New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1903-10-14

search and all failed every avenue
seemed shut off 10 me in my search,
but my determine alton was fixed, and
with an eye simple to fulfill my promise
to a broken hearted mother, noble
and highly cultured lady, who for over
seven years had suffered the grief and
sorrow over the loss of her child. !.
During the last past four months I
sent out nearly 1880 letters of inquiry
as to the whereabouts of this child -
all written by my own hand, and the
result of my efforts was that on the
9th day of September, 1908, had in
my possession certified copy OF the
adoption of this child, the name and
the address of the adaptive parents.
No one can appreciate as I did, this
grand victory over an autocratic
Superintendent Merrill, who is nothing
but servant of the people ofthis state,
and who, at a salary of 100000 per
year and sustenance, with mansion
to reside in, all at the expense of the
tax payers of this state, had the heart
and audacity to say to mother plead
ing and knocking at his door for infor-
nation as to her child, that CHE
WOULD MAKE 1T HIS BUSINESS TO SEE
TO TT THAT SHE, THE MOTHER, SHOULD
NEVER GAZE UPON THE FACE OF THE
CHILD.o .~.~s. .--.,.
: And true to his words this child was
taken about l, 700 miles and placed in
a homenear the Adirondac mountains,
IA miles from Lowville, the county
seat of Lewis county, New York, and
the same distance from railroad. In
a letter written by Mr.. Merrill, of date
July 10th, 1908, in answer to a letter
of inquiry as to the whereabouts of this
child, copy of which is in my hands,
he makes the following statement:
"The child has been adopted by due
process in the courts, and is no longer
under the guardianship of this school.
Her, surroundings and opportunities
are unquestionably such as would be
pleasing to the. relatives. The foster
parents are excellent people, well-to-
do, have no other children, and are
educating the child and training her
we'll in all respects" - +. 80 =,'..@
Now the facts are, the adaptive
parents were found by me renting a
farm; the child, only 10 years old,
MIXED sometimes five COWS, scrubbed
floors, had taken care of the horses
during her vacation, as we'll as assist
ing in doing the house work. Upon
inquiry, found that this home had
not been visited by an authorized state
agent, as required by law, since the
child had been placed in this home
The law requires visits to be made,
and a reportrendered as to the condition
of the home and of the child. What
the records disclose am not advised
in this case, as they are refused for
Inspection. .......s. -. -...,--s. -. .
I now desire to ask our lawmakers,
is it not time to enact such laws in our
state that will force this Car of
OwatOnna to disclose to some authority
in this state, other than the board of
this school, as to the Whereabouts of
innocent children intrusted to his
keeping in order that parents who are
able to care for their own, may have
the privilege Of so doing? I hereby
promise the mothers of this state,
having their children in this Institution
at Owatonna, that if ever it should be
my pleasure to be member of the
legislature of this state, I would see to
lit that such laws were placed upon
our statute books. 49, -
The mother of the child in question
has made repeated demands for her
..hild, and in 1899 appeared with her
counsel before the superintenden and
',a board of control of this school
Il proved by evidence her ability to
give herchild education and refinement,
and was told by the superintendent and
members of the board that said child
had been adopted by a court OF
competent jurisdiction, and was beyond
recall. This statement was false and
untrue, and I stand ready to prove it
by copy of the decree Of the adoption
in my hands. That said adoption never
was had until the 5th day of May,
1900, one year after the demand was
made for the possession. of her child.
Is it not time that an Investigation is
made as to Mr.. Merrill's acts as
superintendent?
In conclusion let me say no kodaks
| were used to find the child in question,
I am alone responsible for the finding
of this child, and I consider it a
pleasure to know that I have been
instrumental in restoring the lost child
| to the bosom of it's mother, who in
| deep sorrow and grief for her lost child
now enjoys the sunshine Of her love
and affection. - .s,.es- a...ts II
e.-s= G.. A. BLOMBERG, JR.