The morning news., 1888-04-07
.HARALSON SUSPENDED.
CAPT. MILLEDGE NOW ACTING AS
STATE LIBRARIAN.

The Old Official Refused to Resign and
Was Promptly Displaced After
Some Very Curt Correpondence-
The Affairs of the Library to be In
vestigated.
ATLANTA, GA, April 6.-For the past
two days it has been rumored that the Gov
ernor would ask for the resignation of
Frank l.. Haralson, State Librarian, and
that Capt John Miledge would be appointed
to succeed Mr. Haralson. The rumor ma
terialized yesterday afternoon when the
Governor sent Mr.. Haralson a letter re-
ouesting his resignation by IL O'Clock to-
day. This morning Mr.. Haralson sent a
reply asking the Governor to state in writ
ing the reasons for his request, and in the
meantime to withdraw it until he could be
heard In a second letter the Governor de-
clined to state his reasons and renewed
his request for Mr.. Haralson's resignation,
which was not given. Mr. HARRISON has
been suspended and Capt. John Milledge
and w. r. Rankin, Jr., have been APP
pointed to examine into the condition of the
State Library and report to the Governor
As the Librarian is appointed by the Gov
ernor and confirmed by the Senate some
hold that the Governor can only suspend
him. The Governor has acted after con
sideration, and he is evidently satisfied that
he is acting within the limits of his consti-
tutlonal power.
THE CORRESPONDENCE.
Yesterday afternoon the Governor sent
Mr.. Haralson the following:
ATLANTA GA. April ;, 1888
M, Frank HdrdlSon, Librarian OF the State
DEAR SIR regret that sense of public duty
compels me to ask your resignation of the Office
of Librarian. / shall hope TO receive it by u NJ.
tomorrow friday. j. b. GORDON.
To tins Mr.. HARRISON made the following
reply:
ATLANTA GA, April G, 1888.
DEAR GOVERNOR: Your letter of the 9TH in
stant has been received, and after careful con
sideration would ask that you state in writing
the reason for your action, and in the mean
time withdraw your request that / may be
heard in reply; Yours very respectfully,
FRANK l.. HARALsoS, Librarian.
The Governor this morning wrote Mr..
Haralson a second letter, which was as fol-
lows:
APRIL 6, 1888.
Mr.. Frank Rdrdlson, Librarian:
DEAR SIR-My sense of duty will not permit
the withdrawal of my request for your resigna-
tion, nor do consider that a statement of my
reasons for such request would be of service to
you or demanded by the circumstances. re
peat my request for your resignation and if
do not receive it by p. IN. today shall place
some one in charge of the Library
j. b. GoRDoN. Governor.
THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.
To the second letter Mr.. HARRISON made
no reply, and soon after l O'Clock the fol-
lowing executive order was issued:
April G, 1888.
Frequent complaints having been received at
this department that Frank J.. Haralson State
Librarian, has been neglecting the duties of his
office for months past, and the complaints hav-
ing satisfied myself that there is ample cause
for them. it is, therefore, in the discharge Of
my duty under the statute, ordered that John
Milledge, Esq, and w R. Rankin, Jr., both of
the county of Fulton, be and they are hereby
appointed as agents of the State to examine into
and report the condition of the State
Library to the executive. II is further ordered
that said Frank J.. HARRISON be- and he is hereby
suspended from said office until further order
from this department, and that in the mean
time the official duties as Librarian be dis
charged by said Capt. Milledge.
j. b. GORDON, Governor.
MIR. HARALSON WON'T TALK.
Mr. Haralson was seen at 1:30 O'Clock.
When asked if he wished to say anything
in regard to the Governors order he said:
81 have nothing to say" Though Mr. Har-
alison declined to talk he is evidently acting
according to advice. His reply to tie Gov
ernor is carefully worded He showed a
telegram from a lawyer of considerable
reputation. The telegram says: 'stand
firm, act rightly" and here the telegram
quoted an act of the Legislature.