The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-15
Harding and Others, Re-.
Gently Elected, Assume
Their Duties
ALL PRESENT ARE
VERY ENTHUSIASTIC
Reports of Various Committees Heard.
Mr.. Sibley Makes His Farewell
Address as President-Reds
Win Attendance Contest

The banquet hall of the Hillman hotel
lNas crowded last night to witness the in
auguration of the new administration of
Ihe Chamber of Commerce. There were
no ceremonies. John w. Sibley, the re-
firing president, at the conclusion of his
Farewell address handed the gavel to w.
lP. G. Harding, the incoming president,
and introduced him to the members of
the chamber as the president.
The new officers who assumed their
duties last night are: w. P. G. Harding,
president; Oscar C. Turner and Craw-
ford johnson, vice presidents; John T.
Yeatman, G. t. Stafford, J. D. Moore,
=. B. Gibson, w. N. Malone and G. B. 1
Mccormack, directors: F. NJ. jackson, A.
lei. Ford and w. p. G. Harding, trustees.
Mr.. Harding in his inaugural address
pledged his every effort for the progress
of the Chamber of Commerce during the
coming year.
1T is well that our progressivism be
tempered with conservatism" was one of
the statements of Mr.. Harding, who COM
plimented his predecessor in office very
highly. He called attention to the fact
that the Chamber of Commerce was
commercial organization, not a political
of keeping out of politics. His address
in full follows:
Mr.. Harding Speaks
Gentlemen of the Chamber of COM
merce: The reports we have heard to-
night are most inspiring. They are a
record of a year of progress and achieve
ment unparalleled in the history of this
organization and they mark the admins
tration of our retiring president as pre-
eminently successful. He has set high
standards of activity and retires with the
deserved plaudit of well done, thou good
and faithful servant
Il shall not attempt to make any pre-
diction as to what the chamber Will ac-
complish under the new administration,
but shall strive, with the support of my
associates, to make a record of which
we need not be ashamed when a year
hence we render an accounting of our
stewardship.
Il deem it. however, not improper to
outline some matters which in my opinion
will engage the attention of the cham
Der during the ensuing year. Our or
ganzation is primarily a commercial body
and its province is to promote the busi-
ness interests of our city and county. We
are not political in any sense and vet
there is such a close relation at times
between business and politics that it will
be necessary for us to keep a watchful
eye upon any of the phases of politics
which directly affect our well being as
business men.
THE matter of taxation is of direct in
terest to all of us and the receipts and
disbursements of our state. county and
city governments. are of vital concern.
This chamber with its large membership.
composed of active men of affairs and
leaders in every line of trade and indus
cry, necessarily exerts a powerful infiu-
: ence In our local affairs. 1t is essentially
a progressive organization and yet it is
we'll that its progressivism be tempered
by conservatism. We should avoid hasty
conclusions, we should exercise proper
| elaboration in assuming a position, but
when once a position is adopted as the
oolicy of this chamber, we should be pre-
4 pared TO defend it. With its area of 30
4 square miles and with its rapidly increas-
ing population, our city presents admins
trative problems of peculiar difficulty.
The chief essentials of municipal gov
ernment are, sanitation, adequate school
facilities fire and police protection and
proper regulation of public utilities. 1t
should be the policy of the chamber to
CO. operate with our city administration in
/ dealing with the problems attendant upon
4 these questions. These problems, be-
| cause of the inadequate revenue of the
/ city, hardly admit of an early solution
and call for the best thought of the COM
mnnity.
Need Small Industries
s1t has always been the policy of the
chamber to encourage manufacturing
enterprises to come to the Birmingham
district and our efforts along this line
should be unreniitting Pay rolls are
the life blood of local trade and Bir-
Imingham should not lag behind It's sis
tier cities in manufacturing. Smaller
Ienterprises particularly should be
sought and the advantages we offer
brought to their attention.
Birmingham is fast developing into
4 a residential city of unusual attrac-
z tiveness With the natural beauty OF
4 our surroundings, our good county
roads. with the better hotel facilities
which will be available before the close
+ OF the present year and with our un-
usual opportunities for Investment, this
city should become an inviting spot for
4 travellers and homeseekers. There are
f four main lines of tourist travel through
the south, one from eastern cities to
Florida points one from the east TO
New Orleans and thence over the South-
: crn Pacific TO California, one from Gin
cinnati and other cities of the middle
west to the same objective points, and
one from Chicago, st. Louis and Kansas
a City to Florida points. Three of these
great arteries of travel pats directly
!. through Birmingham and our stop
privileges should be widely advertised
and additional privileges obtained i'll
necessary.
"The jobbing trade of this city is
constantly expanding, although 1t is not
yet equal in some lines to that enjoyed
I by cities of smaller population. Bir-
mingham is admittedly the financial,
Industrial and transportation center of
the state and it will soon become the
iobbing center. We have, therefore, a
vital interest in the welfare of the ter
ritory concerned in farm development
and should encourage the immigration
| to this state of an intelligent Class OF
vwhite farmers to purchase and culti-
lvate small farms and thus develop prop
erly the large tracts of fertile land that