The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-26
TIMOTHY NICHOLSON.
He Opposes the GOodwine Bill and
Endorses Mr.. Byers.

Endorses Mr.. Byers.
To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
To one who has for over thirty years done
what he could to eliminate partisan poll
tics from the management of our State in
stitutions it is exceedingly gratifying to OBJ
serve the remarkable unanimity of the
newspaper press in so vigorously defending
this policy against what it considers an at
tack upon this principle. Upon the first in
timation that a bill was to be introduced to
revolutionize the State Reformatory, L
sought Senator Goodwine the reputed au-
thor of the bill. two days before it was in
troduced In the Senate and earnestly pro-
tested against such drastic measure as
not only unnecessary. but one that was, in
my opinion, radically wrong. and hence
would prove detrimental to that and every
other State institution of Indiana; that if
there were mismanagement by the former
superintendent and the board Of managers,
as intimated, the proper investigation by
a committee of the Legislature. or. what
would be better. by the Governor (who on
more than one instance has shown great
ability as an investigator and the Board
of State Charities, would discover and ex
pose mismanagement. and the remedy was
amply provided by law. felt that the very
introduction of such bill would stir up a
fearful and disastrous political dissension,
from the result of which it might require
years to recover; that the proposed action
was wrong, and hence would prove bad
politics and recoil upon the heads of its
promoters.
Neither / nor any other member of the
Board of State Charities. nor our secretary,
had received any information of the resig-
nation of Alvin L. Hert. or of his intention
to resign, nor of the appointment of Joseph
p Byers as his successor previous to its
a mt 4
ceedingly gratified by the appointment of
the latter, whom L have known for eleven
years as the remarkably efficient secretary
OF the Ohio Board or State Charities, as an
officer for several years of the National
Prison Association, and last year and this
year the general secretary of the National
Conference OK Charities and Corrections,
and 1 know of no available man in the
United States better equipped for the po-
sition to which he has been appointed.
Last spring the superintendent of the New
Jersey State RefOrmatory resigned, and
Charleton Il. Lewis, a distinguished lawyer
and member of that reformatory board,
asked me at the Detroit National Confer
ence of Charities and Corrections my opin-
ion of Joseph p. Byers's fitness for the po-
sition. 1 replied that had so much conf
dence in his Christian character, his I'M
usual knowledge of public institutional
methods in his executive ability and in his
excellent Judgment that / would unhesi-
tatingly recommend him for any position
he would accept, and at Charleton H.
ment TO this effect
The New Jersey Reformatory Board in
vited Joseph p. Byers to visit their insti-
tuition, that they might interview him.
After this interview the Governor, who in
that State is a member of the board was
so favoraby impressed that, laying aside
the state pride selfishness which seems
to dominate some of our Indiana politicians
he strongly urged the appointment of
Joseph Il. Byers, and so did Charleton Il
Lewis, and they voted for him. but-not for
political, but for religious infiuences-an-
other person secured one more vote. Joseph
z. Byers's father was a highly esteemed
minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church
and secretary of the Ohio Board of Chari-
ties from its organization In 1867 until his
death in 1891. He was president of the
National Conference OF Charities held in
Baltimore in 1890 Joseph is a distinguished
son of an honored father. But If the Good.
wine bill becomes a law he is to be ex-
PEELED from the State Reformatory.
TIMOTHY NICHOLSON.
Richmond. Ind, Jan. "A.