The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-19
Not Consulted in Regard to
4. Fyffe = Answers Ques-
ti0ns in Regard to AL
legged Coalition
THINKS EAGAN is
LOGICAL MAN FOR
CHIEF OF POLICE
Will Consider No Other Man-Points
to Record of Twenty Years of
Efficient Service by Eagan.
Deserves Promotion
lin my opinion Martin Eagan should
be elected chief of police at oncev

be elected chief of police at once.,
ihls was the emphatic statement of
commissioner of Public Justice A. o.
Lane yesterday afternoon in reply to
questions from an Age-Herald reporter
as to his views on the still unsettled po-
lice situation. Judge Lane further stated
that he would deem it a very singular
proceeding If the appointment of chief
of police should be rendered to anyone
outside the present police force.
Commissioner Lane had been reticent.
but yesterday afternoon with fire in his
eye he broke his silence and pointing
finger-shaking the while with emotion
at the reporter he said:
AT the conclusion OF the so-called
police probe I offered resolution ap-
pointing Captain Eagan as chief of po-
lice. No one else can be elected without
strenuous opposition on my part
"Eagan Has Made Good
Has Captain Eagan made good since
his temporary appointment" he was
asked
He certainly has, Whatever undesir-
| able conditions that were alleged to exist
| during the police prooe have been eradi-
| Gated under his temporary administration
of police affairs, and these conditions
were grossly exaggerated and based on
hearsay and false testimony. Martin
| Eagan has broken up the gambling and
disorderly house evil before the So
| called police probe was instituted as far
as it Is possible to do so. Gambling and
prostitution, which has never been any
worse here than in any other city of a
| like size, is now reduced to a minimum,
due directly to the efforts of Acting Chief
Eagan.
"Ihis is a large city, with cosmopol-
| itan population of 10000 souls, and no
| matter who is al the head of the police
department there will always be a GER
tain amount of gambling within the city
limits, and disorderly houses will exist.
Gambling and prostitution can be mlnl-
mized but until God changes the nature
of man it cannot be eradicated. This Is
known to all thoughtful men. Capt. Mar
tin Eagan has the confidence of a vast
majority of the law abiding people He
has for the past 20 years delivered the
goods in the police department. He
richly deserves the promotion as chief.
| 1t would be an injustice that all citizens
who love fair play would resent to elect
an outside man as chief. L will state
| further that Captain Eagan has proved
conclusively that he is capable of hand
| ling the position. He is efficient, strict
| disciplinarian ana able executive. He
| should be elected as soon as possible and
given full charge of the police and detec-
| tive departments. These departments
| should be under one head and that should
| be Martin Eagan, in my Judgment
| But this talk of MIR. Fyffe?" was the
| next question.
| Il know nothing of it, / have not been
my opinion Mr.. F'yffe is not eligible as
| chief of police, as l understand that one
| has to be citizen of Birmingham at least
| two years before being eligible for civic
office.
Will Lane Be Ignored?
"Supposing you are ignored, Judge" he
was asked, 'and MIR. Fyffe or some other
candidate than Captain Eagan is elected?''
1T can't be done with my consent"
was the emphatic reply OF the judge as
he raped on his desk with his clenched
| fist. II will not be ignored and, further,
L will form no coalition with anyone. L
| will continue to consider all matters that
come before the board from an unbiased
| viewpoint. The whole intent of the COM
mission form of government will have
been destroyed If majority of the board
of commissioners form a coalition to sup
press the minority.
Have Mr.. Ward and Mr.. Weatherly
formed coalition?' was the next ques-
| ton.
| Il do not assert such to be fact"
Judge Lane replied in measured tones.
| But | wish to be understood that / Will
be heard from in all matters concerning
| the police and detective departments and
other city affairs although l admit that
the majority has the power to outvote me.
do not know anything of what the
others intend to do about the police sit
| uation except what 1 read in the news
papers. A strict adherence to the reso-
| luton adopted at the first meeting of the
board of commissioners in which L was
given the portfolio of public justice spe-
officially provides that shall have charge
of the police department. I will earn
estly oppose any attempt to curb my
prerogative In this matter"
No One But Eagan
And you will consider no one but
Captain Eagan?" he was asked.
by right of promotion and seniority
without stating his unquestioned ability
| Captain Eagan is the only man that 1
will consider for the appointment of chief
| of police. This is final. 1t would be a
grave injustice to deny him richly de-
served promotion. What have policemen
| to hope for but gradual promotion as
the years go by to be sergeants, lieuten-