The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-01-02
TOLD BREITMEYER
PRIVATELY OF
CHARGES
MAYOR IN HOT Philippe BLAMES
COMMITTEE AND PARK OFF,
GALS FOR CIRCULATION OF
F.. "UNPRovEN ACCUSATIONS

Mayer heffpseh- will Send Il eeff-
munication TO the council this evening,
defending his position in connection
with allegations relative to the official
conduct of Park Commission Brett
meyer and Secretary Hurlbut. The
communication follows in part:
In your last regular meeting you re-
ccfved and accepted a communication
from your committee on parks and
boulevards containing the following
language:
Your committee feels insured
that, as a result OF this investiga-
ton. his honor the mayor has
been grievously unfair TO Commis-
sfUuTr +. II. BreItmeyer and Sec
rotary Hurlbut by assisting in cir
culating improved accusations and
idle gossip concerning the officials
OF said department.
Permit me to correct the misstate-
ment OF your honorable committee. The
only persons who have assisted In cir
culating Improved accusations" have
been your honorable committee, Mr..
BEeitaaesses- aIad-ME.-u arlhaty- -hss.s
sought TO give. and who have given. all
the publicity to this matter that II has
received.
When I was informed that persons
had seen checks for payment OF SER
vices to the Belle Isle Auto Co. which
Were signed by Mr.. Hurlbut | called
Mr.. Breitmeyer to my. Office and told
him what l had learned. AS between
man and man, l felt that he ought to
know anything affecting the good name
of his department. He thereupon
brought Mr.. Hurlbut TO my office and I
told him what i had learned. As be-
Hurlbut ought to know anything az
fecting his good name. i did by those
gentlemen as / would wish to be done
by. ! warned them in friendly con-
fidence OF the imputation against them
This was the decent, manly and gentle
manly thing to do and II similar oc-
ycasion arise. / will do II again.
HurIbut ms Press Agent.
No publicity. no assisting In cir
culatlng improved accusations" had
thus far taken place. What had done
was done privately and in confidence
in my office. The matter would have
had not seen fit TO give IL publicity, by
publicly demanding. at a public meet
Ing of your committee, with great
flourish. that I make good on what
had warned him about in private. Mr..
Hurlbut was his own press agent In this
matter-cordially aided by your COM
mittee~-who affected to grayely inves-
tigate charges against the park depart
ment which / had never made.
Would DO Same Thing Again.
Heretofore i have twice. over my
signature. repudiated the suggestion
that I had preferred or that / bad in
park commission, For the last time, /
brand as false, from wahtever source
proceeding. the claim that have made
or intended to make such charrSes or
assisted in circulating improved ac=
cusations. What i have done. 1 will
do again. II stories come to me affeGt-
ing a public official shall warn that
official Crowded warning Will do
any good fairly and squarely as be-
tween man and man. as | did In this
case;gif he elects TO give these stories
public circulation by publicly demand
Ing the name OF my informant, / shall
produce my informant. as / did in this
case.
I am accountable only TO the people
who elected me for my Official conduct;
these ! shall continue to seek to serve
by alert investigation and fearless pub
lie condemnation OF short -comihgs in
municipal departments, and l have no
apology to offer to anyone for so do
ing.