Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-31
URGES PARKER AS
CHIEF OF BUREAU
Director of Geological Survey Is
sues Statement About His
Campaign Telegram
DECLARES AGAINST HOLMES
Smith Says He Acted for Best In
tereSts of Newly Organ
lied Department
DECLARES AGAINST HOLMES
Especial to The IIeraldl

WASHINGTON, July 80 - George
Otis Smith, director of the United
States geological survey, has just
made a spicy statement explaining his
position in the campaign going on for
the appointment of a permanent head
of the new bureau of mines. He says
that all kilograms or letters which he
has sent out bearing on the candidacy
of e. w. Parker against DIR. Joseph A.
Holmes have been written because
he has a deep interest in the future
of the new bureau and wishes to see
the man he thinks is best qualified
given the dictatorship. In dictated
statement he says:
Newspaper comment on my indorse-
ment of a candidate for the director
of the bureau of mines has been called
to my attention. There has been
neither secrecy nor publicity sought by
me regarding this action or activity.
While all that l have done in the way
of bringing the candidacy to the at
tention of his friends has been done
in a personal and not official way, of
course appreciate that l cannot di-
vorce my official position from what
ever I might wish to do simply in a
personal way.
CRITICISES ACTION
Moreover, I realize that my interest
in the organization of the bureau of
mines ind in the inauguration of its
work as an independent bureau is
largely actuated by official connection
with this work for three years while
under my supervision, and by a less
direct connection with the future ac-
tivities of the new bureau by reason
of my position as director of the CO.
ordinate bureau in the same depart
ment. Criticism of my interest in the
selection of the director of the bureau
of mines might have been avoided had
I simply indorsed another candidate,
whose friends early sought for him my
Endorsement aud have since been out
spoken in their criticism of my action.
"The reason for following the die
tates of my own judgment as well as
the counsel of my associates in the
survey springs wholly from an anX-
iety to insure for the new bureau at
the outset such policy and procedure
as conform to my ideas of the best
type of governmental administration.
Cooperation between the two bureaus
is most essential to the best interests
of both and to be successful must be
based upon a certain degree of agree
ment in policy, even though the func-
tions and fields of the two bureaus
are naturally and properly distinct
though closely related. Being well ac-
quainted with two of the candidates
through my official association Will
them in the survey, / naturally anc
properly indorsed the one whom [ con
sidered better qualified to serve wha
I regard the best interests of the bu'
reau of mines and the public service
LARGE FITLD
"The bureau of mines has a large
field all it's own and in no sense needs
to overlap or duplicate the activities
of other bureaus and even the inves-
legations authorized under the current
appropriations largely continue those
begun under the geological survey it
must be expected that new fields will
later be entered. 1t is with this real
ization of the Importance of the bu-
reau of mines that 1 have felt it an
honor to act temporarily as it's head,
developing the necessary organization
that the progress of the Investigations
may not be delayed pending the choice
of the director to whom should be left
as far as possible the decisions of gen.
eral policy"
The criticism of the methods used
in the bureau of mines campaign grew
out of the action of an Arizona min
ing engineer making public telegram
sent to him on June 8 last. The tele-
gram was a duplicate of others sent to
various mining men over the country,
along with numerous letters, and urged
the Endorsements of e. w. Parker, who
is opposing DR.. Holmes for the direc-
torship of the new bureau, be sent to
President Taft. The fifty-five words
which opened up the discussion which
is going on here are as follows:
THE TELEGRAM
washington, D. c., June 8, 1910
Peter B. Scotland, Clifton, Arizona:
Urge Endorsement to president of Ed
ward w. Parker, now chief mineral
resources, geological survey, for di-
rector bureau of mines. Several prom
inent engineers refuse to be candi-
dates. I believe appointee should be
one under whom new bureau will and
can cooperate with the survey. Par
ker has support of Hays, Lingren,
Campbell Brooks, other survey asso-
ciates George Otis Smith,"
Smith now occupies a dual position,
serving in his regular position as di-
rector of the geological survey and as
temporary head of the mines bureau,
having been named by President Taft
to organize the work on July l, 1t is
not known when the president will ap-
point the permanent chief of mines,
but it is probable that a selection will
be made within the next three or four
weeks. Endorsements of both men are
still coming in, and it is expected that
they will continue until permanent