Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-08-28
Capit0l Florist, Replacedby
Negro, GiveSOut CustodlanS
Letter approving HIS W0rk

Frank Grant, formerly florist of
the state capitol grounds and execu-
tive mansion, who was discharged
from his position by Governor Dor
sey and replaced with a negro named
Rufus Bennett, has given out the
letter of T. E. Massengale, custodian
of the capitol and mansion, notifying
him of his dismissal
In this letter Custodian Massen-
gale stated that Mr.. Grant was a
capable man, and was being dis
missed for reasons of economy. The
letter was made public Wednesday
by Mr.. Grant in reply to a state
ment by Custodian Massenga1e, pub
lished in the Atlanta Constitution
Wednesday morning, defending Gov
ernor Dorsey on the ground that Mr..
competence and failure to observe
the working hours and rules laid
down by the custodian.
In his statement defending Cover
nor DOrSey'S dismissal of Mr.. Grant
the statement is made by Custodian
Massengale that latter keeping a rec
OIu OiL MI. NIdHl l. lOuIlu THAT MS
services were unsatisfactory and so
reported to the governor, who abol-
ished the office of norist and told me
to notify Mr.. Grant of that fact"
The letter written to Mr.. Grant by
Custodian Massengale on March Is,
1919, was as follows:
Mr.. Frank Grant. Florist,
ATLANTA, Ga.
Dear Mr.. Grant: In letter from
the governor today he informs me
that he will dispense with your SER
vices after July / as florist at the
you are capable man, and that we
could not get a more capable man
for the position, but that the amount
paid for the work to be done at the
capitol IN your line will. not warrant
the wages we. are now paying. q.
eff you can obtain work before
the time mentioned that would be
compatible with your desires, we
would have no hesitancy in relieving
you.
"Yours truly,
| (Signed) "T. E. MASSENGALE.
The fact that he was discharged
from his position which he had held
| under Governors Smith, Brown,
Slaton and Harris andreplaced with
a negro named Rufus Bennett, was
| made public Monday by Mr.. Grant
in a statement to the public.
He stated that his salary was 500
month; that he was discharged, as
shown by Custodian Massengale's
letter, for reasons of economy" that
the negro was paid $21.75 a week,
or only a slight saving; that the
negro was subsequently given an as
sistant, which made the cost of the
work considerably more than his ser
vices had cost the state.
Mr.. Grants disclosures brought
the statement by Custodian Massen-
gale defending Governor Dorsey on
the ground that Mr.. Grant was dis
charged for incompetence. This
statement ELECTED from Mr.. Grant
copy of Custodian Massengale's let
ter, testifying to his competence.
One of the duties of the florist is
to NOV the grass on the capitol
lawn. This work was done by Mr..
Grant with a hand-driven lawn now
| err. In the hot summer months it is
extremely laborious work, as the
lawn is large and the grass is thick.
Friends of Mr.. Grant call attention
to the fact that recently Rufus Ben
nett, the negro who succeeded Mr..
Grant, has been furnished a lawn
mower driven by gasoline motor,
| so that he has nothing to do but
walk behind it, steering it and ma
Inipulating the throttle of the motor.