The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-07-14


missioner Of fire and police for the
city of Chattanooga. Commissioner
elect Frazier stated without qualifi-
cation Monday morning that he
would vote for the present commits
sioner of parks and Fairgrounds for
the position held for the past eight
years by Commissioner T. C. Bet
terton. Commissioner Bass, Of
course, will support Heron, provid-
In gthe third vote necessary.
A strong opposition on the part
Of some democrats of the city. ma
jority of whom cast their vote for
Tom Wilcox and against Emil Wass-
man for police commissioner, was
responsible for the decision of Fra
zier to support Heron. City politics
are supposed to be nonpartisan and
party obliterated, but the fact that
certain factions were prepared to
use the fire and police commission
Vi ership as a weapon in the next con-
gressional race forced the democratic
members of the new board to OBJ
serve party. lines and support a
democrat in preference to repub-
lican. The next board will be as fol-
lows:
Mayor-A. w. Chambliss.
Commissioner of Health and Edu-
cation-Fred Frazier.
Commissioner of Fire and Police
Ed Heron.
Commissioner of Parks and
Grounds-Emil Wassman.
Commissioner of Streets and Sew
ers-Ed Bass.
The selection of Ed Heron as
head of the police and fire depart
ment means that Capt. w. L. Baker
will be chief of police and w. NJ.
Toomey will be chief of the fire de-
partment.
Statement of Frazier.
Commissioner Frazier, when inter-
viewed, said: .
my mind is fully made up, and l
shall vote for Commissioner Ed Her
ron for the department of police and
fire. I have never had any other idea
than voting for a democrat for this
important place. l have entered into
no combination or agreement and am
voting according to the dictates of
my own conscience. Time will show
that no mistake has been made in the
placing of Commissioner Heron at
the head of the police and fire de-
partment, for he is the very best man
for this assignment. / have, since
my election, been besieged on all
sides by democrats urging that a
democrat be placed at the head of the
police and fire department, for it was
stated to place a republican in this
important position would be giving
the republican party control OF the
most powerful piece of machinery IN
the gift of the people of the city. The
only trouble we had in the selection
of Mr.. Heron was to persuade MN
to accept the place, he stating he do
not want it, Mr.. Bass was also urged
to accept the position, but he refused
and, as the democrats demanded
democratic commissioner Of tire ano
police. I made up my mind to vote toi
Mr.. Heron, which | shall do at the
first meeting of the board.
II do not and never have conslo
cred Mr.. Wassman was elected 10 an.
particular position on the board OF
commissioners. In fact, he stated IN
his announcement for office that ne
was a candidate for no particular
place"
Ed Bass Talks.
"All Of this talk with regard &c
Fred Frazier or Ed Heron pelng III
iuenced by me or anyone else is sc
ridiculous to those who really kno"
those two gentlemen that l am sure
il needs no denial from me- During
the past four years as a memper U,
the board Of city commissioners
have been Influenced in every ofticla
act bv what | believed to be the best
interests of Chattanooga, and have
at all times used my best judgment
as nv guide, and in this matter as
7 shall be in all other matters, | am
controlled entirely by what | belleVt
TO be for the best interest OF tine
CITY. There has been no comblna,
tion formed that l am aware OF.
shall vote my honest convictions
and am sure Heron and FRAZER
will do likewise. So far as the AS
signment of the commissioner o.
fire and police is concerned, sinai
vote for Ed Heron for this depart
ment."
When called oMnday morning
Mayor elect A. w. Chambliss stated
that he was not surprised at the
statements made by Commissioner
Bass and Frazier, stating they woulo
vote for Commissioner Heron FOL
the department of fire and police.
"That is a matter for the commits
sioners to decide among themselves
said Mr.. Chambliss, land SO far as
am concerned / will make on effort
to try to get them to change then
decision" He said that he hat
heard of the plan from variou
sources, and decided to leave the
settlement of the matter to the COM
missioners themselves.
Commissioners Ed Heron could no
be located this afternoon, but his at
torney, T. Pope Shepherd, made the
following statement for him:
"Mr. Heron did not want to take
the department of police and fire ant
was only persuaded to do so when il
was shown him by the other commits
sioners and a large number of demo