The herald., 1894-10-19
MESSRS. MLACHLAN AND LIND
LEY.

We deem it not impairment at this
time to refresh the public mind upon
the dubious record of Mr.. James Nc
Lgchlan, ex-district attorney and con-
gressional candidate, in his indulgent
official Il oatment of his friend, Lindley,
when that forehanded director of the
Whittier reform school was caught by
en "invastigation" 80 damaging in its
disclosures as to shock the moral sense
and arouse the indignation OF the entire
community. Such an exhibit ia due TO
the voters of the Sixth district, as re.
fecting not alone upon Mr.. McLacnlan's
fidelity and efficiency when entrusted
with Office by the people. but showing
that there is an um biblical cord between
him and the smirched and defeated
candidate of the Southern Pacific rail-
road two years ago, and is thus in touch,
through Lindley, with that Machiavel.
lian corporation.
We purpose to show, by circumstan-
tiGl and diroct evidence, that MIR. Nc
L2chlan is the poorly disguised col
league OF Hervey Lindley and the hope
of the 'machins;" that though the
voice be that OF McLachlan. the hand is
that OF Lindley. In doing this we need
not rely upon the assertions, testimony
or opinions OF Democrats, but have only
to rest our case upon the facts divulged
by official investigation and the state
ments OF the leading Republican daily
of Southern California. the organ OF the
better elements of its party, the Los An
gees Times. A little reflection will call
to the minds of the readers of the local
press OF January, 1892, the circums
stances attending the report OF the
county grand jury on the 18th day of
that month. The report OF that body,
when it reached the pure and undefiled
precincts OF the Whittier reform school,
assumed "calciminio hue, and with
charity thai exhibited an amplitude
sufficient to cover a great multitude of
sins, it lent the smile of approval to the
management OF the institution of re-
form. l. 10 said that the genial and
accommodating Heryey Lindley spent
weeks OF his valuable time guiding the
footsteps and directing the eearchlights
OF that unsopnisticated body in its
thorough, impartial and in Intelligent in
vestigation into the affairs Of this par
ticular institution. 1t may be that be-
cause OF Mr.. Lindley's unfamilarity
with the devious ways Of that admins
tration, those footsteps wandered not
into the corridors of knowledge, and the
glare of their lamps missed the cloieters
OF truth. At any rate, the majority OF
that jury failed to discover with Mr..
Lindley's assistance what the minority
and an official expert developed. Prof.
J. M. Quinn, an official expert. entered
upon an exhaustive and detailed exam
ir alton OF the recei pts and expenditures,
! and general conduct of the school. The
result OF hia work ia public property; il
is part OF the records OF this county,
and subject to inspection by any citi-
| zen. But the presence OF this document
| n the archives OF the county must be
eecribed only to the firmness of the
Judge in whose court it was filed, and
the cowardice of those who stole it i'm
mediately after the filing. Its re.
production came only after Judge
s nith's peremptory order and
threats OF severe punishment. And
veil might those upon whom
it reflected desire its aeclusion. This
report OF an expert OF acknowledged
professional skill and probity of char
acter opened to the public gaze q con-
dition involving extravaganza, misap-
preparation OF funds and personal prop
erty. jobbsry, perversions OF authority
al d impudent evasions OF plain man
daies OF the law, unparalleled in the
history OF California. From the pur-
chase OF punch bowls, wine glasses and
corkscrews, ct prices that only an Astor
would fesl equal to, down to the illegal
payment OF $50 for personal toilet, j.
| NJ. Damron," who acted as attorney for
the school trustees, it exhibited seriss
of abuses that would have forced blush
to the face OF Washington's Boss Shep-
ard. To show that this view OF the matt
ter is not inspired by partisan bias. we
submit few extracts from many ener-
getic editorials in the Times. January
l3, 1892, after reciting large number OF
shameful instances, the Times says:
How IL members of the late grand
| jury. having these facts before them
could concur in whitewsshing report
finding that the affairs of the reform
school had been economically and hon.
estly conducted. and actually go out of
their way to champion this cause, is
past finding out The venality is 30
plain that a wavisring man though a
fool need not err in his effort to see it,"
January 14th-"We repeat that the
cause OF decency and honest admins
tration demands that this matter be
siited 10 the bottom"
January l5th-'Too many crooked
things have been exposed on more su
perticiai examination OF the DooSs and
vouchers to allow of CLOSING over the
matter or ignoring it. 1t should, by all
msans. be the subject of investigation
by another grand juay. II the regularly