1910 Culpepper Exum inaugural address

The 1910 Culpepper Exum inaugural address was the speech delivered by incoming Mayor Culpepper Exum, who was elected in June 1910 to fill the office left vacant by the death of Frank O'Brien, and to succeed acting mayor Harry Jones.

The full address was reprinted in the Atlanta Constitution:

Transcript

This is to me a sad moment when I think of that beloved citizen, Captain Frank P. O'Brien, your former chief executive, whom I succeed. A man who was the soul of honor, whose every thought was of Birmingham and her people's welfare. He has finished his work and I am sure—well done, is the people's verdict. What a heritage to leave behind for those near and dear to him, to have the people of his beloved city show their love and esteem as they did on the day of his burial in this city.

I am profoundly thankful to the people of our great city for the honor done me in making me their chief executive, and I can but repeat and confirm what I said on my platform, that is, I have but one object—the upbuilding of our glorious city. My time will be hers, my best energies hers. To make a success of this administration I must have the co-operation of her citizens. I am counting on this, and I am sure I will have it. My duties are plain, the people expect to see that all matters pertaining to the city's affairs go forward in a correct and a business-like manner. They expect me to see that the laws are properly enforced. Respect for law and its proper enforcement causes the people of a community to respect each other, and the world to respect us all. Truly we should all be and are proud of our city of 133,000 people, a progressive people, a busy people. We have great manufacturing institutions in many branches, prosperous and progressive, merchants backed by great and liberal banks to furnish the wherewithal, therefore Birmingham must and will go forward.
Birmingham is a Christian and God-fearing city, having many churches, with their many members and supporters, and am sure she will be equally progressive in this respect; for no city can grow great commercially and endure without seeing that her morals are equally progressive.
Birmingham has a great public school system, which will grow greater; and it should, because the girls and boys of today are the women and men of tomorrow. We must see that they are properly fitted for the great duties that they will be called upon to perform.
I could refer to many good things that our city possesses. I believe I appreciate the importance of the obligations I have taken in my oath of office, and the confidence of the people of our city in making me their mayor.

I shall do my duty as I see it, and again earnestly ask the support of all good citizens.

References

• "Culpepper Exum, Birmingham's First Commission Mayor" (October 23, 1910) The Atlanta Constitution