The Topeka state journal., 1900-01-26
He Is Superintendent Williams
Of the Blind Asylum.
EXECUTIVE STARTLED
Unusual to See an Official at
Work.
Williams Was Painting When
Mr.. Stanley Called.

Cnaf1laDle institutions and Alr. VIII
Hams' high standing is due to the fact
that he puts on overalls and a Jump
err old shoes and a hat which has seen
service for Is years, and then gets out
and does manual labor.
Mr.. Williams does not wait for the
help to do the work and INDUCES in no
red tape When the asylum carpenter
is busy; the stonemason employed; the
painter at work. the superintendent
gets his uniform on and goes to work.
Governor Stanley went to the blind
school last week. He was accompanied
by the board of charities. Passing
through the buildings they come across
Williams at work painting.
How are you Mr.. Williams?" inquir-
ed George Kanavel, treasurer of the
board.
well. thank you,'' was the reply as
the painter descended from his perch
to greet the visitors
The governor was looking at the job
of painting and was about to pass on
when Mr.. Kanavel said:
Governor, you have met the superin-
tendent?"
Yes said Stanley. ''We'u find him
at the office 1 suppose" The governor
started again but was interrupted by
the treasurer who said:
mo, here he is
The remainder of the party was en-
joying the joke.
''Where?' exclaimed the governor.
Then he glanced at the painter, rec
ognizing the superintendent. Seven wit
nesses testify that Governor Stanley
did not speak for what seemed to be
five minutes. Then he gasped out:
Williams. You painting. 1 don't be-
lieve it,
1T is me, governor said Williams
who vas enjoying the executives per-
turbation..
1T is Williams" said the governor
coming closer and scanning the mans
face. But I don't believe it yet. Let
me see you paint
Then Mr.. Williams climbed up the lad
der and covered two or three square
yards with paint.
That's enough" said the governor
Il want to commend you for this dis
play of interest in the welfare of the
state property. How does it come that
you are doing this work?" asked the
governor.
THE appropriations which we have
are not sufficient to make the repairs
explained Williams, which are neces-
sary around the building. BY doing the
work myself I save the money which
would be expended for hiring men It
is tedious but we get along pretty WE'LL
Grant HornadaY, chairman of the
board narrated the above incidents to a
Journal reporter and then said:
Williams has done a wonderful lot
of work. He is always doing something
of that kind. He is a natural mechanic.
apparently, as everything he has done
seems to be first class. One of the
things which Williams did was to tear
out, with his own hands the floor in the
bath room. 1t was in very bad condi-
tion, having been neglected for several
years. 1t was rOtted out and a pool
of Shiny water stood under the tub in
through the floor. The superintendent
then put in a cement base and upon it
a tile floor repaired the walls and then
painted the interior in first class style
The job would have cost the board more
than $780,"
The governor and Mrs. Stanley were
asked about this incident. They visited
the institution some weeks ago.
Il never saw such a place as that
bath room,' said Mrs. Stanley.
"It was awful before Williams fixed
it, said the governor.
The governor and his wife corrobo-
rated the testimony of Mr.. Hornaday
and threw a few handsome and elo-
quent verbal bouquets at the superin-
tendent.
There is still another story of VIII
dams' industry. This is probably the
most important one. On the grounds
of the blind school stood an old brick
house. 1t was tumbling down and
| had not been used for years. The plan
| of tearing it down was suggested by the
| board of charities at one of its meetings
! but the superintendent prevailed upon
them to let it stand The next month
| the board visited the institution the
| members were startled at the change
In place OF the tum Dle-dOWn shack
with a dilapidated stairway running
up the outside, there stood the old
| building resplendent in painted wood
| work; with curtains at the formerly de-
| serted windows and a general air of
| decency which was really remarkable.
| Williams had put on his uniform
! gotten his trowel, filed in some win
| dows, cut out new ones; painted the
! woodwork; placed the stairway inside,
| and so rearranged the interior as to
! have eight rooms, well lighted, well
| ventilated and convenient, sufficient in
number and large enough to accommo-
| date the teachers at the institution.
| All of this change had been wrought
by the hands of the superintendent
| Williams is the only superintendent
| of a state institution in the personal
| knowledge of any of the politicians in
| either party who has condescended to
| prevent property from going to destruc-
| ton by getting out and soiling his
| hands by labor and departing from the
| dignity which many of these officials,
! who can't run q riding plcw, assume
| when they get into an Office of this
| kind.
Williams management of the school
| is as highly commended as his busi-
| ness ability. The accounts of the in
| stitution are always in shape; the
| school being conducted in such a man
| ner as to receive the cOmmendation OF
| noted eastern experts. The institution
| is free from scandals. The progress OF
the pupils is all that could be desired
| so say experts, and Mr.. Williams seems
| to be a success. He was formerly su-
| perintendent, but was ousted by the
| Populist administration, being rein
stated by the Stanley administration
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