The San Francisco call., 1898-07-10
Assistant COiner Resists His Suspension and Will
 Appeal.
Charged by MT. Spotts With Misconduct and Delinquency and Recommended
 for Dismissal From the Service.

There is trc ble at the Mint, and every prospect that enough of it will develop to allow each of several gentle men a liberal share. It all grows di- rectly from the suspension from duty of Michael H. Mead. This made trouble for him of course and he does not pro pose to maintain a monopoly.
 The public has been informed of the suspension of Mr Mend, but the precise reason has never been given. As the following letter has a direct bearing on the matter it is given in full:
 July 2. 1898.
 Hon. Frank A Leach, Superintendent United States Mint-Sir: Pursuant to ar ticle %. section r. of the Mint regula- tions and other rules and laws govern ing the Mint service and this department, as coiner I have to report want of fidelity and reason to suspect the in tegrity of Michael H. Mead, assistant to the coiner in the handling of bullion and metal. and who I also charge with dere- fiction of duty, delinquency and miscon- duct in office. l recommend the suspen- sion of M II. Mead as assistant coiner, and think he should be dismissed from the Mint service. Respectful submitted,
 A T. SPOTTS, Coiner.
 This was a declaration of war, the throwing down of a gauntlet. Mead was suspended, but he does not intend to submit, and the opening of as pretty a fight as has stirred politicians for many a day may be regarded as having been made the instant the letter was penned. Mead has taken up the gaunt- let undismayed and as to his intention to make things lively for the enemy makes no secret. He has engaged At torney Frank McGowan to conduct the case, and as a preliminary step an answer has been filed with Superin- tendent Leach in which the charges are denied in toto. But Mead does not con- tent himself with a simple denial. He brings counter charges charging Spotts with an attempt to compound a felony and Leach himself is included in the indictment
 A short time ago an employe of the Mint was arrested for stealing bullion and was convicted. Mead says Spotts and Leach have tried to hold him re- sponsible for the shortage discovered on that occasion. He was asked by Spotts to resign and declined to do so. Mead, by the way, is one of the Dag gett men whom the present administra- tion found already in place, and who are protected by civil service. It is common belief that the Leach crowd does not have for these men the warmth of affection showered upon such as came in by later appointment. However, this may have no bearing on the subject in hand
 When Mead refused to get out on re- quest, he says the matter was renewed in anothr form. Spotts, on the author ity of Leach, made him a proposition to accept two weeks salary and re- sign. To keep accounts straight the resignation was to be without date. and the books to show nothing of the evan ishment of Mead from the scene until the two weeks had expired. This scheme not appealing to Mead, it was renewed by Spotts and Leach together. but the pair failed to convince Mead of the advisability of quitting. Then he was bounced, or at least treated to sus- pension, which is the initial stage of the bounce.
 Thus merry war Is on. Mead's friends claim that the whole trouble is political, dating back to the Metropoli- tan Temple convention when Mead re- fused to shout for O'Brien for chairman and stood up for Watkins, despite the admonitions of certain bosses who told him what he ought to do. Mead had done considerable in