The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-07
FARM ASSOCIATION ID AID INDUSTRIAL
 GROWTH OF STATE
L. Sevier, President of Ala bama Manufacturers AsSo- citation, Tells Why and
 How Organization
 Came Into Being

"To aid Alabama's indus trial development sums the idea" said l.. Sevier, yesterday, when he was asked by a visi- tor what the Alabama Manu- lecturers association is doing and why it was formed.
 And then" he continued, "every- thing and everybody else was organ izing. Tho association came into ex- stence through organization on Janu ary 1, 1920 It's purposes are those as set forth in its constitution and by laws, and deal with the developm of the state and the states interest and those things affected thereby.
 A NECESSITY
 The necessity for the organization was due to the fact that everything else was organizing and that the manu- featuring interest might have through organization. that protection other in terests were securing through organ i2ation. It was created, and since January 1 has grown in membership to 540.
 Its mem bership today has invested in capital used in developing the state s resources, approximately $500 900, 900 which is about three times the assessed value of all the railroads of the state, The pay rolls of it's membership during 1920 amounted to approximately S75, 00O,000 and it's membership employed in the neighborhood of 100000 people.
 Its activities during 1920 were largely devoted to securing member slip. It devoted it's funds and energies to the end of protecting industries It's first efforts were to cooperate with other interests in testing the constitu- tionality of the state income tax law that was enacted by the legislature of 1919 and which had for it's purpose placing the same tax on industry, and the people of the state that was placed by the federal tax.
 Tn addition to this the officers ot the association spent practically their entire time at the extra session of the legislature, September and October. 1920. watching legislative enactments to prevent laws which would be bur densome to industry.
 AVERT TROUBLE Tt has also been active in prevent ing in this state that which the west. middle west and east has been bur dened with. through the demands of labor, working at all times for the open shop, recognizing as it does that every man has a right to work re- gardless of his political. religious or other affiliations.
 The association further proposes working to the end of developing tho port of Mobile. that that port may offer to the shippers of Alabama, the same transportation facilities. as are offered by other southern port cities. that Alabama shippers may receive an advantage in the rates to Mobile which gre lower from points in Alabama than to any other>port in any other southern state.
 Tt can be seen from the growth of this association the interest that is taken on the part of the industrial life or the associations workings. This is the thirty-fifth state to organize 9 similar organization, many of which have been in existence a greater mum Ter Of years, some of which have 4 much less membership.
 NO industry which looks to protect - ing It's future interest should object to becoming associated in the work that the industrial life of the state has un- certaken.'