Arizona republican., 1914-05-17
Opportunities correspond with al- most mathematical accuracy, to the ability to use them.
 Lillian Whiting.
The Exoneration of Superintendent WhippIe


 The exoneration by majority of the board Of control Superintendent Whippe of the reform school expected proceeding any proceed ing was be taken at all by the majority. That the superintendent would be cleared forecast soon as it became known that the investigation of the school had been reluctantly permitted by the majority and handicapped after it begun. It was in the cards that the superintendent should be exonerated.
 The remarkable findings of the majority seem to be based upon testimony taken by Auditor Callaghan. At any rate, reference is disclosures by any subsequent investigation though was reported a week that Secretary Osburn had quietly conducted investigation But noth- ing the secretary might have discovered then could have borne any relation what described in the transcript taken two months before regarding conditions then existing and such had existed during the six months of the incumbency of the superintendent.
 We do contend that that testimony true. We do not know whether it was true but it must stand as true until il has been disproved and dsprove it. The interpretation of it given by majority the board cannot agree with the inter- pretation Of it by very large majority of the per who have read either the transcript or the auditors report which is fair digest of the cript But it is upon interpretation that the major ity seems depend. for throughout the report of the majority printed by The Republican yesterday these phrases occur: The evidence shows the evidence fails to disclose etc t .-*. The attitude of the majority toward the inves- tigation conducted by the auditor is unconsciousy betrayed in the following extraordinary statement in reply to the auditors charge that he had been obstructed- by his associates the board: MT Caaghan demanded and insisted upon public in vestgation, even after his attention called to the fact that such course might operate to the detrment of the school and its inmates" But what was to be gained by covering matters up? Why was it advantageous to shun publicity? Certainly no investigation could be detrimental to the inmates of the school than the rumored conditions that the auditor proposed to investigate. The jority- had means of knowing. pretended to have no means. of knowing. whether those were true or not. They had come from various sources some of which, at least, seemed to be wholly reliable, and they were circulated by of such standing that they would not have circulated them unless they had believed them to be probably true.
 = The exoneratng report of the majority is not quite fair in the statement that the majority in stead Of obstructing the investigation. simply in sisted that ii should be public investigation" such the auditor had demanded But the record shows that after the auditor had begun it. a telegram was received from a member of the majority by the superintendent himself investigation instruct ing and commanding him deny the auditor the privilege of taking stenographc notes of the testimony
 Nor is the report quite fair in the statement that offending matron had been discharged some time" before Mir Caaghan had demanded investigation. AS of fact. though her conduct only incident in the conditions that dischatged until last sFebruary long after the state filled with the widest rumors of incompetency disorder and immortality the school. until an attache of school had persisteny threatened to resign unless she should be discharged.
 In the public mind the majority report will leave the reform school just where it after the pub lication of the auditors report.
 We believe that Governor Hunt is earnest ant sincere his desire introduce the best the mos both the industrial school and the penitentiary but we believe he has erred in not meeting in a spirit of cooperation the demand of the auditor for ar investigation of the reform school. making al investigation concerning whose results there could afterward be no difference of opinion. If ucei was suspected existing it should have been sough out and, if present, it should have been prompt, removed. ..s .-.-->