Mexico weekly ledger., 1900-01-04
ASYLUM FOR FEEBLE MINDED
Mr.. 3. F. 0roar Explains His Efforts
For Marshall.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo-, Dec. 3d.
Regarding the location of the asylum
for the feeble minded at Marshall,
Mr.. e. F. Orear to-day made the
following statement:
81 notice in q dispatch from Kansas
City published in the Republic to-day
q statement to the effect that at the
meeting of the Commissioners to
locate the Feeble Minded institute !
was present in the interest OF my
home town, Marshall, and that my
presence is said to have led to the re-
port that the administration dictated
the location.
tin Justice TO Governor Stephens
and the Commission, want to say
that there is absolutely no foundation
whatever for this belief.
81 attended the meeting of tnia
Commission at the invitation of the
committee representing Saline conn
ty, and OF my own volition, and with
out any prejudice whatever to Spring
field, Hannibal, Monroe City, Mexico,
Glasgow or Lexington, urged the
claims of Marshall, because 1 believe
1t to be centrally located and for many
reasons one OF the most desirable
points IN the State for this institution
and because the citizens there desired
| its location.
"Marshall is my home; the citizens
of Saline county are my friends and
would be ungrateful indeed If did
not at all times cooperate with them
in the Improvement and advancement
Of the interests Of that splendid coun-
ty.
"Governor Stephens, as a member
of the Board Of Charities and Cor
rections, In hie frequent visits to the
State Asylums, saw the need of this
lnHt :, ion, as did every member oi
It's 8 Iard, and recommended its ea-
OF >~Ament In bis message to the
Of stature and strongly supported II
1 during the session. Further than this
he has, to my certain knowledge, TAX
en- no interest whatever In the mat
ter; he informed me over q month
ago that absolutely he would express
no preference to the members of the
commission on the question of loca-
tion; that he had appointed five rep
resentative citizens OF the State In
whom be had the utmost confidence;
that all of the contesting cities were
desirable points and, therefore, he
would in no way try to influence the
vote Of q single member Of the COM
mission.
"Since that time have had no con-
versation with him on the subject. He
had no knowledge Of my intention to
attend the meeting, and In my con-
versation with members of the COM
mission no allusion whatever was
made to the Governor. The members
OF this Commission gave the most
thoughtful and careful attention to
the presentation Of the claims of all
of the points contesting, and l am
sure voted the dictates OF their best
Judgment with the interest of the
whole State and the future welfare OF
the Institution at heart.
"The institution for feeble minded
| is destined to be one OF the most i'm
portant of our State institutions. II
will excite the sympathy of all the
citizens and will invite liberal sup
port. 1t Is now located with the mosi
favorable surroundings, In the central
part of the State, with good railroad
facilities, In good community, and
upon lands as well adapted to cultiva-
tion as any in the State. hope nc
good citizen will be disposed to eriti-
else the action Of the Commission. /"