The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-03
NOT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST

In his letter written in defense of MT. Frank Dominick, attorney for the South ern Railway, who was chosen to head a campaign in behalf of the mayor-alder- manic form of government, MT. Horace c. Wilkinson misinterprets The Age Herald's criticism. The editorial was not an attack upon the character of MT. Dominick, the high quality of which is not at all in question. The editorial crit icized the so-called mass meeting, which claims to be working in behalf of the public interest in Birmingham, for choosing as it's leader a man who for fourteen years has been committed to advancing the interests of the Southern Railway, an institution which has for twice that number of years been seeking special favors from this city and has re- sisted with consummate adroitness all ef- forts to bring about one thing most es- sential to Birmingham's progress-the separation of the grades at downtown crossings. It is not MT. Dominick who is under criticism, for his private affil- iations are conceded to be legitimate, but the persons who, under guise of working for the public interest, chose him for leadership.
 MT. Wilkinson denies that MT. Domi- nick thinks, Gas one of his many clients thinks" regarding the Southern's right to exemption from viaduct levy be- cause it is large taxpayer. It is noted that the denial is made, not by MT. Dom- mick, but by MT. Wilkinson, and is there fore without the significance it would otherwise have. The statement was not made by this newspaper without sub- stantiation. Mr. Wilkinson also at- tempts to confuse the subject of his re- ply with other issues, like that of The Age-Herald's position on commission government. This newspaper has con- sistently taken the position that the form of government is not so important as its personnel. It is not of record that either MT. Wilkinson or any of his asso- ciates in the advocacy of the return of the political machine and ward politics ever sought to improve the personnel of the city commission prior to elections. He is informing the people that gov erning plan which is in minor parts ex- perimental is the cure-all for municipal ills of government.
 The Age-Herald repeats that the Southern Railway is seeking special fa- vors from this city; that it is obstruct- ing all efforts to construct viaducts or underpasses; that it views itself as a special character because of the amount of taxes it pays; and that MT. Dominick is it's resident attorney and has had a large share in defeating Birmingham $ viaduct program. When Birmingham s viaduct bill was before the last senate, MT: Dominick was one of three railway attorneys to appear before the commit tee in successful opposition to the relief, MT. Dominick has viaducts as special charge for the Southern. As attorney of the Southern Railway MT. Dominick has a right to serve his clients interest to the best of his ability. But while he is attorney of the Southern Railway, it was a fatal mistake to place him at the head of program to make fundamen- tai change in Birmingham's government. When the public interest conflicts with the interests of the Southern Railway, whose interests is MT. Dominick most likely to serve? Whose interests has he been serving? The record tells.