The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1903-09-11
Very truly yours,

uess-lTI.o cpnt-uf or democratic of1clais
and am informed by the
commissioners that this year they will
pay small revenue 10 the state instead
OF being tax upon II, as was the case
before the present system was adopted.
Let US make a comparison upon this ques-
tlon Of prison management and see the
difference between the republican and the
democratic administrations. During the
years of 1895. 1897 and 1888. in Gov, Brad
leys administration, TO run the two pris-
ons cost the state $50. .7570l. During the
years 1901, 1902 and 1903 under this admin
istration, they have cost the state only
tl2, 1854, This makes saving to the
These figures speak for themselves Sew
eral Of the charitable institutions of the
state have been so administered that they
have been able out OF their allowances
under the law to save enough to buy con-
siderable additional land for their inst-
tutions and to make other valuable tnn-
provements-all out OF their per capita
allowance. Much political capital has
been sought to be made out of the man
agement of some Of these Institutions,
but can say and prove that never be-
fore were they more successfully or cap
ably managed than they have been dur
ing the last three years. There was some
trouble at the Hopkinsville asylum over
two years ago. | made a most careful
investigation Of II and concluded that the
promptly removed him and put another
man In his place. Since then there has
been no trouble there. Last spring a big
sensation was attempted to be made out
OF some charges Of cruelty to patients at
the Lakeland asylum. and an effort made
TO hold me directly accountable for them
because | had appointed the head officials
OF that institution. An investigation was
made by the board Of commissioners
and also by myself In person and by my
~
| attendants had used unnecessary force II
1 dealing with patients, and when discoy'
cred the two attendants were promptly
, discharged The principal charges madt
/ against the officials there. and about
whose testimony so much was said by
| the hostile press, were made by two con.
| vict patients, George Portwood anC
1 Mary Noble. and to give some idea of the
| character of this testimony | will tel
/ who they are Portwood several years
/ ago killed man In Lexington, and upon
! trial was sentenced 10 be hanged Gov
Bradley commuted his sentence to life
Imprisonment He made application "a
me for a full pardon. IL was refused
He feigned insanity and was tried OF
I that question last winter. The jury was
/ deceived and authorized his transfer tc
the asylum. lie was taken to Lakeland,
but the doctors there quickly discovered
| his purpose, and that was TO escape
They took extra precautions with him
and prevented his doing so. He was
therefore offended at them for not letting
him get away. and at me because l did
not pardon him. He was trying to get
even" In his testimony, He has been
, transferred back to the prison where he
properly belongs. The other witness.
Mary Noble, was transferred from the
Prison TO the asylum. She too, had to be
closely watched. She was not insane.
Her prison term expired while she was at
the asylum and she was released. Since
then she has been arrested upon charge
OF housebreaklng. and is now in the
Louisville Jail Such is the testimony
upon which the republicans rely about
the terrible state OF affairs" at the asy-
lum. There are about 1880 patients in
the institution the population OF fifth
class town. II is impossible that in such
a large institution there should not be an
occasional mishap or wrong, but there
have been remarkably few there during
this administration Tor the supVrlntenn-
ent and his assistants are men of the
kindest hearts and are as watchful and
careful Of the comfort Of these unfortu-
nate beings as II Is possible to be. II /
had had the slightest reason to believe
that any one OF them had been guilty Of
the least cruelty or negligence N, Auu,d
have been promptly removed No one
visits that Institution who is not i'm
pressed with its splendid management
and the excellent care taken of the In
mates But the republicans are exceed
ingly hard up for campaign material. and
are grasplng at straws In their desperate
efforts, However. II they are anxious TO
make an Issue OF the management of
state institutions | will cheerfully accom-
modate them and compare this admin S.
tration with the republican admlnistra-
tlon, with It's troubles at the l,AxinRron
asylum, the Feeble Minded institute. the
prisons and other places. have moth
Ing to conceal and would be pi Qua OF the
comparison. The present administration
has established one additional public
institution and that is the Home for tho
Aged and Iniirm Confederate Soldiers at
Pewee Valley. where the old veterans OF
the Confederacy who draw no pensions
from the government can be well cared
for and looked after In their old age.
We have also passed law giving ma
fssal assistance TO the Childrens Home,
one Of the most praiseworthy charities
in the state, where little orphans and
wtiis are gathered and trained and pro-
vide with good homes. Such charities
us these appeal TO the sentiments Of ali
rood people, -
Continued next week.