Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-06
MASONOlJT.
REFUSES
ANOTHER
TERM
Police Commission Head to Retire
and Visit Europe-Stops Move
to Amend Ordinance.

A surprising turn in city politics
came Saturday when Carlos H. Ma
son, chairman of the Police Commits
sion and generally acknowledged to
be the most powerful political figure
in the city, announced that he would
not stand for reelection, but that
he would retire from active politics
when his term as First Ward Police
Commissioner expires next March,
and go to Europe for a rest of several
months.
At the same time Alderman James
r. Nutting, who had announced he
would introduce an ordinance in
Council Monday removing the time
limit of service on Police Commits
sioners, said he would not offer the
ordinance, for the present at least,
because its passage might prove en-
barrassing to Chairman .uason.
Under the present law a Police
Commissioner cannot succeed himself
but for one term. Mason has served
two terms
The Votes Were Assured.
Enough votes were assured TO
amend the time limit. but as the
move was generally interpreted to be
in his interest his wishes that 1t not
be passed are being respected.
. 'T appreciate the efforts of the
Councilmen who volunteered to
amend the ordinance" said Mr. Ma
son Saturday. while it was not for
my special benefit the general pub
lie seemed to think so.
IF they want to amend the law
later so as to put the Police Com
mission on the same basis as all
other boards where there is no time
limit, that is the affair of Council
81 can't see how l can run for the
office again. but l appreciate, more
than can express. the efforts of my
friends to re-elect me.
Always ION the Job"
During the six years that l have
been a member Of the Police Com
mission 1 have never missed but two
meetings.
Never have l endeavOred to build
up any faction, but whatever in
fiuence l have had l always have
made a vigorous effort to exert in the
interest of a better police depart
ment and better Atlanta.
Politics is a hard life, even if
man is in it only in a limited way.
There are untold worries ana petty
trials in every day of it. have sold>
out my business and have planned
to go to Europe for a good long rest"
Withdrawal Temporary.
Though Mr.. Mason's withdrawal
from active city politics is expected
to be only temporary, it will have
significant bearing on political affairs
generally. Year after year he was re-
elected chairman Of the Police Com
mission. and to-day his position
makes him the actual head of the po-
lice department.
The most remarkable thing about
his political career. which has not
been limited to police affairs and city
politics. but has embraced a signif-
cant part in almost every important
political contest in the State during
the last decade, is that he probably
has the strongest personal influence
over Atlanta policemen of any man
who ever served as a city official
They look on him as their best
friend and, according TO Mr.. Mason
lntimates, the reason they feel that
way is because ne has proved to them
that he is their friend.
Who will succeed Mason as tn
First Ward representative on the
Commission is an unsolved puzzle a
yet j. y. McEaChern, Seventh Ward
representa- tive. also is barred by the
ordinance from reelection. Fred
Lester and Dan :. W4llaNeu are can
didates for his placel