The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-08

IuTUDET
years ago and later was appointed sup
erintendent of the soldiers orphans
home at Atchison, in which position he
gained national prominence. Later he
was made superintendent of the wash
burn orphans home at Minneapolis,
and he is now recognized as one of the
leading authorities in the United States
on matters pertaining to advanced
methods in organized charities. But
Notwithstanding his removal to the
north, he still retains his love for the
Sunfiower state.
There are, of course, organizations
in Europe similar to ours" he said,
but our organization is distinctly
American. Over there they have but
one parliament, or governing body, to
control their institutions, while we have
many-one in each state This has its
advantages in shat it affords a wide
field for experiment, but it also affords
great multiplication of errors and du-
plieation of bad policies At first there
were only state organizations of chart
ties and correction, but in order to dis
cuss all the different methods and ex-
periments in all the states so that the
greatest possible good could be gained
from them, a national organization be-
came necessary. The great seal of our
organization shows an angel lowering
with outspread wings over two figures
representing Charity and Correction.
The motto of the organization Isl Unit
ed to Uplift Humanity
Much depends on the local commit
tees for the success of this conference.
When it was proposed to bring it so
far west and to such a comparatively
small city, there was some doubt ex-
pressed by some of the members as to
it's advisability, but we pointed out the
greatness of Kansas, and that the or
ganiZation was really a missionary
one, and must go where there is good
to be done, and in that way we
landed the 1900 meeting for Topeka. 1t
will take about $500 in money and ac-
tive work on the part of your executive
committee to carry it through, and to
help the matter along I came down
here This is the fourth address have
made today on this subject.
''At the bottom of this subject of
charities and correction is the old fight
of the home versus the street. The boy
has got to be entertained and if he
doesn't find proper amusement in his
home he will go to the street to find it.
The boy is unchangeable-he is about
| the only animated thing that is so. He
was the same when playing at the foot
| of the pyramids centuries ago as he is
now playing in front of Fifth avenue
mansion and asking his mother for
I room to make mud puddle for mud
| pies. Our curfew ordinances are i'm
| perfectly enforced. If the boy believed
| that his liberties were being abridged
! by them he would steal rhe clapper
| from the bell and pawn it at the first
| pawn shop he came to, as a protection
! to his rights. And I wouldn't give much
for boy who wouldn't stand up for his
rights. They are the kind that make
men.
| This conference will be a good thing
| for Kansas. She may well be proud OF
what she has already done along these
| lines, for she is far ahead of some OF
| her sister states, but we want to see
| Kansas take her rightfuI place in the
! lead That is where she belongs in
| great movements. The governor of the
/ state has his heart in the movement
his sympathies are keen, but he has 3
touch Of pessimism and doubt as to
whether the state is ripe for any radi-
| cal change in policy. Legislatures dc
not pay enough attention to these mat
tiers. They are too busy electing sena-
tors and such things to think of the
great number of people who are de-
pendent upon the state for their care
and reformation, and who need to be-
made into good citizens. 1 hope this
conference will result in the organiza
| ton of a state conference in Kansas
which will carry this work forward
| here