The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-23
M EN, WOMEN
 A ND T H IN G s

Before the war corporation batting was one of our-favorite sports, and it was the stock in trade of the demagogue, both high and low, to single out the men who had made great for tunes as "maefactors" and, therefore, unde sirable citizens.
 It is strange commentary our democracy that the corporations singled out for denuncia- tion were the ones which had planted the flag of American commerce throughout the seven seas; but the moment we got into war the need of business training and experience was recog. nzed as an essential to the successful conduct of that war.
 During the war. even official Washington realized that the so-called American trust was not the cloven-footed institution that the self seeking politician and socialistic soap-box orator had labeled it. The much-heralded cure-al for so-named predatory business, the Sherman law, was found not to be the panacea it had beea preached to be, stump and in the halls of Congress.
 It's good sign that progressive corporations are no longer penaized just because they have succeeded and become great institutions. The enactment of the Webb law, which enables American corporations to unite in the campaign for foreign trade is just another evidence of the dawn of reason which is dspelling the clouds of ignorance and prejudice which overhung "big business"
 These thoughts came to mind while witness ing the dedicatory services of the Alabama Power company on Monday, last, when the great enterprise was christened the Mitchell dam. From the high towers, pair on either side of 4l,o o,,d in, floated in the breeze Old Glory, reminding us of the fact that in the crisis of the war the big business interests of America had been weighed in the balance of patriotism and had not been found wanting.
 We can all recall when a hurry-up call was flashed from sea to sea- and lake to gulf, and the result was mobilization of the business brains of America for the national service, such as no other country had ever witnessed before. It brought home not only to the men in political power, but even to the man in the street, appreciation of the enormous asset for the pub lie good that existed in that oneEime target of legislative and political attack, "big business,' the football of party politics.
 It was fitting, then, that the Stars and Stripes should float over the vast undertaking visioned some years back by James Mitchell, and being carried to completion by those to whom he gave the torch, when death was about to claim him, with energy and resourcefulness, in the face of postwar adjustments, which have called forth praise from those who best know the many diff faculties under which President Martin and his co-workers have labored.
 It was fitting that the state of Alabama, in the unavoidable absence of the governor, should be represented by Attorney General Davis, in- suring the. officers and stockholders of the Ala bama Power company the protecting laws of the commonwealth It fitting that A. c. Patter- son, president of the Alabama public service commission, should make it known that inves- tors in private and quasi-public corporations in the state would be assured of a reasonable re- turn upon their outlay It fitting that Oscar Wells, representing the banking institutions, should assure the business public that the banks were ready to stand by any worthy commercial enterprises. It was most fitting, however, that the ceremonies were opened with an eloquent prayer of thanksgiving to God by Dr. Henry M. Edmonds for the many natural blessings with which He had lowered Alabama.