Telegram-herald., 1890-02-25
COL. WELLS RESIGNS
And Governor Luce Has Accepted
His Resignation
IaE DEMANDS OF PRIVATE BUSINESS
lhs C4ass, .Rd Net ths Sensational
Ch4Exss Pabllshsd Against Him
They uiu be AusssFsd shoala
Occasion Demand IL

The TELEGRAM-HERALD reporter, who
had Just finished perusins higniy
padded dispatch IN the Leader, purpOrt'
ing 10 have been sent from Lansing
met Col. Wells IN the foyer OF Sweet :
Hotel yesterday and drew his attention.
% the screed. The colonel glanced
over the same and quietly remarked,
Nonsense They don't know what
they are talking about They want a
sensation aud are bound ~ have L Il
they have 10 inventit.
"But. colonel, surely there must be a
gram of truth IN their statements. Some
action must have been taken; at AL
events enough 10 give color to the
item?
"Wel, I don't mind telling you that
something has been done. have re-
signed"
designed?
'Yes. l sent in my resignation as a
member OF the Soldiers Home Board
date February p. the 22d beng a
legal holiday and the next day Sunday,
nothing was done. This morn
ing 1 received a telegram from Gov.
Luce, saying MY resignation would be
acted upon and also saying he
had written. am Just now
IN receipt OF the letter mentioned,
IN which the Governor says he accepts
my resignation, and 4, together with
his acceptance, Will be filed with the
Secretary of state tomorrow morning"
Did the Governor al any time ask
Tor your resignation
NO. IL was entirely voluntary on
my part
'Ilave you any objection to state
why you resigned?
Not at all. Ny private business calls
are such that cannot afford TO devote
the time To the Soldiers Home. | have
striven hard 10 do so IN the past, but
can 10 longer. Another thing Is, that
am continually placed II an equivOcal
position. / am a member of the board 5
finance committee, and part OF my
duties IS % audit all sorts of accounts
among others, those for supplies. My
business proper IS real estate, and | fre-
quently handle property for the very
men VINO are supplying the home. TINS
Is distasteful 10 me, because of the insln-
uatiOns, however baselesS, 1t might pos
sibly engender, and yet | can't refuse
their business, as | am tar from rich
man and have family to take care of.
The compensation for my duties To the
state are merely nominal, the Office
honorary"
Have you received any expression
OF opinion from your friends or others
as to the situation?
Col. Wells drew u bundle of certified
copies OF originals, now IN the hands of
the Governor, signed BY such men as
Noigt, Herpolsheimer & Co., dry goods;
Foster, stevens * Co., hardware; A.
Hines, coal; Weatherly & Pulte, steam
filters and plumbers: j. &. Herkner
jewelcr and spectacles; Sproul Il Nc
Gurrln, steam ttters and plumbers;
Lemon 4 Peters, groceries; Grand
Rapids Ice and Coal Company, by Z. A.
Hamilton, secretary;J. ID. Boland, con-
tractor, and many others.
4 perusal of these showed that each
and all spoke IN the highest terms of
Col. Wells as a gentleman and an hon
est man, N the whole of their dealings,
with whom no such thing as commits
SION. rebate or anything OF the kind was
ever mentioned or thought of.
Colonel, have YOU any further views
% express?
None. Yes. by the way, | would
Ike YOU TO ,ay that this resignation is
no new thing with me. ! have had il
iu contemplation TOR a long time, and
j assure YOU that the sensational
charges made against me have had no
influence as 20 my present course.
feel confident that should the time
come when it would be necessary ! VIII
De- able % take care of them N salts
factory manner To all