The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-05
CALLS FoR REFORM.

the Reform school system in Kansas
requires revision. Perhaps the fault is
not SO much with the system Itself as
with the machinery Of the law which
places the boys in charge Of the state
1t often happens that children are
thrown into the Reform school WHO
really require only a. home They are
not incorrigible nor unmanageable but
are in some ones way They are sent
to this school for reform and naturally
come in contact with boys who are more
or less depraved. Often the 'reforna-
ton proves directly the opposite and
they leave the institution entirely unfit
ted for the duties Of citizenship
1t may be that the fault is in a meas
ure with the institution but the best
way is to avoid sending children to the
Reform school who require only the
schooling OF a respectable home.
case in point may be cited in Shawnee
county now.
The sheriff has prisoner and that
prisoner has the sherihf's sympathy. The
prisoner is John Dobbins. The sheriff's
name is Porter Coos. He has been heard
OF before. Dobbins esquire. has not.
John Dobbins has been sentenced to
the Reform school. He is said to be
ferocious individual. He is not He is
6 years old and as bright little pieka-
ninny as ever tried to sti k his toes
through a pair of badly used shoes and
ragged overalls. He is clean. He is
gentIemanly. He is bright, as the sher-
if says, bright as a dollar Ee can
read. He can write. He is not afraid
to talk He is just the sort of an 8
year-eld pickaninny thatyou might sup
pose the leaders of their race, Booker
T. Washington and Paul Lawrence
Dunbar, were in their early days.
And still, this little fellow who is good
and bright enough to be the original OF
Nine. Nordica's sweet little negro song,
wherein she says the little fellows
Mighty LAX a Rose" is to be sent to
the kindergarten of crime. the reform
school, and all because he has no father
and no mother and no one will look after
him
He has been living with his aunt. Mrs.
Lille Allen, near First and Van Buren,
street. She testified that he was incor-
rigible. She told the probate court that
he stayed away from home at night and
that he would not go to school. The
court had but one thing to do, to send
him to the Reform school.
Now John Debbins. bright as a dollar
and with eyes that leave no chance Tor
doubling him, says he has not been bad
He does not smoke cigarettes, he does
not chew tobacco and he has not been
heard to swear about the jail. He is
happy, even in Jail The prisoners pet
him. He spends his time playing as any
little boy eight years old. white or black,
might He makes kitten cradles with
strings.
John Dobbins tells his story better
than most boys would of twice the age
He does not cry. I went to school
some" he says. I was in the one A. /
had to stay out of school a good deal to
help auntie and then when I went back
the teacher would send me home be
cause I had not been there. I went to
Madison school. didn't stay away from
home at nights. No. sir. I went after
milk one night away down there and
when I got to the house the folks there
said it was too dark for me to go home
that night and they made me stay with
them. Auntie has always treated me all
right She was good to me. She works
away from home all day and uncle
works in a mattress factory. No, sir, I
don't want to go to the Reform school.
Now John Dobbins ought not to be
sent there. He should be cared for
where he viii be brought up ashe should
be- Is there no place for bright little
John Dobbins except the Reform school?