The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-01-13
THE HOY JOHNSON AND TEnE
REFORM SCHOOL

At the time of the examination of the
State Reform School at Waterbury, for
some months, for safe keeping, we pub
lished as matter of news the testimony
given in open court, the remarks of Judge
Barrett, the request of Governor Converse,
and, also, the editorial comments of the
Woodstock papers thereon. We comment
ed, editorially, upon all of these as the
facts seemed to warrant. We have no war
to make on the Reform School, or its man
agement-taken as a whole, because we be-
lievc that it has accomplished great good,
and is capable of accomplishing much
more. We understand that of all our re-
tormatory and charitable institutions, one
of this character is the most difficult to
manage, and that few persons can be found
who are competent to the task. We were
among those who thought that grave mis-
take was made when the Rev. A. G.. Pease
and his estimable wife were removed
from the superintendency, care and man
agcment thereof, but we bowed with sub
mission to the acts of those who were in a
position to understand the workings of the
institution and its needs better than we
possibly could, and ought to have known
and to know what was best for the state
and the boys thus placed in her charge
We know all of the trustees who have been
connected with the school from It's founda-
ton by reputation, and all, save one, per-
sonally. Thus knowing them, we believe
that they have cndeavorcd to, and have
discharged their duties faithfully, honestly
and conscientiously. We have no acquain-
lance with Mr.. Fairbank, the superntend-
ent, but knowing of his reputation in other
states, and taking into consideration the
character of the trustees who selected and
appointed him, we extended to him the same
cordial support and sympathy that We did
to his predecessor We propose, hereafter.
10 sustain him so far as is in our power i'm
every proper effort that may be made to
rescue the boys placed under his charge
from lives of idleness, vagrancy, vice and
crime. But more than this, we intend to
do our utmost to make the Vermont Re-
form School what it was intended to be and
what it should be.
In our publications, we have been inn
partial and presented both sides Of the case.
Having given to the public the testimony
given before the Windsor county court, we
published as soon rs it was received, the
card of Mr.. Fairbank, the superintendent.
asking for suspension of public opinion.
From that time we have refrained from all
editorial remarks, although we published,
on its appearance, favorable report in
reference to the management of the insti-
tuition and undoubtedly intended to show
that Mr.. Fairbank was everything which
he ought to be-which was understood to
be from the pen of Hon. Il. p. Walton. To
this we take no exceptions, because we
have no reason to doubt that he is an ex-
cellent oflicer-but it must be remembered
that he, as well as everyone else, is hu-
man being, and that "to err is human"
We followed this up, Saturday morning, by
placing before our readers the statement or
report of the trustees, in full. This was
done, Notwithstanding its great length, not
withstanding that 1t excluded other matter
fresh news which would have been of
more interest to the mass of readers-that
aHthe facts, without distortion, garbling