, 1925-05-28
WHAT HAPPENED TO SMITH?

Queer things, ofttimes apparently grotesquely inconsist
ent, may and do happen Gin politics.
Frank S. Smith, erstwhile State game and fish commits
sioner of Wyoming, has been appointed assistant State game
and fish commissioner. That, in the light of circumstances
known Snn to the rel 2nDaG' t 3pp efTo aa "f a+4 ,o $50, e, ~
sioner 'under fire.
The Governor charged him with 'misconduct and neglect
of duty and specified eight instances of alleged misconduct
and neglect of duty These charges are on file in the Of
fetal archives Of the State.
The Governor notified Smith that a time had been set cat
which you shall be heard in your own Defense When that
time arrived Smith resigned.
The Governor, who officially brought the charges against
Smith, presumably knowns whether these charges were, or
were not, well founded. Smith, under oath, denied leach and
every and all of said charges, and this denial is on file in the
official archives of the State.
The public knows that the Governor accused Smith of
misconduct and neglect of duty'' in eight specific instances,
the public knows that Smith made a sworn denial of the truth
OF these charges, but the public does not know from evidence
whether the charges were well founded or We're not we'll found
ed-the Governor made the charges, Smith, under oath denied
them.
The public knows. furthermore. that when time came for
hearing by the Governor of Smith in the latter's own defense
Smith resigned the office which the Governor charged he had.
improperly administered and that thereafter smith. having
resigned the office of State game and fish commissioner while
under charges of misconduct and neglect of duty - was APP
pointed assistant State game and fish commissioner.
The public, under the circumstances, feels a natural cur
iosity concerning the ''whys and wherefores" of the Smith
case. Speculation predicated upon the known facts has given
use to IA number of interesting questions concerning this mat
ter OF public business, among them the following:
If the Governors charges against Smith were well found
ed, why, with these charges challenging his fitness for the
office of State game and fish commissioner, was he appoint
charges that impeach his fitness for the one office also i'm
peach his fitness for the other office!
The Governors charges of ''oficial misconduct, against
Smith included the following:
ing. e" on TT, That is you a S'S Of As %p$ a. official Gsssa write Of the h ,. s,sse to of NV WON
missioner MIS- of WYOMING, in which you used insulting, obscene
Ii the use of Insulting, obscene and scandalous'' Ian
guage IN an official letter to a woman implies in the Cover
nor's Judgment untitness for the office of State game and fish
commissioner, should it not imply also unfitness for the office
of assistant State game and fish commissioner! If so, WHY
was Smith appointed assistant State game and fish commits
sioner!
The Governors charges of "Ohicial misconduct, AGAINST
Smith included also:
duties "4' That r%, you have -, been ag guilty Of conduct unDeiting the
during your term IF office as State gam and fish ommissIoner
If 'lntoxlcation' implies in the Governors Judgment I'M
ftness Tor the office of State gam and fish commissioner
State game and fish commissioner! If this charge against
Smith by the Governor be well founded, why was Smith ap-
pointed assistant State game and fish commissioner!
The Governors charges against Smith included, further
more, the following:
"s. That you arr incapacitated from performing the duties
Wyoming in that you lack seltcontrol and permit your. irraseibIe
temper to affect your official acts and judgment"
IL Smiths temperament, in the Governors opinion Gin
capacltated him to perform the duties of State game and fish
commissioner, should it not be held to incapacitate him. also
TO perform the duties of assistant State game and fish com
missioner If so, why was he appointed assistant State game
and fish commissioner! 1t may hardly be presumed with rea-
son that a mere change in his official status would revolutionize
ms temperament, that transfer from one office of the State
game and fish department TO another office of that department
would cure n temper alleged to be so 'irrascble'' that if
amounts to Interpretation to properly perform official duties.
The Inference is unavoidable that there must be an in
terestlng story which has not been told to the public concern
ing this embroglio in State affairs of which Smith is tho con
trial figure. Things apparently so inconsistent AS the appoint
ment OF Smith to n State office Just after he had been official
~ accused of misconduct and neglect of Duty in and virtual
~ forced out OF another office in the same department of
State do not 'just happen.' What may be the fundamental
facts IN TINS affair which upon its official face is so grotesqucly
"cohs's'ehti -Wyomng Tribune