Republican farmer., 1918-03-15
Had Disagreement With
Judge Wheeler Over
Local Coal Line.
THOMAS J. PARDY
MADE SUCCESSOR
Sheehan Tells of Talk
Overheard Regarding
the Resignation.

OdrI L. OlemOn was today
, ousted as Bridgeport fuel ad-
ministrator by State Admins
traitor Thomas w. Russell at
the request of the State Council
OF Defense, following closely
on the heels of the recent Sic
mon-Wheeler controversy that
started over the formers re-
fusal to change the coal distri-
button methods as suggested by
the latter. Letter revoking
Siemon's appointment fails to
give a reason for the action.
The entire affair was Matched on
the night of the Manufacturers ban
quet, February &c, in The Stratfeld
at which Russell was a guest at Sic
mons table. 1t is learned on well
founded authority that his resignation
was discussed by several Bridgeport
men with Russell after the banquet.
The day following Russell visited Sic
mon at the fuel office and praised his
work highly. He then requested Sic
mon to resign, but the latter refused
TO be ousted witout a reason.
This conversation was heard by the
secretary, William f. Sheehan, who
in an interview with The Times today
tells an interesting story of the "in-
side history" Sheehan said: at
took Russell two weeks to get enough
nerve TO write the letter. 1 was pres
emit" he continued, when Mr.. Russell
asked Mr.. Siemons resignation. His
only reason was the Judge Wheeler
affair.
He said the Council of Defense &"
Sheehan went on, had put it up to
him that either Judge Wheeler would
resign if Mr.. Siemon would not. Rus
sell then went on to say that Governor
Holcomb thought it best that Siemon
being a layman should resign in
preference to a supreme court JUS
tice.
When Russell was asked" said
Sheehan What the State Council of
Defense had to do with the fuel adj
ministration, Russell said that it had
been cooperating with him and as
he had received his appointment
through the State Council he decided
to stand by it. Siemon then asked
Russell why he did not make an in
vestigation of the Wheeler charges
ard Russell said he was pressed for
time and could not visit the different
Offices.
Then Russell said" Sheehan's
statement goes, ''Siemon's administra-
ton could not be better and he was
perfectly satisfied with it in every
way and was sorry he was forced to
ask him to resig Then Siemon
like the man that he is" said Shee
han, told Russell that if he had no
other reason than that he would not
resign and if Russell wanted him
ousted he'd have to fire him out.
Russell was asked for a letter the
same day, but as 1 said before" says
Sbeehan, ''it has taken him two
weeks to get his nerve together
Concluding Sheehan said, at was a
very peculiar thing that Russell was
in Bridgeport the day after the ban
quet, because the night before he told
Siemon and myself he was in a hurry
take a train leaving some time afte,
IL o'clock. He had no idea of stay
ing in this city over night"
When informed of the state ad-
ministrator's action, Allen E. Vincent
vice-chairman of the Coal Dealers
committee, said, "As a coal dealer ]
am very, very sorry to hear that Mr.
Siemon's appointment has been re-
voked. Mr.. Siemon has done ex.
ceptionally well. His methods have
been excellent and he deserves much
praise and commentator. There
seems to be blunder somewhere"
Russell's letter to Sinmon reads as
follows:
Dear Sir: 1 have to advise you
that your employment as a member
and chairman of the Bridgeport Fuel
Committee, dated october II, 1917 and
covered by certificate appointment
dated January /, 1918, is hereby re-
voked.
MT. Thomas j. Pardy of Bridgeport
has been appointed member and
chairman of the Bridgeport Fuel Com
mittee to act in your place and stead
have also appointed additions
members of the committee, w. P
Kirkland r. w. Miller, both of Bridge
port.
IN the absence of Mr. Pardy, Mr.
Kirk is designated as acting chair
man and l would ask that you kindly
turn over to him the files records ant
other property of the Bridgeport of
Gee of the United States Fuel Admin
istrator on Saturday March 9, at Il
a. m.
William F. Sheehan, whose office a
142 Golden Hill street, has been occu
pied by the fuel committee since De
cember said the new members would
have full access to the place.
Mr.. Siemon was apparently dis
heartened when interviewed by re
porters He refused to rake over tn
charges of Justice Wheeler. Siemol
said;
I'm reference to a letter which 1 re
ceived from Mr. Thomas W. Russell
State Fuel Administrator, under dat
of March s, 1918, 1 beg to state tina
this is not a surprise but has beel
anticipated for some time and is onl
the elimination of a recent contro
versy resultant from local criticism O
che action of the Fuel Administrator
of this city.
about two weeks ago, Mr.. Russo
asked for my resignation, although a
the same time praising the work G
the local committee and approving 1t
actions. Under such conditions l de
xided not to resign but to continu
the work along the lines I had bee
following and to await Mr.. Russell