The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-04

Joseph p. Byers Fires a Parting Shot
from RefOrmatory.

Joseph p. Byers, who retired from the
SUPPLEMENTARY of the Indiana Reforma-
tory yesterday morning, giving way to
Will II. Whitaker, made public a lengthy
statement, addressed to the people of In
diana, before he stepped out. In his state
ment Mr.. Byers rehearses the incidents
attendant upon his resigning last month,
stating that at the time of the July meet
ing of the board of managers he learned
that the three new members of the board,
Dr. Hobbs, Mr.. Newly and Mr.. Critten-
berger, had determined to secure his resig-
nation and to elect Mr.. Whitaker as his
successor. He says that they visited him
in his Office shortly before o'clock on the
evening of July 2, and told him his resig-
nation would be acceptable. He says that
he asked the reason for this decision of the
board, and that no charge was preferred
against him and the only statement he was
able to secure was one from Mr.. Newly to
the effect that there were conditions in the
State which Mr. Byers did not understand
which made necessary his retirement.
Mr.. Byers says that he finally decided to
retire without fight as he felt it would
be useless to contest the action of the
board, which was evidently determined to
remove him If he would not resign. He says
that when his resignation went before the
board 1t was accepted by vote of three
Mr.. Whitaker was elected by the same
VOTE he says, Mr.. Terhune voting against
the new superintendent and for Ernest Bick-
nell, of Chicago.
Mr.. Byers continues i'm his statement:
"Many of the citizens of Indiana are IA
miliar with the conditions prevailing bere
during the past eight months, and with the
causes leading up to myDaction There will
be those in Indiana and elsewhere who will
be much disappointed that | yielded to the
wishes of the board rather than to oppose
them in their efforts to drag the Reformatory
back into the hell of politics. / have no
doubt that such is their purpose, and L am
confirmed in my opinion by the action of
the new members of the board at the last
and previous meetings. DIR. Hobbs Gov
Durbin's first appointee on the board
after he began his reorganization, began al
most Immediately recommending people for
greet Violation of the law, and frankly
told him SO and declined to make the APP
pointments. Other members of the new
board have made inquiries of officers here
as to their politics and their consistency IN
voting their respective tickets"
Again he says:
I'm spite of all the distractions and wor-
rieS of the past seven months, il is with
profound regret that leave the work of
the Reformatory. One of my chief rea-
sons for giving up my work in Ohio and
coming to Indiana was because, as 1 ex-
pressed it at the time, L believe that pub
lie sentiment in Indiana as regards the
administration OF public institutions is more
advanced and in healthier condition than
in any other State If L am not wrong in
my estimates of Governor Durbin's inten-
tons and the purposes Of the new board
there is yet some work to be done in de-
lvering the institutions of the State from
the grasp of politicians. Concerning my
administration of the Reformatory, il is an
open book. l have nothing to explain
there is no part of my administration for
which 1 need blush or be ashamed; 1 have
endeavored to make it clean, and, so fal
as | was able, businesslike."
In conclusion, Mr.. Byers says he has had
the cordial support of the officers and EN-.
ployes of the Reformatory and that he
has at all times endeavored to cooperate
with the State Board of Charities and keer
that organization fully advised at all times
as to the condition of the Reformatory.
Knowing so well,' he says, 1.-The char
acter of that board, its freedom from party
bias and personal prejudice. and realizing
fully that any act statement made from
that source is governed wholly by wha
they believe to be the best and highest in
| terests of the institutions of the State,
shall leave to that board any further state
ment that it may be necessary to max,
concerning the administration of the In
diana Reformatory from Dec. last