The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-11
MA YOR DRENNEN AND
 CAPT. O'BRIEN TALK
 OF THEIR CANDIDACY
The Former Seeks Reelection Account of His Record While Mayor-Captain 0'6rien Says He is Competent to Fill
 Position and Will Give It His Entire Time.

The city democratic executive committee will meet tomorrow night at o'clock at the city hall to formulate plans for the approaching municipal election, and 1t seems to be the general opinion of the committeeman that a primary will be or dered to be held some time before the middle of March.
 There is much speculation as to what the committee will do at the meeting, the call for which was issued several days ago by the chairman. John F. Antwine.
 There are three candidates in the race for mayor-w. M. Drennen, the present incumbent; Frank P. OBrien and M. H. Crittenden.
 Each of the candidates was seen yes- terday and asked for an expression of his views on the campaign and what claim he had to the office. The question asked in each instance was: "Wil you state your reasons for wanting the of- flee, and why should you be elected?"
 Mayor Drennen and Captain O Brien consented to be interviewed, but Mir. | Crittenden said he would prefer to say nothing until after the meeting of the l executive committee.
 Captain O'Brien Talks. l Captain OBrien said:
 T feel thoroughly competent to admin ister the duties of the office eeonomical- ] ly. No man should seek the office, it mat ters not how popular he Is, unless he is competent. I have successfully handled and controlled men for the past forty two years.
 T hold that the exercise of the practi- cal mechanical knowledge I possess, in personally looking after the general im- proyements of the streets and alleys, and other city property, qualities me in a way not possessed by my competitors and the further fact that if elected will give all of my time and energy to the city's interest, having no other inteIe est to subserve.
 Second, my devotion to Birmingham from her infancy to the present day, the fact that l contributed largely of my slender means in her earlier and later days to every enterprise that had for its purpose the demonstration of the fact that Birmingham would be the iron mak- ing center of the north American con tinent before the expiration of fifty years, and at a time, too, when those of her citizens who were trying to show to the world what they had were looked upon as subjects fit for the insane asylum at Tuscaloosa.
 T kept the Age-H alive at time when it's advertising and reading patron age would not have profitably warranted the publication of a daily morning pa per, and at a time when the suspension of that paper would have been more de- trimental to the interests of Rirmng- ham than the failure of two furnaces. l erected an opera house In this city when it's population was but 3S00 At the time of it's erection there was a corn field on the opposite side of the avenue enclosed by an old-fashloned rail fence. The older citizens of Birmingham will bear me out in the assertion that the advertisement of the then infant city by the building of was the erection of the ten-story Wood ward. l have devoted the greater part of my life to Birmingham and her well being; l have been with her in health and in pestilence, in boom time and financial depression, and I will esteem the honor of being elected her chief magistrate greater than that Of occupying the gov ernatorial chair should my fellow citizens by their votes place me there; and 1