The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-14


 Armed with megaphones, decorated with red badges, filled with the joyous spirit of spring and ready to root and die for Birmingham, something like 200 members of five civic organizations will leave the Chamber of Commerce at 2 o'clock this afternoon to join 14000 other loyal citizens of Birmingham at Rick wood field. Everybody who is a fan will be on hand to witness the opening base ball game of the season, which is called for o'clock this afternoon. Stores will be closed and the entire city will turn westward.
 Mobile plays Birmingham this after noon. The Chamber of Commerce, the Business Mems league, the Board of Trade, the Rotary club and the Ad club are united in concerted effort to break all records for attendance on the open ing day of the baseball season, and in cidentally Birmingham will today take from Atlanta the loving cup won by the windy city last year for the best att tendance at the opening game
 200 Stores Will Close
 Something like 200 stores will be closed today to permit their employees to at tend the opening game. Roberts & Son will not only close, but will buy tickets for each employe. Moore & Handley will do the same, as will the Excelsior laundry. Blach's will close at o'clock and every employe of the store is urged to attend the game. Railroad ticket and freight offices will be closed. The of of ba ybo, Ipoi febt and Power company will be closed. Nor ris avenue will be deserted, the shopping district will be devoid of its usual crowd, and even the residential districts are expected to have a lonesome appearance.
 Today 1t will not be necessary for small boys to suddenly discover that grandmother is dead; that mothers want the chores attended to early in the aft ernoon; that the dentist insists upon a session, for the boss will not only give him an afternoon off. but. if he is a good boss. will purchase the ticket.
 The street railway company is arrang- ing to care for a record breaking crowd. There will be many extra cars placed in operation and the assurance is given that everything possible will be done to fa- cilitate the handling of the fanss There will be a preliminary bout before the staging of the big show, under the per sonal direction of Harry Jones. Commis- sioners Ward and Weathery will enact the stellar roles by addressing the crowds and 1t Is probable that MT. Ward will throw the first ball of the season.
 Nappi's hand has been engaged by the civic organizations and will render music appropriate to the occasion.
 Membership Campaign Begins Today
 The membership campaign of the Chamber of Commerce officially begins today and every member of the chamber who brings in a new member. together with the new ones check before 2 o'clock this afternoon will receive a free ticket for himself and his friend to to- days game.
 The unique plan of the chamber for increasing it's membership is being com mended on every hand. Instead of the usual cut and dried process of sending teams to call upon all prospects,, Pres ident Shook mailed a personal letter to each member of the Chamber of Con- merce. asking them to secure at least one new member. A prize Of a season ticket to the baseball park is offered to the single member of the chamber securing the largest number of new members
 M. P. MesserN has already brought in five names with checks, although the campaign does>not begin until this morn- ing. Thus far Mir. Messer is leading in the contest for the grand prize. Other members of the chamber have brought in as many as three each and the total is nearing 50.
 Many members of the chamber re- ceived the names of prospects who had changed their address, moved away or were out of the city. All of these have either called Secretary Radcliffe on the telenhQpe at his affi,a ts