The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-11-19

GulJOTs
 Opelika News: One of the most important changes that has taken place in Alabama in quite while IS the change in the ownership of the Birmingham Age-Herald. Since the death of the late Edward Barrett his widow has been in control of that paper. To our way of thinking, it was only question of short time when that paper would go into new hands. We believed that Mrs. Bar rett was too well informed and too wise a woman to undertake the permanent operation of the plant. Hence we are among the few who have been looking for the paper to change hands. We have looked for ward to that event with some degree of apprehension, too. It was feared by us that the paper would fall into the hands of interests not friendly to the common masses of the com mon people. Knowing as we do that for long, long time the people of the state have been greatly in need of a paper in the Magic City that would, in reality, be ready and will ing at all times to lend it's power and influence on the side of issues look ing to the greatest good to the greatest number of people. we hoped almost without hope that The Age Herald might fall into such hands.
 The announcement that the paper has fallen into the hands of MT. Thompson of Mobile and Senator B.. B. Conner and son, MT. Donald Conner, of Birmingham, to us is really the very best news that has fallen upon the ears of the people of Alabama in a long, long while. In control of that great paper from now on are men whom the people may trust. Men whom all know to be for those issues that will rebound to the best interests of the masses. Men who know that at last all the prosperity that comes to country must come from the people who really toll with their hands and their brains and not from those who ln- sist on poking their hands into the pockets of others that they may add to their bank accounts and enjoy profits not honestly earned.
 The people of Alabama know the new owners of The Age-Herald en- tirely too we'll to make it necessary for us to consume space here in an introduction of those men. Each of them has a record in the state. That record is we'll known to the people. They are the class of men who have, in the past, stood by and for the things that would give the masses a fair chance-all they want or ever ask for.
 In The Age-Herald the masses will have a real champion. The po- litical "shister," the Corporation ist" and the fellows who, if they do not say it, act on the Gould slogan, "the people be damned" will fad The Age-Herald standing steadily on the watch tower at all times so drive them back. The common masses of the people will have in The Age Herald, under it's new own ership, a real representative, who will be ever ready to say to those who would encroach upon the rights of the masses, You shall not pass"
 To our way of thinking, and we honestly believe that we are right about it, the change in the owner ship of the Birmingham Age-Herald marks the real beginning of new era, politically and industrially in the state of Alabama. We believe that it will soon become one of the leading papers in the south. The reading public will know from the beginning that the paper, when It speaks, will not speak at the dicta- tion of any special interest or inter ests, but from the heart of the men who control it, men who are con- trolled solely by themselves, men who do not have to take orders from anybody, men financially independ- ent and absolutely incorruptible; ent whose real sympathies go out for the common masses of the com mon people. The Daily News most heartily congratulates the people of Alabama On this most important change that has taken place in Ala bama newspaperdom.
 Selma Times-Journal: The trans fer of the ownership and manage ment of the Birmingham Age-Her- aid from the Barrett estate to Fred erick I. Thompson, B. B. Conner and Donald Conner, the paper to be un- der the personal direction of MT. Thompson, is an event of the first importance in Alabama journalism as we'll as the public life of the state, where the voice and prestige of the paper has long been a factor of commanding influence. Mr. Thompson is at present member of the United States shipping board and announces he will resign his post and move to Birmingham to assume the management and supervision of The Age-Herald property.
 MT. Thompson is a publisher of vision and wide observation and knows the necessity of discrimina- ton in espousing men and measures. His papers have always taken the broad view looking to the future rather than the agitated, petty, con fused view which takes account only of the present. We believe The Age Herald will give him magnifi- cent opportunity to build great newspaper and that he will measure up fully to the requirements.
 Montgomery Journal: What may be well regarded as one of the most notable developments in Ala bama journalism is the purchase of the Birmingham Age-Herald from Mrs. Lewis B. Barrett, widow of the late Edward Barrett, by Frederick I. Thompson, owner and publisher of the Mobile Register and the News