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THE TRUTH ABOUT TE INSTITUTIONS WdENEEN STATES FACtS The Light of Truth Shed on Maliciousness representatic n--Invevtigating Committee Has Shown itself Prejudiced- - - "Evidence' * Given Before Body Revealed at Its Right Worth---Newspaper Reporters in Search of "Sensation." It:: s,? -£+ • !* ' * Springfield, 111., Mar. 3.--Aroused 'by the unreliable and unsubstantiated kt- tacks upon the state institutions that have appeared in the metropolitan newspapers as the result of the legis­ lative investigation now in progress. Gov. Deneen has prepared a reply. It is as follows: Because of the methods of inquiry adopted by the committee which is conducting the investigation of the state Institutions, I wis led some time ago to publish a statement in which an attempt was made to correct the false impressions sought to be created aa to state institution conduct. I now take occasion again to call public attention to this matter be­ cause the investigating committee has resolved itself into a peripatetic com­ mission, wandering about from insti­ tution to institution, to pick up vag­ rant stories and rumors, without com pleting its investigation of any one institution. In this way, any state­ ment, no matter how false, is given currency and an air of credibility be­ cause no opportunity is afforded to contradict it. Conducts One-Sided Hearings. This committee was selected to ac­ quire and furnish to the general as­ sembly information upon the condi­ tion of the state institutions. Its work, therefore, should be essentially judi­ cial. In the conduct of its inquiries, however, the committee has seen fit to abandon every rule and precedent which the courts, high or low, in all Anglo-Saxon countries have found to be necessary to the ascertainment of truth. It has denied the right of cross-examination and thus has given to the witnesses called full license to tell any story, no matter how base­ less, because they are aware that they are not to be subjected to cross-ex­ amination. This is the more astonish­ ing in view of the fact that some of the members of the investigating com niittee are lawyers and familiar with the decent requirements of such a pro­ ceeding as this. The investigations of the committee have led so uniformly to the publication of false and exag­ gerated statements that it is sugges­ tive of a uniform endeavor to secure such statements for publication pur­ poses with a view to the defamation, rather than the investigation, of our state institutions. It is perfectly manifest that the committee is seeking, not for persons most competent to tell it of the condi­ tions of the institutions, but for any­ body who is willing to tell it anything defamatory concerning them-. Dis­ gruntled ex-trustees, discharged em­ ployes, jail-birds from Jacksonville-- not one of these was found too much As to the prices paid by the insti­ tution for feeble minded children at Lincoln, a similar comparison shows a like result. The charge that it has been paying exorbitant prices is false. These are the facts: The institution at Lincoln for the year ending October 31, 1908, is paying $1.66 for mine run coal., The Odd Pel- lows' Orphans' home at Lincoln pays $1.25 per ton at the shaft tot mine run coal. (Note: Mine run coal is sold at the shaft in Lincoln to local con­ sumers at $1.75 per ton in carload lots; $2.00 per ton retail.) The Odd Fellows' home hauls its own coal from the mine, but the price for hauling is 50 cents per ton. The price paid, there­ fore, by the Odd Fellows' Orphans' home for coal delivered, as is the coal for the institution for the feeble mind­ ed, woulff be $1.75, or nine cents over the price paid by the institution. Large business concerns at Lincoln pay the following prices: Lincoln Sand & Gravel Co., lamp $1.83 Lincoln city schools, lump 2.50 Lincoln city hall and library, lump.. 2.50 Cork Faced Collar factory, lump 2.50 Lincoln Casket factory, screening's.... 1.40 Lincoln Street Car Co., screenings L35 Let on Competitive Bid. As at Jacksonville, the coal con­ tracts for the institution for feeble minded children at Lincoln are let on competitive bids. The following fig­ ures show these bids for the year end­ ing October 31, 1908, for mine run coal, delivered at the institution: The Latham Coa! Co., per ton., .... 1.66 The Lincoln Coal Co., per ton 1.68 The Citizens' Coal Mining Co., per ton 1.70 Martin Howe Coal Co., per ton 1.79 The contract was awarded to the Latham Coal company. It will be noted that no outside firm was able to compare with the Lincoln firm in bids for coal contracts at Lin­ coln, the reason being that freight rates and switching charges are pro­ hibitive of outside competition. For, illustration, purchasers of coal shipped from the Springfield mines to Lincoln via the C. & A. railroad are obliged to pay 60 cents per ton freight and ten cents per ton switching charges; coal shipped over the Illinois Central rail­ road 44 cents per ton, without switch­ ing charges. The manifest purpose of the publi­ cation of these false stories concern­ ing the letting of coal contracts has been to support the charge that such contracts were being awarded to fa- vored politicians. The facts already S£t forth sufflcisutly dvisonstrtits this charge is false. The same charges made regarding other state institutions £re equally false and will be as completely refuted when the institutions in question are reached, if the same methods of in- an enemy of our public institutions or j vestigation are pursued. The contracts I-% • II'- * ws ' i liK-:'*- ?' of the truth to make a "good" witness for the purposes of the investigating ; committee. The correction of defects in the administration of our state in- , stitutions, whatever they may be, will not be aided in the slightest degree by r. the retailing of false stories of cruelty • or misconduct, or of the false coal figures furnished to the committee and by the committee to the press-- figures so obviously false and intended to mislead that no committee, even though governed by political consid erations, could give them to the pub lie without a consciousness of self- stultification. • f, Defames the Institutions. a 'l jropose once more, therefore, to ex&mine some of the "evidences" of cruelty and other misconduct which the committee haB elicited and has permitted to be published broadcast. In doing this, I shall again substan­ tiate the statement that the commit­ tee is engaged in the work of defam­ ing, not investigating, the state in­ stitutions. In the course of the investigation of the Illinois Central Hospital for the Insane at Jacksonville, the charge has been made that that institution ,haa been paying exorbitant prices for coal A brief analysis of the price paid by the Jacksonville asylum will further 4how the falsity of the charge that it is paying exorbitant prices. Price for coal delivered, $1.32; charge for hauling from cars at Jacksonville to purchaser, 25 cents per ton, leaving $1.07 as price delivered on cars at Jacksonville; freight charges from Springfield, where the coal Is mined, 64 oentg per ton, leaving the price for coal at the mine 53 cents per ton. The purchases of coal by the Illinois Central hospital at Jacksonville are made on competitive bids. The fol­ lowing extract from the minutes of the meeting of the board of trustees, held July 23, 1907, gives the coal bids for the year ending July, 1908: m I.: & i,.- ?••• Jacksonville Coal Co. J. W. York 137% Geo. Rogerson, 1* 1.33% , U. J. Hale 2.40 Harrigan Bros 1^44 Jam. Mitchell L50 Chicago W. & V. Coal Co.. 1.71% _ (Washed) Boyal Colliery, \ 1.62 Mine Run. >1.69 1.75V4 1.76 1.79 1.73% 1.80 1.79 down upon the Jacksonville Institu­ tions and proceeded to gather such Valuable information as is always to be found afloat among the scandal' mongers of the town and discharged eirployes of the institutions. The stories thus bacured were then given out, to be magnified and misrepresent­ ed by the reporters and' published as trustworthy evidence of the condition of our stats institutions. It is is this way that baseless stories condemning this letter the card of a concern In which I am greatly interested person ally, and am desirous and anxious to sell your institution anything anl everything that they use in the build> ing material line, providing, of course, that we can meet all competitors, as to quality, pri&s and service, which 1 know we can do. You no doubt have a list of supply houses to whom you send proposals, or from whom you ask for bids, when­ ever you are in the market for mate-the food supplied to the inmates have ( gained currency before any jumt« rials. Won't you kindly place our could be made of its quality. name on the same? ..... Seeks Material Contract#. ! If y°u remember, I was one of In the meantime also, other really I tho sub-committee of the committee valuable sources of information as to { 011 appropriations last year, who vis- what is furnished to and consumed by Ited your institution in company with the state institutions--the bills of, our personal good-natured friend, goods .purchased from the business C. J. Lihdly, and Mr. McMakin. I I enjoyed the visit very much, houses of the highest reputation in the state and the books of the institutions themselves--are ignored. These bills and books afford valuable evidence of the quality, quantity and price of food and was pleased to follow all of your recommendations; I only regret that I cannot assist in making another ap­ propriation at this adjourned session, supplies furnished. This natural and > and am also very sorry that we cannot The contract was awarded to the Jacksonville Coal company. The Power Steel Railway and Gas company of Jacksonville pays for screenings $1.34 per ton; Capps Wool­ en Mills pays for screenings $1.25 per ton, on board cars at Jacksonville; the Woman's college at Jacksonville payB for mine run coal $1.69; the city of Jacksonville pays for pea coal $1.49; the Illinois Central Hospital for the Insane pay? for screenings $1.32 per ton. delivered in the coal house of the Institution. The fact is, therefore, that the Jack­ sonville institution 1b paying less for Its coal than any one of the large pri­ vate concerns named and less than the price paid by the city of Jacksonville * ^ •* ^'1 f '/ •-iifesiini have been let in each instance to the lowest and best bidder. Hill Would Save Million. The method adopted by the commit­ tee in the investigation of the coal contracts of the state institutions, fur­ nishes an accurate estimate of the value of any conclusion they may • reach upon the subject of economy in the administration of state institu­ tions. In this connection, however, at­ tention may : further be drawn to a statementeattributed to the chairman of the investigating committee, Mr. John W. Hill. In the Chicago Tribune of a recent date, Mr. Hill is represent­ ed as stating that the enormous sum of $1,000,000 per year could be saved to the state in the purchasing of sup­ plies for the charitable institutions if. present wasteful methods were aban­ doned and a better system inaugu­ rated. The publication of this state­ ment has furnished to hostile newspa­ pers an opportunity to claim that the million dollars wasted was in fact di­ verted into the pockets of favored poli­ ticians. The following figures show the absurdity of the statement; The total ordinary expenses of the 17 charitable institutions of Illinois for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1907, were $2,383,755. Of this amount $901,- 912 was expended for salaries and wages; $51,453 for building repairs, etc.; $12,036 for expenses of trustees, officials, etc.; and $95,019 for articles manufactured by the state peniten- taries and reformatory, which, under the law, must be purchased by the state institutions from these sources through the board of prison industries Meal for Postage Stamp. The deductions of these amounts leaves the total amount of supplies an­ nually purchasable upon the market at $1,333,334. Deducting $1,000,000, Mr; Hill's "saving," from this amount leaves $333,334 for the purchase of supplies upon the market for the 17 state institutions. These institutions have a population of 13,474 inmates and 2,168 employes, a total population of 15,642. Mr. Hill's improved pur­ chasing system would therefor^ place the cost of supplying the^inmates and employes of our state institutions with food, fuel, light and water, laundry ex­ penses, paedical supplies and miscel­ laneous expenditures, at $21.31 per capita per year; $1.78 per month; 41 cents per week; six cents per day. If the total amount. *ere spent for food alone, therefore, the inmates and em­ ployes of dur state institutions would be furnished meals costing two cents each, or the price of a postage stamp. Consider also the "detective work" done by that contingent of the com­ mittee to which has,been assigned the duty of Investigating the price and quality of the food supplies of the state institutions. After announcing in the public prints their intention to take the institutions by surprise, these gentlemen accompanied (as a stroke of secrecy) by a flying squadron of five reporters connected with various Chicago daily newspapers, swooped sensible course of inquiry would have shown that the food supply, like the coal supply, is purchased at the mar­ ket price. But instead of this, a meth­ od is chosen which is at once a re­ flection upon the charitable institu­ tions and upon the reputable whole­ sale houses of the state. The fitness of this branch of the in­ vestigating committee for the work as­ signed it may be further determined by the public from a perusal of the fol­ lowing letters written by Mr. Mc­ Laughlin, a member of the general assembly and one of the two mem­ bers of this subcommittee, and by the firm of which he is a member. They are self-explantory. Forty-Fifth General Assembly, State I "dishes, of Illinois, House of Representa-' tives. John J. McLaughlin, Nine­ teenth District, 1551 W. Monroe St., Chicago. Chicago, Jan. 17, 1908. have another visit with you, but I am going to ask you to kindly remember me to one of your guests, the unfor­ tunate Fainting Bertha, Give her my regards. Come to think of it, I will probably pay you a visit soon. At least, from the reports in the public press, I suppose I will have to come over there, as I have been appointed a member of the committee that is now investigating the Feeble-Minded Home at Lincoln. ~ I I am leaving to-day for Springfield, but you can address me at my Chi­ cago office. Hoping you will bear my company in mind and give us a chance to get some of the business, I am, with best Yours very truly, JOHN J. M'LAUGHLIN. Writes Numerous Letters. Mr. McLaughlin, on the stationery of the general assembly, his name ap­ pearing thereon, also sent letters so­ liciting business from the state archi-Dr. Hardt, Lincoln, 111.--Dear Doc- * M * „ , , .,. ,, tor: I am taking the liberty of inclos- te* *e '°,low institutions; Soldiers Widows' home, Wilming-ing you card of a concern of which I am personally interested. We are de- sirious and anxious to furnish your institution with anything and every­ thing that they are in need of in the building material line. Of course, we expect to do this on lines of competi­ tion, meeting any and all competitors as fo quality, prices and service. Won't you kindly let the name of our company be placed on the list Of buyers to whom you mail proposals for estimates? Also, would lfke to have you say a word to your purchas­ ing agent in behalf of our concern. I probably will meet you at the in­ stitution this week, as I have been ap­ pointed on the committee that is in­ vestigating the institution. Hoping to meet you personally and that you will not forget this company when you are in the market to pur­ chase materials, I am, Yours truly, (Signed) JOHN J. M'LAUGHLIN. End. (Business card of the Mc­ Laughlin Building Material company.) Benny Mitchell Wants Order. Other letters which I shall quote written by the McLaughlin Building Material company are as follows: McLaughlin Building Material Co., 201 Roanoke Building, 145 LaSalle St. Telephone, Central 3000. Chicago, Feb. 13, 1908. Hon. E. J. Murphy, Joliet, 111.--Dear Warden: Can you not arrange to give us one order for 5,000 fire brick, XX, at $32 per ton and two ton fire clay No. 1, Ohio, at five dollars per ton? I would appreciate this order. You use about that many, and they are al­ ways handy. Would be pleased if you could favor us with same. Yours very truly, M. MITCHELL, McLaughlin Building Material Co., 201 Roanoke Building, 145 LaSalle St. Telephone, Central 3000. Chicago, Feb. 19, 1908. Hon. E. J. Murphy, Joliet, 111.--Dear Warden: Both Mr. McLaughlin and myself wrote you several letters in reference to fire brick. We tried yerv hard to get you to give us a chance to furnish same. We are reliably in­ formed that to-day one car of fire brick arrived at the penitentiary for use in repair of boilers over the Chi. R. I. & P. R. R. Mr. McLaughlin and myself were sadly disappointed when we got this information, because we were watch­ ing this and desired to get the busi­ ness. The fire brick was sold by the Chicago Retort and Fire Brick com­ pany. We are very sorry you did not let us have this business, because as to prices, quality and service we are ready to meet all competitors. We al­ ways try to favor our friends, all things being equal, and we think in this instance, you should have favored us. We are surprised to think you would let us be passed up. Thanking you just the same, I am, Yours very truly, BENJ. M. MITCHELL. Warden Murphy Replies. To this letter Warden Murphy re­ plied as follows; Feb. 20, 1908. Mr. Benjamin M. Mitchell, Care Mc­ Laughlin Building Company, 146 LaSalle Street, Chicago. Dear Sir: I am in receipt of yours of the 19th instant, in which you state you are much surprised upon learning from a reliable source that we had purchased one car of fire brick, after having assured you that we were not in need of fire brick but a few days ago having on hand all the brick we could use for at least six months. In reply I would say that you are very much mistaken when you claim that we purchased a carload of brick recently. I have an Impression that the car­ load of brick you mentioned as having been received here was sent to the IIH nois Steel company of this city. If you will take the trouble to look the matter up, you will, I am sure, find this to be the facts in the case. Yours respectfully, (Signed) E. J. MURPHY. Warden. Regards to Faint ing Bertha. Still another letter, written by Mr. McLaughlin to Superintendent Zeller of the Bartonvllle institution is as fol­ lows: Forty-Fifth General Assembly, State • of Illinois, House of Representa­ tives., John J. McLaughlin, Nine­ teenth District, 1551 W. Monroe 8t., Chicago. Chicago, Jan. 27, 1908. Dr. Qeorge A. Zeller, Bartonvllle, III ton, February 11, 1908. Illinois Northern Hospital for the In­ sane, February 11, 1908. Industrial Home for the Blind, Febru­ ary 11, 1908. Soldiers' Orphans' home, February 11, 1908. Illinois School for the Blind, Febru­ ary 18, 1908. Illinois Western Hospital for the In­ sane, February 18, 1908,. St. Charles School for Boys, Febru­ ary 19, 1908. The state architect, February 3, 1908, Governor Quotes Law. There is, of course, no absolute standard of business ethics and Mr. McLaughlin may deem this method of going after state contracts with a big stick as quite within the lines of legit­ imate business enterprise. How the law of the state regards the matter, may be seen from the following cita­ tions from the constitution and stat­ utes of Illinois: (Constitution of 1870, Section 15, Ar­ ticle IV.): t "No person elected to the general as­ sembly shall receive any civil ap­ pointment within this state from the governor, the governor and senate, or from the general assembly, during the term for which he shaii be elected; and all such appointments and votes given for any such members shall be void; nor shall any member of the general assembly be interested, either directly or indirectly, in any contract with the state, or any county thereof, authorized by any law passed during the term for which he shall have been elected, or within one year after the expiration thereof." (Chapter 127, Revised Statutes, Sec­ tion 8): "No contract shall be let to any per­ son holding any state office in this state, or a seat in the general assem­ bly, or to any person employed in either of the executive offices of the state, or to the wife of a state officer, member of the general assembly, or employe as aforesaid, nor shall any state officer, member of the general assembly, or wife or employe as afore­ said, become, directly or indirectly, in­ terested in such contract, under pen­ alty of forfeiting such contract at the option of the commissioners, and of a fine not exceeding $1,000." (Chapter 38, Revised Statutes, Sec­ tion 273): Section 1. "Whoever attempts to commit any offense prohibited by law and does any act toward it but fails, or is intercepted or prevented in its execution, when no express provision is made by law for the punishment of such attempt, shall be punished, when the offense thus attempted is a felony, by imprisonment in the peni­ tentiary not less than one year, nor more than five years; In all other cases by fine not exceeding $3,000 or by confinement in the county jail not exceeding six months." Reporter Becomes "Harpy." It is scarcely to be wondered at that newspaper reporters, naturally prone to sensation, when accompanying this committee, have been encouraged to outdo themselves. All that was nec­ essary was that they should take their tone from the committee in charge of the "investigation." That they have done this is apparent from an inci­ dent which occurred during the visit of the committee to the Central Hos­ pital for the Insane at Jacksonville. On this occasion one of the reporters registered at the Dunlap hotel as "Harpy No. 1." Webster has defined a harpy as "a fabulous winged monster, ravenous and filthy, having the face of a woman and the body of a vulture, with long claws and a face pale with hunger." "t'he articles furnished to the news papers by the reporters affirm the accuracy of this description. This reporter knowing th6 work in which he was engaged undoubtedly caught a glimpse of his own resemblance to this fabulous creature, with its instincts and habits, for it must be agreed upon all sides that the stories furnished to the newspapers by "Harpy No. 1" and his associates could not have been col­ lected save by No. 1 harpies. The fol­ lowing are a few sample stories from their collection: "Water Boiled at Blind." On February 7, a story was pub* llshed of alleged frightful conditions at the Illinois School for the Blind at Jacksonville. It was stated that "the investigators discovered that state wards were given water poisoned by sewage" and that an epidemic of diph- --Dear Doctofc: I am Inclosing you in therfa had been caused by these oon dltlons. These conditions were stated to have resulted from the use of the water of "a well dug midway between a small creek used as a sewer, a grave­ yard and a slaughter house." It WSB further stated that "the water of the well has been analyzed and been de­ clared poisonous." The story is published in this Ghi- cago Inter Ocean and, of course, is faise. The facts are these: The water supply of the Illinois School for the Blind is procured from wells on the school ground, the city waterworks and a well In a pasture belonging to the school, but located half a mile from the buildings. The water from the wells on the school grounds is used for drinking and cul­ inary purposes. That from the well in the pasture is used for flushing tolletb, bathing and fire protection only. This well is located 300 yards from a ceme­ tery and about 400 yards from a boef packing establishment, but across a deep ravine from each. In the bed of the ravine is a creek, into which sewage is turned. This in the well referred to in the veracious article and is not used for drinking Or cooking purposes. Out of abundance of caution the water even from the wells on the school grounds is boiled before using, and this notwithstanding nine-tenths of the people of Jackson­ ville drink freely from the wells less protected from contamination. Better Than City Supply. Passavant hospital, a block distant from the school grounds, uses well water for drinking and kitchen pur­ poses. The same is true of the Illi­ nois Woman's college, a boarding school three blocks from the state in­ stitution, having an attendance of 150 students. St. Rose's convent, where 50 persons reside, uses water from a well for drinking and the city supply for bathing and other purposes. Fur­ thermore, the fact that in nine years' only two cases of typhoid fever have developed in the institution is a suffi­ cient proof that the water has not been "poisonous" during that time. It is not pretended that a better sup­ ply of water is not desirable, but it has been impossible to secure this in the past, and is at present, unless spring water were purchased from the Gravel Springs company, which, on account of the expense involved is out of the question, as was recently dem­ onstrated. A year and a half ago a water famine was threatened and the institution for the blind was obliged to pay $200 per day for the necessary amount of water to meet its needs, not­ withstanding the institution was fur­ nished water at half the price which regular customers are paying at pres­ ent. The cost of a water supply from this source would be $60,000 per year, or nearly one-third more than the pres­ ent total ordinary expenses of the in­ stitution. The state eould not bear such an ex­ pense permanently and could better afford to move the institution to a place where a good water supply could be obtained than to continue the policy of purchasing spring water in its present location. Shows Up Menezes Case. The charges already dealt with are such as have been leveled against the general administration of the state in­ stitutions. Those which follow relate to special instances of alleged miscon­ duct and can be more briefly dealt with. These, it will be found, are either wholly false or so grossly exag­ gerated as utterly to misrepresent the facts; The most serious of these charges relates to the treatment of William Menezes, a patient at the Illinois Cen­ tral Hospital for the Insane at Jack­ sonville. In brief, the charges in this case are that Mr. Menezes was not in fact insane; second, that he was as­ saulted and beaten three times, picked up and pitched into the bath tub, ter­ ribly bruising and tearing strips of flesh from his back; that he was struck with the fists and that one of the attendants grabbed him by the head and so twisted his neck as to. leave his head hanging. All this is said to have happened within the 48 hours he spent in the hospital. It is stated further­ more that he was given but one meal, consisting of beans and water and that on his leaving the hospital one of the attendants brutally said in his pres­ ence: "You will die on the way home." This story is horrifying in every de­ tail. It Is also false in every particu­ lar; Facts Versus Fiction. As to the charge that Mr. Menezes was not insane; Mr. Menezes was de­ clared to be insane on February 12 at a sitting of the county court of Mor­ gan county upon the testimony of Dr. Edward Bowe, Dr. T. C. Hardesty and Dr. T. C. Pitner, the form of insanity being terminal dementia. The patient was further examined by Dr. Frank P. Norbury, a specialist on mental and nervous diseases of the highest repu­ tation and not in the employment of the state, who declared him to be suf­ fering from terminal dementia. The court having found the patient insane, it became the duty of the Jacksonville Institution to receive him. He was ac­ cordingly received and Supervisor O. C. Bong, Night Watch C. A. Lambert, Head Attendant A. G. Hughes and Luther Moore, an insane patient in ward two, where Mr. Menezes was kept during his stay at the hospital, all testified that on account of his feeble condition he was handled with special gentleness. The reputation of all these attendants is excellent and their testimony is further corroborated by that of Dr. Norbury who, after the charges had been madev made a physi­ cal examination of Mr. Menezes which showed his back to be clean and with­ out bruises of any kind. The only mark found upon Mr. Menezes' back was the beginning of a bed sore and on each heel a similar bed sore caused by pressure. The pendent he^d and so-called twisted neck are present in all cases of multiple sclerosis, with which to Dr. Norbury's personal knowledge, Mr. Menezes had been af­ flicted for the past 12 years. Further­ more, Dr. Allen N. King, who was called by the fajnily to examine Mr. Menezes after be was taken home, stated that the only mark that he found on the patient's back was a dis­ coloration which was either a bed sore or caused by pressure from sitting too long in one posture. Mis to the charge that he was fur­ nished only one meal of beans and water; Attendant Jordan st*ted that at each mealtime he prepared a tray of food for Mr. Menezes, consisting of such articles as milk, tea, soup, bread and butter and oat meal; that he per­ sonally took this food to Mr. Menezes, who refused to eat anything but drank a little milk. \ It is also stated that Mr. Menezes told his wife the story of his cruel treatment at the hospital. According to the testimony of the attendants, the only word Mr. Menezes could utter so as to be understood was "water" and Judge Baldwin stated that at the hear­ ing Mr. Menezes was unable to speak. Add to this that the attendants present when Mr. Menezes was deliv­ ered into the custody of his sons deny that anyone said to him *'You will die on your way home," a statement so utterly improbable In itself, especially when the presence of the sons is taken into consideration, and all the charges in this case have been refuted seria* turn and another tale of hospital hor­ rors is left without a shred of truth to support it. Denounces Runaways' Story. The examination of another charge this time made against the Lincoln in­ stitution for feeble minded children shows a similar result. It has been published broadcast that nine girls of feeble mind escaped from the institu­ tion and were later found in houses of ill rep lite In the city of Chicago. The names of but two of these were given --Caroline Dahl and Catherine Belin- ski--and the slightest honest Investi­ gation of this statement would have disclosed its falsity. But that inves­ tigation was never made. The only actual incident to which reference can be had in this case is the following. Caroline Dahl, the only girl who es­ caped from the institution during Dr. Hardt's administration, was a bright young woman, 23 years of age, who was placed in the home for feeble­ minded children. She was there em­ ployed In the hospital and was on the payroll of the institution. She ran away on the night of August 18, 1907. Her mother was immediately notified by letter dated August 19, and a dili­ gent search was made to ascertain her whereabouts, without success. On the 21st of August a letter was re­ ceived from the mother stating that Caroline Dahl had been found in Chi­ cago. On August 25 Miss Dahl was re­ leased from the institution. Notwithstanding this terminated the legal supervision of the institution over Caroline Dahl, so solicitous was Superintendent Hardt for her future that a long series of communications passed between him, Miss Dahl, the relatives of Miss Dahl and Mr. John Belmont, county agent at Chicago, in an effort to maintain an actual moral supervision over her welfare. I have cited this case, which in every step of it redounds to the credit of the in­ stitution and its superintendent, but which has been made the basis of the charge that girls are escaping from the institution in large numbers, to be found later in the brothels of Chi­ cago. Declares Attacks Unwarranted. Through the prolongation of an In­ vestigation conducted along these lines, with its attendant publication of falsehoods, occasitn has been fur­ nished for as vicio is and unwarranted an attack upon the charitable institu­ tions of our state as was ever under­ taken by enemies if public decency. No friend of fair-dealing could or would object to a thorough and com­ prehensive investigation of the actual condition of our charitable institutions or to the widest publication of the truth regarding them. The administration has endeavored throughout its course to improve the conduct of the state institutions, and will welcome any suggestion, founded upon facts, which can be made for their betterment. But so long as these institutions are made the target for unmerited abuse, so long as the aspersions cast upon their manage­ ment are made up in equal parts of lies and exaggeration, I shall endea or, as occasion arises, to afford the public a means of judging fairly of t >!« merits of the institutions and of tbe investigation which is maligning them. CHARLES S. DENEEN. k TEMPERANCE WORKE -- -- -- Says Pc-ru-na is a Valuable Nerve Blood Remedy. FOUND IT HARD TO FORGIVE Widow's Grief on Discovery of Late Husband's Deception. still beautiful woman was sob­ bing bitterly. "Don't take it so hard," said her sympathetic friend. "I know it must be very hard to bear, but it is some­ thing that is bound to come to each and all of us soon or late. We must make up our minds to go on, however dark the world may seem. I, too, have lost a husband. I know what it is to be crushed as you are, dear. Try to be brave." "Ah, yes, I know you have lost a husband, but you never had to bear such a blow as has come to me." - "What do you mean? Do you think I didn't love my husband just as dear­ ly as--" "No, no, not that. You never had to find out that he had been leading a double life." "Oh! Land sakes! . I had no idea it was anything like that! I'm awfully sorry. ' You poor dear! And I always had such a high opinion of him, too! My goodness, is no man pure any more?" "He was pure enough, I think, but I have just found out that he saved up over $11,000 besides his life insurance. And he knew I wanted an automobile so much and better clothes than he ever allowed me to suppose I could af­ ford." The Woman Amanuensis. The male amanuensis has been hopelessly beaten in the race by the busy woman scholar. Her Industry is tireless and her knowledge absolutely thorough. Har winning qualification is patience--the dry details which slacken a man's attention are vigor­ ously grappled with in her case, so that the demand for her labor and knowledge is on the increase. ' In a few years, however, she tfill have wiped the male amanuensis out of existence. But it is characteristic of her that the British museum is the only great building in London in which one never sees a pretty costume--ex­ cept inside the cover xA fc hoot Woman's Life, • ; 4 ./ •' / V' X- • •• •• V ; : • ' MI83 &ES8IE FASRELL. lynss BESSIE FARE,ELL 1011 Third A^e., Brooklyn, N. Y., is Presi* dent of the Youny People's Christian Temperance Association. She writes! "Peruna is certainly a valuable nerve and blood remedy, calculated to bui]|| up the broken-down health of worn-oitt women. I have found by personal ejt* perience that it acts as a wonderful re­ storer of lost strength, assisting' tlie stomach to assimilate and digest the food, and building up worn-out tissues. In my work I have had occasion to recommend it freely, especially to women. "I know of nothing which is better to build upthe strength of a yOung mother, in fact, all the ailments peculiar 1so women, so I am pleased to give it mjr hearty endorsement." Dr. Hartman has prescribed Peruna for many thousand women, and he never fails to receive a multitude df letters like the above, thanking hiss for the wonderful benefits received. Man-a-lin the Ideal Laxative. Chimney Troubles --• Cured to Stay Cured Does the rain beat in your chimney, running down and discoloring ' the walls inside? Does your chimney fail to create a strong, regular draft at all times? Are you tired of the trouble and expense of replacing galvanized iron ex­ tensions o r galvanized iron revolving tops? Wouldn't you like to own aChimneyTopthat would mi m do away with all chimney Try This Top troubles, and that would 30 Days last as long as the chim­ ney stands? "The Best" T Chimney Top made entirely of Cast Iron, will permanently cure all chimney troubles, because it is abso­ lutely storm-proof, and creates a strong, steady draft to the chimney. It is adapted for use on chimneys that are lower than adjoining build­ ings or obstructions.' It is made so the outlets at the ends of the T can be turned to suit the condition under which it is to be used. It's simple, durable, easy to attach, and is held as firnily as the chimney itself. It is made to fit four different sice chimneys, as the legs havo a radial adjustment. Price. SJ5.00, freight prepaid anywhere. Postal us for ^fee booklet. Money back if not satisfac­ tory. Sold by all leading Hardware Dealers and Tinners. STERLING FOUNDRY CO. 11 Main Street STERLING, ILLS. To Beautiful Tint*. I pkg coveri 300 to 450 square ittt of Walt. Alabastine THE ONLY Sanitary Durable MiLmm It is marvellous what a beautiful color effect can be secured in a room when the wall is tinted with Alafcasiine. There is a richness as weii as a freshness and a dainti­ ness about it that no other material gives*" ALABASTINE CO. x GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. NEW YORK, CITY All 6cod 0«*l* ers Sell It Do Not late Any Substitute The White Washer! saves half the time and about all tha labor on wash day. It saves soap too and washes th# clothes snow white; and it does away with wet feet and scalded hands and colds and backaches. \#hy don't TOU try the White Way? We have a I ittUl booklet called Laundry Lessons w h i c h c o n t a i n s lots of helpful In­ formation about washinK and iron­ ing. We shall l>e glad to send you a copy FREE for the asking. WHITE LILY MFG. CO. 15(1 Keckincham RoeJ. DAVENP0IT. IOWA LIVE STOCK AND MISCELLANEOUS Electrotypes IN GREAT VARIETY FORo SALE oAT THE LOWEST PRICES BY AJI.IELLOCK3 NEWSFAHE1 QQkk* 73 W. Adam* St, Chicago OMMI Promote* HAIR BALSAM MM atwl btwutifla* th* „ -- - :Jiurisot growth. VaT«r *«u» ia Hectare Ormff Batr to ito Youthful Color. Can* mlp diuMJw * hair falltn> jgygyyy* • mme. ijV