The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-20
DEMAND FOR RESIGNATION
GOVERNOR MAKES 1T ON J. s. M'DON-
AID, OF REFORMATORY BOARD.
Conditions That Are Supposed to Have
Led Up to the Chief Executives
ActiOn-Mr. Hert's Resignation.

The chief topic of conversation at the
Statehouse yesterday and at the hotels and
clubs last night, where many of the lead
ing politicians of the State were gathered,
was the report that Governor Durbin
had asked John S. Mcdonald, of New AL
bany, one of the board of managers of the
Indiana Reformatory at Jacksonville, for
his resignation, and that the Governor
would follow up this action by requesting
the other three members of the board to
retire. The rumor that Governor Durbin
had taken, or was about to take, this ac-
ton had been current for some days, and
the report which came from apparently re-
liable sources yesterday was not wholly a
surprise to men who were in touch with the
situation.
Governor Durbin. when asked to confirm
or deny the report, refused to make any
statement whatever, and his attitude was
construed confirmation of least the
part Of the story to the effect that he had
asked Mr.. Mcdonald for his resignation.
Mr.. Mcdonald, 1t is said, declined to re-
tire under fire, and asked the Governor to
put the demand for his resignation in writ
ing, with the cause definitely stated. The
law ON this subject provides that ''the Gov
ernor may remove any of the managers for
misconduct or neglect of duty, after an OPP
portunity to be heard, upon written
charges
The other members of the board are
Charles E. Shiveley. of Richmond; DR.. ].
Terhune of Linton, and John G. Williams,
of Indianapolis. Shiveley and Mcdonald
are Republicans, while Williams and Ter
hume are Democrats.
The Governors action is believed to be
the result of the recent action of the board
in accepting the resignation of Superin-
tendent A. T. Hert, of the Reformatory,
and appointing in his place Joseph Z. By
ers, of Columbus, o., without consulting
the Governor, or even notifying him that
Hert was to retire until after they had
named Byers as his successor and the ap-
pointment had been made public. This is
said to be the immediate cause of Gov
ernOr Durbin's demand for McDonaldS res
ignation, but Ii is believed that the trou-
bic has deeper significance.
DEEMED SUFFICIENT CAUSE.
However, the snub given the Governor
by the members of the board in receiving
Hert's resignation and appointing a sue
cessor without consulting him is deemed
sufficient cause by Governor Durbins
friends to justify his action. While the
board acted strictly within the letter of
the law in the matter, il is conceded that
ii violated all precedents and the rules
of common courtesy Governor Durbin was
on the train with two members of the
board the very day they were going to
Jacksonville to name Hert's successor.
He talked with them various subjects,
and yet they did not even hint to him
the object of their visit TO the Reformatory
The Governor, IL is said. felt that he
should have been consulted in the matter.
although he would not have objected TO
the selection of Mr.. Byers had he been as
sured of the Ohio mans ability to meet
the requirements made of the head of the
State Reformatory. Mr.. Byers is said by
his friends to be an able man and a man
of experience in correctional affairs, but,
on the other hand, other men who have in
quired somewhat into his record claim that
his knowledge of charity and correctional
work is wholly theoretical and that he has
never had practical experience in an insti-
tuition of the character OF the one at JEFF
fersonville. Again, IL Is asked, why should
the board go TO Ohio for a superintendent
il a competent one could be found in In
diana?
Governor Durbin's closest friends say
that he is animated solely by a desire TO
have the best possible administration of
the state Institutions, that he had no man
In mind for the position of superintendent
of the Reformatory and that he had no
political ends TO further by debating the
selection.
1t has been said that Governor Durbin
has made his appointments on the board
of managers with the view OF getting
board that would get rid of Superintendent
Hert and put in man OF the Governors
choice. but in contradiction OF this the Gov
ernors friends say that he did not even
know Mr.. Mcdonald personally when he
made him a member of the board and that
IL he had had any intention OF going after
Herts scalp he would certainly have ap-
pointed a man in McDonald's place upon
whom he could rely 10 do as he wished.
The board gave as its reasons for accept
ing Hert's resignation and selecting a new
superintendent without making It's action
. public until after the matter was closed
that il did not wish to be embarrassed with