The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-10-17
Understands Meeting Was h. spired By Republican Wom- en-Contrary to Democratic Precedent to Have Political Meetings on Sunday

grand jury yesterday ar bounced that he had respet ,ully declined the invitation t De present at the Sunday poli1 cal mass meeting this after loon.
 He also gave out copy of a lettt which he had written to Mrs. Nettie N .edbetter, chairman 6f the League ( W Nomen Voters, announcing that he ha lecided that it would be best not attend the meeting on the Sabbat lay.
 MT. Gwins statement is as follows
 "After careful consideration I have decided to decline the invita- tiOn extended to me to attend the political mass meeting called for Sunday afternoon.
 AIn justice to democratice women who are loyal to their party, its traditions and it's duly chosen noun inees, however, I want to explain my reasons for failing to be pres- ent Sunday afternoon.
 ~In the first place, am informed that Sundays mass meeting was inspired chiefly by republican women and women whose husbands are weIl-knOvn republicans. They have invited the leading republican nominee for the board of revenue to attend and to speak.
 'As the democratic nominee who received the greatest number of votes in the democratic primary, my case rests solely with dem- ocratic men and women. I do not expect republicans to vote for me nor could I hope to convert them by what should say Sunday after- noon.
 ''To my mind. one of the best evidences that the proposal is i'm spired by republicans is the fact that it has violated all democratic precedent by calling political mass meeting on Sunday, thing unheard of during my connection with democratic politics in the county. Sunday is sacrde Hpy and should not be used for fighting political battles.
 "I want the democratic women of Jefferson county to hear full presentation of my answer to crit- icisms made by political enemies, including republicans. I have nOth- ing to conceal. My record is nb- soIutely open. I soIemnly assure the democratic men nnc women Of Jefferson county that all these cannrds brought forth at this time
 for political effert are untrud
 have honestly, fearlessIy and faith fully given to my native county
 my best efforts since I have been
 in office and I nm sure that any
 welI-infOrmed citizen will say that
 more constructive work. wOre real
 progressive achievement, has been
 made in the cOunty's affairs during
 the four years of my administrn- ton than fin my like period fin the
 history of the county.
 "In deference to the democratic
 women who would sike to hear Il
 presentation of my answers t
 criticisms made by the recent
 grand jury md to the men vOters
 whose minds have become confused
 by the torrent of foul abuse which
 has been heaped upon me, submit
 the following statement,
 FULL BOARD ACTED
 Jerry Gwin is only one of the fl of the board of revenue. contracts have been let for road wo with five members present and fl voting in the affirmative.
 The first million and a half dolla worth of road contracts let by the boa of revenue was recommended by w. Keller, state highway engineer, and J. Bullen, federal highway engineer, in co junction with s. R. Batson, county hig way engineer. The second half milli dollars worth of contracts was reco mended by the five members of the q visory board and concurred in by t board of revenue.
 Jerry Gwin has been condemned the grand jury for completing Lock and Taylor's Ferry road, which " started by the former board and h the indorsement of all the daily pape
 If the grand jury had examined ( pert witnesses in road construction tn would not have condemned the board revenue for waste of money on Thi avenue, First avenue and Twenty-siS street. Both the north and south hie ways were forced on the county maintenance by the legislature. as t city was not financially able to Jt the board of revenue in building perm nent highways on both east and we north and south highways. and t board of revenue, after determining | cost of maintenance of these highwa. which amounted to $5,960 per year I mile, was forced to use some bitumino top on the old macadam foundatie which has fn hA a I. instance. on Third avenue, less than per year per mile has been spent maintenance on the bituminous |, against $5,960 per year for maintenar of chert foundation. If this paveme only lasts for three years, the saving $500 per year per mile will more tn pay the total cost of the paveme which was $l6,000 per mile. Less thar per cent of this pavement has been paired and it has been in service for past two years, and we have every rS son to believe that it will last for least five years longer with only slis repairs We find on First avenue a on Twenty sixth street that less thar per cent has been repaved. The av age person, seeing the number of ho in these pavements, would natura think that the county's money had D sibly been wasted but when you co to actual figures we find that the cou. has saved money from using this II terial merely as a maintenance pro- Sition.
 AUTOMOBILE TIRES
 "The grand jury criticised Jerry Gv for spending $l,59l for pneumatic til saying this was wasted. as the tires not last for one month. The facts these: The front tires were adjus after they had been used for one mon but not at the expense of the coun The foreman of this camp had posit instructions to keep the exact number miles that the truck travelled. also number of gallons of gasoline used s to give a report comparing the cost operation of this one truck on pneums tires against four other trucks operat from the same camp on solid tires. report shows that the truck operating pneumatic tires is doing 2o per cent m work than the trucks operating on st