The Saint Paul globe., 1902-05-17
The Board of Control Selects
Frank Whittier as Head
of Red Wing School
CHANGE WAS EXPECTED
Action Result of Long-Pending IN
vestigatiOn by Board-Appoint-
ment Is Hoped to Settle Long
Standing Troubles.

AS result of the long drawn out agi-
tation concerning the management OF
the state training school at Red Wing,
and the investigation of that institution
by the board of control, Frank A. Whit
tier, at present state agent of the state
prison, has been appointed superintendent
to succeed Supt. Brown who has been
the target at which most of the firing
has been done, and whe was practically
removed yesterday by the board. Supt.
Brown was closeted with the board of
control all day yesterday, during which
a thorough review Of the entire case was
taken up and the above action decided
upon Whether Mr.. Brown was given an
opportunity to resign, or whether he was
removed, the board refused to say
It has been known for several days
that something was about due to drop, in
the long pending case. jSupt. Brown was
CT hand early yesterday for a long ses-
sion with Messrs. Lee, Gould and Leav-
lit, behind closed doors. The board gave
out no statement as to what action had
been taken, but yesterday afternoon the
report of the change agreed upon reach
ed the capitol in such a way that its cor
rectness could not be doubted. Chair
man Leavitt, when asked to confirm the
report, refused to make any statement
affirming it. He also~said that he would
change to announce as yet" was his only
comment.
II has been pretty generally understood
that if the board could once agree on
the removal of Supt Brown, Mr.. Whit
tier would undoubtedly secure the place
Mr. Whittier has for several years been
state agent in charge of paroIed prison
ers from the state penitentiary and has
made splendid reputation for himself
throughout the state and elsewhere, for
the manner in which he has performed
his duties. Although he is a Republican,
he was Gov. Linds candidate for the
superintendency CT tne st. Cloud re-
iformatory, at the time Supt. Randall was
elected as a solution Of a long deadlock.
Mr.. Whittier was highly recommended
by the state pardon board, with which
he has close relations, and by the old
beard of, prison managers. The board of
control turned to him as a solution of
the Red Wing difficulty feeling that his
appointment would so commend itself as
to make the change the result Of as little
Soreness" as possible. sfls s4ss.g AZ.
Trouble *0f Long Standing.
Trouble at the Red Wing institution
has been of long duration, and on humer-
Gus occasions. has been So aggravated
and socagitate4 as to amount almost to a
public scandal. Ever since the board of
control assumed office it has had con-
tinual complaint concerning the training
school of one sort or another. No other
one thing has caused the board so much
annoyaneees Parents complained that
their boys were cruelty punished and the
inmates We're continually complaining of
their treatment These. complaints were
also made to the old board of managers,
which had made Investigations on sew
eral occasions.
About four months ago the board of
control decided to- get at the bottom of
things and ordered an investigation For
a period of 1tbree weeks the board gave
hearings to those having complaints to
offer, and the testimony convinced the
board that things were not as they
should be. 1t was more than evident
| that at the very least all discipline at tho
institution had disappeared. The board
from the first felt that it was essential
that a new superintendent be appointed
| but difference of-opinion as to proceed
| ure blocked action for several months
About week ago five boys escaped from
| the institution and things came to q
! focus in such way as to demand i'm
| mediate action. The board decided thai
further postponement would not be war
ranted, and having made a personal in
/ 'CoCiSet dt FINeelr WING, WHICH SaJlS16C
the members that a change was needed
/ the conference of yesterday was held.
! When the change will be effected is
not known, but probably not for a short
| time. Mr.. Brown will probably be al
lowed to retire gracefully.
| The board is, determined that the
trouble at Red Wing must be stopped
and is confident that Mr.. Whittier is Just
the man to get the results so much need
| ed. Since Mr.. Whittier has been state
| agent he has had charge of all paroled
! prisoners of the state and has attended
| to the work of securing them positions
| and in helping them to get a new start
| He has been very successful in this re-
spect. 1t has always been noted that his
! word has had great weight with the
! board of pardons, and when he has given
| i as his belief that a certain prisoner
| ought to be paroled the board has always
given great consideration to his advice
| The board does not hold Supt. Brown
! entirely responsible for the difficulties al
! Red Wing; indeed it is known that he
| was not personally responsible for most
| ct the acts complained of, except in So
| far as he failed to exert his authority as
head of the institution. But the board
did feel that the troubles existing could
not be satisfactorily adjusted without a