The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-17
m. O." MAY FIGURE
IN THE CAMPAIGN
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP LEAGUE
is CONSIDERING ADVIsABlLlTY
OF PUTTING OUT A CANDIDATE
AND MAKING OWNERSHIP ISSUE


The Municipal Ownership league has been
formed It is primarily a political organ
zation founded for the purpose of work.
ing to an end that the city may acquire
and operate a water works plant. This
matter will be submitted to popular vote
at the coming election.
Alderman b. II. Cooper is the moving
spirit of that organization, and the fact
that The Age-Herald contained his an
nouncement for reelection to the City
Council from the Fifth ward, makes it
unnecessary to say that he Will not be a
candidate for Mayor at the coming cleo
ton.
The question of municipal ownership
has gone no further at present than the
municipal ownership of the water works
plant. 1t is known that Mayor Ward
favors that measure, and the probability
is that the Municipal Ownership league
will endorse the present Mayor as its
candidate.
The Democratic club OF Jefferson county
is another recently formed political or
| ganizaton, but as yet has not shown Its
hand 1t is understood, however, that
the club will take an active part In the
ensuing municipal fight, and that 1t is OPP
posed to Mayor Ward. 1t Is reported that
! the club has offered to support w. Mel
Vile Bremen, one of the former mayors
of Birmingham, and recognized as one
of the best that the city has ever had.
1t is understood that former Mayor Dren-
men has received their proposition and is
giving 1t consideration.
Mr. Drennen has been much discussed
as a probable candidate. He has already
served two terms as Mayor, and there are
many who would like to see him again at
the helm Mr.. Drennen, on previous oc-
casons, has announced that he would not
make the race again, expressing himself
as glad that the burdens of the office are
removed from his shoulders. 1t is not
generally believed that he will be can
didate
AS has been stated, numerous other
names have been mentioned as probable
candidates, several of them being at pres
ent members of the aldermanic board.
| Among these aldermen who have been
| discussed are John l.. Parker, John
O'Neill, John Copeland, c. c. Heidi, b.
H. Cooper John Forney and others 1t
is generally admitted that Mayor Ward
will have no opposition, however, from
the members of his board. Capt. Frank
P. OBrien is being mentioned, but he
has as yet made no announcement either
confirming nor denying the reports. Seen
by an Age-Herald representative Captain
o Bren declined to discuss the matter.
| ---------~~------~O~-~~ ~
Ohio floats successfully on the presiden-
tial ramparts.'
Can it be the senator from Massd-
chusetts desires a salve for his bruises
while the senator from Ohio demands mis-
laurel wreath without the loss of a leat?
Senator Hepburn followed Mr. Stone
and laid down the general principle that
the Senate has not the power to review
a competent act of the President.
Senator Money said that if by legisla-
ton this battalion should be restored, as
he had heard it limited to the army, il
would be the duty of the President to dis
miss it instantly if he still held to his
present opinion as to its guilt.
AS member of the military committee
Senator Scott urged that his committee
or some other be allowed to make an in
vestgation before the questions were fur
ther argued.
Senator Knox then addressed the Sen
|
| studying the question that the command
er-in-chief of the army had the power to
dismiss. This power was conferred by
| the constitution and recognized by the
laws of Congress. Mr.. Knox cited laws
bearing out his conclusion as well as
judicial Interpretation of these acts. Army
regulations which he said had the power
of law, also recognized the constitutional
authority referred to.
49, NJ;AL. Al. nna.iloa&
Mr.. Knox said he was not opposed TO
the passage of a resolution for an inves-
tigation into the facts regarding the dis
missal of these soldiers, but that he was
not in favor of any resolution which in
any way challenged the power Of the
| President to act.
Senator Foraker, in taking the floor,
said he was not aware there was to DE
any other speeches on the resolution and
he desired to close the debate
BY his resolution simply an investiga-
ton of the facts were to be made. The
scope of his resolution was not such as
to bring into the investigation the ques-
ton of the Presidents power. However,
| he said he was not particular about
language. He would accept any language.
! He was more concerned about securing
Nan opportunity for the men charged with
crime to be heard.
A peculiar sensitiveness had developed
regarding the scope of the inquiry, ne
said To show this, Mr.. Foraker called
attention to the preliminary resolutions
calling on the President for the facts.
No one had taken exception to the form
of these resolutions, and he quoted MIR.
Spooner's remarks at the time favoring
their passage. He called attention to this
to simply show that then no senator
had any objection to calling for the facts
connected with the discharge of these
soldiers In his present resolutions ne
had used precisely the same language.
Dlsclams Attack.
Mr. Foraker discaimed that he had at
tackled the President On the contrary,
he said he had defended him. He had
said he believed the President had been
imposed upon in the premises upon which
he had based his action.
There was he maintained. no place as
yet provided where these men could
| establish their innocence. He had no
doubt a hundred, maybe 125 of the men,
would satisfy the committee that they
had no part in the shooting. This would
place these men where the President
could extend the help he had promised
by restoring these men. To meet all OBJ
jections there might possibly be raised.
Mr.. Foraker said he prepared another
resolution which he offered as substi-
tute for the one has had pending. The
resolution was not capable of being iu-
terpreted by anybody as limiting in any
manner the power 1t conferred on the
committee to make a thorough investiga-
ton of all the facts connected with the
ARRAY. He then yielded to the sugges-
tion of Senator Spooner that he proceed
49,. e. and