The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-30
DEFENDS sUPr. CHARLES.
Washington, Kansas. Editor Thinks He
Is Good Official.

G. E. Ingalls, of Washington, Kansas,
edltor of the Republican-Record at
that place, sends a letter to the State
Journal in reply to the statement of
DR.. Eva Harding on the reform school
controversy.
Mr.. ingalls, makes a strong defense
Tor Superintendent Charles, and says
that DR.. Harding is fighting Charles in
order to get the place for her brother
in-law, j. w. Stout Mr. ingalls, says:
To the Editor of the Topeka state
Journal:
One hardly knows whether to be
amused or Disguised at the article in
your Saturdays issue signed by Eva
Harding in reference to the Industrial
school charges Your well known
reputation as champion of the square
deal has encouraged me to ask for a
little space on this subject myself
Dr. Harding feels awfully hurt and
thinks it is an Outrage the way she has
been misrepresented'' in the matter.
she has made the severest kind of in
situations against superintendent
Charles and his family, accusations in
voiving the honor and integrity of the
man, accusations involving his COM
potency as an Official accusations
tyrant and a villain. a hard hearted.
inhuman monster. Yet she deems this
as an act of charity and fancies that
she is playing the role of heroine.
When the statement is made that she
has nothing but "hearsay evidence" to
back her charges, why that is mis-
representation that amounts to an
Outrage" and is sufficient provocation
to cause the worthy doctor to rush into
print and try her case in the papers.
She then Immediately admits that her
evidence is shearsay'' which leaves us
in doubt as to where the misrepre-
Sentation comes in.
She says her evidence is necessarily
n 2 tfSho iS
at the institution Aye, there's the
rub She isn't. If she had been there
would have been no charges against
the management. She hasn't been to
the institution for some time and 1.-THE
last time she was there the employees
were afraid to speak to her for fear
of losing their jobs But if they dared
to speak they would cause the very
stones of Topeka to rise any mutiny.
Strange how scared they are to speak
when their testimony would cause the
superintendent to lose his Job. Who
then would be left to fire them? AS a
matter of fact the only employees that
DR.. Harding can get to say a word of
any kind against Charles are those who
have resigned by request. Those who
have resigned voluntarily have nothing
but words of praise for Charles and his
management Those who have worked
under more than one superintendent
say that Charles is the best qualified
man for the place the institution ever
had.
The kind doctor now states that it
is not the money confiscated for old
iron and rags, it is not any of the
other charges of crookedness that she
made that she is basing her fight on,
but bread and onions for breakfast
and inhuman treatment. The doctor
merely threw these other accusations
in for good measure. She knows that
the state treasurer's receipt book will
show the facts in these cases.
I have recently received a letter
from a paroled boy in Kansas City,
expressing his surprise at the pub
lished articles about Mr.. Charles. To
quote the boys own language:
There was never any violence shown
any of the boys while I was there,
breakfast it is quite a mistake" This
boy was there eighteen months, and
he ought to know. Ninety per cent.
of the boys who have been discharged
will make the same statement. Any
body who ever had anything to do
with Charles knows how positively
silly these cruelty charges are. This
writer went to school to Charles four
years when he was a city superin-
tendent. He afterward taught with
him in high school three years. The
only complaint that anyone ever
made against him was that he was too
indulgent, and a complaint of severity
would be laughed to scorn by thou
sands of people all over Kansas who
have been under his instruction. The
writer has visited the industrial school
dozens of times since Charles was
there and has talked with the boys
on the playground and in the shops.
They are all ready to swear by him
and his wife, who for a time was ma
iron of the institution.
The doctor is very indignant be-
cause it has been insinuated that she
wants the job for another man. Such
an insinuation has not appeared in
the city press. and the doctor pre-
cludes the possibility of it's ever APP
pearing there by recommending Mr..
Stout very strongly as Charles sue
cessor. OF course it is merely a coin
cident that this man Stout happens
to be her brother-in-law.
Charles has been misrepresented,
and in the interests of justice and a
square deal this communication is
sent to the State Journal.
Very respectfully,
~