Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-01-18

should be spared to provide for their comfor
or to furnish the best medical attendance at
sainable At present the two asylums al
Topeka and Osawatomic seem inadequate Il
provide suitably for all OF this unfortunate
class The detached building at Osawatomie
for female patients, authorized by the last
legislature, Is now nearly completed, and
when proper provisions shall have been made
for furnishing and fitting it for occupancy. II
will furnish accommodations for about three
hundred females This will relieve for the
time being tho pressure upon the two institu
tions; but additional, room will soon DO ro
quired To provide for this need, the asylum
at Topeka should be completed by the cree
tion OF q ward building for women, and cen
ter or administration building
Tho present laws for the commitment of
the insane to the asylum seem to be
relics Of barbarism There Is something alb.
solutely repulsive to me in the sight OF O
sheriff taking young lady from her home as
he would take o person accused OF q crime.
and bringing her before tho court where a
gaping crowd Of curious people have gathered
to see her tried by jury like a thief l can.
not see where there would be any danger Of a
person being unlawfuly deprived of his
liberty II the probate judge were authorized
to appoint commission OF two or three rep
utable citizens to 60 qvietly to tho home OF
the unfortunate and make the necessary ex-
animation And when any person is ad
Judged insane, 1t would seem much moro ap
proprlate to employ some friend in whom the
insane person had confidence. to take him
quietly to the asylum Apd in case the pa
tient is q female, q lady attendant ought in
every case to attend her
in completing the work. giving them constant
and healthful employment, and thus avoiding
bringing them into competition with other in
dustries Of the state This is o matter that
demands your prompt and careful considera-
tion, and some steps should be taken 10 olking
to the early opening OF the reformatory, in
order that youthful prisoners might bs re-
moved from the society and influence Of hard
ened criminals
State House.
The state house ought not to be allowed to
remain long In its pres ent unfinished condi-
tion The wise course in my judgment would
be to make o special levy OF small amount to
carry on the work, so that 1t can be gradually
and substantially advanced to completion. A
levy Of one-fourth Of a mill for the years 1895
and 1896 would raise at least $4,000, aud this
would probably be as much as could be judic-
iously expended during that time, Provision
should be made so that the work might be
commenced ut onco
State University.
The superior institutions OF lei rning are re-
ceiving an attention that was never before be-
slowed upon them in the history Of the coun-
try, and there Is spirit OF emulation awak-
ening in most OF the states to place the state
universities upon high plane. Our univer-
sity has always been the pride OF Kansas, and
II should be the purpose OF our state to mako
1t great university in the widest sense OF the
term, equal to any in the United States. 1t is
the pride OF every Kansan. and 1t is bad policy
and worse economy to withhold from 1t any
needed aid
State Board of Agriculture.
There is one interest In Kansas overshad-
owing all others, and that is the interest Of
the farmer Whatever promotes that interest
develops the state. He Is public benefactor
who can by arousing q new zeal, or by devel-
oping better mode OF farming. increase the
productions Of the soil; and one Of the instru
mentalities that have done much to elevate
farming In Kansas is the state board OF agri
culture. The great service rendered to the
state by its board OF agriculture has long
been recognized not only In Kansas and Amer
lea. but in foreign lands, In all OF which Its
useful publications are sought and studied as
the highest authority on matters pertaining
to our condition, prosperity and progress. In
fact, the high standard of It, work and
efficiency has become so we'll understood that
older states, dissatisfied with abortive at
tempts TO do o like work with political ma
chinery, are now asking to be shown the
methods by which Kansas has been able to ac
complish such far-reachlng results along
these lines at such minimum cost Much OF
the success OF this department is undoubtedly
due to its having been held aloof from party
politics-maintained as q strictly non-par'
tisan body servant OF all the people alike;
and tho highest wisdom suggests its being
kept on hat basis.
Whatever enables this board to enlarge and
extend its work benefits almost the entire
popula tion Of Kansas. and 1t would be wise
policy to increase the appropriations In its
behalf, even II 1t be done ut the expense OF
some other and less useful department
Historical Society.
The State Historical society should have q
warm place in the hearts OF the people OF the
state. Eor nearly twenty years 1t has, with
comparatively little help from the state made
an earnest persistent effort to gather within
its rooms everyth pertaining to the history
OF Kansas 1t has more than ten thousand
bound volumes OF Kansas newspapers and
magazines: and there is no better record OF
the progress OF the state than can be found
within these files Special arrangement
should be made in completing the capitol
building TO provide ample and commodious
rooms for the society, and reasonable appro-
priation should be made to carry on its work.
State Board OF Health.
believe 1t would be wise to chan 20 the law
providing for the appointment OF mombers OF
the state board OF health There arc three
Organized medical associations In thu, state
the allopathic homeopathic, and the eclectic
The law now provides that these schools sha II
be represented on the state board OF health
and that no one school shall have majority
OF the members OF the board l would REQ
ommend that, Instead OF the governor select
ing the nine members from the body OF physi-
clans throughout the state, each OF these as.
sociations be empowered to nominate ten
candidates for membership. and that the gov
ernor select the nine members from those
nominated by the medical ass ociations.
Soldiers Home.
The hard times which have pressed so heav-
fly upon all the people OF the country for the
past two years together with the advancing
age Of the defenders OF the flag during the
war Of the rebellion. have caused extraor-
binary calls to be made for admittance to the
soldiers home. 1t has been found abs olutely
impo,si blo to receive all who have applied
II we are to care for those who offered their
lives in defense OF their country. who In their
early manhood went forth to battle for the
nation, land know no more sacred duty,) ad-
oitional room must be furnished. or many OF
those brave men will be compelled to go to
tho almshouse ! urse upon you prompt and
urgent attention to this matter
Soldiers! Orphans Eoine.
Measures to provide for the fatherle5s, de-
pendent or abandoned child en- OF the state
commend themselves to every lover OF hui
manity. We have OF AtchiSon an institution
in which all should feel q deep interest Under