The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-05
THE BIRMINGHAM AGE-HERALD, S
|NEW court House
IS LIVE QUESTION
IN POLITICAL WAR
Issue Forced Into Board
Of Revenue Scramble
By T. E. Huey

Erection of new court house and
the question of its location BECAME
definite and live issues Friday in the
24-cornered scramble for the five seats
on the Jefferson county board of reve-
nue..
Since the entry lists closed April 1 it
had been forecast that this issue would
be forced by candidates opposed to the
course. followed by the old board. But
Thomas e. Huey, board member, who
is seeking reelection, took the initia-
tive instead of waiting for the opposi-
ton to open fire. .
Huey went before the Civilian club
and asked Endorsement of the plan to
erect the new court house on the
Capitol park site. Briefly, his propo-
sition was this: Sell the present build
ing and invest the proceeds in a new
one, thus obviating the necessity for
floating new court house bonds.
Plan Approved
The club approved the plan by
adoption of a resolution. Later in the
day Mr.. Huey declared that the Cosmo-
politan, Rotary, Exchange and Optim-
list clubs had taken similar action, as
had also the Inter-Club council, COM
posed of representatives Of all Birming-
ham civic organizations.
Thus, Mr.. Huey has forced the is
sue and brought into the open the ques-
ton that promises to be one of the
storm centers in a spectacular six-week
campaign. There were indications that
other issues will come to the surface
before the home stretch is reached, but
the court house issue will be kept in
the forefront throughout the race.
Ill, &c, hat fhn fnI l.
| lowed by the board, of which he is
memeber, will be INDICATED. Moreover,
he is confident that the court house ref
erendum scheduled for May Is as a
part of the primary will be ruled illegal.
County Attorney Ernest Matthews will
give his decision to the board next
Tuesday. If the point made by Mr..
Huey is sustained, the board probably
will call a special referendum for an
other date.
Joint Debates
While the 75 candidates who are run
ming for various offices are making their
plans to begin intensive campaigning
Immediately, the court house corridors
are daily headquarters for hundreds of
men from all parts Of the county, and
the central topic of remark is the May
primary. All indications point to wide
spread public interest in all the races.
Talk went the rounds Friday that in
vitations for joint debates will be sent
out shortly by four or five candidates
in the revenue board scrap. That all
such invitations will find quick ac-
ceptance was the general prediction.
Some of the roads constructed recent
ly by the revenue board will be in
volved in political speeches to be made
by some of the candidates, according
to reports heard persistently in court
house circles. Present board members
assert they are ready to accept this,
or any other issue, that maybe forced.
Political rallies in various commu-
nifty centers and towns in the county
will be in full swing in another week or
so, it became known. An unmistakable
restlessness has been noted in the at
titude of several candidates who are
eager to take the stump and begin
Smelling the woods"