The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1893-07-13
GEN. BRINKERHOFF
PRESIDENT or THE NATIONAL PRISON
CONGRESS

Charities and CORE otions Tells OF DIFF
fioulties in Their Work Caused b!
Parties Trumping up Charges Asains
State Institutions-J. j, olark's Uharse
Against the soldiers Orphans Home
A sample Case of Taxing the state tt
Satisfy q Private Grievance.
From the Mansfield Shield.
There is perhaps none OF our state
boards OF which the people have 80 lin.
tied knowledge as the board Of state char
tiles and corrections. This 10 no doubt
due to the fact that much OF the work OF
this board is of such n character that II
can be more efficiently done and attended
with better results when divesttu oil pup
licity. In recent conversation wild
Gen. II. BrinGerhoh, of this city, who
has been n member of this board ever
since ita creation, sixteen years ago, and
the vice president Of she board during
much of the time, the Shield learned
some things about the work OF the board
and it's methods of operation that wIIl be
of interest 20 many of our readers
The greater part of the work OF this
board, and the most difficult part is tne
Investigation OF charges and complaiuta
that are made against the manag al OF
the state and county institutions. Ihese
are go numerous that they consume q
great deal OF the time OF the board and
cost the state n large sum OF money every
year. The INT mbeTs receive no salary
and are simply paid their expenses, but,
as there are six members of the board,
and their duties require considerable
travel, the expenses amount 10 several
thousand dollars each year. The board
is non.parLisan, consisting OF three Dem.
ocrAts and three Rspublicaes, as follows
Gen. Il. BrinkerhoH, Mansfield; Hon., M.
IN IntW all nd IA
Cleveland, Democrats; and Charles Pars
rott, Columbus James L. Wilson, Green
field. and VIM, Howard Neff, Cincinnati,
Republicans. The Governor Of the state
ia ex. officio president OF the board.
Much of the work OF the board in con-
nection with these Investigations IL altos
gether useless, and the cost OF them 10
just so much money wasted. But the
board is not to blame for this in fact the
board 10 required by law to make the in-
vestiRations when complaints are nled,
aud they cannot avoid this duty II they
would. The fact 10, that in almost every
instance since the board was hrsS organ
lied, the charges that have been prefer
red against the management OF public I'M
stitutions have been proven to be totally
and maliciousIy false, and trumped up by
sore 'headed persons who have been DIS
charged from employment or dlsappoint-
ed applicants for positions in these lnsti'
TO put a stop to this nefarious and expen-
sive business, and that is to make II
criminal offense to prefer charges that
cannot be substantiated. At least the
persons making such charges should be
required to swear to them before they be
given any consideration.
As an example OF the way this board,
and through 1t the state, is outrageously
imposed upon, we might refer to the last
investigation by the board. one j. j.
Clark, of Canton, preferred q batch OF
charges against Gen. Chas. L, Young, the
superintendent of the Soldiers Orphans
Home at Xenia. 1t is unnecessary to re-
peat the charges here in detail, but suf-
flee to say they involved general unftness
and misconduct of the superintendent.
The Governor summoned tne Doaru TO
meet and investigate. When the board
met Clark failed to show up. he was tel
egraphed to come or produce his evidence:
He asked for more time. The board
gave him twelve days and adjourn:
ed to meet again. When the beard
came together again Clark still failed
TO appear, but sent an insulting letter
to the board, charging the members with
an intention to "whitewash" the manage
ment Of the Home. He did, however, |
furnish the names of few alleged wit |
nesses. |
The board proceeded to make thor.
ough investigation and called all the wit |
nesses suggested by Clark, as well as
great many others, including prominent
citizens OF Xsnia and the q. A. X. post OF
that city. The latter body was asked to
hold q meeting and assist the board in
every way possible in sitting the charges.
This was done and after a most exhRusN
i've examination the board found not a
scintilla of evidence to sustain the
chRrges, but on the contrary Gen. Young |
was completely yindicated and bis ad-
s,,G. Hha |
board reported to the Governor their find
ng accordingly, and that vas the end OF
IN expensive investigation that was sim
)ly prompted by malice and Jealousy, as
8 evident when we come to examine the
motive of Clark. This man Clark, who
3 a Republican, had sought an appoint
nent on the board of trustees OF the
home in place of Gen. Sherwood, Dem.
crat, but Gov. Mckinley preferred to re-
ain Gen, Sherwood as one of the two |
Democratic members OF the board, and
lark was turned down.
In addition 70 this, and probably the
hief motive for the charges against Gen.
rho was an officer in the Woman's Relief
orps, was found guilty by the order OF
money belonging to that
rgauiznti ntion, and was compelled to disU
orge. In that controversy Mrs. Gen.
'oung, and Mrs, Gen. Sherwood, both
aides being also officers in the W. Il. c., [
yere compelled in the discharge OF their :
uties to take part against Mrs. Clark.
'hus we see hoY personal spite and re-
enge are sought 10 be gratified at the exN
epse of the people of the state under the !
peraHon of The present Law defining the |
uties Of the board Of state charities. 1t
'as this Same thirst for revenge on the {
art of Clark Shnt caused him to make the j
scent assault upon Gen. Sherwood, by =
aeaking up behind him and dealing Oim :
murderous blow on the back OF the
cad.
Gen. Brinkerhoff stated to the Shield i
lat la his opinion the SoldierS' Orphans
ONE at Xsnia, is the hnest institution in q
le state, and the best of its kind Ia the y
nited States. 1t was the verdict OF the h
oard that the institution Ia now in better 4
,udition than ever before in It's history. :
en-. Young and his good wife were Hps Z
ointed superintendent end matron under c
le Gov. Campbell administration, and U
though the general 10 Democrat, so {
xcellent has been his management that (
e present board, appointed by Gov. q
.cKinley, has retained him iD the super =
tendency and Mrs. Young as mairon. =
he instiIution has bsen wholly divorced
oIn politics; the officers and employees p
g about equally divided bstweeD the e
20 parties, aud the good effects Of this 4
sw order Of things are already apparent. II
recent speech by Gov. Mckinley OF a
10 Home he uttered unstinted praise OF i.
j management.
The result of the investigation at
snia was simply a repetition OF the o
,ard's experience In nearly all the other o
of the state. Occasionally q II
se Of inefficisncy In met with, but not o
ten enough to justify the vicious and D
charges that are made by 4
lprinclpled and irresponsible persons =
'ainst the management. Gen. Brickers
- Iiaua. th.. .o.oa m otYoht In / N