The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-07-20


"The increasing tendency to introduce
politics into our institutions cannot be too
severely condemned, or too deeply de-
pIOred. and the interests of the insane
and of the state will suffer so long as the
bestowal of asylum positions is made
reward for party services"
Mr.. Wilson in his book questions the
sincerity of DR.. Wentworth, and gives
some examples to prove his insincerity.
He says:
"In one instance young man living
in the country, failing to give satisfac-
ton as attendant, put in his time, as
he said to the writer, to avoid being
fired A few months afterward, as a
reward for turning traitor, and giving
away the political secrets of an oppos-
ing party, he was brought to the
institution by a leading politician
of the county, aud after a conference
with the superintendent and steward,
who, by the way, was a member of the
state central cOmmittee in his party, he
was given a position as head attendant
After election, for falling to do his work
properly, and violation of the rules, he
was again 'let out
son another occasion, a young man
and a young lady were accused of un-
becoming conduct; for the first time to
our knowledge, the superintendent called
in a jury, consisting of two other physi-
clans, the lady supervisor and the writer;
after hearing the testimony and argu-
ment, the jury unanimously agreed (the
superintendent concurring therein) that
the services of both should be dispensed
with; the superintendent wrote out the
notices. and the lady supervisor and the
writer delivered them
The young man was indignant, and
said with an oath that "the superinten-
n
young man, knowing he had good poll
tical backing, called upon the doctor in
his private office; none but he and the
doctor and the holy angels that lowered
around that sacred meeting knew what
WAS said, but the result was that the
young man was fully restored.
"Do the people of the state know that
these institutions are made a stepping
stone for few favored young physicians
to acquire a little experience aud noto-
riety in their profession? What service
may you expect of an institution Oficered
/ by these influences and in this mannerw
In the early part of 1898 Mr.. Wilson
| was appointed supervisor under the
Populist administration and from that
time on he relates what took place in
| the Osawatomie asylum as eye wit
| ness. The perintendent, however, was
still q Republican who has Just been re-
A.
chairman of the Republican central COM
mittee of Lyon county. This too, like all
the rest is said 10 be the result of pO-
! litical deal.
The author details a story that N. c.
/ Smith, an old soldier, was sent TO the in
stitution as farmer and though he was
very competent officer he was discharged
and the superintendent appointed rs his
successor "a young man who on the
n h hrOr7
home from town by employees in a state
of beastIy intoxication aud lay all the
next day in the dormitory-sick."
SO much for the results of political
preferment. Then Mr.. Wilson describes
the more startling outrages in the treat
ment of patients.
He says: "The writer has more than
once gone to the sick-room of patient
and found him cold in death; when he
died no one knew, and yet the doctor
would telegraph to the friends the exact
hour and minute.
"After two years experience as over
seer of the wards with these attendants
and patients, 1 am compelled to say that
l consider the manner in which these
pataints are treated in these institutions
an outrage upon justice, criminal in the
extreme, and disgrace to our state and
boasted christian civilization"
T.,
Charles Kessler. who WAS placed in
charge of two attendants. One day he
found him bruised and almost disabled
and he secured the following story of his
treatment from discharged patient:
--"Now in regard to Mr.. kessler, he
came in one afternoon and was given a
place at the north table about the center
of the south side. h and l sat with our
backs cIose together as l was on the
north side of the south table and the next
morning when Kessler came to breakfast
he sat down at the east end of the north
table and some one, can't just remem-
Der who it was, but think it was thai
mute, motioned him to move but he did
not and Mr.. Ireland came and took hin
by the collar and jerked him off the
chair end showed him (Kess er) dow1
and stamped and pounded him with his
fist, and while they were in the racke
Mr.. Hall came to the scene and kicked
and stamped Kessler but in the mean
time Hall said to Ireland, Don't strike
} him in the face for it will show AnC
finally they let him up but he was badly
| bruised and could hardly get around fol
several days"
The same discharged patient tells the
following story of the treatment O
another insane patient by the same at
} | tendants:
1 "1 ours of the 18th inst at hand anC
contents noted You wanted me to stat,
as near as possible what occurred in ware
l three, while | was yet there, in Novem
, Der, 1898, as regards Messrs. Watkins ant
r KessIer. One day. about two weeks be
fore I was sent home Il don't remembe
: the exact datel just after dinner, MI
3 Watkins did something that Mr. Ireland
t didn't like, and he, Mr.. Ireland
: knocked Watkins feet from unde
him, and the back Of his head struck tn
floor, and the blood came from hi
mouth, ears and nose, and the food flew
: out of his mouth, and Mr.. B. Rich and
t spoke of it as believing Watkins wa
dead, and MIR. Ireland took him by tn
It coat-collar and ran to Watkins room an
9 pitched him in, and locked the door, an
: after short time I said to Mr. Irelant