The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-16
KANSAS SICK
AND TIRED
Of the Way in Which the State
Charitable Institutions
Have Been Managed by Both
Political Parties
That Is One Reason Why She
Kicks Them Out
OF OFFICE AS FAST
As She Can, Bouncing Them
Every Two Years.
The People Want a System of
Civil Service
THAT WON'T CHANGE
All Officials and Attendants at
Insane Asylum,
Reform School, Blind Asylum
and Other Institutions
All Officials and Attendants at
Insane Asylum,
Reform School, Blind Asylum
and Other Institutions
EVERY TWO YEARS.
This Demand For Decency and
Business Sense
Expressed by Intelligent Men
of Both Parties.

Kansas has millions of dollars IN
vested in public institutions for the care
of unfortunates, vet this is branch of
the state government which receives
little attention, other than a scramble
for the offices therein, following pOlit-
ical changes at the polls. This, as
matter of course. has prOstituted these
Institutions to the whims of political
managers, who in rewarding their party
workers, and ward heelers have failed
to consult the interests of suffering hu-
manity whose world is found within the
limits of iron bars and narrow cells.
The wards of the state have not been
well treated. with rare exceptions, since
the Institutions were founded. Soon af-
ter the state insane asylum at OsawatO-
Tnie was esta blished Republican inves-
tigating committee, appointed by a Re
publican legislature in 1877, found an
awful condition of affairs existing there.
The superintendent was removed upon
recommendation of the committee but
a political pull with a succeeding Re-
publican administration reinstated the
man who had been branded as a mon
ster and who had been proven Incapable
of managing the affairs of which he had
charge.
Occasionally a man of humane dis
position has been in charge of these
unfortunate people; ministering to their
wants and faithfully treating them with
the hope of restoring them to health
and happiness. But this is usually an
accident and one man cannot oversee
everything in these great institutions.
Incompetent persons are placed in re-
spOnsible positions through political in
huence. Scandals beyond conception
have come to light but the guilty par
ties have been eXOnerated. This is due
entirely to political influences. No ad-
ministratiOn has proven an exception.
The Republicans have had their scan
dals: the POpuHsts likewise. Governor
dwellings administration suffered as
did Governor MOrriIS and Governor
Leedy's defeat is partially charged. by
some of his friends, to the troubles at
the state institutions which have Origi-
mated under the men who were appoint
ed to office by him, or by his state board
of charities.
The principle of handling these in
stitutions through political channels is
wrong. There is a clamOr for a. change
by the people.
In nearly every other state in the un-
ion a system of civil service reform has
been adopted and the public institutions
have become agencies for good instead
of places to develop the prize fighting
abilities of lusty attendants and per-
sons who are more thoroughly adapted
to mule driving than the care of the
states wards
The demand for Improvement in the
character and method of managing
these institutions has confronted the
managers of Kansas political parties
for years, but nothing has been done
This is probably due to the fact that Of
fice-getting has been regarded more i'm
pOrtant than the welfare OF people who
are compelled to seek these institutions
as a home This demand is increasing
in volume every day. That sometime ?
must be done is a question that admits
of no dispute AS an instance of public
opinion on this question the State Tour
nal cites the following:
+. l. Bonebrake, president of the Cen
tral National bank in this city said
mo one can deny that something must
be done with our state institutions
They seem to have become asylums for
scandal rather than asylums for the
care of insane and unfortunate Darsons
Scandals have been visited upon ev-
cry administration which has ATTEMPTED
to run them in the interest of political
parties. This principle is wrong and a
remedy must be found. The best in
tentioned partfsans at the head of the
state government have failed to give
proper relief and it seems to me that
complete change in the present meth
od OF handling these Institutions is the
only solution of the problem. I am
heartily in favor of the abortion of a
system of civil service which shall seek
out the most competent men in the coun-
Try and place them at the head of these
lnstltutlons- I think it is unwise to i'm
ag1ne that the most thoroughly ouaIi6e6
political worker is one to secure these
places. On the other hand / think
that the most eminent scientists and
most skilled physicians in this state or
IN tne ln1ted States, for that matter
should be placed at the head of he kan
sas institutions and be permitted m "a
main in undisturbed possession of +ba
adninstratlVe power as long as he ham
dles the work to which he is assigned
n a scientific and thorough manner
The upheaval which has been TAXING
place in these Institutions every two
years. as elections have been going in