The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1912-08-23
THE ST. ANTHONY PROBE

The investigation of the manage
ment of the Industrial School at St.
| Anthony has continued his week,
but reports of the evidence brought
out arc meager. The work is being
conducted behind closed doors but
press representatives are admitted.
1t appears that everybody who at
tended the hearing was impressed
| with the bad state Of affairs SO far
as punishments were concerned, and
we're unable to reconcile the evidence
of unrcasonably severe punishments
| to the apparently high character OF
the superintendent HUMPHREYS and
wife. except upon the theory OF lax
enforcement of discipline cmong en-
ployes or hypocracy itself
The only defenders of tier posi-
ton are St. Anthony people, and the
Fremont County News, which gave
report that appeared to be studiously
colored and trimmed in favor of the
management, and this same coloring
and trimming was carried to such
extremes that it was ridiculous. For
example, in speaking of the boy Greer
who was beaten and whose body was
living evidence of the extremity OF
his torture, the news said it was
true that he was whipped a little
too hard"
Mrs. Pugmire, a member OF the
board of regents who discovered the
Greer boy on the train and turned
him over to the sheriff at Idaho
Falls, is quoted as having expressed
regret that she did not take him on
home with her so that none of this
trouble the investigation, would have
come up.
Another member of the board Miss
Grace Shepherd is quoted as having
said that the investigation ought to
he stopped as it is disgrace to the
state and will do much harm to the
institution.
We can hardly believe that either
of these women would utter such
statements. Surely Mrs. Pugmire
would not have taken such course
and thereby screen the guilty and let
the beatings and torture proceed.
Surely our state superintendent
would not curb investigation of any
condition that is disgrace to the
state. And she is surely above look
ing to the good Of tho institution
even at the sacrifice of tho individuals
for whose good it was Established.
That is reversing the conditions as
substantially as was done and is done
by monmchs who carry the idea that
the nation exists for them to rule.
The institution exists for the child
rem, and whatever is not for their |
best interest needs changing. Any
defense that seeks to spare the man
agement or the board of regents at |
the expense of the inmates is indie
fensible.
The investigation is about COM
pleted, and no doubt a report will be
made and transmitted to the COVER
nor, and copy of it given to the
press of the state so the people may
know, and until then it is best to
with old judgment for it is easy to
mis-quote people, and easy to mis-
when we know only in
part.
This office has considerable infor-
nation which it is not publishing and
is not discussing, but we want to
add something to what Governor
Hawley said, when he expressed his
determination that if the children
are being maltreated that every one
In authority at the school and every
who had knowledge of the
beatings, should be discharged. We
want to add that under such findings,
the full board of regents ought to be
too, so far as it Is possible
10 do it by discharge and appoint
ment. The constitutional provision
making the governor and superinten-
lent of schools, ex-officio members
Of the board should be the only bar
@ making a clean sweep.