The record-union., 1891-08-01
THAT HORTICULTURAL BUREAU
Colonel Harrison Gray Otis Explains
His Position Fully.
L Actter in Which the History of the
Contest for the Commissionership
Is Very Clearly Set Forth.

The following letter from Harrison
Gray Otis, editor of the Los Angeles
Tunes, appeared in the San Francisco
Examiner yesterday:
To the Editor of the EcGnlineT-SIR:
There have appeared in the ETdDelner,
within the last few days, several illusions
TO me in the course of interviews letters
and reports touching Worlds Fair mat
ters, and purporting to describe my al
legged work. at Chicago in connection
with the headship, or rather the headless-
ness, Of the Horticultural Bureau.
These statements, so far as they affect
me, are mainly erroneous, and Will ask
the Examiner to give me the floor while
state the facts
In the first place, much more has been
made Of my part in this horticultural
campaign than the facts warrant. / have
really not played an active or conspicu-
Gus part In 1t.
made my recent trip to Chicago solely
on business for the Times, and not at the
instance, nor by the request nor in the
employ of J. DeBarth Shorb, or of any
one else, directly or indirectly, having to
do with the Worlds Fair. This statement
is due to Mr.. Shorb as well as TO the truth
and to myself.
Before | started for the East expressly
said to Mr.. Shorb's immediate support
ers: "Do not lean upon me, fer my own
at Chicago, and I will be unable to take
much of hand in his fight; but L will
gladly do what can for him."
When l reached Chicago MaxwelPs
case. was still on, and protests against his
confirmation were pouring in from all
fornians / conferred with Messrs. Nc
Nally, Higginbotham, Hutchinson,
Kertoot and other members of the Chi
cagO directory, and united my voice with
others against Maxwell, for [ had been
opposed TO his appointment from the first
on the ground Of untitness. This opposi-
ton has been openly expressed, both in
person and through the Times. The OBJ
jections to him, not alone from California,
but from all parts of the country, were
simply overwhelming, and Maxwell was
defeated by the confirming bodies.
Then General n. 2. Chapman was
nominated Ibyi sDirector-G General Davis.
at once favored Chapman, having pre-
viously indorsed him editOrially in my
paper, and having known him many
years as q good man. AS soon as Chip
man received the nomination | wired to
Los Angeles friends Of Mr.. Shorb, as well
as to the Times, indorsing the nomina
tion and advising hearty acquiescence
therein. In this action Mr.. Shorb himself
promptly concurred.
1t is true that General Chapman had
previously lin the latter part of May)
written me a letter requesting me to an
nounce to his friends and the public that
he was 'entirely out of the fight" and
urging q concentration upon Mr.. Shorb.
This letter was, l had reason to believe,
before the Director-G General when he sent
in the nomination of General Chipman.
But Chipman's appointment was uneX-
pectedly rejected through an unfortunate
disagreement between some members of
the National Directory and Of the local
board composing the Board of Control.
The nature of that disagreement did not
then fully understand, but now believe
that the opposition Of MaXwell's disap
pointed friends cut some figure in it.
They appear to have been animated solely
by the noble ambition to ''get even,n and
I understand from a Los Angeles letter
(bearing no name), which you print, that
the same motive has been confessed by
Maxwell himself since his return.
Next Mr.. Forsyth was nominated, and
MaXwelFs friends stood in" for him.
At first | was disposed to favor his con-
firmation, fearing that California might
lose the place altogether ifthe controversy
over it were kept up. But l soon found
that the opposition to Forsyth was even
stronger, both in and out Of California,
than it had been to Maxwell. Beside, l
was not aware, in the outset, Of the
serious nature of the charges against his
character, record and career in this State
charges which he subsequently failed
to disprove to the satisfaction of reason
able men. / thereupon joined the opposi-
ton TO him, considering that his con-
firmation would not be an honor to the
State or right to the country.
l felt myself fully justified by facts in
opposing both Maxwell and Forsyth, and
I certainly have no denials or apologies
TO make for my course in that regard.
My opposition was not influenced by
personal motives.
Forsyth, too, having been rejected, 1
renewed my advocacy Of Shorb. / arr
strongly in favor of his appointment and
confirmation, knowing him to be capable,
worthy, of large intelligence, and devoted
to the welfare of California. / joined the
ranks of his friends Of my own volition,
without solicitation from him, and with
out consideration of any sort, direct, re-
mote or contingent. | am convinced
that he has done no act, in the course oi
his open and manly campaign for this
place, which should disqualify him, and
l, in common with the mass Of his fellow.
citizens, earnestly hope that he may yet
be selected. l am yours, etc.,
II. q. OTIS.
Los ANGELES July % 1891