The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-03-25
McCLANE WRITES OF
AFFAIRS AT MARIANNA

We have been wondering for some
time how Dr. McClane. the new super
intendent of the reform school. was
succeeding in his work at Mariana,
consequently we were glad to receive
the following letter from him the
other day:
Editor Star: / am sure you will
think me dilatory in Aot writing you
ere this, but on the other hand
know you will forgive me when you
learn / have been up to my eyes in
work since coming to this institution.
| am not going to tell you how
found things when / arrived here.
-Fhey have been hashed and rehashed
over the state enough, but that have
been so busy getting things in shape
is sufficient evidence that they were
bad.
This is glorious work, and it's no
one man job. / am quite sure when
Mr.. Jarman comes on the 18th he is
going to tighten my load consider
ably, and l hope to see an institution
build here that is going to-be credit
to the state.
| want to say frankly and candidly,
that while things were bad and no
doubt in a very deplorable condition,
it can be traced to the past superin-
tendent. The board has been blamed
for many things that really never
happened. / am giving you my un-
biased opinion.
There is a condition among the boys
here that should the whole state
know and understand, every breast
would throb and every heart would
beat with increased courage to aid
them. There are some very sad
features to the conditions and past en-
vironments of many of the boys, and
it is going to take a strong heart, a
strong mind and a strong will and
firm determination in any man or set
of men to work out the future of this
school.
That the state needs such an in
stitution there can be no gainsaying,
but this problem has a future and a
very great future and the same must
be worked out in the hearts of the
people of Florida. That these boys
may become future citizens there can
be no denial and it's the duty of the
state to give them every opportunity
whereby they can make true citizens.
It's still the opinion of your old
friend that this problem can be solved
and / believe that from what / have
seen in the past and with the aid of
the present board, and / want to say
that so far they have given me their
earnest support in everything / have
asked for, we are going to be able to
place this institution on a suitable
basis.
/ am much pleased TO state that
since my arrival here / have seen a
very material change in the uplift OF
the morale of the boys. They are get
ting a better outlook on life. They
seem to be happier and the majority
of them are looking for the time to
come when they can leave here and
enter life. looking on it from differ
ent standpoint.
am getting very well organized
and everything is running much more
smoothly than when the present sup
erintendent came up the place. It's
not going to be far distant date
when it is the desire of the present
superintendent to put these boys upon
the honor system. So far as / have
seen it is glorious work and am
in love with it; only hope that have
strength and character to carry out
my desires. / have come to love these
boys in so close a time as my own
and while they are little disobedient
u times, they are the same as any