Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-04-03
REAOvALS AT THE INDIAN SCHOOL.
UnfOunded IRsinuatiOn Against Su-
ppFintpRdent Irwin.

Henry Rogers, carpenter, and +. w
Royal, boONeeper, at the school. He
assigned no reason for his action
but it is understood that he wanted
to get rid of them because they
would not 'stand i'm with all oi
l,is schemes. Messrs. Rogers and
r Iyal are gentlemen OF hIgh stand.
ilg and thorough qualifications
and the school can iii afford 10 gel
along without them. Mr. irwin
will probably find his official path.
way rather thorny if his past actions
are an indication of the manner in
which he proposes to conduct the af.
fairs of the school Salem States.
man, April 3.
The above item may not be SO in
tended, but it is apparently an in
complete statement of the facts in
the case for purpose, and to pub
lish only part of the truth is often
as misleading as to publish a false.
hood. AS is well known, in govern
ment institutions, especially the
Indian service, a good deal of au-
thOrity is vested in the person in
charge, and Supt. Irwin has full
control over the Chemawa Indian
school. During recent visit to the
school, citizens Of Salem, who had
heard some complaints of unauthor-
lzed removals on the part of Supt
Irwin, were shown "a letter from
Commissioners Morgan, of the de-
partnent of the interior, fully ap-
proving of the superintendent's
management and fully authorizing
him to make such changes in the
force as he saw fit.
The JOURNAL is not disposed to
enter any defence of Supt. Irwin,
because that gentleman does not
need it. Complaints have COME
from some, of his management, but
nothing affecting his honor as man
and official. No man can run such
an institution, with as many differ
ent departments as an Indian train
ing school, and not meet with hostile
criticism, but those who have watch
ed the Chenlawa school for years
say it is in fairly good shape, while
there has be, II an improvement in
the order and discipline. Some of
Supt. Irwin's severest critics in the
school now admit that affairs at
that institution have been improved
under bis rule. His reforms have
been severe, and some of his meas
ures harsh no doubt, but he has had
the nerve and the courage
to use the authority given
HIM as he honestly believed
for the good of the school. Super
intendent Irwin was appointed fer
his fitness for the place, endorsed
10y the most prominent republicans
of Oregon because he had rendered
the party great services as an orator
His speeches in the preceding cam
paign were considered the ablest
and most effective made, in Oregon.
He represents in certain sense, the
republican party, under President
Harrison's administration.
The JOURNAL has no disposition
to censure Superintendent Irwin nor
Messrs. Rogers and Royal. If they
have been unfairly dealt with, this
paper will go as far as any to do
them justice. We have seen none
of the parties and heard no reasons
assigned, one way or the other. We
do not believe ii is right to Supern
tendent Irwin or TO any man in an
official position to throw out insinu-
ations or blacken MS motives with
out any presentation of facts. 1t is
highly wrong to charge corrupt
practices with no proof to sustain
the charge. A newspaper insinua-
ito. against any official in the III
dian service amounts to nothing, be-
cause the department will pay no
attention TO it, and wrongs there
cannot be remedied by newspaper
criticism.
The Statesman is unjust in its
unfounded iusinuations about
standing in" with TIE republican
of the Indian school.
When the Marion county grand
jury found Wrongful practices car
ricd on under democratic supeIin-
tendent Of the state asylum, Il GER
tain Salem newspaper maintained Il
studiuus silence on the subject.
When that grand jury did report to
the court that there was cOllusion
among the employees { f the asylum,
and that said employees Were "stand-
ing inu to rob the state and defraud
the patients, certain newspaper
could not be induced to publish
that report or censure those corrupt
practices under democratic manage
menI. For a republican paper to
thus screen wrong-doing Of the
enemy. aud assail without proof or
cause republican, seems Il strange
line of conduct. 1t il lire that is
f.F