The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-09-20
WARD SPEECH WAS
TALK OF THE TOWN
AND BOTH SIDES
SEEMED SATISFIED
Sensational Attacks, How
ever, Have Aftermath in
Various Methods of
REPUTATION
WEATHERLY COMES
BACK WITH LETTER
THAT is SIZZLING
RyalI Denies in Toto Every
Statement Made Concern
ing Him by Ward
in Speech

George B. Wards speech
at the Jefferson theatre
Tuesday night was the talk
Of the town yesterday.
His friends thought it was
a fine speech, calculated to
get him votes, while his OPP
ponents denounced it and
said it was the sensational
outburst Of a desperate and
defeated man. So both sides
seemed to be very we'll salts
fled with it.
Mr.. Wards attacks, however, were
so unusual and so sensational that
there may be an aftermath. Some Of
the men whose names were mentioned
are planning various methods of re-
futing the assertions made by the
speaker regarding them.
1t also developed yesterday that there
was some slight difference of opinion
as to Mr.. Wards words regarding
James Weatherly Various interpreta-
lions were put upon a certain portion
Of the speech in which inferential allu-
sion was made to Mr.. Weatherly's
honesty as a statesman and law
yer
WORDS BY STENOGRAPHER
Some of the reporters got the words
down one way and others in another.
In order to get the exact facts The
Age Herald secured from Stallings d
Brazelton, the court stenographers who
took down the entire speech the SEN
fences in question According to their
report Mr.. Ward said in reference to
Mr.. Weatherly:
"Sometimes L felt that he was
wrong, but deferred to his judg-
ment as an honest lawyer and as
an honest statesman. 1 made
mistake. He is n fake politician
WEATHERLY'S STATEMENT
When Mr. Weatherly read the re-
port of Mr.. Wards speech as pub
1ished he sent statement to The
Age Herald which has sizzling sound
itself 1t reads:
To the Editor of The AEe-Herald:
Mr.. George b. Ward Is quoted In
this mornings AGe-Herald as hnv-
ing made the statement In his
speech at the jefferson theatre last
night, "Weatherly wants to attack
me on my public utility record
with his record as nm honest law
yer and nm honest statesman, and
he il neither"
Pretermitting the question as to
my honesty statesman, which
shall handle in different way,
the statement that l am not an
honest lawyer Is wilfuI. DELHI
crate and malicious lie. and the
author of the statement is a de-
iberate, wiIful and malicious liar.
JAMES WEATHERLY.
September 20. 1917.
RYALL MAKES STATEMENT
ii. 3. ftydI also lSSutu d SldtSIlicH'
last night in refutation of Mr.. Wards
verbal assaults on him. Mr.. Ward, in
his speech, was particularly bitter
against Mr.. Ryall who was formerly
secretary of the commission. Mr.. Ryall's
statement reads:
what Mr. Ward thinks of me, or my
opinion Of him. will neither aid in hi'
election nor contribute to his defeat.
am a very private citizen with no desire
or ambition for public orrice. but merely
wish to pursue quiet, uneventful career
with my wife and children, without in
reference or Islander from those in brie
Yauthority.
II deny in toto every statement Mr.
Ward made concerning ne in his out
burst Of hatred at the Jefferson Tuesda,
night.
Il deny absolutely his statement thai
was instrumental in having The Age
Herald oppose him,
ssHe states nm untruth when he
says TINT 1 will be appointed city