The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-11

of the insult and humiliation you were heaping upon the president of the City Council, John l.. Parker, when you by force of and connivance with the police department usurped and intruded into that office and ordered his forceful ejec- tion from the council chamber? Why did you not display some of that proper con- ception of their duties as public servants on that occasion? Your action was the most revolutionary, most defiant of law and order of any recorded In the history of the city, and now you have the au- dacity to ask for two officers to be placed at your disposal. We do not propose to do any such thing, and decline fatly to turn any part of this department over to you. This commission will not allow itself to become party to any scheme or trans action for your personal aggrandzement or to give vent to your spleen.
 On Gambling Charges.
 You say, Tt is matter of common Knowledge that most of the gambling rooms have recently reopened with drink attach ments. This is known to the police officials" This statement is not true. It is easy enough to charge in generalities. There may be some gambling going on, and Chief Bodeker is arresting the gamblers and they are OCiH6 HHcQ, WILL dpptdT rom JuuRe Feagin's docket. As a matter of fact, there is less gambling in this city now than has been in years. Witness the recent public declaration of Sheriff Hig- don to this same effect.
 Now, as to your charge that whisky Is being sold. Why don't you give the names and places? Some have been selling whisky and they have been caught and fined, and if you do not re- init or reduce the fines imposed by Judge Feagin, this department will soon put a stop to the whisky traffic in this city. The public are not going to be forced in this matter You had an opportunity to show how strongly you were opposed to the continued sale of whisky in Birmingham, and the peo- ple well remember how you measured up to the occasion.
 What we now ask you to do is to report the name and place of the first and every other sale or disposition of liquor which you see, and every place where you say or know that gambling is going on. Will you do it? We also make this request of every other citi- zen. If you will do this, the depart ment will do the rest. The present police force has been in power now nine days All this commission asks for itself and Chief Bodeker and the en- tire department is fair and reasona- ble opportunity and trial, and then we will. cheerfully abide the Judgment of the public as to the results. We feel that the public is sick and tired of all this personal controversy and strife and contention in the city government, and it ought to be ended. Yours truly
 HAL J. COPELAND,
 Chairman Board of Police Commission
 era of Birmingham.
 Ashford Modifies Statement.
 When seen yesterday afternoon T. T. Ashford had this to say:
 Tn justice to myself I want to cor rect the wording of the published in terview with me in The Age-Herald of yesterday morning, where it said I would command Chief of Police Bode- ker, etc. intended to say I would ask MT. Bodeker If he could not break Up this purported gambling house. In justice to MT. Bodeker let me say he ;,as only been in office 10 days and has not had sufficient time to locate the violators, but I hope he will lose no time in doing so.