The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-05-29
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

A long-distance call from Decatur came. asking me to come up and have part in organizing the Chamber of Com merce for north Alabama, settled some thing I had been trying to decide all the day before as to whether I would attend the Howard college commencement or go to the alumni banquet at the uni versity.
 I wanted to do both, but as that was impossible in order not to play favo-ites in the educational world I just decided that possibly I could do more good by tackling a commercial proposition which held within it untold possibilities for de- veloping a get-together spirit among the north Alabama towns and cities, and ty-< ing them into closer bonds of friendship with their "big brother," Birmingham
 
 For years I have heard and been aware that what we call here in Alabama the Tennessee Valley" was more closely linked with our sister state to the north than it was with us, and l felt sure that there was a reason" if one only took the trouble to search it out. With this in mind about year ago I set out on tour of investigation to satisfy my own self and also to see if there was not some way in which we could change the status and wean our own people from the spell of the Tennesseans.
 
 Sure, there were geographical reasons kl.e Tennesseans had just overflowed into Alabama and had never gotten rooted to the extent that they were willing to for get their home state and cleave only to the one of their adoption. lived in mid dle and in east Tennessee and they are a clannish folk. The truth is that the home instinct is bred deep into their na- ture, and when they move they carry with them their household gods and pray with faces turned back homeward.
 
 Now, believe in prayer, but want to get our neighbors up in the crook of the Tennessee river and the regions, thereabout to quit praying with their faces toward Nashville, Memphis, Chat tanooga and Knoxville and bow toward Birmingham. I would like very much for the Magic City to become for them the new Jerusalem, and if we were not at war with Germany, whose ally is the Turk, I would add silent prayer that they make 1t their trade Mecca On my first swing round among our north Alabama cities on my trip of in quiry, Russellville, Tuscumbia, Sheffield. Florence. Athens, Albany. Decatur. Huntsville and some of the small towns, I soon found it was not a mere question of transplanted Tennesseans. but that transportation played a big part in it. Railroads seemed to be run to shut out Birmingham and open up Tennessee to them. This latter was practical diff culty that could not be brushed aside. and still iS in the way.
 Now, do not let us try and excuse our selves by pretending that north Ala bama had willingly turned it's back upon us. The truth is we were mighty cold in our wooing while the Tennesseans showed much warmth in their courtship. I don't think much of girl who will wed follow who does his love making across the parlor when there is more adventuresome beau who is pressing his suit while smuggling up to her on the sofa Fellows, it's my firm opinion that 1 if we cut out those Tennesseans and win the north Alabama towns we have got to put more pep" into our counting.
 
 l believe, however. that a new day is breaking for Birmingham, and that the things have just pointed ont are being lcorrected. for Arthur Crowder, a past master in the gentle art of jollying, headed committee from the Chamber of Commerce here to sit close in the pre- 1 liminary meeting held in Decatur on Monday night to unite the north Alabama ! cities into closer bond of wedlock. was present and abetting and Arthur