Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-10-08
INSIDE HISTORY
ON KELSEY FIGHT
Sequel to fractional Warfare
Which Has Nearly Disrupt
ed American Party.
ALLEGED GRAFT is CHARGED
Frank I. Scfrit ~ Special Commits sion
or for Thomas kcarns Finally
"Gcts" Ills old Enemy.

or for Thomas kcarns Finally
"Gets" Ills old Enemy.
Louis G.. Kelsey. city engineer. re-
| signed yesterday 10 escape charges of
alleged graft which his enemies
! threatened to make against him. His
/ resignation Is now in the hands OF
Mayor John 5. Bransford and win
/ probably be sent 20 the city council
| Monday night MAYOR Bransrord was
not prepared Co say this morning who
viii succeed Mr.. Kelsey
Behind his resignation ls story ot
| the bitter enmity of Frank J. sehrt
manager Of the Tribune and special
commissioner Of Thomas Kearns. aud
/ Henry c. Mcmillan. chairman OF the
| board OF public works a factional
| fight between these men has been
wagod for more than two years to the
/ detrimcnt OF. The taxpayers. ana it
| has disrupted the forces OF the
! American" party The charges Of ale
! legged graft are contained in "a signed
| statement bv s. Birch "a contractor
[
/ Position 10 him that he would secure
I contracts for him for a commission
/ With this letter and numerous other
| charges of Incompetence brought 20
| bear upon him, Kelsey was forced
/ 10 step down and out An authoritative
! demand was made by Sourt as coming
! from Thomas Kearns. and ho had The
Z alternative Of rcsiguing or being SUBJ
/ iccted TO an open attack IN the
{ columns of tho Tribune.
/ Although Former Mayor Ezra
! Thompson and James Lynch were be-
I hind Kelsey In the fight he had 10
| go to save the American party from
utter disruption. This was decided at
| "a conference held the day before
| yesterday. Kelsey was informed Of the
| decision and his resignation followed.
His record as city engineer has not
/ been a shining light for the Amcri-
! cans lie was openly charged in the
columns Of the Tribune recently with
! making mistakes which have cost the
/ taxpayers 100000 Many of the ciiy
! officials are free TO admit b.. The in-
/ tercepting sewer, the outlet sewer. the
/ humping plaut established Ina connec-
/ ton with Il. 60 say nothing or the
| street grades he established which has
J cost the city thousands of dollars for
I damages 90 property are samples OF
| his work.
| WAS A POLITICIAN.
In until he last. however Kelsey
| was a power in his faction and was
| considered a good politician ln the
| American convention he had a3 dele
! gates who We're employed in his de-
! partmcnt and we're Instructed Tor
| Branslord for nomination for mayor
/ The fight came 20 "a climax Wnch
| Kelsey declared himself against H. q.
! Mcmillan. whom Thomas Aearns IN
| duced 90 become candidate for mayor
| TO beat both Braasford and Lippman
| Frank ] Scfrit has show his person
| al enmty against kelsey I'm The fact
! that ne has threatened 90 get kol-
| sey's head Now that their end has
| been accomplished. IL is stated that the
! charges will be dropped
NOT ASKED BY MAYOR.
Mayor Bransford said this morning
| that he had not asked MI Kelsey Co.
! resign After Mayor Bransford had
| received his resignation, hc said that
| De heard OF the letter or signed state
! mont made BIZ Birch making charges
! against Kelsey.
81 have never seen the signed st1tc-
| mcut made by Birch" hc said. "and |
DO not know what charges were made
| directly against Kelsey. ] have heard
that the statement or letter Was made
| from different sources. but that is an
"a ala not ask Mr. Kelsey to re-
I n
| receive his resignation yesterday. From
| the tone OF bis letter ( judge that he
] intends thur 10 should take Cffect im-
! mciiatcly. Nothing viii be done about
! 20 until Monday fnight when # win
| be sent 10 the city council for accept
ance.
NOBODY IN VIEW
- am unable 90 say who win be APP
/ pointed lea his place. The city rn-
] d. O.
/ the administration and q good man VIII
! have 60 an the position There age "a
/ number OF men who could boz appointed
/ but ] have nobody in mind just now.
! who is "a municipal engineer qualified To-
I ha 1die the work being done by the
| city"
Tho resignation which kelsey handed
I 10 Mayor Rransford was as follows.
Hon John s. Rransford. Mayor
I Dear Sir-l hereby tender my res gnu
B ton aH city engineer Thanking YOU
/ FOR your loyal support. ! remain very
| respectfully. J.. e. KELSEY.
"Oct. g. 1909 city Engineer"
when Nh Kclscr was s.en shortly
| after he resigned yesterday afternoon
I he refused 10 mako a statement for
| publication. lie said that his rosigna-
| tion told the story and that hc had
/ another proposition in view.
HAD HEARD GRAFT STORY.
Kelsey was asked about The signed
/ statement made hy Birch. he raid
| that De- had heard rumors 90 that ef-
| feet but that hc had never seen it or
| been told the contents OF b. Kelsey has
| been worried about the fight mado
I uuou him hy Tho TRIBUNE and mis-
] amenities who have done everything
| possible to embarrass and hamper him
/ ln executing the improvements which
| have been ordered by the city For Two
| years. kclscy ana tho board nf pub
/ lir works have clafhcd time and timo
| again. orders have been controyortcd
I hy both factions and tho nght has
| stopped tine improvements while tho
| dispute was being settled by Mayor
I hruusfDrd.
kelsey has been in the city ON
/ gincefs oflco m various capacities for
| no years lie WAS appointed hN Mayor
I Thompson under hiF FIRST admlulstra-
I uon as a Republican. After serting
/ t1fo years, ho went into tho contracting
business tie took "a contract ln Or.
dem ln which Ezra Thompson ana
lA1ch were Interested n is reported
that be- lost money ON the contract
When Thompson Was elected as an
| American Kelsey was appointed ns
city engineer. ic has been in the posi-
ton every since While he has been
there he has built up "a political ina
chino and also has one Of the host or
ffaa In