The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-09-06
For the Good of
the Community

IN one of his talks with certain news
Il paper man recently, Governor Kilby,
discussing the revenue bill with special
reference to the coal and iron ore tonnage
tax, deprecated the efforts Of the opera
tors to defeat his bill.
He suggested that the mineral district
was very small part of the state of Ala
bama and that as all the mineral wealth
of the state had been concentrated in this
small area it was right and proper and
just that the balance Of the state should
share in these riches if not in the material
development thereof, then in the matter
of taxation.
Holding up an ebony desk blotter he
illustrated the point. The wooden knob
or handle in the center, he pointed out,
represented the Birmingham mineral dis
trict. 1t was very small part of the whole
surface of the blotter "Do you think it is
just that because nature has enriched this
little spot, probably not more than one
fifth of the state, that all of it's blessings
should be enjoyed alone by the people of
that small section?"
He insisted that while the people of this
district are getting rich on natures bounty
they should be willing to share the riches
blessed.
1t was very apt illustration, but not
for the governors contention. The little
portion of the state represented by the
black knob or handle has enriched the en-
tire state. It has developed greater
manufacturing industry than all the bal
ance of the state put together. 1t has
given and is giving employment to more
men and women than all the other
cities. 1t has made for Alabama repu-
tation for industry and enterprise that is
attracting the attention of the whole
country, and that in the not distant future,
if not hampered by unfriendly laws will
add several fold to the already enormous
investments, thereby largely increasing
property in Alabama.
It's industries have brought together
several hundred thousand people who
need and buy and consume the things the
farmer raises. Everything that grows on
the farm from the despised onion and
cabbage to cotton and wheat are needed
by the industrial workers and captains OF
industry in the Birmingham district. Hun
dreds of thousands of bushels Of the corn
and wheat and oats and vegetables and
CIlOUSdIlUS VI Odl0S VI COCIOll dllC llqy 1I1Sl
thousands of barrels of cotton seed Oil
and peanut oil are consumed annually in
the Birmingham district.
This condition was made possible by the devel-s
opment of the minerals of this district. The fu-
ture development of these minerals and the con-
sequent ability of the citizens of the district to
continue to buy and consume the farm products
depends upon friendly legislation, not discrim-
inatory laws either for against the district but
laws that are just and equitable, laws that place
every man on equality in the matter of taxes,
regulations and conditions of life and enterprise.
From the Tennessee to the gulf and from Geor-
gia to Mississippi there is not a community that
has not and does not feel the effects Of the indus
trial development of the Birmingham district.
And conversely, Birmingham is affected to
greater or less extent by conditions in every other
community in the state
Alabama is one great big family. The COVER
nor is it's official head. He is charged with the
administration of affairs It is his duty to see
that the states business is conducted on just and
equitable principles; that the farmer and the IN
dustrial worker, the merchant and the manufac-
turer, the lawyer and the school teacher, each
shares as his right in the beneficent laws of the
state
Discrimination against one inevitably works an
injury to the other Part of the state cannot pros
per and grow while other parts stagnate 1909