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

made, steps had been taken to see
that they were not repeated.
But they Didn't.
But these state officials did not
rise to the occasion. They did not
act with ordinary horse sense. They
sat as a court and took evidence
from children who were sworn to
tell the truth about the matter, but
they we're at all times under the
management of the SAME people who
had charge of them before. They
slept under the same roof and ate
at the same tables where they had
before, and with the same guards
over them without any break in the
chain of management. While many
of them told Of being terribly beaten,
each of them said, as il carrying out
an order given before taking the wit
hess stand, "but / deserved al
got" There was every reason to be-
lieve that these young folks were
prompted as to what they must say,
and they told great deal besides
that could not be reconciled except
upon the theory that they had been
drilled by the management of the in
stitution for the purpose of protect
ing the management. The evidence
of perjury on their part was so gen.
eral that an effort was made to have
them tell what they knew without
being sworn, so that If they spoke
falsely they would be simply liars,
and not perjurers, but this was over
ruled. The testimony dragged along
for three weeks, and 1900 pages Of
it, prepared in multicopy to the num-
Der of 1900 pages, is now lying on
the desks of the members of the
board and the school goes on under
the same management while part of
the members of the board of regents
are out campaigning in the effort
to be reelected.
Some members of the board are at
this time taking a month in which to
examine the testimony, saying they
have not yet made up their minds as
to what ought to be done That state
ment stultifies the person making it.
II there is anybody on the board who
has seen the straps and received the
uncontroverted evidence that they
were used to whip the inmates of the
institution, and that person has not
yet made up his or her mind what
| ought to be done with the whole
management that is responsible for
the beatings, such person ought to
be removed from the membership on
the board of regents.
Thee is no politics in this ex-
preston. 1t has been the conviction
of the writer for weeks, but out of
respect to the persons charged with
he oversight of the institution we
withheld expression until they met
to pass upon the testimony and de-
eide what they would do. They have
had the meeting and have done moth
ing. They may be very capable peo-
nle to do many other things, but it
is our judgment that they are un-
worthy of membership on the board
and the last one of them ought to re-
sign. This is case where people
can study whether or not they favor
the practical application of the re-
call of public officials. None of
them will resign, and it seems that
none of them aside from the COVER
nor have the courage to say until
after the election. that they favor
discharging ANYBODY or that they do
not favor discharging anybody. Mrs.
ousmire has taken an attitute from
the first that was revolving. she said
she was sorry she did not take the
Greer boy to her own home instead
of turning him over to the sheriff
IF | had done that she said, 'this
Investigation would never have been
started. She would have doctored
him up and never let the public know
of the inhuman treatment he had re-
ceived, while Sheriff Bucklin expos
I'd the whole matter and got possess
on of some of the straps before they
could hide or destroy them.
Miss Grace Shepherd, after listen
ing for a couple of days to the testi-
mony, said the investigation ought to
be stopped; that it was a disgrace to
the state. The writer could not be-
lieve she had taken this attitute. and
thought she had been misquoted I'M
til he had an interview with her and
she talked at some length on the mat |
ter She did not say that she did
not care to talk on or to discuss the
subject pending official action She
said she had been present at the in
vestigation for ten days. and that she
had not made up her mind about the
matter. She did not even know
whether the Greer boy had been beat
en- except from the testimony and |
she did not know whether she be-
lieved the testimony or not. She adj
mitted that the boy had been around
where others were examining him
and where she could have seen for
herself whether or not he was bruis-
ed and battered as they represented,
and she had not taken the trouble
to find out for herself These adj
missions on her part are enough.
She may be one of the best qualified {
person in the state to take care of
matters, but has no bust
ness to be on this board. We want
somebody on such boards that can ]
get information and decide what to
10.