The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-03-02
W. J. Pearce Says Smith Was
Asked for $500.
DRENNEN AGAINST DlSPENSARY
Answered All of the German-American
Unions Questions in Affirmative
Other Candidates Claim That
Organization Will Split.

When the German-American union en-
dorsed Alderman Mel Drennen's candidacy
for mayor it injected live wire into the
city campaign. There was more political
candidate announced.
-
The leading feature of the day was =
the declaration of several leading men, .
bers of the German-American fraterni- =
ty repudiating the action of the union. =
Alderman Chris Rainbow one of the
prominent members, told the union that
: he did not care to be bound and that =
he was a supporter of Hon. Ross C. =
Smith. He was in a conference with
Mr.. Smiths friends late yesterday af-
ternoon. The sensational feature of the
. day was the charge that the endorse
. ment was given for monetary consid-
Grafton. This charge is brought by AL
derman ]. l.. Parker. Alderman Par
' Age-Herald reporter last night: II
asked Mr.. Dan Bandman, one of the in
fuential members of the German
: American union, if it did not cost Mr..
Drennen $500 to get the endorsement of
the union. He admitted that there was
u monetary consideration"
That Schedule of Questions
IF has bean known for cavaral dove tbot
a list of questions had been prepared by
committee of the union to be put to the
different candidates. The committee had
this list typewriter and it was carried by
two or three of the members to the head
quarters of each candidate. Mr.. bremen
answered these questions. Mr.. Parker an
swered some of them and Mr. Smith did
not answer any of them. Here are the
questions:
How do you stand on education and free
public schools nine months out of twelve?
If the public funds are not sufficient to
support the public school system, will you
use your influence towards appropriating
a sufficient sum of the funds of the city
for the maintenance of the public schools
of the city?
Are you in favor of continuing the sys-
tenn of physical culture in the public
schools of the city and approprating funds
for this purpose?
Are you in favor of a reasona Bile license
on businesses and occupations of the city,
not to exceed the one in force at the pres
ent time?
Are you in favor of orderly decently
managed and conducted, regularly licensed
a in Of ha
pensary SYSTEM Give US your views in
full.
Do you favor 'prohibition," as regards
the selling of sprituous, malt or vinous
liquors in the city of Birmingham?
Are you in favor Of municipal ownership
of the water and gas works in this city?
Are you in favor of refundng the citys
interest and bonded Indebtedness, and
what are your views?
Are you in favor of an inspection of
meats killed here or brought here to be
sold for consumption, and this inspection
to be done by a competent expert?
Drennen's Answers Affirmative
When asked to give his answers to the
questions to The Age-Herald, Mr.. Drennen
declined. He said that the meeting was
behind closed doors and that he could not
diyulge the proceedings
A gentleman present at the meeting and
who had Mr.. Drennens answer in his own
hands is authority for the statement that
they were In the affirmative all the way
through. The prohibition and dispensary
questions were the leading issues before
the meeting and the gentleman stated en-
phatically that Mr.. Drennen answered that
he was opposed to both.
1t is said that Mr.. Parker disposed of the
two leading questions by saying that he
would enforce all laws now on the statute
books and those that might be passed in
the future.
1--WE could not accept the proposition,
and Mr.. Smith did not answer the ques-
TONS" was the answer w. ]. Pearce, Mr..
Smiths campaign manager. gave when
asked about the matter.
Asked for $500
..Mr. Dan Bandman and Max Karpeas
approached me with the questions. They
said that $3.50 would be required to support
the German paper and $3.50 to defray cam
paign expenses. We declined to accept
the proposition and that ended the mat
ter
Mr.. Snllh stated that at d uiheiehl 'iiiio
members of the German-American commit
tee told him that $3.50 would be required to
support the German paper.
1t was the impression at Smith head
quarters that their candidate would poll a
big German vote, Notwithstanding the ac-
tion taken by the union Tuesday night. 1t
was said that many Of the most prominent
spirits of the organization were not present
at the meeting, and that already great dis
satisfaction had arisen. The same impress
sion prevailed at Parker headquarters.