The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-11

i
 one of "those civic doctors" for the street. is talking Turner and that Is healthful sign.
 Perry w. Turner is g years old. He
 is a farmers boy, having taken his first peep on a rural estate near Cherokee In Colbert county. In his kid days Perry
 went to the district school, got strong and healthy and later went to the Uni versity of Alabama. where, while he at
 taned no high marks In athletics or studies he carved a niche in the fra ternity hall of fame by being good sport" However, that was eight years
 ago-since that time Perry has joined the church.
 Eight years ago Perry came to Bir-
 mingham. took one long look and said: This burg was made for me" Thereupon, our youthful hero had his
 name painted on an office door which
 said Perry w. Turner, Attorney at
 Law" and started to work. He hasn't
 stopped yet.
 On January of the present year Perry w. Turner was appointed recorder of the Birmingham police court He accepted
 at a great personal sacrifice. as his law
 practice was remunerative, while being a.
 recorder is thankless job with the pay of g. policeVnan.
 However. I wanted to be recorder, said Turner. with enthusiasm q wanted to be of real service to those who needed it most-the scum, the debris of civiliza- ton who daily come into the dingy police courts. I felt that 1t was my duty to help-and after all money Isn't every thing"
 You were merciful recorder" said the reporter.
 Believes in Mercy q am thankful to hear you say that I tried to be. Men and women who habitually come into police court cannot be punished by hnes--it merely makes them worse. I remember an old toper. His two legs were amputated years ago, and he also is minus one arm This old man | gets drunk and l don't blame him if 1t makes him forget the terrible plight he | is in-well that old fellow never paid any | fines while | was on the bench. And the social outcasts' present an- | other problem. believe helped a little. | with the hearty cooperation of Mrs. Will | son Searight. on this while recorder. and also while at the head of the police de- | partment I want to state that if elected l the recorders court, and the welfare de- parment get my heartiest cooperation. q further desire to add that I be- | leve the city should control all charities l I think the welfare department should | have that function. With the police and l health departments at it's disposal the | city could finance the work that Is now | being done by the Associated Charities | and do it with economy. My plan is sm- plicty itself Let the city hold it's cof- | fers open for all voluntary charitable con- | tributons and hold tag days for mora money at various times of the year. Char | ities conducted under the benevolent eye 1 of the city commission will be less open | to criticism and believe will be heartily l supported by the public. | As for the rest of my platform. it is
 constructive. I want the health depart | ment to have charge of all matters per | taining to sanitation, rigid economies everywhere but nevertheless, increase l public service for everybody. And | | reckon that's about all except that was born on Christmas and it would be aw- l fully good of the people of Birmingham | if they elect mo for Christmas pres l ent."
 1 Everybody in the room assented and ! it is quite possible that Santa Claus is 1 already looking up Perry's address in the | directory. Who knows?