The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-27
MASON DECLINES
TOCOMBINEFO
QU|NN'S REMOVAL
Says Covert Threat Of IndiCt-
ment Made to COerCe Him
Into ACtion--LaW and Order
League Makes Request.

A. d. Mason, commissioner Of streets,
was asked Monday by committee Of
the Law and Order league to make a
change in the control of the police de-
.partment by agreeing to vote with Com
missioners Leo Goodman and G. W.
Miller to remove c. B. Quinn from the
police department.
Mr.. Mason was present at the meet
ing by Invitation of the officers of the
Law and Order league.
He told them that while his own
ideas of city government are exactly
those OF the Citizens league, and that
he consented toNenter the campaign In
August. 191S for election as city COM
missioner, because he believed business
methods and not politics should govern
the action of the city government. that
he could not agree to the proposal.
Mr.. Mason said after the meeting
that he probably would not be present
at the city commission meeting Tues
day as he had already arranged to
leave the city Monday night for IN
dianapolis and several other cities TO
study their methods Of street cleaning:
But there is another story back OF
his refusal to agree to request OF the
Law and Order league He was informed
by friend last week that S. o. Bates,
the states attorney, had under consid-
a violation of the city charter in having
accepted insurance business for his
firm, In which the city was Interested.
A commissioner may not, under the
charter, be interested in any contract
to which the city Is a party.
Mr.. Mason's brother, l.. Y. Mason,
saw the states attorney after this re-
port reached their office and was told
that the matter Of bond made in con-
nection with the contract of the bank
ing OF city funds this year had been
referred to him, but that he had not
gone into 1t.
the Law and Order league that he bez
lieved This Threatened legal proceeding
was being used as covert threat 70
force him to vote for the removal .of
Commissioner Quinn and that he did
not propose to be forced to take any
action whatever by any threat.
the principles of the Citizens league
and that ne deplored the reported use
of the police force in politics as much
AZ any man, but that as between be-
ing threatened with legal proceedings
unless he would vote one particular
way. and acting solely at the dictates
OF his conscience, he would chose the
latter, and let the future take care
MI Mason early this month sent let
ters to the heads OF every force IN
his department, warning them not TO
allow their men to take any active part
in the campaign, for or against either
Ticket but to see to 1t that every EN-
ploye was permitted to register and
vote.
Whether Miller and Goodman would
have heen prepared to vote with Mr.
Mason, TO remove Quinn and place one
of them in charge Of the police de-
partment, Is another story that may
develop when the commission meets
Tuesday afternoon. 1t Is known that
the rumor of the possible change was
spread in political circles Sunday anc
that 1t was common talk Monday morn
Il is also known that Mayor Monte.
verde and Commissioner Quinn have
both tried to hold Mr.. Mason to the
alliance which was made with him
few months ago, when Mr.. Mason voted
with them to remove g. w. Miller al
fire and police commissioner and Il
place Mr. Quinn in control of the po'
lice.
II was generally known that Mr. Ma
son strongly disapproved of the activit,
of the police in the present campaign
but there seems to be no truth In th'
rumor of political break between them
The bond, which figures in the abov
story, was one made by the Union ant
Planters Bank and Trust company TO
the faithful care of the city funds Will
that bank is the city depository. TIL
premium for the bond was paid, o
course, by the bank and not by tn
city and Commissioner Mason, befor
accepting the business for his firm
which was not even solicited, secures
the opinion of the city attorney tina
there was no improperly and no legs
reason for refusing the business