OCR Text |
Show COON'S RESIGNATION. He Sets Forth His Reasons for Retiring Re-tiring From the Treasury. Washington, November 1. Charles E. Coon, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, in his letter of resignation, while thanking Secretary Manning for the assurance of satisfaction sat-isfaction with his official conduct, says, with reference to Manning's statement that reasons not necessary to explain required Coon's resignation : . "I can only infer from this that these reasons are political ; in other words, that I am to retire from the offioe to which I was appointed some eighteen months ago because I am not in political acoord with my superiors. super-iors. I beg to remind you that early in Maroh last, on the supposition that there might be a feeling of this kind, I frankly informed the President and yourself that while I had been promoted to the office of Assistant Secretary Secre-tary after a service of nearly twenty years in the Treasury without intervention or solicitation so-licitation of a single politician, I had always al-ways been and still was a Republican; that while I did not deem it consistent with either the circumstances of my appointment or the spirit of the reform m the civil service ser-vice to which the Administration was pledged, to abandon my office because of political po-litical preferences, yet I was ready to do so at a moment's notice if desired by you. To this you replied that you desired me to remain and assist you, for the present at least. But while solely intent upon giving you a loyal support in all matters pertaining to the public business, I have not failed to observe that my continuance in office has not been acceptable to a considerable portion of the party press and very many politicians. xne irequent criticisms showered upon you in this connection have made it plain to me that public sentiment, as concerns one party at least, is not yet sufficiently suf-ficiently advanced to encourage or approve the retention of subordinate officers for reasons rea-sons other than political. I infer that this is also the conclusion reached by you." Following is Secretary Manning's letter communicating the President's acceptance of Coon's resignation. Washington, October 81. Hon. Cluis. E. Coon, Assistant Secretary: Sib: By direction of the President, I have the honor to inform you that your resignation resigna-tion of office as Assistant Secretary of tho Treasury is accepted, to take effect upon the qualification of your successor. .Very respectfully yours, Daniel Manning, Secretary. |