The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1912-10-25

THE FARCE AT ST. ANTHONY

| Iloh. ". ". iAo6u VI DoioC, Shoi
man of the board of Regents of the
Industrial training school at st. An
thony, recently gave out statement
in which he criticised members of the
press and others for "misrepresent-
ing conditions at the institution and
cultivating a maudlin sentiment in
regard to the management. The
statement seemed to be aimed direct
ly at the Boise Statesman which had
just published an article that was
probably wrong in that it said the
board discussed bill of $500 for
coffee when the figures should have
been SIS But this is aside from the
real subject that the people and the
press are concerned about. 1t is not
questions OF whether they expend one
sum or another for coffee, and men,
bers of the board cannot sidestep the
subject by directing attention to tri-
vial matters. Here are some of the
things that are pertinent to the case;
Governor Hawley is member of
the board. 1t was made known to
him shortly after his Inauguration
that certain abuses existed at the
school, the most fragrant of which
were inhuman whippings of the in
mates with straps, governing with an
iron hand and lack of kindness. and
serving poor food. Such was the
substance of the information present
ed to the governor, and he commiss-
toned a political associate to make an
vestigation. Just at this time a
new judicial district was formed and
this same gentleman was a candidate
Tor the new office of district Judge.
Not then wishing to become entang-
led in the proposed investigation he
did not make it, and the matter of
appointing the district Judge was
dragged along for such a long per-
iod that the case of the children was
forgotten while men scrambled for
office and politicians paid political
debts or blocked the desires and as
pirations of political enemies.
A year and half passed away and
a thirteen year old boy and heavy
strap from the Reform School were
taken to Boise to show the state
officials the evidence of inhuman
beatings administered as correction
or punishment. Governor Hawley
saw the boy. and examined the
wounds, as did also Attorney Gener-
al McDougal. Miss Grace Shepherd
is a member of the board but did
not go down stairs to acquaint her
self with the case. o. o. Haga was
out of town. Mrs. Workman, anoth-
er member of the board was out at
Emmett and was informed of the
case but did not come into the city
to see about it. Geo. E. Hill Jr.,
saw the boy and the strap before
they were taken to Boise, and Mrs. |
Nancy Pugmire, the other member
was the one that caught the boy run
ming away from the school and turn
ed him over to the sheriff who start
ed the investigation
The Governor, the Attorney-Gen-
eral. the state Superintendent, Mrs.
Nancy Pugmire, and Geo. e. Hill
went to st. Anthony to investigate.
They were shown several heavy
straps attached to handles, with 4
which the children had been beaten
across their bare bodies, and it was
not denied that they had been in use
Ut the school, except the weak den !
al of the superintendent, who by I
Every line of reasoning has been /
shown to be liar or unfamiliar with {
he institution over which he pre- 6
ides
The Remedy. |
To remedy this condition, and '
without futrehr dilly-dallying, the {
should have been re- /
ieved and forbidden to come again (
lpon the premises until permission r
yas given. The state officials should
ave taken personal charge of the t
chool and proceeded to relieve every Il
mploye who had knowledge of the a
traps and their use, who by their b
Hence had contributed to the crime 6
hat had been committed. A new d
orps of help should have been plac- b
d in charge as fast as they could 1
ave been found, and within a few a
avs some of the officials could have f,
eturned to their homes. Others il
light have remained longer as cir p
INSTANCES dictated, but the inmates, b
'ould have been protected, and the a
eople of the state would have known W
nat although mistakes had been Il