The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-07-05
IT'S TIME IT STOPPED

IT'S TIME IT STOPPED
 Alabama newspapers that are read outside the state are credited in many circles as accurately reflecting the sentiments of our people, and their views are given importance as defin- ing the position of our people and the character of our public servants. Thus such newspapers have the added responsibility of taking especial pains accurately to reflect conditions as they are. They are not expected to subvert the states fair name to pre- judice or to concern for some private or monopolistic interest. Therefore. it is particularly unfortunate that cer- tain newspapers in Alabama have chosen deliberately to give this state undeservedly bad name abroad, and to belittle and disparage the public servants and legislators chosen by the people of this state, because certain monopolistics favorites of these news papers have been forced to put the public interest before their own pri- vate greed. It is time for this sort of thing to stop. It is time for halt to be called upon this sort of journal istic policy of serving some special fa- vorite.
 One such newspaper, for example, refers to the legislators and public officials who opposed the Alabama Power Company's aspirations for a water-power monopoly in this state as "peewee politicians" Governor Kilby strongly resisted the encroach- ments of the Alabama Power Com pany upon the public right, and sue cessfully blocked their effort to in- pose upon the people and industry of this state an unjust rate levy. Would the newspaper apply the term "peewee politician" to MT. Kilby? Governor Brandon has gone on record as op- posing the monopoly of the water power resources of this state. Would the newspaper using the term "peewee politician" therefore apply it to Gov er.nor Brandon? Is MT. Kilby or Gov ernor Brandon of those whom the newspaper accuses of having shot "venemous shafts" at the newspapers corporate protege? On another oc- casion, when our congressional dele gation, standing courageously for the public welfare, actively bestirred it. self to prevent the extension of an unwelcome monopoly in that important state asset-natural water power-its members were editorially rewarded with abuse and opprobrious names, among which peanut politicians" and little politicians" were prominent. These congressman, the sixty-two leg islators of Alabama, the public ser vice commissioners, who have likewise been similarly abused for doing their public duty, and Governor Brandon were elected by the votes of the peo- pie of Alabama, to whom they are trying to fulfill their allegiance. The people of Alabama will not tamely see their duly chosen servants reviled, nor do they regard with relish this untrue and harmful reputation that certain newspapers are establishing for Ala bama among other states.
 There is no enmity in Alabama, either among the people or among the press, either among the legislators or among the public officials, for corpo- rations. On the contrary, the corpo- rations of this state utter no com plaint nor have they any complaint, against the treatment they are ac- corded or the legislation under which they operate. In fact, many big in- dustrial corporations joined in the is sue against the excessive valuation sought by the Alabama Power Com pary. This state and its legislators welcome capital and are cordial to-