The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-10
The Mayors Reply.

Mayor Ward, in replying, addresses Bodeker as Acting Chief" thus re- fusing to admit him legally or right fullv elected His letter comes after nine days of the old commissions rule.
 January 9, 1908. George II. Bodeker, Acting Chief of Po-
 lice, City. ,.
 Dear sir-I have yours of the 4th.
 Tn reply will say that the only way to co-onerate with this administration IS to enforce the laws against all ahke-eVeh gambling and prohibition laws.
 If is a matter of common knowledge that most of the gambling rooms have re- centlv reopened with drink attachments. This is known to police officials.
 This may be due in part to the recent order given patrolmen that when gam bling is found on their beats to report same to Meir superior officers Who Tn turn will report to the chiel lor iiS personal investigation.
 What the chief has been instructed to do when it gets to him is not yet mat ter of record.
 It can be guessed at by the remarkable public declaration recently made py the nolice commis sion That 1t IS second nature of the American people to take a chance-which leads them to gambling, etc-which is not as important as other things, etc."
 While that part of the American people with whom the commission associate may belong in this category, 1t does not follow that the rest do.
 Nor does it follow that the rest will "take A chance' on decent government and nuietly see our laws nullified and per- verted or our officials humiliated and insulted by officers who have no proper conception of their duties as public serv- ants.
 With refenence to your further request that this office cooperate with you, l herewith ask that officers Street and Par ker be relieved from patrol duty and placed at the disposal of the Mayor for the next 60 days on special work. Tn this way the Mayors office will be able to furnish you a surprising amount of assistance, which is not possible other wise.
 Awaiting a prompt reply, I am, respect fully, GEohdE WAhD' The section of the address made by the police commission to the police which Mayor Ward mentions in his letter is as follows
 "It is almost second nature of the American people to take chance. This inclination, put in practice. leads to gam bling Gaming is a vice which IS known
 
 charged with the duty of keeping this crime at a minimum, and if possible, pro hibiting it entirely. But the citizenship of this city is more interested in the pro lection of their homes and families from the highwaymen, the thief and the bur glar than they are in the apprehension of a 10-cent craps game
 Ashford Makes Serious Charge.
 The action of the poice commission is still a very popular topic of conserva- ton. Among those who express opinions is T. T. Ashford. 1T do not like to make any public statement, he said. but the time Is come when it is the duty of Bir- mingham's citizens to open their mouths in protest The time will come when l will demand of the then acting chief of the police department why he does not close a gambling den which is being run bv a member of the police commission"
 In discussing the dismissal of Chief Wier he said: "Wier was elected to serve term by the people of Birming- ham. He should have been allowed to serve it, regardless of any of the reasons that were advanced"