The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-08-24
ALTMAN OBJECTS TO
PROPOSED METHODS.
Says Candidate for Commits
sioner Has Already Been
Selected by big Uns"
To the Editor of The Age-Herald:

| To the Editor or The Age-Herald:
| Every one In Birmingham is interested
to greater or lesser degree in the selec'
| ton of our next city commissioner; and
we are all. therefore. interested in and
affected by the proposition made by one
of our afternoon papers.
| Being a citizen of Birmingham for more
| than 20 years; a taxpayer here for a
number of years, and qualified elector
| for quite a time. felt and feel an In
terest in the welfare OF Birmingham, and
of course, in the plan suggested. There
fore I sent today a communication on
| the subject of It's plan, but 1t was not
published. Will you publish this?
! The proposition to name a commissioner
| for us would be extremely amusing, were
there not danger therein. Danger that
| the purpose might be accomplished, and
what is more dangerous still, that this
method of the big uns'' of naming our
officials might become somewhat of a
precedent.
Let us consider for a moment the gentle
plan--and while we do consider. allow
me to call attention to the swinging bold
ness thereof.
This newspaper in its editorial, among
other things, says: ut would seem wise,
If the movement is worth considering and
getting under way. that It should be done
without delay
This paper then suggests-suggests, mark
you-that 16 gentlemen, who are then
named, meet at IL o'clock Monday chat
| is today in the Chamber of Commerce,
ETC.:
What does this article suggest? 1t sug-
gests that the announced and the tenta-
tive candidates for the commissonership
are all unfit; it suggests that the present
commissioners are separatively and col
lectively incompetent; 1t suggests the Sc
lection of a commissioner by method
which, under the law, would disqualify
any other city official; it suggests when
the curtain shall arise; 1t suggests where
the initial performance shall be held; it
suggests the actors in the drama.
l ask with the utmost earnestness and
with all the vehemence In my power: VIII
it suggest the candidate?
1t looks like the candidate has been
selected; not by this newspaper, but by
suggestion to 1t. This newspaper Is but
the fundamentally.
1t Is not believable that the brilliant
and logical mind of its editor in chief
could have conceived such u plan. Had
such a crude and patent political PROPOSE
ton been suggested to our old friend
Machiavelli we can imagine him turn
ing away to smile.
The article does more than to "sug-
gest,' 1t says to the people OF Birming-
ham-you are not fit to select your Of
fetal. we will name him for you. 1t
offers a gratuitous insult to the gentle
men who are avowed and tentative cand-
dates for the ommssionership; 1t gives
an unnecessary and an unrighteous af-
front to the friends of these gentlemen
1t gives our present commissioners each
swift kick in the ribs, and to one of
them especially 1t Is the quintessence of
an unjust and unwarranted attack. 1t
drives back to the convention system of
selecting candidates. and then goes fur
Their beyond; for under that system the
people selected the delegates. but here
the newspaper has selected them. 1t is n
slap in the face of American political
ideas, and 1t is the assassin's unholy stab
at the vtals of popular government.
/ say now that the man has been Sc
lected. and all of this preliminary is but
in aid thereof and a frutless effort at
political legerdemain.
JOHN w. ALTMAN.
Birmingham, August 49, 1915.