The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1883-04-15
INSANE POLITICS.


unfayorable, comment from the pres
Of the State. The cause OF the remova
is said to be purely political. 1t is gen
orally conceded that DR.. Dawson con
Quoted the affairs OF tho asylum in a
humane, skillful, and economical man
ner. He was highly praised by ex-Gov
ernor Kinkead aud Governor Adams In
their respective messages. The Legis
lature also passed resolution compli,
mentary to tho Superintendent. DR..
Dawson is q Republican, and SO is DR..
Bishop. his successor. The cause OF
the change, so far as We have been
able to ascertain. was as follows:
w. W. Bishop. the lawyer aud stump
speaker. is brother of the new Super
intendent. W. w. Bishop stumped the
State last Fall in the interest Of the
Republican ticket, and it is said that
he obtained promises from Lieutenant
Governor LAughton aud Controller
Hallock that II elected, they would, as
members Of the Board Of Insane Asy-
lum Commissioners, vote for his br 9TH
er for Superintendent. The Commits
sion is composed Of the Governor, Lieu.
tenant Governor. Controller, State
Treasurer. aud Hon. W. Z. T. Deal and
-Huffaker, three Republicans and
three Democrats. Bishop had two votes
IN Laughton md Hallock, and it is
charged that the vote Of GoveIner Ad-
ans WAS secured by an arrangement
whereby the Office OF Assistant Super
intendent was created, and the position
promised to DR.. Bergstein, of Virginia
City, Democrat ard political friend
Of the Governor. After while the
vote Of Hutaker was secured, presum-
ably upon the ground that Democrat
would, by the above mentioned ar.
Tangement, be assured q subordinate
position at tho asylum. This secured
the four votes necessary, aud Dawson
was removed aud Bishop and Bergstein
elected. These ara reported to be the
cold facts Uf the case.
DIR. Dawson managed the affairs OF
the institution in q satisfactory man
ner without nm assistant, and il is the
general impression that the creation oI
tue new Office entails needless ex.
peuso upon the people Of the State.
There were some frivolous charges
brought against DR.. Dawson. but moth.
ing of sufficien; importance TO merit
the serious consideration OF the Board.
even had they been sustained, which
they were not.
With this version OF the case, the
Board will not. md should not, be sus-
taiGed by the people in its action in
removing competent ply sician with
ont other than political reasons, and
creating II needless Office for poliH.
cal fAyorite. No public charitable iu-
stitution should be made subject OF
capital 70. politicians. Humanity and
ability should be the qualities consid-
ored in the selection of its manager.
aud not politics.
II the Board Of Insane Asylum Com
| missioners removed n competent Sup.
cIinteudent upon none but political
srou 'ds, they have committed u grew
ious wrong upon the people OF the
State, and n greater one upon the un.
fortunate Inmates OF the institution.
SO far as we bHvo noticed no other sat-
isfactory reason has been assigned for
such action, and il there were other
causes. the Board, in Justice to itself.
should publish them to the world. .
Governor Adams. especially. has al.
ways had the reputation Of being fair
minded man and faithful public scr.
want. and we are 10th to believe that he
would participate in nh act Of injustice
to secure petty position for a political
friend. We trust that he, at least, will
be Rblo 10 assign reasons for his course
in this matter which will prove salts
factory to the people who placed him
in his present honorable position.
Ills iormsr nciious sgivo us reasons
10 believe that he will be able TO do SO.
Ho recently appointed Republican to
fill tho vacancy on Board OF County
Commissioners In, We believe. Esmer-
aida county, aud his entire course has
heretofore been extremely liberal and
free from pn,tisnnship, contrasting
fayotably with the course Of bis Rcpub.
lionu predecessors In that respect. The
Republican Commissioners. Of this
County, elected by Democratic votes,
recently removed competent mar
from the position OF Steward Of oui
hospitcl, admitting openly that the
only objection to him was tho fact tha
ho wasn't a Republican. We had sup.
posed thu, such misorably moan mind
ed Officials could not be found any
whore in the state outside Of Elkc
county, aud We ir1st, for tito credit o.
the State, that II will be made to MP
pear that the Insane Asylum Commits
sioners we're not aoiuated by sues cou
temrtiblc motives, in the remoya
OF DR.. Dawson aud The election o
Bishop and Bergstein.