The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-03-27

1iice and Challenges BOdeker
in a place in the city one day in Feb
ruary of this year and the officers came,
but everything was cleared before they
got in He says further: "They saw us
and told us we had better not shoot
there, that they were going to get the
place, that we had better go somewhere
else And, continuing, he says: Several
place and were fined 800; several days
after this we met the fellow who had
been banking the games when we were
caught, on the street. and he told us to
come down to the ----( naming
the place referred to in the other Aft
davi), as it was safe to play down there
as he was now in the syndicate and the
police would not bother him. And still
continuing, he says: 1.-THE general talk
around gambling houses is What % per
cent of the proceeds are paid to officers
for protection. Officers sometimes go
through places belonging to the syndi-
Gates. but it is always after everything
has been cleaned up
l have other affidavits to the same effect
and on the information contained in them
and from personal observation I charge
that Chief Bodeker knows that the laws
against gambling are being violated, and
where. and by whom, and that he either
indinerent1y winks at or corruptly al
lows II.
For He Ceusa Stop II
The laws against gambling and for the
conviction of offenders have been so
amended as to make their enforcement
comparatively easy. and any chief with
half purpose could virtually stop gam
bling in anything like a public gambling
house in the city of Birmingham within
IS hours.
But it is not only the laws against gam
bling that are being thus openly violated,
for it is said the town is full of
Hind Tigers
believe that the majority of the people
of this city desire to see fairly tried and
tested their prohibition laws. There can
be no fair test or trial under the adj
ministration of an officer who does not
enforce nor try TO enforce them And l
have an affidavit wherein the affiant
says that within a few days he visited
over 100 places within a few blocks of the
city hall where whisky or beer or both
were being sold. and the affiant gives
the location, and in many instances the
proprietor, of these places. And this az
faint says that many Of the keepers told
him that they did not fear molestation for
they were in the syndicate. That this
state OF things can be unknown to the po-
lice department is impossible The man
who made this affidavit also says therein
that he went TO a policeman and told him
that he wanted to buy a blind tiger. and
that the policeman told him that If he
could find a good place he would let him
know, and would give him the same show
that he did others, And the affiant also
says that he asked this policeman where
he could get drink and the policeman
carried him to a place where he bought
whisky both for himself and for the pc-
licemah.
But it does not stop here. The laws for
tho nrot ection of the
Morals of the Young
are treated with like consideration.
Houses of designation. without the Red
Light District flourish. Other state
ments in my possession reveal the exis-
tence OF a condition too foul to be set
forth specifically,
The affidavits and statements mem
toned, and Others similarly relative to
the charges ] make, are in my possession
and can be seen by anyone who desires to
see them They demonstrate beyond per-
adventure that no effort is being made
by the police department to enforce these
laws
made. SO that Chief Bodeker and the po-
lice department can deny them if they see
fit. And they are put on notice that il
they do deny them that l challenge them
to meet me in public meeting where the
proof can be submitted.
Feeling that this condition can be rem
edied. and that l can serve the people in
giving them such an execution and en-
foroement of all laws and ordinances as
will make them effective to the ends of
their adoption, / am led to make this
announcement of my said candidacy, and
to say to the voters that will greatly APP
preciate the support and influence of all
who desire to see all the laws enforced,
c, w, AUSTIN,