The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1919-01-09
Two More Decline to Serve with
Hearst.
Henry &. Gray and Ralph M. Johnson
Withdraw From Welcome Committee.

Two more prominent citizens have ad-
ded their names to the list of those de-
Ginning to serve on Mayor Hylan's Com
mlttee OF Welcome to Homecoming
troops. Both gave the fact of William
randolph sHearst's inclusion in the COM
mittee as the reason for their action.
Henry &. Gray, of the law firm of
Labriskle, Sage, Kerr and Gray, 40 Wall
street, made public his letter to Grover
Whalen, Mayor Hylan's secretary, stat
ing as he did so that he made it public
not Tor personal notoriety, but because
he believed that publicity should be given
TO all refusals to serve on the committee.
His letter read:
y have just received your letter of De-
cember 28th offering me an appointment
by the Mayor as member of the Com
mlttee of Welcome to Homecoming
Troops. Sometime ago | received a let
ter from George W. Loft, Chairman of
the Mayors Committee on National De-
Tense, of which | am a member, stating
that the Mayor was to appoint the mem
bers OF that committee members of the
Committee of Welcome to Homecoming
Troops.
Sat the time | wrote Mr. Loft and
stated l would not accept an appoint
ment on this welcome committee because
of the fact that William Randolph Hearst
was prominent member of it and chair
man of one or two of its important sub
committees.
II further added that | thought it was
an insult both to the citizens of this city
and the returning soldiers to give a
prominent place on such a committee to
man of the character of Mr.. Hearst.
added that if my refusing to serve on this
committee would in any way prejudice
the public interest l would not let my
opinion of Mr.. Hearst's character inter-
fere with my accepting the appointment,
but as the functions of the committee are
solely of ceremonial character, one per-
son could perform the functions as well
as another. | cannot help feeling that no
official welcome at all would be prefer
able to welcome by Hearst.
''Since writing the letter to MI Loft
referred to another thing has happened
which has added reason for declining
the appointment. | refer to the scurrilous
attack made by the Mayor on every per-
son who refuses to serve with Hearst.
Such an attitude on the part of the Mayor
of this great city is on a par with the
rawlings of the worst form of Bolshevism
and shows how conspicuously unfit he is
for such high office.
''HENRY G. GRAY"
Ralph NJ johnson, vice president OF
Park Hospital, 395 Central Park West,
was the second to announce his refusal to
serve. He sent the following letter to
Secretary Whalen:
81 beg to acknowledge receipt of your
letter of December 10Th announcing my
appointment as a member of the COM
mittee of reception to our returning SOL
diers from service abroad.
''My appointment follows the recogni-
ton of the work done by the Park Hos
pltal, the entire ward capacity of which
has been occupied for the past year by
navy patients.
'In placing the question before a re-
cent meeting of thirty-seven doctors and
directors it was the unanimous opinion
that they would consider it great honor
to be represented on that committee were
it not for the fact that w. R. Hearst had
been designated as sub-chairman. His
appointment has aroused a storm of pro-
test in this community, and, prefering
not to act as his associate in any capac-
lty, we must decline what would other
wise be held great honor.
'RALPH M. JOHNSON"
From New York Exchange of Jan.
lst. The Belfast admirers of Mr.. John
son will read the above with special in
tereSt.