The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-08

NTeOTRe b. w MdTus DllNdlG NAAA11AA- AAiN term of Birmingham.s energetic young Mayor expires this morning, and the fame of those four years is left for time to ripen. Of all his many deeds it is hard to judge which will remain unblotted on his record. Whether as Walter Blackman predicted three years ago,
 "In days to come when we are old The story which will oft be told, Will be how George Ward won renown By bringing the circus back to town" or whether he shall be pictured stand ing in the forum with his robes wrapt about Jim commanding the sun and moon to stand still. is yet to be dis covered. It may be that in future tableau vivantes the footlights will shine on the Mayor with a pair of pruning scissors, representing his great achievements for the City Beautiful.
 The Ward administration has been one of battle, of campaigns, of activity. It began four years ago with a fight to cut down expenses. Financial affairs have always been his pet hobby. On entering the office he declared that th @ problem of his term was to find out how the expenses of the city might be squared with the revenue. By threat ening the scrip basis and putting the clamp down on all departments, he won this fight, and has squared the city financially even in face of prohi- bition and the increased expenditures which came with four years of marvel ous growth.
 His first scrap was a friendly one. immediately upon entering the Mayors office on May 1, 1905. He and Mel Dren- nen had quite a discussion as to wheth- CT the picture of a beautiful woman should remain on the wall. Needless to say, the younger of the bachelors won.
 His fatal combat with the old police commission began with the Rabbit Foot affair, when officials were charged by the Mayor with protecting the interests of a certain saloon. re- sulting in the retirement of one of them.
 The Mayor continued this fight
  against the commission, practically took to the legislature, and though he did not gain his point in his own admin istration, his successor will enjoy the benefit of his final victory.
 It was the battle that he fought against the disorderly saloon that finally resulted in prohibition. The Mayor repeatedly closed rowdy, un- principled saloons. Every Sunday vio- later was quickly put out of business When Ward led his cohorts in the coun- cil toward a high license plan, though he failed in his object, he started an avalanche which swept away all the saloons, even over his protest.
 For Mayor, he has had to meet more crises than most. His stand in the face of the Pastors union for what he thought was right on the prohibi- tion question was indorsed by the citi- zens who gathered at the Hippodrome by the thousands.
 The most tempestous period of his term followed immediately upon his return from Europe last summer when the mutineers had charge of the camp. Then his fighting ability was really tested, and to one who witnessed the love feast at the city council at the last meeting, that stormy history mak ing night of wonders when Ward re- turned to his seat in the council cham Der seems almost dream
 Wherever George Ward thought lie saw graft he struck at it. Even his enemies admitted that he was sincere, though the findings of some of the in vestigation committees indicated that he was wrong.
 Ward leaves two monuments which really deserve to be lasting. One is the financial standing, condition and ac counting system of the city, which is not equalled by any in the whole south, and the other is the "City Beau tiful."
 His last months have been devoted almost entirely to this great work. It has attracted the eyes of the world to Birmingham and through the efficient cooperation of the ladies of the com munity wonders have been wrought. The Mayor carried his snap and zeal and energy into the backwards, and the flower gardens of the city. He con- signed the ugly fences to the wood pile, and the unsightly to the fire.
 It may be said that no mayor ever left the city hall who carried with him the love and respect of his fellow work CTS any more than has George Ward, sand IS one of them said yesterday, Ut 5 not because he's been easy on us, for he's gotten every cent out of us that we received in hard work.