The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1911-04-21

st. Paul, April 12.-Superintenden
Whittier of the Red Wing Training
school was given clean coat
OF whitewash by the lower branch of
the legislature. By a vote of SO to 30
the house cut out the heart of the ma
jority report of the legislative investi-
eating committee which severely GEN.
sured the superintendent for his in
discriminate application of corporal
punishment and recommended his re-
moval. The report as later adopted
simply contains the findings OF the
committee without any recommends
ton whatever.
This action was taken in one of the
widest scenes enacted at the present
session of the Minnesota lawmaking
body.
With the adoption Of the report as
amended the house went on record as
blaming the state board of control for
the conditions which exist at the Red
Wing Training school and also in favor
of corporal punishment. L. A. Lydiard
scathingly arraigned the board Of con-
troll for it's lack of interest in the state
school in his opening address. He
spoke as follows:
Mr.. Lydiard's Speech.
"This report shows that the spirit of
kindness and good will at Red Wing
has been replaced by the rule of the
cash. 1t shows that instead of recog-
nizing the reform spirit of the institu-
ton and instead of recognizing the fact
that modern thought has evolved new
method of dealing with delinquent chill
dren. Armed with a whip, the present
superintendent of this institution has
gone about among these unfortunates
as the incarnation of the spirit of fear.
Fastened to a machine or appliance,
hands shackled, backs barred, these
boys have received 10, 20, 80 and as
many as 100 lashes.
"The superintendent is recommended
for removal. His assistants must go,
but fixing the blame upon these men
alone is a mere subterfuge.
'rMr. Speaker and gentlemen Of the
house, the shame of Red Wing is not
the asset of a mere subordinate. The
members of the state board of control
are responsible for that condition, and
the sentiment of this state should de-
mand the resignation of the members
Of that board, save one"
Motion is Made.
r. C. Dunn moved that the entire
section D be stricken from the report
and that it then be adopted. This was
the bone of the contention. Section d
declared superintendent admission
that he could not run the training
school without corporal punishment
and recommended that he should be
removed as we'll as several subordinate
officers. R. G. Dunn defended the
superintendent.
1--WE have been hearing too much
Of this hysterical gush from kind
hearted men and women of this state. "
declared the gentleman from Mile
Laos. 1.-THE conditions at Red Wing
have been grossly exaggerated. Supt.
Whittier in my estimate is a worthy
man and a perfect gentleman. His
methods may not have been absolutely
correct, but he has been the victim of
circumstances.
MANY people seem to think that
the boys who go to Red Wing are
angels. They are bad and that is the
reason why they are sent there. Supt.
Whittier has been critized for admin
istering corparal punishment. I be-
lieve in corporal punishment when it
come to dealing with boys Of the
class at Red Wing"
Millions Appropriated by Senate.
Just to show how easy it was to do
business when they had their minds
made up, the Minnesota legislature
passer the omnibus appropriations
bill, disposing of about $16,000,000 in
the senate in less than one hour.
Only one argument was precipitat-
ed in the senate and that was over an
item of $1,000. It wasn't the money
involved that started that argument,
but desire to deal crushing blow
to DR.. Bracken, secretary of the state
health department, that caused it.
Through the entire session, many
senators have expressed their disap-
prevail of DR.. Bracken's methods, and
this feeling eliminated in the adop-
ton of Senator Moonan's amendment
to the appropriations bill cutting DR..
Brackens salary from $4,000 year
to $4,000.
Senator Hackney said that many
members had favored giving the state
fair an agricultural building and the
state university more buildings, but
that perfect harmony had prevailed in
committee and he commented on the
wonderful Unanimity that was shown
by the senate in passing practically
without an amendment an approgria-
tons bill that necessarily failed to
give many senators what they thought
they were entitled to and what their
districts were interested in.
Few Salary Cuts Made.
After slight application Of the
pruning KNIT the house passed the
omnibus bill. The bill provinding for
state institutions under the board of
control was left practically intact. A