The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-23
DOES BIRMINGHAM FEEL THE NEED OF REAL PRESS AGENT? Newspaper Visitors Think City Has Not Been Prop
 erly Advertised WRONG IMPRESSION
 ABROAD ABOUT TT Is Regarded as Mining Town, Where as Its Chief Attraction Is the
 Delightful Living Con
 tions Here
By CLYDE W. ENNIS.

Does this city modestly remain within the confines of a small local area those facts which if exploited by means of publicity such as used extensively by Atlanta would result in untold benefit to this community?
 The answer to the two foregoing ques- tions was in the affirmative from the IS eastern newspaper editors and publish CTS who stopped in Birmlng ham 12 hours Tuesday They said that Birmingham was place of unusual charm and at tractiveness and that instead of having this city known as an industrial center there should be told the story of living conditions here to attract persons that are seeking just such a place as Birming- ham to visit and to live.
 John Clyde Oswald, who is president of the National Editorial association, presi- dent of the American Printer and the Oswald Publishing company, stands at the head of the printing industry in this country. He said that when he sug- gested stopping here Tuesday en route to Texas to attend the twenty-sxth annual convention of the association every one wondered why he arranged the stop-over
 Knew Nothing of City
 q knew nothing of Birmingham" said MT. oswald, nor did any of the party So why, they asked me, do we stop in Birmingham? We are told that it IS a dusty, smoky industrial place. and why not stop at Chattanooga where we may see the historic battlefields? l said the hour was too early to get up at Chatta- nooga so let us go on down to Birming- ham.
 We were taken in charge by repre- sentative of the Birmingham Chamber ot Commerce and local newspaper men. And l have never been so stunned in my whole life. l have been all over the world, and l can say without hesitation that Bir- mingham is the greatest surprise that 1 have ever encountered. Why it is that Birmingham does not tell about it's won derful home life here. its beautiful drives, Its great welfare programmes and things like that l cannot understand.
 T have promised to use several thou sand words with illustrations about the Birmingham Newspaper club. l am told that every publisher with our party in- tends to print in his paper story of the wonderful homes in Birmingham, it's great climate. it's progress and the beau ties of this valley as well as d separate story about the work the newspaper men have done for Birmingham in construct ing that press club. All that I am sure will serve to help Birmingham This could have been arranged without our trip here and our seeing what you have So why not get it out to the papers? It Is great chance and one that no money can buy. Go ahead and tell the story about Birmingham as it is arranged for living and do not let the impression con- tinue that 1t is a provincial, dusty little industrial community. It is far too fine for that
 Young COncurs in Opinion
 The opinion was concurred in by John R. Young, whose business it is to travel over the world and get meetings for the great city of New York. As conven- tion "getter" he is rated AL and 1t is said that in less than three recent months he has pulled 87 conventions for that city. He is high priced expert in his unique line of work, former newspaper man who has travelled over the world many times and speaks about eight lan- guages. He remarked:
 My boy, go ahead and get the Bir- mingham people to tell the country about this lovely place. Why I never had the slightest idea what was here, and I was wondering why Oswald arranged a stop at Birmingham. But I have never yet seen such an attractive community, or nicer and more hospitable people. These
 
 help you. Just go ahead and send me 5000 words about the press club and I will put it over for you in half dozen papers. MT. Oswald says he will handle some of it, too l shall never forget Br- mingham and shall never hesitate to boost Birmingham wherever I go.'
 Turkish Journalist Along
 In the party was one of the most distinguished journalists of Turkey. Ahmed Emin (pronounced "Amen"), is staff representative of ''Ikdam. printed in Constantinople. The title of the paper in English means "Perse- verance,' according to MT. Emin. He is a dapper, small, elegantly groomed man and has been educated in half dozen countries. He is the possessor of q half dozen degrees. one of them late ly conferred upon him by Columbia for book that he is the author of on Turkish journalism.
 MT. Emin was deeply interested in stories that were told him about the work that Is being done in Birming ham for the employees of the local op- erations of the Steel corporation and even more deeply interested when told that this policy was a general one of the United States Steel corporation. He invited President George Gordon Craw- ford of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company to visit Constanti- nople when he was abroad again. Mir. Crawford promised to do so.
 "I am much interested in Birming- ham, said MT. Emin. Tt is a wonderful place. Your hills, beautiful lawns and the great work being done to make living more worth while appeal to tha progressiveness of all enlightened peo- pie. I am certainly glad I came along on this trip for if nothing more hap pens of decided interest I shall con- slider the trip to Birmingham as hav- ing been decidedly worth while and sufficient compensation for the jour ney."
 Expert Growers of Sweet Peas
 The greatest amateur grower of sweet peas in this country was along with the publishers. Edgar A. Higgins of the Avertiser, published at Elmira. New York, was the eldest member of the party. He started to discuss sweet peas and talked at some length about them. It developed that MT. Higgins has taken more prizes at flower shows with his own grown sweet peas than most any man in the east. He modestly admitted that he grew a few just for pastiine and said he was satisfied with the results. MT. Oswald, who furnished reporters information about Hr. Hig- gins, said he was looked upon as the best producer of sweet peas in New York.
 'I want story about Birmingham and its boulevards for my paper. with