The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-19
Ex-Mayor Drennen In Lengthy Card Announces With
 drawaI from Race
CAPTAIN 0'BRIEN ALIVE
 TO PEOPLES COMPL IMENT
Drennen Intimates That Action of Palos Company in Signing Miners Scale Had Much to Do With
 His Action.

Melville Drennen cast bomb into the political situation by his withdrawal yes terday morning from the race for Mayor. The action was entirely unexpected, as MT. Drennen's friends claimed good chances for his victory.
 The resignation is brought about, ac- cording to his statement, by the attitude of his friends among the coal operators against his action in signing the wage scale of the union miners.
 Captain o'Brien now has the field clear with hardly chance of opposition. He will. in all probability, be the next Mayor of Birmingham. and will step into the vacancy caused by the expiration of George Wards term on the first day of next May. His term is only IT months.
 Captain o'Brien's Statement.
 In discussing the situation Captain O'Brien said:
 The fact that the retirement of my. competitor assures my nomination and election to the chief executive office of the greatest city in Alabama, and one | with which I have been identified since 1 its early infancy, is naturally cause of great pride and satisfaction to me. "The, governor of a great state is se- lected by the voters upon the representa- tion, in the main, of others-upon hear l say testimony. But the mayor. of a city | is chosen by those who know him as l he is, and In my estimation the honor | is a more sincere one.
 My friends have my grateful thanks | for their loyal support. and the sup | porters of MT. Drennen are entitled to my profound respect for the courtesy and consideration shown me in the cam paign in the interest of their choice. Above all others, I like the man who stands by his friends.
 | q thank MT. Drennen for his cordial words of hope for the success of my administration, and shall devote my very best efforts to the advancement of all | civic righteousness and the practical so- lution of all municipal problems which may confront my administration
 MT. Drennen's Statement.
 In his address to the people issued yes- l terday MT. Drennen said in part: l Tt has come to my attention that a l number of men who have heretofore been my personal and political friends, and who are associated in one way or another with a number of coal companies of this district are making an active fight against me on account of the fact that the Palos | Coal company, in which have an interest, | las signed a contract with the unioa miners. Upon this subject I wish to say that the Palos Coal company was not ] members of the Operators association, but that in signing contract at the old scale with the union 1t did only what many important commercial companies did last year, for which they are now cen- suring 1t for having done this year.
 q regard 1t as most unfortunate that 1 such an issue should have been brought into the campaign at this particular june | ture. I have no apology to make for the Palos Coal company and its action. That company did what many others did last year and what 1t felt was its interes. I to do this year. 1t broke faith with no one. It was not consulted by the othec mining companies when they were reach ing a conclusion as to what they should | oo in this instance, and it did not consult them, but exercised its undoubted pre- rogative to manage it's own business ac- | cording to what it conceived to be to its own interest
 | Compliments O'Brien.
 sIt is most unfortunate, I repeat, that simply because small coal company, of which l happened to be a stockholder, l had seen fit to renew contract which l had been in existence from year to year 1 .ver a period of many years, should be | made an issue in political campaign. l would not charge all the operators with taking this position, but that many or them, who have heretofore been my per- sonal friends, have done so, is beyond all dispute"
 | His closing statement was:
 But the alternative is now presented to me of withdrawing from the race or meeting the issue of class against class, which has been raised against me, and | fighting the question out along these lines, | [ believe that properly stated before the public, my position could and would be sustained by the great body of thinking | men in this community, but I know tha. | 1t will result in increased strife and bit terness in prolonging unhappy situ- ation, and would do at least temporary injury to the city that has already hon. | cred me.
 q believe therefore, however favorable my chances for election may be, that 1t would be unpatriotic and unwise for me ] to continue fight of this character. have, therefore, determined to withdraw 1 from the race. I believe that under Cap- tain OBrien and the new beard of alder men Greater Birmingham will continue to grow and prosper. and this is, and has ever been, my most earnest wish and prayer"
 Promotion of Industrial Education.
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