The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-05-23
GOVERNOR vows TO KEEP SEAPORT OUT OF POLITICS
Commissioner Thompson And General Sibert
 Also Speak At Mobile

MOBILE. Ala, May 9. Especial Leased Wire. Promise of support of the idea that the port of Mobile should not get into the hands of politicians was made by Gov William w. Bran- don in his appearance before crowd which taxed the capacity of the audi torium of the EIks4 club tonight at the '.know your seaport meeting of the Chamber of Commerce. The chief execu- tive said that he was carrying out his pledge of keeping the port from politics when he persuaded Gen. William l.. Si- bert, born in Alabama, to return to his state and assume the leadership of the commission for the construction of the port. Words of the governor were vociferously applauded.
 The governor was one of the three chief speakers at the Chamber of Com merce meeting. Those who preceded him we're General Sibert, who touched at length on Sle necessity of better rail- road connections to the sections where cargoes originate for the port here, and Frederick q Thompson, publisher of Mo bile, Birmir ghAm and Montgomery neHsparene and the gulf representa- tive on the upited States shipring board
 wants no Serve Port
 MT. Thompsof4 kave the several hun. dred spectators an idea of tie duties of 1 the shipping board and expressed a de. sire not to leave the board until he had performed certain duties which will be beneficial to the ports he represents. Other speakers at the meeting were former Gov. Charles Henderson and Frank G, Blair, associate member of the state docks commission. Both delivered message of cheer to Mobile, and each said that Mobile would have to render assistance in making the port at Mo- bile the success which people of Ala bama were informed would come by the floating of bonds for port construction.
 Alabama's chief executive told of his campaign for the governorship, of the appeal for the development of the port of Mobile, and said he assured them that every dollar would be properly spent. It was while discussing this fea- keep the port out of politics. His ref erence to this was given loud applause.
 Applause given the speakers was spontaneous and speeches were inter- rupted frequently. EAch speaker de- voted his remarks to the port and pre- dicted bright future for. it.
 Thompson AppIauded
 Mir. Thompson made his first public appearance in his home city in some time and the beginning of his frank talk about affairs of the shipping board was delayed while Mobilians accorded him an ovation, the applause continuing for several seconds. General Sibert got bis introduction to "Mobilians as a whole" and he likewise was the sub feet of A damAnskration The chief executive and other speakers were greet. ed by Mobilians with loud cheers.
 In his introduction of Governor president of the Chamber of Commerce, paid him tribute for his selection of General Sibert to build the port. It was at the beginning of his speech that the governor announced he would approve the sale of $1,O00.000 worth of state bonds for first work in connection with the construction of port, and from that time until the end of the talk the speaker assufed Mobilians of his inter- est in the port and of his desire to do everything possible to develop it.
 With General Sibert, builder of the Panama canal, at this end, and your citizen (referring to Mir. Thompson) at the other end to, direct the cargoes this way, as. well as, the possibility of an Alabamian sitting in the chief execu- tive's chairf in Washington, I am ops timlstic," said the chief executive of Alabama.
 .|Children of Mobile should be taught that Mobile is the best city in the state, that Alabama is the best state in the union and that the United States can lick the world before breakfast"