The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-15
Thinks It a Reflection That Such Thing Has Even
 Been Suggested
MIND ALWAYS OPEN
 ON PUBLIC MATTERS
Expects to Disagree Many Times With Other Commissioners But Will Always do What He
 Believes Right
By CLYDE ENNIS

That so far as he was concerned there would be absolutely no coalition between members of the Board of Commissioners, was the statement made by Commissioner James Weatherly yesterday He said fur thermore that the incessant talk that such,
 was already effective or contemplated was injurious to the general purpose of the commission and reflected upon the broad ness and public honesty of the three men who have been designated to perform cer- tain duties for the general good. Since Commissioner = A. O. Lane and President Culpepper Exum had a greatly
 magnified misunderstanding or tilt, there
 have been rumors gaining volume every day that MT. Weatherly and MT. Exum
 would combine against Judge Lane or
 that other coalitions would be affected
 creating a helpless minority and heart less majority in the management of civic affairs.
 MT. Weatherly was very much hurt
 that such an impression gained currency, and talked with the utmost candor yester- day of his ideas of civic government and his notion that the commissioners were far too big to permit any such deleterious features to enter their work.
 There has been no indication yet that such a suggested coalition was a fact.
 But to forestall if possible any further discrimination of the idea of such con tingency, Commissioner Weatherly au- thorized the following:
 Commission Independent T am the most independent man who
 was ever placed In public office. The other members of the board believe the same thing about themselves. Those who know the three men well cannot doubt this. I expect to agree with Judge Lane on many, many things, and I intend to agree with President Exum on many,
 many things. As far as coalition is concerned, that is the furthest thing from my mind, and I do not believe it has ever been contemplated for an instant by the commissioners.
 'I am, I hope, not so lacking in mental equipment as not to realize that such an effort could be made and operated to the severe discomfiture of the third commis- sioner.
 But we three have been placed there to work for Birmingham. We must not
 allow anx small jealousy or anger to
 overshadow this fact. Birmingham ex- poets us to take care of her interests ire spective of our own fortune or msfor- tune.
 Open Mind on All Questions "I have a mind that is absolutely open to any question that may come up in the
 meetings. My heart is wide open without any personal animosity, to render judg-
 ment upon such public questions as may arrive. I want to make a good job of this work, and I urge the citizens to give us | their cooperation and not their unfrend- | ly suggestions or criticisms. Believe me, | the work we have to perform is monu
 mental, and unless we can rest assured
 of the cooperation and confidence of the
 citizens the work will be infinitely handi- | capped. I hesitate to speak upon this
 rumor of coalition because many have | not imagined that the commission was composed of men so small as to have such
 suggestion made of them. On the other | hand, many of our citizens have heard
 Of it, imagined such a thing and it has
 reached goodly number of good men.
 we are put in office to serve Birmng-
 ham. We are occupying a position almost 1 judicial and we must and do view ques-
 tions in the pure light of reason and | justice such as judge on the bench. } T would no more think of trying to combine against one of my associates
 than I would of trying to build up per 1 sonal machine. The bare suggestion is reprehensible and has wounded me mex
 pressibly. q do not think there has yet developed
 any ground for such thing ex- cept the tilt between MT. Exum and MT. | Lane. I am positive. in the belief that | that little bubble has passed away Noth- | ing more will be beard of 1t. The com | missioners have work to perform. Let us do this with the good will of our people
 and unhampered by any suggestion of pol tics. So long as I am a commissioner
 I will never combine with any man for de- liberate official action."
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