The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-04
BARBER SAYS HE IS READY TO DEFEND
 WORDS IN ANY WAY
Commission by Vote of 4 to Passes Resolution Pledg- ing City's Support to
 President in Crisis
By REUBEN A. LEWIS

1 United States into war against Germany; declaring that one of the "disgraces of the conflict has been the po- sition of the federal govern ment;;" avowing that the
 only reason the United States is now approaching the brink of war is that J. P. Morgan and other Wall street capitalists have bet $2,000,0 100000 that Germany will be beaten, and declaring that any man who questions his loyalty is an infamous, villainous and cowardly liar," Arlie Barber ex- pressed in a dramatic ad- dress his sentiments before the commission yesterday morning.
 This scathing denunciation of all war, it's causes and the press followed the introduction of a resolution by Commissioner James Weatherly pledging the support of the city of Birmingham to the President in these times of national peril.
 Every member of the commission placed himself upon record as being stanchly behind the President except MT. Barber. He snapped mo" when the resolution came up for vote
 Tn the most acrimonious, bitter terms did he assail the press and in particular the editor of an afternoon paper who had charged him with being disloya1 to his country, terming this man the most egregious coward in the state of Ala bama. Furthermore, anyone who ques- tioned his loyalty was declared an in i famous villainous and cowardly liar" SON RESENTS SPEECH l This personal attack was followed by another tense moment. At the afternoon session of the commission, Frank P. Glass, Jr., appeared in the council cham Der. In dignified, dispassionate man. lner-though he glared at the commits sioner of public safety-he stated that | ho i,,- suit to his father; that, inasmuch as he was now in Washington and could not represent himself he wanted to give notice that he had been advised by wire of the facts. He admitted that his first impulse had been to take the matter up personally, but that he had been dis suaded from this action
 l Tt has come to my attention,' Mr. Glass told the commission, that my 1 News, has been grossly insulted by a member of the city commission. I de- T sire to state, since my father is out of the city-in Washington-that it was first my inclination to resent the insult personally, but on second thought I de- cided to state to you that I have wired the facts to my father and he will ad- wise what course is to be pursued.'
 BARBER MAKES REPLY
 As MT. Barber arose there was a feel ing of something impending
 T presume the gentleman refers to me, and to my remarks made at this mornings session." he said. T am six feet weigh l9o pounds, more than 2l years of age. free, white and citizen of this city. l am able to account for my remarks, physically and morally.
 Tt is not necessary for me to repeat my remarks here. I made them in his presence, and instead of resenting them then, he sat in the window of his office and eavesdropped upon my speech" With this rejoinder he halted.
 DENUNCIATION A. SURPRISE Though it was understood around the l city hall that MT. Barber was opposed to war. his denunciton of the course of l the nation was a surprise. Starting in a rather measured. deliberate tone, the commissioner of public safety stated he did protest against the United States be- | coming involved in war with Germany. As he began to review the causes of the precipitate step, MT. Barbers voice took a rising infection.
 As he advanced, cracking his whip over ms troop or tfalneu auJectlVeS, tnefe came the performing vocables-"a studious, | malacsous prosecution," the mercenary venal, scurrilous press.'' "the most egre- | gious coward" "an infamous, villainous and cowardly liar.' As he vented his spleen against the press, the predatory wealth of Wall street and those who had l branded him as disloyal, the commission l CTS seemed to marvel at his command of adjectives if nothing more.
 BRINGS FIST INTO PLAY
 To lend emphasis to his telling points, he brought the bulk of his mighty fist ! into play, turned with dramatic ges- lures to Commissioners Truss Hornady and Ward upon his left and Commission CT Weatherly on his right, and shook his index finger repeatedly in the faces l of his colleagues.
 l His voice, even and smooth at the outset. grew rasping and raucous. At one ,time, he seemed to be wrought up to such a pitch that he was silenced by the boil ling invective. His swarthy, determined
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