The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-27

ment to the effect that he (Mr. Ward) was in error, was sufficient for him.
 "I am going to have a heart to heart talk with you tonight on the issues at stake in this campaign said Mir. Ward Tt is the duty of the voters to sift out all of the debris and get down to business and that is what am here for tonight.
 T have tried to submerge my own individuality on the commission through my timidity and modesty. and though have suggested many things to my colleagues that have been adopt ed. I have never taken credit for it. have been most consistent in the matter of public utilities, having fought these corporations for years. Judge Lane and beat the contract be- fore the people which MT. Weatherly wanted to adopt.
 HAD A CHANGE OF HEART
 Three months ago everybody around the city hall, including MT. Weatherly. was for me. When I an nounced he had had change of heart he had heard his masters voice--he had joined the T. As. I had not changed any.
 "The opposition is getting desperate. They are getting hard put for some thing to use in this campaign.
 T am going to be nominated on the night of October 8 president of the city commission of Birmingham by ma jority. I have been in many cam paigns, and I know the way the wind is blowing. I know how the people are going to vote. I am not the least bit disturbed over the outcome.
 "They have gotten desperate and fallen on this T. A. society to pull pr. Barrett through. They have a man on the inside who is going to run for every office and If you run you will De beat to death unless you help to beat this thing to death now The platform they produce and which Dr. Barrett reads at every meeting, understand, IS not the thing-it is the secret oath that a man takes when he joins.
 MATTER WITH BIRMINGHAM
 That's what Is the matter with Bi1- mingham now-this cancerous growth upon her body politic, that Is eating the life out of business and making people wonder what is the matter with Birmingham. That is one of the things that ails Birmingham.
 There was little thing that hap pened last night, which I wish to cor rect. I believe in chivalry. I stated last night at West End that The Age Herald had fired MT. William Ryan, one of its chief editorial writers. be- cause he was Catholic. and in a state ment from MT. Ryan appearing in The Age Herald this morning he stated that this was not true-that he was still on the paper, doing some work. though in poor health, but that he was receiving full pay for his services. I accept this statement at par, because Mir. Ryan is an honorable, truthful gentleman. and would not have made that statement if it had not been SO. heard that this was the case, and knowing MT. Ryan was not at The Age Herald office and not knowing that he was i'll, I made the statement regarding him. which upon his state ment I gladly correct"
 MT. Ward reviewed his record, giv- ing the various improvements and en : terprises the city had fathered since he had been president of the city com- mission.
 Figure out the man who will make this town great and good and bigger than ever, for you care nothing for Dr. Barrett or myself--it's a capable man for president that you want" said Mir. Ward in closing.
 Applause was frequent throughout the speech
 BOWIE SPEAKS
 Mir. Bowie went into details of the citys financial status her financial hts-