The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-21
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

leUS.
 Even the pressure of the great war must not blind our eyes to the needs here at home, for if we fail to solve 1t we shall emerge from the contest a discounted and hard-put people to make municipal ends meet
 We must face the pressing present needs of the city and we must prepare for the future The election touches every sphere of our beloved city's well being. At the polls we are to settle in- dustrial, social, financial, and political questions of the very greatest and gravest import.
 The civic obligation is upon us and If we fail, it will be because of our inability to redeem the time and buy the opportunity by putting not merely men into office
 The call is for men of vision as well as men of practical affairs in the art of governing. I am a bit afraid of the idea so often expressed that business man must be drafted. A man may have been able to make a lot of money for himself and yet have absolutely no aptitude for handling the complex finances of a great and growing com munity.
 I think President Wilson Is an illus tration. Big business sneered at col lege professor for the presidency In spite of his theoretical study of gov- ernment, for he was steeped in Ameri- can and English history as is shown by his books, and he had had practical experience In the art of government while governor of New Jersey. Yet in spite of this training many wanted business man, and am frank to say that if mere man of business had been in the White House during the past few years this country would not have been as well handled as it has been by the student and thinker. This is a mere matter of opinion, and you can accept it or reject it without hurt ing my feelings.
 This is no time for experimentation or makeshifts We need to look facts squarely in the face, and that's the req son I am for public discussion of city matters. I want it for two reasons. want to know the platforms upon which the candidates stand, so that every plank can be tested before they get into office. Then I want it so that the people may be informed about the city's assets and needs. Let's throw the white light of publicity into every nook and corner of Birmingham.
 I am everlastingly set against those who want to carefully reserve power ana place the administration of the city into the hands of a small exclusive cir cle I want to continually widen the circle of those who take an interest in city government until it takes in at least every voter. This is the only sure way to make Birmingham truly great.
 If we thrash out public questions and inform the voters there is little chance for the political demagogue to manu- facture unrest by advocating disturbing and unavoidable theories of government. The best antidote for such poison is an infection of truth stated in such way as to counteract the virus before it gets in it's deadly work.
 Our forefathers have left us the bur den of a tremendous responsibility, the right to govern ourselves, and our fit- ness to bear it will be severely tested in the present campaign, for many po- litical vagaries, and disquieting social dreams are going to be exploited, and we must be prepared to counteract their bad effects by arousing the people to the evil lurking in them.
 From the present outlook there is going to be big bunch of politicians suffering with acute cases of political scarlatina before fall sets In and it's common prudence for those who are i'm mune to spread around a prophylactic to sweeten the atmosphere and keep the .contagion from spreading among the people.
 Now, let's keep our feet firm on the ground and not lose our heads In the clouds There is enough that is earthly for us to tackle without putting into the heavenlies Other world politics may interest the theologian and meta- physician but let's few of us preserve our sanity and face the needs all around us without chasing political rainbows adyenturing in castles in Spain, or to use a more homely expression, chase rabbits.
 Don't let's waste any time in fighting over stereotyped forms and devitaIizeu questions There are enough live issues t, satisfy an ordinary appetite for dis cussion without beggarly quarreline over bones of old controversies We live in a day when infinitely nobler more living politics lie before us thar a rehash of dead and buried controver sies. Each day there looms before us great stimulating questions which art pressing for settlement
 
 Sure, let us have controversial poll tics, but don't let's go to bygone politi cal graveyards to find them. but let's