The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-10-16
Leaders Ran Neck-and- Neck and Their Victory Was Apparent Early
 in Evening FULL COMMISSION
 WILL TAKE SEATS
 ON NOVEMBER 6 Truss and Bethea Take De feat Gracefully and Both Congratulate Their Vic
 torious Opponents

John H. Taylor, real estate dealer, member of the firm of Thompson & Taylor, and Henry Page Burruss, educa- tor, both long residents of
 Birmingham and well known citizens, yesterday were elected to seats on the city commission.
 J. D. Truss, incumbent commits
 sioner of public improvements and streets, and John B. Bethea, promi- nent real estate dealer, were defeated, the election being run-off from the
 Monday previous, when the general city election was held.
 Taylor, who ran low man in the first
 race among those who were in the run
 ming he being sixth man, was leader
 in the race yesterday with So62 votes,
 while Professor Burruss was close sec ond with 2944 votes, there being only llS
 votes between them. They showed up as a pair, neck and neck, in the race to win early in the evening when the returns first began to come in. MT. Truss beat MT. Bethea only 2se votes. Truss vote being 23s5, while Betheas was 0O99. Both MT. Truss and MT. Bethea failed to develop the strength that they boiled in the first race. Either would have been elected had he held the strength that he showed at that time. The two defeated candidates took their medicine manfnl- lly and thanked their opponents and coii- graduated them in the same breath. The election was quiet. though there were over 5000 votes boiled, and the h. 1 terest was keen. Of course, there was nothing like the interest shown that was apparent in the race one week ago, when l the candidates for the presidency or the commission overshadowed the others. The new commission will be: pr. N. A Barrett, East Lake. president; J. Ellis Brown Ensley; John R. Hornady, Johr 1 H. Taylor H. P. Burruss
 | They will take their seats on November l6. and Birmingham will be free or loca l politics for four long years.
 CONGRATULATES WINNERS | MT. Bethea congratulated his two win ming competitors, and thanked his many l loyal friends who stood by him so nopiy' l 1T offer my heartfelt congratulations | to my opponents who were successiui I over MT. Truss and myself" he saio 1 and wish for them every success m tne administration of the offices to which l ota aIch nanQ- some vote. I want to thank my many friends for the loyal support that they | have given me and for the splendid vote of confidence that they have given me. 1 MT. Truss was a game loser. He smiled as he said he wished his successor eV- cry success in the world and said thai he would never forget his friends iol
 the loyalty that they had shown him III
 both races II congratulate MT. Taylor ana Professor Burruss, and wish them every success he said, but hope that I they will not face German front as l did. thank the many friends wno 1 have stood by me and will never forsel them for what they have done for me WINNERS ARE GRATEFUL l commissioner-elect John H. Taylor
 when called over the phone last night said q wish to expess to my many l loyal friends and supporters my heart 1 felt thanks for their support given me in the election yesterday. desire tt assure them that I will exert every e1' l fort to reward them with faithful serv' ice and give them the best there # within me"
 Professor Burruss was very gratefu to his friends for the hard licks thai 1 they have put in for him, and attributed his victory to their valiant efforts in hi' behalf T owe 1t all to my friends, I said Professor Burruss. "and, l am Tn ldeed grateful to them
 l The feature of the race yesterday wal Taylor's magnificent race, he havlne come .out from behind" so to speak and jumped into the lead, polling thu l high vote in the run-off, whereas as wa low man in the first race among thu
 I contenders.