The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-08
ALBAUGH JOINS IN.
Lends Support to Divorce State
Institutions from Politics.

Morton Albaugh, chairman of the Re
publican state central committee, comes
out exceedingly strong in an edltorlal
in his paper, the Kingman Leader-coui
ier. in favor of removing the state lnstl-
tutions entirely from politics. He says
the sllperintendents of the various instl-
tl1tions should have power to select their
employees without being hampereo Dy
political considerations and tnat tney
should then be held responsible for the
roaragenent of their respective institu-
tions.
Further Mr.. Albaugh says that in all
the time he has been chairman OF the
state committee when he douDtless mas
had as much influence as any one II IL III,
state to land persons in JOBS, ne mas
never attempted in the least TO dlctate
the employrnent of persons in the stass
charitable institutions
The editorial is on the recent report
of the asylum investigating committee
and in it among othef Things MI
baugh says:
The investigating committee makes
some important recommendation
concentrations that ought 70 be IohoWeu
bv the next Legislatures. @1ne atlehuaii %
an the wards in these institutions, VINO
in reality are or ought TO be. nurses Ior
the patients, are now worked from Y y
"a hours a day The management IS
compelIed to exact work from Il 10 -
hours a day from them on account ol
@
appropriations will permit them to nave.
They recommended also the pay OF lHese
enonloves be Increased. Those VINO nave
direct charge of these patients are hoW
paid from SIS to $50 u month IN tneSe
times -Deople with the temperament, ed
ucation and adaptability for such work
carnot be had and retained at any su'h
mice As result changes are contlh-
ualIy occurring and new employeS mus
necessarily be taken without the khoWl-
fitness for the work in hand Ott-llineS
they are utterly unfamiliar with caring
for people in such condition, put TINS
fact must be determined atter theI EN-
plovment and at times actual 1nlStredt-
roent or positiVe neglect Will occur up
~, their mart before the mana cement
can know of their unfitness, or want q
nroDer disposition, and discharge lheii'
.rrhe committee recommends furtheI
that the asylum management s@iOutNu @ y
he removed from political control rms
should have been done years ago Every Every
asylum superintendent for many years
mast has recommended it, and every
hoard of charities for generation pas'
has made the same recommendatlou
/ There is no reason whatever why THESE
institutions which are in fact hospitals
for the most unfortunate class OF peo-
ple we have, should IN any way Vi
manner be hamDered by polltlcal con,
siderations The superintendent shouio
- selected on account of their execu-
five ability and peculiar fitness Tor sucH
work. The medical staffs should be
made uD of physicians VINO nave nldut
study in this particular pranch ol ol
their profession. The attendants, az
| FAR as is possible should be persons
| nossessed of that peculiar temDeramen
and disposition which renders theu
! helpful in sickness and who will give
to the care of those in charge palnstak'
| ing and conscientious attention.
| "In appointing this committee Z
make this investigation the Legislature
did right In making the INVESTIGATOR
thorough and sweeping the committee
did right. The report should De val
liable for two reasons:
''First-It will give to the friends ane
relatives of all insane persons feellnt
of security and a knowledge that thos'
unfOrtunates in whom they have a par
/ ticular interest are in fact well cared
for. well housed well clothed. well fed
well treated. and that they have tn
best obtainable medical attention
''Second-It should lead the next leg
islature, regardless of the cry for econ
| omy. to make such appropria tons 70
| help at these institutions as Will enabl
the superintendents to give those Il
their charge even better attention thai
they now have And last. but not least
/ it should lead the next legislature Z
| eliminate their management from tn
ups and downs and vicissltudes of sos
| sible political changes, and divorce tn
employment of help in these insttu
tions entirely from political recommen
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