The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-12
SHELBY COMES BACK
At SAM WILL JOHN
Wants the Public to Form Its
Own Conclusion
RESENTS JOHNS METHOD
Regrets Matter Has Come Up and
Says 1t Is a Closed Incident
So Far as He Is
Concerned.
RESENTS JOHNS METHOD

Concerned,
]. e. Shelby, president of the Biz
mlngham Board OF Trade, gave out an In
terview yesterday to the Age-Herald, in
which he makes a rejoinder to the recent
statement Of Col, Sam VIII john
legislator from Jefferson, before meet
ing of the states lower house, Mr.. Shell
by is willing, after making an explana-
ton, to leave the public to form Its con-
elusion as to the merits of the contro-
versy,
Mr.. shelby regrets the incident, and
states that as far as he Is concerned 1t
has reached its last chapter.
1t is remembered that Mr. shelby In
his capacity of president of the Board
of Trade. communicated to Colonel John,
In his capacity of legislator, that the
Board of Trade was thoroughly i'm SYM
patty with the movement of the Mumel-
pal Ownership League, the movement 10
have the city given the power to par-
chase or erect a waterworks plant or It's
own, and asked the support of Jefferson
representative. Similar letters were sent
to every other member of the Jefferson
delegation. Colonel john In answer TO
the letter of Mr.. Shelby. stated that the
letter gave him his first Intelligence con-
corning the movement, and referred III
way TO Representative Haley that was
not considered exactly complimentary. IN
his capacity of president of the Board OF
Trade Mr. Shelby made public the letter
of Colonel John. Then Colonel Johh' De
fore the legislature, stated his friendship
and admiration for Representative Haley'
and uttered words conveying the mean
ing that he thought he was communicat-
mo with a gentleman when he commune
Gated with the president of the local
Board of Trade,
No Personal Matter.
The latest chapter to the incident Is
the retoinder of Mr. Shelby. Asked Tor
an interview on the subject he said:
"rhe personal privilege explanation OF
colonel Sam VIII John on the floor of the
house of representatives as the same APP
peared in the daily press, has not peeh
eontradicted by him. and ! presume ne
was correctly quoted.
"He was quoted as saying that tho cor
respondence between him and mysei re-
ferred TO- was of a personal nature sIN-
ing out the impression that | had petraS
ed personal condolences. When ne salu
This he knew 1t was not true Coiohei
John well knew that my letter was
written I'm an official capacity, that Oh
nresident of the Birmingham Board Of
4 AHri If
Quest and instance of that organization.
The same letter was written TO tle olhei
members of the Jefferson delegation anu
related solely to the bill introduced by
Mr.. Haley authorizing cities OF Aianain'
TO erect, acquire and operate WATERWAYS,
and requested co-opefauoh ~
passage OF the bill.
His Opnon Not Sought.
Nowhere was Colonel John asked for
his opinion of Mr. Haley, or his CON
stitutional habits. Replying to my letter
he addressed me as President, Birmins-
ham Board of Trade, and his letter
was understood and treated by me ana
the Board OF Trade as public document
from a public official
$50 his theory of whitewashing ms
,lnyerhanded stab at Mr. Haley by pre-
tending that his personal confidence hdu
been betrayed, Is absurd on It's race.
again he is quoted as saying, / nave
known him Haley for years, ana app
nreciate him az lawyer and friend.
lie saws this in public How does TINS
sound nv the side of what he said ABOUT
him In his personal letter: ! suppose
this comes from Mr.. Haley's constitution
al habit Of keeping everything quiet ana
to himself, thinking thereby that ne may
slip something through. Ana yet, nc
1t. Ia OF
conceding his letter was personal, does
that license him to blackmall triehd
In other words, Colonel John seems 10
take the position that he can embody
in a personal letter, bearing on personal
matters, and a public official, derogatoiy
statements that he would be unwilling TO
saw In public 1t occurs to me that II
would have been much more the part
of a man for him to have acknowledge
his letter az a public document ana hlaue
an honorable apology to his colleasue,
The only difference in my opinion, IN
casting reflections on friend puDhciy
or privately, u.s. that the latter Is more
dishonorable than the former
"Lona Distance Insults"
"In regard to his alleged statement,
thar however | made a serious mistake
IN thinking / was addressing my letter
10 a gentleman, ] am willing TO leave
IL 10 crlticising public, VINO mas hcied
the gentleman In this matter-Colonel
John or myself.
"Thls thrust is only another Of his
sneaky, long-distance insults. With Mr..
Haley facing him, and me one hundred
miles away, he was all apologies to him
and slurs and insinnations to me. His
remark admits Of but one construction,
and / resent Il. In attempting to relieve
himself Of his unwarranted attack on
Mr.. Haley. he shall not cast aspersions
ON me.
"Instead of any idea or effort OF slip
ming the bill through the Legislature, It
was commented on time and again by
the daily press and Colonel John only
argues his ignorance Of what was going
on and passing events, when he replied TO
my letter by saying, IT was the first
time | had heard of the Dill
I'm conclusion, | wish to say that
regret exceedingly that this matter has
been brought before the public in It's
II fnss | a