The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-25
Attitude of Newspapers Topic for Commissioner Weatherly's Remarks to Cheering Crowd
OTHER SPEAKERS
 DEVOTE TIME TO /
 BIG CORPORATIONS
Shapiro Causes Regular Uproar by Vigor of His Attack on the B. R., L. & P. Co.

Raking the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company, the Alabama Power company, the Birmingham News and it's editor, Frank P. Glass, with d severe ar raifnment, the Municipal Ownership league of Birmingham took on a new lease Of life last night in the council chamber of the city hall before repre- sentative gathering of citizens. The meet ing was in the interest of the $500 900 bond issue to enlarge the municipal electric plant at North Birmingham.
 Enthusiasm inspired the oratory from the very beginning when Dr. A. J. Dick inson announced that all one had to do to be member of the Municipal Ownership league was to give ones name to J. B. Woods, the secretary, and vote for the electric bond issue on June D. to the clos ing remarks of Commissioner James Weatherly, who stated that not all the newspapers in Birmingham were unfair and unprogressive.
 From the speeches here tonight" said Commissioner Weatherly, "one might be led to believe that all the newspapers of Birmingham were unfair and closed against us and I rise to say that some weeks ago, Mr. Ned Brace, the editor of The Age-Herald, openly advocated the $500000 bond issue to enlarge the electric plant at North Birmingham and followed up his personal chat with an editorial a few days afterwards. Since that time with the utmost fairness the columns of The Age-Herald have been opened to anything that I have said or written in favor of the light bonds. MT. Edward w. Barrett is rendering a great public serv- ice by this fair stand of his newspaper and we should tell him so. We should thank him publicly.
 Not only that MT. Richard F. John- ston of the Birmingham Ledger has sent word that he will accept any article that may prepare to be printed daily in his newspaper until the election. We are getting this space free, and l am thank full that I am able to call attention to- night to the fairness of both The Age Herald and the Ledger. The citizens should also appreciate this fact
 At this point Commissioner Arlie Bar Der said: "Only today the representa- tives of The Age-Herald and Ledger came to my office and took away with them | SGN NcIdl pI6pdIGu SldlSIleHlS WHICH l uIl- 'derstand they will publish. I am in posi- tion to appreciate such fairness and do appreciate it.
 ATTACKS MIR. GLASS
 In the opening speech of the evening Commissioner Weatherly went at Frank P. Glass hammer and tongs. He took exceptions to the editorial in yesterday afternoons News, which he said contained quotations of the majority report of the Rotary club Investigating committee. This report, stated MT. Weatherly, and the minority report were to be kept secret, but had evidently been released for pub- lication exclusively in the News editorial page. Regarding the Birmingham Rail- way, Light and Power company, MT. Weatherly said:
 "The Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company, following the instructions of it's master, the Alabama Power com pany, is conducting bold and audacious campaign to show the failure of municipal ownership, but they fail to speak of the successes In other words you are watch ing thousands of dollars being spent in the process of hearing the best way to get more money away from you. The North Birmingham municipal light plant has been in operation for 10 years, and is now paying proposition The people know this and their votes will answer the Birmingham Railway, Light and Pow CT company, and MT. Frank P. Glass and the Birmingham News on June D..
 J. B. Woods who followed, said: '"rhe Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company has brought carpetbagger' from Massachusetts to educate the people of Birmingham on how it should govern itself" MT. Wood then reviewed the objective of the Municipal Ownership league.
 John B. Simpson, travelling salesman, was next introduced MT. Simpson spoke briefly about his trips throughout the United States and of the unqualified suc- cess of municipal ownership of public utilities over private ownership
 SHAPIRO CAUSES UPROAR Amid much uproad Isadore Shapiro was introduced as the next speaker, and for 15 minutes Representative snapro nan dled the Alabama Power company, the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company without gloves. MT. Shapiro
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