The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-22
POLICE CALLED OUT ID D|SPERSE HUGE
 SOCIALIST CROWD Imported Speaker Put Under Arrest for BIockadlng the
 Downtown Streets MAYOR WARD TAKES HAND IN SCATTERING CROWD Prefers Charges Against Policeman Who. Refused To Obey Ills ln-
 structons and Assist in
 Opening Up Streets.

The quietude of the downtown streets was interrupted last night wh en Mayor Ward took a hand in breaking up socialist meeting which was being held on the First National bank corner Sec ond avenue and Twentieth street. l It seems that the socialists are con ducting quite a spirited presidential campaign. and the national committee had sent George H. Goebel of New interest of the socialist nominee for President. Shortly before o'clock Goebel took his stand and began speak ing. In a very few minutes a crowd of some 200 people had congregated and a rousing meeting was in progress when Mayor Ward appeared on the scene. 4 The Mayor instructed an officer to place Goebel under arrest for block ing the street, and when the officer ordered the crowd to scatter Goebe'
  telling them to hold their positions. City Detective Tom Williams was on the scene and when the Mayor in- structed him to disperse the crowd he is said to have replied that he would first have to have instructions from Chief Bodeker to do so. Mayor Ward has preferred charges against Mr. Will Hams.
 Speaker Put Under Arrest
 Patrolman F. J. Newman was called by the Mayor and Goebel was placed under arrest and the audience scat tered. When the speaker was taken to police headquarters quite a large crowd of people followed and it was all that the officers could do to keep them out of Chief Bodekers office. At police headquarters Goebel was quite tart in his conversation with the Mayor, stating that the case of his ar rest involved one of the fundamental principles of the constitution, that of free speech. Mayor Ward told him that Birmingham had a city ordinance against public meetings on the streets, but Goebel could not understand why he should be ruled off. When Mayor Ward sked him If he had a permit i.e replied that he had none, and asserted that as soon as he was released h would again go down on the street and start another speech. Mayor Ward then instructed Chief Bodeker t,. take the matter in hand and arrest Goebel if he attempted to start anoth 1T meeting. No other meetings were started on the streets.
 The case will come up in the police court this morning. Goebel asserts that if he is fined he will appeal the case and make a test of it. In Violation of Law. "Goebel was speaking on the streets in violation of a city ordinance" said Mayoe Ward last night. "No one has the right to issue a permit for public meeting on the streets except the mayor, and Goebel obtained no such permit from me.
 Besides, the present is no time for Bir- mingham to have socialist speakers on the streets. Every time Goebel made an in- cendiary remark the crowd around him fairly went wild in their applause. with dangerous strike on our hands the permission of such speakers on the streets would be very unwise even if we had no law prohibiting such.'' An incident in connection with last nights affair was the refusal of Detective Tom Williams to obey the request of Mayor Ward to clear the sidewalk where the crowd was gathered. It is stated that T tbof Ina would first have to have orders from Chief Bodeker before he would clear the street, and Mayor Ward had to summon ether officers.
 Prefers Charges Against Williams.
 Accordingly Mayor Ward has preferred lowing is his letter to Chairman Copeland of the police commissions:
 Birmingham, Ala, July 21, 1908. II. J. Copeland, Chairman Police Commls-
 sion, City:
 Dear Sir: hereby prefer charges against Detective Thomas Williams for deliberate refusal to clear the sidewalk of people while crowded and impossible rhen ordered to do so by the Mayor of the city. Besides being guilty of insubor- Gination in refusing to obey superior cfflcer, ne eXhlDlted surprising oeSrec ot incompetency on this occasion by not seeing the necessity of scattering so large d crowd which was occupying the public thoroughfare in defiance of the law.
 In this connection l cannot but commend Officer P. J. Newman for his prompt and firm handling of the situation. l respect fully request a prompt hearing of this case. Respectfully,
 G. WARD, Mayor.