Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-12
REPLY Of MAYOR
To BE IGNORED
BYCUMM|NCS

Politicians were awaiting with m
terest Monday the outcome OF a threat
to have the Grand Jury investigate
graft charges against Fire Chief Cum
mings made in a vitriolic letter signed
by Mayor Woodward. The letter was
Mondays contribution to the Wood
ward Cummings feud which has
ragged at intervals for months.
II was in reply to the Cummings
attack Of Sunday in which the hre
chief had applied character assas-
sin" and other warm terms to the
Mayor. In language and temper both
letters bear a marked resemblance to
the interviews given out by the two
men at the time of the Council prone
some months ago. except that both
are much hotter.
The Mayors attack. except for
yelled threat of a Grand jury inVes-
tigation of alleged graft in the fire
department, has little in 1t that the
public mas not already heard or read.
Not Afraid Of Probe, Says Chief
Il certainly am not afraid of q
Grand Jury investigation or anything
else that Mayor Woodward insti-
gates" said Chief Cummings Mon
day after he had read t Mayors
denunCiation.
There isn't any reason that
should fear him or his continued
abuse of everyone Tor wnom he forms
a dislike. There wasn't anything new
in his letter of Monday morning. Elk
cept for a change of a name here
and there, it almost might have
passed for any one of his other TRADES
that have become familiar to the
public.
1T was so much what | anticipated
that | hardly believe there Will be an
occasion for me to make formal re
ply 1t was not my intention TO start
a long newspaper controversy that
would disgust everyone in town by
his abusiveness. I merely wanted to
make public my opinion and let the
matter rest there. l hardly think
there is anything more for me to say
or that there is anything in the May
ors letter demanding reply.
Mayor Woodward retortS to Cum
mines' observation that it s.only the
Mayor grazing hair and years that
saves MIN from the calamity of
physical chastisement by saying that
he never has dealt with Cummings
personally and does not intend to do
so at this time, his quarrel with the
fire chief being only against his Of
fetal conduct as the head OF the flre
department.
Calls Chief "BIacksuard."
The fact that the feud is entirely
impersonal does not prevent the
Mayor from describing the fire chiefs
thinking apparatus as a degenerate
brain" and asserting that the chief
has assumed the plane of a black :
guard, where he properly belongs"
Mayor Woodward pays his compli-
ments 10 the chiefs veracity by de-
claring that he wouldn't believe him
on oath and that, in fact, he would
much rather believe an informal
statement by Mr.. Davidson, Cum
mings accuser, than believe the chief
when solemnly sworn.
Chief Cummings said Monday that
he had rot had the opportunity to
read the Mayors open letter care
fully and that he would have no re-
ply to make until he did.
Here is the letter in part:
To the People of Atlanta: 1t is
not pleasant at any time to get into
a newspaper controversy with any
of the heads of departments of the
city government or to answer any
thing that one might say; but with
the desire that no one should be
led astray by the billingsgate and
slime that was emitted through the
newspapers yesterday morning from
the foul mouth and degenerate brain
OF Bill Cummings. who dishonorably
represents the fire department of
this city, it is necessary that l
should say something to the people.
"Hit Cur YeIps,"
The words of that well-known
evangelist can be used in this case
very appropriately-"the hit cur
yelps " He has yelped; and from the
character of his yelpings It is plainly
evident that he has no other means
of presenting his case.
Cummings used abusive language
to Mr. Davidson when he gave in his
evidence relative to giving him $500,
and Threatened prosecution for IL