OCR Text |
Show CLEVELAND PAYS TRIBUTE TO REED . t . 4 Ex-President Honors the Name of Ex-Speaker and Sends Contribution I, i PORTLAND, Me:, Nov. .-rThe letter let-ter which former President Grover Cleveland wrote to the Thomas B. Reed Memorial association In answer to a request re-quest that his name be Included in the .list of the directors with his consent, was matfe public today and is as follows: fol-lows: "Your recent letter asking me to become be-come a director of the Tbonias B. Reed Memorial association is at hand. I had great admiration lor Mr. Reed and great'respect for his ability. 1 think It Is eminently proper that his high character char-acter and public service should be nt-tingly nt-tingly memorialized. , "It eeems to me, however, that this should be undertaken by those who were nearer to him in every way than I can claim to have been. Another reason rea-son stronger than this for hesitation la lound in my reluctance to be identified with a project to which' I cannot give the least attention. I am not at all satisfied to be nominally a director In such a movement without performing any useful duty: and this would be my exact predicament if I should accept such a place In the directorate of your association. s "I do not want to be suspected of un- I graciousnef s or lack of interest. But If I may be allowed to modestly contribute con-tribute instead of appearing as a director direc-tor I shall feel much more comfort- The letter was accompanied by a generous contribution. 1 |