The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-21

for causes other than political
The secretary and general superintend-
lows:
Within the sphere of our own work
there has been substantial progress. The
territory has been redistricted making
four districts instead of six. A new super
intendent Rev. G. S. Kicker joined US
just after annual meeting and has
been rendering splendid service. Rev r..
A Hoffman in the northwest district and
Rev. Frank Gum Brainerd in the south
east have continued the excellent work.
over 500 short addresses, of varying
length, have been delivered. All the i'm
portant church conferences have been Wis
tied besides many others of similar socie-
| ties Over 10000 pieces of literature have
been distributed.
At the last annual meeting I reported
the beginnings of our Prison leagues.
| There was then one in operation, that at
Lansing. Since then three others have
been organized. one in jefferson City. Mo.
which now has over 400 members, in
Hutchinson reformatory, which now has
50 members and one in Guthrie, Okla
homa. whose present enrolment is not
definitely known Reporting for the
Kansas leagues will say that about $50
men have taken the pledge and entered
the league membership.
Before the league was organized in the
reformatory the Christian Endeavor So
ciety had % members The league at
once increased the membership 10 90 ana
increased the interest in spiritual things
The league in Jefferson City, Mo-, has
over 400 members. AS in Lansing it is
composed of both men and women i'll
their separate departments
During the life of the league about 1000
people have been brought into active touch
with it and many more have felt it's IN
fiuence-
In the employment finding department
We have had applications for work from
over 100 men and have, in every case, lad
the work waiting.
The general office has employed a sec
rotary regularly and has absorbed more
and more of the general superintendent
time The record shows l. Sos letters mailed.
besides postal cards. circulars and many
newspapers and miscellaneous matter The
work of the office now needs the full time
of both the general superintendent and the
secretary.
The financial condition of the society is
excellent. The treasurer's report for the
ten months from January to October 81,
shows a balance on hand of $20S.51 after
the publication of circulars and handboolSs
for the winters campaign.
The temporary home has sheltered way
farers for a period aggregating 1877 days.
RECOMMENDATIONS
First-That the society for the friendless
join the association of charities in secur-
ing the passage of civil service act 10
apply TO the prisons and industrial schools
Second-That a parole law, as applied to
the penitentiary, should be so amended as
to invest the warden and the board of d.
rectors with the power to declare GER
tain class of prisoners eligible to parole
This should be linked with the indeterm-
mate sentence and the system of grading
so that as soon the prisoner has earned
his credits he may be eligible to parole
and released as soon as the parole board
shall approve
Third-Resident chaplains should be APP
pointed in the reformatory at Hutchinson,
the boys industrial school at Topeka and
the girls industrial school at Beloit.
Fourth-Your attention is called to the
| appropriation of 81. 600 per year for tobac-
co in the penitentiary and only 800 for
| the library and $500 for the school.
Fifth-The society for the friendless
should join with the charities association
| in demanding that the managing boards
| of our female prisons and industrial
schools should be composed wholly or
partly of women and that the women S
ward at Lansing should be entirely sepa-
rated by both distance and administration
| from the prison for men
| Sixth-The society for the friendless
should spare no effort to secure the pass
| age of a Law for the probation of juvenile
/ Offenders and the establishment of juven-
lie courts after the best models.