OCR Text |
Show THOMAS IIS 10 GET FRi UNDER Attempts, as Usual, to Shift Responsibility Re-sponsibility Upon a Subordinate Sub-ordinate Official. MAKES EFFORT TO DOUBLE-CROSS EMPLOYEE Latter Strikes Back and Makes a Statement Giving the Real Facts. The flag upon tho Foderal building on Labor day was upside down, as printed in Tho Tribune Tuesday. Many Fersons who saw Old Glory as it floatod rom the flagstaff declare that it was unfurled upside down. The custodian of the building told a Tribune representative represen-tative who was sent to soo him and ascertain if ho had permitted tho flag of his country to be unfurled in that manner over the building that it was, but that it was corrected as soon as discovered. To tho inquiry made of the postmaster custodian as to how the flag came to bo thus unfurled and who had put it up, tho postmaster custodian said: "I do not know, but it must have been Ifivors. Lot's go out and see if we can find tho janitor." Walking into the corridor of the postofllce, an employee named Olcson was oncountcrcd. "Did you run up the flag?" asked the postmaster. "No, T did not," was tho reply from Olcson. "LetJs go out and look at it," were tho next words of the postmaster. Together with The Tribune representative represen-tative nnd Olooon, the postmaster walked into the street and looked at the flag, finding it all right. "Well, it's all right now. It was corrected as soon as it was discoverod." Why Did Postmaster Say So? If the flae was not in the position stated by Tho Tribune, why did tho postmaster say so? Why was "it corrected cor-rected aB soon as discovered?" Tho facts arc that the custodian, who found himself in a hole, attempts to do just what he always does when he is cor-ralcd, cor-ralcd, to shift tho responsibility upon some one else. But in doing this he lias again got himself in a holo, by mis- representing an employee. This employee, em-ployee, John B. Ferguson, made a statement state-ment of the occurrence and submitted it to tho postmaster, not for newspaper publication, but in order to prevent the tiostmaster from making complaint to he department at Washington, as ho appeared anxious to do. The article appearing in the Smoot organ was not the statement of Mr. Ferguson, was used without his consent, knowledge or authority, and, as to how it got to the Smootito organ can readily be inferred. Herewith is given the statement signed by Mr. Ferguson, and which shows now ho feels about the matter, and which completely exonerates The Tribune: Mr. Ferguson's Statement. Editor Tribune: Regarding tho article which appeared in tho columns of your paper Tuesday morning regarding tho Stars and Stripes having been upsldo down on the Federal Fed-eral building; aftor talking with your representative rep-resentative 1 find that tho ivholo matter was duo to a misunderstanding. Tho flag, nfter it was run up tho mast head, was caught by tho wind, and hung on the pole in such a monnor that anyono seeing it from tho stroct would have thought that it really was upside down, inasmuoh as the blue field hung below tho stripes, and thic made tho mistako a most natural ono I do not consider for a moment that you meant to do mysolf or anyono olso an injustice, in-justice, and feel that you wore simply misled by tho statomonts of sevoral pooplo who made a very natural mistake, as well as by people who could havo given you the correct information, in-formation, but would not, and did not I wish to thus oxonerato The Tribune from any blamo in tho niottor, ns its treatment treat-ment has been fair and impartial Furthermore, when I made out my statement, state-ment, I did not givo it to tho Intel-mountain Republican, and tho article appearing In that paper over my name was not my statement, ana was run without any authority whatever from me. (Signed.) JOHN B. FERGUSON. Salt Lako City, Septomber 5. |