The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-09-20
MEN, WOMEN
AND THINGS

that it is a decided handicap for any
man to let any set Of men or combi-
nation of papers undertake to chaperon
his campaign while he sits idly by as
locker on in Venice.
If wanted a political office in these
days of wars and rumors Of war l
wouldn't wait to build up a machine OF
tried and tested politicians wouldn't
go around trying to commander the
press to bring me out as public duty:
/ wouldn't wait for a body Of leading
citizens to wait on me and draft me for
service Il admit there is no danger Of
any Of these things happening to me),
but I'll tell you what I would do If
wanted an office. would get out and
fight for 1t and go to the people direct.
In every community there Is always
a privileged few who are ready to PICK
out candidate and then undertake to
chaperon him. Now / am sure while
are important and necessary
that the public will not be aroused to
any enthusiasm over their pronounce
ments about the fitness of their man for
office. The average voter wants to look
at and hear the man speak for himself;
for in this way he can get a line on him
and see what manner Of man he is
There is also danger that Influential
citizens, however conscientious, in abro-
eating to themselves the task Of pick
ing and speaking for the man Of theh
choice. may create the impression thai
he is unable to do it for himself, and
thereby cause the man in the street to
look askance on his ability as leader.
am glad that the candidates are be-
ginning to come out Of cover and warm
ing up to speak for themselves. Every
body knew that Ar1ie Barber was going
to talk, and now that George Ward
and Dr. Barrett are on the stump 1t
looks like we are going to have some
fireworks.
am glad that the candidates are re-
lying less on committees and assuming
personally the responsibility of carrying
their Message to Garcia" l have
never desired or advocated mud singing
but I have wanted to see little pep
injected into the campaign. Now that
things are beginning to liven up we
will have a chance to see sure enough
political show in which the leading ac-
tors are taking a part. Let the com
mittees stay in the background where
they belong.
A self-appointed committee Of leading
citizens makes a faulty diagnosis Of a
political situation because they are not
practical politicians, and are, therefore,
unable to correctly read and interpret
the general will, and finding that they
cannot focus public opinion on their
platform or candidate. they soon get
cold feet and quit the game, and that's
just when the past masters In political
mind reading, the palmist and political
prestidigaitators take hold and unravel
the tangled skein Of conflicting inter-
asts and guide the electorate to the poll
lIlE UOOtIiS anu le&4lO SAASth tiie.AA.
It's always dangerous for any one set
OF men to say that only one man meas
ures up to a job, for it's reflection
on every other man who is an applicant
for it. /, for one, take little stock in
the idea that in this great city there Is
only one man fit to govern 1t, and l say
this without malice to anyone but be-
cause 1 think it ought to be said in the
interest of truth.
What I am interested in is to try and
get the public to see that If Birming CHAM
comes into her own it will not be
through the Vaccinations of adroit and
flexible politicians; it will not be by the
help of those who sit in clubs and dis
cuss politics In an academic way; 1t
will not be by the manipulation Of the
idle rich who foregather in corridors
Of our hotels; it will not be in board
rooms, where wealthy directors knock
knees under mahogany tables; 1t viii
not be in the offices of the professional
men; it will not be behind the closed
doors of our public service corporations;
II will not be In the marts Of trade;
not even in newspaper sanctums, for not
in such environments alone is heard the
true voice Of Birmingham. and those who
seek to limit it to these are striving to
disinherit the plain people who have and
ought to have just as much interest In
this great city as anybody else.
1t takes every interest and every man
modified for service to make Birming-
ham what it can be, and that's why
am striving not to focalize the task al
the top but to make it permeate the
| whole body polite until every mothers
son Of us feels that this is my town
and that my stake in 1t is as great al
anybodys, and that by the living Goo
| it's up to me to make good and Il
SEQ that every one gets square deal
and that the government shall represent
the lowest as well as the highest. ant
that no man can shirlz his duty in voting
for whomsoever he thinks is best able tt
stand for the whole people.
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NOW RED CROSS HAS GROWN