The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-14
What Will Happen Next? ?


 Great interest now is manifested as to what will happen to the officers of the re- lief association, all of whom are police men, for their actions in publicly rebuk-
 ing the chief. The cause of the contro- yersy is as follows
 Several weeks ago solicitors from the monthly publication. "The Detective" in terviewed Chief Eagan and stated that they were preparing a special number which would advertise the city of Bir mingham as well as the local police de- partment. The plan also stated that whole lot of local advertising would be solicited and for the cooperation of the police department part of the advertis- Ing proceeds would be turned over to Chief Eagan. This amount Chief Eagan proposed to donate to the coffers of the Police Relief associatiun-an organization devoted to the financial succor of ill and injured members. An agreement was signed between Chief Eagan and 1T. J. Wagner of the publication in question.
 Tn short time photographers had taken photographs of all the interesting parts of the city, and the local public service departments, and with copies Of these photographs pasted in a blank book the solicitors of the publication went amongst the business men and sought advertisements. It is said that there was a hearty response on the part of local advertisers as the publication in question is well known and reputable. The Cham Der of Commerce co-operated by furnish ing several cuts and a lot of interesting local data. Everything was going smooth ly and the special Birmingham number of "The Detective was to appear on July 8.
 The First Statement
 Then for some cryptic reason the of ficers of the Police Relief association sud- denly held a meeting, following which they sent the following typewriter state ments to all the local newspapers: June 12, 1914. "Citzens of Birmingham, Take Notice: 'It having been brought to the atten- tion of the Police Relief association of Birmingham that certain parties nre soliciting subscription and advertisements for a certain journal under an agree | ment to give the association per cent of | the proceeds, and
 lowing to the fact that the citizens of l Birmingham have been so ready to re- spond to the aid of the association, we | feel it our duty to inform the public that the contract signed by certain policemen was not authorized by the association. And will further state that at a meet ing the association refused to indorse the scheme or accept any of the proceeds de- rived from same.
 l Also the association regrets very much hdNhi6 peeu Pldccu III tilS ttuDdLIdSSii6 position.
 ID. c. SIMMONS, Prest. "W. M. DERAMUS, Sec.' 1 The "certain" policemen referred to Is none other than Chief of Police Martin I Eagan, it is said, and as he was not l cognizant that the Relief association of which he is member had taken such action against him until he read the statement in The Age-Herald he showed l symptoms yesterday afternoon when talk ing of the affair of being slightly per- | turbed. He said:
 l If they don't want the money I'll give | 1t to some other charitable institution. | The Relief association has nothing what | soever to do with the police department | and certainly nothing to do with my of l ficial actions.
 l "Mr. Wagner of The Detective vol untarily offered me a percentage of the proceeds of the advertising solicited in Birmingham for my cooperation with him. I stated that I would take the money and turn 1t over to the Po- lice Relief association. There was no question of my giving the money to the association, as it was given to me | to do as like. I could keep it for my own use or give it away as I saw | fit.
 Now that for some peculiar reason, the officers of the Relief association have decided to take the public in their confidence by issuing statements that they won't take the money, will state that they won't get any of the money | and the proceers give to me will be turned to some other charity.