The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-03
LANE VIGOROUS IN |MPUT|NG MOTIVE ID DR. DICKINSON Wanted Brother Named Recorder and Now Comes
 Personal Attack
PASTOR EXPLAINS HIS
 REASON FOR ACTION
Says It Is Condition and Not Man He Wants to Fight-Says Chief
 Bodeker Is the Man x He Wants

Charging Dr. A. J. Dickinson with underlying motives" Commissioner A. O. Lane issued a statement last night in reference to the "recair' agitation attributed to the well known minister. As is his custom Judge Lane also de- fends the police department vigorously.
 Judge Lane says that pr. Dickinson wanted his brother appointed recorder and "I think few of the voters would seriously doubt that his present vapor- ings result not from grand jury re- port, but from disappointed ambition and desire to vent his spleen on me-"
 In closing Judge Lane uses this force- ful reference: NO city was ever cursed with a greater blot than pessimistic lie to vent their spleen or to gratify their greed. But if MT. Dickinson can gull 5000 voters into signing his peti- tion will be ready for the fray"
 Judge Lanes Statement in Full
 The statement of Judge Lane fol- lows:
 Tt is always we'll. in judging the actions of men, to get at the underly ing motives which actuate them. If the voters of Birmingham could have witnessed Dr. Dickinson's palaver and apparent cordiality when he visited my office several days ago in hope of hav- Ing his brother appointed recorder, to T,.4 oAr sider his attitude toward me after an- ether had secured the coveted place. think few Of said voters would serious iy doubt that his present vaporings re- suit not from the grand jury report, but from disappointed ambition and desire to vent his spleen upon me-the main factor in the selection of Judge Wood. It was no reflection on hls brother that he was not chosen for believed him to be a worthy aspirant. Records Show Grand Jury Mistaken
 q showed from the records several days ago that the grand jurors were mistaken In stating that the police de- rartment had not shown sufficient ef tciency in suppressing gambling and lmmorality. although giving the officers and patrolmen credit for some good work ] From motives of delieacy. and In the interests of the city l did not specialize as to arrests for immoral practices outside the segregated dis trict.
 T repeat that I have had special squad looking after gamblers, with Captain Fagen in charge, an officer honest and efficient in the highest de- gree. For the first nine months of this year there were 977 arrests for gam tllng and 799 convictions, the defend Rnts being nearly all professionals. Who will deny that this is a creditable showing?
 For immoral practices outside the red light district there have been this year b54 arrests and 32S convictions, which show diligence and efficiency on the part of the officers in charge looking after such matters who rank among the best Dra the force. Dr. Dickinson alleges facts. He has never reported but one case to my knowledge, and that received immediate Rttention-Officer McGill, one of the finest officers on the force, and one of the purest men in the city, along with Off, licer Moore, another fine officer, was assigned to this case, and he informed the that he talked with pr. Dickinson and that the latter informed him that it was quiet there then, but that two or three weeks before that he had witnessed aisreputabe conduct. Why did he re- main silent? Was 1t not the duty of a good citizen to report the matter when he knew the limited number of patrol men and the wide expanse of territory they have to eover--a city of 60 square niles?
 Never Under Better Control
 "Officer McGil has been at work for the city four years and a half, and he assures me that in all of his observa-