The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-25

headlines the thought is permissible, and it is not surprising that he should have fallen victim to the most insidious form of flattery known to the human mind which is publicity. Give a reformer enough publicity and the simie is the same as giving fool enough rope. Pub licity is mama from the Gods, to Arlie Barber
 EFFECT OF PUBLICITY
 T have noted the effect of publicity on Barber with rare amusement. When first elected he jovial but now he passes \ you on the street with far away light in his eyes. His vision is above the common herd. There is divine light and divine guidance in his movement and the im- ,ression is ever that there is halo some where about MT. Barber, but to me this halo always appears the image of a squirrel gazing fondly at the head of our spectacular commissioner of public safety
 And he will talk on the streets? 1 wonder what he will say? Naturally he will attack the corporations. We'll he dis plays rare wisdom in that course. You know Napoleon when grlled for his moral | laxity by his wife Josephine always coun- tered by an attack on her extravaganza, and usually succeeded in diverting atten- ton from his own faults by empha sizing the faults of others. Arlie Barber has the same 1aclie turn or mlnd. He conn pares favorably with Napoleon in that respect.
 Barber, of course, cannot as yet speak on what he has accomplished at the city hall But he can speak what he pro poses to do. If my memory serves me right Arlie Barber has succeeded in hav- ing an ordinance passed prohibiting domino playing in pool rooms during his several months incumbency as commis- soner Well. that is not bad record, but still not in which to boast to the dear people I readily imagine that Barber will speak on the broad suD 1ect of corporations in a broad way when he begins his street talks. Corporations still considered legitimate prey among reformers."
 Where is all this business going to lead us too?" inquired the scribe.
 LEADS TO NOWHERE
 Nowhere replied Scotty in serious ein, except 70 dismal condition or unrest and dissatisfaction. I am not Irea ching for the corporations, but neith- CT am I denying that the corporations mGde Birmingham In the ten years be- tween 1900 and 1910 Birmingham pro- gressed by leaps and bounds with cor porations unfettered and it does not appear that the public suffered then as they do now with everything seemingly on the blink because of the simple fact that sincere ana well lntentioneu re- former, who Is out of his element, is turned loose in the city hall Now l favor everything that Arle Barber has advocated believe in municipal own e1ship, and have heard the greatest husi- ness leaders discuss this phase ef evolu- ton frankly and honestly. The captains of industry believe in government con trol and know that it is inevitable. But somehow reforms suggested in vicious at tacks through the newspapers at corpo- rations that have provided substan- tial living to the majority of the citizens in Birmingham for years appear in bad taste, even to sincere believer in the reforms suggested. l would like to see Birmingham own the water works but l cannot call President Lynn of the Wa fer corporation a crook and a gra fter' because he seeks to protect and hold on (Continued Page Nine)