The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-01-28
HUMANITY. OR POLITICS!

In the following story from the Pres
colt Spectator an appalling conoltion
of affairs Isl aptly summarized. IL
may be said in connection that SherH
Haviland protested to reporter Tor
The Statesman, but at the same time
made a request that newspaper notice
be delayed until he had opportunity
to bring the matter to the attention
of other county officers.
The Statesman has found no one
willing to assume the responsibility for
the treatment Of Pat Curran.
The comment of Editor O'Neill fol-
lows:
last week the editor of this news
paper noted while in Walla Walla a
case of innumanity that was so APP
palling in its nature that it is hard TO
believe that such a thing could happen
in this enlightened age. A poor. more
than half demented and penniless
wretch. afflicted with a loathsome dis
ease was picked up by the police and
placed in the county Jail to await his
transportation to the county poor
farm. The superintendent of the farm
was notified OF the case awaiting MS
care and refused to take the same
on some grounds Or other, but the
officials insisted that it was his duty
to take and provide for the man. and
finally the superintendent decided tnat
he would buy railroad ticket to
Heppner for the man, and the ponce
could put him on the cars and thus
the officials would be rid of him. So
at O'Clock on one of the cOldes,
nights last week the poor creature,
sick unto death doctors who exam
ined aim said that he could live but a
few days at the besD was hustled out
of the Jail, placed in a cab and taken
to the depot and placed aboard tho
Wallula train with a ticket to Hepp-
ner as his sole possession. The only
excuse for sending him to Heppner
was the fact that the poor creature in
his mental wanderings disclosed the
fact that he had herded sheep in the
Heppner country, but that he has
friends or relatives there is entirely
unlikely and even if he had the act
of sending man in his condition out
in such a summary manner without
anyone to look after ad care for him
while enroute. would hardly lessen the
came OF the poor forsaken being, God
knows. | don't. What will become of
the inhuman official who was respon-
Sible for turning the man adrift. God
also knows But The Spectator knows
this much that it is disgrace =.
Walla Walla county. and a blot on
civilization that such thing has TAX
eli place.
The county owns splendIdly
equipped poor farm, but it has been
dent on a fiat contract-that is the
official to assume the responsibility of
caring and providing for the poor of
the county at a lump figure regard
less of the number. ON one hand.
wretched and suffering humanity; on
the other the Unsuitable greed and self
ishness of the individual. 1t used to
be common story in Olden times, but
somehow those of US who do not fol-
low these things very closely nova
days have been wont to believe that
this sort of thing has no place in
modern institutions. The county poor
farm business is a subject for grand
jury investigation: and in all earnest
ness and in the name of common hu-
mainly and decency. The Spectator
calls upon the prosecuting attorney
and the judge of the superior court to
call a jury that the conduct of this
county institution may be thoroughly
Investigated.