New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-13
DEPENDS GOVERNOR TOORHEES.
SENATOR STOKES EXPLAINS HIS POSITION
IN THE INVESTIGATION OF THE STATE
MINISTERIAL SCHOOL FOR GIRLS


Trenton. y. j.. Aug. u (SpecaD.-Friends of Gov
ernor Voorhees, feel that he has been subjected to
unjust criticism on account of his position respect
ing the investigation of the State Industrial School
for Girs. They say that the sudden and unexpect-
cd disclosures OF the means Of punishment at the
school led to hasty Judgment on the part OF the
public that the management should be changed i'm
mediatey. and the Governor has been blamed for
not pursuing such course.
Senator Edward G. Stokes. Of Cumberland Coun-
~. who is one Of the Governors closest friends.
feels kecnly that the Governors views have been
misconstrued and his motives misIudged. In an
interview to-day on the subject. Senator Stokes
said
"Onc would Judge from reading the newspaper
comments that the Governor had authority 10 re-
move the officials Of the Industrial School at Will,
when. IN fact. that power IS vested In the Board
Of Managers. The Governors authority over the
employees Of the States institutions Is no more
than that Of any private citizen except In so far
as his office gives him influence with the various
boards OF managers The institutions are governed
directly by these boards Of managers and they are
necessarily responsible for the actions of those
whom they employ otherwise the managers would
be useless officials.
THE Governor has as vet made no decision. even
I'm his own mind as 10 the course that ohould
be pursued in view OF the recent disclosures. Nor
has he Is supposed 10y some. stopped the In
vestigatlon. He found that II he undertook To hear
al the testimony orally he might sit for the next
three months. and yet not have been able to near
all who had grievances. He decided therefore to
change the form Of the investigation from that Of
oral to written testimony.
ANY charges. therefore, against the manage
ment OF the institution In question the Governor
will receive In the form OF afi1avits. and this evil
dcnce will be lmpartialy weighed These afldayts
are now being prepared by different persons. ana
as soon az they have been submitted to the Gov
.t..xl t,t,,,e..1 Ftttth fhai %
tents he will take such action as the good name of
the State and the interests OF humanity demand
Those who know Governor Voorhees, will De en-
troly satisfied trust 10 his sense OF fairness ana
right There will Dee no lenency. favoritism or par
tIality shown by the Governor 10 any official who
has proven dor"lici In his or hor duty.
The public should remember, however, that any
mIsmauagcment or abuses that exist In the Indus
TRIAL school can be- corrected only through the
medium Of the Board q Managers. They must as
sumo full responsibility for the conduct of Mrs
Eyler and the other employees Of the school or II
they are unwilling TO 10 this they must necessarily
give way 70 successors who will. Under our laws
the Governor OF the State does not appoint the prn-
cpal 81 the Industrial school She IS appointed by
tho managers and holds office at their pleasure.
II the Governor wanted 20 remove her he could
not do go by any official act OF his own. nor could
ne prevent her removal II the Board OF Managers
1t is only fair to state that the Governor in
undertaking this Investigation was uctlated SoleIy
by public Interest and not by any desire 70 go over
the heads OF the trustees. In fact NJ asked the
Board % Managers 20 make the Investigation on
their own account. suggesting TO them that they
were. the proper persons 10 II. and that his IN
reference I'm the affair would be msconstrued by
IN. public at large belittng them. His re-
luctanr. however. was overcome by the assur-
anc.s of some members OF the Board that they
were 90 divided the line OF policy to he pur-
sued that IL would 30 hopeless for them 10 under,
take the Investigation a. body. and they appealed
TO him To help them OF the difficulty In THIS
way the Governor assumed responsibility whlcn
properly does not attach his office and which
came 10 n only by force OF circumstances.
'Th, public should appreciate the work OF Gov
ernor voorhees, In that II has brought TO light Il
condition OF affairs which otherwise might not have
been disclosed. The publicity concerning the man.
agement OF the school Is not 10 be depiored. IL IL
"A GOOD sign that the people manifest stch a
lively interest I'm the management Of any state In
stitu,ion The only danger In public discussion
us who are not fully acquainted with all the facts
are apt at times 20 visit our indignation upon an
innocent party
III should not be forgotten that the Governor oc-
cupies a position entirely different from that or
tho ordinary citizen The latter can make mp his
mind one way or the other without doing any one
any special injury, except so FAR as unjust crlti-
cisrn is always injurious. The Governor. on the
other hand occupies a judicial position, and while
his Indignation wrongs and abuses That occur
under State officials may bc Just az righteous as
that of the vcriest individual critic yet the Gov
crnor OF the State H. compelled to keep silent and
occunv a posItion OF phiosophic dOubt-that Is. the
doubt OF "A reasonable mind pending the arrival OF
all the evidence and all the facts In the case when
Governor Voorhees, takes final action on this mat
ter | am satisfied that the public VIII approve MS
course