The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-09

All the candidates for office in Birming- ham hied out to the Eleventh ward last night and fought their battles before the citizens of East Birmingham. It was am interesting turnout, and for the first time the people were given the opportunity of hearing the issues, those great issues, which will enter into the campaign. The occasion presented four old time joint de- bates. There was
 Drennen vs. OBrien for mayor.
 Cooper vs. Jones for president of the council.
 Seals vs. Parker for police commission
 Bodeker vs Wier for chief of police.
 While In Denver, "the splendid amphi- theatre, decorated with flags and bunting was packed to it's limits with dense and seething mass of humanity at Four tieth street the lodge hall was well filled, politicians were straining their vocal chords, big dog lay in front of the stand ready to join in the applause, and the delegates were uninstructed. The Bryan boss was absent but the boys had a good time. Its worth paying more taxes to get something like this" said an eastern citizen.
 Drennen Introduced First.
 Chairman L.. s. Fennel presided and called first for Melville Drennen, candi- date for mayor. q don't know why I'm always called on to make the first speech" he said, unless it's because I'm going to be first when the vote is counted on July 27.' He congratulated the ward on coming into Birmingham at this time, pointing out that the street cleaning de- partment Is now more effectively able to clean up and give the new ward attention than 1t would be when all Greater Bir- mingham becomes effective.
 MT. Drennen declared that for many reasons he wanted to be mayor; he want ed to govern a city of 150,000 people, and he wanted to do all he could for the advancement of Greater Birmingham. At this point he stated that the statement of Captain O'Brien at Avondale to the effect that he did not want to be mayor, but that he was seeking to build up machine to defeat Oscar Underwood Tor Congress. v-as not the case. ''1f l wanted that place I assure you that I would run for It.
 Continuing. MT. Drehnen said, q am In no combinations ith any one, and II l win I hope it " ,e on my merits" He. tben nroceeded Il of the acts of his former admins, ...lon. T built the city hall five of the schools and the high school, improved the fire department, he said. and reviewed the other acts Of his term of office. In closing he insisted that Se would do all he could if elected for he betterment of conditions in Birming- ham and the Eleventh ward, promising them police protection, schools and fire protection.
 o,Brien Jokes the Former Mayor.
 Captain O'Brien was next introduced. "Drennen is a modest man. he began. .He pretended ignorance on the reason for being the first speaker, but he knew that it was because he is the handsomest man in Birmingham. There's not great CT beaux in the county, but as for his being first on July 27 I'll say that the first shall be last and the last first.
 want to be mayor not to govern even 800, 900 people, but because consider ii a greater honor than to be governor or the state"
 In speaking of his relation to the city he said it was that of the father to the child He told how for many years he has done all he could for the district and its people. Then, taking up the matter or Drennen forming machine to run for Congress, he said: Mel don't want to be mayor. He's had it three times. Mel Is d cute politician. What he is after is ma chine to go up against Underwood Why he went far enough in the race last time, to get lot of Underwoods friends pledged to him before he would draw down.
 Mel talks about what he did. thought there were IS aldermen on the board. I thought the taxpayers built the schools, and Mel knows that l was chairman of the Board of Education and had super vision of the work, but have never claimed to have built them."
 In speaking of his qualifications Captain O'Brien said that he was a practical me- chanic. 'Drennen's a good dry goods clerk, but mighty poor mechanic.''
 Drennen: "t'm a pretty good one, Cap tain"
 O'f,rien: If you are, God help the man you work for"
 He then said that as mechanic he con- sidered that Birmingham is paying en- tirely too much for her pavement backing it up with examples.
 Defends His Religion.
 Turning to H. c. Compton, who was in the hall. he said that he had 1t from John Copeland and Frank Leonard as witnesses that Compton had said on a street car that the only objection he had to O'Brien was the fact that he IS Roman Catholic. q am, and l thank God for it. When as 17-year-old Irish boy l was sent to the front with gun in my hands to fight for the southland my re-