The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-04
Chairman Kaul Expects to
Issue Formal Statement
in Next Few Days
WEATHERLY SENDS
LETTER EXPLAINING
Says Action of Commission Was
Taken Purely for Sake of Har-
mony so Necessary in the
Big Undertaking
by CLYDE w. ENNIS

by CLYDE w. ENNIS
John h. Kaul. chairman of the park
commission. will not resign his place
on the park board as result of the re-
cent Miller controversy with the city
commission.
Neither will Robert Jemison, Jr., on
account of the commission action, take
such step
Mr.. Kaul will issue a statement within
the next few days giving some ideas of
his own in connection with the Miller
episode. Mr.. Miller has just as much
chance of getting the civic plan now as
ever. This was indicated yesterday In a
letter from Commissioner James Wea-
ther1y. titular head of the park board. q
Chairman Kaul.
No Statement Issued
No official statement has been issued
by Mr.. kaul as to his position He re-
fused yesterday to make statement
for publication at this time and declined
to comment one way or the other on the
Miller situation.
However, 1t is the opinion of men here
that know Mr.. Kaul and Mr.. Jemison
and who are in a measure acquainted
with the formers enthusiastic ideas
about civic Improvement that Mr. Kaul
will not allow little squall such as
this TO deter him in assisting in the
plans for a better Birmingham.
Accepted With Reluctance
Mr. Kaul accepted the charmanship
apIr
luctance His personal demands upon
his time are very great. His interests
are extensive. being principally in Tus-
ealoosa and Pennsylvania. However, he
is deeply and vitality interested in maxi
ing Birmingham a better place to live
in. He wants to make Birmingham more
beautiful than it is now admitted to be
by all visitors.
Believing that he might assist in that
work he finally consented to take the
park chairmanship. He has devoted
many days to that work during the past
IS months. That his interest is deeper
and his patriotism Is greater than to
permit such a tri1e as the recent mat
ter to divorce him for that ambitious
inclination is the opinion of Mr. Wea-
therly, others associated on the park
board and many of Mr.. Kaul's personal
friends
Mr. Weatherly yesterday dispatched a
note to Mr.. Kau giving an official ac-
count of the commissions action In ref
erence to the proposed contract of Mr.
Miller. In that note Mr.. Weatherly says
that such action does not mean that Mr.
Miller will not get the contract. He
ADDS that 1t does not mean that Mr..
Is essler will get the contract. He says
the idea that actuated the commission
was that it would be unwise to begin
such a far reaching work with discord
among the park commission and the
citizens i'm general.
Mr.. WeatherIy's Communication
The note follows;
MIR John l.. Kaul, chairman park COM
mission, Birmingham.
'Dear sir: In re civic plan architect.
'At the meeting of the board of COM
nssioners yesterday there were so many
protests and objections offered to the
selection of Mr.. Miller by leading citi-
sens of the town that it was decided best
20 wipe out the slate and start afresh
n the selection OF an architect This
was done on my motion after / had made
statement reviewing all the facts lead
ng up to the provisional selection of Mr..
Miller. The board did not think this
was a reflection on Mr.. Miller. or on the
of anyone approving the Sc
ection of Mr.. Miller. but | think they
were aetuated mainly by the fact that
L was linwise to start out an important.
'ar-reaching work of this character with
20 much dssenton in the park board
and the public as to the man who should
10 the work. OF course. this does not
mean that Mr. Miller is ex-
'luded from possible selecton nor. on
he other hand, does IT mean that Mr..
kessler, who was recommended by a
ma ajorlty of the board, will be selected
It simply means that the board of com
nissioners are of the opinion that the
bark commission should get together and
'evise their action, go over the ground
'gain carefully and see If they cannot
gree upon some man who viii meet
With more general approval than was the
,ase with Mr.. Miller.
Il would be glad 10 go into further
ietails personally with any member CT
he commission who wishes to see me On
he subject.
Yours very truly,
JAMES WEATFTERLY.
Commissioners"