New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-15
EvoR GOODWIN BROWN.
i,,,e~soprN1oNs AS TO THE VALUE OF
HIS WORK.
lathe LETTERS SENT TO THE GOVERNOR
m HIS FAvoR-oFFsET TO INDEF1-
NATE OBJECTIONS.

,he state Charities Aid Association
yer u. .ha reappointment of Goodwin Brown
vecommissioner In Lunacy because or ob)ec-
es .h,ch could not be specified in formal
t0n' ;, nas led the friends Of Commissioner
t'' % hiring out letters from various per-
tfV" ~ may be presumed 10 have a closer
s W." with the affairs of the State hos
scq"' IN the directors of an unofficial asso-
%, whose chairman is said to have long
,orsonal ll-feeling toward Mr.. Brown. The
p-s. NJ the Commissioner point out that the
'i' '"ns who signed the state Charities Aid AS
P,.,,or letter in all probability got their In
s.non at second hand. and formed their
so'ln's ,.,tbout having any chance to know the
- facts about affairs which they criticise'
pur ,hs men who commended Mr.. Brown are
N'~ who have accurate knowledge OF the
pes &c, work and have often. as some OF their
- show had differences with Mr.. Brown
80 have come to respect his ability and
"D ,,. IN suite Of those differences. Mr..
EN- yesterday received letter from ex-Judge
D. u Rowland president Of the Manhattan
On. 1yosnital saying that he had regarded
90 MN as an efficient Commissioner. and
~. l.p we'll of him to the Governor. Ths
:. ~ o,o,med is a complete answer to the charge
-. Mr. Brown has been unsatisfactory TO the
s,onhottan Hospital. and disposes of all the talk
-, the ill-treatment it has received from the
CO. Commission which has been quoted as
-, .ousa FOR some opposition to Mr.. Brown IN
Sew-York City
cesrge B. Dodge another MEMBER Vi ~"e
soard Of Managers of the Manhattan state hos
initial writes to the Governor:
consider that It is of great importance 10 ,hs
best interests of the state tnat MT More San to any
pv Ike belongs the credit Tor Suggesting anu
onshing through TO completion the S,3.e nat his
Ebe results that have been achieved sho" ina. ms
tiSgment as to this matter was correct In every
detail nr,g the three years that have been on the
12oard Of the Manhattan State Hospital l nave
watched with great care Mr; Brown ~Un and
iunacy Commission. He is very ea sst,o dIe
eArient In all that he does, and Is an lhueIatlsaJe
worker He IS thoreuS under the control
OF his Commission, and he Is particularly "''eu anu
should consider it great loss to the State II
he should retire as would take any new ewd nx
berience that MIR Brown now has
Truman J. Backus, president of the Board of
Managers of the Long Island State Hospital
writes:
His experience and the character of his service
cuaiIfv him for his present position. He has been
8 member Of the Commission for zen Xeat IT. egb,
drew the present Lunacy law he lea tne Ell lst NJ
against the corrupt rings that wee deternneu 10
perpetuate denominations of the former county care
'" Commissioner Brown has strong. convictions, is
10
end is a strong and square fighter when he Knows
that he Is right
Dr. G. Alder Blumer, for ten years superin-
tendent Of the Utica State Hospital. says:
Whatever else may be said of the legal member OF
che Commission. his intense and integent interest
be readily found in his hieyemaentsncanno.t be
denied by any critic on MS bT1ght bm into sharp
conflict with men, resentment has been the result
ar his e ae @ he 20 save IT, any this respecf Mr.
Brown has impressed me as a personality all put
be or are supposed TO be in the timid view Of less
vertebrate servants Of the State. | am sure, TOO:
standard of official cleanpess furnished by the
animal kingdom. and established by you IN. IN your
Inc state shall be measured. Perhaps such assur-
ances may come with some grace from myse' Wn6
Mr. Brown. and who to-day in looking PACK on
in hnding its occasion in the very qualities that
have made him so efficient commissioner.
Dr. E. H. Howard superintendent of the Roch
ester State Hospital, writes:
His able and earnest work has been essential
the OF the insane, which is justly conceded TO
Be the most excellent.
His probity, experience. sterling ability and force
are and SeEg II 0e 70 be
erty to write you and bespeak his reappointment
Dr. William Mabon, superintendent Of the St
and extent of the service of his membership of
this body few persons not directly and init
mately connected with the general administra-
ton Of lunacy affairs can have any adequate
idea" Mr.. Browns friends declare that the
people who oppose him are the persons who
have had no chance to form this adequate idea,
but are carried away by prejudice and fortified
by half knowledge
W. s. Walcott president Of the Board of Man
ayers Of the Utica State Hospital writes to the
Governor:
have had the honor of being manager at the
State Hospital at Utica for the last ten years, and
can bear testimony to the zeal and efficient ser,
vices OF the said Commissioner. He has proved
bis superior ability and taken a deep interest in
the welfare of the insane. and TO him more than to
any other person are the uniformity and efficiency
OF the state care Of the insane to be attributed.
letter from DR.. Charles G. Wagner. super
intendent Of the Binghamton State Hospital, de-
cares that
Mr.. Browns intimate knowledge of the needs Of
The several institutions for the care OF the insane,
gained from long experience. and his unquestioned
tematc organization constitute the strongest pos
sibie arguments for his retention In office.
This letter, allow me to add, is written without
MI Browns knowledge. and is prompted only by
an earnest desire for the continued success OF an
admirable system, for the building up Of which he
mas been chiefly responsible.
Ohe or the most interesting letters is from
Frank b. Lown. member Of the Board Of Man
ayers Of the Hudson River State Hospital. 1t
Is in part as follows:
The matter of his reappointment to me is not a
PERSONAL matter at all. 1t is simply q question Of
what is for the best interests of the State. He
certainly has had long experience, and has given
his entire time to the duties of his office since the
formation OF the Commission in 1889 and l can |
!ruhfuly vouch for the fact that at all times he
has been unremitting In his attention to his duties
He has shown courage and ability at all times |
and has hesitated 70 freely oppose anything
which he believed 10 be against the interests OF
The State even at times when / thought that a |
more cautions man might have made more friends
oy pursuing more conciliatory and less positive
70 be OF the first order and 1t is a matter for you
10 consider whether It is for the States best in
ierests 10 have him replaced by an inexperienced
man, no matter how honest or how capable