The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-04-14
MORRIS IS A
 CLAM DIGGER TAYLOR IMPLIES
Accused Responds That Clam Digging is
 Worthy Occupation. Incidental to the Occasion the Harbor Master Discusses the Moral and Spir. itual Qualities of Clans in a Compar. alive Way.

Harry Taylor, major of Corps of En- gineers, following the precedents estab- lished by late president of the Unit ed States, for persons temporarily, or permanently, out of favor, has infer entially relegated Harbor Master Charles H. Morris to the status of a ''clam digger and Morris is in doubt whether to feel offended, or otherwise, because he says that his association with clam diggers has been uniformly pleasant, while his association with United States officers has sometimes made him feel that something was lacking from the companionship.
 The interchange of correspondence between Major Taylor, the United States officer in charge of these wa ters, and Harbor Master Morris, has been characterized by a flavor of vim egar, lemons and the ptickery taste of perSimmOnS ever since they came into disagreement over the harbor line.
 But, heretofore, the more or less acid amenities have been exchanged through the newspapers. The "clam digger episode. however, is the fruit of a personal correspondence, relative to regulations for the drawbridge be- tween the mainland at Seaview ave- nue, and Steeplechase Island, George Ti1you's great amusement enterprise.
 The letter relating to these regula- tions is five closely written type pages long, The portion which is especially directed at Harbor Master Morris is in substance a lecture upon his absence of authority to secure the enforcement of United States Laws. The @clam- digger phrase is reached near the bot tom of the third page, where the doughty major informs the tenacious harbor master, that so far as the en- forcement of United States laws are concerned all citizens are alike, wheth- CT they are "clam diggerS, or harbor masters
 The language is in such arrange ment as to make it plain to F1arbor Master Morris that he is consigned in the estimation of the government of ficer to the plane of "clam digger" but what bothers him is that he doesn't know what kind of clam digger There are several Kinds known to- sea farers, professionals found mostly on Long Island semi professionals, who dig them for the market. .spotters. who dig them to eat. and amateurs, who dig them For fun
 Said Harbor Master Morris this morning, 'I don't think it is very inn portant whether I am, or am not, a clam digger, or whether, or nor; MaJor one or wants me to know that he thinks I am one.
 "As far as I know, clam digging is an honorable occupation. l would rather be a good clam digger than a poor harbor master. I would rather be a clam digger than clam. But l would rather be a clam than be some people that I know. Clans are nice, and quiet. They do their duty in the station of life to which they have been called They give the same kind of service to a citizen that they give to a railroad magnate. They do not wear uniforms. They are not inflated with a sense of the dignity of being O clam Clans do not call names. Clans are not raucous. They are not Sometimes they swell up, but not with pride.
 ..In short,'' concluded the harbor master. seI am not sure but that a steamed clam, which has lived a good life, kept early hours, and behaved it. self, is in every respect desirable associate and worthy of praise"