The Detroit times., 1908-01-06
BISHOP WILLIAMS
+. DECLINES D. J.. R..
D|RECT0RSH|P
ChuRcHMAN Is OFFERED OFFICE
BY PRESIDENT HUTcHlns, BUT
REPuDiATEs INTERVIEW WHICH
PROMPTS OFFICIALS LETTER.

.. Bishop Charles ID. Williams. of the
Episcopal diocese OF Michigan, has
been offered place in the directorate
OF the Detroit United railway by Pres
ident Jere c. Hutchins, and is begged
To accept the Office with the company.
The offer Is made To Bishop Will
liams by Mr.. Hutchfns In letter
prompted by the announcement OF the
bishop that he intends to take an &C
y tive part in civic affairs, among them
the settlement of the street railway
problem. and for which purpose Bish-
op Williams has established down
town office.
President Hutchins letter is as fol-
lows:
Jan. 6, 1905.
Rt. Rev. Charles ID. Williams. No. COS
Woodward-ave., Detroit. Mich.
My Dear Sir--Observing in tho public
press the commendable interest you are
taking In some OF the serious problems
confronting us. i write TO ask II you
may not be induced to acccpt- a place
In the directorate Of the Detroit uaitsd
railway, Your influence as nigh
churchman, working on the inside with
us. could doubtless be exerted for the
proper CONSERVATION of the Interests OF
all parties concerned. In making this
suggestion, let me assure you that In
my pew as layman, ! am as deeply
.aesaEess- -tAst-wh4eA- IL FigAt-sAall
prevail as are you yourself in your
robes as a prince OF the church. 1t
would be pleasing. indeed. II you would
consent to contribute some OF the
blood and Iron required -to-efeet- and
maintain such an institution as the
Detroit United railway.
During my connection of some Is
years In a purely fduciary capacity
with this institution, | have seen IL
grow from something less than 100
miles. mainly OF horse railways, to It's
nnHtiA ttytf b I'm
those years | have witnessed. in Its
production, the vast expenditure or
nearly 100000 quite earnestly
agree with you that PARTISAN politics
should play no part in such affairs, and
/ as earnestly believe that the power
of the government. neither on account
of PARTISAN politics nor for any other
reason. should be dishonesty used as
is done. TO injure and handicap such a
property | would stand with you In
the belief that the course OF our gov
eminent in all OF It's relations should
be absolutely above reproach. An ex-
animation OF the public records would
show you that no such course has been
pursued toward us.
Some ten years ago, when there
seemed TO be a sentiment favoring IT,.
was associated as one OF three
commissioners with, the late Gov PIN
gree to bring about public ownership
of these properties; The result Is a
100 miles OF that day have grown into
800 now We're snd h seess
principally to the wards OF Detroit,
have stretched forth into the territory
surrounding Detroit until they now
reach and serve as many as 100 towns
and cities. and population embracing
one third of att the people Of Michigan.
These lines, with their synchronized
power houses and their 1000 cars. are
operated as one unit In intimate rela-
lions with all of these towns and all
of these people The problem, there
fore. in this connection, which you
Lad 70 nj In unl N q
is an infinitely more difficult problem
now than IL was ten years ago.
also stood with the mayor OF De-
troit last year for the Introduction of
Industrial rates Of fare much below
those I'm effect-distance OF ride CON
sidered--in any city in the world, But
cred upon their merits as economic
questions. but were swallowed up In
the currents and whirlpools of par
/ could not promise you. should you
be on our board. to support all of your
views, have not been able to support
all OF the views OF my present assoc
ciates, some of whom were opposed to
me In the two Instances cited above.
Nor could indorse the course you
mention OF the mayor of another city
N tn provoking the active "enmity OF
every man In his city worth as much
as $4,000" In my belief the man with
$50. 900 Invested In a factory. or in a
stock of merchandise, or In any other
lawful way. is as much entitled TO con-
sideration as Is his possibly, more for
tunate. but possibly poorer. brother.
But / can assure you that In the
capacity OF a director every detail of
the company's business, In all OF It's
qualifications, would come under your
-ahserxation-- and -your-counsel In such
q position, like my own, would be ex-
erted In a iduciary capacity and some
what as that OF an umpire between the
people whose investments you would
guard and those who patronize the
cars .
r. Ill 90 uAxyf0 nf
your Willingness to act In such
capacity. ! will gladly nominate you
and will do everything in my power
TO make your calling and election
sure j. G. HUTCHINs.
Bishop Williams rather takes the ro-
nance out Of President Hutchins' Of
fer. Ito The Times the bishop stated
Monday that In the interview which
prompted Mr.. Hutchins letter he was
made to say many things he did not
say.
81 am afraid" declared Bishop Will
liams. that | will have to decline the
offer and suggest that the place be
given to the Evening News reporter
who wrote the interview. Very little
of what appeared In the article was
said by me. I discussed pending civic
affairs generally, but not In particular
locally. am more familiar with con-
ditions mother cities than | am with
those in Detroit, for I have not been
a resident long enough here to famil-
iarize myself with your problems to a
point where I would undertake to set
tie them or take an active part in their
settlement The dictatorship the De
trcit United Railway offers me should
20 to the reporter.