Omaha daily bee., 1899-09-30
HAVEN FOR INCONPElENCY
Mismanagement and Lack of Management at
Deaf and Dumb Institute.
STATE THRILLING WITH A SACRED TRUST
Remedy for the EVIL Lies with the
GovernOr-Present superintendent
Never Likely to Acceptably
FIJI the Position.

OMAHA Sept. 2S.-To the Editor OF The
Bee: have just read with considerable In
terest the letter in The Bee from one OF the
last erm graduates of the Deaf and DUMB
school, August Koberstein Of Nebraska City,
and I notice that he mentions my name for
the office of superintendent of the institu-
tion. I have known Mr.. Koberstein since
my first connection with the school and
know him to be a very bright and excellent
young man, and l very much appreciate MS
kind expressions of confidence, but l could
not be candidate for the office OF superin-
tendent. / regard that office as one OF the
most sacred positions in the state, and while
/ consider myself qualified for the place
held there, that OF steward and bookkeeper,
] do not consider myself fitted to assume the
role of an educator Of the deaf. Further
more, unless the governor discharges the
present superintendent and Board of Trus-
tees / would not under any circumstances
accept any position at the institution, be-
cause consider them dishonorable men and
/ am sure they do not in the slightest de-
gree appreciate the sacred responsibilities of
the positions they have so unworthily filled.
The money appropriated by the legislature
to the support of this institution Is intended
solely for the benefit of the unfortunate deaf
children Of the state and dt is all wrong that
the school should be made an asylum for
the benefit of the relatives of Its ofhcers.
The incompetent and disgraceful manage
ment of this school has become a standing
disgrace to the state and no one holds tho
key to the remedy but the governor.
During my connection with the school
learned to love the deaf children OF Ne
braska very much and they could always
come TO me with their little troubles, which
no one appreciates except those who have
had experience. Separated from their faith
ers and mothers the little boys and girls
yearned for parents affectionate caress,
and because these children came to me as
freely as my own children and avoided
Superintendent Dawes like they would a
snake, he was frantic for fear someone
would not think he was superintendent. /
do not think there is pupil in the state
institution but that absolutely hates him.
When parents visited the school Super
intendent Dawes was especially attentive TO
their children. but he knew SO few OF the
names of the children that l have often
seen him make a mistake and heap his
caresses upon the wrong child. On other
occasions / have seen the children recoil
from him and show plainly their dislike.
When letter would come to me addressed
as superintendent which they often did,
and could not help it, it would give him
| a chill and he would look upon me with
suspicion for several days.
! The fact is he is certainly entitled to pity
| to some extent. He is the most dumb person
TO learn the sign language that was ever in
the school. Little boys and girls that came
| into the school since he did can sign splen-
didly, while he cannot sign the most simple
sentence. He is one OF those that realizes
! himself that he is weak, and let's II worry
him. Ho is as suspicious as a Filipino, is
overtiowing with theory and totally void OF
practicablity, and is no more fitted by ma
ture ind training for the position that he