The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-22
ALLEN REPLIES TO
WARD STATEMENT
Contends His Opponent Is
Backed by Corporations
WANTS MORE DATA
Asks Former Mayor to Point Out
Some Tangible Results Achieved
For People While He Was
in Office
WANTS MORE DATA

of the commission. yesterday issued
lengthy reply to the recent statement OF
George B. Ward, his opponent in the
race Mr. Ward had asserted mo one
can put corporation cap on me and not
get 1t knocked off Mr.. Aliens state
ment reads:
Accepts Wards Challenge
IT accept Mr.. Wards challenge. There
are some facts undisputed or confessed
that put the corporation cap on his head
so hard and fast he cannot knock 1t
off during this campaign. Mr.. Hornady
and Mr.. Ward were candidates for the
presidency of the commission to all In
tents and purposes long before they an
nounced formally. Both announced early
and the race settled down between these
gentlemen. Mr.. Hornady was forced to
withdraw i'm the middle of his campaign
1t was evident that Mr.. Hornadys sup
port came from the masses of the people
They believed he was capable and
trusted him. 1t was just as evident, and
Is a matter of common knowledge, that
large number of the owners and officers
of the banks and public service corpora
tions were working for Mr.. Ward, and
that they are still doing SO with all their
might and power, both openly and pri-
vately The public knows that big in
terests get together and WELD immense
power to accomplish their ends and that
they never do so without strong sell
fish motive.
Mr.. Hornady was managing editor of
the Ledger, and greatly increased his
national reputation as an advocate OF
and authority upon commission form OF
government by travelling over the south
delivering addresses upon that subject
while so employed. The course OF the
Ledger gave the people cause to believe
both before and for awhile after his an
nouncement that his candidacy was GER
tainly not Objectionable to it. Suddenly,
to the great surprise and disappointment
of many of the people the Ledger
printed Mr.. Hornadys withdrawal with
this noteworthy comment the part
of their paper:
strength Went to Ward
"'With Mr.. Hornady out of the race
for president of the city commission, his
strength will go to George b. Ward, who
has no other opponent except Clement r.
Wood, and 1t seems practically certain
that he will have no other opposition.
He who wills may read his answer there.
THE next day the Ledger ran half
page advertisement of the Birmingham
Railway. Light and Power company, the
first it had published for that company
In over IS months. He who wills may
read his answer there.
"In an editorial in its issue of Tuesday
last the Ledger practically confessed the
facts as to the advertisement and that
Mr. Hornady had been forced to with
draw by being given his choice between
his job and the race. The editorial
makes then fierce attack on me for no
other apparent reason than that mad
aided in bringing the above facts to the
notice of the public, and just here | may
say that 7 wish the, Ledger had seen fit
to follow the fairer course of confessing
its error in a straightforward way. 1t
would thereby have retained the good
wishes of all its readers, but it lost its
temper and good Judgment.
"Mr. Ward also got mad about the
same thing, very mad indeed He was
hurt. He who wills may read his an
swer there.
Nov Mr. Hornady has left the Ledger.
He who Wills may also read his answer
there.
Judge By Circumstantial Evidence
"The people know that circumstantial
evidence often points directly to the door
of truth, and the people will Judge
candidate by his environment and the in
terests which hedge him about and
espouse his candidacy. No proof can be
furnished of what occurs in secret con-
ferences in the private rooms OF boards
OF directors VI tOi pOl dliphs anu bNiiiiiN
other screens, but conclusions can be
strongly drawn from the actions of the
friends of the candidates. The public has
taken notice of the fact that great
deal of work is being done for Mr.. Ward
In and about the banks and the corpora
tion offices.
"challenges, manifestoes and deiances
are oftimes hurled at opponents
through the press by candidates that
they may divert public attention from
real issues or hide records woefully
deficient in accomplishment for the
public good. Mr. Wards recent news
paper interview in answer to my two
straightforward public utterances
through the press sounds very much
that way. He campaigned for several
months prior to my Announcement, and
it did not suit his purpose to take
the public into his confidence at all be-
fore / announced nor since. Neither did
he state why he was in the race. The
people have a right to know these
things by express statements from the
candidates themselves at the time of
their particular candidacy, for time
makes changes.
Tired of Roasting
"At last Mr.. Ward refers the people
in general terms to ancient newspaper
files and TO the records Of the city of
Birmingham for proof that he has made
valiant fight for years past for cheap
er lights, gas, water better school
facilities and the abolishing of grade
crossing He mentions only the issues
| [ have raised. | ask what has he ac-
tually accomplished as an official and
as an executive along those lines The
people are tired of boasting and news
paper heorism. They want results How
much cheaper is gas. electricity or
water by reason of Mr.. Wards great
record in public print? Have grade
crossings been abolished during these
| l2 years? Have the school children been
provided withs sorely needed accom-
modations through the efforts of this
doughty champion? What ground Is
there for believing that he can ac-
complish any more in the future than
| he has in the past?
| 'Mr Ward complains that in years
past | have not jumped to the front
| in the press and otherwise to lead
| fights and claim glory. He evidently
overlooks the fact that I nave been q
II