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'''Arlie K. Barber''' was a druggist, owner of the [[Barber Seed Company]], and a politician. He was a member of the [[Birmingham City Commission]] from [[1915]] to [[1917]] and ran unsuccessfully for [[Governor of Alabama]] in [[1922 general election|1922]] and [[1934 general election|1934]] and to represent the [[9th Congressional District of Alabama]] in [[1932 general election|1932]]. | '''Arlie K. Barber''' (born [[October 11]], [[1873]]; died [[December 10]], [[1958]]) was a druggist, owner of the [[Barber Seed Company]], and a politician. He was a member of the [[Birmingham City Commission]] from [[1915]] to [[1917]] and ran unsuccessfully for [[Governor of Alabama]] in [[1922 general election|1922]] and [[1934 general election|1934]] and to represent the [[9th Congressional District of Alabama]] in [[1932 general election|1932]]. | ||
Barber married the former Wessie B. Lee in [[Birmingham]] on [[August 16]], [[1894]]. | Barber married the former [[Wessie Barber|Wessie B. Lee]] in [[Birmingham]] on [[August 16]], [[1894]]. | ||
Barber's seed company was supplied from a greenhouse on property he owned in [[Center Point]]. Barber paid to build an enclosure around a natural spring on the property, now [[Barber Springs]] in [[Reed-Harvey Park]]. | Barber's seed company was supplied from a greenhouse on property he owned in [[Center Point]]. Barber paid to build an enclosure around a natural spring on the property, now [[Barber Springs]] in [[Reed-Harvey Park]]. | ||
At the turn of the century, Barber was an active member of the [[Alabama State Pharmaceutical Association]] and served on a regional committee promoting the establishment of a system of | At the turn of the century, Barber was an active member of the [[Alabama State Pharmaceutical Association]] and served on a regional committee promoting the establishment of a system of state-controlled [[Dispensary movement|dispensaries]] to control the sale of liquor. | ||
Barber defeated [[A. O. Lane]] in the [[1915 Birmingham City Commission election]]. | Though he was opposed by the ''[[Birmingham News]]'', Barber defeated incumbent [[A. O. Lane]] for the office of Commissioner of Public Safety in the [[1915 Birmingham City Commission election]]. Barber denounced Lane for his vote allowing the consolidation of the [[People's Home Telephone and Telegraph Company]] with [[Southern Bell]], producing a monopoly. <!--He was also aided by a promise to work to remove [[Blue laws|restrictions]] on the screening of motion pictures on Sundays. (needs verification)--> | ||
Shortly after the election, Barber announced his membership in the Socialist Party, though he never involved himself in anything that could be described as "radical". He did propose in [[1917]] that the city should annex the property on which the [[Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company]] had erected its [[Ensley Works|Ensley]] and [[Fairfield Works]], in order to collect taxes on the operation. Commission President [[George Ward]] argued against the measure on the grounds that it would provide a disincentive to further investment by the company. | Shortly after the election, Barber announced his membership in the Socialist Party, though he never involved himself in anything that could be described as "radical". He did propose in [[1917]] that the city should annex the property on which the [[Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company]] had erected its [[Ensley Works|Ensley]] and [[Fairfield Works]], in order to collect taxes on the operation. Commission President [[George Ward]] argued against the measure on the grounds that it would provide a disincentive to further investment by the company. As public safety commissioner, Barber was responsible for issuing arrest warrants to cinema operators that screened "unwholesome" films. He further proposed to close pool halls on Sundays and to prohibit the playing of dominoes in public places. | ||
Barber's bid for [[Mayor of Birmingham|President of the Commission]] in the [[1917 Birmingham City Commission election]] was eclipsed by the rise of "[[True Americans|True American]]" candidate [[Nathaniel Barrett]] of [[East Lake]]. During the campaign, Barber sought to discredit Barrett by secretly releasing private correspondence taken from the office of former commissioner and Barrett supporter [[James Weatherly]]. Barber finished third behind Barrett and Ward. | |||
Though he served only one term, Barber | Though he served only one term, Barber was representative of a new wave of suburban Commissioners that, years after the [[Greater Birmingham]] annexation, began to dominate city politics. He ran unsuccessfully for [[Governor of Alabama]] in [[1922 general election|1922]], and again in [[1934 general election|1934]]. In [[1932 general election|1932]] he ran unsuccessfully to represent Alabama's [[9th Congressional District of Alabama|9th District]] in the U.S. House of Representatives. He garnered less than 3% of the vote in each of those races. | ||
Barber died in [[1958]] and is buried at [[Elmwood Cemetery]]. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* {{Harris-1977}} | * {{Harris-1977}} | ||
* Breedlove, Michael A. (July 1980) "Progressivism and Nativism: The Race for the Presidency of the City Commission of Birmingham, Alabama in 1917". ''Journal of the Birmingham Historical Society''. Vol. 6, No. 4 | |||
==External links== | |||
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=183206001 Arlie Barber] at Findagrave.com | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barber, Arlie}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Barber, Arlie}} | ||
[[Category:1873 births]] | |||
[[Category:1958 deaths]] | |||
[[Category:Pharmacists]] | [[Category:Pharmacists]] | ||
[[Category:Entrepreneurs]] | [[Category:Entrepreneurs]] | ||
[[Category:Birmingham City Commission]] | [[Category:Birmingham City Commission]] | ||
[[Category:Elmwood burials]] | |||
Latest revision as of 11:16, 27 September 2017
Arlie K. Barber (born October 11, 1873; died December 10, 1958) was a druggist, owner of the Barber Seed Company, and a politician. He was a member of the Birmingham City Commission from 1915 to 1917 and ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Alabama in 1922 and 1934 and to represent the 9th Congressional District of Alabama in 1932.
Barber married the former Wessie B. Lee in Birmingham on August 16, 1894.
Barber's seed company was supplied from a greenhouse on property he owned in Center Point. Barber paid to build an enclosure around a natural spring on the property, now Barber Springs in Reed-Harvey Park.
At the turn of the century, Barber was an active member of the Alabama State Pharmaceutical Association and served on a regional committee promoting the establishment of a system of state-controlled dispensaries to control the sale of liquor.
Though he was opposed by the Birmingham News, Barber defeated incumbent A. O. Lane for the office of Commissioner of Public Safety in the 1915 Birmingham City Commission election. Barber denounced Lane for his vote allowing the consolidation of the People's Home Telephone and Telegraph Company with Southern Bell, producing a monopoly.
Shortly after the election, Barber announced his membership in the Socialist Party, though he never involved himself in anything that could be described as "radical". He did propose in 1917 that the city should annex the property on which the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company had erected its Ensley and Fairfield Works, in order to collect taxes on the operation. Commission President George Ward argued against the measure on the grounds that it would provide a disincentive to further investment by the company. As public safety commissioner, Barber was responsible for issuing arrest warrants to cinema operators that screened "unwholesome" films. He further proposed to close pool halls on Sundays and to prohibit the playing of dominoes in public places.
Barber's bid for President of the Commission in the 1917 Birmingham City Commission election was eclipsed by the rise of "True American" candidate Nathaniel Barrett of East Lake. During the campaign, Barber sought to discredit Barrett by secretly releasing private correspondence taken from the office of former commissioner and Barrett supporter James Weatherly. Barber finished third behind Barrett and Ward.
Though he served only one term, Barber was representative of a new wave of suburban Commissioners that, years after the Greater Birmingham annexation, began to dominate city politics. He ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Alabama in 1922, and again in 1934. In 1932 he ran unsuccessfully to represent Alabama's 9th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He garnered less than 3% of the vote in each of those races.
Barber died in 1958 and is buried at Elmwood Cemetery.
References
- Harris, Carl V. (1977) Political Power in Birmingham, 1871-1921. Twentieth-Century America Series. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press. ISBN 087049211X
- Breedlove, Michael A. (July 1980) "Progressivism and Nativism: The Race for the Presidency of the City Commission of Birmingham, Alabama in 1917". Journal of the Birmingham Historical Society. Vol. 6, No. 4
External links
- Arlie Barber at Findagrave.com