The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-06-03
CANDIDATES THICK
 AT WEST END HALL
Austin's s Withdrawal from the
 Race Is Announced
BODEKER SPICY TALKER
"Ring' and Tells About "Cham- paign Supper to Pick a Cam
 didate for Mayor-

dates attended the political meeting al | west End last night and listened to the eloquence of a galaxy of orators" There was a car load of candidates out from Birmingham. and every one of them | wanted to put in his word.
 Practically every candidate for street commissioner made a speech, including David L. Bridges, T. l.. Perkerson, w. H Pr1egel N. R. Keeling, John F. Harring- ton and H. H. Hufstutler. D. P. Brown was unable to attend on account of ill., ness.
 Jere King was very liberal, allowing the | first part of the meeting to run open for every office seeker, James B. Drake for police commissioner started the ball to | rolling. Then followed the street com missioners. Will Abernathy for city cleo ] trician, Robert l.. Stokes for license col lector. George Bodeker for police chief, A. Robertson for building inspector, Rob- ert Thatch and W. J. Martin for city at torney, Carl Seals and Jere King for mayor.
 Other candidates in the audience in cluded W. B. Copeland for treasurer, Carl S. Peterson for auditor J. J. Bog gan for license collector. F. D. Nabers for l recorder with a score of workers handing out cards.
 | Austln's Withdrawal l Before the meeting was called to order the withdrawal of c. w. Austin from the race for police chief was the talk of the crowd. MT. Austin had promised to raise such a big row and had attended the meetings at both East Lake and Wood- lawn with big grip full of evidence" that his coming down caused great sur prise. His explanation was that his friends, with George shirley's friends, had decided that Shirley is the man to make the race against Bodeker. | Bodeker was present at tho meeting, and made vigorous speech. Some peo- | pie don't like the way my office is run" l he said, "because I wouldn't let them | dictate to me, and put the city in debt | with damage suits for three or four hun dred thousand dollars. I am devoting my best efforts to protecting the life and property of the people of Birmingham. have declared that while I will not take the whole police force to run down blind tigers as long as the law Is on the books, I will try to enforce it. We caught n. last year, and of these $50 were turned loose in the higher court"
 He explained how a law had been passed by the legislature allowing the organization of clubs for playing cards and games and stated that the officer could not make an arrest even though he did find them playing cards with t,1, IIn Ic- clared 1t his belief that gambling Is going on in Birmingham, but that when an officer gets within hundred yards of the club the game changes to pool or dominoes.
 He condemned the Ties which they are telling," stating that he had not received a dishonest dollar, challenging any man to make charges against him before the police commission. Bodeker was loudly applauded and was the most popular candidate in the audience.
 Robert Thach made a good impress sion. His talk was short and to the point q have held the office of city attorney one year. he said, and feel that I am now in a position to really be of value to the administration. My ability is devoted entirely and excfu- svely to the business of the city" w. J. Martin, for city attorney, spoke of his experience as city attorney of East Lake, and promised faithful service.
 Carl Seals and Jere King made their usual speech. MT. Seals said that in his opinion the people want less. wind tanning and more business. "I feel ~txrt~ absolutely fair, square deal In every department" he said.
 MT. Seals made a spirited attack upon MT. Kings methods. "I don't believe in trying to ride into office" he said, tagged to anybody's coat tail, on any issue of that kind. The people are going to vote on the commission, and If they indorse it, as mayor I will do everything I can to see that a bill Is passed by the legislature. If they vote against 1t I will fight to kill the bill before the legislature" He said that he favored local option and home rule.
 King still Makes Charges
 The feature of Jere Kings speech was the Introduction of Eugene Fies into his charges Of ring rule. He said that when D. FL Brown brought his charges that McCartin was feeding 100 head of hogs at the expense of the city of Birmingham F1es pulled him out and put in his man Gafford. He alleged that for Il years tire city has bought stock from no one but Flies, and that 'old man Orr offered them eight mules at their own price, and they said No, we are buying our mules from Fies' He said that Fies paid for Alderman Heidt's announc ement in a newspaper because Heidt was on the street committee two years ago and Fies was interested in street paving.
 Mir King declared that a meeting was held before the state election in the Nor ris hotel when champagne was served, and Henry Gray presided and the ring aldermen. Burnett, Gambill Gregg and the crowd were all present. They decided that tic King men had batted O'Brien off the 1oe and determined to put in an- other pitcher Exum was the man, and the morning after the election 1t was an- nounced that O'Brien couldn't sleep, and side by side were the pictures of Exum going in and OBrien coming down. Do you think that happened by accident?'
 King also attacked MT. Exum because of the contempt with which he treats MT. Kings meetings. Why Is he afraid to mix with the voters? Where Is he spending his time. at the Country club or riding an automobile? Is he too good