The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-09

surprising if the socialist memper oi th. city commission shall have receiveo enough publicity to enable nm to pe- come a featured orator on the chautau- qua circuit which, as is well known IS the approved stamping ground or all presidential candidates and near-candi- dates of whatever political persuaslon'
 MAN ALREADY NAMED
 But here again up came some embar- rassing facts that might hold the soclal- ist presidential nomination away rom MT Barber. and even membership Tn the socialist party itself. Of course when .Commissioner Barber is asked the point phlank question he will answer that he carries red card and is a qualified paid up member of the socialist party and the local branch in Blrmlnsnam But as a general rule in a commission meeting or before crowd or plutocrats he shuns the use of the word "soclailst and merely ayers from time to time that owing to my peculiar politics ne will do this and that. Now socialists have no great aversion to having Com mission Barber avoid making the state ment that he is of that political faith, but they do object to his statement or 'peculiar politics. As previously stated to even hint at peculiar in regard 10 socialism is not unlike the waving Of a red flag in front of Durham pull. mus the local camp of socialists are looking askance at the antics of MT. Barber.
 SOME PECULIAR POLITICS"
 But in regard to MT. Barbers state ment of ''his peculiar politics., hls brother commissioners are very apprecia- five of that statement. They have no- tced from time to time in the official meetings of the city commission MT. Bar bers anxiety to have his name placed on the minutes as having made this motion or seconded that one or of having made such and such suggestion. The fact is that as soon as the minutes are trans cribed MT. Barber is supplied with the sections in which his name plays a prom inent part and the persistent rumor is heard that he is compiling booklet in which are contained copious references to the commission minutes of how he voted, and how the other commissioners voted on such important meaures as abolishing the playing of dominoes. which will be for distribution amongst the cleo torate at later period. This appears as the most peculiar politics to his col leagues However, they are gentlemen of discretion and thus far have diplomati- cally avoided making Commissioner Bar Der feel that he was doing something he should not do.
 But to return to the subject of the so- cialist nomination for the presidency. MT. Barber, of course. has never spoken or even hinted that his ambition was headed in that direction, but the men who have been watching him for several months and who have heard all of his numerous ad- dresses and excoriating speeches against the great corporate interests of the coun- try can only deduct that the socialist member of the commission board is train ing himself for higher things-which can be nothing else than to become the titu- lar head of his chosen party.
 All of which is very interesting about MT Barber but the embarrassing ques- tion intrudes. What have that and his attacks on the Standard Oil company and corporate interests of the country to do with his earning the s4OOO annual sal ary allotted to him?"