The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-12-07
COMMISSIONERS
UPHOLD ". B. CLOE
IN APPOINTMENT
EnsIey Delegation Asks Re-
movaI of Judge Hummer Be
4 Rescinded - Appointed
Man Who Worked for
His Election

Asking that the action of W. B.
Cloe, commissioner of public safety,
in Diminishing Judge D. j. Hummer
of the Ensley police court be re-
scinded, a large delegation of Ems
ley, Pratt City and Wylam citizens
appeared before the city commission
at it's meeting yesterday.
The delegation was headed by DR.. E.
t. Fields who. speaking directly to
Commissioner Cloe. asked him to
, resclnd his action and reinstate Judge
Flummer Mr.. Cloe stated that he
was elected to the office he holds and
expected to fill 1t and would put men
in office whom he thought would
make good and with whom he could
work In harmony and accord.
After DR.. Fields had asked the
other members of the commission not
to indorse the action of Commission
err CIoe, he turned to him and asked
him directly just why he discharged
Judge Flummer. Mr., Cloe replied
that he had put man in that POSI-
ton who worked to have him elected.
and that Mr.. Flummer had not, in fact
had been most discourteous to him
before the election.
Not Play ing Politics
II put the men in think are most
competent to fill the Jobs" said Mr..
Cloe, land / am open and above board
in what / do. There is not man in
front of me who would not, do as /
am doing and If you men will be as
fair as I am to you, you will have no
kick coming at the end of my term
l am not playing politics and there is
no politics in my life" Several times
applause greeted the speakers.
A E. Wells, a member of the dele
cation. arose and stated that Judge
Flummer denied that he had been
discourteous to Mr.. Cloe, and pointed
out that Judge Flummer was record
err of the Ensley police court and
could not take any active part in poll
tics. He also stated that the new re-
corder had moved to Ensley this
week. Others making talks were F.
H. Ansley and c. =. Mosely.
D. e. McLendon, president of the
commission. told the delegation that
he regretted that this action was nee
essary but that in organizing the
commission they had elected the
heads of the various departments and
left each to make such changes as he
saw fit He stated he had known
Judge Hummer for "a years and re-
GREETED that the point had risen as
it has. He declared he knew the
members of the delegation were hon
est and fair and were acting through
their friendship for Judge Flummer.
However, he stated, that all he want
ed to maintain was spirit of CO.
operation and not tear up into fac
tions. The commission does not care
to play politics, he said, and the mat
ter is in Mr.. Cloe's hands.
DR.. Fields then asked for an ex-
preston from the other members of
the board.
Commissioner Dickson
"Qne but can appreciate the sem
timent and the motive back of this
| movement" said Commissioner Dick
son, "and yet, my friends, when you
elected Commissioner Cloe by the
most overwhelming vote that has
ever been cast in city election, you
expressed confidence in him and were
willing to trust him to do his duty
1t was we'll known before the election
| that If he was elected he would be
made commissioner of public safety
| and you expressed your confidence in
his ability by electing him. You have
not given Mr.. Cloe a fair chance in
this matter and while I appreciate
and admire your friendship for Judge
Flummer which I am sure has
prompted this action. will stand
with Mr.. Cloe."
Commissioner Harrison
Commissioner Harrison then stated
that since the appointment Of all men
in the various departments had been
left to the commissioner under which
they came he felt that it was for the
best interest of Mr.. Cloe's depart
ment to back him up in this matter.
He stated he did not see any posi-
bility OF resembling the action of Mr..
Cloe since the appointment had been
made and the man had already taken
office. He suggested that If the peo-
pie of Ensley were not satisfied with
the judge of the Ensley police court
coming under the city commission
that an act might be passed by the
next legislature providing for his
| election by the people of that Sec
! tion of the city.
| Commissioner EchoIs
| Mrs. Mary Echols, commissioner of