The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1903-09-12
TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT.

AAaA
Pledges That Floated, But Is Still
After P~atterson's Appointment That
Was Settled With An ELECTION
Egg" i'm 1902.
The Democratic Central Committee
Of Washoe County held q me citing at
Reno last Saturday night to Dust DIR.
| w. III. Patterson from his position as
SUPERINTENDENT of the State Insane
| ASYLUM and to restore harmony to the
Democratic party at large.
The Reno Gazette says the whole
| committee was represented by person
or proxy. Governor John Sparks, State
| Treasurer Dave Ryan, both members of
| the State Board for the Care of the In-
| sane; @. II. Stoddard, Chairman of the
| Democratic State Central Committee;
| Major John H. Dennis, DIR. W. II. Pat
terson and others were present.
The meeting was called to sustain
| the action of the committee taken on
| August "a, when a resolution. demand
ing the removal of DIR. Patterson, was
| adopted. The document carried a
lengthy preamble, which stated the
reasons and intent of the resolution,
which was printed and circulated
throughout the State.
Accordingly, a motion that the COM
| mittee's action OF August "a be sus-
| tanned led to an animated discussion at
Saturdays meeting.
DIR. Patterson stated he was present
by invitation; that while he was a Re-
publican, he had taken no part in
politics for five years; that he had III
tended t. resign as Superintendent of
the Asylum on January l, but the pres
sure of prominent men in the State was
| so great for him to be retained, that be
| consented to remain in his position in
the interest of the people of the State.
Governor Sparks said he voted for
DIR. Patterson in the interest OF the peo-
pie of the State; that he could not af-
ford to have done otherwise.
Treasurer Ryan explained to the
| meeting that he acted in good faith
when he cast his vote for DIR. Patterson.
| He realized now that he made a grave
| political mistake.
cat this interesting point in the pro-
| ceedings," says the Gazette, "a letter
was read from State Controller s. p,
Davis, also q member of the Insane
| Commission, to the effect that 'to the
victors belong the spoils," and he
heartily endorsed the sentiment and
concluded as follows: 81 voted for a
Fusion party man, DIR. Ascher of Hum
boldt, aud | am still prepared to cast
my vote for a member of the Fusion
party, l believe, as does the committee,
] that there should be non employed in
/ the asylum, or in any way connected
with it, but out and out members OF
the Silver Democratic party of the
State. / am prepared at all times te
vote with that end in view. l regard
the action of your committee as timely
and good politics and that attention tc
it's suggestions will materially strength.
en- the party in Washoe county, which
will naturally be the storm center OF
the next general election in this State. ,
1.-The reading of this letter called
| Governor Sparks to his feet. TheeGov'
ernor said:
nThis man Davis favored the election
of DR.. Patterson. While he voted fol
DIR. Ascher, he told me he favored Pat
tterson.
"The Governor spoke very earnestly
and with much spirit. which indicated
the contempt in which he held q mar
of Davis double dealing"
Major Dennis agreed that a politica,
mlSUdkc udu<petu Iifduc III dppOiuliuS Q
Republican SO important a position,
but that he Bad not been consulted.
AssembIyman Cooke reviewed the
action of the Board appointing Patter'
son and summed up as just the action
of the Washoe County Democratic Com
mittee, and said that the error commit
ted should be corrected at an early day
Upon motion the committee went
into executive session and when it gol
through amputating the paragraphs
that graced the document of August "a
it looked like a Shamrock against {
Reliance.
The charge that DIR. Patterson's ap
pointees under him included Republi
cans and Aon-residents was stricken out
The charge that the pledges of thu
party leaders to party followers anC
labor unions. made prior to the election
of 1902, shave been grossly violated, ,
was stricken out.
The statement that Patterson's APP
pointment and actions following sam
are detrimental to the Democratic party
aud have weakened it throughout tn,
State and particularly in Washes
County, was Withdrawn.
The committees ultimatum for peac'
still groans under the appointment o
DIR. Patterson, "a pronounced Republl
can, to the office of Superintendent o
the Insane-Asylum. and makes a PLAY
for unity Of action and harmony in tn,
Democratic party by again demanding
DIR. Patterson's removal and the APP
pointment of a Democrat to succeed
him at the ,astlum.