-
peat, could more desirable city COM
missioner be found? And would it not
be better for the general morale of Bir-
mingham to elect a man of Mr.. Aliens
type than to elect professional poll
tician?
| also read MIR. Woods statement of
his candidacy, but l believe Mr.. Wood
will agree with me that 1t would be
difficult to find a man in Birmingham
who would more nearly approach being
tne man of the moment than Mr.. Vas
sar l.. Allen.
AS / have already stated Mr.. Allen
may not be pleased at the suggestion |
have made with reference to him, but |
nave endeavored to emphasize a prin-
clple, which is, that we pull away from
the professional politician and that we
choose commissioner from the walks
or private citizens hip. If Mr.. Allen will
serve let ms elect him. In any event
let us give somebody, besides the profess
sional politician an opportunity to de-
velop and fashion the growth of our city
Yours respectfully.
SAMUEL c.. MEAD