The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-24

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
Whatever the outcome of the Goodwne
Reformatory bill may be. the candid and
self-respecting Republicans of Indiana and
the good people of all parties will owe a
debt of gratitude to the Indianapolis
Journal and the other courageous and hon.
est papers who have had the courage to
fight this bill relentlessly to the last ditch.
1t is to be hoped that the statement in this
mornings Journal is not in the shape of
news to the average observing man, that
the effort of the Journal to secure express
sons of "a number of well-known men of
Indianapolis on the bill for the reorganiza-
ton of the Indiana Reformatory brought
out two interesting facts: First, That the
general sentiment is against the bill. Sec
ond, That comparatively few of the men
who are in any sense in public position had
the courage of their convictions and would
go on record as opposed to the bill" 1t
is a deplorable fact that politics makes
towards of men.
The bill was properly characterized in the
words of ex-Speaker Littleton: 1.-The bill
is simply q piece of peanut politics" No
sane man will contend for a minute that
the bill has any other purpose or object
in view except to enable the chief executive
to punish men in the honest discharge of
their duty and with which he had no more
to do than the Governor of Arkansas would
have had in - same transaction. The
law provides, ~ 4ie government and control
OF said Indiana Reformatory and of the
prisoners sentenced thereto shall be vested
in a board of managers" The same sec
ton provides, 1.-The Governor may remove
any of the managers for misconduct or
neglect of duty after an opportunity to be
heard upon written charges" Section $3.50
+. of the same act provides, They 1.-THE
managersl shall appoint a general superin-
tendent" 1t Is not apparent anywhere in
the act that 1T is their obligation, either
express or implied, TO consult anybody out
side OF the board of managers in the APP
pointment of superintendent or in the
discharge or any other function connected
with the position of managers. To create
a prestige requiring his Excellency, the
Governor, TO be consulted by the board of
managers means one Of two things for the
tons OF Indiana: That there will be two
Republicans and a Republican Governor
and two Democrats; or two Democrats and
Democrauc Governor and two Repub-
Leans controlling these institutions; and,
therefore. that the nonpartisan control of
these institutions, which now has the full
sympathy OF all political parties, Is at an
end.
1t is matter of common fairness and
common honesty and common decency that
THIS BOARD OF managers should be given an
opportunity TO be heard upon written
charges. Otherwise, ii is sheer nonsense
to talk about the mismanagement of the
institution. Furthermore, If there is any
mismanagement upon the part of the board
or managers, IL Is due TO the Republicans
and 10 the people of Indiana that this fact
should be made known. The searchlight
should be turned on, not by Democrats, but
by Republicans. il is TO be hoped that the
Governors message was truthful when he
spoke OF the satisfactory management OF
the penal and benevolent institutions. II
is to be hoped, furthermore, that Senator
Goodwine as chairman of the investigating
committee. had some regard for the truth
when he made his committee say that the
management was satisfactory and above
criticism. The bill Is malicious i'm Its spirit
and can only be destructive of good in its
results. AS the Journal has so clearly
stated, Ii Is step backward, and means
the undoing or twenty-five years of honest
enort 10 place these institutions upon q
strictly nonpartisan and business basis, and
IL is TO be regretted that the gentlemen
composing the present Legislature have nc
higher conception of the public pulse or
| this question than was manifested by the
overwhelming vote that was given this
cowardly bill in the Senate. This measure
| has no sympathy or support among the
masses OF the people 1t Is peanut politics
| pure and simple, and IL is TO be hoped. fol
the sake or the good name of the State OF
Indiana, and more especially for the sake
OF the good name OF the Republican party
that sufficient courage and manhood car
be rallied In the House 10 defeat this meas
| ure As well might the President OF the
United states. upon his appointment of &
United States judge, expect 10 inject his
notions into judicial opinioE as for the
Governor TO expect 10 participate In TIT