The morning call., 1891-07-15
NO pIssENsIoNs HERE.


The Agricultural Committee having re-
ported adversely on Mr.. William Forsyth,
he declines to be any longer a candidate for
the position of chief of the horticultural
Department of the Worlds Fair at Chicago.
In acknowledging his communication. the
committee having the matter in charge
passed set of resolutions, one of which
reads as follows:
''ReS0tred, That Forsyth's action is to be
regretted. because the same has been in
duced on account of disSensions among the
citizens of California with reference TO
their choice for the position of chief Of the
Department of Horticulture"
There is no truth in this statement; it is
not the real truth, nor is it the whole truth.
And as the resolution is calculated to con-
vey an unfavorable impression of the citi-
zens of this State, it is right that the facts
should once more be placed on record, so as
to avoid misapprehensions
When the Directors of the Worlds Fair
began to divide up their work, aud to alIot
certain duties to persons who were SUI
posed to be specially fitted to discharge
them, it came to be understood that the
Craftsmanship of the Department Of Horti-
culture should go to California, because this
State eXcels all other States in horticulture.
At that time NJ. II. de Young was in Chi
cago. He was, State Commissioner to the
fair. His opinion was naturally sought on
the question who was the best man to be
chief OF the department. His opinion was
that General Chapman would suit, and it APP
peared at that time pretty certain that Chip
man would be appointed. There was no OBJ
lection TO him from any quarter.
But before the time came for his nomina-
ton De Young changed his mind and
dropped Chapman and took up man of the
| name of Maxwell, who is a coal-deaer in
Los Angeles, and has no special knowledge
of horticulture 1t is De Yeung's mistor-
tune that his fellow-citizens are always sus-
pici0us of his motives. A rumor was
started that he wanted to control person.
ally the patronage of the Horticultural De-
partment, ana that Chapman had refused
to let him have it, while Maxwell had agreed
| that he should nave what he wanted. De
Young has denied this story. Neverthe-
less, people did not overcome their suspi-
| ciOns, and as Maxwell was obviously unfit
! from his want of technical know ledge, such
| concentrations were made TO the local
| board that his appointment was not con-
| tirmed. Then Chapman was nominated and
was slaughtered for revenge. Finally, For
this stage to aggravate case which is bad
| enough as it stands. 1t may suffice to say
that Mr.. Forsyth involved himself in such
| contradictions as to his nationality and
made such a mess Of the whole affair that
| The Committee of Agriculture were COM
| PEELED to recommend his rejection.
1t is not fair to describe these transac-
| tons as 'dissensions among the citizens Of
! California" Those citizens were perfectly
| Indifferent who was made Chief OF the
| Horticultural Department, provided he pos
| sessed some knowledge of horticulture, and
had not, through his affiliations with De
| Young, exposed himself to the suspicious
which faint acts OF the editor and proprietor
| Of the Chronicle. They did not want a coal
dealer to take charge of the fruit exhibit,
| neither did they want man who did not
! know whether he was British subject or
an American citizen. General Chapman,
or Mr.. Hatch, or any prominent men,
| Der of the horticultural Society, would
| have suited them perfectly.
1t is now said that the local board will go
! to some other State for a head for the de-
| partrnent. Well. California can stand it.
It will not be what we had a right to ex-
! pect, but we owe it to De Young. If he had
not mrddled, and had not exasperated
| people by ridiculous articles in his paper,
the vacant post would have been filed long
ago, probably to the satisfaction of every
body, and We should not have heard of
disse nsio ms among cit zens Of California.