The San Francisco call., 1898-07-30
THE AGNEWs SCANDAL.

ID a liberal application of whitewash Gould, h Curnow and Hale have covered the blackness A of the stain the administration and internal management of Agnews Asylum, but the stench of the unearhed scandal remains and the bad odor will cling to the institution until thorough cleansing has been made. Moreover, 1t appears that the cleansing will have to include the eradication from the asylum of MT. Gould and his colleagues of the San Jose gang
 To the general public the greater scandal of the administration of the institution is not ill any way associated with the loves, lawful or unlawful, the jeaouses the rivares of the subordinate employees. It matters little whether the conduct of Colds half brother and the girls up to the normal standard of Santa Clara County morality. Curnow and Hale who live in San Jose are competent judges on that point, and having now granted to that duct certificate "cum summa laude" the public has hardly any further concern in the subject
 The graver issue and one of importance to the whole State is the disclosure that the directors have made the asylum private snap" for the benefit of their relations and political friends. The whole in sttution it appears has been used for the benefit and behoof ot the managers. Positions have been be- slowed without regard to fitness or fidelity, and hardly to decency. As result the discipline of the institution has gone to pieces. The medical d- rector himself, not free from suspicious of the gravest character holds the office, 1t appears in vio- ation of the law and of course has been able to do nothing to check the vagaries of Goulds half brother any of the risky friends of Curnow and Hale
 Moreover, the of the patronage of the institu- ton for personal or family advantage has led to dis sensons among the directors themselves The ma jority of the board-Gould, Curnow and White-are Democrats, and had they agreed they might have worked the institution harmoniousy the spells system without serious scandal. Curnow, however, Is Jim Req Democrat, and Gould found that he must join that gang ii he wanted to make of place for his family connections and their girls
 He not to have hesitated in his choice. He laid aside all loyalty to the Democratic party, all gard for the welfare of the institution all respect for his obligations to the State all consideration for the administration of the Governor who appointed him. and stood in with the gang. As result Of the deal he enabled to introduce into the asylum that fascinating half-brother whose attractions for ladies have been the of so much vanity and vexation of spirit among all the employees of the institution from the innocent farmhands the spotted Sponogle in the medical directors office
 This is the deeper scandal of Agnews Asylum that State institution can be used by its directors for strictly family benefits; that appointments be made without regard for merit or service and in direct violation of law. The true offenders at Ag- news are the three directors, Gould, Curnow and Hale What could Sponogle do to enforce discipline and keep order in an institution where his subor- dnates in rank were the relations or the girls of his superors, where every had pull, and where any interference on his part could be met with an i'm pudent tra la la? Agnews needs cleaning, and the cleansing process must begin at the top