The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-27
Civic Boards to Make Organized
Fight Against Division of County
Joint Meeting of Board of
Directors Held and With
out Dissenting Vote De-
cision Reached to Oppose
Pettus County Plan

Birmingham is putting OF
her armor for a battle in thu
Alabama legislature agains
the proposed Pettus bill to di
vide Jefferson county. Indica
tions Tuesday afternoon point
ed to concerted action agains
the bill on the part of nearly
every community organization
in the city.
Civic Organization led off the fight wher
the board of directors of both bodies
without a single dissenting vote, decided
yesterday afternoon that the time hae
come to make strong fight against the
m easure The board of directors OF the
Chamber of Commerce decided to go In
a body to Montgomery and offer de-
termined opposition. The board of ,di-
rectors of the Civic Organization put that
body on record AGAINST the new Pettus
county plan and will name committee
which will have instructions to use every
effort to defeat the Pettus bill.
TIE action of both the Chamber OF
Commerce and the Civic Association fol-
lows open forum meetings of both bodies
where the issue was discussed by all the
members and a definite conclusion
reached. that the bill was detrimental to
the best interests of the Birmingham
district In addition to the forum at the
Chamber of Commerce, where unanimous
was given a resolution in
troduced to send a delegation to Mont
the Chamber of Commerce re-
corded a vote of more than to l against
the proposed division, through referen-
dunn among Its membership.
WILL GO TO MONTGOMERY
The members Of the board of directors
o. the Chamber of Commerce, the ma
jority of whom will go to Montgomery,
are: r. A. Brown, president; Sol Caheen,
W. j. Adams, r. A. Porter John H.
Frye, ]. Mercer Barnett, Murray Brown,
Morris w. Bush. George Gordon Craw-
ford, D. B. Dimick, DR.. Henry Edmonds,
]. Thornton Estes, Robert Jemison, .Jr..
J. Frank Rushton. Col. T. o. Smith,
Oscar Wells.
Announcement was made following
the board of directors meeting of the
Civic Association yesterday afternoon
that the names of it's committee mem
bers would be announced in the immedi-
ate future.
In addition to the Civic Association
md the Chamber of Commerce, the XII
wants club. the Civilian club, the Com
club, the Rotary club ano other
organizations will make, or have Already
made. the subject of the proposed divi-
sion the leading topic at one or more of
he club meetings. 1t is anticipated that
very one of these organizations will
AXE some definite action on the propo-
sition so that Birmingham may present
, solid front before the state legislature.
Reports from Montgomery received by
he Chamber of Commerce directors yes
erday afternoon were that if the citizens
If Birmingham brought strong forces to
he legislature this week and made a
.tear-cu presentation of their case it
would be nossible to down the bill.
ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH
IF Birmingham sits quietly by as she
las been doing" said Edward Ellis, who
las been in Montgomery at the Chamber
If Commerce directors meeting, II will
say very frankly that this bill may pass.
Every community organization in this
,ity which has the welfare of Birming-
nam at heart should get together now
md show the legislature just where Biz
ningham stands. Our failure to do any
hing about it has led them to believe
hat we are not interested. 1 don't be-
In 70 otC hax
he people of Birmingham in the right
way, or every voter in this city would
De writing down there to Montgomery.
]. Mercer Barnett, president of the XII
wants club, also expressed himself
strongly upon the subject at the direct
,rs meeting yesterday afternoon:
This bill is vital to the interests Of
he whole community he said Let
his bill pass and some of US had just
Is we'll close out and move to Bessemer.
1t will not leave US one foot of ground
IN the Warrior river. and it is essential,
Is we all know. that Jefferson county
hould be on the Warrior river Our
ounty sewers will be blocked off and
,art of them will Be under the control
If the new county. When we want to
make improvements we shall, have to
ave the consent of the new county,
LETTERS OF PROTEST
Since the referendum of the Chamber
f Commerce many letters have been re-
eived at the offices of the organization
IN the subject. I am pleased to know
he Chamber of Commerce is taking the
natter up writes w. F. Black to Pres
dent r. A. Brown. I can see no reason
or it other than new jobs for office
eekers. Judging from the growth of
at the present time, if these
ffices seekers will only wait Birming-
am can take care of them ALL
THE above will take from jefferson
ounty the best part of the mineral
wealth of the present county and one
alf the furnaces says Herbert E
mith. I am opposed to it,
Il wish jefferson to remain as she is
oday, the greatest county of our state"
yrites H. w. J. Robertson.
r. B. Smyer sets forth his reasons
gainst the bill in concrete form. II am
opposed to this BILL" he SAYS. because
irst no provision is made for the pay