Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1919-11-01
Democrats Explode Howell Story of Cloth and Coal Sold
to the Houses of Reform at Greendale

one a job.
(Signed)
CLARENCE WESTERFIELD.
Subscribed and sworn to by Clar-
ence Westerfield this 23rd day of
October, 1919.
JAMES WEIR, Co. Court Clerk.
BY w. e. NEWSON. D. c.
Howell's letter of resignation fol-
lows:
His Excellency. Governor A. o.
Stanley, and the Board of Control.
Gentlemen: About the 18th of
December, 1918, tentatively offered
lmy resignation to the chairman of
Iyour board to become effective in
the early spring. did this re-
luctantly as I am now doing. but
feeling that / have through earnest
efforts, diligent thought and hard
work placed the Kentucky Houses
of Reform on the very highest plane
of perfection that is possible under
present circumstances. l hereby
offer my resignation as superinten-
dent of this institution to become
defective April 1, 1919.
| In rendering my resignation I
assume it privilege that is due me
to render an accounting of some of
the many things that have been &C
compished during my administra-
ton. AS you well remember 1 came
here under all sorts of unjust and
Iunfavorable criticism from the press
of the state. 1t was charged that
III was an ex-saloonkeeper, gambler
and that l had been indicted for
Operating a gambling room. Fifteen
Years ago / owned an interest in
lsaloon in greensboro. Daviess Coun-
lty, for a period of eight months, and
lit was during that time that grand
Jury upon misinformatiOn indicted
Ime along with forty odd others. Ben
ID. Ringo, now a member of the
State Tax Commission was the COM
monwealth's Attorney for the
districts composed of Daviess, Nc
Lean and Ohio Counties, and an
/. absolute stranger to me. He investi-
gated the indictment and advised the
court that a mistake had been made,
the result of which was that the in
dictment was filed away. Upon this
information certain newspapers
published perverted articles for the
purpose of discrediting the Governor
for appointing me. and because of
those articles it has been very diff
cult for me to eradicate prejudices,
but as far as l know every person
who has visited the institution in
spirit of sincerely, with an honest
desire to know something of this
management and possibly lend
helping hand in this noble work,
has invariably praised my efforts.
My first and greatest task has
been to obtain the cooperation OF
the employees, in diverting the minds
of these incorrigible boys and in
Ispire them with hope and determine
ton to do right. My success in the
reformation of these boys and girls
has been highly satisfactory to me.
and the best evidence / can produce
that l have accomplished something
along this line is stacks of letters
commencing me for the many things
that helped them to determine to do
the right
Second in Importance was to OPP
crate the institution with as little
cost to the taxpayers as possible,
consistent with good business judg-
lment, conserving in needed improve
Iments as we'll as repairs. Right
here | wish to enumerate some OF
1.-The Improvements that have been
made under my administration with
tout cost except for material: Stock
barn, 50x40 feet. built on solid
concrete foundation; cost $1,O4O.
BY contracting it would have cost
exceeding $4,000. Concrete tunnel.
l31O feet long, connecting power
house with main tunnel, cost $1,000.
If it could have been contracted at
the time 1t was built it would have
cost four or five times as much.
About one-half of a mile of concrete
walks, concrete steps in front of
Hospital concrete porch and steps in
front of chapel without cost except
for cement and sand. Engine room
remodeled, converted into credit
able looking place, steel ceiling,
painted, wired complete for about
ISSOO when the best bid could get
from a contractor for the carpenters
work alone was $3.50.
Cottage ID division room was an
old dark, dirty, dingy-looking base
ment; with expenditure OF about
$500 for material, it is one of the
brightest and most cheerful looking
divisions at the institution. Besides
the above there are many other i'm
provements that have been made
with the same per cent. of saving.
Every building at the institution has
been painted inside and out, except
| the old mule barn. Plastering and
plumbing have been kept in repair.
The power plant due to my recon-
mendation has been equipped with
third unit There is due to arrive
here now another pumping unit.
which when installed will be ade-
ouate to the needs of this institu-
ton for twenty years to come. All
these improvements and many others
have been installed without the aid
of outside labor. / call your atten-
ton to this because my predecessors
did all such improvement as this by
contracting.
can not too forcibly impress
upon you the wide contrast both in
appearance and discipline of this
institution since August 1st, 1916,
| the date upon which I took charge
of this institution. AS / have said
before 1t is difficult to eradicate pre-
judices, but I have given my undi-
vided attention with all the energy
and untiring ambition that l pos
sessed to make you a credible ad-
ministration of the affairs of this
institution. 1 am at least gratified
| in the belief that for years to follow
there will be living monuments IN
the form of eliminates scattered
about over Kentucky that will be
grateful to me and this institution
for their substantial citizenship.
After being associated with YOU