Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-04-07
Mr.. GROCER lSvExED
He Refutss the Statements Made
by Charles Watkins
ABOUT GRAVES APPOINTMENT
~ VsnAsnoses the Cousso AZ shS M.
ds~ss' nosns B.sard and osesstoss
Ns. Wsskias' laspissssSa-

My attention has BEEN called 10 an
artsels 90 Tbs Sl,isi.srs' homs vhich sP.
pared ia The Ilsm<crst lase month.
said James A. Crozsr u the board 81
managers In The Morton hoass- Il b.
nsve ChAri-s w. Watkins was r-sponsi
bio fos the stafsmsnts. In The nrvs
place tho SOLDIERS home Vas NOT built
especially lns Michigan soidiefA nwss
built for citizens u Michigan Who had
been ss,disrs l vAs q memhsr Of the
legislature that passed the measure. ana
l may he rarsioned for assuming to
Anov something about its object The
Clause that prevents any but Michigan
-oidlers 1ho we're rot residents OF the
stAt. At the time the lac was pAs-ed
as inherited u prevent persons moving
into the state Tor that particular Pur-
pose. The present eomn.andsnt~-sn
last the three principal officers Il tho
homo are 10, Michigan soldiers Per
hap. the fact that MAJOR Mckee Is a
resident II Grand Rapids u.ak~s u q
little easier for Mr. Watkins 10 bear.
The argument that none but . Grand
Rapids nan should be selected for the
position n commandsnt Is nonsense.
l ndrr that rule ~arsiens o! the state .
snn. and nobody but a Kalamazoo man
csIuld aspire 20 he superintendent OF the
insane asylum Another argument of
the same kind 10 used by Mr.. Watkins.
he --euls % think that because Grand
Rapids purchased the site. II should be-
permitted Ia control the appointments OF
the home. Every city in the state vi.
f.r-d equal Inducements with Grand
Rapids and IL is the city that should Be
grateful rather than the state.
Mr.. Watkins intimstes that before my
r-appointment proi-sssrd u be friendly
"a General Pierc-s candidacy. pledged
myself 10 nobody and believe that IN
voting for Captain Graves l had the
best interests - the home at heart. Cap
tam Graves received the vote Of every
member % the board except his own. No
amount u 'hustiing. AS Mr Watkins in
nmates. coald hay. changed th" resnlt.
The meetings % the board of managers
are not ward caucuscs- The insinuation
that Governor Rich shirked his duty by
no. attending tho meeting Is unworthy
~ any loyal republican. John L. Rich
- not the man % shirk a duty for fear
Of consequences. II Governor Rich had
been present at the meeting his vote
could hardly have outweighed the votes
% the other seven members anyway.
Mr.. Watkins condemns the board FOR
having chosen one IL its own members
cpmmandsnt. yet General Pierce was a
nember 81 the board that selected him.
snd the fact that he 10 a Grand Rapids
man would hardly exempt him from
SIMILAR condemnation. As a matter al
fact the experience acquired as a mem
her II the beard il - IncaicuIabls bene-
~ o. a cOmmandant
1t seems 10 me that Mr.. Watkins was
little too hasty in condemnirg the
board. Every statement made by him
- untrue. and IL IA. hsd drawn less upon
his Imagination he might have realizei.
before writing the letter. the falsene-s II
has p.sstson. As man who has stood
yell N the ranks ~ republication ise
should have been more careful in his
icdiscriminate criticism.