The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-10
Third Annual Safety First" Banquet of American
 Cast Iron Pipe Go.
EDUCATION. MEANS
 IMPROVED METHODS
John J. Eagan and Commissioner J. R. Hornady Make Impressive Addresses-J. F. Kent
 Presides


 agency for the safety first move ment was emphasized by all the speak CTS last night at the third annual safety" banquet of the American Cast Iron Pipe company at the Acipco Young Mems Christian association au- ditorium Commissioner John R. Hor- nady of Birmingham and John J. Eagan, chairman of the board of di- rectors of the Acipco corporation were features of the safety first" move ment.
 Mir. Eagan. who is well known capitalist of Atlanta, was the last speaker on the programme. but he inn mediately attracted attention by tell ing a wonderful story of the regener- ation of certain high official in the Ford automobile plant at Detroit
 'sWe have been told tonight" said MT. Eagan. "of some of the wonders of the Ford plant at Detroit; of how the workmen are taken care of, and of how in the past 12 months out of 24,000 employees only 27 Were dis charged. Only one man is responsible for that and I win tell you about him.
 Several years ago there was a young man employed by the Standard Oil company. He was married, had an excellent position, enjoyed good friends but there was no safety first move ment in those days to clarify a mans mind and he weakened and stole thou sands of dollars. His theft was dis covered and he was arrested, indicted tried and found guilty. He then went to the penitentfary and served his sen tence.
 Throughout his period of disgrace and mental and physical sufferings in Jail his wife stood Loyalty by him while his friends of other days were no more. The wife's loyalty was rewarded for this man on leaving prison went to Detroit and there immediately went to the offices of the auditors that had discovered his theft and said: T am the man who stole that money. have served my sentence Now, I want a job; want to make good, and 8 chance to make good He was given that chance.
 Some years later or about five years ago Henry Ford came to the of flee of this auditing firm and request ed good auditor for his corporation, as le finances of it were running dWdy WilH HlfIl SD Hc cA pldlASu 4Hcy told Mir. Ford they had just the man for him and then explanea tha mans history. Mir. Ford immediately en- gagged him and all the drastic labor changes, high wages and excellent con- ditjo~~ obtaining at the Ford factory are due to the efforts of this mana convict. a mon whom people have said could not make good. But he has made god and in making good has made oth- CTS good.
 ''This man has standing order in all the great penitentiaries of the coun- try for men who want chance at life again. These men are placed at work with their identities hidden. No one knows but MT. Ford and this man what their records are. They work and they become useful citizens
 q have told you this story to indi- cate that you can all make good if you've got the stuff in you. And you're got to have the stuff in your heart and be men,"
 In closing MT. Eagan paid his com pliments to the rapid growth of the city of Birmin gham and his confidence in the worth of this city.
 Birmingham has changed to me-, he said, q thought with my New York friends that it was a cry of dirty fur naces and smoky mills, but on my nu- merous visits here my opinion has changed I have found high class men here, me nof culture and ideas so that | now I am mighty glad to visit Bir- mingham at all times.'
 Commissioner Hornady in his short ad- dress dwelled on the educational stua- ton of the city of Birmingham and told how important it was to awakened the citizens to the needs of more schools.
 'The Safety First movement" said Commissioner Hornady, "and means of obtaining an education are closely akin. You officials are training the adults how to take care of themselves, but it vii, save time and money to start now ana teach the children. And this is what l want to speak about.
 Next November we have a constitu tional amendment coming up fov fl vote which if passed will give the city the right to impose a tax of three mills for school purposes. We need that tax Please do not forget that.
 s'We have a wonderful city of nearly 200,000 in population and less than half century old It is a marvel. However we have grown so fast that we have not taken care of the schools and this is the paramount issue before you today Our school facilities are wholly inade- quate, and we have got to build several new school buildings"
 The remarks of MT. Hornady were loudly applauded and J. F. Hunt, general manager of the American Cast Iron Pipe company who acted as toastmaster espe- cially thanked the commissioner of edu- cation for the talk and presence at the banquet.
 Other than the good speaking and fel- lowship that abounded at the banuuet. there was good eating and the singing of the male chorus constituted the mus