The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-26
Not Yet Ready to Talk, But He Looks Equal to Any
 Emergency
GLAD TO GET BACK AND
 SEE THE FAMILIAR FACES
Many Things Have Happened Since the Mayors Departure and His
 Future Attitude Will Be
 Watched With Interest.

Mayor George B. Ward with an Irish | green hat cooked on the back of his l head, the same quick step, and his old smile, passed through the gate at the Terminal station last night at 10 o'clock sharp and was greeted by number of his friends.
 Hello, glad to see you all.'' were his 1 first words, as he shook hands round, and they confirmed the rumor that the l Mayor is looking fine and stronger than ever
 | Among those at the terminal were AL i dermen B. II. cooper, John Forney, City l Attorney Ed Smith, Secretary B. A. Pep perman, Street Commissioner John Me l Cartln and others.
 Enjoyed Every Minute.
 "I have had delightful time and en- | ioyed every minute of my trip" said the Mayor. Expect to go again some day. 1 We need not get it into our heads that I America Is the whole thing. nor that Europe or any but a very small part of | it is anxious to move over here. They l enjoy life too much--have almost as much liberty and much more that is beau l tiful and full of interest.
 Am mighty glad, however, to see all these familiar faces and houses again. | They look pretty good. "ln regard to city matters, just say l that l have come home to take charge of the office to which l was elected
 But, MT. Ward" he was asked, "how are you going to stand on prohibiton?'
 T have nothing to say on that yet. | All this is new to me- he replied. | What are you going to do with Par ker and the majority in the City Council?"
 "Tl look around first and tell you about that later.''
 The Mayor has until next Wednesday | night before another council meeting comes around. By that time all of his l policy will at least be known If not be- | fore.
 Mr. Ward expressed himself as highly pleased with the new police commission which Governor Conner appointed He seems so well rejuvenated that the noun tans before him do not worry him in | the least
 .. Closted at Mayors Office.
 After leaving the Terminal station the party went immediately to the Mayor 8 l office, where they remained closeted in | consultation for about an hour. MT. Ward talks interestingly of his trip. He went | from Montreal to Liverpool then to Ire l land, London, France and other points
 In coming down on the Southern rail- road the train was delayed five hours, and he missed connections in Atlanta. ntI,a al,a1 i,u,.. | yesterday morning.
 The Mayors grip has on it Killarney I label, one of the steamship line, one of Canadian hotel and several others of various European hotels
 On Saturday, August g. just seven weeks and three days ago, after appoint ing new chairmen of certain commit tees Mayor Ward left Birmingham, en- toying a midsummer quiet, and travelled away toward Europe for well deserved rest Alderman B. H. Cooper was in the chair. What has happened since?
 A seemingly latent prohibition senti- ment has taken form, d campaign has been opened, and a petition has been filed for an election Aldermen Moore, Cooper, Forney, Estes, Jones, Copeland, l D. R., Heidt, Hogan and President Par | ker have announced themselves for pro | hibition.
 The council has adopted at s25o0 license | and a saloon district by a vote of the aldermen who opposed Mayor Ward when he tried to get the legislation through last summer.
 The City Council standardization faction has developed, adopted the muni- | ain cd I. | ident of the council and proceeded to | oust MT. Wards friends from the chair manships of the council committees. Governor Conner has appointed John B. Weakley and Frank B. Yielding police | commissioners, and the old commissions CTS have announced they would fight for 1 their existence.
 In other words the Birmingham munich pal government has been revolutionized
 First Job This Morning. When Mayor Ward opens his desk this | morning at o'clock the first paper, lying on top, which will meet his gaze, is | this:
 Birmingham. Ala, Southside Prison.
 "Honible Meyor Ward, Sir, want to ask your homer to phase to Release me as i am blind in the black dark for IS | years
 This is my first time in prison. My
 
 s10. or 20 days. i have Been here or 10 days want to ask your homer for , God sake to phase Relese me an let me go free an i wont be guilty of this or anything anymore.
 very tumble your servant
 Bob Holland Harris
 It is written in pretty legibe scrawl, and it is not known whether Bob wrote it himself or not. Perhaps this will cause the Mayor to drop suddenly from dreams | of Europe to the old tiresome routine.
 What Will the Mayor Do?
 Now that Mayor Ward is safe In Bir mingham the question which has been on the lips of Birmingham citizens even more than prohibition: When will Mayor Ward get home?' will give place to What will Mayor Ward do?"
 That the chief executive will win any fight he may enter is the belief of all his many friends.
 Will he try to oust Parker and the ma jority of the council by attacking the | legality of the adoption of the municipal code? Will he try to oust them by urging | the legislature to repeal the sections ur- l der which the code was adopted? Will lie | remain content with the present organiza- | ton and with the veto power which t l gives him?
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