The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1906-12-13
Steward Carpenter
tPomerey pemoeratl

been relieved Of his duties at tn,
Athens Hospital for the 1nsan,
and the appointees under the new
organization have assumed control
1t is only fair to say that thi
change has been brought about
as the report of the investigating
COMMITTEES appointed by Governo
Harris shows, not because of any
dereliction Of duty or Incompetence
OF the out going steward, but sole
ly because he bought the supplies
for the institution from the whole
sale house Of Steadman in Athens
instead OF from the wholesale
house of The Eldridge Higgins
Company of the same place.
Charles G.. Higgins of the firm
Of The Elridge higgins Company
filed the charges against Steward
Carpenter because the lattar
bought from Steadman inste ad OF
from the Eldridge Higgins Com
puny. Thus the investigation
was the result of selfish desire
on the part Of the complainant to
get the trade of the big instit-
ution and not for the hope of
doing service to the State. 1t
is claimed that The Elridge Hig-
gins Company is branch of the
Standard Oil Trust, which if true,
sufficiently explains the motive of
Mr.. Higgins. That organization
has meyer been charged with an
attempt to foster competition.
Stea oman was competitor and
the little matter of blasting the
reputation of an official counted
nothing in the mind of the trust
emissary, if only the trade of a
great state institution could be
garnered in to the Unsuitable NOW
VI pAiS VNpOp0o.
1t is reported that on the very
day, November 18th, that the
successor of MIR. Carpenter took
charge, the agent Of the Eldridge
Higgins Company called on him,
soliciting orders for supplies for
the big institution. The new ste
ward will do well If Mr.. Higgins
does not reap the reward of his
diligence in encompassing the re-
moyal of MIR. Carpenter.
The star chamber proceeding
that took place at the time of the
pretended investigation, the un-
tiring interest and zeal shown by
the man Higgins and the report
as published are sufficient evidence
that the whole thing was insti-
tuted and carried out, not in the
interest of the public but in the
interest of The Eldridge Higgins
Company, seeking the trade of
the institution on the one hand
and the desire on the part of the
superanuated old man, who is act
ing governor of the state, to do
something in the line of reform,
in order to help him in his desire
to be elected real governor of
Ohio. Evidently, Governor Harris
has been made the tool of the de-
signing Mr.. Higgins, in his scheme
to get steward at Athens through
whom he hopes to control the
trade of that institution.
In the investiga tion of Steward
Carpenters conduct, Mr.. Shirer,
secretary of the Board of State
Charities, was the chief actor. 1t
was he who prepared the report
in which he regretted" that more
evidence was not obtainabe
against the steward. Mr.. Shirer
acted as prosecutor in the taking
OF testimony and refused to allow
the steward to have counsel pres
ent at the hearing. But in the
course of the investigation, in go
ing over the bills allowed, it de-
veloped that Mr.. Shirer has been
drawing $25 per year from the in
stitution for which there seems to
be no authority in law. His com
pensation is fixed by statute sec
tion 657 of the Revived Statute of
Ohio, at $1,000 a year and no
more. AS there are eight insti.
tutions in the state from which
Mr.. Shirer can, and doubtless
does, draw that sum, it is evident
that he has little graft of 5000
per year that under the law is pure
and unadulterated "yelvet". The
Governor might score point in
his race for the nomination he
covets by calling for the return of
all that Shirer has grated from
the state treasury and at the same
time call for his resignation.
The Democrat has no particular
interest in the pow-wow that has
taken place at Athens further
than as it reflects ON citizen of
Melgs county. Mr.. Carpenter is
citizen of this county. He has
dabbled considerable in politics.
he has been quite successful in
tnat line. He has held many posi-
tlons OF trust. He has had much