The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-09-27
M E N, w OM FEN
 A ND T H IN c s

| accepted.
 For years in my wandering up and down across Alabama have been passing through Leeds either on the Southern or the Central of Georgia, but last week ] was the first time ever got to talk to the people of the game little town in the eastern part of Jefferson county. l But it was not my first visit, for re- call. but not with pleasure, some five or six years back, while attending Baptist association some miles back in the hills from Leeds, the meeting was hastily ad- journed in order to try and give the delegates a chance to get home before threatening storm broke.
 1 l left with Dr. Paul Bomar, president of the Judson, and Dr. William H. Smith. former secretary of the foreign mission board, at Richmond, Va, but who had just come to the state to take up tho work as secretary of the education board. | It was the first association he had att tended since taking up his new duties. I'll not name the others of the party, but we set out in big touring car, and before many miles had been travelled we felt the full power of the terrific down. pour, and it wasn't long before yne au- tomobile was skidding. We prized it out section of the road where it refused 10 budge and we pushed it to the side of the misnamed highway.
 It was up to us to get into Leeds, as we all had engagements for the following day. There was nothing to do pu, % take down the middle of the big road, which had become a muddy branch. Sloshing along for what seemed an in- terminable time the only thing to relieve the gloom was the thought that we were initiating Dr. Smith into his new office, and we got some fun out of joshing him for abandoning Pullmans to accept work which would cause him to get off of the railroad and hit trails into the back woods
 We managed to get to telephone and scme kind brother sent out truck to bring us in, and on reaching Leeds good Baptist Samaritan, in spite of the lateness of the hour, had a hot supper waiting for us. And from that good day to this l have always thought of Leeds with pleasure as a town given to hos pitalty, and I can testify that it still keeps open house, for I spent delight full night under the roof of my friend Judge.
 I know it's habit with many in lock- ing out of the car window as the train stops at station to let off and take on passengers to wonder how the people make a living. and to figure on the mode of life. Well, you do not have, to be in Leeds long to learn that it is dominated largely by cement, for there is a gray dust which settles on the roofs of the the streets. But when it ceases to fall there will be fall in real estate Some people here in Birmingham complain or the smoke, but when it ceases to belch out of the chimneys, there will be many rent signs stuck on stores and homes.
 
 The story of the growth of the cement industry, in Leeds is filled with ups and downs, and it's story has been one of faith and perseverance. and those who stuck by their dreams have them more than real ized. But 1t Is not my purpose now to have much to say about the great plant which is daily turning out such a large output, only insofar as the managers, as we'll as the men, are taking a keen inter- est in the social, educational and spiritual las we'll business interests of the hustlng little town.
 
 town rocks along in the old ruts for years, and then new blood comes in, and the first thing you know something is started which rather shocks the old timers. It has ever been thus and will so continue to be until the end of the world. It's the age-long conflict be- tween the radicals and the conservatives, between the standpatters and the progress elemental basis, between youth and age. The God of the son is change. that of the father is the status quo.A
 Some of the newcomers in Leeds, look ing over the situation. got together and in effect said, Its about time to start something" and in he face of the shak- ing of some mighty good and wise old res- idents. they launched the Leeds Civic League, whose purpose it is to see to it that it gets all that is coming to it. Pres ident J. I. Mitchell Secretary A. J. Aber- crombe and Treasurer J. J. Greenberg are being backed up by some live. wire committeeman, and already things are beginning to happen
 shadows the town. but lumber is going to come into it's own, and the farming section, when good roads are competed, will have it's share in the upbulding of Leeds. It takes preachers, lawyers, doc ltors, merchants, bankers, farmers labor ing men and all classes of citizenship to make a worth while place in which to live and make living. I know of no better way in which to bring all elements of a community into hearty cooperative ac- Itivity than live Civic Association and this believe our neighbor town has. 
 The Leeds highway for long while was but the dream of a few enthusiasts. but