The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-09-18
DISORDER MARKS , MEETING HELD AT
 THE COURTHOUSE
Meeting to Protest Against Salary Increase Ends in Farce-SpeakerS Use
 Indecent Language

Heated arguments which nearly resulted in free-for-all fight, personal clashes and profane language used by some of the speakers while there were ladies present in the room, were the features of a mass meeting held last night in Judge Pugh's courtroom, called ostensibly to protest against any increase in salaries of certain county officials.
 Members of the republican party and defeated candidates were present. 'ev- eral courthouse attaches and officials attended, but failed to get an oppor- tunity to state their views and reasons for advocating an increase.
 The meeting was opened by Hor-
 ace c. Afford. who denounced vari-
 0us public officials and members
 of the board of revenue as incom-
 petent. He said he "detested" the
 cumberland methods" which he aI-
 legged had been employed to secure
 the introduction of bills. Mir. AL
 ford deplOred the alleged raise in
 taxes and, on being asked how
 much taxes he paid. or how much
 his taxes had been raised. made no
 reply.
 MT. Afford was followed by Hollis B. Parish, who likewise denounced pub lie officials and his language became so obnoxious at times that citizens present reminded him that ladies were in the court room. On a repetition of his language, he was called to account by Hunter Armstrong, register in chancery. Spectators separated the two. and they subsequently, apologized, MT. Parish stating that it was not his purpose or intention to give any of- fense to any lady.
 Roy Perkins made brief statement approving the proposed increase in the salaries of the judges Judge Wilkin- son stated that he was willing for the people to pass on the increase, if they were acquainted with the facts. Judges in Atlanta are paid $7,500 per year for less work than we do. In other juris- dictions they receive, as high as $17,000 per year, for like work. Ineffciency on the bench, is most expensive to to the county. It is a question of being contented with mediocre talent at a mediocre salary or securing maximum efficiency by' offering an attractive salary" said Judge Wilkinson.
 Brief talks were made by William Vaughn, N L. Steele and M. A. Dins- more favoring the increase for the judges.
 Dr. H. A. Elkourie Dr. J. c. Coul- bourne expressed the opinion that some of the officials were probably under paid, but that it was not the opportune time to consider increases in salaries,
 The idea that seemed to dominate the meeting was to denounce the board of revenue, but all officials were incluled in the harangues MT. Afford intro duced a resolution "deplorng, detest- ing, protesting and opposing any legis- lation whatsoever that would in the least tend to increase the salary of any county official' and calling on all dissatisfied office holders to resign. This resolution was voted down by a large majority, and the meeting i'm. mediately thereafter broke up and ad- journed.
 A petition said to have been circu- lated in Ensley protesting any increase of salary, but indorsing a plan where by the encumbent of any office might be. allowed to suggest programme of efficiency and service which might carry an increase of salary, but which would mean an ultimate reduction of the operating expenses of the office or greater service to the public, was adop- ted as the sense of the meeting.
 After the meeting Jerry Gwin walked over to Horace Afford and demanded to know if he was speaking of him when he stated that underhand methods had been used to get the proposed increase. Spectators intervened and another near -altercation was averted.