Evening journal., 1899-08-09
WELSH'S STATEMENT.
n -. a |a|Nil n lEIE
His Nomination for Chief En-
gineer Was Properly Made.
CALLED JOSHUA PYLE A LIAR

bOl HAD NJ DIFFICULTY WITH
ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
LIBERTY FIRE COMPANY-EX-
PEcTs TO BE THE NEXT CHIEF
OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Considerable comment has arisen
over the recent statement regarding
contention among the members Of the
Liberty Fire Company ever the nomi-
nation Of John P. Welsh for next chief
of the Fire Department.
It was alleged that at the regular
meeting Of the company held Monday
might the selection of Mr.. Welsh dur
ing meeting held the third Of July, to
be chief engineer OF the Fire Depart
ment was disapproyed on the grounds
that all the members were not present
when he was selected
II was further alleged that Mr..
Welsh became very angry when his
selection was disapproved and showed
an inclination to quarrel with the
members.
Mr.. Welsh called at the Evening
Journal Office yesterday and made the
following statement regarding his
nomination: Previous to the meeting
OF the Liberty Fire Company held July
3 last several members OF the COM
pany came to me unsolicited and stated
that the matter Of nominating a chief
|of the Fire Department would be
brought up at the meeting, and asked
me what thought OF it. l replied
that l should leave the subject entire
Ily in their hands. At the July meet
ing there we're twenty-five members
present out OF total Of thirty when
the motion to proceed to the nomina-
tion OF a chief was put and carried.
MY name was presented. and some
one then moved that the nomination
close. Joshua Pyle was present at the
time, and knowing that he was, or had
been a candidate for the office. |, in
order to give his friends an opportu-
ity to present his name, suggested not
to be hasty in closing the nomination.
but to give all chance. After wait
ing some time. and no names being
further suggested, the motion to close
prevailed, and was followed by one to
make the nomination unanimous. The
latter motion was carried, one or two
voting against it.
After the meeting had adjourned
Isome Of my friends said to me that
they thought the action previous. but
were satisfied with the result At the
meeting Monday night Mr. Pyle moved
that the minutes OF the preceding
injecting be adopted with the exception
of that portion Of them which refer
red to the nomination Of a chief en-
gineer This motion was lost,
After much discussion the en-
tire minutes Of the preceding meeting
were thrown out. and all business Of
that meeting was declared void. There
were eighteen members present, and
some Of my friends voted for the mo-
ton. not understanding its exact
meaning.
THE only dissension that occurred
in the meeting was when Mr.. Pyle al
lleged that the minutes Of the previous
meeting were not correct. called him
a liar. and persist in the assertion if
Mr. Pyle still insists that the minutes
were incorrect. Secretary Michael ].
Cannon stated that they were correct.
, II had no other words with anyone else.
IL am willing to abide by the action
OF Monday nights meeting until the
proper time for action comes, but
will say that If the Liberty company
names the next chief of the Fire De-
partment / will be the man, as already
twenty-five members without solicita-
ton have promised to support me-
When my name was brought up / nat
Iurally looked out for my own interests
when I ran for the nomination for first
assistant engineer Mr. Pyle promised
= to support me, but went back on me-
= Since Mr.. Welsh's connection with
= the Liberty company, at its organiza-
ton nine years ago, he has always
been an active fireman and ready to re-
spond to any and every alarm. He
: stands high in his company, both so
cially and as a freeman, and is vel
thought Of by his brother hremei
Throughout the city. His selection BY
the company of which he is a mem
Der as chief engineer, will reflect grea
NJ credit upon the organization and th'
as companies in general.
Mr.. Welsh has been chosen marsha
a of the company for the parade on Sep
A. tember 6.