The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-07
ISSUES ARE SCARCE
IN CITY CAMP AIGN
Every Candidate Seems to
Stand for Same Thing
FIGHT ON PERSONALITIES
Absence of Real Issue Is as Notable
Among AIdermanic Candidates as
Among Aspirants for
Higher Offices.
FIGHT ON PERSONALITIES

II the question were propounded to each
OF the many candidates IN the city. "Why
do you think your fellows should elevate
you to officer the great majority, If not
every one, would be SPECIFICS. This is
because there are no admitted issues
in the campaign.
Mayor Ward might state that 1t is DEM
ocratic precedent to allow an office
holder second term, especially when 1t
is admitted that that official has con-
Quoted the affairs of state in mastery
manner. He might state. too, that he is
opposed to the whisky element of the
city, and that the endorsement of his
policy should be given.
But Captain O'Brlen could reply that
he too. is against the whisky rule, and
that because he viii receive the vote
of the whisky element. is no argument
that he would be Influenced by that ele-
ment. In fact, in a card, Captain o Brlen
has drawn parallel; an imaginary case
wherein DIR. Stage is the candidate. He
argues that the whisky element would
vote for DR.. Stage in preference to Mayor
Ward. Captain OBrien, too, in way of
platform, might state that he stands for
the equitable enforcement of the law to
all people, the rich and the poor. But
Mayor Ward could reply that he. too,
stands for those principles.
Every Mans Platform.
In the race for chief of police, too, the
same statements could be made by all
candidates. Chief Wier boasts that he is
not receiving the vote of the liquor in
terest His opponents could reply that
they are receiving the vote simply be-
cause that vote is opposed to the present
chief. Chief Wier might declare that he
is against the gambler. Detective Bode-
ker guarantees that there will be elss
gambling after he is elected, and Chief
Austin has the same platform. Decidedly
there are no well defined issues.
The same is true In the majority Of
wards. There might have been a live
issue In the Second and Fifth wards, had
there been opposition to either John
O'Neiil or B. II. Cooper. There might
have been an admitted pro and con side
to the Tidewater question, but the lack
of opposition did away with the possbil-
ity of issue coming out of that matter
In the First ward, John Burke is on a
platform to close the gaping and yawn-
ing mouths of all sewers. His opponents
have said nothing, but they are probably
promising the same thing. From the Third
ward in spite of the fact that the race
is exceedingly warm, there is no issue,
and no platform has been raised in the
Fourth. In the Sixth, John Forney and
John Williams are running alone on their
respective personalities, and this is more
or less true in the Seventh and Eighth.
Murphy Claims Exemption.
Robert E. Murphy claims an issue in
the Ninth. He states that his platform
Is made up of several planks, the most
important being his stand for cleanliness
He argues that the Ninth has been the
dumping section of the city for a long
number of years, and that he will take
steps to put an end to the practice He
affirms that the dumping of garbage in
the Ninth is not only nuisance, but that
il effects the value of property. too Mr..
Murphy. in fact, is the only candidate
in the city who has taken a stand, and
who states that he is alone on the plat
form. He says that his opponents are
saving nothing one way or the other,
and that he interprets this as an indif-
ferent attitude.
The principles of the Municipal Owner
shin league could not be made an issue,
because every candidate boasts that
he is riding that band wagon as hard
as he possibly can.