Birmingham state herald., 1896-08-02
MIR. o,BRIEN,s CARD.
A Straightforward and Complete An5wer
 to All Charges.

to All Charges.
 To the People of Jefferson County:
 The following circular letter has been scattered throughout Jefferson county, through the medium of the United States mail by one Grafton B. Crows, state president for Alabama of the A. P. A.
 Dear Sir: We feel that it is our su- preme duty as protestants and loyal American citizens to apprise you or the political situation in Jefferson county, to the end that all liberty-loving, patriotic citizsns may, by the help of the divine hand be able to cast their ballots on Au- gust 3 against any and every one who are sworn enemies of our grand free American school system, and who would, in it's stead, foster and force the foreign parochial schools of the Roman hier- archy, where children are taught the Catholic religion at public expense and to despise the free institutions of America, which are being rapidly overthrown by the pops's interference in American af- fairs.
 Now, one of his subjects, the Hon. Frank P. O'Brien, Is the regular demo- cratic nominee for sheriff of Jefferson county, and frequently boasts that he has at his command two or three thous- and Catholic voters and is in position to cast that vote against any one or use It to boycott business enterprises that are patriotic enough to resist the encroacn- ments of the Roman Catholic church. It is believed that the Catholics are making desperate efforts to get control of all the leading offices in Jefferson county. They have candidates for the legislature, for sheriff, for probate judge and for many Of the city of Birmingham.
 Investigate and you will find these charges true. It behooves every patriotic American to be careful whom he votes for if he does not want to be party to bringing about a corrupt partisan politi- cal machine, which would establish Bir- mingham and Jefferson county as being a good place to stay away from.
 fG. B. GROVE,
 "State President A. P. A
 The postmark of the envelope bears date of July 31, 1S96, 3 p. m., thus allow ing but forty-eight hours in which the recipient of the card may follow the in- vitation of the closing paragraph to m vestigate" ard ascertain the truth of the charges. In many instances the card may not reach the persons for whom in tended before the day of election. It IS plainly evident from this fact that the sender of the card did not intend that ample time should be allowed for inVesti- gation. It is plainly evident that his pur- pose in issuing the card on the eve of the election, under the cover and secrecy of the mail, was to render investigation Of his slanderous statements practically im- possible and thus assassin-lke deal me an inteded fatal blow in the dark.
 The kindness of a gentleman at Wood lawn who received one of the cards first placed me in possession of a copy, and therefore take the opportunity thus af- forded me to refute the charges made.
 The statement contained in the first paragraph and the inference sought to be left in the mind of the reader that the public school system in this county Is in jeopardy, are plainly set at rest by my public acts and record in behalf of the public schools of Birmingham and Jeffer- son county. My record as member of the board of education of Birmingham, as attested by the accompanying card of my colleague of that board, and my sue cessful efforts in the legislature to pro- vide measures and means for saving the endangered public schools of the city of Birmingham, are sufficient to dispute the irresponsible and lying declarations of the circular.
 The statements contained in the re- maining paragraph of the circular are equally false with those contained in the first Of the twenty-three democratic nominees to be voted for next Monday but three are members of the Catholic church, or protesting that faith, one be- ing a nominee for representative, one for justice of the peace and myself, the nom- inee for sheriff.
 No more villainous falsehood was ever uttered than that Frank P. O'Brien has DoaSted 'that he mas at ms command 2000 or 5000 Catholic voters and is in posi- ton to cast that vote against any one or use it to boycott business enterprises that are patriotic enough to resist the en- croachment of the Roman Catholic church."
 If the Catholic voters in this county have in the past voted in large degree in concert, it is alone due to the fact that they are nearly all loyal and devoted up- holders of the democratic party, and faithful to it's nominees. To this fact is chargeable the populistic creed direct ed against them and against the three nominees who happen to be of Catholic faith. It is because of the fearless and unflinching democracy of the Catholic of Jefferson county that populites of the G. B. Crow type seek to discredit and slam der them.
 Democrats of Jefferson county, in the name of fairness and political brother hood, I call upon you, one and all, to stand true to your colors and the whole ticket, and by solid vote resent the ma- licious assaults of it's enemies having as their mouthpiece the populist leader and who is acting president of the A. P. A.
 FRANK P. OBRIEN.
 SUPERINTENDENT M'ADORY