The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-18
 O'BR|EN ASSA|LS DRENNEK'S ME ETHOD CourteousIy Remained from Speaking At AvondaIe LIVE SPEECHES LAST NIGHT s0dek'r States Platform, and wIsr Reminds of Dlsmlsssl-Jones
 Speaks, Too-Cooper In
 Eighth Ward.

Two political meetings were held in Birmingham last night, and some 300 vot- CTS were enlightened concerning the plat forms of the various candidates for ef- flee. In fact, Birmingham has seldom seen so many candidates working so earn estly for victory
 The biggest gathering was held at Ar lington station, on the Gate City car line In the Eleventh ward. Some 200 voters gathered, and beginning with the candi- dates for mayor, every man was given an opportunity to express himself.
 Il. O. Compton spoke in the interest of Melville Drennen, telling of his record and declaring that Drennen Is the man Tor big situation such as confronts the mayor of Greater Birmingham.
 Capt. Frank P. o'Brien spoke for a, minutes, After few introductory re- marks he said that he had been asked several days ago to speak at the Avon dale cotton mills, but when he learned of the death of one of MT. Drennen's rela- uyes he had declined the invitation. be- cause he sympa thized with Mr. Drennen in his grief and did not want to take un due advantake of him.
 But" said he, 'I found that Drennan did go there and pitched in with A supplv of abuse against me. He said that I had failed in life and proceeded to drag mv private business into the race" 6odeker and Wler. MT. O'B 'Brien then went on in a quiet way, describing his record in detail. and | pointing out that he had not only paid his just debts with interest, but after a settlement had been made for half he paid the remainder when he was not obligated to do so.
 Chief Bodekei was the next speaker. ne said: here IS but one issue in this campaign-the record of the two men running. l am running solely on my rec ord. Wier seeins to be running on sym pathy. l have nothing to do with his dis charge from the police force have given the people t.le best administration in my power and put 1t up against that of my opponsni whh confidence.
 Going further he called attention to his opponents references to blind
 
 people on the streets of Birmingham and there was no complaint of drunk enness. That, and the showing on the Fourth of July vindicates my claim that the law is being enforced, If MT. Wier knows that blind tigers are rug ming he owes 1t to the community to report it to the police, the sheriff or the grand jury.
 T am proud to say that both r. c. Mcdonald and c. W. Austin, former chiefs under whom both wier and I served, are enthusiastically in favor of my candidacy"
 Other Candidates Speak.
 Ex-Chief wier was the next on the stand. He opened by reading tho 'typewritten skiddo" paper compiled by Commissioner Tom Parker and the letters of Chairman Hal Copeland He told the voters that as the peoples oh oice he had been thrown out, on a legal tech nieality, and insisted that in vindication of their former decision, h. should be reelected. He declared that Bodeker had been promoted for the same offense which cost him his head.
 Harry Jones, candidate for president of the council, in plain terms promised the voters a good. square administrs- ton with fairness to any question and he hoped the voters would give hfri their support.
 w. T. Stewart spoke for B. H. Coop. CT, describing his platform as against the street tax, as father of the muni- cipal ownership movement and in favor of the abolition of grade crossings. Candidates for aldermen Lipscomb, Wilkes, causey and Mcdonald, all spoke in favor of their candidacy, and the meeting closed at 1o:30 o'clock. ii
 MT. B. H. Cooper addressed the voters of the Eighth ward on South Twentie h street for few minutes He went out by request, and was received with much enthusiasm. The meeting sch heduled In front of the Second ward school was a failure, as not 8 candidate appearss MT. Drennen was kept at home by . sore and hoarse throat