The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-09
TEAGUE HAS NO STATEMENT
Alderman Parrish Outlines His
 Own Position.
Says Deposing Fire Chief Browder Would Be . Calamity to the City-L0oks For
 Victory.

that Mayor-elect Gaston Gunter would return to Montgomery in time to pour oil on the troubled waters, and that Chief Browder would be reappointed to the head of the fire department.
 The gossip gained credence through the statement of Mayor Teague that the ordinance as passed at the last session of the Council had not yet been pre- sented to him for consideration. and further that he would take his full limit of ten days in considering the matter.
 Mayor Teague said yesterday after noon that his knowledge of the fight on Chief Browder had been gained through the press, and that until he saw the ordinance and had considered 1t from all points of view, he had nothing whatever to say.
 "I expect to take the full limit of time in considering this matter" said Mayor Teague yesterday afternoon. T have no real knowledge of the ordi- nance except that gained through the press. I have an idea. too, that Mayor elect Gunter will return to the city in time to pour oil on the troubled waters, and simplify the matter. Doubtless the ordinance will be pre- sented to me by the end of the week. and until I have investigated its sec- tions, I have no statement to make as to the course that I will pursue.'
 Alderman Parrish, one of the oppo- nents to the measure on the floor of the Council last Monday night, said yesterday:
 Parrish Makes Statement.
 '"The fight on the chief of the ire department is a subject over which there has been a great deal said, and. in my opinion. is one upon which there should be said a great deal. as 1t Is a matter in which the citizens of Mont gomery are vitally interested in more ways than one, affecting, as it does, the most important department of the city government.
 ''The insurance people have express ed themselves, as body and as indi- viduals, as have numbers of other citi- gems, and when we sum up all that has been said, we find that public senti- ment has been aroused by the proposed plan to oust the fire chief.
 An inquiry into the why's and wherefores of this movement would. doubtless, lead to but one answer, and that answer is one which shows no valid reason why the present chief should be deposed, or why the method now employed in securing the incum- bent for that office by appointment of
  hands of that official. It will be a mistake to have the chief of the fire department elected by the Council, no matter who may be elected to that po- sition.
 .This is one department of the city government which should be placed as far from political influence as 1t is pos sible to get with any municipal office. It Is one over which some one respon- sible man should have absolute con- trol, without political or other out side influences to contend with, for such influences are not consistent with discipline.
 Means a Machine.
 There is no department In the city government of Montgomery which af- lords better opportunity for rnanipula- tion than does the Fire Department. There would be no better material out of which to build a political machine than that department, should those in charge be disposed to take advantage of these facts.
 q do not, as some people seem to-, think that every man enters politics for some ulterior motive, but on the other hands I know there are those who do, and none of us can say that this department under the proposed plan to make the office of Chief elect I've, may uOl SOOhCT OL AabOA AdAA AAkt' the hands of just such men, for the plan when inaugurated Is not for a month or a year, but becomes part of the modus operandi of the city gov ernment of Montgomery. and will be effective until repealed.
 And lest such men as just mention ed should be in power, 1t Is safer not to pass the ordinance now or ever, and thus do away with the necessity of alt in future, when such change will doubtless be imperative. and when the machine has developed too much strength to be successfully copeo with.
 Minority Fighting.
 The minority of the Council are making a good fight in opposition to this measure, and I hope will be suc- cessful In defeating 1t, for the end attendant upon the election of officers and men of the Fire Department would surely cripple that department. cripple 1t badly, and this would be a calam- ity which the City of Montgomery might well regret.
 T hope the citizens of Montgomery will understand just what all this Ia about, and what 1t all means; and I hope they will get out after their re-
 
 forts towards the defeat of this meas ure. Let the people go to those men and tell them how sentiment Is in re- gard to this matter, and am sure that the results will be what the people want, and tnat Is the defeat of this ordinance.
 "I am unalterably opposed to taking any steps which turn in the direction opposite to that of good government. and I am confident that this would be one in that direction, should the pro- posed plan become effective.
 Let well enough alone. and turn our attention to matters which need some Is my idea as to what the Council should do. instead of making and using our most valu- able assets for the purposes of these experiments.
 While much work was being done by both sides yesterday to turn those Aldermen absent from the Monday to one or the other point of view, nothing was said as 70 the pro- gress in securing the necessary twelve votes to pass the ordinance over the Mayors veto. Those friendly to the measure say that the ordinance win be passed at the next regular meet ing