The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-16
THE wREcKERs OF BENEvoLENcE

| tlon In the plots, but the same mean and
malicious partisan influences that sought to
work through him to the overthrow Of DR..
Rogers and the practical wrecking of the In
sane Hospital in the interest of party work
ers and bummers, are again alive and active.
Indeed, their malign influence is not con-
fined to the Insane Hospital, but is felt in
other institutions presided over by President
Harrison, who seems to be the chief figure
in all the miserable schemes. We do not
know what influences secured the appoint
ment of DR.. Davenport to be the successor of
DR.. Walker, as one of the medi-
cal assistants at the Insane Hospi-
| tai. But, unless we are misinformed, Daven-
port is man with a record that should
have kept him out of the hospital, and
which did suffice to bar him under the for
mer administration, Democratic though it
was We understand that DR.. Davenport
worked long and faithfully TO displace DR..
Rogers under the old regime, but failed; one
while acting as director of the Northern
prison, with another OF the board he let
contract for the stone work of the new cell
house, which, so soon as it was called to the
promptly rescinded and relet the State
saving about $4,000 by the praiseworthy
action of the Governor. DIR. DAY.
export could not be appointed
/ .arfto nov, . Ill
the new one makes him an assistant, giving
him an inside position from which he can
carry forward his plot to supplant DR.. Rog
ers, for it will hardly be supposed that
Davenports ambition is satisfied with the
subordinate position. 1t simply affords him
solid ground upon which to rest the fulcrum
for his partisan lever.
The appointment of DIR. Foulds as one of
the assistant physicians is another OF DR..
Harrison's unwarranted and impertinent
and indecent acts, and Dr. Rogers's refusal
to recognize the dictum of the trustees, and
his declination to assign him to duty, will be
upheld by every reputable citizen
of the State. 1t is an open
secret that one of the most
accomplished assistants at the hospital felt
it incumbent upon him to resign because he
recognized that DR.. Rogers, while nominally
the head, was not really in absolute charge
of the institution. There is a chronic disa-
greement between the superintendent and
the board of trustees. The one, we believe.
desires to manage and conduct the hospital
in the interest of the inmates and of the
people of the State who pay the taxes to sup
port great and constitutonally-impo
charity; the other, we know, intend to run
the hospital in the interest of party bum
mers, who worked with the late Legislature
for the passage Of the Brown bill, the Pan
dora box out of which has escaped all the
evils which now afflict the benevolent system
of the State.
The Blind Asylum is also feeling the effect
of DR.. Harrison's blighting presence and in
fuence. At the last meeting of the board a
strong effort was made to displace the pres
ent superintendent and put in his place a
man named Baker, an ex-deputy warden of
the Northern penitentiary, whose only claim
or qualification for the place is understood
10 be that he used the cato -nine-tails with
brutal vigor upon the Michigan City con-
victs. Think of such a man being placed in
authority over the helpless blind children of
blood of every honorable heart. AS well put
Legree in charge of an orphans home.
| We want the people, the benevolent, decent,
honorable people of the State, the taxpayers,
those who may have friends in the benevo-
lent institutions and all who have honest and
just pride in their maintenance, to know pre-
cisely what is being done with them under
the operations of the Democratic monstros
ity born of the late Infamous Legislature,
and under the management of man who if
reports be at all credible, would do we'll to
read carefully the statutes of the State. We
should like DR.. Harrison to answer directly
whether he, or others for him, made any
promises, verbally or in writing, of places in
the institutions, which promises were in
tended to influence the votes of members of
the Legislature. We should like to ask
If Dr. Davenport held any such pledge
from DIR. Harrison. We should like to ask
Representative Rowland, of this county,
what if any, inducements or suggestions
were made to him for and in behalf of DR.,
Harrison, or for the passage of the Brown
bill. The facts are certain to come out
sooner or later, and in the meantime the
great benevolent institutions of the State
are being wrecked. The people will demand