The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1891-10-01

GOvernOr Campbell.
Turning now to the Governor himself,
the record is not helped any, to say the
least. A large portion Of his time during
the campaign of 1889 was spent denounc-
lng the Board of Public Affairs that had
been appointed for the city of Cincinnati.
In this connection there was no language
% virulent or 80 indecent that he hesitated
TO use it. How stands the records He is
not making any charges now against any
body, except only his own appointees and
members of his own party. He has no
slime; they completely occupy his atten-
tdon. Before year had passed he felt
called upon to convene the General AS
sembly in extraordinary session to abolish
the Board of Public Improvements, which
he had appointed to take the place of the
Board of Public. Affairs, on the ground
that 1t was so incompetent, dishonest and
corrupt that he could not tolerate it's ex-
astence for short two months longer,
until the campaign then in progress would
be ended and the General Assembly would
meet in regular session. But before the
Investigation the Legislature ordered was
ended the Governors attitude became SO
mortifying and his motives appeared so
questionable that, notwithstanding all he
could say and prove, his much-abused
Board outranked him in public confidence
and esteem.
Management of Public Institutions.
Another of his complaints was that the
public institutions of the State had been
badly and extravagantly managed. He
promised to remedy the alleged wrong.
He has had an opportunity, and what is
the result? 1t has not justified either his
criticisms or his promises During the
four years preceding his administration
there was not the slightest scandal of any
Kind in connection with thu management
III any of the public institutions of the
State, penal or benevolent, while the cost
per capita of maintaining the same touched
the lowest point ever reached. Such a
record should have shielded them from
molestation, but it did not. Superipten-
dents of asylums, conceded to be among
the ablest Of their class in the United
States, were promptly turned out with as
little ceremony as though they had been SO
many janitors, to make room for men
without experience, fitness or claim, ex-
cept that they were Democrats whose ap-
p0intments would pay the Governors
political debts, and who could be relied
upon to take care of Democratic workers
nnd use their places to promote Demo-
cratic success. The result has been the
legitimate consequence. Scarcely an in
6titution has escaped scandal and investi-
cation. From one learn all.
Cleveland Asylum.
The following are but a few Of the many
charges that were made against DIR. @. B.
Chesher appointed in January last to sue
ceed DR.. Strong as superintendent of the
Cleveland asylum. They were made
directly to the Governor by j. G.. Lower, a
Democrat who had held the position Of
private secretary under the superintendent
and therefore with full knowledge Iquote
briefly from long list, and only to exhibit
q mere sample Of the charges and scandals
that have disgraced almost every other
public institution of the State. Mr.. Lower
says:
"Dr. Chesher is incompetent to fill the
position of superintendent of an insane
asylum. Now, let me detail just a little.
OF the 725 patients now in the asylua,
dare say that DR.. Chesher is not acquainted
with more than dozen cases. He never
examined a single patient when admitted
into the asylum He never wrote pre-
ecription. He never advised with any OF
the assistant physicians as to the treatment
of a single patient. He never expressed an
opinion on insanity within the knowledge
of any of the assistant physicians or EN-
ployes of the asylum. He even seldom
walks through the wards One of the at
tendants says he has been in his ward bu
three times. A number of them say tha
he walks through now and then just like {
visitor would. And Notwithstanding th'
fact that insanity is mystery to him, h,
went to work and appointed brother o
his as assistant physician, who Is abou
ffty-fve years old and who knows evel
less about insanity than the superinten
dent, il such thing is possible. 1 think
can truthfully say-and / received my in
formation from the druggist and two O
the assistant physcians-that the supcrin
tendent's brother would have killed
number of patients by overdoses, but tn
attendants mistrusted the size of dose
and consulted The other assistant phys
clans before giving the same. The sam
man has also been drunk in the asylum
He has charge of six wards and possibl
345 patients. He doesn't know one-t -thir
Of them, and it is a matter of public CON
ment by those in the building and thos
visiting inmates. When asked to knov
the condition Of patient he frequently
obliged to go and ask the attendants. Th
superintendent in such cases generally yeI
lures the opinion that there is no chang'
Just about the same; 1t is difficult to ga
- to the outcome of those cases, but tn
physician will be down soon.' Many G
those who have called to see friends hay
damned the superintendent, and wante
to know why he should ever have bee
thought of as superintendent Of an insan
asylum. You can we'll imagine the con
xnents that are made, both inside and ou
side Of the building. These charges, and
great many more of a similar nature, ca
prove and will prove II given an oppo
tunity. Let me emphasize the fact that
can prove every assertion have made
the satisfaction of any unbiased, INTEL
gent man. Such inoompetency as ha,
described is frequently the one main top
II conversation throughout the building.
Making More Than His Salary.
'It IL not pleasant matter, to charge
man with dishonesty, and In this CASE
uatisned myself thoroughly before doing .
n. g. b. Chesher IL dishonest, II you "a
- dishonsst TO receive money from u
& -1k1enas Of pationts In considoyot3on Of