The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-12-23
a TERRIBLE ARkAIGNMENr.

Some Very UnsAVorY Charges Against tho
Newly Appointed SupsrInten dent OF the
Ohio Reform school for Boys.
The Cleveland Sunday Journal says:
"One OF the mCst unfortunate appoint.
ments ever made In Ohio was recently
made by the trustees of the Industrial
School for Boys, formerly known as the
OnlO Reform Farm, near Lancaster, and
which will take effect on January 1,
1887.
"Ihe appointment we refer to, is that
Of Mr. Charles Douglas, as superin-
tendent OF the institution. Douglas
was removed from the position about
three years ago for incompetency, as 1t
was given out, but the fact Is that
besides being incompetent and ALSO.
lutely nntrustwOrthy, there had ac-
cnm ulated such list of scandals. con-
Meeting his name with those of certain
female teachers In the institution, that
his retention as superintendent was
not only compromising the good name
OF the Institution itself, but that of
every person connected with 1t. No less
than three female teachers left the
school during Douglas administration
with deeply clOuded regulations, and
scandals attached to their names, which,
would have brought on investigation
had they not, so to speak, skipped by
the light of the mOen." An engineer
connected with the institution discoV.
cred Douglas and female teacher in
the act of having compromising famil-
isrity, to use mild term; a circum-
stance that induced partial inVestiga.
tlOn, that was brought to close by the
resignation of the lasciVious dame.
For over year Douglas made prsc-
tlce of secretly visiting TIE apartments
OF a female teacher at improper hours,
and as often as twice and three times a
week. His conduct in this instance be-
came 30 gross that a gentleman
ana wire, Who were teachers 10
the family visited by the gay
L0thario, and who, aVeTse to making
an exposure and becoming involved as
witnesses In scandal investigation,
offered their resignation and retired
from the farm. These are only samples
of the various disgraceful scandals that
were life during The Douglas regime,
Douglas Is shrewd and crafty pOliti.
clan and deep and designing hyDocrite,
who serves the devil under q cloak Of
sanctity that Is we'll calculated to de-
ceiVe those who are unacqQalnted with
his tricks and manners. During his
official term 1t was his aim aud study
to keep In the good gTRCes Ofsuch mem
beTs of the board as be could influence
by his hypOcracy, and he was very sue.
cessful in binding the eyes and retain
ing the confidence of several members
of the board, Notwithstanding the evil
dence against him. Aside from his
Righteousness and hypOcracy, he Is not
only indOieut and incompetent, but
entirely untitled by nature to act as q
friend, counsellor and educator of
young people. He is totally incapable
of winning the confidence of the boys
entrusted to his charge, even If he had
the honest disposition to undertake the
task, The boys, as rule, dread and dis
like him, and have an utter contempt
for his rule. In order to maintain dis
cipline, he is, therefore, compelled to
resort to cruelty, weapon he inVaria-
bly, employs with evident relish.
mo greater misfortune could befall
the excellent TefOrmatOry institution
than the appointment of This man Doug
las, and it IS a disgrace to Governor For
skeT's administration that he has taken
no steps TO defeat the action of the trus-
tees who were led to commit the out
rage through the agency of political
intrigue. We are in hopes, for the good
of the excellent institution, that the
board will see the prOpriety of Iescind-
Ing its action, and we can assure them
that by so doing they will prevent q
great deal Of unpleasant scandal tha5
Will reflect anything but credit on
themselves"