Telegram-herald., 1890-10-07
Full Statement OF the Repub-
lican Candidate.
Each and EveTy Slanderous
Falsehood Refuted.
The Free Press Bugaboo aud Nc
Elroy Knocked Out-A Rational
Statement by an Honest
Mantle True Status OF
the Slate and Brick
Contracts.


LASEINa. Mieb.. Oct. s, 1890.
TO the People % the state of Michigan;
On my return home on the evening
OF oct 3, 1890, my attention was called
70 an assault upon me Ia the Free Press,
by one j. +. McEiroy. ex-superintend-
ent OF the Michigan School for the
Blind. The charges were of such
grave and serious nature that, rs a
matter Of course. realized that the
people of tue State of Michigan were
enutled % an immediate reply from
me. | should have been much gratlfied
10 have been able 10 have forwarded TO
the press by following mail my de-
fense; but this seemed impracticable,
for the reason that desired to place
before the people the testimony of sew
eral persons named in the article, as
architect, slate rOofers, contractors and
parties who furnished supplies for the
construction of the buildings therein
referred 10. | found Mr.. Eberts, of De-
troit, absent IN New York, and was
Obliged 10 call him by telegraph to
Lansing in order to obtain his affidavit,
which was promptly done. Another,
on whose testimony Mr.. McElroy un-
dertook TO convict me, was j. c. Vim
cent, of Grand Rapids. l was obliged
90 call him by telegraph to Lansing and
obtain his statement
Mr.. John Jordan, who furnished the
bricks for the buildings az the school
for the blind. now lives in Detroit, and
finding him from home, was obliged
10 call him from a different part Of the
State. This difficulty was experienced
with other witnesses, aud you can
readily see, has required time 10 ar
range. | have, however, given myself
no rest, and have hurried forward the
compilation OF my reply with the great
est dispatch of which | was capable
The delay necessary was alike annoy
ing to me and the public. comfort
n31 self, however. with the thought that
tue spirt of fairness pervades the at
nOspnere of Michigan To such an eX-
tent that our cltZens would not con-
denim rue until 1 had been heard.
My appointment az a member OF the
Board OF Control of the Michigan
school for the Blind was made by the
late Gov. Crosweu IN 1880. without So
lcitaton from me; IN tact, my first
knowledge OF the appointment Vas the
receipt Of 4 telegram from hum an
nOuucing nv selection. | promptly
wrote "A telt graphic reply declining the
appointment; but sucu pressure was
brought upon me BY ;. d. Bingham
and other citizens OF Lansing that |
very reluctantly consented 10 serve on
and Board and loud what sid / could
toward the permanent location OF the
Institution and the construction and
establishment ot tle school. | re-
manned or the Board during the hal
anCe of the term of Gov. CrOsswei;
also during the term of Gov. JIrome.
Gov. Begoie. Gov. Alger. aud a portion
of the term OF Our present Gov. Luce.
Ny first meeting with the board was
on December Z, l.,0, at winch meeting
Vas elected treasurer, aud flied bond.
COPY from the public records OF the
institution. page li. ION motion Of Mr..
Applegste. Mr. James VI. Turner was
elected treasurer OK the board. The
treasurer-elect niled out and signed the
bond IN accordance with law" TINS
wii explain about now / came To be
treasurer and IN regard TO toe bond.
tine lusulfiClenCy of whICn Mr. MCEirov
was 40 exercised about. The bond filed
was fOr the sum ct $4,000.
ON my accession 20 the board found
J. r. McElroy already smployed a.
superintendent OF the institution at a
salary Of $1,000 per yesr.
Subsequently page IS Of record
under date June Ia. 1881 his salary
was increased 70 5000 per annum. and
subsequently page "a Of record. under
oste June IS. lss2 it was increased To
SitJ0 per sunum.
At the meeting Of the board held
July 81. ISS2. a record Of which - CON
tanned on pages a.. "A ard IS, iiua on
the last named page the following
entry;
The question Of the appointment of
officers. teachers snt employees for the
year commencing with september next,
teing under consideration, Governor
Eegoie moved tnat the sa sry Of the
superintendent be- Fixed AZ 5000 for the
period named. Carried
lt VII be understood that at the com
rlencen1ent Of Mr. Ne Elrov's connect
Ion With the institution his duties were
necessarily limited. tae school then be-
inE IN ts infancy hut -rsdus lly. by the
extension of the school. and the evten-
ave buiafuz operations incurred bvthe
board bis WORK became more var'etf.
more people we're ulsced under hs
casree and che purchases for the insti-
t1Eou which were carried cu bv hsm
iec7sfe annually greater n volume.
Mule nf tle carler years Of hls cm-
r crmfnt hfs rorS was reasonably sat
feacrurv IN fhe rnsrfi. the fah fntliv
became altogether too large Tor h.nl.
sd tne losra beEsn 60 ind thst VII 2
le was tne nlsn they Nsute1 in some
places. SCAT De was entirety ncompe-
teut IA others s.so thar a. sdes scented