The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-05-04
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS,

ute mems organization has been re-
 vtved for the two-mill tax campaign, and rather than not get a chance to
 talk I will bow to the requirements of
 the chairman.
 The four-minute men" (and In this case the men embraced the women') was truly a great bunch of good fel-
 lows" as the women speakers never complained or held back on any as
 slgnment that was given them. Little as you may think, it took grit and de-
 termination to always be on call to go to the most unexpected places at vari-
 ous hours during the night and day. I heard awhile back good deal about history of those who served, and got some several letters asking me
 for data, etc, but somehow I have lost track of the matter and do not know whether the publication came out or not. It was a good idea and would have been of interest in the years to come to have had a handy book giving the personnel of the four minute speakers.
 l
 I got to thinking along these lines on Saturday night when I took my seat at the dinner called by Chairman Sidney J. Bowie at the Civic Associati tion to get ready for the campaign for the two-mill tax, which is now under way. A lot of the old standbys were present, but missed many of those who during the war were most active. I think, how ever, that the twenty who reported for duty will be able to do the job set be- fore them.
 Now, l had something to say about the conventional lunch or dinner which is served on public occasions in Bir- mingham when some public matter is on hand. The fellows who have to sit down to them will know the kind I am talking about, and will therefore be 1 glad to learn that the dinner at the Civic Assocaton was a real mans meal, served in portions to satisfy the appe- tite, and came on the table steaming hot. I thought such rare instance de- served special mention. Secretary Hol- lingsworth deserves the thanks of all present for making a record
 | If poets are born and not made. the J same thing is true of chairmen. I have seen many a matter of great public mportance die a-borning just because the man in the chair did not know what to do at the precise psychological mo- | lat fino O from him. On the other hand I have been present when live presiding of ficer took things into his own hands
 and changed forlorn hope into smashing victory. Sid Bowie is past master when it comes to handling a public assembly or shaping a smaller group.
 The "four-minute men" did not have to wait long to know why they had Ibeen called, for the chairman in clean cut opening speech outlined just the work cut out for them to do. Some
 chairmen and toastmasters cause a | meeting to drag by talking too much 1 themselves. I realize that it is their business to keep the gathering going, but it gets on the nerves of the crowd when they usurp too much time in in reductions and side line comments. Commissioner John Hornady was the first man called upon, for it was real ized that he was thoroughly familiar with the needs and how best to meet 1 them. John, who at one time was looked upon as an expert in the com mission form of government, and called upon far and wide for addresses on the subject, since his election as a commis- sioner, has given himself specially to the study of the educational situation as it obtains here in this great city, so he gave out the significant facts. Judge Hugh A. Locke, whose voice lis never silent when a great matter of public interest is under discussion, was the next on the list speaking particu- larly to the Public Welfare Demands It." He had taken time to inform him. self not only on the local needs, but had gone to the trouble to get up much | interesting data as pertaining both to the state and to the nation. He felt
 that the hour had come when Alabama should redeem herself from the re- pfoach of ignorance, and the best way to make a worthy start wcIld be to begin here in her chief city.
 w. H. Sadler. upon whom fell the duty of making a model speech in order
 to furnish basis for those who were to, go to the theatres and the movies. went into the subject from its broadest aspect, showing that education was the safety valve of democracy. He was able through his service in the de- partment of justice at Washington dur ing the war to bring a graphic picture of the perils of America if the wrong
 ideals of foreigners were allowed to undermine our institutions through
 their damnable propaganda
 Monte Ullman, who gained much practical experience as a judge advo-
 cate general in dealing with those
 whose views of Americanism were
 warped. and whose service as city at
 torney brought him into close contact
 with the educational department of Birmingham, made some practical sug
 gestons in regard to the need of it
 being stressed that the two mill tax
 was really in the interest of the work
 ing man; that as a matter of fact, the
 big corporations would have to pay the
 greater part of it.
 Lieut.. Gov. Nathan L. Miller spoke
 cut of years of knowledge of the educa-
 tiOnal needs in the city. county and the