Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-10-02
MAYOR M'KENzIE REPLIES

FARHAvEN, Sept. 80, 1892.
EDITOR HERALD:-Referring to Mr..
Donovan's communication in the HER
AID this morning, am willing to admit
it is characteristic of him and courteous,
but / do not agree with you that it is
"clear, forcible and fair" However, this
is merely question of opinion. He says,
had he known there would have been
such commotion' he would have hesi-
tated before bringing the matter to the
attention OF the council. Would such
hesitation" on his part be "fairn to his
constituents when they were about to be
fieased to the tune Oftat least 50 600? Are
his personal feelings of more consequence
to him than their interests? At 1.-The
conclusion of my remarks" Mr. Kingdom
was most certainly "to any unprejudiced
listener" the more responsible; In fact
the only one responsible for the unenvia-
Bile position the council 0ncluding Mr..
Donovan) was placed in. Mr.. Donovan
was the more responsible when
he qyietly took it ALL" when
the HERALD, understanding that
he was not present at the council
when the "swindle" was railroaded
through, praised him In blazing headlines
and crisp editorials as il he were mot as
deep In the mire as the other councilmen
were in the mud" having deliberately
NObeu lOT lue sWlnule' / want 10 KNOW III
he means to insinuate that / invited the
guests and edtors?" | did invite him as
a matter Of courtesy. | take IL that no
public official has right to claim exemp-
tion from criticism on his public acts and
1.-THE work expected Of him. in which his
constituents are interested. That Mr..
Donovan did not do the work on the
sewer committee the city was entitled
too, he is bound to admit
In making up the committees last jan
uary put Mr.. Donovan on what seemed
to me the most important OF them, max
ing him chairman Of the judiciary com
mittee, and as he says, of the sewer com
mittee at his special request, in the place
o. Mr.. Oeser, to whom | had originally
assigned that position, in order to make
each councilman chairman Of one com
mittee. Mr.. Donovan was not a
member of that committee at his own
request. He says he felt free to resign"
Granted. But can't every member of
committees and every councilman do the
same? i fail to see any force" in this.
Seems to me 1t Is more "forcible' to say
that If anyone served 1t should be the
one appointed to a position at his own
special request. Surely, it is a lame ex-
cuse for anyone TO forsake his post of
duty" because he would not have the
support expected" He does not say
that he did not have it. Having resigned
he becomes responsible to the citizens for
Mr. Kinghorn becoming chairman Of the
sewer committee, he being the next in the
"line Of descent" No evasion will avail
as to this point. Mr.. Donovan stands
over me, and assuming a most patroniZ
ing air, says that he has not said aught
against" me. For this | thank him not
as long as he confines himself to my pub
lie official acts, for as / have already
stated, no public official should arrogate
to himself exemption from "fair' criti
cism of his acts by his constituents, and
in the event Of the official not liking 1t, he
can "feel free to resign" No, | claim no
such exemption for myself.
He says that under no circumstances
will he be candidate for any office at
the next election" Now, Mr.. Editor, is
1t flair" TO claim that the connection be-
tween this and the other subject matter
is "clean?" / fail to see IL. As for my
self give no such warning for fear the
citizens might respond and say, Nobody
wants you," or "We can get along with
out you" Yours truly,
A. MCKENZIE.