The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-26
CITY ITEMS

Consul Letcher Here-Marion. Letch- CT, consul for the United States at Chihuahua, Mex, is in Birmingham for few days. He was luncheon guest yesterday with Senator oscar W. Un- derwood. He denied after the luncheon that his conference with Senator un- herwood was of any significance He said that he was not permitted to discuss the cruelties of Mexicans to- ward Americans. or the alleged exces- sive paoence displayed by the admin istration in handling the Mexican sit uation. He said that it would not be prudent or in good taste for him to criticise MT. Bryan. Mr. Letcher was interested, he said, in obtaining greater trade relations between this country and Mexico, but that the Mexicans would never come to this country for trade, and that 1t was up to America to make overtures if this country de- sired the business
 "I have been away from the state for several years" said MT. Letcher. q sm very glad to be back, and I am somewhat surprised to find that Br- mingham, as well as Montgomery, have grown to such proportions. I am very glad this is so, and I sincerely trust that the progress of this section will
 Mr. Letcher will be here several days.
 Greeters to Canvass-The Birming- ham Association of Greeters will have meeting today, at which time plan will be formulated to secure funds for the entertainment of the assistant man agers and clerks of many prominent hotels expected here one week from next Sunday en route to Atlanta. Les Ire Fairchild. assistant manager of the Florence, and others interested are ex- erting every energy to provide elabo- rate entertainment for the visitors.
 John B. Knox Here-John B. Knox of Anniston, one of Alabama's most widely known attorneys, is in Bir- mingham attending the golf tourna- ment. MT. Knox, with his daughter. is at the Tutwiler hotel. He said yes- terday that Anniston was in many re- spects one of the most substantial cit les in Alabama, and that the process of liquidation there was greater than an Birmingham with all the boastsd 1progress in this community. MT Knox said that the business situation in his home town was getting better steadily and that indications pointed to an era of great prosperity soon.
 Duke On Good Roads-B W. Duke of Gadsden, one of the county commis sioners appointed to spend $200,000 on the betterment of roads in Etowah county, was here yesterday with S. I. Caldwell purchasing engineering fn- struments with which to carry on that work. Mir Duke said that one of the first roads to be made better would be the one from Attalla to the St. Joi the people of Gadsden and the people of Birmingham a straight line from that city here and one road which would be without peer in this section of the country Mir Duke said that fhe expenditure of the $200 900 secured Etowah county would be handled very cautiously, and that the maximum of results would be obtained. He added that the officials of St. Clair county haa started pace for the construction pf better roads between the Jenerson county line and the Etowah county line which would be difficult to keep I'D but that the officials intended to show that there could be constructed in that county roads even superior to those constructed in this county or St. Clair MT. Duke returned home last night.
 Bert Clifford Here-Bert Clifford of S Anniston, manager of the Alabama hotel of that city, spent yesterday Tn BIT mingham. MT. Clifford came over on personal business and returned to An niston last night. He said yesterday that the meeting of the United Commercial Travellers in Anniston last week was thoroughly enjoyed and that the people were very glad that the travelling men made that city their meeting place for this year He said that great deal Of interest was being created in the meet ing of the hotel mon in Gadsden dur ing the month of June. and from all in- dications A. P. Reich, who will be the official host, would have all that he could handle to take care of the great number of visitors expected. MT. Cliff ford said yesterday that business was getting better day by day and that from information gathered from well in- formed travelling men the conditions in- dicated that the fall trade would be much better than expected.
 Professor Griggs Here-W. c. Griggs superintendent of schools of Gadsden