The age-herald., 1899-03-30
Says His Platform Gives His
 Position
IN ALL ISSUES OF THE CAMPAIGN
Chides MT. Smith for Not Having Made His Position Known in a Plat form-Invites Him to
 Do So Now.

There will be no joint discussions in the present municipal campaign. Yesterday MT. Drennen addressed a letter to Mr. Smith. stating that he thought the publi- ton for the voters, and he declined to be drawn into defense of himself before an audience.
 MT. Drennen declares that the people are well posted as to his position upon every issue, and he chides MT Smith for not hay ing had a platform placed before the voters. The Smith wing come back charging that MT. Drennen's platform is tissue of de- ceits, and that it has been moulded in public and modified in private"
 There was some disappointment at Smith headquarters over MT. Drennen's declina- ton.
 The Bremen supporters have always publicly prated about the campaign being conducted in the open," said Campaign Manager Pearce. They have been making a grand-stand play for fairness all along. and now MT. Drennen refuses to meet MT. Smith before an audience of voters and substantiate the charges that he has made"
 At Drennen headquarters the reply to MT. Smith was described as 'killer," and the bosses declared that votes had been gained by it.
 MT Drennens reply follows:
 Birm. nghan, March 29 1899.
 Hon. Ross C. SmIIn, City
 Dear Sir: l beg to acknowledge re- ceipt of your courteous letter asking for joint discussion. With that paragraph or your letter in which you say, The people of Birmingham nave the right to hear from us on the issues involved Tn the present municipal contest l agree AS early as January l anticipated this desire of the people to which you refer, and placed myself on record on all i'm portant issues that have arisen in the campaign by the publication of my platform for thirty days in the daily pa pers The people, therefore, are famil- jar with my position on all questions.
 Your invitation comes too late but I respectfully suggest that should you frame definite platform and give it publication from now until the day of
 
 measure, for your tardiness in submit- ting your views to the people.
 With these suggestions as to the manner in which you may discharge a duty to the people, already performed by me, I must decline your invitation.
 With highest regards I am,
 MEL DRENNEN.'
 smith Explains His Reasons
 MT. Smith, In discussing the matter last night, said that his reason for inviting MT Drennen to joint discussion was to have in which he is trying to mislead the people of Birmingham.
 He has trimmed his platform" contin- ued MT. Smith, 'so that 1t is now like a ferry boat-made to head either way. In his platform, which he promulgated in Jan uary and has now changed in March, he boldly proclaims that the city's revenues should be used exclusively for the benefit of the city. Yet since his connect ton with the board of aldermen he has used large proportion of the city's revenue for the ueHeiit ol bTSHHell ~ CO Ine ddmlSSlOnS made by his newspaper organ and his man. ager, B. M Allen, have proven conclusively that he has taken advantage of the con fidence that his associates on the board of aldermen have placed in him, and has charged the city 25 per cent more for goods than other merchants would have charged. Tt seems from this that he has made his platform since making his great record as alderman. Had MT. Drennen agreed to meat me in joint discussion I could have proven by a number of reliable men that he has made overtures to certain interests not in accord with his platform if they would agree to support him for the office of mayor To sum the whole matter up, he is simply 'di-dapper' candidate, and every time you shoot at him he simply sticks his head in that pond of water and tries to hide himself. MT. Drennen complains that have submitted to the people no direct platform. I hope that in seeking a public office may never write a platform in the same spirit that prompted MT. Dren- nen to write his. It is rather unusual for a man to write platform and then refuse to defend 1t in public"
 
 Fate of Eng fish Lieutenant