The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-03

-HE friends of the public schools
are enthusiastic in their sup
mort If the school tax amendment to
be submitted to the voters for ratlfi-
cation at the general election in No
vember. which fact is highly en-
couraging. All
Effective Campaign the educational
for the Amendment forces OF Ala
bama have been
aroused and no measure affecting the
school interests of Alabama has ever
been pushed with such determination
as this. i.
The responsibility for the result Oh
+he election lies chiefly with the de-
:, ! rtment of education, and it Is well
10 know that Superintendent W. F.
Feagin has not only shown marked
capacity for campaign organization
Int decided cleverness in originating
telling methods for presenting the
amendment issue to the people.
Amendments to the constitution
have not been popular, as rule, win
the mass of voters, but the one now
proposed should receive the afflrma-
tive ballot of the entire electorate. 1t
is not party question. Every quail
fled voter, irrespective of his political
affiliation, may express himself on
the amendment; and whether or not
he be interested in the candidates for
office he should feel a deep concern
regarding this amendment which au-
thbrizes counties, by vote OF the
people, to levy a small special tax for
school purposes.
Meetings are being held in the rural
districts and in not few cities for
the purpose II promoting the amend
ment cause, and these meetings can
but accomplish good.
But Superintendent Feagin's latest
device is sure to make the greatest
hit Of the campaign. 1t is pamphlet
setting out in the form OF a colloquy
between "Mr. Honest Voter" and
esquire Plain Truth" every question
that might arise touching the amend
ment. On the front cover few cim-
pie statistics are presented showing
st : glance the prevailing conditions
ia Alabama and other states, and the
contents Of the booklet are made all
the more convincing by q number of
timely cartoons.
If any citizen of Alabama has been
IN doubt as to how he would vote on
the amendment he will become a
steadfast advocate of the proposition
after reading Mr.. Feagin's pamphlet.
A copy should be placed in the hands
of every voter. It will interest the
public and will supply those who are
favorable to the amendment with un-
answerable reasons for its adoption,
which, in turn, they can hammer into
the heads of some of their obtuse or
cranky neighbors.
Let all Alabamians who are endeav-
cring to remove illiteracy from the
state be ready to cooperate with the
ssuperintendent of education. With
united effort the majority for the
amendment will be overwhelming.
- RESIDENT SAM p. KENNEDY
Of the public service commits
sion has set October 2 as the date for
hearing a petition signed by w. R. c.
Cooke, president Of the Birmingham,
Ensley and Bessemer railway, better
kno wn as
Street Railway Merger the Tidewa-
should Be Approved ter lines; j.
d. Kirkpat-
rick, agent for the bondholders. and
President j. S. Pevear of the Biz
minRham Railway, Light and Power
company, for approval of the proposed
merger of the Tidewater with the
main traffic system of Birmingham.
Although the city commission re-
zused to sanction the merger, part Of
|<ho Tidewater property lies outside
the city limits and the matter