The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-14

Developments came rapid ly in city politics yesterday.
 For a week there have been many rumors of possi- ble candidates for the presi- dency of the city commission and two formal announce ments yesterday promised to add some entirely new angles to the situation. Mayor-President George B. Ward told the delegation which called upon him that he would make the race for reelection.
 Dr. N. A. Barrett of East Lake, who has heretofore been a candi- date for associate commissioner, announced formally that he had decided to run for president of the commission and would an- nounce the platform upon which l he will run in few days.
 l Two new prospective candidates for associate commissioner also added to the interest in the days developments. | J. Burger one of the city's best known merchants and for many years active | in the Business Mems league, the Board 1; of Trade and in State Fair circles, has practically decided to allow his name to be used by his friends for associate commissioner. His prominence in fra ternal order circles will also add to his strength Ever since young manhood l he has been particularly interested in the Odd Fellows and has held practi- cally all of the offices in the state within the gift of, the members of this order.
 1 George H. Bodeker, former chief of police, also virtually decided to get into the race for associate commissioner. It l Is understood that he will make a straightout race for the commissioners ship which has charge of the police de- partment as the successor of MT Bar | Der.
 OTHER NAMES MENTIONED l Other names have been mentioned prominently both for the presidency iand for associate commissioners | Among these has been Dr. A. J. Dick linson for president. Dr. Dickinson in- sisted yesterday, however, that he would not be a candidate and made an l Informal statement to a number of his friends to this effect
 l Sometime ago when President Ward stated that he was through with poli- tics and would not be a candidate tc
 succeed himself there was a serious effort among certain friends of MT Ward and others to bring out mar as his successor of unusually big busi- ness calibre. It was hoped to be able
 to agree upon some man who had made
 such success of his own business af-
 fairs that the people of the city would
 naturally rally around him as the man to look after their own business and financial problems for the next four Iyears.
 WANTED FULL FIELD
 Several men were suggested and sev- eral were asked formally to let the !voters get behind them From the first however, there was more or less resent ment toward this method of bringing
 out candidate. Men widely experi-
 enced in city politics insisted that Bir- mingham voters did not want theil politics handled in this way. The 'clain was made that the voters simply want ed to get out full field and they would do the deciding themselves. This lis apparently to be the result.
 Cleon B. Rogers has been in the race
 for president for sometime. He ha, lbeen making hay while the sentiment around others was crystalizing. They still insist that their man has the bes chance.
 Commissioner Barber, as is wei known, has been running for MT Wards place for several weeks and h. ,l has told his friends that at the proper time he will undertake typical goods Ibox campaign which will give tht Iyoters plenty to talk and think about. i Although four men are now in the Trace formally for president of the com | mission, 1t was thought yesterday tha the field was not yet full and that cer tain others with strong following' would be heard from. At any rate be tween now and the time for closing the lists the first week in September which is 30 days before the date fol the election, there will be tendency to increase the number of candidates lrather than diminish ir. After that time however, it is felt likely that the lis may narrow down somewhat and tha l some of those in the field will have lbeen shown where others are stronger and will retire in favor of those whe seem to show the most strength.
 Strangely enough the prohibition ques ton seems to figure not at all in tht campaign All of the candidates seen to regard this as a closed issue ant there promise to be splits in the so called liberal vote as well as in tht Acknowledged "dry" vote. Bushes. tissues are expected to come more ant more to the front although before tn, I lcampaign goes very far 1t is realized by everyone who keeps in close toucl lwith city affairs that the personality o lcertain city departmental officials vii become issues which must be met ant solved in a way to satisfy the ma iority of the voters of the city
 l There are indications that spirite, l6ght will center around the efforts O
 Wbnn YOrI Nnnd