The Globe-republican., 1898-11-03
STILL MORE N9IRACEFUL.
No Denial of Outrages at Topeka In
sane Asylum---Riddle's Po-
litical Machine.
USED THE INSANE ASYLUM FOR PETS.

DE-. wesmore Was Upb..ided for Dischsre-
ing Man Who Neglected His Duties-A
Letter from an Attendant at Osawa-
tonne Reveals . Horrible Condition In
That Institution Also.
Three weeks have passed since Dr..
Wetmore, the populist superintendent
of the Topeka insane asylum, in his
letter of resignation to Gov. LeeGy,
described the horrors existing at that
institution. No effort has been made
BY Gov. Leedy to correct this terrible
condition, if it does exist and no de-
NAL of the truth of the charges made
by DR.. Wetmore has been issued by
either Gov. Leedy or the state board
of charities And now the situation
becomes worse by new facts which
have developed in support of DIR.
Wetmore's charges 1t appears
that the asylum has been used
as political machine to re-
ward the ''pets" of the admins
trstion, and Taylor Riddle, chairman
of the populist state central commit
tee, has been the real dictator as to
how the asylum should be managed
not regarding fitness, honor, ability or
good service, but entirely as means
to take care of party workers" 1t
seem S impossible in this enlightened
age, and here in Kansas WHERE the
people have such regard for public
honor, that such con dition could ex-
list, and yet it is fact, proven beyond
doubt by Riddles own letters, that he
was attempting to run the Topeka
asylum solely for the purpose of re-
wareing political strikers
The following letter from Taylor
Riddle to DR.. Wetmore reveals the
above facts:
Riddles Letter.
Topeka. Kan, July z. 1898
DR.. Wetmore. Superintendent Insane Asylum
Topeka Kansas:
Dear Sir: Much complaint has reached the
ears OF the administration and my own Is well.
in regard to the management OF the institu-
tion which you superintend
You have apparently without cause dis
charged some of the best men in the inS:itu-
tion. and In my Judgment you have caused US
more trouble and viii cause US to lose more
votes by your actions, than the other inStitu-
lions can work good 70 US by their careful
management To cap the climax Of your in
efficient management. you have discharged Mr.
d Clifford without cause and that while he
wssaway eghtiny the battles o. the party which
made it possible tor you TO occupy the position
which you hold
I have long contemplated seeing you or
writing you in regard TO this matter but
this is clearly the governors duty, so far have
restrained But as chairman Of our party. I
aow enter my protest against further dismissal
OF the best men you have from the institution.
ct all Our loss OF support from the discharge
Of such men as MI. Clifford at your haads. Will
be harder to overcome in votes than all the
good your Institution has ever done for our
party.
shall not attempt to take up the cause OF
other parties who have suffered like injustices
a. your hands. nor do ask you to reinstate
them; but do ask you to reinstate NJ. Gift
ford. as we cannot, as party, AFFORD such mis-
takes as this seems to me TO be Yours. FOR
party success (Signed)
TAYLOR RIDDLE Chairman.
Following is DR.. Wetmore's reply:
wetmOra's EeuIy.
Topeka. Kan. July .. 1898
I am in receipt OF yours Of the 9Th ;lst In
reply have only this to say: II you will at
tend to the duties Of your position. instead o
assuming to dictate in matters OF which got
are entirely ignorant, you will render more
ridicul Gus than you ever have heretofore
(Signed) c. Il WETNoRE
But Mr. Clifford, who was discharged
and who now has a position in St
Joseph, Mo-, sustains DR.. Wetmore in
all that he says regarding the manage
ment of the asylum, and in the follow
ing sworn statement:
Cnffnrd's AGdavit
State Of Missouri County o. Buchanan
d. J. Clifford. OF lawful age, being duly sworn,
deposes and says: am now a resident OF s.
Joseph, Mo. and have been for several iIoathS
past: that I held the position as attendant i.
the Topeka insane asylum from July = ls9'.
until the latter par. OF me, 1898 am dem
ecrat and in 1895 was secretary Of the commit
tee on rules and order OF business at th=
Hutchinson state convention ald assisted in
the formulation OF the fusion which subse
quently resulted in the election OF john
W. Leedy and the fusion ticket 1 was thrown
actively in connection with DR.. Wetnore. late
superintendent OF the asylum. and have care
fully read his statement in regard to the man
agement OF the institution for the past year.
and am reluctantly constrained TO admit that
many Of the charges in his letter are substaa-
TALLY correct. while quite number OF faEran,
abuses as an outgrowth OF miSconduc: and inedt- /!
cheney are unrevealed in his letter During uy |
tncumbency as an attendant observed quite a |
number OF instances Of brutality towards the |
patients from attendants in different wards |
It was an almost universal topic OF conversation
among the better class of employees that women
of uncertain virtue were assigned to positions |
Il responsibility and trust. while many in
stances Of untoward conduct on the part OF the |
lady employees and male attendants were called |
60 the attention OF Dr.. WetEore the super !
intendent Of the institution. but he was Pc weE-
less to correct the abuses on account OF the o.
structive tactics o; certain members o: the |
state board OF charities who had secured posi- |
items for the aforesaid women OF anomalous and |
suspicious character. Every conceivable et- |
fort was brought into requisitioa TO Goa ceai |
many OF the shortcomings OF the more favored |
attendants who were in close touch with GER |
tain members Of the state board OF charities |
the latter being cognizant Of their personal |
0ehnQuenceS tsignedl d. J. CLIFFORD
Subscribed and sworn 20 before me this 18th /
day OF October 1858. (Sigue1D
ROBERT b FULLERTON Notary Public
Ny term expires May 81, 1900
Following is Chairman Riddles let |
ter to DR.. Wetmore, protesting against |
Cli6or6's discharge.