The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-18
Determined Yesterday at Conference Between Citis zens of Greater City
 and Commission
MISINFORM NOTION PRINCIPAL TROUBLE
 AT PRESENT TIME
Necessary That People Should Be In- formed of Purposes of Issues and Reasons Why the Money Is
 Needed - Comment on
 Feeling in Suburbs

An active campaign touching in it's scope every section of Greater Birming- ham will be waged in behalf of the s1,- the people April F.
 This was determined by unanimous vote Of large gathering of representative citizens from all parts of the city held at the city hall yesterday in conference with the board of city commissioners.
 Every man present was of the belief that the bond issue should and would carry, most of them enthusiastic in their heliefs, but nearly all of them stated that sea of transformation and ignorance of the real issues involved in the bond issue election and that. therefore, an active and aggressive campaign was necessary.
 Arguments for the bond issue as brought out at the meeting were many. There were present: Dr. w. s. Brown of Eass Birmingham, Fred Jackson, Dr. R. M. Cunningham, pr. E. H. Hankins of East Lake, Sydney J. Bowie, Judge c. c. Ellis of West End. F. R. Walker of Wylam, Cleon B. Rogers of North Birmingham, cs i<s i<dCty Ol IIdtt StlS, w. IS. otdTDuCk of Avondale, R. Dupont Thompson of Woodlawn, Dr. w. c. Gewin of west End. Dr. D. w. Averyt of Ensley. Frank Glass, R. s. Hiden, William Ryan, pr. M. c. Schoolar of West End. R. H. Walker of East Lake, J. M. Anderson of East Bir- mingham, w. H. Barnard of Pratt City and others.
 Will Not Increase City Debt
 Some of the pertinent facts of the dis cussion in regard to the bond issue were as follows:
 The proposed bond issue if voted, will not increase the debt of the city. It wiII only shift 1t. the money at present being owed to the banks, and if the bonds are authorized it will be owed to the bond holders.
 Authorization of the bond issue actually will save money, as the interest to be paid to the bondholders on the debt will not be as high as that at present paid to the banks who hold the notes for the deht.
 The people of the city are now using and enjoying the things for which the rlorey was spent; it, therefore, being an honorable debt which is to be discharged.
 Tho things for which the money was spent are things absolutely necessary to the welfare of the city, and not only could not have been dispensed with, but poses are still needed.
 If the bond issue is denied and the city goes bankrupt it will be ruin for hun 6reds of business firms, from which effect more damage will result than to the city.
 Weatherly Opens Meetings
 Commissioner Weatherly opened the meeting by making a short talk telling the men what they were assembled for and then asking for their views.
 Dr. w. S. Brown of East Birmingham stated he considered the bond issue "an absolute necessity" He stated the city should pay its honest debts and then go ahead with the government, and he could sec no room for any opposition to the issue. He stated that he did not know of one single instance In which the com- mission could have avoided one Of the exi enditures which go to make up the present deficit, recalling how the people of his neighborhood had demanded fire station, which they got and which he soid they should now be ready to pay fer.
 Dr. J. M. Hanhins was called upon, and in turn asked Dr. N. A. Barrett of East Lake to describe the situation there. Dr. Barrett described the meeting of the East Lake Civic league last week. at which the bond issue was voted against, stating that there was very few men present and that the resolution opposing the bond is- sue was drafted by Felix Blackburn and psssed after speech by MT. Blackburn, who lives in West End.
 'The opposition in East Lake" stated Dr. Barrett. lis largely. on the grounds that when the other bond issue was voted about three years ago it was promised that there should be no more deficits, but now the city appears again with the same promises and another bond issue. Also, people seem to believe that they should not vote for the bond issue until the ether recommended bill of the committee of loo. which is to give the city perma- rent relief, Is passed by the legislature.
 Feeling Among Suburbs
 Judge c. c. Ellis stated he had not heard the issue talked about much in West End but there was considerable opposition to it, he believed. He stated that he strongly favored the issue and described what he termed an undercur- rent among the suburbs which was to the effect of banking them toaether against the city proper. There is ex-