The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-06
For the First Time the Chief Execu-
tive Tells Why DIR. Stoker Was
Asked to Resign.
NOT FOR POLITICAL REASONS
OF FOUR HOSPITALS THREE SUPER
INTENDENTS ARE DEMOCRATS.
Miss Wilson, the BOokkeeper, Advised
Not to Resign by a Member Of
the Board.


tai for the Insane. home of the recent
maelstrom of gossip. ordinations and re-
ordinations growing out of the change in
administration officers. He made a
thorough investigation of the conditions
existing relative to the change in superin-
tendents, the request for the designations
of the members of the executive staff of
the hospital. and the statements alleged
to have been made by members Of the
board of trustees, as well as the letter said
to have been given the retiring suprintend-
ent, DR.. Stoker. by the board.
Upon his return Thursday night the Gov
ernor was not inclined to discuss the in
quiry, although he indicated that he was
satisfied with his findings. but last even
ing, in an extended conversation with a
representative of the Journal, he talked
freely of the result of the investigation he
made.
I'm the first place." said the Governor.
II know there is no truth in the state
ment made that the change in the superin-
tendency was brought about for political
reasons. In fact the change has been in
contemplation for some time and on
grounds entirely different 1t was urged
by the Board Of State Charities and sug-
gested by myself The board of trustees
acted upon these recommendations and in
the light of its own information to ex-
listing conditions.
REASONS FOR DISMISSAL.
"Dr. Stoker's resignation was requested
for no other reason than that the hospital
has not measured up to the standard of
excellence in management that we all
felt might have been attained. The board
intended by its action no reflection upon
the character or standing of DIR. Stoker.
AS to whether the entire responsibility
should rest upon the retiring superintend-
ent. or whether any of his subordinates
were diSlOyal to him or the best interests
of the institution, is question which | did
not investigate to such an extent as would
enable to- reach definite conclusion.
AT the meetings of the trustees the SUI
perintendent of the hospital acts as secre-
tary and records the proceedings At the
special meeting of April 80, when the resig-
nation of the superintendent was rendered.
the record. as L found 1t. showed there
were no charges of any kind against him,
but for political reasons Every member
of the board, well as DR.. Laughlin. the
new superintendent, who present at
the meeting in question, stated, when this
condition of facts was revealed, that in
the reading of the minutes by DR.. Stoker
at the subsequent meeting, when they
were to be signed and become the record,
the words but for political reasons were
not read by him. 1t has been the rule and
custom of the institution to send copies
of the minutes to each member of the
board In the case of this meeting DR..
Stoker ordered that only one copy of the
minutes be made. He retained this copy,
and directed that no copies be sent to the
members of the board. He gave to me
as the reason for making this order that
the members would detect the words for
political reasons in the minutes. The men,
bers of the board signed the record, taking
it for granted that the minutes had been
correctly read.
1.-THE request for the designations of the
subordinate officers of the institution" con-
tinued the Governor, was based upon the
statement of the retiring superintendent
that ii would be helpful to the new superin.
tendent to have them placed in his hands,
to become effective at his option, thus leav-
ing him free to do with all or any of the
designations whatever he might deem best
for the interests of the institution. AL
of the officers were called into the Office
and the statement made to them that their
designations would be requested at regu-
lar meeting, TO be held May IL.
BOOKKEEPER HELD OUT.
"All officers did resign, but the book
keeper, Miss Wilson, and 1t was stated
that she advised to oppose the action
of the trustees by a member of the Board
of State Charities. If the matter is to be
looked upon from a political standpoint
ii may be said that the request for resig-
nations affected four Republican voters
and two officers who are not voters, but
belonging to the opposite party
The Governor would not give the name
of the member of the Board of State Char
tiles who is said TO have advised Miss Will
son to decline to resign and to fight for
her position and, in fact, would make nc
further comments on the affairs Of the hos.
pital.
In this connection ii may be pointed out
however, as having a bearing upon the
sincerity of the claim that the removal
of Dr. Stoker was the result of a dark po-
litica conspiracy, that Of the four super
intendents of insane hospitals in the State
three are Democrats, and the one institu-
| ton where trouble has arisen is that In
| which the chief executive officer was q
| Republican. In the light of this fact it is
hardly necessary to dignity with serious
attention the feigned anxiety in certain
| quarters lest there be return to partisan
| motives in State institutional management
| an anxiety oStenSibly based on efforts
| made to correct conditions which have
| been a source of embarrassment not only
| to Governor Durbn. but which also
| troubled his immediate predecessor, the
| late Governor Mount
| The friends of the Governor feel that the
purposes and motives of the present State
| administration will be judged, not by the
| Interpretation placed upon them by chronic
| critics certain TO be dissatisfied with what.
| ever course is taken, but by the actual
| practical, tangible conditions existing in
| the several State institutions when the
record of the administration shall be com
| plete.