New-York tribune., 1908-08-30
TO THE EDITOR.
Mr.. TAFT'S KINDNESS OF HEART.
tho Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Tho public in general may not he aware
that there existed for several years past as
sociation of the progressive blind. which is repre-
sentcd by the Columbia Polytechnic Institute for
the Blind. of Washington This institution is the
outgrowth of this association and has been in cxis-
tence for the last eight years. There has been and
is an institution in Washington for the deaf. sup
uorfed by the government at annual cost OF
$4,000 to 5000 About ten years ago number
of blind people who had been successful in making
their own way In the world believing that Con-
sress might be induced to do sometning for tho
adult blind undertook to establish institution
in Washington where blind people could be taught
self-sustainng occupations. and which would he
an object lesson 10 visitors from all parts OF the
. country.
Through the assistance OF Senator'S Hawley and
IEoar a small appropriation voted and a start
was made. but for the last six years no money
has been received from Congress for the support
and development of this work. simply because.
while tho fitting tho deaf and dumb for the Diff
ferent walks of life tho extent of college
education is considered To he useful investment
money expended the blind has always been'
and is now. considered 10 he charity
For this reason. notwithstanding the Coiumnia
povtechnic Institute for the Blind has had no help
from Congress for the last six 1t has strug-
ged on to combat this idea and TO mako IL pam
that under proper conditions the blind may become
not only self-sustainlng. but useful and VaiuaDle
factors of success in the worlds workshop.
One Of the Industries carried at the above
named institution the blind is that of the printing
and making of books, and for the last three years
hundreds of thousands of souvenir post cards,
marked ''printed by the blind. have gone out from
washington all over the country and 10 foreign
parts BY far the greater number OF these cards
were taken from little cabinet, which. with the
consent of General Mackenzie, was placed III the
observatory in the top OF the Washington Mon
urnent This little cabinet was source OF consid-
erable revenue this institution. a few senti-
mental people. however, took the view that IL de-
tracted from the dignity of the monument 10 nave
this little cabinet, which was not more than py
10 inches in breadth and height. stand where 1t
was and they succeeded in getting the Superinten-
dent OF Public Buildings to order II removed
The monument I'm the custody ana care OF
the War Department. and the director OF the ihSt-
tuition succeeded in getting Mr.. TAFT. Secretary Oh
War to take up the matter with the result thsI
the order to remove the cabinet from the Honu-
,nent was revoked and General Mackenzie was sus-
tanned
For this action Mr.. Taft deserves the gratitude
of every blind person interested in the success OIL
this institution, which seeks to make II possioic
for the adult blind of the United States 10 rlSo
above the condition of dependence by becoming
sef-sustanng. r ci'EA r"T'.''
Secretary Columbia Polytechnic Institute for the
Blind
washngtop Aug 90 1908.