The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-17
REPUBLICANS ARE
 OUT IF THE RACE Committee Met in BesSemer and ReScinded Action NOW HIGDON VS. STILES Council Meeting Was Postponed Until Next Friday-Higdon Forces Will
 Meet Tomorrow Night
 In City Hall.

gomery who was slated for state senator, and w. B. Shed, postmaster at Adams vile, for the legislature, both declined the honor immediately after the announce ment was made, and after considering the situation last night and again tonight the committee decided to withdraw from the race
 Present at the meeting were Chairman John T. MeEniry, J. w. Clayton, J. X. Thomas, w. R. Fairley, J. R. Moore, William Vaughan, J. Clyde Miller, Joseph II. Montgomery, c. R. Lewis, E. J. Ken nemar and John D. Blakemore.
 The field is now left to Colonel E. l.. Higdon and Judge J. P. Styles in the contest for sheriff, and the republican vote will be an important factor in the result next February. There is much speculation in Bessemer among the parti- san democrats concerning the change which this development will make in the political situation, and the discussions are often heated but always friendly. Both candidates have many friends here who are doing an immense amount of work and it is said that the coming election will bring great surprises to some of the citizens of the town.
 Mayor Sullivan Is Facetious.
 When Mayor J. J. Sullivan called the board of aldermen to order at the city hall tonight there were only three alder men present to answer to the roll call.
 Mayor Sullivan said: Well, gentlemen, don't you think we have the legal right to appoint proxies to make out quorum, paTa1if % which declared Stiles the nomniee for sheriff?"
 However as this was only spoken in humorous vein, the board decided to se- lect a time for an adjourned meeting. Tomorrow night was discarded on &C., count of the Higdon meeting and Thurs day on account of the Stiles meeting. MT. Sullivan suggesting that this would be necessary to allow that gathering quorum. It was finally determined to meet next Friday night at o'clock, by which time Aldermen Ross and Crook will have returned to the city.
 There are number of important ques- tions awaiting action, among them the election of an alderman to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Alderman Rudolph Wegelin of the Fourth ward, who has removed to Birmingham. As yet there have been no applicants for the po- sition. It is also probable that vacancy on the board of aldermen will be filed as there are three candidates who have filed their applications. Objections to the side walk improvement assessments will also be heard if there are any, and final action will be taken.
 The city engineer will make his report on the storm sewer which has been com pleted for which assessments are now be- ing calculated. To those who have been observant 1t is evident that the sewer has AI.z recent rains 1t has been proved conclu- sively that it Is almost invaluable as a drainage system City Attorney Ben c. Perry will make a report on the water works case, which will be of considerable interest to the public. A number of cti- zens were present tonight and everyone seemed interested in the probable action of the council.
 Higdon Rally.
 The Hgdon forces will meet tomorrow night at D. m. in the city hall at the call of Chairman w. K. Smith and Secre- tary W. G. Hurd of the Higdon club of Bessemer.
 The crowd, which it is estimated will reach above the five hundred mark, will form in front of the city hall and march in parade through the streets of the city. A brass band will be in attendance and number of good speakers are expected to be present Judge John H. Miller, Jesse Stallings, R. Dupont Thompson, Prof. H. P. Hurrus and Edwin c. Winston are among the number. All of the voters of Bessemer and this vicinity are cordially invited to attend.
 Notes and Personals.
 There were eighteen cases on the police docket this morning. but nearly all were for petty offences. The charge of grand larceny against Lillie Dobbs for robbery of George H. Stevenson's home several weeks ago was reduced to petty larceny to bring the case under the Jurisdiction of the mayor, and the negro was fined $i7. 50. Charles Mcbride, who was impli- cated in the theft was bound over to the grand jury with bond of $200. Some of the property has beeen recovered and the police are sthl working on the evidence.
 MT. and Mrs. James Davis who have both been seriously III for some time, were removed to the Robinson-Hanby in- firmary today and are resting well.
 A two-story negro house on Twenty second street and Fifth avenue was de- stroyed by fire this morning at ? o'clock. The fire department was called out but was too late to check the flames The loss is estimated at s750, but the owner of the property is not known.
 Dr. L. A. Spencer spent the day in Blr- mngham on business.
 The negro woman, Mary NlckelSOn, who was nearly killed by her husband last Saturday in Jonesboro, was operated on today by three physicians of Bessemer, and it is now thought that she will live.
 The wedding of Miss Catherine Lee Burns of this city to J. L. Flynn of Nashville nas been announced by the parents of the bride, and will take place October 25 at the home on Fifth avenue. Both of the young people are quite popu- lar in Bessemer and the event is arous- ing much interest.
 L. E. Oxford of the firm of Oxford & Lewis is in the city. looking over the district and attending the state fair.
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