The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-19

enorts by the public or by the opera tors have been made to, in any way. limit the right sof the sheriff to re- ceive such compensation by private contract for giving special attention to the property of any citizen. where, in. the mind of the citizen. extra and special protection to the property or person of the citizen was necessary.
 Would it be contemplated for . moment that &ny citizen or every citi- zen who apprehended violence to his person or property without swear shefiff serving any length of time to mafntain a deputy in front of his house or near his person7 If so.- ev- cry citizen of the county during the recent strike, or at any other time. could make this demand. If, however. for some private reason. citizen wished g deputy sheriff stationed in front of his house each night, vested with the authority of law, because of a large amount of money or other property that he had therein and which he was exceedingly anxious to have doubly guarded does the public think 1t should be Illegal for that cit- izen to enter into a private contract with the sheriff or with the city of Birmingham for special odicers to guard said property? Could not the sheriff dernand that this special depu- ty be specially paid? Could not Bir- mingham say: Pay for the special po.- licsmany
 'The public can readily see that this added protection to the citizens prop erty should not be charged upon the public nor upon any public ofiicer. but should come out of the pocket of the private individual. and the public can further see that the services given are more than the needed attention of the deputy to the property which he protects. for the service includes the supervision and responsibility OF the sheriff for such deputy. not only to the party to. whom his services are contracted, but also his conduct to- wards the public.
 sIf. forsooth, the fees of the office of sheriff of Jefferson County went into the general funds of the people of the county, salary being paid to the sheriff in that event would the public think it was fair for the whole people of the country to be burdened by par ticular instances of this eharscter7
 If it was unlawful to, exact or to receive three dollars for such depu- ty. 1t was unlawful to receive Sz, and for that reason 1t would be unlawful to receive any compensation for this private and spcial service of the depu- ty for any citizen in the county. The above statement I submit, conclusively shows that my contracts with the dif- ferent operators during the coal strike were perfectly proper and was sane tioned by custom, by law and by equity In reference to the contro- versy as to the mol pressing of certain like cases. I have nothing to add to that which have heretofore said.
 Election Frsuds.
 t'To return to the election of 190e which Is done in the tenth charge Of the Four Wise Men is indeed a far cry for subject matter. on which to undermine the public confidence In my administration. l.ais99*
 "The public will we'll remember that one of the salient features of the three campaigns was the reiterated charges with reference to the alleged packing of the military companies with Illegal voters. Having undergone the white searchliEht of campaign investigation at that time, those charges were ulti- mately, conclusive1y, and finally re, Kuted by General L. V. Clark. who. as commanding officer of the 3rd ReEI- ment, gave these charges his careful consideration and repudiation.
 T care now, only to add that these charges as to unlawful and illegal in- ducements and .enlistments of young men into companies fer the purposes or irregularIy voting them or other wise, or any insinuation as to improper conduct during that campaign as to myself. Mr Lucien Brown, or any one else directly connected with me. ia willfuIly and maliciousiy false. ana without any foundation or proof what ever. On the contrary, an effort was made to steal the election from me. .szl. s.NA AIaa SxN waaaA cinct, containg enough votes to change the result of the election. was actual ly stolen. and never recovered. and one of the parties to that crime was in- dieted and convicted in the criminal court of Jefferson county, and no one has had the temerity to assert, until thig malicious report of the Four Wfse Men that conducted my campaign for the office of sheriff upon other than a. high, honorable and clean plan
 If they, or either of Vthem will oyer his signature and without the protection of the cloak of privileged communieation, charge the matters that they have charged against me in this report, I will challenge the truth of such statements In the form of a libel suit, civil or criminal, which will institute against the author of such islander immediately upon pubII- cation. They accuse me of coWardice. Let them make their charges openly Let them come out from under the cloak of privileged communication. and then the public will know wheth- CT they are towards or liars, or both. IT the matters they charge are true. and they have the proof. let them show the courage of their convictiong that the public may reap the benefit of an Investigation. If they seek to, be lead CTS of men. let them show the cour- age of leaders. If, however, they are saturated with physical and moral cowardice, let them keep quiet and hide behind the cloak of privileged communication, which they have So far used, in which event, will invite the next grand jury of Jefferson coun- ty, to reinVestigate fully and thor oughly all of my acts as an oficial of this county, and will pledge them my support and cooperation.
 T further invite a similar inves- tigation by the Commercial Club, or other representative body of citizens of Jefferson county. have fearless ly and honestly administered the du- ties of my office; too vigorously, per haps. for some. And, knowing that in the vigorous enforcement of the law, have made. and will continue to make enemies of certain law break CTS, I hereby pledge my honor to the law abiding public of Jefferson coun- ty that I shall not be deterred from my purpose of bringing to the bar of justice all violatoFs of the law. but shall continue to honestly, fearlessly and fully perform the duties of the office to which the people have elected me with the belief that I have your continued confidence and support. the