The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-01-04
EARLY PRIMARY NOW
SEEMS PROBABLE
City COMMITTEES May Be Called
Together Soon
GOSSIP ABOUT NEW MAYOR
Drennen, King, Ward, o'6rien, Collins
and Estes Are All Suggested as
ossibiIities-Police Com
mission Fight.

To an already enlivened political sit
uation, the return of Chairman Atticus
Mullin of the city democratic executive
committee yesterday caused some new ex-
element. Mr.. Mulln has been spending
a few weeks in Florida for his health, and
he is returning full of vitality, ready
for some of the exciting times incident
to city politics.
The chairman alighted in Birmingham
without any knowledge of the revolutions
that have been going on. When he Nft
he gave out statement to the effect that
he did not favor any primary at all, and
if one became necessary he wanted it as
late as possible.
From what hear" he said yesterday,
everything is in a muddle, and the COM
mittee has got to straighten things out.
l understand very radical moves have
been made in the police department and
I am told that the public is restless to ex-
press itself. 1 have been advised that
an early primary, in March or earlier, is
being demanded.
1.-The city committee will have to con-
slider all these things, and a meeting
may be called soon. Having been out of
the city for some time, l want to look
around and find what the democratic SEN
timent is The local situation is quite
an interesting one.''
Chairman Mullin, as a newspaper man,
has a good opportunity to talk with cit
liens, and his action may be expected in
very short time. An early primary
would open up one of the warmest cam
paigns ever held in Birmingham. The
element in charge of the police commas
sion and City Council are at last har-
monious and together they have a strong
pull.
Probably it is not generally under
stood'' said Mr.. Mullin, that we have a
primary for county officials some time
this spring. Politics will be boiling, any
how The argument is made that it
would be better to get rid of both county
and city primaries at the same time, thus
saving the citizens time and helping bust
ness. Chairman Mullin stated yesterday
that every candidate entering the last
primary was expected to sign an agree
ment to be governed by the action of the
party, this statement being reiterated by
II. B. Alternately and other members.
Brings Up Recent Utterance.
All this primary talk brings up the re-
cent utterance of Mayor Ward: THE peo-
pie have right to be disguised with this
pickering, the false statements and mis-
leading figures given out by certain alder
men. the revolutions and turmoil incident
to our public business.
'They don't know who is right No one
would blame them for wanting chance
to wipe up the entire crowd of alder
men and officials and put somebody in
who does. know"
The city committee is mentally deciding
whether the people really are anxious to
express themselves. At the same time it
is known that a member of the ploice
commission is circulating a petition for
late primary to the effect that 1.-The
people don't want any politics"
While a number of the old aldermen
are tired, and express themselves as down
and out, the number of candidates prom
ises to be large. Such names as Mel
vile Drennen, Jere C. King, Frank p.
o. Brien, Emmett Collins and George
Estes are predicted for the mayoralty
ticket. Mayor Ward continues to affirm
that he will not be candidate again,
but from the fact that his term which
gave promise of such success nas been
ruined by recent developments, his friends
may prevail upon him to I'll out term in
which he will have better support
Aldermen will cover the field, many of
them reformers. Their responsibility In
choosing the Greater Birmingham alder
men, and guiding the new city will be
great. President of the City Council will
also be much desired position.
Issue In Police Commission,
The police commission, composed, under
the new code, of two men and the Mayor,
will develop great issue. Present Com
missioner Tom Parker, Just Plain Tom
as he calls himself. is expected to run,
while John B. Weakley and F. B. Yield
ing, the governors arso.utees, may make
the fight.
Ex-Chief w. E. Wer Is the only an
nounced candidate for chief of police He
will, of course, be opposed by Chief Bod
eker. The recent action of the police
commission will be the only issue in the
campaign. 1t is now the only subject
of discussion among politicians.
The announcement of the republicans to
the effect that they will enter municipal
politics insures a primary and the opinion
that it will be pulled off early is prev
alent