Birmingham state herald., 1896-08-02
CHAIRMAN SENN
Denies Emphatically and in Detail tht
 Statements of That Circular.

Statements of That Circular.
 To the Voters Of Jefferson County:
 The democratic campaign committee desires to call your attention to circu- lar signed by G. B. Grove as state pres ident American Protective association, a secret organization, and issued under the auspices of the republican-populite campaign committee.
 It is noteworthy that the author of said circular has been for years the open and avowed enemy of the democratic party in Alabama and has to the extent of his versatile abilities sought it's over throw and final defeat. He is now CO., operating with the opponents of democ- racy and bending his energies to com pass the defeat of its candidates for state and county offices.
 The circular In question, with an as- stunned piety entirely foreign to it's real purpose and contrary to the teachings of our Divine Master, and the consti- tuition of our country, seeks to array the religious sentiment of one portion Of our people against another portion of our citizenship, the real purpose being to de- feat ia worthy citizen of this county who has been honored by the democratic par ty with it's nomination for sheriff. No motive less in keeping with Christianity and the principles of true democracy could have inspired the brain that con ceived or guided the hand that penned that document.
 The statement in MT Crowes circular that Hon. Frank P. O'Brlen Is the regu- lar democratic nominee for Sherif or Jef- ferson county Is true. He won his noml- nation in fair and open contest for that honor with half score of worthy demo- crats, in a primary election in which every voter who desired to support demo- cratic principles had a right to partlcl- pate, and by virtue of that nomination he .e, Tod tn hn only of the friends of every democratic candidate for that office who did par ticipate in that primary, but every voter of Jefferson county who believes Tn and desires to uphold the principles Of true democracy; especially freedom of speech and thought and freedom of religious belief and association.
 The charge in MT. Crowe's circular that Frank P O'Brien or any other demo- cratic candidate in this county Is a sworn enemy of free American schools and would force and foster in its stead ''the parochial schools of the Roman hier- archy'' is denied. On the contrary, the records of our state legislature and Of the city of Birmingham will show that he has done as much to establish, main- rain and foster splendid free school system for this city and county as .any man in the county or state. Ills record both as private citizen and officer, Is complete refutation of the charge.
 And It IS 0ere GI1pHdllCdily ucBicu thot MT, O'Brien has even said, as charged Tn Crowe's circular that he has at his com mand 2O00 to 5000 Catholic voters and Is in position to cast that vote against any one or to boycott business enterprises that are patriotic enough to resist the encroachments of the Roman Catholic church." His record and work and life in this city and county for nearly quar- ter of a gentry is sufficient answer, with out his own denial, to this slander.
 If there is another member of the Cath ollie church who is a candidate on the democratic ticket for any county office his religious tendencies were as well known to the voters before the nomlna- tion as now. They certainly knew him to be a democrat and nominated him as such.
 The general charge that Tit is believed" that the Catholics are engaged in con- spiracy to get control of all the leading offices, etc., is too old and unSubstantial to arouse apprehension in the minds of intelligent and patriotic people who are now engaged i'm a united effort to perma- nently establish and maintain demo- cratic local government. In this effort the 20O0 to 5000 Catholic voters in Jeffer- son county have always been found side by side with the democratic protestants fighting for the cause of democracy and supporting It's candidates. whether they were represented on the ticket or not; and they will always be found shoulder to shoulder with all true democrats in state, county and national elections.
 The subject of the republican-populist circular written by Dr. Grove has re- sided in Birmingham nearly twenty-five years, without reproach or blemish to his private or public life. No man will deny his absolute honesty, nor question his ability to efficiently discharge the duties of the office for which he has been nomi- mated by the democracy of Jefferson county. His loyalty and fidelity to ana labors for his party, in season and out of season, are known to all men. He is eminentIy worthy of full party support and should receive 1t as ungrudgingly and freely as he has given 1t.
 We appeal to every voter In Jefferson county to investigate and ascertain for themselves the falsity of the Grove cir cular issued not to benefit and advance the cause of religion and professionalism. but to defeat the cause of democracy and it's representatives.
 CHAS. A. SENN,