The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-06-03
JERE KING OUT OF
MAYORALTY RACE
Announces His Withdrawal In
Card This Morning
O'BRIEN AND DRENNEN NOW
King Says Some People Have UnjustIy
lmpuened His Motives In Working
for Greater Birmingham.
Thanks Friends.
O'BRIEN AND DRENNEN NOW

Jere c. King, author of the Greater
Birmingham bill. has withdrawn as
candidate for the office of first mayor
of Greater Birmingham. While this de-
cision will come as a complete surprise
to his friends and others, 1t was made
only after mature deliberation on the
part of Mr.. King, who has given num-
her of reasons for his action.
The principal reasons given are the
demands of his law practice and the
fact that his actions in regard to Great
err Birmingham have been characterized
as selfish by a number of persons. That
they We're solely for the upbuilding Of
Greater Birmingham is emphatically
stated by Mr. King and his friends NJ.
King saying that THE success of the
Greater Birmingham movement is of far
greater moment to me than the mayor S
office"
But two men are left in the race now
Capt. Frank P. O'Bri and Former
Mayor w. M. Drennen, with no mme-
| date prospect of any other candidates
announcing. The dropping out of Mr.
King 1t is also believed will result in
| an earlier primary than if he had re-
| manned in the race. Up to yesterday it
appeared as though the primary would
not be held before August, but the prob
abilities now are that the city demo-
cratic executive committee will meet
curing the next two or three weeks.
/ Mr.. King in announcing his withdraw
al says:
| Il am out of the race for mayor 1t
seems that the campaign will be drawn
out all summer, and | do not care to go
through with it. I have good law prac-
tice. worth more than the mayors office
and l have decided that it will be mis-
| take for me to sacrifice this for a II
months term in the mayors office. [
do not think the game is worth the
candle The mariner who guides the
| Greater Birmingham ship must steer her
through stormy seas Any thoughtful
man can see breakers ahead, and in
my judgment the MAI. who wins, Will
lose many sleepless nights to solve the
problems that must confront him dur
ing the first term after consolidation
! been handicapped in my work for Great
er Birmingham. My motives have been
impugned and people have ascrbed my
work for this great movement to selfish
| motives. This however, is not true.
| The success of the Greater Birmingham
movement is of far greater moment 10
me than the mayors office, and as a
private citizen. 1 shall still do everything
within my power to bring the scheme of
consolidation to a successful issue.
81 have retired from the race in ia
vor of no candidate; yet I will do every
thing possible to help the man who wins
TO have a successful administration.
Since the bill was passed by the last
legislature, l have succeeded in the Glen
Iris annexation, we'll as Mountain
Terrace and the Country Club territory,
which adds at least five square miles
to the city of Birmingham. There is now
lending before the city council resolu-
ton to annex East Birmingham and the
territory running to East Lake, ter
iitory as large as the present limits Of
old Birmingham
81 am very grateful to my hundreds
OF 1rlenuS WHO cHdHiploieu III! cause
and thought that | was rightfully en-
titled to be the first mayor of Greater
birmingham. l believe | can be of as
much service in promoting this move
ment as a private citizen, and | will at
least be comforted in knowing that my
motives in this movement will not ne
questioned This is young mans city
IT. the far South with Western swing
10 it, and instead of the towns bicker-
ing and fighting among themselves, we
ought, as a great people, to unite to
bend all of our energies toward making
Greater Birmingham the first city IN
the country