The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-27
TODAY SEES END OF
 UNIQUE CAMPAIGN Something Over 40O0 Votes Expected to Be Cast POLLS CLOSE Al 6 P. M. Term of Ny. Mayor Begins Next May, But President of Council As- sumes New Duties On
 October l..
POLLS CLOSE Al 6 P. M.

Tonight the troubles of the candidates VIII be over. The voters at the polls to- day will nominate Frank P. O'Brien for mayor, together with all the officers who will be trusted with the duties of the amalgamation of the territory forming Greater Birmingham.
 There were no developments during Sunday The candidates all went to church and then rested on their arms. Everyone of them was confident of vic- tory
 It is calculated that something over 4OO0 votes will be cast in this election, which Is more than ever before, but less than was expected. The term of the mayor elected will become effective on May next, and will continue just II months. The term of the president of the council will begin October 1 of this year. The term of the chief of police will begin. on October 1, while that of the aldermen will have it's beginning at the same time as that of the mayor
 The history of this political campaign
 
 Is rather unique in the records of the city. Immediately after the discharge of Chief Wier there began campaign for an early primary. This talk, and the polit- ical atmosphere brought out two candi- dates for mayor, Capt Frank P. OBrien and Jere c. King, and B. H. Cooper for president of the council.
 The committeeman were unable to agree on date, and although they were sev- eral times on the verge of meeting the matter was postponed from time to time until the county primary came along on May IS, followed closely by the Confed- crate reunion. Soon after the reunion the committee did meet and set July 2S as the date. It was decided to leave all depart ment heads except that of chief of police off the ticket, and the plurality plan was adopted.
 Immediately Melville Drennen and Harry Jones came out for the offices of mayor and president of the council, re- spectively, but although the date of the primary approached swiftly. all interest had spent itself in the early part of the year, and the candidates could stir noth- ing up. In the middle of all this apathy 1t became evident that Frank O'Brien would be an easy victor over Drennen, and MT. Drennen withdrew. giving the mine situation as his cause.
 This took all the starch out of the situ- ation. During the past week Cooper and Jones have been indulging in fight, but the outcome of this contest is apparently so well decided that few people have no- ticed the dust.
 George Bodeker has been running for chief of police ever since his defeat by Wier year ago last February by a narrow margin. William wier has been a candidate since his discharge by the commission on the last day of 1907 There was a sympathetic move at first in favor of Wier, but Chief Bodeker, during the short term he has held office has proven his worth so well that his victory is pre- dicted as unquestionable.
 The battle of ballots begins this morn- ing early and continues until 6 D. m. to- night.
 The name of O.. s. Finch, who is a probable winner for committeeman in the Fourth ward, was omitted in yesterday s paper.