The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-07
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

that the government is in earnest in it's attempt to see to it rhat the men who fight are fed
 
 If you think it is a laughing matter just ask the next wholesale grocer YOU meet and give ear to him while he tells you under what restrictions he is operating. I just take him as a sample for Uncle Sam is saying to all food distributors, you must stay within the prescribed government regulations or be fined heavily and if it is found that you are trying to evade the law you will be put out of business
 
 President Wilson in one of his proc lamations stated that an adequate food supply is the supreme need of this nation and it's allies. The reasons are obvious Money and men are already at hand, and may be subscribed or con- scripted. But as food supplies are nev- CT in storage for more than few months, they must be produced season by season, and now in increased quantities.
  ham was started, covering the entire northern half of the state. I greatly enjoyed visiting a number of the live towns and growing cities with members of the committee sent out to confer with the civic organizations, the farm CTS and the people. The visits of the business men were backed up by the nrasapoa of raprarap+o +ix,ao of t,o n ,rx cultural departments of the railroads express and telephone companies It was the beginning of closer co-opera- tion between Birmingham and her sister towns and cities
 The campaign was productive in more ways than one. It not only increased the food crops and stirred up the mer- chants Co the necessity of better mar mingham as a progressive city. The National City bank of New York, which, under President Vanderlip, who is soon to be our guest, is conceded to be one of the foremost institutions in America, and its monthly letter is looked for ward to as the best summary of trade conditions in the entire country. MT. Vanderlip was quick to see the value of what Birmingham was doing and so the banks monthly publication made extended reference to the campaign, thereby bringing it prominently before the men in the United States who do things.
 
 Not only that but the work of John Frye. chairman, his executive commit tee and T. F. Hay, Jr., was the means of the federal department of agricul- ture sending men to Alabama to help in the cause which was. close to the heart of the government That their work produced results, is evidenced by the fact that the department of agri- culture estimated that Alabama will make this year, over 1916, a greater increase in grain production than any other southern state, the figures in- dicating that we have grown more corn than Georgia. Mississippi, Louis jana or Texas. Ut means much to Alabama for it to be known throughout the country that the commission from the drouth DOT ton of Texas which travelled over the in search of foodstuffs re- ported that they found more and cheap CT prices here than anywhere else. Our seven staple erops of cotton, corn, hay, | oats, wheat, sweet potatoes and Irish potatoes, are estimated to have at (This does not include the peanut deluge and velvet bean overflow crops which are making south Alabama rioh)
 These are only some of the facts brought out at the lunch given yes terday at the Southern club which was attended by over 100 of the leading business and professional men of Bir- John H. Frye, the chairman got deserved ovation, and T. P. Hay l Jr., was justly complimented for his part in making the work of the com mittee a success The report of Oscar Wells, the treasurer, was remarkable 1 in that it showed that $6i4O had been subscribed and that $61 40 had been paid in. (This willsbe unbelievable by those who go out and get church or college subscriptions. but it was a true renort The money had been banked)
 Chairman Frye stated 1t was not to he an oratorical feast. He said that he was going to call on a few men to sneal ] and to show that they were not wind tanners he was going to clip one min Ute off the time allowance of the -Four Minute Men" and limit them to three minutes. The following all came within the three-minute limit: J. D. Moore. James J. Smith, w. M Drennen. F. Glass and Frank Willis Barnett Eacl, man covered a special feature of inc work and their speeches dovetailed re- markably well.
 Then came the hour for the guest of the occasion to speak In a few .rra cious words Chairman Frye presented Richard M. Hobbie of Montgomery. as fine specimen of unselfish serving as is to be found in the state.
 l first came under the spell of his mod est manner at the Capital City when picked men from all parts of the state came together at the call of Governor Henderson to form a council of defense. rode down in a car with my good friend, Louis Piztz. who, by the way.