The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-03-04
AN OPEN LETTER.

To Mr.. Clarence ousley. Galveston. Texas.
Austin, Texas. March 2.-Being the staff
correspondent who criticised some of the
mismanagement of the late festival week
at Galveston, and which criticism seems
to have aroused your ire to an unusual de-
gree, feel constrained to comment briefly
upon your arraignment OF myself. And,
by way of predatory remark, permit me to
assure you that ! appreciate to the full
your oondescension In the detail of state
ment, while at the same time waving ref
erence in retort to your clumsy attempt
at irony and ridicule OF my profession OF
humble newspaper correspondent. Smarter
II not better men than you have said plain
err If not meaner things about us, but the
tribe seems to prosper and keep in toll
erably good health. The truth is, my dear
sir, as "witherer" you are not altogether
and in every respect an illuminated sue
cess.
Another POINT l wish to impress in the
outset, for the convenience Of statement
and understandings was In addition to
representing The Houston Post. special
y
this fact, Mr.. Ousley, not as a matter per-
ticularly of qualification, but to dis
abuse your mind OF the seeming impress
sion that ! an unbldder person, a
kind of inierloper, 50 TO speak.
To consider your allegations In the or
der in which they are made: Passing over
the charge that my statements are base
less" / will first take up your statement
that | was surprised that the hotels were
crowded." | made no such assertion.
stated that the legislators we're directed
to 70 TO the Beach hotel and that the ac-
commoGations OF that large building were
not sufficient 10 house those who went. TIE
building was already crowded with editors
ana although Galveston had invited the
legislators to be her guests. no Intelligent
effort was made 10 accommodate them at
hotels other than the Beach. and Manager
Gueringer was at the time crowded with
guests ] know nothing about the other
hotels in the city, as my Instructions were
TO accompany the legislators. and / went
with them to the Beach. Those who went
TO other hotels did so at their own expense,
is my information. although 1t had been
announced on the floor of the house that
every necessity would be without money
and without price. The fact Mr.. ousleJ.
that YOU visited Houston and suffered In
copyeniences. cuts no figure in this con-
nection.
l quote from your interview
1.-THE Galveston people provided rooms
for those who could not find lodgings AT
the hotels. and II each one of the thousands
of visitors could not find the conspicuonsly
displayed public comfort quarters 1t was
his own fault. for inquiry Of any citizen. of
any policeman or at any hotel would have
directed him to the place where he would
have found hundreds OF rooms listed, with
messenger boys TO conduct hin 10 his
choice OF location"
The party arrived in Galveston in the
forenoon. and when ! left the city at b;5o
o'clock in the afternoon there were those
| who did not know where they would sleep.
| They had been sent to the Beach hotel for
| accommodations. and the Beach was
| crowded.
You next say Mr.. Dusley:
concerning the events of the week, the
| CORRESPONDENT. SAYS: There seemed TO he
no head to the arrangements, and mattern
| were considerably mixed. Tho
committees consisted In the main OF So
cIety leaders who devoted their