The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-01
.ENS[EY IS STIRRED !. AS SELDOM BEFORE BY BOARD ELECTION Ensley Club Calls Upon Men and Women to Cast
 Their Ballots
Is QUICK TO SHIFT
 THE RESPONSIBILITY
Shapiro Charges City Commission With Playing Politics" In An nouncing the Office Must
 Go To Ensley

Lively interest continues to be shown in the race for membership on the board of education which the city commission has called upon the Ensley club to de- eide
 Three candidates are in the field, George K. Byrum, incumbent; Mrs. D. A. Echols and Mrs. J. D. Matlock, and each has a campaign committee at work distributing cards and putting in some hard licks otherwise Women as well as men are taking part. and it is predicted the race will be close.
 An interesting development last night was the following statement is- sued by Mrs. S. Heide:
 ''To Whom It May Concern:
 T have been approached by many friends as to why I withdrew from the race for a position on the board of education. Mrs. D. A. Echols. Mrs. J. D. Matlock and myself agreed to a nominating convention to be held at the Ensley opera house on March 90 for the purpose of naming candidate for the position. We further agreed that the candidate receiving the iarg- est number of votes should be support ed by the other two candidates. The convention was held and vote taken with the following result: Mrs. Echois 65, Mrs Heide 35, Mrs. Matlock 15.
 Under the circumstances and the terms of an agreement. I do not see how either Mrs. Matlocl< or myself can ask anyone to vote for us in the pri- mary election now being held by the Ensley club. MRS. S. S HEIDE'
 When her attention was called to the foregoing statement last night Mrs. ]. D. Matlock said: q have not with drawn. My candidacy from the incep- tion was absolutely in the hands of my friends Their loyalty to me demands that l should be loyal to them. They are confident of success" Commission Sidestepped
 When the subject was brought up of putting a woman on the school board the city commission at once sidestepped and announced that the selection of the next member of the board would be left to the Ensley club. This club arso decided the responsibility was too great and called
 
 and women. above the age of 21 to decide the matter by ballot. A ballot box was accordingly placed at the Ensley tele- phone exchange, where the votes are be- ing deposited and quite 4 number were cast yesterday. The pons will be open today and tomorrow. It Is the first time in the history of the state that votes have actually been cast for women for public office
 Shapiro Criticizes Commission
 Representative Isadore Shapiro yester- day criticized the city commission for shirking the responsibility of selecting a member of the board of education, and intimate1 that the board keeps an eye constantly to future political effect. Here is his statement:
 Tn the matter of selecting a mem Der of the board of education 1t oc- CUTS to me that the city commission is attempting to shift the responsibility. T understand that the Commercial club of Ensley has been asked to vir- tually nominate candidate Why |? Does the Commercial club of North Birmingham recommend candidates for the board of educatio Does the city commission leave the naming of mem- bers of the board of education to the Chamber of Commerce of Birmingham Why are commercial clubs peculiarly fitted for the selection of board mem- bers? What percentage of the inhab- itants of Ensley are members of the Ensley Commercial club
 Tt is announced that the Ensley Commercial club will hold an election on next Friday for the nomination of a member of the board of education and that every white inhabitant Of Ensley over 21 years of age will be permitted to express his choice. Yet. when l proposed that the board of ed ucation be elected by the people the idea was hooted at. If the qualified electors are not competent to select a member of the board of education, are all of the people, male and female whether qualified electors or not, com potent to make a selection?
 Plan to Split Vote
 Tt is rumored in Ensley that the plan is to have the women vote split, which will result in the selection of a man. In this way the much-dreaded woman on the school board will be obviated. One or two of the commits sioners are quoted as saying that they favor woman on the board. We'll, the commission has the power to put one on. The way to get a woman on the board is for the commission to put one on. Is there anything else in the way but the city commission?
 But why have the member come