The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-21
BAL T|MORE MAYOR NOT ON M|SS|ONOF POLITICS IN STATE But Lets Slip Nice COmpli- ment for Alabama's Next
 United States Senator SOUTH THE COMING
 SECTION OF NATION James H. Preston Heads Party Which Invites Alabamians to
 Attend Star-Spangled Ban
 ner Centennial

James H. Preston, mayor of Balti- more, is generally fond of talking poli- ties. Yesterday, however. he denied him. self that pleasure with the plea that he was on mission of peace"
 Nevertheless, this mayor. who in the Baltimore convention was put in nomi- nation for the post of vice president of the United States, was a good enough democrat to boost the administration of President Wilson, and to predict that an era of unprecedented prosperity fol- lowing the adjustment of the tariff and currency bills would come
 And in this connection he spoke very kindly of Oscar w. Underwood demo- cratic leader, and in a moment in which he forgot that he was on mission of peace" exclaimed
 MT. Underwood should have been nominated. But for a bIunder. he would have been nominated"
 Then he "cought himself pshort.'' and efforts to induce him to explain that blunder were futile.
 Invite Alabamians to Baltimore
 No said the mayor, q am not in Alabama for the purpose of talking politics. l have come to invite the peo- pie Of this state to visit Baltimore in September when we celebrate for a. week the centennial of the writing of The Star-Spangled Banner Baltimore hopes to entertain large delegations from every state in the union We have appropriated s5OOOOO for the purpose of the celebration. and it promises to be highly successful
 But for the nature of my mission. 1 would discuss politics. l have nothing to say in regard to the democratic, republican or progressive parties, in re- gard to MT. Taft, MT. Roosevelt, MT. Underwood, MT. Bryan or any other Individuals who might be chosen to lead the great organizations in coming battles. l have no hesitancy in saying, however, that in my opinion the demo- crats have made success of legisla- tion. So drastic were changes enacted by law that business, in dought or ex- pentancy of that it knew not of, checked itself. A certain length of time VIII be required for the country to ad- just itself to new conditions There IS no question, however, but that in very short while prosperity will return The tariff has been revised, and when the law of competition thoroughly exerts Itself the cost of living will be re- duced. Great good will be forthcoming as result of the currency legislation.
 Prosperity Wave Already Felt
 This wave of prosperity is already making itself felt Coming south we made af c4a ,J, provement which is under way. Every man with whom we have talked spoke With degree of satisfaction in that the period of halt is about broken.
 Tn Birmingham, you are not subject to the vagaries of politics or the con dition of weather. You have in your hills an unlimited supply of coal and iron ore. You cannot have a lasting panic. Nothing in the world can prevent Birmingham from achieving it's destiny the proportions of a great metropolis.
 T am on my first visit to your city. am not surprised with what I have seen, for l expected as much. But you have not fallen short of my expecta- tions In 40 years, you have made A young city which has before it a golden future. It is beautiful as well as mod ern. It is unusual in that it combines luxuriousness with virility
 Tn the present moment our condi- tons prevent an interesting contrast. You are building young city; we are rehabi- litating an old city-tearing up that which we have outgrown, demoIishing that which is unsightly. destroying that which is uncomfortable and insanitary.
 The Coming Section 'The south is destined to become the great section of our country We are gradually getting our eyes open to our opportunity. We have not paid suffi- cient attention to acquiring new popula- ton. In Cleveland the other day, | was impressed with statement made by a municipal official to the effect that the city of Cleveland has in Europe it's own immigration commissioners These com missioners are telling the people of Flu rope of the opportunity which Cleveland offers.
 Cleveland, as result, is growing rap Idly. But the opportunity which Cleve- land extends to foreigners is not to be compared to the opportunity which the south offers. or any state of the south The European is accustomed to hot weather. He is admirably adapted for our climate. He could fare well on our farms. and as a result, our country would fare well
 We are not paying enough attention to agriculture. We should grow three times the amount of grain, the amount or cotton, that we do grow We should 1eed and clothe the world And as a result there should be a greater per capita wealth in the south than in any nf A