The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-25
MayOralty ASpirantS Favor Commission Act. They Pledge Themselves Not to Thwart Will of the People.
 Candidates for Alder
 man Also Inter- viewed.

Would you, if nominated and
 elected Mayor of Montgomery, appoint a Chief of Police before
 the Police Commission can be
 elected and act on the matter as
 provided by the law law creating
 the Police Commissionp
 This pertinent question, asked in the editorial columns of The Advertiser yes- terday morning of the seven candidates asked them in person yesterday by re porters of The Advertiser, brought out replies from each of them:
 "I Would Not"
 These pledges to the people by the can didates for Mayor. that no attempt will Police Commission act. should put at rest all gossip on this subject
 The Mayoralty candidates declare themselves in favor of a Police Com mission for Montgomery and the City Council at its first meeting in November will elect the Commissioners, who will choose a Police Chief and the other members of the Montgomery depart ment.
 It had been currently reported in Mont gomery that 1t was the purpose of one or more of the candidates for Mayor. if elected, to ignore the Police Commission act and proceed to appoint a Police Chief ss in the past. under the contention that the new police law is invalid. This could have been done as the act creating tho Commission does not become effective until November 1. The incoming Mayor will be sworn into office on October IF. one Mayoralty candidate who, if elected. would proceed at once to appoint a Po- lice Chief, thereby throwing the burden or testing the law upon the people who advocated a Police Commission.
 The City Council, under the present law. is required to confirm or reject the appointment of a Police Chief, and The Advertiser, desirous Of putting alder manic candidates on record concerning such a contingency, asked them, if elect ed. what their action would bs in the event Mayor undertook to ignore the new act.
 An overwhelming majority of the thirty odd candidates for Alderman replied that that they favored Police Commission.
 Here are the answers of the candidates Tor Mayor to the question which leads this article:
 your request in this mornings Advertiser made upon the candidates for the Mayor alty. for an expression of their intention regarding the law as passed by the Leg isiature at its recent session, creating a Board of Police Commissioners for the city of Montgomery and the election hereunder of a Chief of Police and other members of the department, I desire to say in reply. that should I be elected Mayor of this city at the approaching this law in it's true intention shall be up- held and supported by me. I have always been law-abiding citizen. and am sure that neither myself nor my friends have said or done anything in this canvass that would lead any one to assume that I would do act otherwise
 Charles P. Anderson-1n answer to your inquiry of this date I will say that l thought made my position clear on the matter of Police Commission in & talk before the Anderson Campaign Club last evening which statement was published in The Advertiser this morning. 1 am g. strong believer in the Police Commission as provided for by an act of the Lesis- lature and if elected Mayor I will not appoint Chief of Police but on the con trary will exert my best efforts to carry out the intent and purpose of that act.
 J. G. Finley-No. would not. If elect ed Mayor of Montgomery I would hope 10 see the evident wishes of the people observed in respect to the Police Com mission. As lawyer I have not looked Into the question raised by some as to the constltutionality of the law. If elect ed Mayor of Montgomery would certain ly make 1t my duty to see that the law was enforced until it was declared un- constitutional by the courts am heart fly in favor of the law. do not believe however. that it goes far enough. 3 r. J. Meyer-My poEtion upon most matters pertinent to this campaign is well known, and do not think 1t neces- sary to rush into print to answer all questions. However. your editorial of this morning in regard to the act creating a Police Commission Is certainly entitled to a reply. I had no other thought, but that the Council had the right, and would elect a Police Commission when the new administration takes charge; and, if elect ed. I will most assuredly not take ad- vantage of any technicality to thwart the evident intent of the law.
 James Toole-No I would not appoint a Police Chief If elected Mayor. l believe the Police Commission will contribute to- ward the removal of the police from city politics and I favor 1t. The law takes the police force out of the jurisdiction of the Mayor and would not undertake to overthrow the apparent wishes of the peo- pie.
 J. T. Andrew-I would not appoint a Chief of Police If elected Mayor. I will expect the Police Commission to act for the best interest of the city. believe the people of Montgomery want a Police Commission and the Legislature very properly responded to the demand.
 J. 1T. Hartley-No; I would not. I am in favor of the Police Commission. It will be the law and the Mayor will take an oath to support and execute the laws.