The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-07


rHEHALIS, May e-The Nugget this
wy will review the controversy between
rha hoard OF control and the governor re-
zysar.ing the reform school and the at
fen.p,ed removal of Superintendent West
endorf. The Nugget will say:
There Is row between the governor
and his piebald party over the distribution
OF spofIs into which the reform school
has been drawn The governor has deter
mined that there shall be no change in
the management OF the reform school
The state board of audit and control. act
ing upon representations made by a large
element OF the fussonists In this county,
Is a unit IN demanding that Westendorf be
removed. and new superintendent be ap-
.On Tuesday the hostilities broke out
openly at Olympia The board had decided
10 meet at O'Clock and swing the heads
mans ak Rogers met two OF the menu
bers State Superintendent Browne and
Stata Printer Hicks, and demanded 10
know il they proposed TO make the ap-
pointment OF q successor 10 WeSVsndorr.
They replied that they did.
:. IL you do. said the governor holly. i
shall demand your designations immedi-
ately.'
The matter was allowed to rest. but IL
the programme decided upon was carried
out. the fight was fought TO the finish yes
terday afternoon. and II the governor Kept
his word there will De q new board or con-
troll 10 appoint.
Had not B. F. Billiard. of this place.
shown Superintendent Westendorf tele-
gram received from one of the members OF
the board on Tuesday, he would have been
appointed superintendent OF the reform
school in westendorfs place at the meet
ing that afternoon, before the governor
could have interfered.
There is a strong fight against Weston
dorf on the part of the fusionist politician -
here not apparently because westendorf
is considered in any sense of the word in
competent but solely because his situation
is wanted. II has been represented to the
state board that there is a general desire
for a change: that this county has received
no part of the state patronage; that the
school Is located here. and the sole desire
OF the fusionsts Is to have Wes,enaG ;re ref 81
his successor. On this plea the majority
OF the board agreed 10 vote for change
Tuesday at the meeting.
state Superintendent Browne at once
telegraphed 10 r. f. Billiard 70 put In his
application. 1t was understood that the
appointment of Billiard would De satisfac-
tory TO the local fusionists. UP TO :hat
time Billiard had not applied fol. the place.
There were no applications on file. IL being
generally understood that no change would
be made. o,,.
Superintendent Westendorf. in the mean
time. having been apprised By Mr. Billiard
Of the object of his trip. hela a c9nyersa-
ton with the governor over the telephone.
The governor assured Westendorf that no
was opposed 10 any change, as ne nad IN,
formed him before. Then he went out ana
board and notified them that II they made
a move hostile TO his plans In the matter
of the management OF the reform schooi
or the Medical Lake asylum. they would
.sRuilard returned from Olympia We'd
nesday afternoon. To the Nugget he said:
81 have not been an applicant for the
position of superintendent of the reform
school. have not even now decided that
am anxious 10 have IT, have had an
other situation under consideration for
lima nd 4 al m
Browne Brownss telegram came am Tuesday. it was
westendorf because have been on friend
~ terms with him personally, ana did not
want him to think that proposed TO adopt
any underhandsd meth2ds 20 gei ms - s, say
whether I will receive the appointment.
II ! do, shall probably accept it. but
am not worrying ABOUT the matter en-, AZ all Ill.
proposal to make change was somewhat
unexpected 10 him He had very little to
further than that h he haa here 10
has been with the institution almost from
the beginning. has built 1t up until 1t has
the reputation al over the country o. De, De
state institutions have been SO carefuiiy
and economically conducted as this one
under his managemsnt. MOI 2 lay, naw can
81 had hoped said he. to make the
conduct of the Washington state reform
| school my life work. nave no olher IN,
terest than this in retaining the place.
| aid not believe that any organized EFFORT TO
! secure my removal could originate among
the people of this town. ] can barely
| think SO now. If there are ten representa-
/ tive citizens of Chehalis. where | have
( lived for over six years. who will sign a Pc
! tition asking the governor 10 make a
! change am ready 20 quit
M A. Ianghorne. who was IN olympia
! this week frankly says that he favors the
removal of Prof Westendorf. He makes
no charges. however. and assigns none
but political reasons. He admits that the
/ reform school has been well managed since
westendorf took charge OF IT, but he is In
clined To believe that another man can pc
! found. who belongs in the ranks OF the
/ fusionlsts, who will manage II Just as
Well. He has talked with Gov. Rogers on
I the subject He saws the governor mas
7 conceived a great admiration for Weston
dorf, and will not under any circumstance
! consent TO his removal
| Citizens generally nlace a high estimate
/ on Westendorf's ability and special fitness
10 I'll the position. and feel that II would
( probably he q great loss 20 the school II
/ he should be removed"