The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-02


he introduced the speakers. President b.
b. Burton CT the Business Mems league
also president of the Fair association
called the banqueters to order, spoke a
few words concerning the attachments.
the hopes and ambitions of the league.
He introduced r. a. Brown as the toast
master of the evening.
President c. Exum of the city commits
sion was the first speaker called upon
By Mr. Brown, his subject being Get
| Together
THE man who doesn't appreciate the
work being done by this organization is
not very good citizen" said Mr. Exum.
This organization is all for Birmingham,
1t is developing and improving the city in
a hundred ways which many a man never
realizes The State Fair IS a wonderful
institution, which now has been placed
on Paying basis and is proving one
Tof the most valuable factors in the prog
ress of the state as well as Birmingham.
There was time which I well remember
when this fair did not operate on a pay
ing basis But now it does and it is an
eloquent tribute to the men who made 1t.
| hope the fair this fall will be the great
est we have ever had. know 1t will
and If there is anything | can do to help
make 1t so either officially or as a private
citizen, l want to be called upon.
Otto Mooney spoke on the relation of
the hank to the Business Mems league.
lie told of how the league was constantly
bringing new trade to the city, which
placed new money in circulation in the
hanks and helred the banks, the city and
everyone concerned.
Frank p Glass praised the work of the
organization in joining the business mer-
chants of the city together and advocated
the taking In the truck gardeners in sur
rounding country, by whose cooperation
he said the cost of living here could be
reduced.
Bodeker Asks Cooperation
Chief of Police George II. Bodeker re-
sponded to the toast of IAN Orderly
House, He told of the efforts made
by his department of the city government
to maintain order at the big State Fair.
He praised the efforts of the Business
Mems league In helping him to do this
work. He asked that there be more CO.
operation between the police department
and the members of the league, by which
closer relations. he said, was the only
way to get the highest service out of any
branch of city government
j. w. Donnelly introduced as the part
ner of the Duke of the Midway" George
Bljnn, spoke of the Importance of trad
ing in Birmingham" He said that it
was not merely necessary to get the resi-
dents of the outlying districts about Bir
mirgham to trade here, but that the prime
meaning of the famous slogan of the
Business Mems league was that Birming-
ham people should trade here.
Richard johnson of the Ledger made +,
an emphatic appeal for a fair deal for
Birmingham, referring to freight rates
and other classes of discrimination which |
he alleged was in operation.
A. H. Ford Speaks
A. II. Ford, in rising to speak, said |
that he had some doubts about coming |
out tonight as he was no longer an ordi- |
nary citizen. 'I am now a kidnaper,"
he said, my trial is set for next Satur-
day and 1 expect to soon be digging coal |
out at the big rock. l wanted just one
more big night with a bunch of good
fellows before / CO. however, and that $
why I'm here" Mr.. Ford declared the |
league was the best and livest organiza- |
tion he had ever belonged to.
at is bringing trade to Birmingham
and keeping trade here as no other or |
ganization can" he said. II believe that
the Alabama State Fair is the biggest
and most important single institution that
We have in the city. 1t is an enormous
factor in the development of Birmingham
and the state. I hope to see it continue
to prosper and grow, soon have perma-
nent brick and stone buildings at the
fair grounds and as it grows carry Bir-
mingham along upward with it"
j. e. Shelby, president of the Board
of Trade, made one of the best speeches
of the evening. He told of his business
experiences in this and other, cities and
of how different it was In Brmingha
where things were always booming and
growing. 'The cost of living is higher
ha sal Inf e
worth it,
Dr. j. L. Parker said he was one of |
the "dadies of the state fair" He was
present when 1t was born many years
ago in a little private dining room of
the Hotel Hillman; he had seen 1t in
trouble and in success, and he was glad |
it had become the great and successful
institution which it is today. He praised
highly the work of the Business Mems
league in boosting Birmingham. Colman
Blach spoke of the things yet to be done,
the tremendous service that lay ahead
of the organization.
Secretary w. C. Radcliffe of the Cham
ber of Commerce stated he had been in
Birmingham Just one year last night and
that he felt highly honored by the ban
quet on his anniversary He said he
knew the great work the league was do
ing. the trade ii was bringing to Bir-
mingham and of the great state fair of
last fall. THE thing for us now is CO.
operation" he said. Let us all pull to-
gether and we will do things before un-
dreamed Of
Bennett Tells of Old Days
Chief A. V. Bennett told of some of
the olden days when there was no organ
ization of business men and how it was
first formed in order to entertain the Con-
federate reunion in Birmingham several
years ago. Like Chief Bodeker he asked |
the aid and cooperation of the MEM |
bers of the league with his department, as |
that was the only way to secure the |
best results.
Music was furnished during the evening |
by stringed orchestra and several vaude- |
Vile performers and singers aided in the |
entertainment of the banqueters. With the