Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-06
PARSONS TELLS why he
DISMISSED SAUNDERS
Former Game Warden OF Roanoke
Antagonistic to Management
Of Department.
GIVES our TExT OF LETTER
Saunders Recently Sounded Cover
norship Candidates on Creation of
State Game Department Independ.
ent Of Commissioner Parsons.

DR.. w. H. Saunders, former game
warden for the city Of Roanoke, was
relieved OF that position by Commits
sioner John s. Parsons because the
appointee had become antagonistic to
tho management of the department and
had tried to dictate its policy. The
whole matter was devoid of political
: considerations.
RMS Is the reply authorized by Mr..
, Parsons to q story which appeared yes
terday in an afternoon paper. under a
Noanoke datelinc. In which 1t was
said that friends Of the deposed ply
stciap ascribed the comm ssoner's ac-
lion to letter sent out recently to
the candidates for Governor by the
Appalachian Game and Fish Protec-
tive Association. of which DR.. Saunders
ID president. inquiring whether they.
II elected. would sign a bill designed
10 create separate department for
the enforcement of fish and game laws.
Mr.. Parsons was in Norfolk yester-
day, but released for publication. in a
long distance telephone conversation
with Assistant Commissioner Inman,
the letter he wrote DR.. Saunders. stat
ing that he might consider his SER
vices as game warden terminated.
Though this letter" Mr.. Inman said,
was written after the query to the
subernatorial candidates had appeared
In the press. Mr.. Parsons had then no
knowledge OF the action of the Appa-
lachian Game and Fish Protective As
ISOLATION. He had seen neither the
communication from the association
nor Wcstmoreland Davis's reply, and
did not see 1t until called his atten-
ton to 1t. His dismissal Of DR..
Saunders was because of past actions,
and not because OF any query he pro-
pounded to the candidates for Gov
crnor."
MIR. PARSONS WRITES
LETTER OF DISMISSAL
Mr.. Parsons's letter of dismissal fol-
lows:
Or. ". II. Saunders. Roanoke, Va:
M, Dear sir.-iou are hereby notified
mat your services as game warden for
Roanoke city are terminated. con-
slider II my duty to take this step for
the following reasons:
First. Because you are evidently not
In sympathy with nor loyal to this de-
partment as has boon shown by your
criticisms and complaints. and ] have
always been OF the opinion that when
ever an employee OF any department
or firm becomes antagonistic to it's
management. his connection with that
department or firm should at once
cease. In such cases. propriety would,
i think. suggest the employees resig-
nation. but IL that is not Forthcoming.
the only course left open to the man.
agement Is that which I am now pur-
suing.
! noted your dispIcasure some time
ago when l could not adopt your every
suggestion or rather submit to your
attempted dictations. This was es-
pecialiy apparent to me when I failed
to act upon your complaints and criti-
cisms as to several wardens in your
section and In Southwest Virginia.
I0 Il -
~ardens at your suggestion, I did have
tho complaint which you made and
the general work OF the wardens in
NcHtigated. and while some of them
were not all that could be desired they
were doing fairly we'll when all the
circumstances and difficulties under
which they were laboring were taken
into consideration
your displcasurc with the depart
mcnt has been even more apparent
since declined to make you supervia-
Ing inspector or district game con-
missioner for your section and the
southwestern part of the State. You
nave made 1t very plain to me tina
you think the department is in need
or a new commissioner and that you
arc the one man needed
noted your recent criticism OF the
inactivity of the department In not
prosecuting certain factories and plants
Tor polluting the river in the vicinity of
Roanoke. and your failure to state
had explained to you that I had been
advised that such prosecutions would
fall In view of the decisions of the
Supreme Court OF the State. do not
intend to bring the department into
ridicule and to make it enemies by
starting prosecutions which feel GER
tain would be unavailing under our
present laws.
Second. Because, in my opinion, Won
/ have mistaken the duties OF the war
= den for those of the commissioner
AS l understand the law, the warden
is to work under the directions of the
commissioner. while you evidently
think the commissioner should work
under your directions
Third. Because. even IL you did not
mistake the position to which YOU
We're appointed and were in sympathy
with and loyal to the department,
am now of the opinion that no physi-
clan with any practice. Is in a posi-
ton to perform the duties of game
warden as they should be performed.
and that fhav G.