Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-03-30
f|RENEN HOLD GE1
TOGETHER MEET
Chief Ogden Withdraws Re
signation and Firemen
f.. Remain
LAUD DEPARTMENT
hcnbers of Chamber of Commerce
and Fire Chief and Mayor Address
Gathering of $50 At Elks Hall.

The volunteer f.rcmen oil the city
will continue on their jobs and Fire
ch:ef Kenneth w. Ogden, who tend
red his resignation Monday to Mayo:
Duncan. which has not been acted up
N, also has Withdrawn his resi@na-
ion and thus ends of the threatened
disarmament of the volunteer COM
)an:es Of the city.
The foregoing action was decided
apcn at mass meeting Of the FIRE
nen held last night in the auditorium
If the Eiks' Home presided over by j.
edward Sh:nn. Attending the meeting
we're about $50 volunteer firemen AMI
| delegation Of members CT the cha n
Der CT commerce, appointed yester-
.ay to urge the chief and the fire
nen TO reconsider. Mayor Duncan al
% attended.
Fire Chief Ogden was given big
walton. He opened by declaring that
he day had been one of mixed emo
:cns, and he referred to the meeting
If the directors Of the chamber CT
commerce held during the day TO urge
ne f:reren 10 stick to their jobs. All
out one Of the directors present h
said as your and my fr:crd.'
The speaker referring to Howard
". Smith declared that Mr.. Smith
Had aso stated that he did MT be-
:eve in getting On his knees to any
one."
Chief Ogden expressed himself Il
!iSgusted with the condemnation Of
he department and he said ne resent
ed both publicly and privately the
.d:;orial which appeared IN The Alex
lndria Gazette. Continuing he said 81
h;nk it has done more to cement the
department: than anything else tha.
las happened. have received scores
# appeals to withdraw my resignation
knew pro3ably better than anyone
+ you the sacrifices that you have
made. | know il is a sen$c OF duty
nat % sever your connection with the
department would be more hurtfui to
he peop9. The fire department i>
he nest highly respected department;
4 the city government.
Il don: believe that after It has
cen so clearly proven that the ed!-
.or:al reflects the viaw of one per-
;on only tina. you should suffer.
cid you Jsfore was absolutely with
fou till h freezes over. The pecp.c
Alexandra have asked me 10 stay
% you wan, me?'
There was mighty course OF
;oices that answered in harmony We
TO-"
Chef Ogden then added that he
hoped to induce the drivers 20 remain
within the speed limits. He, however.
aid that if there is fire and he was
\ a position to say go th:rty-f:ve
niles an hour j; was goirg - be done.
Ci,y council he said could not sit IL
heir seats ard tell him hcw TO run
he department.
Chief Ogden further said: We have
cen condemned about the alarm. /.
laS neen retracted. We interrogatc1
he members of the fire department
Thc paper ID net ask toe persons n
|. minority bu. asked the police. The
nan credited with making the state
|; merit denied making it. He again re
+, erred 10 the speed and he a:d NJ
,ou!d nc. say that the vehicles VII!
'ravel al twenty-five mics an hour
u the annexed territory. These people
! le said can be reached quickly onl!
| oy speed and this he sad seemed Z
! Q overlooked. The Chief said twent.
+; miles an hour had oeen suggested, bu
,e added this could not be done an;
hold the department together. Tn
paper he declared said he was "franl
| ard bitter" This statemcn: he as
serted was the most truthful thing i
| he article.
The chief sad he felt like one Of tn
i men and rot Tie chief and refer
! ed 70 the fact that his sa!aryfs 50
, mcnth and he said it cost him ab2u
5000 year loss Of business.
! Concluding the chief said: Il is
! pleasure TO withdraw my reSignatio