Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1897-06-04
DIR. BERasTE1N's BOYCOTT.

over DIR. Bergstein's management Of
the Hospital for Mental Diseases,
for merly known as the State Insane
Asylum. The Gazette has made
charges Of the misrepresentation of
the funds Of the institution and
BROADLY hints at peculation. Mr..
Bragg, it's editor, confines his attacks
to picking ont items from DR.. Berg
STEMS report to the last legislature.
but refuses to go to the Hospital and
make personal inspection. Thurs
day afternoon the editor of the INDIE
PENDENT accompanied Governor ~ad,
Ter to that institution and made
personal investigation of the ma, ters
III dispute Every facility was Of
rerred him to make a thorough ex-
ANIMATION of the books and property.
Fhe officers from Dr. Bergstein
down answered every question with.
out the least hesitation and with per-
fact candor and frankness The
Governor informed us that Mn Bragg
had received All invitation to arcohp-
any him under the assurance that he
Would be furnished every facility for
4 thorough examination OF the books,
property and everything connected
with the management. equipment and
conduct of the institution. This in
vitation Mr.. Bragg for some reason
did not accept. =, j.. 80.
We epent nearly four hours at the
institution, the most of which was de.
voted TO-. the examination OF the
books and property. The result of
that examination convinced us that
If the editor Of the Gazette would ex
anime the books and property in.
stead Of combining his criticisms to
the tables in the Dr's, report he
would convince himself that his
charges were groundless. This we
will show tomorroW.,g I o; 4, =. .,..t
Tho phase Of the case that we ,wish
TO deal with today is the. boycott
against the Gazette. inaugurated, by
pr. Bergsteln as his defense. There
10 no excuse for this. The Hospital
for Mental Diseases. ID g. public in
Htitution supported by the people of
the State and it's officers are their
servants, not their masters. The con-
duct Of DR.. Bergstein~ 30 far as it
relates to the management Of a pub
liz institution is fit subject of criti-
cism by every citizen OF the State and
any attempt by him to Stifle such
criticism, either by the press or by
individuals, by attempting to force
the merchants with whom he deals in
the name Of the State to withdraw
their patronage from the Gazette il
not only un- American but liz sure to
react on him. If this policy is to be-
come the rule Of those who manage
State institutions, supported by the
Taxpayers, no newspaper will run the
risk Of exposing crookedness in their
management wnen it imperils bust.
ness and subjects it to pecuniary
loss mt the hands Of those he pays
taxes to support. ",: -. ....
The result of this will be that public
officers. secure from exposure by the
press, will enter upon a career, Of ex-
travagance and peculation that will
bankrupt every institution In the
State and leave the Taxpayers leg
'acy Of debt. The Dr's attempt TO
stiae criticism, just or unjust, by
means Of q boycott against his critics.
should meet with the condemnation
OF every thinking citizen Of the State.
DR.. Bergstein has other weapons
In his hands far moro effective than
his all-advised boycott can possibly
be. He is a man Of mature years,
ability and fitness for the position he
holds and his own good judgment
ehohld show him the folly and in
justice of the boycott as weapon to
gtifle criticism OF his official acts.
The INDEPENDENT has none but
worela of censure for h,a conrea j.,