The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-26
WOMEN UP IN ARMS.
The District Visitors on Walter N.
Russ Track.
THEY MAKE BLACK CHARGES

Against His Conduct Of the AssocIa-
ted Charities-some OF the Charges
Not Suitable 10 Print.
The meeting of the lady visitors of the
Associated Charities at the residence of
Mrs. Van Cleve, president of the Social
Purity league, this afternoon was called
for the express purpose of investigating
serious charges made by applicants for
charity against Secretary Walter N. Russ.
All the lady district visitors that were
notified in time and that could we'll be
there are there, and the order of the
afternoon is full and free discussion of
the methods it is alleged Mr.. Russ uses
in the distribution of aid to the poor.
The charges came from many and
varied sources, and frst came to light
through the district visitors to whom
complaint was made.
Simplifed, the charges are as follows:
That Mr.. Russ is guilty of negligence
In his business; that he is gruff and ILL
natured to the lady visitors; that he does
not use the goods and clothing in his
charge in the manner intended, but to
further his own designs and desires; that
he has used indecent and insulting Ian
guage to applicants for aid, and one
which will be investigated. The gen.
eral charge is made that he has misused
his office and is not fit or respectable
person to be entrusted with it.
These are the charges that the ladies
are investigating this afternoon. and be-
lieve they can prove, against Secretary
Russ of the association for the relief of
the respectable poor.
Mr. Russ became secretary of the As
ISOLATED Charities through the instru-
mentality, largely it is understood, of
President B. l. Smith of the Charities
and of Edward Wilder, who has been
prominent in the work.
He was formerly manager of the
WATTS home and publisher of q paper
called the Wait.
In his present position he gets $40
month and handles a considerable
amount of money at times.
When Mr.. Russ came to Topeka it was
| understood that he was a much martyred
man. He had served a term in the Iowa
penitentiary for murder though he main
tains his innocence, and his statement
has been generally accepted He was
bending over the murdered man, he ex-
planned once in his paper, when
he was discovered. The real murderers
had run and he was arrested-iust like
it happens in melodrama- The circum-
stantial evidence was such that he was
convicted. The term was not long one
and he afterwards lectured on prison
life and prison reform. He is now a
member of the Christian church of which
Mr.. Smith is pastor.
The present charges became news
paper property yesterday, though they
have been working up to the pitch for
weeks.
At least six or eight coIored women
were expected and had promised to ap-
pear at the meeting this afternoon and
tell their story of abuse and insult, and
some of them have said they would make
affidavit to it if necessary.
One of them was asked about it today
She is a mulatto woman of intelligent
address and honest looking. She lives
on Monroe street
"Did Mr. Russ ever insult you?" was
asked her.
"Yes, SIR" she said.
EtDid he ever use indecent or vulgar
language to your"
81 should certainly call it that 1t wa.
1 language no gentleman should use to 6
woman, white or black"
Several of the district visitors were
seen.
Said one of them: alt is one of thu
most disgraceful things ever heard O
and have been hearing of it for som,
time. Complaints have come to me no
only from other visitors but from the ap
plicants who have had the actual expert
ence l could not bring myself to tel
you some of the language the womer
say Mr.. Russ has used to them The,
are truthful women, too, and l am no
the only one that believes them. They
would certainly have no object in telling
and sticking to the story if there was n
truth in it"
Another woman said: 81 have know
Mr.. Russ for a long time, and hav
known mighty little good of him. neve
wanted him to be the secretary and tn
other women knew it. He was neve
the right kind of a man when he ha
J the management of the Waits home"
, Said another visitor, II find the feelin
against Mr.. Russ is quite thoroughly ez
tended throughout the list of visitors.
, have heard of lots of cases in which b
has insulted women who had applied I
! him for aid. l know of instances i
which he has told some women he ha
nothing for them and in ten minute
given to others, colored ones, the sam
articles. 1 myself have been refused
when l knew the back room had lots c
the clothing wanted in it. 1t is
shame and an outrage, and we are goin
to investigate tt"
The women will discuss the matte
thoroughly. If they can prove nothin,
Mr.. Russ is indicated
Kitchens know the joy of economy, b.