The Globe-republican., 1898-11-03

under popuIist management Mr.
Parks was an attendant at this place
for one year aud his letter eoSrcb.
crates the charges made by Dr.. Wet
more as to the condition Of the Topeka
asylum.
Parks' Statemeoe.
The fact that the statement of Or.
Netmore relative to the conditions
which exist at the Topeka insane asy-
lum have not been denied by the state
board of charities or the officials Of
that institution whom he charges with
being incompetent, negligent AID
brutal, has led to n settled conviction
in the minds OF the people of Kansas
that they are t-ue.> But many very
naturally conclude that this condition
of affairs exists at the Topeka institu-
ton alone. AS one who was connected
for over II mouths with the Osawato-
mic asylum under the present populist
management I desire to say that the
condition which DR.. Wetmore de-
sccibes concerning the Topeka asylum
is only faint picture of that which
has existed at the Osawatomie insti-
tuition.
Or April I, 1891, this institution was
the pride of the people of the state OF
Kansas The members of the present
state board of charities repeatedly
stated that its management was supe-
rior to that of any other state institu-
ton. But notwithstanding this state
ment they displaced a superintendent,
DR.. T. C. Biddle. and his experienced
assistants, DR.. S. d. Van Nuys aud the
trained employees. with an assistant SUI
perintenden,, DR.. E. W. Hinton, and
an assistant physi clan, DR.. Wellman,
neither of whom has a diploma or ever
had any experience either in treating
or caring for the insane. The board
of charities insisted on replacing the
experienced employees with raw mate
rial, much OF which had had no expe-
rience whatever in such work and was
alike deficient in morality. mentality
and that sympathy so necessary in
caring for the helpless dependents con-
signed to their charge.
AS result, is it any wonder that
Hugh Forsythe, patient from Fronte-
nae. was permitted to jump through a
second-storv window and receive in
juries from which he soon died?
Is it any wonder that where polit-
ical pull was the sole requisite for
position and promotion that laundry
girl was found in the clerks bedroom
in her night clothes?
Is it any wonder that the matron SO
selected declared this episode only IAN
indiscretion?"
Is it any wonder, then, when hair
pins and carriers were found in the bed
of an official OF the asylum that the
employe making the discovery should
be told tina. it should not be consid-
cred immoral. nor told?
Is it any wonder that during the
past u months there have been no less
than four military marriages" among
the employees at Ibis institution?
Is it any wonder that the officers of
that institution boycotted the mer-
chants of O>awatomie because they re-
fused to ''lay down. on their local ed
itor and have him suppress stories OF
the horrible condition of affairs at the
asylum?
have been interested in the reform
all my life, aud a worker in
the populist party ever since l became
old enough to vote: l have seen men,
bers of the state board of charities
who have supervision OF these institu-
tons, come TO the Osawatomie asylum
under the influence of liquor; have
been an eye witness to their unseemly
and cannot believe that the
people of Kansas who pay SO literally
for the support OF these charita BILE in
stitutions and who should find in them
a source Of justiiab bic pride will ever
indorse state administration which
permits these conditions to continue.
On numerous occasions | have known
employees who were discharged at
because they were incom-
petent or for misconduct, on account
Of their pull with the board, trans
fe cred TO the Topeka asylum where it
S only natural 10 suppose they con-
.ributed to the conditions which DR..
Eetmore says eXis ed at the Topeka
asylum. If the people OF Kansas fully
realize these conditions how the I'M
fortunate iusane-sometimes their
relatives, other time their friends-are
neglected. abused and mistreated in
these institutions. they would rise up
n their might and at the ballot box in
Novem Der repudiate most emphatical-
Y ali those who have contributed to
create. maintain and continue this
state of affairs. 5. NJ. PARKS
PERCY DANIELS REVOLTS.