The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-06-22
SOME WARD POLITICS
ALDERMAN MADDOX TALKS OF
REDIsTRICTING PLAN.
Members Of Council Gave More Atten-
tiOn to Building Their Own
Fences Than to welfare
OF the City.

II am unalterabiy opposed to shoe
stringing the wards of Montgomery for
political purposes, and l believe the
people of Montgomery agree with me-"
In these words. AldermaR ]. e. Mad
dox of the Fifth Ward. a member of
the Councils Select Committee to re-
district the city, yesterday expressed
his complete disapproval of the COM
mittee's report, submitted to the Coun-
ell at Its regular meeting Monday
night and published in The Advertiser
yesterday morning.
The select committee consisted of Al
dermen John P. Kohn, CASTOR Gunter.
Leopold Strauss, ]. E. Maddox and ]. j.
Sullivan.
The report of a majority of the COM
mittee was signed by Aldermen Kohn.
Gunter and Sullivan. In brief, this re-
port provides for an extension of the
six wards of the city into the annexed
territory and the creation OF a seventh
ward to be formed of q portion of Clo-
verdale and Highland Park. In nearly
every instance the boundaries of the
city wards as they now exist are slight
ly changed, and Alderman Maddox de-
clared that these changes were made to
suit the political whlms or to further
the political interest of certain Alder
men.
AlQtTInetl Mh0uOA anu OlIduSSs IHC
minority members of the committee,
will prepare a redistricting plant. which
they will submit to the next meeting of
the Council. The Fifth Ward Alder
man intimated yesterday that in the
discussion of the two plans on the floor
of the Council chamber interesting dis
closures would be made as to Mont
gomery political methods.
IT agree with the majority members
of the committee" said Alderman Mad
dox, that there should not be more
than seven wards, That would give us
seventeen Aldermen, and l think we
have too many Aldermen now for the
good of the city.
81 think it well enough" Alderman
Maddox continued. ito throw Clover
dale and Highland Park into one ward
but I want it said. as emphatically as
can say II. that / do not propose to
give my influence to scheme to elect
the two new Aldermen by the Council.
am opposed to this proposed plan OF
perpetuating the power of a few men.
why, I understand that certain Alder
men have already selected the repre-
sentatives in the Council from Ward
Seven. / favor a plan whereby the
citizens of the new ward may select
their representatives at the polls. The
power TO select them may be delegated
to the Council but equity and fairness
demands that we give these people an
opportunity to vote for their Alder
men,
According to Alderman Maddox. no
consideration other than the political
advantage of Aldermen and city ohicials
figured in arranging the details of re-
districting the city. There was little
else discussed at the various committee
meetings.
II was stated in the committee meet
ing that Alderman Sullivan of Ward
six did not reside in that ward, as pro-
vided by law. He lives on McDonough
street. in Ward Five. At the first
meeting of the Select Committee Alder
man Sullivan proposed to change the
boundaries Of Ward Six so as to take
in his residence on McDonough Street
Another Alderman suggested" said
Alderman Maddox. that this would be
too apparent to the public and that the
boundary should run block east of
Alderman Sullivan's home. AS Alder
man Sullivan lives in my ward, and as
they were looping of my ward, in
terposed an objection, saying that Al
derman Sullivan ought to move into
Ward Six or run for ONCE from Ward
Five"
Continuing his narrative. Alderman
Maddox said that he finally consented
to give up part Of his ward to the resi-