The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-08
FAMILIAR VOICE COMES
 FROM FAR-OFF CALIFORNIA

To the Editor of The Age-Herald.
 It was back in the spring of 'S7 that graduated from The School of Hard Knocks, having taken the. full course on rocky, hillside farm, where l pulled bell line over Beck, from the age of to 19. I was backed with the full course from grubbing in the early spring until the last bale was picked before the hol- idays.
 Aimed with this vast experience, and letters of recommendation from my old dad and our pastor, l started out. I was favored with a seat in a neighbor' S wagon, and after a ride of some 80 miles, We turned the crest of Shades moun- tain" and for the first time I gazed on what to me was a great city. And this was, indeed, destined to be great city
 Those were boom days in Birmingham and keeping up with the procession, was rapidly promoted from carpenter $ helper" to "earpenter," and then,to ''boss carpenter"
 When the building boom began to wane l changed my trade to the mechanic S line. After q few months in the G. P shops and few trips between Birming- ham and Atlanta, fireman, 1 was made q full fledged engineer. and held this po- sition for six years. l was fired for ex- ceeding the speed limit and failing to suc- cessfully demonstrate the fact that two trains coming from opposite directions on the same track could not pass each other without some slight damage.
 wish to apologize for the above per- sonal allusions, and assure you that they were mentioned to let you know that am one of the boys, who distinctly remem- bers many of the exciting events which transpired in Birmingham 20 or 25 years ago.
 l was one of the number that ''iust fol lowed the crowd" which started from the Florence hotel corner to the jail tc get Dick flaws. l was standing at the jail yard entrance when Sheriff Smith made his speech, requesting his friends to move back, as he intended to dispers, the mob when he returned to the jail Poor Throckmorton was on the other side or me making his speech, endeavorins ns to quell the mob. When Smith returned
 
 in almost singed our eyebrows. A few incidents of this memorable night should like to relate, but will neither take the space nor the time to do so now.
 While it has been years since I left the south, ! have and will always feel the greatest pride in the south's develop ment and all that pertains to her pros- perity and welfare. In order to keep up with home news, buy each when leave my office an Age-IIerald from the boy who stands at the corner of Third and Market streets. crying out, Buy your home town paper" In crossing the bay to my residence l carefully scan each news item for familiar names, even to the ads, just to see what's doing in the old town that gave me my first experience in combating with the strenuous compe- tition in fife's battle.
 l am loyal to this, my adopted state. and love San Francisco. I believe her to be the greatest burg on the map. know Ing her as l do. l witnessed her crema- tion and her rise, greater and more beau- uful than ever, from the ashes l have seen her people put to the test under conditions and circumstances that tried their very souls l know them, and that is why l love them. Could 1 say more This is no reason why l should think less of Birmingham and my native southland.
 nave bctii ItduliS With Interest and following very closely the senatorial con- test between MT. Oscar Underwood and Captain Hobson. do not wish to appear in the light of a "Butinsky," but do wish to state from an outsiders point of view who sincerely has the interest of not only the state of Alabama and the south, but of our entire countrqy at heart, that it will positively not only be a loss to Ala bama and the south, but to our entire country should MT Underwood be de- feated for the United States Senate. which he has earned by conscientious work and nationwide recognized ability
 It is difficult for an outsider who is fla milar with the history of the two con- testants, to conceive how there could seri- ously be any real contest between them when we consider the years of close ap- plication and earnest effort that has been rendered by MT. Underwood in behalf not only fhis own section. but of the whole country. For this reason his repu- tation extends throughout the length and breadth of the land.
 Owing to the intensity of Alabama. s senatorial contest we frequently hear even at this distance the subject discussed al the clubs and ca fes. Everyone seems to recrgnize MT. tnderwood's worth as one of our nations leading statesmen. They feel it would be a national loss if he should be defeated.
 The work on the Panama Pacific expo