The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-05
GENERAL DEMAND
 FOR INVESTIGATION Prominent Citizens Discuss Turn in Council Affairs KING WANTS 1T THOROUGH Thach Approves Wards Course By Saying People Elected Him and
 Will Hold Him Responsi-
 be for His Course.
KING WANTS II THOROUGH

Since the people have been shown that
 there is an abscess in city affairs there 1 is pretty general demand that it be
 cut out.
 l This was the view of several prominent ! citizens interviewed yesterday concerning
 the charges of graft that have been made
 in the City Council. since the charges
 have been made" is the general opinion,
 they must be investigation in justice to the accused themselves and the people at large"
 In the words of Jere King, the we'll known Jefferson county representative, it would be nothing less than scandal if every charge and countercharge Is not in- vestigated. unless the City Council goes to the very bottom of the situation, letting the blame fall wherever and on whom soever it will.
 'If the matter is not probed.' continued Mir King, "it will be nothing more or less than a scandal There should be court of investigation The situation is serious one, and not one to be forgotten within the next month or so. A lawyer should be in charge of the investigation,
 one with backbone and courage, fearless
 and tireless. Every charge should be taken up separately and considered, ever countercharge should be attended to in the same manner. The situation Is the most serious that ever confronted the people
 of Birmingham-that is, as concerns the municipal government. The charge of graft in the Board of Aldermen is some | hat
 The charge of graft is the most serious
 that can be brought against a man in
 this day and time. The investigation
 should be complete The abscess should
 be lanced to the core, and laid open for
 the view of the public
 Thach Approves Wards Course.
 Robert H. Thach, who was succeeded on the board by John l.. Parker, until re-
 cehtly the president of the City Council,
 expressed himself as being delighted that
 the matter has been publicly brought to the attention of the people. He was an other who insisted on an open and i thorough investigation, another who
 thought that the city couldn't stand the | scandal of its final adjustment without a
 thorough and impartial probing
 "l admire the stand of Mayor Ward. I
 was never a Ward man until his last l fight, the one with Captain O'Brien, but 1 l must say that in my opinion he took 1 the right steps on his return to Amer | lea. The people elected MT. Ward mayor | of Birmingham. and the people expect him | to be and continue mayor until his term | of office has expired If there are diff | ferences among the aldermen it Is still | Mayor Ward who represents the people | who elected him. He is answerable 10 1 the people for any mistakes that he
 makes, and to no faction of party within l party.
 For one, l was greatly pleased when l Mayor Ward, returning home, took charge
 in the manner that he did. The situ l ation was such that a man with deter
 imitation was needed, one with backbone
 enough to assert, himself
 Others Express Views. | Other men seen yesterday held much the
 same views as Messrs King and Thach. 1 Mai. John Elliot of the Commercial State bank thought that nothing less than a l full and thorough examination into the matter would suffice. George Griffin 1 stated that the city couldn't afford to
 do other than get into the thick of the investigation at once. He described the
 state of affairs existing at present as | lamentable T. V. Boardman, who heard MT. Thach's remarks, in addition to ex- l pressing himself that an immediate exam l nation should be held. attributed to | Mayor Ward great honesty of purpose in l