The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-05-31
Forum or Tue People
A Useless Election
h ObuaI8o NsESCBdUu To the Editor of The Age-Herald

l AO tHS E1ulONF VI 1HC ASt-1tEBAus
 The proposed election to determine whether the Birmingham Electric Company shall pave First avenue in East Lake is time and money thrown away. The utility company has something over a thousand motormen and conduetors-most of, them are qualified voters-and they have friends whom they can influence to vote for the utility. This was done in the election of the jitney ques | tion.
 On the other hand, seyenty-five per cent. of the qualified voters of the city do nos give a thought to the paving of First ave nue. They are absolutely indifferent about the matter and will not go to the polls. In jitney election the friends of the utility com pany boasted of an overwhelming victory fol the company. The facts are plain that mol over twenty per cent of the qualified voteri of the city went to the voting places that day.
 The jitney election had friends of the jitneys working for them and still the utility force outnumbered them over two to one. In the proposed election the citizens of every section, suburb or new additions to the city, are wanting something at the hands of the utility company, and they are not going to antagOnize their interest by voting to aid we folks who want First avenue paved.
 As a close. observer for over twenty years find that the Birmingham Electric Com pany has never been made to do anything they did not want to do. Frank P. O'Brien came nearer making them toe the mark than either of his successors or predecessors. Just before the last city election the powers in control made a bluff of making the utility company get busy and do something. They failed of election and the new administra- tion let the matter die natural death. Next year I am looking for the city fathers to pass the buck to the company-thAt is all It will be for campaign purposes only.
 have also noticed that our sagaciOus city commission has a cute way of wigglins out of a tight place by calling on the people When a question comes up that demands them showing some backbone and making the utility company give the service and do the things that it should, our clever board of commissioners steps down and out by let ting the people have a say in the matter at the polls. By so doing they are relieved of a very embarrassing situation. The utility welcomes these elections. They cost the com pany nothing and the company knows the majority of the voters are indifferent about | the matter and do not vote.
 A man was in a wagon and the team was running wild. A steep bluff was in front of him. Certain destruction seemed evident. He could think of no prayer but that his father said at the table. He said: Lord, make us thankful for what we are about to re- ceive." In the face of both the ineom- potency and inability of our city commission to make the utility company do anything for the best interest of the citizenship, we people of the eastern part of the city can do nothing but unite in a prayer for the Lord to give us thankful hearts for anything the Birmingham Electric Company decidel to give us.
 The election will be held. The Birming ham Electric Company will win from lael of interest on the part of the voters and the company will continue in the future, as il has in the past, to do just as they please while our illustrious city commission will continue to draw their handsome salaries and talk bond issues for various purposes that they may be given power to spend money that we taxpayers have to pay. How long, Oh Lord, how long, are the voters ol Birmingham going to allow the Birmingham Electric Company to trample on their rights: W. H. PARKER. Birmingham, Ala.