The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-02
For the Good of
 the Community

ruary l in order that they may be able to vote in the elections next year It was pointed out that less than 50 per cent of the men of voting age in the county cast vote in the general election last year and that only about two-thirds of the qual- flied voters took trouble to go to the polls
 Several communications commenting on that article have been received since its publication, all commenting it and urging the business and conservative men to register and vote One of these letters comes from property owner, a man who holds and has held high and responsible positions, a substantial citizen, one who looks only to the best interests of the state and the nation: He writes:
 My Dear MT. Boles
 Some one interviewed last~week by Bir- mingham paper advocated the elimination of edi- torlals Tn newspapers. Am satisfied a very large majority of newspaper readers will take issue with him. For decade after decade this country made wonderful strides in civilization, and dur ing all those years the editorial writer of acknowl- edged courage and ability was the real moulder ot public opinion. Your articles, "For the Good of the Community are in line with the editorials referred to, and want to congratulate you on the one in this mornings issue of The Herald You could not have hit upon more vital question or published 1t at a more opportune time Your
 
 good of the community. My position permits thinking but prohibits giving publicity to those thoughts and conclusions hence my confidential words of congratulation and indorsement of your article. The office holder is no better than the voters electng him. but the professional has or ganization behind him. The public is not organ lzed, the classes are. The public should qualify, organize >and elect representatives with moral courage and honest convictions instead of weak / ling fourflushers with tendency to cater to class feelings.
 Because of this failure to qualify, public opin- ion Is not always expressed at the polls The high cost of living Is the result of Tow production and insane extravagance.' The labor strikes of the past IF months have cost the strikers and the pub lie untold millions in money increased materially the cost of living, and this is being used to secure still further increase in wages and decrease in production.
 No employer, whether railroad manufacturer. mercantile or private, depending upon the public patronage for an existence or a continuation in business, can afford to give employees today legitimate and well-founded reason for striking
 .On the other hand, employees cannot afford to strike today without such reason. A writer in one ot our last Sundays papers said, Public opin- ion is king. Enforce law and order during strike today and public opinion will write the con cluding chapters in the controversy
 An antl-str1ke law, with board of mediation or arbitration to hear and digest the evidence on both sides, giving the public the full benefit of
 
 that public opinion would force a proper solution Organized labor's opposition to lawful inter- ference for the benefit of the public, tends to place them above the law. Strikes in the basic n- dustries of the country must be avoided or we go backward
 If men and women with the requisite honesty and intelligence cannot be found to serve on this board, tnen admit our inferiority as a civilized people lock the doors, throw the keys away and go to hell with 5ome speed and not in the slow tortuoas ways If the present. The good citizen forfeits his rient to the name when he fails to qualify and ypse. Keep up the editorials and your article Ter .he Good of the Community"
 Thcfk eSis5s throughout the state of Alabama a pfsr4dce against the mineral district This is due pssly 70 the belief that the voters of the dis trict 4re radicas. And this belief is not entirely without foundation in fact
 Tnis impression can be removed, and it will be raIaovea if and when all the,people of voting age exercise the right of franchise. It will not De re- moved as long as 50 per cent of the men of voting age reinain away from the polls.
 Daily appeals in speeches and letters and circu- Jars are being made to certain elements of the pop- Nnlation to register. These appeals are being answered. by the hundreds, but so far the appeals have been addressed and confined to certain classes
 This is not good for the county and the state and the nation It is the duty of every person of