The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-10-09
M'LENDON SEEKS SWEEPING PROBE OF PARK BOARD Efforts Blocked To Re- Elect Lewis Bowen To
 Membership
RESIGNATION OF
 BOARD SUGGESTED
Mrs. Sharp Reviews Long Feud Between Phillips
 And Harrison

President McLendon will ask the city commission to conduct a sweeping investiga- tion of the park board, fin or der that responsibility for the friction now existing may be fixed and steps taken to rem edy it.
 This was but one of . num- Der of developments that came in rapid-fire order "Wednesday after the boards stormiest session of it's stormy existence, at which M. P. Phillips and Elmer Thuston blocked the ratification of the commission's s recommendation that Lewis Bowen, labor man, be elected to succeed himself as . mem Iber. This action brought on heated debate, during which Mrs. Charles J. Sharp sug. 0ested that the entire board resign. She and Chairman w. L. Harrison charged Phillips with an attempt to either "dominate or wreck" the board, but Phillips declared |he would never resign. c1 nisan aata ha felt ae con na<eti6sS shalla fFy fQ AtteksAln kA! fronhle in fho board before liking ita aunropriation for the coming year Meanwhile, other developments came aa follows:
 Il. Mrs. Charles J. sharp, the only woman member of the board, in q for. mai statement, reviewed the long feud between Chairman Harrison and Mi. PhiIlipE. declared that the efficiency Of the board had ceased, that Phillips is "entirely too conscientious to serve on any board where there are other mem bers also with convictions and con ecienees." and that the city commission should consider carefully before 1t turned over any appropriations to . divided board" She said she would resign if Phillips and Thuston would do so at the same time.
 To Cut Appropriation
 2. City commissioners made it plain that they intend to cut the boards 1925 appropriation to the bone, in view of strife now prevalant among board members. The appropriation this year is S102,OOO but indications are that next years appropriation will be cut to g5O,OOO--the minimum that can be appropriated under the law.
 8, Resentful that the board rejected its recommendation for the reelection of Mir. Bowen, the commission prepared to re-nOminate him and int.-t on bis accordance. Members openly asserted that the action of Phillips and Thus ton smacked of an attempt to gain con frOl of the board. Bowen, in the past, has stood with Chairman Harrison in most of the issues before the board.
 4. Widespread discussion at city hall was featured by the suggestion that the fight on Bowen at Wednesday, 2 session of the board was, in reality a move to block the plan to plac. the new public library in Woodrow Wilson park. Harrison, Mrs. Sharp and Bowen are for the park site, while Phillips and Thuston are against It.
 Rages Two Hours
 The hectic battle at the boards Wed nesday meeting developed without warn ing and ragged for nearly two hours. The city commissions recommendation that Mr. Bowen be continued as a member was read and a vote called for. Phillips and Thuston voted against his confirmation, while Mrs. Sharp and Harrison voted for him. Bowen did not vote.
 Chairman Harrison told Phillips and Thuston that cOIAmOn courtesy de- manded an explanation of their vote. They replied merely that they wanted -big, outstanding men" placed on the board.
 What do you mean by a big, out
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