The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-08

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 public improvements, who is seek ing the presidency of the commission at the October 10 election, has been working actively for two months.
 All members of the present com mission are pleased with the com plexion of the race at this stage. One commissioner expressed himself Sat urday as feeling that "conditions are most favorable for, the members seeking reelection"
 Harrison Announces
 Formal announcement of William L. Harrison, president of the state federation of labor. was the most inn portant development which came to light in the last few days. Mir. liar rison has been pledged the whole hearted support of labor in the cleo tion. The union forces are bent on placing one of their number on the other candidate by organized labor, 1t is claimed.
 Undoubtedly. two unknown factors In the race will be the vote of Bir- minghams women and organized la bor.> Suburban strength will be evil dent, as a matter of course, it is con ceded.
 Fair voters are receiving much at | tention from candidates. Letters and literature are being mailed to them daily. literally descending in show CTS. The attitude taken by the can | didates is that the men have gener- ally shaped their opinions, but that the women, just feeling their way for tho first time. should be recog nized in personal manner.
 | Candidates supported by the sub urbs have a most valuable asset in | case of run-orf, IL IS conceded. With nearly 80 candidates in the field, it is practically assured that a run-off election will be necessary. In previous elections, the men sup ported by the suburbs have won out Fin nearly every case.
 l Doxcn's Chances Fair | Although there is 8 large field in the runing, the flock can be cut to proportions where about dozen per sons can be conceded fair chances of election. These places are granted after a poll of the attitudes of citi- zens who are leaders in outlying communities and the central part of the city.
 For the presidency. Dr N A. Bar rett, who will seek reelection, is be- lieved to have the inside track H. P. Burruss who was elected to his pres ent position by the same agency as pr. Barrett minus the formidable | strength of Dr. Barrett in East Lake | and WnndIa n McLendon for second place, it is con Jectured. MT. McLendon is not ex- ! pected to cut into Dr. Barrett $ strength in the eastern sectionl of the city and will run behind in other sections, also. 1t is believed.
 A leading labor man of Pratt City. | in indorsing the candidacy of pr. | Barrett, praised the present head of the commission for his handling of 1 CIVIC affairs during the war and post war period, commenting his steady grasp Of the reins. Dr. Barrett i. favored In that community. he said. over MT. Burruss and Mir McLendon, Associate Scramble When the field for associate com. missioner is examined, confusion seems to reign. However. analys;s of strong and weak points bring, the list down to a few candidat5, | who will run strong. The man wht IS in office always has the upper hand in race where no issue ha, developed, as in the present one. As yet, not single important isnue has been raised with which members ot the present commission could be weakened.
 Several attempts been made, ant heroic these attempts were ir some instances. to construct is. sues, but careful handling by com. l missioners in office has thwArtet every attempt Recent attempts tc lnaugurate fight between fee IT. terests and the city, which have died quiet death. are a good example oi this sort of thing.
 Consensus of opinion gathered from the various sections of Birmingham show as the strongest candidates for associates about 10 persons. John H Taylor, John R. Hornady and Ellis Brown. IS incumbents, are rated high With MT. Brown ranking lowest on this list. Of the others. William l. Harrison. becausel of his labor af- filiations. S. R. Batson, through friends in the suburbs and other strong backing; Judge N. w. Scot. because of his record as Ensley's ex- ecutive; W. E. Dickson, backed by
 
 mer mayor of Pratt City, and backed by that western suburb w. B. Cleo and J. D. Truss are rated high py citizens of the various communities Women candidates are dismissed by most of the persons talked with, ai- though 1t is admitted likely timber Is in the field. One man declared there were just enough women in .he race to beat one another. Consider L l. ~I- Mary Echols, Mrs. II. H. Shell and Mrs. B. A. Cooper, however. They are from widely separated sections of the city an are all making active fights.
 Most people in the district are talk 1 ing politics lightly at present. how ever, declaring they are too busy | working to pay much attention lc the subject. However, pulses gre gradually quickening as October 1( hears.
 Favors Two New Men | One man in East Lake made ths Batson would be found on the new commission, declaring he believed th' present commission of public util | ities would be unable to stand tho pressure of having several strons candidates from his-ewn community l Mrs. Mary Echols, Judge N. W. Scot and J. E. Lacey are expected to makf l severe inroads on MT. Browns vot' in the western section.
 Harrison was given favorable men | ton because of the strength of or l ganized labor and because of his record as a member of the last legis | lature.
 I Batson, who is known to hav' strong organized backing. IS consId cred the most logical candidate fol the department of public improve ments. Qualifications as an enginee' are considered a strong point in Ii! favor The attitude of many is tha