The Norfolk weekly news., 1900-10-25
LANG SCORES POINTER.
Says He is Helpless to Resist
the Demands of Politicians.
Statements Concerning the Poynter Adj
ministration That Are of Keen In
terest to Tai Payers.

Minded \ Outn at Bcn1rlcc, is among
those of the fusion faith who openly
declare that Poynter is unfit for gov
ernor and should be defeated Speak
ing on this subject yesterday DR.. Lang
said:
"From the very commencement
Governor Poynter has been dominated
by the politicians. They have die
tated many of his appointments to
places in the various state institutions
and the result is that there Is scarcely
an institution that has not suffered
more or less from this source. Out at
Beatrice. man who had been booked
for an ordinary position, such as dep
uty oil inspector or the like. was
transferred to the institution as book
keeper and steward without any con-
sideration as to his qualifications.
"The different institutions today are
supplied with that class of employees.
in some instances three or four of one
family are holding down positions
without any qualification whatsoever.
There are any number of people hold
ing positions in the state institutions
who are notoriously untitled for pub
lie duty. The fault is not with the
superintcndcnts of these institutions,
but with Governor Poyntcr who has
permitted ring leaders of the fusion
party to dictate to him who should be
appointed. No better example can be
cited of the imposition of obliging the
superintendent to accept employees who
are incompetent and unfit than that
of a Mrs. Thomas, mother of Oil In
spector Sprccher. who is now holding
the position of matron at the Beat
rice institute I make this statement
without any qualification, that she has
no merit either physically or mentally
to recommend her to such position.
I refer to this case simply to show to
what extent Governor Poynter has
abused the appointive power. There
are many other cases like it. Mrs.
Thomas, ever since she has been ma
tron. has refused to perform the duties
incident to the position and has per
sisted in drawing her salary from the
state without rendering corresponding
service She has kept her daughter with
has been at Beatrice. Indeed, 1t seems
to be quite the common thing since
Governor Poynter assumed office for
his appointees to gather their relatives
around them and feed and shelter
them at the states expense. / know
of one Of his appointees at Beatrice
who lived at the state institute with
civ oil Of yuh
yided with bed and board at the eX-
pense of the tax payers. All this
comes from the weakness of Governor
Poynter He lacks the courage to
stand out against the unreasonable de-
mand of the politicians and their po-
litical friends. The terrorizing infiu-
ence of these political pie-hunters
seem to have originated more among
the Democratic end of the fusion party
than any other. In fact, many inter-
esting letters may be found among
the governors correspondence showing
his weakness in being unable to with
stand the political pressure brought to
bear upon him, an example of which is
q letter from the Democratic chairman
of York county. who, in asking reeog-
milton. stated that he had been able In
the past to turn down many of the
fusion leaders, among them the Hon.
Edward Bates, former district Judge,
and others of that political faith, and
he was ready now to lay DR.. Lang on
the shelf and even his eXcellency, II
II need be, to have the recognition he
asked. The letter had the desired ef-
feet. obliglng the governor to make
way for one of the employees who had
been discharged for disloyalty and In
competency the same being brother
of the York county man. Another eX-
ample of the hold up in York county
is that of the Cochran family who have
been nursed at public expense for sew
eral years and who still use their in
duence to enforce recognition. Out
side OF this family the Populists today
in York county are utterly Ignored
"There Is no reason to hope for any
Improvement or change In conditions
under Governor Poynter. ! know
whereof | speak when I say that at
this very time In his efforts to obtain
support, he is peddling out promises
of appointment Unfortunately and
ne will either have to violate his word
or keep faith at the cost of Gripping
and impairing the service more than
ever. 1t is certainly sad condition
Of affairs that the unfortunate people
of the state should be exposed to the
ignorance. ,biunders and cruelty OF In
competent employees. And 1t is also
unfortunate that the tax payers have
no legal way of protecting their rights
against ravages and spoliation except
through the instrumentality OF the
ballot box.
81 believe that no enc factor has had
more to do with disOrganizing the man
agement of institution work than the
disregard the governor has shown fol
his word and promises to those seek
ing employment. There have beer
many changes In the institutions made
for no other reason than to satisfy