The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-22
RUSHTON GIVESOUT
 DETAILS ABOUT THE
 WARD CONFERENCE
Names Men Present and Says He Presided State ment in Response to
 Shelby's Assertions


 J. Frank Rushton was chairman of the conference held at the Tutwiler looking to the re-entrance of George B. Ward into the race for president of the commission.
 MT. Rushton issued a statement last night in which he assumed the responsibility for presiding over the conference and also gave the names of the others who were present.
 His statement was brought out by the speech of John E. Shelby, chairman of the Barrett campaign committee. Friday night, in which he said the public would be interested to know who was present. MT. Rushton says the voters of Birming ham may look over the list of men pres ent and judge as to the interests rep resented" His statement reads as fol- lows:
 T notice from this mornings Age Herald that MT. John E. Shelby. campaign manager of Dr. N! A. Barrett in describ- ing the part he took in a certain confer ence held at the Tutwiler hotel for the purpose of organizing to bring pressure upon MT. George Ward to re-enter the race for president of the city commission, is reported to have said that he would +ha ,P oil those present at tfis conference and par ticularly the chairman of the meeting, as the public would be interested in knowing just what interests were represented at the meeting.
 T doubt if MT. Ward knows the names of those present at the meeting, and l am surprised that MT. Shelby did not in- form his hearers of the names of those present, and of the name of thes chair man. Personally, I am not conscious of ever being ashamed or afraid of my pres ence at or being chairman of a meeting being known.
 'T was the chairman of the meeting.
 THOSE PRESENT
 According to my recollection the fol lowing gentlemen were present:
 "B. A. Thompson, Sol Caheen, w. s. Reynolds John Yeatman, John Leedy, J. F. Rushton John E. Shelby, Joe Love- man, w c. Bonham, J. c. Hodges, George H. Estes, Thornton w. Estes, J. H. La- tuille, E. L. Brown, Joe Johnston, Joe Rosenberger, Ed Keith, c. E. Mason, Dupont Thompson.
 If have omitted any I shall be glad to be corrected.
 'The public can judge as to the inter- ests represented by each. NJ,. Inv ata tar anf O n yVhaf he said at the meeting, as quoted in The | ge-Herald, is correct as far as it goes and while I have no distinct recollection as to having stated that MT. Ward was the best man in Birmingham for the place I do have distinct recollection that he said in a speech to those pres ent that Ward was the easiest man in weatherly) and I am willing to go down the line and do everything can to hell elect George Ward.
 CALLED ON MIR. WARD "The next morning, Saturday, a large delegation assembled at the Hillman hote promptly at 10 o'clock and at 10:1o o'clock moved across to the city hall on schedule time to the minute.
 T was present on this occasion, also. T understand MT. Shelby was not present, but made his excuse g few min uteS after the meeting to one or ms DuS- mess friends who was present.
 Ion Monday following it was rumoret that MT. Shelby had changed and wal supporting pr. Barrett's candidacy, whicf was announced that afternoon. q am supporting Mr. Ward because, by character, training, experience and rec ord. I think him eminently qualified tt manage the affairs of the city of Bir- mingham.
 T bear my share of responsibility fol MT. Ward re-entering the race. as does every one present at both of the meetings mentioned, and have not noted any change in the meantime of MT. Wards character capacity or ability which would free me from my obligation which vol untarily assumed.
 T would not charge MT. Shelby witt bad faith in withdrawing his support from Mr. Ward and placing same with pr Barrett without securing release from his conferees at the meeting at thu Tutwiler, because there may have beer some pressure or issue moving him about which am in ignorance.
 Neither would seriously subscribe t | the suggestion that have heard voiced I on more than one occasion that in assum ing charge of Dr. Barrett's campaign | he was at least unconsciously carrying i out his promise to do everything in hii