The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-07
PRATT CITY CLANS
HEAR CANDIDATES
Seekers After Small Offices
Get Out Hammers
LARGE NUMBER ON HAND
BOdeIxer and Shirley Both Appear and
King still Refers to the City
"Ring"-Judge Fcagin Gets
Big Applause
LARGE NUMBER ON HAND

The candidates swooped down on Pratt
City last night and filled all the benches
In Foleys hall, The example set by Jere
King Is now being followed by other Of
fice seekers, and one after another they
are joining the chorus of ring" graft, y
and politics" Some of the fellows for
departmental offices got out their ham
mers last night. The audience was lib
eral, both In long suffering and in APP
plause, though Chief Bodeker and Judge
Feagin seemed to get away with the
Hons share of applause. W. H. Barnard
was the presiding officer.
The speaking was opened by Romano
Boyd, candidate for city attorney. who
expressed regret at the absence of >Cty
Attorney Thach. Mr.. Boyd declared that
the city license schedule was unfair to the
suburbs. and that the municipal code
should be amended so that this injustice
could be corrected. He declared that Mr..
Thach fought the commission bill last
year, but refused to speak on the issue
now.
Candidates for street commissioner
then opened up among those speaking be-
ing w. H. Priegel, T. L. Perkerson, D.
F. Brown, N. r. Keeling, w. D. Sims and
John Harrington. For license collector
the orators were c. C. Hudson, ]. ]. Saw
age, and j. B. Cole. Mr.. Savage said
that talk about qualifications for the
office is all "bosh.' Any ordinary man
can fill the position he said.
For building inspector w. s. Cooper and
j. A. Robertson made five-minute talks.
Mr. Robertson attacked present Inspector
w. o. Matthews on the ground that mem
bers of his office force are lacking up his
cards In the suburbs
r. w. Gayle Joined in the chorus with
the declaration that II firmly believe, but
/ cannot prove, that there is more graft
going on in that plumbers office than
anywhere in the city of Birmingham
He also used the words ID rotten in
connection with the department., though
he did not offer any proof of his asser-
tions.
w. B. Copeland, for license inspector;
f. D. Nabers, j. M. Handy and Judge
N. B. Feagin. for recorder, followed In
quick succession. Judge Feagin was re-
ceived with prolonged applause, and his
tribute to the working man aroused the
enthusiasm of the voters.
George Bodeker was called for by the
audience, and made typical speech. Il
am not making a gum shoe campaign,
he said MY time belongs to the people
of Birmingham, and l try to give my at
tention to their troubles during the day"
He asked for the support of the voters,
IF | have made you a good officer, and
have protected your homes and business
houses"
The chief told of his having instructed
his force to cease arrests for minor Of
lenses and to carry man home VINO
had taken a few drinks too many rather
than lock him up and cause his family to
suffer ANY officer that thinks the de-
partment is run for dollars and cents
isn't worthy to wear suit" he said. He
expressed his desire to see the police
force put on civil service and taken ou,
of politics, and said that he wanted to be
chief of all the people.
Tom Shirling said that he was EN-.
barrassed In running agaisnt superior
officer. He gave as his reason for rum
ming for chief the fact that when he an
nounced his opponent was slated for. chief
deputy sheriff on the Reed ticket, and
claimed that by this action he had for.
feited his rights to run for chief. He
asked for promotion, and promised to en-
force the laws in conservative, sensible
manner.
Carl Seals made a popular move, as the
hour was late, by not making a speech.
He merely asked for the support Of the
voters. and said he was willing to leave
his chances in that ward to his friends.
F. |. Monks for mayor spoke of his
platform, urging 1t as stronger and more
plainspoken than the announcements of
his opponents, and gave as his chief
Qualification for ruling metropolitan
city that he had been round and round
this world, and had made special study
of municipal government.
Jere King varied only slightly from hiG
usual speech He bemoaned the fact that
Exum had not appeared at his meetings
IT wanted you to see what kind Of men
are running for this responsible position"
he said. He expressed his deep sympathy
for Pratt City for the loss of her city
hall, her recorders court and her fire
engine. made an attack against the
ring and condemned the distribution OF
wards; promised to make a campaign for
a scent car fare to Pratt City. and to
see that the streets of the suburbs are
given better care.
birmingham Is tho dirtiest city in
Alabama" was perhaps his most sensa-
tional charge. Mr.. King closed his speech
by a reference to Mr.. Exums silence,
which he called "cat tracking"
None Of the candidates for aldermen in
the ward appeared, and It il understood
that they stayed away by mutual agree
ment. There is not any personal feeling
between the four candidates.
Chief Bodeker announced that he will
have a meeting tomorrow night at the
opera house in Ensley. and invited all the
candidates.
Mr.. Exum has opened headquarters on
the sixth floor of the First National Bank
building, and is preparing to make an
active canvass of the city during the next
eleven days He will make statement
and declaration of his principles to the
mi, IL