Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-02-21
MERRY FIGHT ON
OVER CLERKSHIP.
II is Between W. 4. Wilkins and
Chairman Fred J.
Leonard.
IN BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
Clerk Withdraws His Resignation and
Win stay Until Americans Gust
IIlm--Letter to Leonard.

'i'iN NNiiT'NN hhN fcslSHdtiOh anu
WIN Stay Until Americans Gust
IIlm--Letter to Leonard.
Chairman Fred j. Leonard OF the
board Of public works claims that tho
resignation OF Clerk w. III. wilkins
has been accepted and another man
has been promised the Job. and that
the change Will take place on April /.
Clerk Wilkins, however, has diff
terent view OF the matter. He has
Withdrawn his resignation and now
proposes 10 compel the American adj
ministration 70 GUST him from his POI
sition A letter written by Clerk VIII
Nns Yesterday to Chairman Leonard
explains the clerks stand In the mat
ter and IT states that certain nom
resident contractor who holds Mr..
wilkins responsible for not being al.
lowed to run In bills for certain extras
on his contract, II the cause OF the
chairman and Mayor Thompson being
opposed to the clerk holding his Office
longer. aud has used his Influence out
Of revenge. The letter written by Mr..
wilkins to Chairman l. o1ard follows
IN fun,
CLERK WILKINS LETTER.
About the LIST Of February. IN a con-
yefsaiion with you In relation 10 q
newspaper article headed, wilkins will
hold on to his job | had the honor
ot rendering you my resignation Of
such job for the following reasons
which | then assigned to you:
let. The article did not correctly
state my position and WAS unauthor-
tied;
End. desired to relieve you Of any
possible embarrassment which might
arise from the fact that ] did not sup
port the present administration during
the last campaign.
In said Interview YOU assured me,
however az "A man who never says
n thing unless ! meat it, that | was
not to pay any attention 10 the article
IN question. that I was not to feel In
the slightest degree any embarrass-
ment, ON the contrary. before assum-
Ing the duties and responsibilities Of
your position, sou had made sufficient
inquiries on the subject and had de-
cided not to make any change in the
position Of the cleark Of the board of
public works, and therefore desired to
retain me IN said position, which con-
clusion l then stated to you would be
perfectly agreeable to me, and the said
resignation then offered was not aC-
copied Your position In this respect
you also stated to others. openly and
publicly,
THE SITUATION CHANGED,
was therefore greatly surprised to
hear YOU state on the 18th Of February,
or In less than two weeks. that there
Is considerable criticism in regard TO
my retaining you in this position from
the members OF the board for which
hitter do not care. but the mayor eX-
pressed himself along the same line
yesterday. and | can not stand against
the influence Of the mayor"
Believing that this opposition 10 mo
and pressure for my resignation came
from political soures and for bona
hde political reasons, | assured YOU az
once that my attitude as TO causing you
embarrassment for such reasons was
unchanged and | therefore rendered
you my resignation. the same TO take
effect April l.
| think have sufficiently outlined QUO
various conversations etc, on this sub
ject, to make IT apparent that II wa5
from possible embarrassment, RE-
SULTING FROM MY PARTY AFFiI.-
IATIONS DURING THE CAMPAIGN
that | was anxious TO relieve you, end
for this reason ! unhesitatingly ten
der ed my resignation. as stated. ! have
since learned, however that unwilling
ly, | believe, SO far as YOU are con-
cerned. the party affiliations allegation
Is ostensible merely, and IL but a sham
and a pretense to cover up and con-
ceal the actual reason, which results
from tho open and revengeful efforts OF
a city contractor, disappointed In re-
peated instances IN obtaining extras
unwarranted by his contracts. and not
justified by any consideration Of tho
interests of the taxpayers Of this city
for which disappointment he does me
the honor OF holding me personally re.
apoHsible
THREATS AND EMPTY BOASTINdS.
This state Of affairs was unknown
10 ME at the time when you requested
| forward 10 you my resignation.
had up to that time considered an this
on said contractors part, as threats. or
empty boastings. but | now learn that
the change I'm the political situation has
been seized upon by him to further his
own ends in this regard and thus ac.
cGmplish hts revenge, and II certainly
seems TO me that his efforts should
meet with a rebuke from all the ON
clals connected I'm any way with this
administration, as well az from all fair
minded citizens. However that may be,
these facts, TO my mind. change the
entire situation and make a different
condition from that on which / sup
posed my resignation was desired. |
therefore, as said 10 you I'm CONVEX
sation this morning hereby withdraw
the said resignation, as would not for
a moment contemplate ocquiesing In
the wishes OF a disappointed and re-
veuEeful contractor by redgnng In
accordance with his openly expressed
desires.
MAY COME UP AGAIN.
shall regret very much II the With
4. - lbNr -r.fut,o rt,., at..,t4