The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-01
Finds Knockers Club" Is Too Steadily on the
 Job Here
URGING ONE THING
 AND DOING ANOTHER
Favors All Three Bond Issues and Tells Why They Are Best for
 Birmingham
Why can't Birmingham pull to-

Why can't Birmingham pull to- gether?
 T. S. Abernethy, one of the largest operators of motion picture theatres in the city, and a man who has grown up with the city, makes the statement that it is due to the fact that the ''al- mighty dollar has superseded sentl- ment' in this neck of the woods
 For several years, according to MT. Abernethy, various civic organizations have grown up Hnu iLttuneu o4. .ne contributions of the business men of the city on the slogan of: Lets get together" or Lets build up the city," but nevertheless the knockers union" has constantly increased in member ship until today nearly every other man one meets on the street has some particular grievance against the town.
 The action of the so-called Labors Cooperative and Educational commit tee presenting lot of questions to the city commission on how they will spend the money received from the bond issues," said MT. Abernethy. was about the nerviest piece of bunk ever put over in this city by the laborites. It merely eXemplified, however, the prevailing spirit of the town which is, What do l get out of it? The Bir min gham Trades Council, in my opin- ion, has never argued just what it will mean to the future of the city to inn prove the schools, to have a municipal electric plant or to have an auditorium. No. All they want to know is where do they get in on the spells? How much will the labor unions get?
 NOT SERIOUS OFFENDERS
 But then 1 have no quarrel with the labor unions. They are probably the smallest offenders, as they have the least influence. But of the larger and more influential civic organiza tions the ones obviously in the busi- ness of building up the city, what of them? Have they given any thought to how these bond issues which will be voted on next Monday will affect the growth of the city. They have.
 In the first place they considered the membership. To investigate the good points of the municipal light plant project they selected a commit tee of men interested only in corpora tions. Naturally such a committee would have the st interest of the city at heart and it's recomm endations Lildl the IlluIlClpdl llSnI pldHl was HI practicable carried great weight. It also enhanced the prestige of these civic organizations with the general public Maybe
 And so it goes. One civic organi- zation will work openly for the $2,- 000, ,000 school bond issue, while most Of the members as individuals. fearing it's effect on taxes, especially after the re- cent report of the equalizers, are Oa1- auditorium, while from the street this bond issue is ridiculed on the grounds that if is frame-up." As for the mu- nicipal electric bond issue there are many divisions on this important ques- tion, but none Is based on any thought but the idea of What will I get out of it?' It is beautiful sentiment
 DEPENDENT ON ONE INDUSTRY
 Tt is this sentiment which is holding Birmingham backward. We are depend ent on only one big industry. If the steel plant closes down, business suffers slump Now what we need is hun dreds of small industries, in order that Whenever there is any sackness in any particular branch everything will not stop in Birmingham as in past panics We need lower freight ates and lower power rates but we will never get them by lowing down to the corporations We VIII EeNer get tHeHl py Il3ntinB dmOn8 ourselves.
 Now, | favor all three Of the bond issues. ] favor the schools. despite the fact that I am a heavy taxpayer. want my children educated in sanitary schools, and not in shacks and am will ling to pay for it. l am for the audto- rum because it means d gathering place for the people and conventions It means a step forward for the city. Inciden- tally, if We ever secure the auditorium it might be we'll to have convention of the knockers union and hear the various kicks against the city for the benefit of delegations from every large city in the south. Let us always air our individual ism; it helps to advertise the city.
 FOR LIGHT PLANT
 AS to the $50IO0O bond issue to en- large the municipal light plant at North