The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-10-22
Interests of the Deaf Mutes.

A committee of deaf mutes. representing their
class, and having the best interests of the State
Deaf and Dumb Institute at heart have sent out
an eight-page circular. urging non-partisan man
asement of the benevolent institutions. The
circular begins with the following appeal:
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Oct. 90, 1888.
Our Dear Frieuds-We, deaf mures Of Indians,
have labored in vain since 1879 to call the attention
of the Democratic administration to the mismanage-
meut of our State benevolent institutions, especially
the Indiana Institution for the Education OF the Deaf
and Dumb. In 1879, they gave US for our superin-
teLdent a Democratic dentist from q village, a member
of the School Board of Trustees. In 1885. they gave
the dentists place TO a Democratic Jailer iron the
town of the president of the School Board or educa-
ton below that of the average American, now occupy
ing the position of great responsibility. They gave
Us stones for bread"
The Republican party has pledged itself In its plat
form that all the State institutions should be divorced
from party control, managed on business principles.
aud only such men employed as are fitted by expert
ence and education to perform the duties inteih'
gently. AS it is universally conceded that the in
situations cannot be reformed until the Republicans
control the Legislature, so We, Democrats and Repub-
licans alike, are fully determined to work for the sue
cess of the Republican party.
Please read what the newspapers throughout the
country say of the Deaf Mute Institution.
Remember, a vote for the Republican ticket means
a new management for our various State institutions.
Very truly yours,
p. J. HAsENsTAB. New Albany,
c. o. DANTZER, indianapolis,
j. {. T. WHEELER, Vincennes.
s. S. STEPHENS, Evansville,
C.E. STEINwENTER, Indianapolis,
THEODORE 1OLTZ, Evansville.
There il then given a letter Of Prof. Charles
Kerney, recently mailed to all the graduates Of
the Indiana Deaf and Dumb Institute, In which
occurs the following: 81 want to ask you here a
question of great importance, as to our dear
alma mater, now degraded by politics. We
have directed the attention or the most infiuen-
tial citizens OF Indiana TO the bad management
They are so anxious 10 be supplied with all the
needful facts which they are to lay before the
Legislature. But no work which includes the
interest of the institution at heart can be well
done without the active, earnest sympathy and
cooperation OF the deaf Of Indiana. To secure
their close cooperation would insure for our
alma mater the vigorous and successful prose-
cution of the approaching Legislature. This Of
fective and inexpensive organization would be
the best working medium yet devised for the
restoration of our dear alma mater to its former
glory. Here is most ksenly felt the want of in
telligent cooperation which means success.
None could engage in q more praisewortty and
patriotic service than of actively laboring for
the ad saucement of the institution"
The circular then, in quoting from an article
by Professor Karney, recently published in the
Evansville Journal. gives incidents Of misman-
a2ement in the institution, all of which il is as
serted are due to the incompetency OF those IN
control. This quotation closes with: "Practi-
cally, the Institution ms been a sort of practical
training college for the teachers, instead of a
school for the deaf. cannot do better than to
quote the words of 'Elna Kenets,' one OF the
teachers of the institution, who says in the New
York Deaf Mutes' Journal: And what / saw
almost made me believe / had entered the wrong
institution. or that nv eyes didn't see Alright.
The principal. l found. was ignorant of the sign
language and his education below that of the
average American. His spelling and grammar
a. first convinced me that 1t was the ~ianitor I
was speaking to, aud when he himself Informed
ne that be was the principle | could not help
feeling il was q joke. until I was enlightened Of
that truth by one OF the teachers"
The last FIVE pages ofithe circular ara devoted
to extracts from deaf mute journals throughout
the country, which condemn the management
of the Indiana institution in the strongest terms.
Among the papers quoted are the New York
Deaf Mute Journal. Deaf Mute Optic, of Arkan-
cas-, Wisconsin Times, Deaf Mute Bulletin, of
Maryland, Deaf Mute Record, of Missouri, and q
number Of others.