The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-12
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

4 The city's finances are important, bu there is danger of losing sight of othei things in the continual talk of budgets
 Now, I do not minimize the need of se leoting a man capable of dealing witt big financial problems, but l do not be. lieve this should be the sole governing power in putting any man down at the city hall
 There is great danger just at present in viewing everything from a financial aspect and totally passing by those po- lit.cal, commercial, social and moral con- alterations which make city great, and by which influence the citizenship is elevated and put forward in the paths of peace and progress.
 I for one am not willing to let the abil- ity to handle money be made the only test of fitness to direct Birmingham s welfare. Wealth Is always a powerful factor in electing candidates, but city's welfare depends on other things beside finance and trade, however important both may be. We need both comprehen- sive vision and sympathetic regard for all legitimate interests of the city.
 
 I am not unmindful of the economies which we must make in order to set our economic house in order. At the pres- ent time there is no blinking the fact that we are badly organized commu- nifty. The waste of the city's resources in the past has been in many instances inexcusable
 I am not trying to saddle the unhappy status in which the city finds itself upon the present. commission alone, for they inherited much that was a burden, but it is a legitimate subject of inquiry to ascertain if they have made the proper effort to overcome the handicaps. All of the commissioners save one is standing for reelection and the people have a right to demand of them to give an ac- count of their stewardship before put ting them back in office.
 
 This Is not said to initiate against the candidacy of any of the old members in favor of new aspirants for commission honors, but to try and stir the people to the fact that in the last analysis we have just such government as we de- serve. and that the only way to improve matters is to scrutinize the records of all candidates, and go into the election with open eyes. and a determination to know what is before us without letting any man or his friends hoodwink us.
 
 I want the men who land to 20 into office backed by such an overwhelming force of intelligent public opinion as to be able to set our economic house in order, and then they can go about ask ing us to make sacrifices in order that every man can have the maximum of security and the maximum of well being for the money that he is contributing to run the city's finances.
 
 Budgets carefully prepared, backed up by intelligible cost sheets, are necessary if we are to live within our income, and the average man can understand just where his money is going, and Just what he is getting for it. This Is the easiest way to satisfy the taxpayer, and he has the right to such knowledge. am hope ful that there will be much said in the e people better knowledge of the citys burdens and the city's future plans.
 
 If the plain facts are brought before the voters of Birmingham, the fair minded and progressive people without doubt will be found to be in the major ity, and will support the best men to carry out liberal and sane policies Con- fidence must be established or money for necessary developments cannot Be se- cured. No man likes to pay taxes, but he will do it with better grace if he believes that the amount asked of him is needed and will be- economically spent.
 Out of deep and abiding love for Birmingham has grown great desire to see it come into it's own. We are living in troublous times. It is going to take the very best thinking of the most disin- terested men in, our midst to meet the war conditions and make 1t possible to carry on our home undertakings without making the pressure stronger than we can bear. The nation demands our pa- triotism and the city demands our serv- ice
 If we go forward we must hasten to put an end to the present period of ..jumpy conditions which have ruined the nerves of our bushes men and caused all of us to have sleepless nights. I believe we are on the eve Of big things here in this district, and it's up to every mothers son of us not to let political race give us prostration, but in the outset to say to all candidates. Come clean and show us what you have dcne and what you will do if we elect you.
 
 There is no gainsaying the fact that the average bushes man has had many nightmare over his dreams of failure It wasn't necessary to invent imaginary troubles for the real thing was ever at our sides TO use a Shakespearean met aphor, We have been up against "a sea of troubles'' We missed military "a n,ns that Montgomerv and Annistou