The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-09
Claims "True Americans" Are Trying to Defeat
 Him Because of
 Martin Egan SAYS THIS BODY
 WORKS IN SECRET Thinks Voters Should De- eide on Merits of Can- didates and Not on
 Religious Issue

President George B. Ward, who is Il candidate for reelection, issued a
 lengthy statement last night in which
 he claims that the religious issue is
 figuring in the campaign and that att
 tempfs are being made to make him
 the victim of the fact that Martin
 ESan, a Roman Catholic, has been re- tained in office as chief of police of
 Birmingham.
 The president contends that there is
 a secret political organization in Bir- mingham called the "True Americans"
 which has "captured the courthouse and
 is now moving on the city hall with intent to dominate the city's political affairs
 MT. Ward points out that he is a protestant and that he thinks the cam paign should be based on the fitness of l the men running for office rather than
 upon any religious issue which may be
 sought to be raised.
 OBJECTS OF TRUE AMERICANS
 In the statement submitted to The Age
 Herald by MT Ward for publication no 1 names are mentioned. his words being confined to detailing what he alleges are ] the objects and purposes of the True Americans The statement in full reads as follows:
 q am not Catholic. I a mem Der of a Protestant church. I do not believe in Roman Catholicism. I have never appointed Catholic to public of l fee If that church has ever. or should ever, in an organized way. attempt to dominate the political policies of this country or of this community. I should oppose it to the uttermost.
 II believe in our constitutional sys- tenn which guarantees to every citizen a free enjoyment of his religion. I do not believe that the Catholics. as such, have a right to prescribe the Protestants, as such nor do believe that the Protestants as such, have a right to prescribe the Catholics, as such. I believe that all such efforts to mfx religion and politics are fatal to the best interests of both i The history of this country has abund- antly shown that attempts to build up a political party upon differences in res 1 ligious faith have brought religion and i politics alike into disrepute. All efforts or this sort heretofore have grown up i like the mushroom, flourishing for a l day and whitening. Witness the fate of l Know Nottingham.
 i "A secret, oathbound political organ ! ization, calling itself by the name of l True Americans is responsible for and has nominated a man. one of it's mem bers. for a member of the city commits sion. This nomination was made on one I Sunday afternoon. It was made in secret l to which the public was not invited. Its ] meetings are always held In secret. The 1 laws of our state prohibit nominations by l political parties for the office of com- missioner. This action of the T. As is none the less a violation of the law, al though it is hidden under the guise of an indorsement.
 EAGAN AS CHIEF
 "It has been circulated from that so- ! ciety that I should be defeated for pres ident of the city commission. not because i l was unfit or unworthy, but because lit so happened in the administration of our police affairs that MT. Martin Eagan, l in regular line of promotion. received sp- 1 pointment as chief of police. This ap- ! pointment was not made by me It was recommended by the police commissioner, | Judge Lane, at that time an honored member of the Presbyterian church of l this city, and it was concurred in by every member of the commission, includ- ing James Weatherly
 | At no time since the appointment ] of Mir. Eagan has Mir Weatherly pro. | tested against his holding the office 1 At no time have the qualifications of l MT. Eagan ever been denied but am to be defeated, not because I am Ia Catholic or believer .in the | churchs teachings but because I have not taken the initiative and sought to l discharge an efficient and faithful public official. who has been doing his l duty all the while, merely upon re l ligious grounds.
 "Fhe five commissioner law requires
 every commissioner to select employees 1 solely on account of fitness and with I out regard to political affiliations or religious belief. I have taken solemn
 oath to enforce this law and, with the
 help of God. I will be true to my oath l of office
 SUBJECT OF FAIR CRITICISM
 If any Catholics have been unduly active in politics to promote the in l terests of their personal friends or co 1 religionists, it may be the subject of | fair criticism. but I do not believe in
 prescribing every public official of 1 this state or community simply 3e l cause he refuses to draw the line upon
 mere religious ground Such action 1 as this strikes at the very basis of our l free institutions. The true name of such political party is not True
 Americans but False Americans.' If am to be condemned because did not discharge Martin Eagan, then l President Wilson should be equally | af Aat1n, val fr.,. ,.eyt l