The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-02
M E N w Q M E N
 A ND T HIN c s

out unduly exciting the purists who Harding's use of the word, "normalcy.'
 Along with Jim Weatherly, I am a charter member of the open air mar ket idea which has required great deal of sunshine to keep it alive, and | had it not been a kind of century plant and hard to kill, it would long ago have suffered a decline and died from neglect or perished on account of being uprooted so often.
 The story of the peregrinations of Birmingham's open air market would make interesting local history. for it has been kicked from pillar to post ever since the days when ex-Commis S. sioner Weatherly became it's god father and tried to give it a-suitable home so that truckers and housewives could get together without the help of middlemen.
 If my memory serves me right, it | first was given a place on Fourth avenue between Twentieth and Twen- ty-second streets, but that was so long ago that I have forgotten the reasons for having 1t moved. I suppose, how ever, the real cause being it must have annoyed the inmates of the coun- ty jail, and they gave it kick that for awhile put a quietus on 1t. | I remember later how it was her aided abroad that at last 1t had a permanent home on 8 site adjoining and along a strip of Woodrow Wilson | park. But it seems that the occupants of the Ridge1y did not like it any bet ter than the prisoners in the county I jail for it disturbed Arthur Crowder's | beauty sleep, and it's stay was ab breviated. and its life hung in the | balance.
 i Meetings were held to revive it, and committees appeared before the com missioners. Signs were hung up in the corridor of the city hall, "Open Air Market Site Wanted" but it seems mo- body wanted it. It became the football | so to speak of the powers that be. urrect it over on the Southside in a locality which neither pleased the | growers nor the buyers. It was at this point the city washed its hands of the enterprise by practically saying. Take the site or leave it."
 |
 Then the farmers got their "dander" up and said by heck" or whatever strong terms used by folks in the 1 country who are not given to profanity, i've will select our own location and run our own affairs" This was the l air market had survived it's infancy, passed its childhood, and was ready like a man to stand on it's own legs and fight for place in the sum- We'll it surely got the latter as all will testify who attended the opening on Wednesday morning.
 As soon as the Chamber of Commerce saw that the truckers had at last been weaned and were ready to do business l on their own account, O. L. Bum, the | far-seeng and helpful secretary, said, Here is where my crowd can sit in I the game" I may be doing him an l injustice in putting gambling terms in his mouth by just imagining his thoughts and making up conversation 1 for him, but in any event his actions bear out my surmises.
 The agricultural committee was called upon and soon was functioning because H. L. Brown had been chosen to give it direction. His position as county agent and his long work among the ruralists of imperial Jefferson having won for him the hearty SUD- port of the men who grow the stuff which Birmingham needs. An organ ization for an open air market was formed with the following officers President, B. c. Gormann; vice presi. dent, J. B. Paradise; secretary, l.. H | Smaraglia.
 
 | It got busy at once and soon hac lined up sufficient number of the growers to assure the success of the undertaking, which at last was stand ing on it's own bottom without city aid, but buttressed by the Chamber o1 Commerce. A plot was rented at the ? corner of Morris. avenue and Twenty, fourth stree and put in shape, anc word sent out that it would be formal, opened on Wednesday,, June 1, with street parade.
 Those who got down town by & saw sight worth seeing for some 50 O, more vehicles of various kinds were ir the procession led by the promoters and the Boys Industrial band Tn these U decorated drays, wagons. trucks, auto. mobiles and Fords were men. womer and children, and every species of fruit and vegetable grown in this fertile district. When the parade wound ur al at the market the housewives witt baskets on their arms were there b, the score to buy the wares on sale. | was an suspicious opening.
 l e3ugKlMEG11anttU
 H. L. MENCkEN.
 From the New Republic.
 | Most A,,,arioa ne 6pa ctord