The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-02-21
ASYLUM CONDITIONS
SLOW TO IMPROVE
Board of Directors Re-
sponsible for Much
of the Trouble
REPORT MADE
TO OFFICIALS

Matters at the Blackfoot asylum
have been going from bad to worse
lately, or else the disagreeable fea-
lures Of conduct Of the institution
have come to light in more pro-
nounced way recently.
One year ago this week we an
nounced that there was trouble at
the asylum due to mismanagement,
and we demanded the resignation of
the board of directors and a gen.
eral cleanup of the personnel Of the
employees that were guilty of rough
handling of patients. There was a
change of medical superintendent,
matrOn, supervisor and some en-
ployees, but the same directors held
their places. After exposing some of
the harsh methods of the institution
this paper challenged the governor
to ignore our advice at the peril of
having their guilt find them out.
We took the view that no permanent
good could be expected under the
management of men employed and
kept in position by guilty board
of directors. An occasional scandal
at the asylum marked the events of
the year, and the governor himself
dropped in at the grounds one day
and is said to have found employees
gambling on the lawn, nobody in
the office, the medical superintend-
ent gone to North Idaho, and condi-
tions bad about the place. But to
fire the management and directors
would be acknowledging what a Re-
publican editor had said was true.
He took the other horn of the
dilemma and by his action proved
what we had said about letting poll
tics run the place wrong.
The chairman of the board one
year ago sought to excuse an out
rage at the asylum by saying that 60
per cent of the patients were vic
tins Of certain disease that is not
pleasant to mention or think of. We
told the public that the boards own
report said there were only 8 per
cent. Since that time they printed
another report and it does not show
that there is any of that trouble
among the patients. Times seem to
change, even tho the same patients
remain.
We said last winter that patients
were treated harshly, but the board
denied that they were. Since that
time they have, not made acknow-
ledgment that they had learned
their mistake, which indicates that
they are dull students for 1t has
been proven to- the satisfaction Of
many others that they are treated
brutally. II the directors have
changed their minds about 1t they
have not done this office the honor
to make acknowledgment that we
we're right last winter.
Some matters are pending in the
courts just now and we shall not dis
cuss them. Suffice It to say that
this Office knows there is abuse and
mismanagement.
When DR.. Jackson came last March
to accept the position Of medical
superintendent, we sized him up and
stated thru the paper that he was q
QA0noaAS 6OAAsA1sAAs UNS ASSAAAo AZ
executive ability. A great many
people agree with US now. and give
reasons for thinking so.
At this time we recommend the
removal of the board of directors
consisting Of s. L. Reece of Poca-
tello, l.. e. Dillingham; Of Mackay
and Mr.. Thatcher Of Rexburg.
We recommend that there be ap-
pointed in their stead one farmer
and stockman, who understands the
management of the farm and who
can direct the care and breeding of
the fiocks and herds so they will be
q source Of profit to the institution
rather than an expense bill; one man
who is merchant and qualified to
be the purchasing agent; one man
who is successful business man and
lawyer or we'll read in the law SO he
can be their legal adviser. These
men should represent two political
parties, three parties II third one
can be found without going into the
ranks Of the Bolsheviki, and care
should be taken to find men of high,
clean character.
We recommend that the medical
superintedent shall resign, and his
place be filed by a man who has
had experience in caring for the in
sane, and who will get the best class
of employees he can, preferably call
ing them from among the young men
and women of Idaho who will vol
unteer for service and take the
training for kindness and firmness
in dealing with the insane. The
rate Of pay should be raised 80 they
can make as much money as in other
vocations.
This office has forwarded the
above recommendation to the gov
ernor and the state affairs commit
tee, together with many facts about
the conditions at the institution, not
mentioned in this article. We have
expressed the hope that by following
our recommendations, they would be
able to lift the disgrace now rest
ing upon the state by reason Of the
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