The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-12-15
HOMES FOR BOYS
Governor Stanley Would Change
Reform School System.
Children Would Net Be Turned
Loose on Community.
WANTS A NEW LAW.
One That Will Prevent De-
struction of the Youth.
Example of How Cruel Parents
Outrage Their Children.

Governor Stanley has inaugurated, in
connection with the management of the
state reform school in this city, plan
to find homes for the boys who give
promise of abandoning the traits which
landed them in the institution.
Il fnd,'' said the governor discussing
this matter with q State Journal re-
porter, that, painful as it is to say it,
many of the boys are sent to the reform
school by parents or guardians, simply
to get them out of the way; to avoid
taking care of them.
Family troubles often make boy
mean and hard to manage and he be-
comes so obstreperous and unHanage-
able that he is believed to be incorrigt-
BILE. He is bundled off to the reform
school and those who are responsible
for his care are relieved.
We find that many of the boys OF
this character are honest and reliable.
They are not sent to the reform school
on account of their criminal tendencies
but simply to be gotten out of the way.
In such cases I favor finding homes for
the boys and giving them an oppor-
tunity to work and make something OF
themselves
A man 70 years of age in a Kansas
town of considerable Importance mar
ried a woman much younger than him
self and installed her over a boy of 13-
In a short time she, like many other
step mothers who have preceded her,
began impOSitiOnS upon the boy. He
was beaten upon the slightest prOvOca-
ton and his father endorsed the plan
of subjugatiOn The usual result fol-
lowed The boy, first, began staying
away from home because he feared the
beadngs. Late at night he would
sneak home and would be away in the
morning by daylight. His father re-
mOnstrated with him but turned the
boy over to the step-mOther for chas-
tisement. Complication followed COM
plicatiOn until proceedings were estab-
lished to send the boy to the reform
school. He was at least out of the
way.
This lad had not been long at the
reform school when it was observed by
the officers that he was above the aver
age in intelligence and seemed to avoid
the pranks and mischief of the other
boys. He was carefully watched and
the officers finally concluded the boy
was another victim of the persecution
which sends so many of them to the
reform school.
The result was that this boy was
found a home in Ellsworth county. He
went to his new home willingly and
went to work. He has developed Won
derfully under the stimulus of good
food and work and is fast becoming a,
man. He wrote to the governor and
to superintendent Hancock of the re-
form school to tell them how happy he
was and how well he was getting along.
But the boys happiness proved to be
but short lived.
boy to go to the reform school without
one word of protest has discovered that
a home has been given the boy; better
than he ever before knew; that the boy
is contented and doing well and he now
seeks to have him returned home.
When the officials heard of the old
mans plans to get the boy back home
they were surprised and panied, know
ing full well that abuse and kicks and
cuffs will again be his portion in life.
Yet there is no law under which they
and the father and
will be compelled to settle the matter.
OF course, the step-mOther is at the
bottom of the scheme to get the boy
back home. The father has money to
run the house but there is no one there
to do the errands. Consequently the
boy whom she was kind enough to send
to the reform school the Step-mOther
will soon have back home.
The governor and the superintendent
of the reform school are awaiting with
q good deal of interest the result of the
controversy between the son and the
father, the latter meeting opposition
from those who have taken the boy into
their own family. The boys new home
has been made as pleasant as an adopt
ed son could find, and the Fact that the
boy is developing into a sturdy, honest
man. makes his foster parents more
than anxious to keep him The boy
has no inclination to return home.
"One of the greatest problems of so
ciety" said Governor Stanley, lis the
mana cement of these reform schools. I
are many cases like this one, that is,
many boys who are not really bad have
been sent to the reform school for no
other reason than that their guardians
or parents want to get rid of them. The
proceedings are regular, but the boy
has no one to help him and he is sent
away.
4 have given the subject careful con-
sideratiOn and believe that the best
plan is to adopt the system of finding
homes for the boys in the direction of
which we have been experimenting. I
think a state law authorizing proceed
ings of this character would be a val
liable measure and shall ask the next
legislature to enact something of this
kind.
1T is a duty the state owes to perse-
cuted boys to give them a chance in
life. There are now no legal steps
which may be taken to have these boys
installed in homes, but I hope to see
something of the kind done. I nave not
yet framed the recommendations I shall
make. but a carefully prepared law
would solve the problem.
There are. of course some incorrigi-
BILE boys at the state reform school, but
many of them are honest and would rise
in the world if given an opportunity.
Many of the boys now at the reform
school should not be there. but there
is no way to improve their condition,
| except by getting them into good homes
| and giving them something to do.
The state has neglected the boys at
| the reform school. There should be an
! industrial department in connection
| with the institution in which every one
] of those boys might be learning a
/ trade Then, they could do themselves
| some good when they leave the place.
| Now they simply do the best they can.
A half day for study and the remainder
| of the time learning a trade is my idea