The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], May 16, 1915, Page 5, Image 5

About The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950

Image provided by: University of Alabama Libraries, Tuscaloosa, AL

                
‘ - ipaper Club Mecca of
J All With Coming of
Warm Weather
i _
Mtfith the coming of warm weather,
J■Birmingham Newspapr club has re
Wh its summer custom of serving
J'.J.ftjbrs at the Birmingham Newspaper
club on the cafe promenade. The club,
is ifr this way able to cater to a much
j larger number of people, and many (
reservations have been made for the
Sunday riff*fling table d’hote dinner.
An interesting musical programme
j. has been arranged for the dinner. Miss
Eva Lynn, the club soloist, will give a
) number of popular selections.
I Following is the musical programme
and the menu for the dinner:
Table d'Hote Sunday Dinner.
May 16. 1915.
Fresh Strawberries au Natural
Celery Radishes Queen Olives
Cream of Tomato
Fried Frog Legs, Tartar Sauce
Julienne Potatoes
■j Roast Western Duck, Glazed Apple
Fresh Garden Pea*
/v Broiled New Potatoes
Asparagus Tips with Tomato Ring
j Vinaigrette
Caramel Nut Ice Cream
Marshmellow Cake
Neufchatel Cheese Toasted Crackers
Demi Tasse
Service from 6:30 to 9:30 p. m.
PROGRAMME.
Newspaper club orchestra, Miss Le
nore Robinson, director.
The Rose Maid, selection (Granichs
taedten);-Sunnyland, waltzes <Rosner>:
(; Flower Song, Faust (Gounod)—Miss
Lynn.
Rose of Honolulu (Armstrong): A Lit
J tie Bit of Heaven (Ball); Because 1
j Love You. Dear (Hawley)—Miss Lynn.
| Antony and Qleoptra. suite de ballet
(Grunewald): Robin Hood, selection
| (DeKoven): Just a Weary in’ for You
(3ond);. (b) Popular requests.*—Miss
Lynn.
PRINTERS TO HOLD
SERVICES ON MAY 30
Committee Appointed From Local
Typographical Union to Prepare
| Programme for Memorial Day
Sunday, May 30. if* observed throughout
| North America by jnembers of the Inter
national Typographical union as memorial
day, when tributes of respect are paid
| the departed members of that organiza
o tion The exercises locally will be held
at Forest Hill cemetery, where the print
ers have a beautiful burial plot. A com
mittee has in hand the work of arrang
ing a programme to be announced later.
The committee consists of J. E. Carson,
chairman: W. S. Lopez. L. L. Stillwell.
John Be mar, Fred Harris and Miss Olena
McNatt.
FLOWER CELEBRATION
-
j Will Be Held at Knesset h Israel
Synagogue This Evening
At the flower celebration to be Held at
the Knesseth Israel synagogue this even
ing at 8:30 o'clock a full programme will
be presented to the public,
w On Sunday afternoon the Herzl Girls,
* junior organization, will distribute while,
carnations among the members of the
Tikwath Zion society and to largo num
bers of their sympathizers,
j The programme of the evening will he
as follows:
Opening “Hatikwah,'’ Herzl Girls, ac
companied by Miss Annie Shapiro.
Introduction, Chairman C. A. Lass.
“Young Judea,’’ Miss Sophie Pollock.
| Vocal selection. Miss Essie Kronenberg.
Accompanied by Mrs. J. Lowinsohn.
,y Biblical sketch in Hebrew.
Naomi, Miss Rose Mendelson.
i Orpho, Miss Eva Rotenatreich.
Ruth, Miss Sarah Feldatein.
j Piano solo, Miss Sadie Epstein.
| Symbol of flowers, an address and orig
inal poem. Ben Gross.
\ Violin solo. Henry Grusin, accompanied
by Ernest Richard.
“Flower Day Celebration." Dr. I. Mich
lln.
There will be no charge for admission
and no collections taken up. The public
^ is cordially welcome.
LOUIS PIZITZ SHARP
INEFFICIENT POLICE
Second Burglary at His
Store in Last Month
Arouses His Ire
EAGAN HAS DONE
NOTHING, HE SAYS
All Goods Stolen Bore Trade Mark and
Name of Pizitz Store—Fails to
Understand Why None Have
Been Recovered
9 Louis Pizitz. proprietor of the Pizitz
department store, in a letter to Judge
Lane under date of April 29. called ms
attention to the fart that his store was
robbed on April 18 and about $5000 worth
of merchandise stolen, none of which has
yet been recovered. Yesterday morning
one of the show cases located in the en
trance of the store was burglarized and
about $40 worth of silk shirts stolen. No.
arrests for either of these robberies have
been made by the police and Mr. Pizitz is
indignant over that fact. His letter to
Judge Lane follows:
Letter to Lane
“Hon. A. O. Lane. City.
‘Dear Sir: As yob are in charge of
the police department of our big city,
and I am a taxpayer, r wish to call
your attention to the robbery of my’
store on April 18 of between $3000 and
$40oo worth of merchandise. All the
goods taken were branded. 1 went to
Chief Kagan about the robbery, but
so far there has been nothing done
about it. It seems to ine that the
man who robbed my store could he
captured and the goods recovered, as
they were all branded.
"This robbery seemed to he a well
laid plan. The door was broken open
within 2a feet of the sidewalk. Tt
seems to me that something should he
done. 1 will thank you to look Into
the case personally and detail a spe
cial man to work on the crso. Any as
sistance you can render nie wiil be
appreciated. Yours truly.
"LOUIS PIZITZ.
“April 29. 1915."
In commenting on the above letter. Mr.
Pizitz said:
"You will notice that I wrote to Judge
Lane on April *29. just 11 days after my
store was burglarized. Since that time
1 have found that the thieves got away
with about $6b0o worth of stuff instead of
about $3000 worth. All the goods stolen
had the trademark of the makers as well
as the name of my firm lmp?Mnted there
on. It’s strange that the police have not
made any arrests or even got on to any
clews in this case. A loss as big as mine
should certainly be thoroughly investi
gated. The door by which the burglar
or burglars entered is ?iot more than 10
feet from the inside edge nT the side
walk. Undoubtedly the robbery was com
mitted on a Sifnday night, but it was
r.ot discovered until Monday morning,
when the employes, came down to work.
T am told that the officers on each beat
are supposed to try all the doors at reg
ular intervals. The question is. did the
officer on that beat try the door by which
the burglars entered and left. Tt must
have taken sometime for them to get all
the goods they could carry away and,
Judging by the amount they took, the
bundles or loads must have been very
large, yet no one seems to have seen
them.
"1 don't mind stating openly that I
think the police forep of this town is
wholly incanable and inefficient. It
strikes me that the ambition of the de
partment is to arrest people on some
tiiflng charge and persecute them instead
of merely prosecuting them. T notice that
a great number of women have been ar
rested. Ts it not a hard Job to arrest a
woman, and does it not require great
detective ability?
I don’t think the citizens of Birming
ham are -anxious to sec these unfor
tunates dragged to jail nightly. T do
know that every citizen in this com
munity wants to see those who are re
s?>onsible for all this robbery and
thieving and murder arrested and
brought to justice.
"The question is. how long must we
merchants and citizens stand by and
see our property stolen, our homes un
protected. and a reign of lawlessness
continue? Unless some radical changes
in the policy of the police department
are made. 1 fear we will have a long
time to waft.
“I ii«iilcr*tnnd that there Is n nqiiHtl
of men ff timbering nliout eight uho
nre detailed to arrest gambler**, vio
lators of the revenue law. and women.
Whnl I want to know In how many
men nre detailed to protect the cltlsenn
of Birmingham f I don’t know how
ninny men the police deportment has
detailed on the work of catchln’g mur
derer*. safe blower*, robber*, thieves !
nnd plckpoeketn. bnt I do know that
nil the work they have done for
the prevention of *ueh crime amounts
to little enough.
“Tt eight men are needed to arresr
women T would like to know how
many men are needed to catch desper
ate criminals? When the police called
me up Friday night and told me that
T had been robbed again, T laughed, not
because mV being robbed was n Joke,
but heeause 1 realized how little chance
the thief had of being arrested.
"1 nm not the only one who has heen
robbed. There are n lots of others, and
if 1 am not believed, the citizens can
go to the records of the police them
selves. T think Birmingham has a
rotten police force, T know in my case
at least they have done absolutely
nothing. T don’t believe in numerous
arrests on trivial charges.
*‘What T want to know is how and
when are we going to get a real police
depa rtment?”
■ - 1 ■ -i
.
:} Capital and Surplus $1,150,000.00
Birmingham Trust & Savings Co.
Capital $500,000.00 Surplus (Earned) $650,000.00 \
i A CHECKING ACCOUNT
When you have a checking account the bank, in a way
a^ts as your bookkeeper, and by the return of your can
celled checks you get, automatically, the best kind of
a receipt for'every cent paid out by check..
1 w. SMITH. FrwMaM BENSON CHUN, Ant CMhUr
tom o. smith, r-pmunt a a gotten, am. c«ur
w. H. MANLY. Ouktor E. W. FINCH, AM. Cuhi«r
4 Per Cent Paid On Savingo Deposits
* . . \ (
I ONLY 142 PRISONERS IN COUNTY JAIL
AWAITING TRIAL—INTERESTING FIGURES
llr CHARI.F.S H. 1MM)V
I
Sometime ago when Judge C. C. Ne
smith was asked to suggest a retried)
for the overcrowding of the county jai
he replied, '‘Establish a consolidated
court, and put as many judges as Is
necessary to try the criminal esse;
pending where the defendant is in Jail
By this method the county Jail could
be cleared of prisoners awaiting trial.’
That his suggestion was a wise one i*
evidenced by the fact that since th*
addition of one Judge to the bench ol
the criminal court the population ol
the county jail has been decreased 50
per cent.
On yesterday Solicitor Hugo L. Black
checked over the prisoners confined hi
the county jnil. when the fact was re
Nealcd that there are only 176 prison
ers in jail at present, and of this num
ber 34 have been convicted and arc
held pending an appeal to the supreme
court, 30 persons are held pending the
action of th« grand Jury, all of recent
date, there are 43 persons charged with
felonies, all set for trial this week ex
cept those charged with capital of
fences. and they will be tried during
the month, and 4$ prisoners sent in from
the several inferior courts and justice
iilNGHAM TRUST
NAMED TRUSTEE OF
STANDARD NOME CO.
Well Attended Meeting of
Creditors Held Yesterday.
Expect Company to Pay
Dollar for Dollar
The' Birmingham Trust and Savingy
company were elected trustee of the
Standard Home company at a well attend
ed meeting of the creditors of the bank
rupt concern held yesterday before Judge
. H. Dryer, referee in bankruptcy. Rob
ert A. Terrell, who has been acting as
agent for the receiver, was unanirpousiy
Indorsed and his retention requested as
| lie has had practically entire charge of
Itlie affair of the Standard Home com
pany since it went into the bankruptcy
court. The bond of the trustee was" fixed
a t $50,000.
Attending the meeting were quite a
number of attorneys from other states
representing 'creditors. The majority of
[creditors outside the state were repre
sented by Attorneys A. G. and A. D.
Smith, the receiver and trustee by 'rill
man. Bradley & Morrow, and the bank
rupt concern by E.. N. Hamill. Tim re
tort of Mr. Terrell was the feature of
the meeting, many of the creditors «*x
pressing their confidence in his ability
to wind up the affairs of the concern
advantageously and urged that he be re
tained as agent.
Expect Dollar for Dollar Payment
The schedules show the assets of the
company to be in excess of $1,400,000, and
liabilities $1,000,000. showing a balance of
$400,000 on the right side of the ledger.
Those in close touch with the affairs of
| the company state that there is a strong
1 possibility of the company paying its
[ creditors dollar for dollar at the final
settlement.
The following statement was made yes
terday by Judge Dryer in reference to
the case:
"The report made by Mr. Robert A.
Terrell as agent of the Birmingham Trust
and Savings company, receiver In bank
ruptcy, gives a complete history of the
case from the time the receiver first
took charge, February 22, 1915, to date,
with reference to the amount of assets
and liabilities as shown by the schedules
filed, the report points out that the fig
ures shown on the schedule's were those
taken from the company's books as >f
February 22. 1915. and not values a* esti
mated by the receiver.
• The schedules filed Show assets slightly
in excess of $1.40d,o0u. and liabilities slight
ly in excess of $1,000,000. These assets con
sist of notes or individuals secured by
mortgages on real estate in more than 50
different states, notes of individuals se
cured by other forms of collateral, partic
ularly by contracts issued to the makers
by the company, the makers of which
reside in many different stales, real
estate, mostly residential property, of a
book value of about $276,000, subject to
about $40,000 of first mortgage liens, and
other genera] assets.
"Mr. Terrell stales that he does not
feel qualified as yet to give an opinion
as to the value of these assets, and is
unwilling to express a definite idea with
reference to values, but that he feels that
persons interested in the estate will be
very fortunate if they bring as much as
$900,000 to $1,000,000.
Shrinkage of Assets
"The report calls attention to probable
shrinkage in value of assets about a*
ffllow’s: Aeeounts due from agents, over
$6*1.000; Highland Garage company, over
$60,000; real estate values not less than
$60,000; a large amount on individual ac
counts. furniture and fixtures, over $20,
000; stocks and bonds, $19,229, and a con
siderable percentage of the amounts se
cured by mortgages held by the estate on
account of probable foreclosures, etc.
"The report also suggests that claims
filed may be far in excess of amounts
shown by the schedules. If the com
pany's construction of the contract is not
followed by the court the figures of $900,
O00 due contract holders may he increased
as much as $40,000. If persons with whom
the company had made settlements and
w hose contracts had lapsed by their terms
establish the validity of their claims, this
amount would be increased still further.
‘‘The report suggests that the maximum
amount can probably be best realized by
claimants if collections on mortgage In
indebtedness owrned by the estate are
made in the ordinary course according to
the terms of the mortgages. These pro
vide for payments in small monthly in
stallments. running over a term of years
and bearing 5 per cent Interest. The real
estate can probably be beat realized on
by waiting for advantageous market con
ditions. The receiver therefore suggests
that ir order to realize a maximum on
their claims, creditors should be patient
and expect dividends thereon in small per
centages over a term of as much as four
or five years."
Attractive Music
The mixed quartet at the Eleventh Ave
nue M. E. church will sing unusually at
tractive numbers at the services today.
At the morning service at 11 o’clock Tours’
“Jubilate Deo’’ will be rendered and Mrs.
Palmer, Mr. Muchmore and Mr. McGill
will sing for the offertory the well known
trio from Haydn's "Creation,’’ “On Thee
Each Living Soul Awaits.’’
The special eveninfc numbers will be
“O How Amiable Are Thy Dwellings," by
West, and “The King of Love," by Robin
son.
■ *
courts of the rounty. For the first time
in many months there are only :'i r,.v
sons in tiie jail charged with niisde
meanors. all of whom will hi given e
trial this week
It will he recalled that the hill f,,v
feeding prisoners confined in th. , ,,ln
ty jail for last year was over mm
According to Dr. Oates only n third of
this amount was expended on the nctua'
food of the prisoners, the oilier two
thirds was net profit to the sheriff
There were many cases In which pris
oners wpre confined In Jail fnr a |„ni!
period of time who were charged with
trlval offences. An example of this class
of cases was found yesterday l.y so
licitor Black, that of n negro sent p,
jail frotfo the inferior court of Knslr.
on "suspicion'' and who had been in
jail four months. Judge Black secured
his release hy the habeas corpus rn tie
It being shown he was being held with'
out authority of law. The state will !•
required to pay 30 cents a day for ti c
food of this man besides other costs
To come hack to the cause of the jail
being depleted of Its unwilling occupants
when Solicitor Black asked for nn addi
tional judge for the criminal court, he
made the assertion that with three judges
on the bench he and his assistants count
teduce the population of the county jail
Bfl per Cpnt. That he made no mistake in
his estimate is evidenced by the a her
figures for the jail has less than half as
. ...
| many occupant* as it had a month ago.
■ The several judges of the criminal court
' and the solicitor's office declared against
| the practice of making wholesale raids on
working negroes on Saturday nights, and
I to a large extent have put a stop to the
l fact ice Solicitor Hlack visits the Jail
ft on time to time and if any prisoner de
sires to plead guilty he is given oppor
tunity t»* do so and the prisoners are
brought before the Judge and sentenced.
"Crap shooters" and like offenders ar^
given the speediest trial possible, and first
offenders are given a light jail sentence.
The showing made by the officials of
the criminal court is truly remarkable,
I in that every person in the county Jail,
j except those awaiting the action of the
supreme court or the grand Jury, has
’ con given a trial or his case is set during
i the next two weeks. Those responsible
j for this showing are Judge W. B. Fort.
I senior judge of the criminal court; Judge
Harrington P. Heflin, associate judge;
| Special Judge John H. Miller. Solicitor
Hugo L. Hlack, Circuit Solicitor Joseph
K. Tate, Assistant Solicitors Walter S.
Hrower and James Davt*.
Solicitor Hlack states that he Intends to
make further efforts to reduce the num
ber of prisoners in the county jail by giv
ing its Inmates ns speedy a trial as is pos
sible. All the officials hold that jail cases
! should be given preference as to the set
ting Of trial over those cases where the
party is on bond.
Educational Lectures
to be Given For Police
Officers Now Supplied With
Pocket Editions of Code.
Turner, Fort, Lane and
Others to Instruct Them
Arrangements have been made, accord
ing to the city commissioners, for a train
ing school for the police force of Uir
mingham.
For the first time since 1906. in years
ago. the members of the force have beer
supplied with a pocket edition of tlu
penal code. Within the next few days »
series of lectures to the members of the
force are to be started, the lectures to hf
delivered by Judge Perry Turner of tlu
police court. Judge A. O. Lane, citv mm
missloner in charge of the police force;
Judge . K. Fort of the criminal court
and other attorneys and court officials
Each of the three commissioners yes
terday said that he thought the depart
ment was making a very creditable show
ing considering the small number of po
I I Icemen, which condition was due to the
financial stringency of the city treasury.
President Ward stated he believed that
many of the officers were not properly
acquainted with the penal code and laws
under which they are supposed to make
arrests, and that this was the reason the
code had been printed in pocket edi
tions and the series of lectures arranged.
None of the commissioners would admit
they thought the department was malting
frivolous arrests or lacked discipline. They
stated they did not know of any members
of the department who might be consid
ered rather tender in years for holding
down the duties of a police officer with
Judgment and discretion.
Several complaints along these lines
have been made regarding the police force
t er ently. however, and the probabilities
are a shake-up will he forced unless the
new plans of the commissioners succeed
in improving conditions.
PLAN TO TAKE SHACKLES OFF
ALL THE CITY CONVICTS AND
DOUBLE THEIR PAY PER DAY
At the city commission meeting Tups- |
rlav Commissioner Janies Weatherly will
Introduce a resolution to take the shackles
off every city convict.
Further. Commissioner Weatherly will
introduce an ordinance to provide that
city prisoners shall be paid ?| per day
for their labor Instead of 50 cents as is
now the rule.
T his action Is taken, states the commis
sioner. from a humanitarian standpoint.
Indications are that the plan will re
ceive the Indorsement of tile other mem
bers of the commission.
For the past six or elKht months the
shot t-time prisoners have heen worked on
the streets and about town without
shackles on their ankles. The usual quota
of city convicts averaRes about 100 men,
but the short-time men usually are a hoist
60 per cent, and therefore but about 60
men have been worked without shackles
In the past few months of experiment.
Many Firms of City Have
Entered Their Teams.
Arranging Details
Final arrangements have been perfected
for the "Work Horse" parade, which id
to he held in Binningham Wednesday at
2 o’clock in the afternoon.
| The parade is to be held under the riif
pices of the Birmingham Humane socie
ty and Officer J. L. Clements, who has
the details in charge, has been busily en
gaged for the last few days working out
every feature which will make the parade
» notable and Interesting demonstration,
not only of the economic value of the;
work horses to the community, but ofi
the effective work which the Humane so
ciety is doing in Jefferson county.
Scott Maxwell will come to Birmingham
from his home in Cordova, to Judge the
entries in the parade for the awards, of
which there will he four classes, and he
will be assisted by A. Gibson. Ralph Fies
land others.
The line of march will he from Capitol
park to Twenty-first street, to Sixth ave
nue. to Nineteenth street, to Third ave
nue, to Twenty-first street, to Second ave
nue, thence to Nineteenth and hack to
First avenue, up to Twentieth street, and
thence north to Twentieth to Sixth ave
nue, -where the parade will he disbanded.
Among the leading retail and wholesale
firms which have agreed to enter their
teams are: B. F. Roden Grocery Co..
Cherp-Cola Bottling Co.. Alabama Gro
cery Co.. Cosby Grocery Co., Tennessee
Milling Co.. Coco-Cola Co., Sulzberger A
Sons Co., Jacob Dold Co.. Armour A Co..
Asa Hoyt, Wood A Crabbe, Birmingham
Grain Co., City Delivery IceYlo.. Stand
ard Oil Co., Gulf Refining Co.. Texas
Oil Co.. Harris Transfer Co.. Young A
Vann. Crane Co.. Moore A Handiev Co..
W. S. Brown. T. C. I. Co.. W. C. Wa.rren
Coal Co., Birmlnghan/ Railway. Light arid
Power company, Yarbrough Coal Co., Es
aig A Buasenlehner. Kentucky Livery Co..
White Swan Laundry. Imperial Laundry.
American Laundry, Tyler Grocery Co.,
Jewel Grocery Co.. National Biscuit Co.,
Loose-Wiles Biscuit Co., Estes Lumber
Co.. Jenkins Lumber Co., Fuoua Bros.. C.
F. Crook Co.. Birmingham Tacking Co.,
Palace Livery Co.. Swift Tacking Co.,
Central Ice Co.. Collins Grocery Co., Mor
ris Tacking Co.. Cudahy Packing Co.
Shares Transferred
I.tmdon, May IS.—(S:52 p. m >—Shares of
the Holland-America steamship line, rep
resenting about one-quarter of the* entire
capital which heretofore were in the
hands of German steamship companies,
i have heen transferred to Dut< h subjects,
according to a dispatch ffom The Hague
1 to Reuter’s Telegram company.
Mr Wrnthsrly ststrs that tha plan hat
been a complete success with the short
11 me prisoners, and he believes it will
more equally as succesBfnl with tht
lonK-term priaoners. The shackled con
victs of Rirmlngrhant workins on the
streot-eleanltiK crews and Karhatte watt
ons have for years been the cause ol
much strenuous protest from many
sources.
The plan to Increase the pay of con
victs from 60 cents per day to $1, tht
commissioner states, Is done for the saml
reason us the removal of the shackles
Just because a man becomes convicted
of a crime and Is a city prisoner Is nt
reason that he should be paid less for hit
labor than when he Is a free mnn. statei
tile commissioner. Therefore, when a pris
oner Is fined, for example. $(«» in the fu
ture, he will have to work hut 0-1 dnyt
to pay his fine Instead of 1U(t da vs, as
has been the rule In the past.
This plan also stales Mr. Weatherly
will reduce the number of long-term met
and therefore make more practical and
feasible the honor system of working; I Ik
convicts without shackles.
iGlinii
POSTOFFICE PUNS
McNeel Authorized to Sur
vey Plat and Send Dia
gram to Washington
The government architects will in the
near future begin the drawing of th*
plans for the Birmingham postofflcc
building.
Yesterday. John I). McNeel, collector ol
Internal revenue for Alabama and Missis
sippi, received a letter from the govern
ment's supervising architect in which he
was authorized to secure an engineer tc
survey the plar and send a diagram b>
scale. He was urged to use all speed ii
order that the drawing*t»f the plans migh
not he delated.
Sometime ago the government purchase*
a site for a new building on Nlneteentl
street and Fifth avenue. It is now be
Ifeved that the new structure will hav
been completed in approximately ]
months.
GIDEONS TO HAVE
SERVICES T0DA\
National Gideon Day to Be Observe*
by Local Order at Meeting at
the Tutwiler
Today is national Gideon day, and th
local Order of Gideons, the Christian trav
eling men s organization, will celebrate b
a special meeting at 3 o’clock this after
noon at the Tutwiler hotel. The meetinf
will be held In the private dining rooir
of the hotel and addresses will be deliv
ered by several speakers.
Churches throughout the city will hear
special sermons on the activities of the
Gideons and collections will be taken for
the Gideon fund.
Every traveling man In Birmingham to
day is invited by the committee on ar
rangements to attend the meeting this aft
ernoon. Good things are promised by
the committee.
Tiie Gideons, among other works, have
placed a Bible in every room of practically
every hotel In the state.
MARTIN TO HEAD
UNION RAILROAD
Denver, May 1o.—W. A. Martin, gen
eral manager of the Denver and File
Grande railroad, will resign, effective Jun*
1, It was announced today, to become pres
ident of the Union Pacific railroad, witk
headquarters at Memphis.
t Takes Conservative
The American Trust ^
takes conservative busi- %
ness, and the depositor has ■
no other kind to give. if
This is why fourteen thou- 5
sand are doing business in m
its regular departments. M
Capital, Surplus and Profits M
Over $900,000 J
AMQBCANTHSi,S«JBBME
n ~ BIRMINGHAM
TMIER’S STATEMENT
PROVES A FEATURE
OF WEEKS POLITICS
Many Things Show That
Former Governor Will
Get Back Into Game
SLAP AT BANKHEAD
BY THE LEGISLATURE
Will He Get Into Already Crowded
Race for Senate ? —l-Tuffra jjettes
Back From Tour Over
the State
By III OII W ROBRRTI
Rx-Qoxrrnor Comer, proxentlnx to
the people of Alabama a newspaper
headline as a speech of Senator Under
wood. created a profound sensation in
political circles laat week.
The people generally conceived the
idea that Mr. Comer Is not only de
sirous of “coming back.' but that he
has thrown his “hat Into the ring,” and
has made Initial preparations for
'•pushing the load over the hill/
Inasmuch as the former chief ex
ecutive criticized not only the two Uni
ted States senators, but the governor,
and the next preceding governor, the
idea obtained that in his preparation
Cor future combat he has not quite de
cided into which field of usefulness ho
will bury his talent.
Mr. Comer took Mr. Underwood tc
task because a newspaper had repre
sented him as having advocated In a
certain speech “giving the railroads n
chance." Irrespective of whether or
not Mr. Underwood's position was
properly described, it is reasonable tc
believe that ‘he is In favor of giving
tlie common carriers an opportunity
further to develop the country and per
haps to profit in a sum representing a
.'wst return on their Investment. In
asmuch hh Mr. Comer satirically crit
icized Mr. Underwood for this posi
tion. it is deemed possible that he holds
that no railroad should be given a
chance for life and happiness but that
nil of them should, through the oper
ation of strenuous law. he dumped into
a figurative scrap heap.
Mr. Comer’s article was simply a re
written chapter of his anti-railroad
agitation, an agitation which the peo
ple. Incidentally, passed on in a cer
tain primary election of 1914. In that
same primary, it la recalled, the peo
ple also passed on the state's com
promise with the railronits which Mr.
Comer tlien bitterly criticized ami «st
ve«k for an oft-repeated time bitterly
assailed.
Mr. Comer In damning Senator Bank
bead with feint praise, dealt specifi
cally wiili the part played by the sen
ator in the defeat of the *hip purcliu>t
bill.
As is remembered, when the sen a
tor’s position respecting that bill wai
made known through tho Associate'
Press, the Alabama legislature adopt
ed a resolution urging him to abandor
that position and "rally to the suppor
of the President."
Nothing done by the legislature ere
ated more interest or mote success
fully aroused public curiosity that
the anti-Bankhead resolution. W ha
wns its origin? Whence did it come
Newspaper reporters, endeavoring t<
answer these questions, initiated an In
\ estimation. It was then developed lha
the resolution was presented by Gen
Bibb Graves, said to b«* head of th»
prohibition lobby, and known to ».« tin
political ally of Governor Comer. »r
Senator John A. Lusk of Marshall
When these facts were ascertained a
trail was struck which gave Intimation
that General Graves was keyed up in
■’ the ordeal of preparing the resolution
by a telegraphic message from Wash
ington l't is interesting in this con
nection to note that at that time Gov
ernor Comer, a strong advocate of tb»
ship purchase bill, was in Washington.
It waa never learned who wired the
. suggestion to General Graves. Some
' contended that the act was that of Mr
Comer; others that Secretary McAdoo.
ppprlsode of the power wielded by
General Graves, sent the message.
The matter is of considerable inter
| est.in view of the fact that It has ever
been a question ns to why there is and
i I has been a momentous estrangement
between the legislature and the chief
executive of the state. It has been tho
subject of general gossip that seven
or eight rich prohibitionists directed
the legislature in its arduous course,
ft has been hinted, too. that that lob
by was swayed by still a grtater
po w'er.
At any rate. Governor Henderson, up
to the present time, has been requin 1
to pay a penalty for the nefarious act
of having permitted himself to be
elected.
During the past week a number of
prominent Alabamians, several of
whom are prospective candidates, vis
ited north Alabama for the purpose of
ascertaining whether or not the peo
ple of the great “white" counties are
as vitally interested in rivar improve
ment and power development as their
spokesman have represented
Among the number were Ueut. Gov.
Thomas E. Kilby and Judge W. W.
Brandon, who may he rival candidates
for governor: ex-Senator Frank S.
White. Congressman J. Tom Heflin and
Congressman J. W. Aberemmbie. who
may vle\wt.th Senator Bankhead for his
berth in'the upper house of Congress
(CaitfassJ Page
•4
WARD RIDICULES
AND RESENTS THE
VERDICT ON WALL
Charges It Is Result of Old
Political Enmity of
S. F. Teague
%
LATTER DENIES
TRUTH OF CHARGE
Say* He Was Only Man Who Did Not
Want to Mention Names—“Let's
Have an Unbiased Grand
Jury Probe,” Say* Ward
Stating that he repents the fart that
"under the guise of Justice and procedure
of law the people of Birmingham should
casually he informed that he is guilty
of crime," Commissioner George Ward
yesterday paid his respects to the corn
jner's jury which rendered a verdict hold
ing him one of those responsible for the
Steele-Smlth wail disaster.
President Ward states (hat Sam F.
Teague, foreman of the "coroner’s com
edy." formerly was his political opponent
and is trying to even tip scores.
Mr. Teague stated last night that Mr.
Ward was in error In his statement "If
George Ward thinks I am responsible foe
the coroner’s verdict and was Influenced
by political motives, he is badly mis
taken." said Mr. Teague.
"The fact is that I was the only man
on the whole Jury who did not want to
mention any names. When that part of
the verdict in which individuals are
named and charged with gross negligence
was discussed I tried to convince the
other Jurors that it should be cut out al
together Hut they persisted and J had to
give in.
"f hold nothing against George Ward
and he is mistaken If he thinks I am try
ing to get even with him."
Mr. Ward’s formal statement is as fol
lows :
"There is no surprise to he felt that
one of my old and hitter political op
ponents. ns foreman of n coroner's
Jury, should hold me responsible for
the Steele-Smith wall disaster.
"I resent the fact, however, that un
der the guise of Justice and procedure
of law the people of Birmingham
should casually he Informed that I am
guilt\ -if crime
"T sincerely hope the grand Jury will
follow the suggest ion of this body of
men. which is the modern world's ex
ample uf uselessness, and hold a real
investigation «»f ttie Steele Smith wall
disaster and not a political seance. as
It appears tin* coroner’s rna *hlne has
done. It would show the farce of put-)
ting tlif taxpayers to tin large ex-/
penso of ilie coroner’s office .fed hi*
secret -luiint er jury antics
"The Investlgalloti of lids disaster
held hv tins commission ws» public
and wide open. Lawyers, trained in
getting tn Ilie bottom of facta and
fancies, represented both side*. The
coroner's Jury produced Mio Idancc
hut what we produced. .
"The only difference i* that tHyy
held It behind closed doors, ran up %
big expense hill for the county snP^ *». v
dealt In terms of politics instead
Justice when they rendered a verdict.
"I make these charges because Sain
F. Teague, foreman of the coroner’*
comedy, was my active opponent in
the sheriff n race of 1910, and was
i forced to withdraw from that race
when things got too hot.
"Ills report Is only an attempt to
settle old scores and lay a predicate
for future campaign material
"Let's have a fair and unbiased
grand Jury probe and prove it."
Try to Mbs
SeantMOoir
CareradC" 11
Will Help Yon
Shampoos with Cuticura Soap
preceded by light applications of
Cuticura Ointment do much to
promote hair-growing conditions.
Outlevra lloap amt otitaat mM mHayabmpt
Liberal ■ample ot each malted frm, with M-p. boalb I
Addna paat oard "Cacteura." Bapt. IV.
* -h;v; .M
. T- I