The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-02-20
YES, 1T is THRILLING.

YES, IT is THRILLING.
While admitting that it is rather a
small matter to consider, the Helena
Independent, nevertheless, cannot re-
frain from expressing it's regret that
in view of the fact that the state ad-
ministration is democratic a man of
that political faith was not selected
as superintendent of the reform
school. It is the Independents opin-
ion that things would run smoother
down there if the boss of the institu-
ton were in political accord with the
executive, and that, too, after declar-
ing that liberal minded people do not
believe in carrying politics into insti-
tutions Of this character" It is this
very evident commendable belief on
the part of liberal minded people that
is responsible Tor the latest appoint
ment of a superintendent. "Jack"
Hawkins, who now occupies the posi-
tion the Independent says should have
gone to a democrat, was at one time
n of the directors of the school, and
then a democrat. Subsequently he re-
signed, but not before he had also re-
signed his old political faith, and be-
came an employee of the school, acting
in the capacity Of "boss" farmer and
guard, a occasion required. He dem
onstrated his fitness in many ways
and when the superintendent who sue
ceeded Mr.. White, a democrat, was
requested to go back east and look
for another job the board of directors,
democrats and republicans alike, ten
dered him the place, and it could not
have gone to a much better mon. In
voting for him none of the democratic
members of the board, it is safe to
say, gave the matter of Mr.. Hawkins
political affiliations a single thought,
being prompted solely by the desire
to secure the services of a man fitted
for the position and one thoroughly
reliable in every respect. They knew
him to be such a man and the result
vas that he was named.
1t is true, as the Independent says
that the democratic majority of the
board of trustees could have done
worse than to have put some good
democrat at the head of the school,"
by appointing some one whom they
knew not to be a good man, whether
democrat or republican, in the place,
but knowing Mr.. Hawkins to be a
good man, even though a republican,
they gave him the preference. Good
democrats, as the term is APPLIED to
show party fealty and the ability to
manipulate election returns ala the
way of democrats of Silver Bow coun-
ty, may be in plenty, but those good
enough to be the executive head of
an institution supported by the state
for the sole purpose of reforming the
morals of it's hayward youth are not
so plentiful. This the democratic
majority Of the board of trustees seem
ed to realize when they selected the
man whose appointment so aggrieves
the Independent.
Until the 'grownup' democrats Of
the state show a greater inclination
to the acquisition of goodness in ev
cry sense it will hardly be a safe
proposition to place one of them IN
charge of a reform school. The youth
full mind is too susceptible to example
and too lacking in the ability to diff
ferentiate between right and wrong
especially when that mind already hal
shown such a degree of perve1sion al
to make it a fit subject for state in
PREVENTION.