The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-14
Weatherly Reads Statement

I NCdtHStiy htdQo IDtdttintHt
In his hand he held a paper which he
read follows, in explanation of his
vote.
Il shall vote for the immediate re
moval of Mr. Bodeker. His defiant and
insubordinate attitude towards the com
missioners as exhibited during the trial
| and in the newspapers. is of itself suf-
fcient cause for removing him from
the office of chief of police-an office,
which, above all others, exaets the
| highest degree of harmony and coop
Grafton between the chief and his su-
periors From what has happened
during and at the end of the hearing
of the charges against the chief of
| police. ii must be plain to every sensi-
/ BILE person in Birmingham that Mr..
| Bodeker and the commissioners now in
office cannot work together in official
harness-cannot pull together in the
! business of giving the people of this
! great city a fairly clean, orderly and
/ decent government.
mo employer, private or public, would
| tolerate for moment the retaining of
| the services of an employe in a position
! Of great trust, who openly defes the mo-
tives and good faith of his employers in
conducting their INVESTIGATION into his
/ conduct and efficiency, and who for that
| reason, abruptly terminates the investica-
ton, says he doesn't care a rap for the
| Job. and defies his employer to do his
worst, at the cost of the employer being
punished at the bar of public opinion.
Inconsistent With Further Retention
| MI. Bodeker has done just such things
ana 1t is inconsistent with his further
retention in the service of the city.
Furthermore, it has become plain to
me, especially since the filing of these
| charges, that Mr.. Bodel<er does not pos
| sess the confidence Of the people of Bir-
! mingham 10 that degree which is essential
| to the smooth and efficient working out
| of the criminal problems of this great
metropolitan city. This problem Is 50
vast and so intricate, SO trying and so
4 burdensome as to call with commandine
voice for the united efforts of all good
| citizens, irrespective of faction, creed,
| class condition or sect
| ''Mr. Bodeker for years has been bone
| of contention between warning factions,
| as to his efficiency as a chief of police
He has been deeply engrossed in politics,
and he has played the game perhaps COM
| rulsorily, and has been tho recipient and
distributor of its favors.
| 1T is high time that this important
office be removed summarily and forever
from the conflicts of faction and the
| field of politics. and that chief of police
| be appointed who shall be imbued with
| the modern conception of business ef-
| llc1ency IN the service OF the public, who
/ shall command the universal respect of
| all classes and conditions Of people, who
4 has not been entangled i'm any of the
| factional battles of the past who has no
political grudges to pay, and no political
rewards to hand out. Above all, one who
Understands that his tenure of office is
| solely by appointment of the eoumis-
| sion and dependant solely on merit, good
! service, on maintenance of the supremacy
Of law and the upholding of the hands
| of the decent people of the city, whose
| cnly desire is for good government
II have listened to ali the evidence in
! the Bodeker hearing with an unprejudiced
mind. / have weighed 1t carefully as it
| came out. / do believe the evidence shows
that his own testimony shows-thar he
| las not the proper conception of the
| relations his office should bear to certain
| classes whose mode of life or occupation
might render them liaole to arrest and
prosecution for violation of the municipal
| laws. / do believe that his business trans
actions and dealings with certain people
set a vicious precedent, full of danger.
| and had a tendency to tie his hands and
dun the keen edge of desire for suppress
sion of certain offenses.
"For these reasons, | think he should
! be removed and / invoke the aid and
| rapport of all the people of this city, re-
gardless of past controversies or Of per-
| sonal considerations in behalf of their
| servants and agents, the board of city
commissioners in the effort Is secure to
their beloved city the blessings of good
government"