The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-05
MONTGOMERY FOLKS MOVE p' THEIR CHURCHES TO COUNTf.
Abandoned Edfces Now House Offices and Garages-"Kt Opportunity at Station Seems to Unlock Door to
 Little But Cotton Mayors Plaint
nr ZOE BECKLEY

Montgomery June 4.-(SpeciaD-Be- sides the railway terminal at Montgom- cry is a large electric sign setting forth by means of an outlined Key that the city is the "Key of Oppor- unity" l daresay at night this makes an inspiring, perhaps convinc- ing display But in the light of early morn the traveller, climbing from tiresome Pullman to an ugly platform, thence into the dispiriting, gritty streets that form the setting of most railway stations, feels inclined to chal- lenge the booster sign, or feel vaguely sorry for it.
 The visitor to Montgomery probably makes a bee line for the Gay-Teague hotel; then walks out back and views the large oblong frame house called "the birthplace of the Contederacy, since Jefferson Davis once made his home there and planned secession; following that with a trip to the hand- some and symmetrical capitol on It's hill. bv which time he has forgotten all about the "key" sign down by the station.
 But the sign kind of haunted me wanted to know about the opportunl- ties afforded by the town. l inquired or a most COuTI6OuS ONoPNRSA whose plant is in church, and he re- ferred me to the mayor, whose quar- ters are in a market building
 In the middle of the mayors office was a rug, and on that rug lay large, fat comfortable black-and- white spotted setter dog, who tapped a sleepy tail at my approach.
 Over beyond the dog, Richard sat the mayor, pairing a splinter with a
 ba chimney place blazed a decorative coke fire. At the left of the enormous room was MT Hood, Mayor Robertson's secretary. th the right middle distance caller. Tn the left middle distance another caller
 I suggested returning at an hour when there was less business In pros ress But I reckoned without my hosts hospitality. Even the visitors said it would be all right to stay. And Richard got up, sniffed the hem of my skirt, approved of my remain ing and plumped down across my foot to finish his nap.
 Dick deserves a chapter to himself It may not sound diplomatic, but the mayor insists that Dick is his best friend. He comes to the, office with him every day and stays all day. He goes to lunch with the mayor, he ac- companies him on official visits, goes to the bank with him (the mayor is a merchant when he isn't mayoring) and home with him at night.
 DICK IS A POLITICIAN, TOO
 Montgomery is as used to Dick as it is to the capitol building. Dick was elected mayor along with W. T. Rob ertson. He is never omitted from con- ferences, caucuses, committees or other things that mayors attend. And he helps drive the mayors car.
 We had nice, sociable time at the mayors I began to regret I hadn't brought my sewing, or some sand wiches, so we could all have a party. But I did not find out great deal about the opportunities Montgomery offered.
 We talked of how much Mayor Rob- ertson desired to obtain new city hall. And of how unwise it would be (the mayors opinion, not mine) to give women the suffrage. And to what good friends dogs were. And how you couldn't be a mayor of any real "punch" without making enemies. And of how much hard work it took to put citys $3o00o0 floating debt into the more tidy and economical form of bond issue, which is one of the bene- fits, of the Robertson administration.
 Finally, when there wasn't much else to talk about q couldn't convert the mayor to feminiSm) l took leave or the pleasant company and went for walk about the city to discover it's electric advantages for myself.
 One thing struck me-the number of commercial enterprises that were housed in churches. In a short stroll saw newspaper office. garage and business college all behind stained glass windows and under steeples.
 This, I found later, does not mean that houses of worship are superflui- ties to the populace of Montgomery. Only that the congregations have moved out nearer the country clubs. taking their churches with them, all but the envelopes.
 ARRESTED FOR LUNCHEON
 Crossing the main street diagonally in the middle of the block I suddenly. heard: Look out there. You can be