The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-18
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

attended the called meeting of the pro- motors of the new civic organization which met at the courthouse in the room in which Judge Pugh holds court. ex- pected to find handful of men, but every seat in the courtroom was occu- pied
 Do you remember just what nasty night Monday night was? It was beastly but the weather, in spite of the down. pour, failed to dampen the attendance. or enthusiasm of those present
 
 Just faint smile showed on every face and merry bit of laughter floated out on the atmosphere at the announce ment of James Weatherly, the temporary chairman, that politics was to play no part in the new body.
 Every one present Knew that Sunny Jim' was doing everything in his power to get out of politics, and that he was burning all of his political bridges Why, he so hates bridge that he is doing everything in his power to tear up the Twenty first street one.
 How many remember the building of the Twenty-frst street viaduct? It took years of agitation to accomplish it. With what pride Birmingham watched its building. It was gala day when it was opened. For more than a score of years it has kept itself before the public, sim ply because hardly day has. passed with out gang of laborers was busy re- pairing it.
 Now this city is on the eve of getting a real, sure enough viaduct. Commis- sioner Weatherly, if he puts it through, and others he is working for, will leave his mark on our civic architecture, and go down in local history as the Baron Hausmann of Birmingham. Here is hoping that the railroads will get busy and start to tearing away the present Structure at once.
 But I started out to write about the new civic chamber and am wasting my space on bridges, and if I don't watch out will soon be claiming that some folks hope to use the new organization to help them build their political fences. Perish the thought.
 Now, I looked into the faces of those in the room and saw preachers, lawyers, druggists, real estate men, merchants doctors, musicians, insurance men, rail road men, laborers. printers. capitalists, advertising men, but no politician. l thought of suggesting that a committee be appointed to go out and compel one to come in so that all classes in Birming- ham might be represented.
 If any one thinks the gathering was dominated by agitators, insurgents and grouches, he is wrong l know Birming- hams citizenship, and 1t was a representa- tive body It's true that big business was not as prominent as the smaller interests, and yet there was quite substantial showing of the city's financial commer- cal and social strength.
 I listened closely to the speeches. AS rule they were both conservative and COnSIrucLlVe. ENeTy HOW duQ lH6f d Dll of bitterness or harsh indictment was leveled against the great corporations or the favoritism of the Chamber of Com merce and it's ability to chloroform any thing which put the smaller business on a parity with the big interests.
 got the idea that it was a serious group of men trying to find a way to get together on a helpful basis It was in the nature of protest against what many consider the inactivity of the Chamber of Commerce in caring for the little fellow.
 think any set of men in any American community ought to be permitted to get together and talk about their own at fairs without being set down as enemies of society The town meeting is the mother of our democracy. Better let men talk, even though some of it be foolish or incorporate than to try to muzzle free speech.
 Just now the controversy is raging as to whether democracy is as efficient as an autocracy Much ink is being wasted, yes, much blood being spilled, to try and settle the superiority of centralized authority over autonomy. Here some think that every commercial interest should be localized in one Chamber of Commerce, while others adhere to the group plan where several interests CO., operate to further their own well being
 bn r,1o of tha ,,,;,z is broad, it's purposes wide, but just how the Birmingham Commercial and Civic association Is going to make it's hopes operative will be the acid test of it's right to live
 A. <l<<h 20. a @