The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-24
POLITICIANS WAIT
ON COMMITTEE
Battle Will Begin After To-
nights Meeting.
BODEKER JUMPS INTO RACE.
City Business is Paralyzed and Moth
ing But Politics Is Heard at City
Hall-Municlpal Ownership
Pro and Con.
BODEKER JUMPS INTO RACE.

The city democratic executive commit
tee holds its second meeting tonight, and
after the sessions conclusion, the munich
pal political battle will be on in earnest.
The specific object of the meeting of the
committee is to hear the report of the
subcommittee of its action in the recent
| meeting of that body H. B. Aberna-
! thy, chairman of the subcommittee, will
report that his committee has decided
to put the names of all city officials in
the open ticket and in the matter of
assessment has ordered the assessing of
the office and not the various candi-
dates.
AS concerns the latter clause, there is
no doubt but that the committee will
give it's hearty endorsement. The vari-
Gus candidates throughout the city seem
well pleased with this manner of assess
ment to gather campaign expenses, and
others who have spoken are we'll pleased.
1t is expected however, that the commit
tee will not favor placing all the Off
Gals on the open ticket which are rec
commended by the subcommittee 1t is
hardly probable that the recommends
ton placing the names of the building
and electrical inspector and meat and
milk inspector on the ticket will be con-
Cured in.
The committee has opened headquarters
in the rooms of the Birmingham Press
club in the city hall. This office is pre-
sided over by Tom Davenport, the salaried
secretary of the subcommittee. The
HEADQUARTERS will be maintained until the
end of the campaign.
Bodekers Formal Announcement.
George II. Bodeker, the well known city
detective made formal announcement
yesterday afternoon.
Mr.. Bodeker is we'll known throughout
Birmingham, and that he has strong
| following is unquestioned He has made
a canvass of the city and is resting calm
w and satisfied. He states that he will
conduct a campaign conspicuous for the
absence of "mudd singing tactics
He says: "If nominated and elected to
fill the office of chief of police, | promise
the citizens Of Birmingham to faithfully
and impartially enforce the laws.
at fully endorse the bill now pending
before the legislature of the state of Ala
hama to place the police department OF
the CITY upon a civil service basis, as [
believe this will remove the department
from politics and it's influences.
AS to my fitness and qualifications for
This nosition. I refer to my record as
nolioe officer and detective in the city
of Birmingham during the last seventeen
years"
chief Wier has stated that he would
as,, for endorsement, and his formal an
nouncement is expected at any time. {.
w Austin. ex-chief, will make his an
nouncement after the meeting of the city
executive committee tonight. Other prob
able candidates are j. Bruce Morson and
L. H. Parkerson
CITY Business ParaIyzed.
In spite of the fact that the expected
opposition to the various city officials
has not materialzed, the business of the
city is at a practical standstill. The bust
ness discharged is routine merely, and
this status of affairs is prevalent every
where. from the Mayors office to the
wagon room Of the police department.
The sources of news are paralyzed. The
men are running for office. and while
campaigning is limited, the fact that after
the committee meeting tonight, opposl-
tion might be announced, keeps the as
prants keyed up.
The campaign up to date has lacked the
snap that was expected to be its chief
characteristic. Mayor Ward will be
candidate, and his announcement will be
made within the next day or two. So far
no outspoken opposition save that of Capt
Frank p. OBrlen has been announced, al
though gossip dwells tenderly on John l..
Parker the well known druggist and al
derman Mr.. Parker will not commit
himself. Gossip has ceased mentioning
the name of ]. d. Collins, as 1t is gen.
orally understood that that gentleman has
stated that he would not be a candidate.
As concerns the police commission, Dave
Wurzburger and Charles Jones are can
didates. The present chairman of the
board, Dan A. Donahue, states that he
will not offer for reelection Thomas
Parker has not declared, and it is gem
erally stated that Eugene Flies and George
Phillips. whose terms also expire this
wear will not make the race again.
The several aldermanic candidates are
making themselves busy, and are doing
considerable campaigning. No few faces
have appeared in the list, although there
is rumor to the effect that Coffee jack
son will run from the Ninth ward, OPP
posing Thomas simms. e. H. Estes, Rob-
ert Murphy and Joseph Weiserch.
Discussing an. o." League.
The executive committee Of the Munich
pal Ownership league, of which B. II.
Cooper is chairman. has begun its fight
for the municipal control of the water