Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-19
EXPLAINS to Mr.. Parsons.

|. Commissioner Morrow also gave out
letter which he has written to Mr.. Par
sons, to clear up any misunderstanding
which may have existed between the En-
gineer Commissioner and Mr.. Parsons.
This letter is, by permission of Mr.. Par
sons, given to the press. 1t follows:
James l.. Parsons,
800 10th street southeast.
MY Dear Mr.. Parsons:
Il am writing to you in order to give
YOU assurance of the fact that the state
ment of mine. which was published in
Saturdays papers. was misunderstood Dy
YOU which / do not believe would nave
been the case had the statement been en-
tirely published in the afternoon papers
exactly as issued, although 1t was printed
substantially as issued
Il did not intend that any one should
believe that l thought your report to the
Post was tainted with malice. Your re-
port on these buildings-aS on any build
| ing-would always be welcomed by me.
| and any suggestions given most careful
| consideration. From my long acquaint-
ance with you and your work ] believe l
am justified in stating that l know OF no
builder in Washington whose suggestions
are entitled to more respectful cOnsidera-
| ton.
"The thing to which I did object, how
| ever, as definitely stated, was the fact
| that your report-which is extremely val
| liable, and the criticisms contained In
which We're largely directed at conditions
| beyond the control of the Commission
ers-was seized upon by the journal and.
maliciously. in real yellow journal fash
| ion, twisted into a garbled newspaper ar
| ticle and Illuminated with sensational
headlines. inspired. no doubt. in the same
way as other attacks on the board of
Commissioners which have appeared at
short intervals in the same journal
through the past three or four months.
II believe that you know that we OF
~ \, az
| ouainted with the conditions of the pub
lie school buildings. and have been doing
| the best that can be done with the funds
available toward making the buildings
are also acquainted with some of the
| details of recent controversies between
| the board of education and the various
officials under the inspector Of buildings.
Reasons for Propaganda.
| Il believe. also, that you are aware of
the influences which have led the Post
| into this so-called propaganda for a one
man government, and its desire to seize
upon anything to further this idea. And
| / regret that they have gotten your re-
| port into the same class with SO many
statements and speeches, most of which
, have been so unreliable, and none. un-
| til yours. appeared, worthy of serious
! consideration.
Il should ask for nothing better, were
| the Post fair minded in its treatment OF
the situation. than to have an inspection
made by you of all our school buildings.
and your report. without comment by the
reportorial or editorial staff of that pa
per, published for the public Information.
1t is too much. however. to expect that
any such attitude as this will be taken
by this journal.
.It is, however. my desire that you
should understand that any illusions in
the article given by me to the press
last Saturday could not be intended a
criticism Of your action or Of the motives
which actuated you in the matter.
believe me, always sincerely yours,
JAY j. MORROW,
Major, Corps Engineers. LISA,
Engineer Commissioner d. c.