The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-12
''GAMBL|NG DENS
 MAKE CRIMINALS"
 -EX-CHIEF AUSTIN. Chiefs of Police Hold Annual Meeting in Decatur MEET NEXT IN TALLADEGA MT. Austin Makes Speech In Which He Criticises the Vagrant Laws of the State, Saying They Are
 Not of Much Force.
MEET NEXT IN TALLAOEGA

ndlS than all olner eNllS coHlDlnSu.
 The association will meet in Talla- dega the first Tuesday and Wednesday in September of next year. The present officers were reelected: They are Pres ident, c. w. Austin of Birmingham; Vice President, A McGill of Tuscaloosa; Secretary Treasurer, G. E. Chambers Of Birmingham.
 The following committees were appoint ed: Auditing committee, Chiefs Cole or North Birmingham, and Camp of Ensley; legislative committee, Chiefs Cole, Young, Lewis, Wallace and Moniner.
 The present board of directors were also reelected and Chiefs J. M. Robinson Of New Decatur and N. Lewis of Talla- dega were added to the list
 The association adjourns tonight after a banquet.
 Chief Austin's Speech.
 Chief Austins speech was as follows:
 While l am no longer an officer of the law. but a citizen, l still feel great in- terest in good government and the en- forcement of the laws. Without due re- spect for law, we might as well do away with our statute books.
 We have not met here for the per-
 
 cuss the political issues of the day; we are here as representatives of our re- spective cities, to exchange ideas, as to the best methods to decrease our crim- inal records, and apprehend criminals.
 You, gentlemen, should stand firm for the strict enforcement of the law; you have d great responsibility resting upon you gentlemen; the care of our beloved sons in your hands; it is with you gem tI l.alI Io come gamblers, defaulters and embez- zlers; it is with you my brothers, as to whether that aged mother shall die broken hearted her son first in the gam bling house, and then to the prison wall; it is with you, my brother, as to whether our homes shall be sad and disgraced. Why do 1 say this? We have laws against these evils, and if they are strictly en- forced you can soon suppress them
 Factory of Criminals.
 Every gambling house is a factory for criminals. Wipe every gambling den from our beautiful southland, and you will decrease crime at least 20 per cent.
 In every wide open town you will find the officers of the law standing at the gate of hell to usher your son, my son, your daughter. or my daughter into ever lasting hell fire.
 Stand up like men. Stick to your oath of office. If your superiors want you to wink at crime and perjure yourself, tell them that you are men, and don't pro- pose to sell your honor for any position Hold your honor above all things. We have strong band to fight, but we can whip them if we only try.
 The gambling element is very strong. we find them in our legislative halls we find them in our conventions; we find that they have friends on the bench; we find them strongly represented in every walk of life. Gambling is the root of near ly all evil, and should be stamped out. So much for gambling
 Murder Getting Common.
 Murder is getting to be very common among both black and white. The white man, if he has little money and friends Is either turned Scot free, or given a small sentence, the negro is hung. Why IS this? Our jury system is rotten to the core.
 And good many people have no more regard for an oath than a wild Arab.
 PerJury is another crime that the off, cers Of the law should give their attention to. Persons swear falsely in our court houses every day and go unpunished.
 Paid witnesses are very common, and when one of these gentlemen is caught he should be taught a lesson that all oth- CTS would remember.
 All laws should be strictly enforced and gentlemen, l appeal to you in behalf Of those which have no voice in our gov ernment, but who are the greatest suf- ferers from reinforcement or laws. these are the innocent women and chiI dren.
 An officer of the law who has sworn to enforce the laws without fear, favor or rewards, and then winks at and encour- ages crime has perjured himself, and robbed women and little children of bread This state of affairs, l am sorry to say. does exist in some of our cities.
 Object of Association.
 "One of the main objects of this associa- tion is to keep down such as this, and I am sure that the members will do their utmost to accomplish this purpose.
 ''I know quite number of you officers personally and have had dealings with you both personal and official and I can say that never knew more courageous or honorable set of men, in my life.
 You are ready and willing at any mo- ment to give up your life to save another. you are ready and willing to give up your life to protect the property of any of your citizens
 Now, ladies and gentlemen, doesn't 1t take courage and true manhood to do this? You, as law abiding citizens, do not give your officers the backing and encour- agement that you should. They have all the brunt to bear, but as true, brave men, they face the foe and say the law is su- preme and must be respected
 We ask all law abiding citizens, who believe in good government and strict en- forcement of the laws, to cooperate with us in securing better laws. We need your help; we need your support. If we have had bad laws. the best way to have them repealed it to enforce them.
 Now, ladies and gentlemen, I wish to thank you one and all for the kind atten- ton you have given me.
 Nothing would give more pleasure than to remain here with you all during these meetings, but my business calls me away.
 ''To the officers and members of this association, l would say again that I am no longer with you as an officer of the law, but my heart and soul will be with
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