Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1895-12-26
NEWSPAPERS AFTER II.
The Asylum Investigation
Attracts the Minneapolis
Journals Attention.
What Reporter of That
Paper Finds to Write
About.

Paper Finds to Write
About.
His Views of the Situation
Up to Date.
The Minneapolis journal Friday even
ing contains an account OF the proposed
investigation Of the insane hospital,
written by staff correspondent who
visited jamestown for the purpose this
week. The Journal thinks from the
preparations being made that the inves-
tigation will be coat OF whitewash.
There are no new facts related different
from what has heretofore appeared IN
The Alert. The Journal says:
It Is not at all likely that the ,nvesti-
CATION will investigate much of any
thing. When men who are being look
ed into select their own witnesses it
isn't usual to find very much OF detri-
mental character.
"The rumors and vague changes float
ing about jamestown. which caused the
! resignation of Dr.. o. w. Archibald, So.
perlntendent Of the asylum since it's IN
ception IL years ago, are briefly, of i'm
moral conduct on his part in connection
with few past and present employees Of
the institution. It will be news to the
people of jamestown that the charges
to be investigated are of extravaganza
and financial mismanagement They
| have not heard of extravaganza of 9
character to warrant investigation"
The Journal seems to think that Gov.
Allln is being deceived as to the real
purposes of the preparations for the in
vest1gation. Public Examiner Langlie
at the request of the governor has made
out number of subpoenas in blank for
witnesses. These eubpoenas, says Mr..
Langlie, were issued for the purpose of
investigating the financial rumors con-
nected with the institution alone. and
| that he has no authority to investigate
charges of immortality. In regard to the
financial rumors the journal says that
! 1t has not heard of any extravaganza or
mismanagement sufficient to warrant
the Investigation. - III
The Journal intA view r Gov. Allln,
''as to what he actually thonght of an
examination into the affairs of the board
of trustees based solely on the testimony
of witnesses named and summoned at
| the instance of that board itself. The
governor admitted that 1t might have an
appearance of weakness, If not of come
thing more. but he reiterated his inten-
| tion OF having thorough inspection. just
how there can be anything thorough
when neither the trustees, nor the public
examiner have the slightest authority to
| investigate the questions that actually
call for examination, the governor does
not say. Perhaps he doesn't know. No
body else does."
It is very easy, says the Journal, to
make charges Of immoral conduct against
the officers OF the institution but hard to
prove them and adds:
But many Of the lsding citizens of
| JamestO In, some of them now or but
| lately connected with Dr.. Archibald or
the institution in official capacities, are
| firm in their belief that the asylum has
| been the scene of grossly immoral acts,
! but they are little shady about the
proof. In every year, certainly ever
since 1889, there has been the odor of
scandal hanging about the institution.
! The asylum, which should be center
| of social life for the town and immediate
| country, where there are facilities for
social employments not enjoyed at any
| other place IN the state, is tabooed by
larger part of the leading society women
of the place.
The article says further that James
into the truth of these rumors that shall
be complete and thorough, and that DR..
Archibald is in position also where the
most careful inquiry IS demanded. For
the information of the state and for the
reputation OF the hospital this should be
done. In this connection the Journal
adds:
"Ail these rumors and the fact that
DR.. Archibald and his wife have been at
swords points for long time, have had
their effect on the asylum, and probably
will continue so to do SO long as the pres
ent management remains. DR.. Archi-
bald has resigned, but the opinion in the
town is that the resignation is a bluff,
though he denies this and says as soon
rs the investigation is over he will go
elsewhere, He claims the cause of all
the trouble is his wife. Mrs. Archibald's
friends, and they are many. deny all
this. 1t IS scarcely necessary to 60 into
the details of this estrangement of the
superintendent and his wife. who is the
matron, except to say that it IS to the
great detr1ment of the North Dakota
hospital for the insane"
The Journal speaks of the asylum as
having the appearance of being we'll kept
and cared for and that the methods of
the superintendent seem to win insane
patients and hold their gratitude. There
is hardly bar about the place and unus-
nal freedom is given patients which is
not often abused. The article concluded
as follows:
"There is an excellent opportunity for
searching investigation into the affairs
Of the hospital, Its moral standing, ex-
pert work and results, political rami6ca-
ti0ns and in other lines bnt II ia very