The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-03-19


Col. l. T. Johnson, Auditor. ChIrieEon
DEAR SrR:-My attention has been
called TO your interview rs published
in the Register OF Wednesday, 18th
inst, replying 10 publication by the
tSrELLIdEycrR on February 2S OF an
interview with me. Since my return
from Charleston have been very busy
with the accumulation OF business dur.
ing my Absence, and on that accoun.
could not reply As promptly as de-
sired 10 your letter OF March ., which
differs from the alleged copy only in
one particular-the original stating. rs
published il tho Mail OF this CITY"
(Charleston), tho alleged copy stating
az published in the Wheeling ISrgLLI.
GESCEE," not material difference but
enough to suggest tho suspicion that
you may have written two letters OF
even date. or that the reporter had for
reasons OF his own mutila;cd the orig.
inal.
regre. my inability to write you
promptly and thus have saved you the
rushing into print, but eince you have
sought that means OF announcing your
views and opinions take it for granted
you desire that reply through the
came channel, which will do by publ
cation-a marked copy OF which shall
mail to you. l take pleasure in Eek
planning" so far US can. my connection
10 the interview referred 10. 1t was not
my intention or desire to do the least
injustice, nor do l think have; | am
not sure used the words affected to
be Ignorant Of" The reporter may have
miSquoted me and be entitled to the
credit OF originality, but Tor the sake oil
avoiding argument on that point and
because tho expression so fully. com.
plc,ely aud eminently expressed the
opinion held, l will accept it
You must remember that as a public
officer and servant you are liable to DO
callcdto an account and to have your
conduct and judgment questioned and
criticised, and that it is possible for
your friends 70 differ with you in their
estimate OF what you know or may not
know. You should not forget that n
man sometimes without knowing it
"hides his light under bushel" and
really knows more than the public may
think he does. thus innocently mislead-
ing others. Then, too, there may BIO n
wide variation in Interpretation OF an
expression, which may appear 20 mean
one thing, yet be meant to mean an
other thing quito differons Now,
AFFECTED to be ignorant OF" may by
solne persons be thought to mean that
the person knows but pretends not to
know, and by others that no really
does not know but pretonds no does. to
impress others with the belief that no
docs when he does not.
min unable to determine the exact
Interpretation you may have put upon
the words, and 10 reply moredirectlv 10
your demand for what instance any
charge was made by tho auditor that
could not be explained" beg to cay tina.
have no recollection OF any (sayo ono
for circuit judees) where the explana.
ton and information woro entirely sat-
isfactory, and will own to tho suspicion
| had thu, you were not particularly
anxious to give M much as was wanted
and that you eithor did not know. or
sought to convey tho impression that
you did not, whom you really did.
most chocriully add that You were uni.
formerly polite and gentlemanly-as
was your chief clOrk, Mr.. Cracraft,
whom | havo known for years and 70.
spectcd most highly-and who always
appeared to posscsa fuller knowledge
than anyone else. and rs tho only one
fully capable OF impartinE information.
will n!so add that for IN Office, ono
OF the most important OF tho state. au-
ditlng tho accounts and involving worry
largo sums OF money and making ostI-
matcs upon which to base appropria.
tions, calling for clear and full UNDER
standing and familiarity with facts as
vol as fgurca-yours falls far short Of
what in my humble opinion il should
be-, and l am warranted in tho belief
that ! am not alone in my opinion.
With tho aamo franknoIs nm inclined
10 question your knowledge OF my visits
TO your Office for Information it was
my privilege and duty to secure, il
could, aud yours to impart, not with
drawn Rxe," as you atatO, unless your
approximations led you to tho mistake OF
surprising protests against unexplained
and apparently cNtravagant estimates
woro intended To DO an nttaCk upon tho
judiciary and othor charges Of tho
state; M obtuscncGs thu. may DO 70.
sponsiblo for your unwarrantod rs.
sumption TINT tho explanations woro
satiGiactory. LINN unconscious of hav-
Ing mado any attachments on tho floor o!
tho house that wsro unsupported by
tho fnCt., and my criticisms wore not
unjust but judtiIicd by tho authority Of
which spoke.
Now. my dear sir. you certainly must
DO aware that in pronouncing Tho SON.
ator's whole interview as published in