The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-22
n is A sCORCHER.
of the Labor Bureau on the
Penitentiary.
CRITIClSES THE CHAPLAIN'S WORK.
says the inferior Omcers at the Pen
fteatiary are Buns Broken Down
Political EeeIers,v Etc.

Says the Inferior Officers at the Pen
itentiary Buns Broken Down
Political HeeIers,v Etc.
Word has reached Topeka from Leav-
enworth to the effect that Warden Dick
Chase of the state penitentiary and his
associate officers, are on the war path and
Chief Clerk Walter J. Holcomb Of the
state labor bureau, is their intended
victim.
The trouble is that the report Of the
labor bureau on Contract Convict Labor
and Prison Reform, which was issued
about two weeks ago, contains many
statements which are anything but com
plimentary to the penitentiary officials.
This report was prepared by Chief
! Clerk HOlcOmb of the Labor Bureau
who WAS one time officer IN the
penitentiary and has been highly com
PIimented by prison officials Of other
states.
The part of the report which is espe-
cialIy distasteful to Warden chase and
his associates is found on pages 80 and
80 Of the report That on page 50 reads:
"W hen not at work, the convict is
locked in his AXIS cell. except at meal
time. when the whole body Of prisoners
is marched to the dining hall. and on
sunday, when At chapel service, usually
a long, tiresome disquisitiOn. void Of
meaning, principle. Christianity or com
mon sense, in addition to listening to
which, as an instance Of record. the con
victs are asked TO tribute of their 3
cents a day earnings 10 the support of an
organist, which should be the duty of
state 10 furnish
Chaplain Briggs especially objected to
this part Of the report, out ali the officers
ia tue institution are mad because Of
the report on page 3d. which reads.
1--WE pause 10 inquire: What manner Of
men are these aut0crats whom the state
mas intrusted with the absolute power
over the minds, bodies and souls of the
unfortunate convictsF The answer Is
discouraging. The superior officers.
warden, directors, etc. are generally bust
ness men or politicians, Of no particular
culture, not distinguished for any
great abilities, totally ignorant of
everything pertaining to the manage
ment Of prison, with just
enough Of conservatism not 10 change
any existing rules and regulations, and
enough of vanity 70 wish to leave some
additions to the code as monument Of
their own wise administr alton. The con
sequence IS that rule is never abrOgat-
ed. the same rules which some poor old
warden, in the first flush and pride of
feeling at finding himself in the position
Of an absolute monarch, taxed his inge-
nuity to frame, are still in force: every
succeeding administration has added
something from its own wisdom until,
like the chancery laws OF England, the
code has become 50 complicated that
only expert, whether convict or OH =
Ger. can hope to become familiar
with it,
AS to the inferior officers, truth com
pels US to say that for the most part,
that they are sorry lot, broken down
political heelers, ward buns, old relics
Of former political splendor. Young fell
lows with no higher am bition than 10 be
called tough with a few exceptions
uneducated, some scarcely able to read
and write; pulled up with pride, what
ever of good may be in their composition
is soon eliminated by the system, and all
clothed with little brief authority,
n the unrestrained exercise Of which
they become absolutely tyrannous"
The report has been highly spoken Of
among outside people interested in
prison reform, but when one hundred
copies were sent to Warden Chase at
Lansing for distribution, = row WAS
raised.
The warden and his deputy after hav-
ing read the report and its reflection on
them and their institution, gathered up
all the copies sent them and burned
them
They then sent word to the labor com
missioner that they wanted him 70 de-
stroy and suppress the entire report, as
L reflects on the administration aud il
would never do to ist IL get out
A few days after the reports had been
-eceived At the penitentiary, Mr. Hol-
comb, the man who prepared the dis
.asteful publication. visited Lansing and
Warden Chase and several other officers
Of the institution made threats OF viO-
Ience against him.
Holcomb was badly frightened and
took the first train for Topeka
Yesterday Chaplain Briggs wrote a
letter to Holcomb in which he demanded
that the report be suppressed
It is however too late 10 do any sup
pressing if the Labor Commissioner and