The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-06
REMOVAL OF SUPERINTENDENT GLENN.
Which Was Ordered Without Cause or Justi-
fcatiOn Other than Political Necessity.

l. -
DR. William Glenn, who for FIVE years has been
the superintendent of the State Institution for
the Deaf and Dumb, is preparing to give up that
position on the 18th inst, to Mr.. Eli Baker, of
Lebanon, who was recently appointed by the
board of trustees. DIR. Glenn has been a
good superintendent, and undershis manage
ment the institution has been prosperous.
He was elected in May, 1879, for four years,
and in August, 1883, the present board,
which consists of DIR. Thomas H. Harrison, DIR.
James, of Muncie, and ex-senator S. E. urn
ston, of Franklin county, reelected him, but for
only one year, although, there was no provision
in the laws governing the institution for such a
short term. The bylaws provide that the super
intendent shall be elected at the July meeting
for a term of four years. The present board was
selected in February, 1883, and their relations
with DR.. Glenn have to all outward indications
been pleasant and amicable. There have been
rumors at various times that Baker was to be APP
pointed superintendent but they were not gen
orally credited. Baker is only a local politician.
The only position of any Importance which he
has ever held, was deputy warden Of the north
ern prison, and he resigned this just before an
80 NRhA60NAOh ~ SANNN was " w oNANf
and which developed several things that were
not particularly creditable to Mr.. Baker. He is
a man of very ordinary educational attainments,
and totally unfit for such a responsible position.
But he is the pct of DIR. Harrison, president of
the board, a man who is INSCRIPTIONS as to
methods to be employed to advance his own in
~terests, and this was sufficient. On the 18th
of November the board held a special meet
ing, deposed DR.. Glenn and appointed Baker,
Mr.. Urmston voting with Harrison to do this,
and Mr.. James protesting. DIR. Glenn had re-
ceived no intimation of such an action. No
charges were made against, and no fault had
been found with his official management. His
removal is just at the beginning of the school
year, when his services are the most needed.
The minutes of the meeting at which this action
was taken, are sufficiently condemnatory of that
action, for in street parlance they give away
the whole scheme" They are signed by DR..
Harrison and DR. James, the president and sec
rotary, respectively, and are as follows:
INDIANA INSTITUTE DEAF AND DUMB,
Nov. IL, 1884.
The board met at the Office of the institution, pur-
suant TO a call made by the president of the board.
All the members were present. The purpose for
which the meeting was called was to appoint Mr.. Eli
Baker superintendent of the institution, and to re-
move DR.. Glenn, the present superintendent. There
being no charges against the superintendent, and the
| institution having been, and is now, we'll and success.
fully conducted under the management of the sperm.
tendent, and there being no cause for removal, and no
notice having been given of the object for which this
hasty action be taken, and that the mat
ter be postponed at least until the
next regular board meeting, to give time for due con-
sideration of so important a step as a changein super
intendents, in the progress of a session of the school,
when everything was in successful operation. This
request was overruled, and after some further discus
sion of the matter, Mr.. Urmston moved that Mr..
Baker be appointed superintendent, and the question
being put by the president, DR.. james objected, for
| the reason that the motion Urag not apcOn1ad and WAS
therefore not before the board for action; the objec-
ton was overruled, and the vote was taken, Mr.. Urn
ston and DR.. Harrison voting in the affirmative, and
DIR. James in the negative, and under protest, and he
asked leave to have his protest entered upon the min
utes of this meeting, which was granted, which pro-
test was as follows:
Il protest against the action of the majority of this
board in the removal of DR.. Glenn as superintendent
of the Deaf and Dumb Institute, as being injudicious
and untimely, and without notice or cause, and that it
leaves the institute without anyone in the manage
ment who can communicate intelligibly with the
pupils in the sign language; and without anyone with
experience in the management of the affairs of the
institution and that the law requires that the super
intendent, when appointed, shall be skilled and quail
fed by education and practice to take charge of the
institution for which he is appointed and that the
present appointee, Mr.. Baker, possesses none of
these qualifications, as l am informed, ard therefore,
believing that the appointment just made is contrary
To- law and not for the best interests of the institution,
l enter my protest to the entire action of the majority
of the board in these proceedings. N. JAMES"
DR.. Glenn was allowed until the 18th prox. to close
his business. The board adjourned.
THOMAS III. HARRISON, President,
NJ. JAMES, Secretary.
DR.. Glenn thinks that he has been treated I'M
fairly and %unjustly, and that he has been re-
moved without cause, so that a ward politician
may be provided with a place, for which ne is
totally unqualified, and incapable of discharging
its duties. Baker will take charge of the insti-
tuition some time during the present month, and
DR.. Glenn and his family will probably return
to Muncie.
Srr the 81 Shirte parker ID r. WASHINGTON