The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-01-21
Thinks Citizen Should Not
Be Ignored
LETTER UNNOTICED
Says Common Courtesy Entities Him
to An Answer to His Personal
Letters Even If Not to
Open Letter

To the Editor of The ge-Herald:
In your issue of January 10 | addressed
the following letter to our commissioner
OF public safety:
Hon. A. O. Lane. Commissioners Public
Safety:
Sir read In the papers that during
the year 1912 you say there were l2Ol ar
rests made for gambling. For the infor-
nation of the public, as we'll as for my
own enlightenment. / desire to ask the
following questions, which kindly answer
through the Age-Herald;
"Of these 12ol, how many were white
men?
"Of these white men, how many were
duplicate arrests; that is, how many were
arrests of the same offender Dnore
than once?
"Of these white men how many were
prosecuted under fictitious names7
How many of these white men were ar
rested in places known to the police to
be gaming houses?
How many of these gaming houses in
which arrests have been made have been
| closed up permanently?
| How many property owners have been
prosecuted for renting their property for
gaming purposes?
| IF | understand the law correctly, it
says that any person having the general
reputation of being a gambler is SO con-
sidered by the courts How many such
white men are there in Birmingham?
How many places known to the police
are there in Birmingham that are recos-
nized as gambling rooms?
| "A prompt reply will be appreciated
! On the evening of the 10th inst | clipped
my letter from The Age-lierald and
mailed II to Judge Lane with the request
| that / be given this Information at his
early convenience. Receiving no reply
to this personal letter, | again addressed
| him a personal letter dated January 10,
ccuched in as respectful a wording my
| command of the English language would
afford, asking that he do me the cour-
tesy to Indicate as to just when [ might
expect a reply. To this letter also | have
had no reply. What could | conclude ex-
cept that 1t Is the purpose of Judge Lane
entirely to ignore me and the interest
take in public affairs? If this is the
case | desire to say as emphatcally as
possible that / do not propose so to be
ignored. / am householder, free
holder, taxpayer, an elector, have resd-
ed in this county for more than 20 years,
have tried to conduct myself as citizen
should and do not hesitate to claim
that in everything that counts for citi-
zership | am the peer of Judge Lane,
and do not feel that | do violence to a
proper rnodesty so to claim. Besides, |
am a sovereign citizen and Judge Lane
by virtue of his office is a servant citi-
zen Not only Is this true, but | am
TOLD that the salary he draws from the
public treasury of the city of Birming-
ham, together with those drawn by his
tw, colleagues is more than Is paid TO
any other governing municipal body in the
United States. | note that he found time
to answer a Complementary letter from
AN Atlanta attorney both of which letters
were written since mine was made pub
lie. Have | not more claim on the time
OF our paid public servants than an Ell
fusive citizen Of Atlanta?
In view of all the facts and crcum-
stances am not due the common cour-
tesv of reply to my personal If not
my open letters? | believe that | am due
tins courtesy and most earnestly and ur-
gently insist that 1t be accorded me. pa
spe ctfnlly. ARLIE BARBER.
birmingham. January 49, 1918