The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-10-27
MIR. HARRISON AND POLITICS

MIR. HARRISON AND POLITICS
 The letter of Commissioner Harrison, appearing in the Forum of the People today, may be accepted as virtual ad- mission that if any politics is being in- jected into the proceedings of the park board he must be the one who is doing it. MT. Harrison charges The Age-Her- aid with making "unfounded infer ences," and then proceeds to make oth- CTS at least equally unfounded against The Age-Herald. This newspaper is willing to accept the popular opinion as to whether The Age-Herald is correct when it expresses the opinion that the park board is hampered by politics, or whether MT Harrison is right when he denies it. To those who have the per spective of those who judge board by it's results, it appears that the work of the park board is being blocked either by politics or incompetence. MT. Harri- son is given free choice between these alternatives.
 For the information of those who may not have time to read Mir. Harri- sons somewhat lengthy effort, it may be said that he claims the credit for the formation of the park board and the law under which it operates. Those who are acquainted with the history of this board crave permission to hold an opposite view. The plan was formu- lated mainly by MT. E. J. Smyer, at the instance of public-spi1ited citizens en- tirely unconnected with the city com- mission or Mir. Harrison's office. MT. Smyer performed the task with much skill and painstaking labor, solely in be- half of the public interest Whatever of virtue the plan contains may be free ly credited to MT. Smyer. Whatever weaknesses it contains may be charged to the account of MT. Harrison, who op- posed the very features of the Smyer bill which sought to safeguard the park development against the machinations of city politics. MT. Harrison had other ideas, and, as he admits, had much to do with the politics that resulted in weakening and deforming the park measure from its original excellent ar chitecture and purpose. MT. Harrison played intense politics to have the bill deformed before its passage, and he has given all the visible evidence of having carried the same politics into the delib- erations of the board itself.
 MT. Harrison also erroneously speaks of this newspapers "defense of the ac- tion of MT. Phillips and MT. Thuston in blocking the reappointment of MT. Bowen" The Age-Herald has defended nobody on the board. The Ag2-Herald has deprecated the obvious and undenia- ble politics of whatever nature that has prevented the board from functioning. Mr. Harrison's letter is strong indication that he has all along been the active po- Iitical agent of inaction and ineptitude. His effort to force the election of his candidate and the city commissions can didate indicates further that his purpose is not harmony in the park board. He is the only vocal member of the board. MT. Bowen's silence is respected Tar more. The public has nothing against him, and doubtless would willingly see the positions reversed, with MT. Bowen sitting on the board and the commits sion member on the outside with his pol itics. As to MT. Bowen's capacity as a park commissioner, or of any other mem- bers capacity, no one can say, for the park board has as yet no record of achievement of even a minor or prelim- mary nature officially to its credit. That is the whole trouble.
 Mr. Harrison informs the people of Birmingham that his primary purpose is to force the election of MT. Bowen, not to serve the park purpose for which the board was created. Doubtless, were it in his power, he would deadlock the board during the rest of his term as city commissioner, provided the board does not yield and elect the man MT. Harri. son has chosen to fill the vacancy. As park commissioner MT. Harrison seems to be the most active politician on the board ,and the one who now stands in the way of the boards ability to func- tion. If that be his idea of public serv- ice, it is we'll for the people to know it. "
 THE REVENUE IS FOUND
 Public approval will follow the action of +bo o;+1y ooro,,,ieciop ip6ra oSino fn