The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-24
SOCIALISM IS NOT
 50 BAD AT TER ALI Dr. DickinsOn's Views on Batting Corporations"
 in Birmingham
To the Editor of The Age-Herald: ::

To the Editor of The Age-Herald
 Your issue of this morning contains an interview with the president of the Ala bama Power company. which demands an answer from the citizens of this city, and as the milk in this cocoanut is municipal ownership, may I be given the opportunity? He says: Birmingham is the most socialistic city in America D Well, what of it? If by socialistc he means the socialism of Karl Marks, and other forms of social depotism, I do not know of 0 single elector in the city of this persuasion. If, however, he means by socialistic that which considers the interest of society above that of the in- dividual persons or corporation, recent elections are evidence that they are greatly in a majority in this city, for
 it can now be no longer doubted that most of the citizens of this city hold the interests of Birmingham as of greater importance than those of the investors in this district who are try ing to get more money for further de- velopment." If by socialistic he means the society served conducting its own service, it's own public utilities, then no city in the land is less socialistic than Birmingham; for all of the re- munerative public, service utilities have been granted to the investors in this district who are trying to make more money
 And this is just what is the matter with Birmingham. for it is degrading it. self and blighting it's own power of ini- tiative and independence, by prosecut- ing itself to foreign investors who are always nagging and batting the city. At last we have a city government, which, whatever you may say about its wisdom, has self-respect and honesty and cour- @,rrI +o p6of~ ~>ry foreign investors, who would crack their whips over them. But the president of the power company hands out the fol- lowing nice morsel to your readers: "The Alabama Power company has brought number of industries to this state in the past few years and some of them have very large pay rolls. Unfortunately, we have not brought them to Birmingham because of the conditions which exist here. They have gone to other places where the investors were made to feel that they were wanted and would not be constantly nagged at In some of these propositions, we have assisted in financ-
 ing them in order to get them for this state, and we expect to do much more of this work in the future, as is well known to all those familiar with the plans of the Alabama Power company"
 This company has brought many indus tries to the state, but none to Birming- ham, during the Hast few years" be- cause of "the conditions that exist here;" which said conditions have existed for only few months. Did this great cor poration have athe spirit of prophecy to foresee the conditions of the past few months during the last few years?" MT. Barber has been in office only for six months, but the Alabama Power company confesses to having ostracized this city during the last few years" We'll that company's president is frank to say the least. Now what is the city it on the black list among the cities of the state? I confess that the commits sion is right in not turning the city over to them.
 But matter much more serious. These interviews, specials, advertisements, etc, in our papers by this company or in it's interest by its friends and attorneys. berating the city government. making the city hall appear before the public as vaudeville affair, at this time when the city is seeking to float bonds for it's betterment, is direct blow at the city's credit which everyone having the welfare of the city at heart ought to resent. do not say, or assert that the president of this company and its other publicists intend to thus injure the credit of the city, even though we have been informed that for the last few years they have ostracised us; but am only pointing out the evident effect that such course as they have adopted must have on the city's credit at this time Is this one of the ways they pro- pose to defeat this bond issue? If so, the public can better understand what
 is the animus of their berating and bait ing the city government and the motives in it. The concern which seeks to give the city an evil name abroad, when that city goes out to borrow shows the cloven foot of a most injurious guest. whose re- moval to Anniston or Gadsden, or some where else, would be to our betterment. A. J. DICKINSON, President Municipal Ownership League.
 Birmingham, June 2S, 1sl6