Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-06
Crisis in Police Affairs
Over City's LiberarLaws

gan tu thunder All.ue Chambers
and James C. Woodward were thun-
deriug az each other fen tine m8Eoralty
race, both eudeavoriug to ignore the
vice crusade. Mason was leading IN
the fight for Chambers. suddenly
political principals refused 20 work
Beavers walked into MasoH's office
Beavers Opens Vice War.
u am going 10 close the houses,
Boo announced.
What o" Mason shouted.
I'm going 10 close the houses,
repeated the Chief, his face flushing
Wait" appealed Mason. Let us
consult with some prominent men.
You must realize YOU are wrong.
NO. 1t Is the law" answered
Beavers.
A few moments later the chief bur
ried 10 his automobile.
An hour later there We're zhrieks
and tears in the teudcrloin. The
Chief had gone from hci1se TO house.
giving i've days ue-i~te &c Ia in
mates 10 move out
chief Beavers smiled next day. but
his troubles had just begun. Mason
and the Police Commission announced
they would support him I'm the en-
forccmeut Of the law There was
nothing elise for them 10 do. James
G.. Woodward, ayowedly against him.
was elected Mayor by good major
ity
Beavers end was predicted The
women of the tcudorlqiu began lock
ing back
Mason Had to A. Chief.
The months huv, r. u by ANA
many plans 10 get rid Of Iief Beav-
ers have been born and died Some
of them were strong movements. Any
of them might have succeeded but
for Carlos Mason.
Here again Is Evidenced the irony
Of politics Mayor Woodward was
ready 90 take rtb" Chiefs official
scalp. But when Tricnds of Mason
urged him To- act he declared the
Chief was enforcing the law aud the
grand jury would rot permit that he
be- deferred IN this policy
During AN this time Alderman
never reached Council At last il did
come his time to act, and he waved
All rolors high.
Chairman Mason had been re-eIcct-
ed without opposition. The appear
for more liberal town again took
definite form Then Mason gave out
q statement favuriug Sunday movies
and announcing Beavers would be
dismissed " he did not obey the COM
mission
Beavers replied that he would not
oisOboy the orders OF the COMM ssion
But his words were not dry I'm print
before Alderman Gambler had put
resolution through Council informing
tho chief and the commission that too
commission had mo- authority TO in
terpret the law He said the chief
was to carry cut the laws as he saw
them, and the Recorder was To pass
on the legality of his acts.
One Peril for the Chief.
There h. but one development that
can upset the present status-a con-
summation deyoutly wished for by
the friends of a liberal" city that
is "a reconciliation between Wood
ward and Mason.
n the Mayor and the chairman a.
the Police Board would call quits the
police complexities would vanish.
Both believe Atlanta is "a Cosmopol-
itan city and as such should have
liberal government Mason has
been forced on more than one occ4-
sion 10 stand with the "reformers."
With Mason and Woodward at outs
the chief is dominating despite the
ott-repeatcd prophecies he would
lose his head
Beavers is carcful-very careful He
smiles and lately has adopted poll
Icy of not talking about the police
situation. Mason also has adopted
that policy, so has Woodward, but
Alderman Gambler and the Men and
Religion bulletins are making up for
the reticenco of the others