The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-20

In answer to the question. What
! Would do If | were a city commits
sioner7 am perfectly frank to say
that | don't know what Id door
what l wouldn't do
1t is so easy to imagine what I'd
do as l sit in my comfortable chair,
but really doing ii is quite smother
thing, and there's the rub. So many
Of our dreams fail in the accomplish
ment of them on account OF one I'M
surmountable obstacle, the size of
ones bank account and much so It
seems to me in operating the affairs
of city like Birmingham, she has
been like a growing child. needing
many things and the family income
too small to provide them all
AS l used to go in and out of our
public schools ] have grieyed over
the crowded schoolrooms, knowing
full we'll that so and 10 children
under one teacher meant hard work
for the teacher and harder work for
the child to be taught, but more
teachers with fewer children mean
more schoolrooms and more money
to expend than Birmingham had. or
has. However, I'd do my best to
bring this about. for a well laid
educational foundation in a child's
early life means a great opportunity
for future building upon 1t.
I'D put back into the school sys-
tenn the free kindergartens that we
took out few years ago when we
economical, not because we wanted
to but because Il had to be done
somewhere along the line OF educa-
ton by the board of education. This
is the reason I'd put it back: In
many OF my chats with Judge Feagin
he never failed to say, Mrs. Smith, /
know your interest in the kinder
garten movement and / want to tell
you again, / have never had a kim
dergarten child in the police court
and have kept faithful record ever
since It's been In the city; first as a
charitable organization and since it's
been part of the school system
Knowing the big part games and
sports play in developing child life
I'd insist on keeping tract of land
for school sports ia ask for a bond
issue large enough not only to buy
the land but to build a stadium large
enough to comfortably seat the ad
miring mothers and fathers and
friends. IL could be used by thee ity
baseball league to advantage in the
summer. so that it would be in use
the year round
Good streets appeal to every one
and especially to motor drivers. I'd
do my very best to keep our down
town streets repaired and the thor
oughfares well patched. as motor
transportation increases in business
and for pleasure many dollars could
| be saved to Birmingham citizens.
| Protection to citizens from fire and
theft appeals to me. "A burnt child
breads OF the fire runs an old adage,
and a fire department with the best
! equipment means more money spent
In one direction, but saved in another.
| Protection from theft | wonder
how many homes have been robbed.
| to say nothing of business houses, in
| the past few years? / have lived IA
years in my section of Birmingham
and the only time I've seen police
man was the night we phoned for one
after a burglar had entered The
police court Monday morning is not
a very savory place for lady to
pay a fine for parking in the wrong
place l find from personal expert
ence. I'd have a decent place in the
city hall. as other cities have. When
| the past commi ssioners economical
they cut off all the charity organiza-
tons. I'd put them back on the
pay roll, for they are doing great
things for Birmingham, and are
building for good citizenship through
their day nurseries, hospitals and or
phan homes We need an auditorium
| The bond issue was too small to build
as large one as Birmingham needs.
I'd ask the voters of Birmingham TO
vote an additional 100000 bond is
sue and then we could have bunt
an auditorium large enough and
handsome enough to satisfy every