The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-17
Election Officers Urged to Get Returns to City Hall Immediately After
 Count Finished
THE FIELD

election commissioners, Nj. E. | Morris. .
 qualified voters of Birmingham will be on their mettie today in the display of their best Judgment in the selection of president and four as sociate members of the board of city commissioners at the polls today. Their choice must be made from two contestants for the presidency and eight aspirants to four associate berths. The vote Is expected to be even larger than last Monday.
 Shifting from the safety depart ment, headed by John Taylor, the storm has ragged in the contest for the presidency all week long, with little being spared by either candi- date. D. E. McLendon, seeking to oust Dr. N. A. Barrett from his po- sition. in which he asks another four years, has been placed on the defen- sive by charges and attacks of the Barrett campaign forces.
 Stripping the cover from every in- cident of the campaign and MT. Mo Lendon's business and official life the Barrett supporters, with their ncuclus in East Lake, the home of both candidates, have shot at Me 44endon from every angle. Prejudi- cial assessment of his home, unfair treatment of organized labor and all lance with religious element, all have been charged to Nc. McLendon, Through the torrent, supporters Of tie former county tax assessor have eHdeavored to halt the assault.
 Raising of the religious issue In a s4se advertfsenent lSnt Wednesday orous it the Etorm already brewing 10 tho proportions of . cyclone. Lines have been sharply drawn by many soters on this one issue.
 Barrett forces have also gone into Mr. McI.endon's business life as ai executive, drawing fire with the statement from Mir. McLendon that he served merely as "figurehead official" This phase of the campaign has caused considerable comment.
 Altitude or Suburbs
 Tod2y's election will line the sub urbs against old Birmingham on the question of a president. Suburban sentiment in a majority of instances seems on the surface to indorse Bar iEtSs L'OW nlONA the city prior to 1907, seems to favor Me i,eudon. Exceptions are to be found in both sections.
 IT. the struggle to obtain seats or ihe board as associate commissioners the fight has resolved itself very much Into a public made pro and cor administration battle. The candidates themselves have had nothing to dc with this arrangement, but on every side the two tickets have been dis cussed.
 Two places on the board are prac- ticaliy conceded because of the over. whelming vote received by two men last Monday. There has been nc fight among contestants such as has marked the presidents race, for ob vious reasons. No man wants to bt the subject of attack for seven other candidates.
 Sentiment for Woman
 Sentiment for 8 woman commits sioner swelied during the week and the suburban residence of the one woman candidate may place her or the board. As the matter stands or the night before the election, how ever, 1t seems that Cloe and Harrison have inside positions at the barrier while the other two positions are tc b Ellis Brown. John Hornady, " E Dickson. Mrs. Mary Echols and Johr H. Taylor.
 The feature of the associate ract has been the statement by Rob Ad- ans, candidate at the first election that he will vote for Mir. Batson, the man who had been the subject of fire because of a grand jury and citizens committee investigation. MT. Adam. was foreman of the grand jury ant in a letter to MT Batson he declared that there was nothing In the find ings of that body to reflect on tht then county engineer.
 Another sidelight on the Batsor episode is that Dan B. Dimmick member of the citizens committee has told friends of his intention O voting for Batson at the polls toda. and that he thought he was no guilty of wrongdoing while with tn, county.
 H. P. Burruss and W. o. Broyles defeated presidential candidates have come out for McLendon.
 Aside from campaign sidelights, tn rest of the candidates have beel making a strenuous but quiet can vass for votes. Newspaper advertis ing and circular letters have bee,
 
 reaching the feminine electors.
 Glad It Is over
 Whatever the outcome of the rae today, the citizenry of Birmingham will be glad that the election ca pass into history. In the hurling o epithets and the raising of issues Birmingham has been done little goo in the eyes of the world at large Mountains have been made out O mole hills in numerous instances with no benefit to the making of greater city.
 The polls open this morning at o'clock and close at o'clock. Flee ton officers are urged to be at tn polls promptly for opening. The re turning officers are requested [ bring boxes to the city hall offic Of Scudder Ryall, secretary of tn election commission. as soon as tn vote Is counted The same officer wfo did such good work last Mor day in bringing in returns will h in charge of today's election.