The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-09-14
COY. HASTINGS TROUBLES.


fits ReSignGtion-The Governor was
MISInTormed About Many ThInEh
EASToN, Pa, Sept, 12.-General
Frank Reeder late last night gave out
the following statement OF his side of
the disagreement with Governor Hast
ings, which led to his resignation. The
general refused 10 make comment OF
any kind on what he had prepared. He
says:
~ have waited since last Wednesday,
the eighth instant, for Governor Hast
ings to give to the public the reasons
which actuated him speaking for my
resignation as secretary of the COM
monwealth.
"Thls he has failed to do, therefore
feel entirely justified in presenting TO
the public a full and complete narrative
OF what occurred in the interviews
which had with the governors private
secretary. and the governor himself
This / shall do without any comments
OF any sort. leaving It for the people of
the state to interpret these interviews
for themselves.
ION the evening of September q the
governors private secretary, Lewis Il.
Better called at my house In Easton
and, with all of the thoughtful consid-
Grafton and courtesy possible In the
performance of an embarrassing duty,
he presented to me the governors curt
demand for my resignation, which has
already been given to the press. i at
once expressed my willingness to COM
ply with the governors desire, and sta
ted to Mr.. BETTER that / would, after
giving him my resignation, go to Har-
rlsburg by the first train In order that
might have from the governor some
explanation of the reasons which led 10
his action.
General Reeder when he asked the
governor for his reasons for asking for
his resignation was told that he had
apparently, been drifting away from
him and had not exhibited the cordial.
lty OF former days; that General Reed
er bad declined to express TO newspa-
per men an opinion OF the merits OF the
controversy between Governor Hast
lngs and Senator Quay at the time
Senator Quay gave out his celebrated
interview. The governor said: tlltf
II am also told that you were the
author of the platform adopted by tho
recent Republican state convention, In
which / and my administration receiv-
ed slight notice, only in a postscript.
81 am also told that in the Republic
can convention OF your own county of
Northampton. n resolution was intro
duced, endorsing my administratlonand
that you made motion, which was
carried, TO lay that resolution Of en-
dorsement upon the table.
~ am informed by four gentlemen
that you had told each OF them that, In
the event OF another political contest
between Senator Quay and myself, you
would resign your office as secretary of
the commonwealth and Join your for
tune with Senator Quay in that con-
test"
The governor complained because
General Reeder did not give him zeal
Gus assistance in the work connected
with the capitol building commission.
The governor said: II also felt that
have the right to complain that you
should have been one of the slgners to
n bond indemnifying the state treasur-
or for disbursements made by him to
extra employees borne on the roll of the
| legislature and which were not author
lied by law. Such bond, II II meant
anything, meant to guarantee my ac-
tlon upon an appropriation for the pay
OF those employees. As to some Of them
as YOU know. l had already committed
myself at the opening Of the session and
consented 20 their employment and the
men were employed with my approval,
As to them. It was not necessary that
anybody should guarantee TINT would
keep my promise. As 10 the others,
those to whose employment had not
given my approval, Il was an undertake
ing to guarantee my official approval OF
the employment of persons for whom
there was no legal warrant and / feel
that no member Of my cabinet had any
right TO take any such position so In
consistent with tho duties which he
owed me as one OF my official advisers"
To all of the charges General Reeder
gave an unqualified denial.