The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-11
Meeting This Morning, of Committee and Interested
 People to Further Work
NOT ANTAGONISTIC TO
 OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
Senator White Declares, However, Will Not Be Thwarted in Its Pur- poses-Commissioner Weath-
 erly Accepts Leadership

Akh BAau tU AHOW Anat yVn NfAAs
 not wage war against any other
 civic organization. War will come
 only when you realize that you
 are right and some other organiza-
 tion attempts to stand in your way.
 and when that happens your body
 will enter into the fight without
 fear and trembling, no matter how
 great opposing interests shall be-
 without fear or favor"
 The above from the speech of
 Commissioner James Weatherly,
 made to a committee of business - men yesterday afternoon, and in
 which MT. Weatherly accepted the
 leadership of the new civic organ
 ization to be started today, sounds
 the keynote of the new organiza-
 ton.
 MT. Weatherly will take the lead
 in organizing the new body, and
 will be it's first president. The in-
 vitation was extended to him yes-
 terday afternoon by committee
 of business men composed of the
 following: Senator Frank S. White,
 c. R. Harsh, A. R. Dearborn. A.
 A. Ash, R. D. Thompson. Dr. H. A.
 Elkourie, T. H. Motion, Harry
 New, J. H. Edmondson. J. E. Shelby,
 Roy Mccullough, Felix Blackburn,
 John T. Glover Frank Ray, Arnold
 Masburg, w. O. Broy1es and John
 w. O'Neill.
 MT. Weatherly will meet with the above committee and other citizens in- tersted in the new organization this morning at Il o'clock, when an i'm mediate campaign will be launched and a name for the new organization de- dedAupon. Arrangements will be made for a mass meeting early next week, at which the organization of the body will be perfected.
 WEATHERLY ACCEPTS
 MT. Weatherly accepted the leader ship of the new civic organization fol- lowing short speeches in which his work for Birmingham and the people of Bir- mingham was lauded by J. D. Shelby, T. H. Motion, A. R. Dearborn, Senator Frank s. White. c. R. Harsh and oth- CTS.
 The sense of each speech was that although the new organization will not be antagonistic to any other organiza : tion, it will let nothing hinder it's work for "the masses"
 The meeting, which was held in MT. Weatherly's office, was opened with a short talk by MT. Shelby, in which he extended the invitation to MT. Weather ly to head the new organization.
 T. H. Motion, who followed MT. shel- should he accept the leadership he would find a following of hundreds waiting to back him up in the new en- deavor.
 Senator White expressed the belief that the people would respond more readily to Mr. Weatherly than to any other person in Birmingham, in view of the way he has watched over the in- terests of the people sinces he has been at the city hall. This new~body is be- ing organized not for the purpose of combating or antagonizing any other civic organization" he said "We are here to cooperate, maybe to lead, but never to be throttled."
 WANTED SMALL PLANTS
 G. R. Harsh declared that the end sought by the new organization is the uphuilding of Birmingham. No citi- zen can say that he is opposed to the upbuilding of this city," he said. Birmingham citizens are for Birming ham because their interests are here. The railroads are no more interested in Birmingham than in any other place in which they have terminals. The railroads are interested in fastening upon us freight rates that have kept out the small manufacturer. That Is the bond we hope to break. The Cham Der of Commerce and it's predecessors have taken my money for 30 years. They have blazoned from the house. tops that they wanted small manu- facturers. Any sman manufactures would have been fool to come here, because it cost him more to operate here than in other cities. What we want to do is to work together to do away with such conditions"
 Dr. H. A. Elkourie declared that the Chamber of Commerce has not fulfilled its part in working for the interests of the people.
 A. R. Dearborn said that the new organization would furnish great op- portunity for public spirited persons who are interested in the development! of the city to work toward this end.
 When called upon by MT. Shelby, fol lowing the speeches, MT. Weatherly expressed his appreciation of the honor conferred upon him.
 T would not seek 1t; I dread it," ht said T know the responsibilities that 20 with it. and under no circumstances know from the bottom of my hear that there is feeling in Birmingham widespread and deep-seated. that there is great future before this city; that there have been obstacles in the way that should not have existed; that there have been shackles that mus be pulled down. and a way opened fol free expression in the work and life oi Birmingham.
 CITY CAN BE AROUSED
 Birmingham can be aroused from one end to the other on any great civic