The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-08-17
GOVERNOR BUTLER AS A
REFORMER.

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in Massachusetts,. 1t has dragged its
slow length on, waiting to hear from
the COMMITTEE on Public Charitable
Institutions" Brief items from time
to time having appeared in papers
throughout the country, have set the
"Old Bay" state in an almost, if not
altogether barbarous attitude relative
to its treatment of its paupers. The
simple fact is, Gov. Butler has been
posing as a reformer. 1t is we'll
known fact that for years Gen. Butler
has aspired to be Governor of Massa-
chusetts. To that end he has left no
stone unturned, and finally, to use
his own quotation of scripture, when
assured of his election, "The stone
which the builder rejected has become
the chief stone of the corner"
His appeals to the voters have
been plaintive, personal, persistent.
The motives appealed to have been
far lower than becomes any man who
desires to retain the respect of his
fellows. But, among them, as that
calculated to appeal to better class,
was one iterated and reiterated all
over the state, in which he main
tanned that long continuance in pow
err necessarily breeds corruption.
That the power of reform does not
reside in the party Of long continued
control and so a new deal becomes
necessary. Put him in, and he could at
his age and in his position, have on
ly one ambition-to purify the Gov.
eminent and bless the people. The
argument was very specious and In
fact, it took. 1t seemed true that
every motive would urge him to
wise and manly use of his great pow
ers for the good of the common
wealth. With that belief, many
voted for him. Others, who could
hardly trust him to execute the
theory, were not unwilling to see him
have chance, though they did not
vote for him, but not against him !;
while yet others who voted against
him did not regret his election. Once
elected, if abuses existed, he was cum
ming enough to discover them, and
had all to gain, nothing to lose by
rectifying them. So felt the great
bulk of the people. So far, he no
| doubt had the heart of the common
wealth in sympathy with him. That
the people were not ready to throw
aside the Republican party, in the
state is seen by the election of the
balance Of the ticket. That they
were ready to submit its management
to the official criticism of one who
has often boosted that people have
never called him fool, is seen by
his election.
In due time Gov. Butler issued his
very lengthy inaugural. We question
if any state message was ever read
with more care than that. All ex-
pected a sensation. On that point
the expectations were not foiled.
Gross charges concerning misman-
agement of the state Almshouse at
Tewksbury were made in it. 1t may
be we'll at this point to explain that
by the laws of Massachusetts, citizens
not born in the states are wards of
the state (if they come to want), un-
less by legal methods they "gain a
residence" in some city or town, in
which case they become charges to
that place where their residence is.
1t would follow naturally that the
very lowest, most debased class would
constitute large proportion of the
inmates at Tewksbury. They would
be largely foreigners. The charges
against that institution made by the
Governor in his message, resulted in
an investigation that has given Gov.
Butler every opportunity to show
the truthfulness of his accusations.
Unlimited by the committee, he has
directed in person the examination
of his witnesses and the cross exam
ination of those introduced by the
defense. A thing. we believe. without