The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-10-16
The Deaf Mutes at Work.


One of the most commendable features of the
State campaign is the interest thoughtful citi-
zens of all parties are taking in the effort to
remove the benevolent institutions from partisan
control. The abuses p~racticed in the institu-
tons under Democratic management are thor
oughly understood by every voter in the State.
1t is also we'll understood that Democratic sue
cess means the continuance of the same policy
that mas 80 disgraced the State, and subjected to
wrongs the thousands Of unfortunates cared for
in the various institutions. No class Of unfort.
unates are taking SO much interest in the
reformation Of the institutions, and doing better
service for the Republican cause than the deaf
mutes. There are several thousand OF them in
Indiana. and with few exceptions they will vote
the Republican ticket. Practically. avery man
who received his education at the State Deaf
and Dumb Institution, in this city. is support
ing the Republican platform. and urg-
ing his friends to do the same.
Former party affiliations are entirely laid aside
in this %contest. Among those who are thus
working untiringly is Charles Steinwenter, a
very bright deaf mute employed in the court
house. In politics Mr.. Steinwenter was always
6 Democrat, but being a graduate OF the State
Deaf and Dumb Institute, and having definite
knowledge OF the abuses which he charges are
prscticed there, he will give the Republicans his
vote this year, and all the influence he has.
Last week he mailed circular letters to all the
deaf and dumb people in the State, and also
To many of their friends, urging that the
State benevolent institutions should be divorced
from partisan control. The letter is as follows:
My Dear Friend-I address you as one whom 1 be-
ieye to De DESTROYS OF the best possible management
of our State benevolent institutions. 1t is universally
conceded that the present gross mismanagement
should, in the interest of humanity, be corrected and
our institutions put upon a basis far above the plano
of part politics. l want all the great institutions of
our State divorced from party control. and only such
men employed in their manag ament as are fitted from
proper experience and training. This can only be ac-
complished BY a thorough reorganization, and the dis
only with the defeat of the Democratic party. The
Republican party in its platform stands pledged 10
ciyiiscrvice refoImin the management of all the State
Institutions and l trust all my class of unforuunates.
and also all who would desire TO better the condition
of those upon whom misfortune has come, TO join me
in the attempt to do that which is certainly in the
interest of economy and good government Remem-
Der, a vote for the Republican ticket means a new man.
agement for our various benevolent institutions.
CHAs. T.. S~TErSwEsTER.
As an evidence of the interest this class of M
fortunates are taking in the campaign, SIR.
Steinwenter has already received scores of re-
plies to bis circular. congratulating him uDon
the excellent service he is rendering the deaf
mutes of the State, and pledging untiring work
IN the same direction until election day. Many
Of the letters are from ex-graGuates of the State
institution, and recite at length the particulars
Of how the institution has been prostituted for
political purposes. A large number of former
Democrats have answered the letter, stating
that they had already made up their minds TO
support the party that proposed to elevate their
alma mater. There were also replies
from many gentlemen who. not deaf mutes,
have relatives or friends to be educated IN
the Institution. and who will lay all party pre-
judices aside TO assist in busting the gang OF
political corruptionists which has controlled the
school urder a Democratic administrators.
a ronv of the lsttar Mr. Steinwaptar has hean
sending out fell into the hands Of the trustees Of
the benevolent institutions. and st their
instigation the, Deaf Mutes' Journal.
published at the Indiana institution,
IL was of q scurrilous character, but in refer
ence to il Mr.. Stein wenter said yesterday: 'Of
course ! am 1T perfect liberty TO say whatever
pleases me-to indorse or criticise the manage
ment of the asylum. This attack on me is for
the purpose OF contracting, If possible. the in
fuence OF the letter sent out / do not believe
. sin lie deaf-mute has ever written 20 the in
stitution denouncing me, because | think every
one in the State will vote the Repub-
lican ticket; not only that, but will
influence their friends to do likewise The pa
per. which the politically appointed officers
use to abuse and malieiously SANDER the deaf
mutes who desire 10 see the institution taken
out of politics, is supported by a part of the
money which the tax payers contribute for the
education OF the deaf and dumb. This shows
what kind of officers tie State institution has.
The institution should be investigated at the
earliest day
The Next Republican Parade.
With reference to the claim Of the Sentinel
thar the Democrats had pre-empted Saturday
evening, Nov. 3 next. for q parade in this city,
the evidence furnished all goes to chow that
they not only did nothing of the kind, but al
lowed the impression to go forth that their dem
onstration of the I'D ult was TO be their last
parade Of the campaign here. Chairman Tag
CARTE instructions to his lieutenants previous
to that date. as stated by the News. was TO get
everybody out who could take part, as IL was
THE only time during the campaign when they
will be urged 10 march, and the notii-
cation that they had hired Tomlinson
Hall gave no intimation of a street
parade. as both parties had repeatedly hired and
used that building for speech-maxine purposes
unaccompanied by any street demon
stration. The fact is" said Chairman Hard
ing, yesterday 1.-The Democrats are trying 10 make
q little cheap capital and have nothing to stand
on. They made no announcement of their in
tention to parade on the Sd until we had set
tied upon aud announced our demonstration for
that evening. Their claim that their announce
ment OF a meeting at 1omllnson Hall at that
time was to be understood as a declaration Of
their intention TO parade is nonsense. and a
good many Democrats have said
as much TO ne since this controversy
began. We have made our announcement
A OF a hcpUOhNdh Ob huo tfcbiuk III aQ-
vance of any other organization, and the parade
will be held as stated. IL the Democracy choose
to add OH a parade to their Tomlinson Hall meet
Ing we will treat them q good deal better than
they treated US when we held our Anna Dickin-
son meeting in that building. We will not en-
deavor to keep anybody from attending their
meeting or annoy them after they get there by
firing cannons in the courthouse yard as they
did while Miss Dickinson was speaking
In the Twenty-Finh Ward.
Hon. John F. Scsnlan, OF Chicago. spoke at
Parnell Hall last night, which was filed with
both Democrats and Republicans who were we'll
repaid by the excellent discussion Of the sub
ject, Tariff or Free Trade, Whichi" The
speaker presented his argument In such a forci.
BILE manner that he was interrupted by q Demo
crat who sought to create q
disturbance ard evidently to break
MP the meeting. In this he failed,
however. for at each interruption the free-trade
representative received a sharp and witty an
aver, followed by tremendous applause. "In
1860" said the speaker. 'the Democratic party
went into rebellion for the purpose of establish
ing a free-trade confederacy. In 1851, during
the good old days OF Democratic free trade, men
worked for 62 cents a day in Boston, and died
there without enough money to purchase a COT