This communication is sent to W. Dorr Legg, Don Slater, Tony Reyes, Manuel boyFrank, Lewis Bonham, Robert Newton, Greg Coron, Keith Dyer, Joe Weaver, Rudolf H. Steinert, Robert G. Winn and Chet Sampson.
I have no concern over who may damn me if I do, and who may damn me if I don’t. However, I'll be damned if anybody is going to tell me that I can't speak my mind. Unless drastic action is taken by all concerned parties to bring about a prompt solution to the dilemna [sic] at hand, ONE’s death will occur and ONE’s funeral will commence within 10 days. Thus, after 12 growing responsible years of leadership as the leading spokesman for the homophile movement throughout the world, ONE is about to be murdered by self-inflicted wounds (a bitch fight amongst homosexuals) in a petty little power struggle over control and policies.
For ONE to commit suicide is one thing. For ONE to rise above it and shine as never before is another thing. I urge all persons concerned to make a commitment for better or for worse for ONE, and to act swiftly in whatever ways are possible to let your choice be known. I further urge everyone to think independently of both W. Dorr Legg and Don Slater. I urge W. Dorr Legg and Don Slater to consider the movement and not their distaste of each other’s prejudices, attitudes, acts or personal feelings. I further urge both W. Dorr Legg and Don Slater to consider resigning completely from having anything more to do with control of ONE’s policies or operating machinery.
I have this date conferred with Mr. Dorsey, Supt. of Mails of the Huntington Park Post Office, and he has cited the following postal regulations and procedures applicable as set forth in the Postal Manual (chapter 154.7 - CONFLICTING ORDERS BY TWO OR MORE PARTIES FOR DELIVERY OF SAME MAIL):
(Sub.71 - Delivery To Receiver) : Where persons make conflicting orders for delivery of the same mail and they are unable to agree among themselves as to which of the parties may receive the mail, the mail may be delivered to a named receiver or third party unamiously [unanimously] agreed to by the disputed parties.
(Sub.72 - Reference to General Counsel For Ruling): Where the disputing parties are unable to select a receiver, each party shall furnish the Postmaster all available evidence on which he relies to exercise control of the disputed mail. If, after receipt of such evidence, the Postmaster is still in doubt as to who should receive the mail, the Postmaster will submit the case to the office of the Assistant General Counsel for a ruling.
(Sub.73 - Delivery of Mail In Accordance With Court Order): When the same mail is claimed by different persons and a court decides to whom delivery should be made, the mail will be delivered in accordance with the court order.
Without mail delivery ONE is out of business. It is no secret that the Postmaster is now holding ONE’s mail pending settlement of the conflicting orders given by Don Slater and W. Dorr Legg. The only chance for survival now is to work for a rapid unifying solution. By the time the matter goes through court (several months from now) ONE will have long been deceased.
I hold no other opinion than that the dispute in question is one between none other than Don Slater and W. Dorr Legg on control over policies and the many departments under which ONE functions. Opinions I gather along the line generally reflect the attitude of either Don Slater or W. Dorr Legg. I also hold no other opinion at this time than the only workable solution is for every united effort to be made for a compromise solution over such policies and functions between the two opposing factions. I urge everyone or us to help prove that the forces which unite are far greater than the forces which divide. You cannot partake fully in life until you have learned to give and to share, rather than to take from everyone all you can get.
Believe me, I certainly have equally grave charges and grievances against both Don Slater and W. Dorr Legg. I also have grievances against most everyone else who has had so much to do with ONE. I am preparing a detailed list of these grievances and charges. I urge that each and everyone or you do the same thing, and let us meet informally at my home as soon as possible to get these grievances heard and to enlist new ideas. I further urge everyone to enlist every possible new idea they can think of for resolving this problem. For example, could Don Slater be put in complete charge of ONE Magazine and the employment of Billy Glover without interference or interruption from W. Dorr Legg? Could W. Dorr Legg be put in complete charge or ONE CONFIDENTIAL and ONE INSTITUTE QUARTERLY without interference or interruption from Don Slater?
I have prepared my written resignation from Corporate Membership in ONE, Incorporated which I intend to submit this coming Sunday at the Corporation meeting called for 5:00 P.M. I urge every other alleged Corporate member who is interested in the progress of ONE to come to this meeting with a prepared written resignation of their own. If everyone does this willingly and voluntarily, it may mean that ONE can get out or its mess much more quickly.
Finally, I am extending this invitation to all persons whom this communication is sent to meet in my home this coming Saturday, April 24, 1965 at 1:00 P.M. sharp for an informal discussion or all the conflicts and grievances at issue. Please RSVP as soon after receiving this communication as possible.
Respectfully,
