The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-13
WILL SEE ABOUTIT
Superintendent hfttemOre to
Investigate Palmer Charges.
Thinks That Publicity Is a
Good Thing.
HE HAS SOME DOUBTS.
will Ascertain IF Girls We're
High School Students.
Mrs. Van Cleave Confirms the
Palmer Charges.

w LiliE uO HOT lAEAE the AAOAOlA Elg al
tached to the high school by the publ
cation Of the story in last nights issue
of the state Journal. feel If the facts
VIII warrant the story that the publiea-
ton is for the best interests of the social
condition of our city said Superintend-
ent L. D. Whittemore of the city schools
this morning.
I have not had time yet to make
thorough investigation. but I have had
a list of all the girls who have been
students during the last year and have
withdrawn from the schools and in this
way 1 hope to satisfy myself Is to the
report. L feel that the greater publicity
given the matter in the cases of those
who are guilty, the better it viii be for
all concerned. think that the names
of all of the parties concerned should be
published.
In the past it has been the practice
to keep such things from the public as
much as possible until those who are
guilty have grown to feel secure i'll the
thought that matters viii be kept quiet.
Il suppose that it is a fact that
some of the pupils loiter on the streets
after they have left their schools and
report at home that they have been de-
tanned in their work. I have no con-
troll over such conditions, though L
have always assisted the parents in as
certaining these facts when they have
come to me to find out. / am having
some slips prepared today which will
be furnished to the pupils who are de-
tanned by their work after the usual
hours. These slips will indicate to the
parents the exact time that the pupil
left school and then they may judge
for themselves as to where the time
of the pupil is spent after school
hours"
Mrs. NJ. E. Van Cleave. who is chair
man Of the rescue commission and has
been engaged in the work since 1888
Iva hi ra4F he TrTTr
nal Office to confirm the statement
made yesterday to the effect that five
| high school girls have been inmates of
the Crittenton home during the last
year.
She said: The conditions are even
worse than they were represented to
be in the article. These five girls,
who have met with this disgrace. do
not come from the slums of the city,
but a majority of them are from the
better class Of Christian homes and
had entered the high school with the
/ intention of making teachers of them
selves. One of these girls intends to
return to school as soon as possible
and finish her education. and it would
be decidedly unfair for me to make
her name public. I have never given
out the names Of these unfortunate
girls and I never shall. as they suffer
enough for their mistakes without this
further disgrace If any names are to
be published at all it should be the
names of boys and men who are re-
! sponsible for their misfortunes, but
under the present social conditions
! they are permitted to remain at
large to seek for more girls. of whom
they may take advantage.
IT think that the one thing above all
others which Is responsible for this
/ deplorable condition in our social
I affairs is the fact that the curfew or
dfnance is no longer enforced by the
I officers. who pay no more attention to IT
than if 1t were not a law. When this
/ ordinance was being enforced the CON
I ditions We're much different than they
are now. Then young girls and boys
were not permitted to roam the streets
at all hours of the night as they are at
I the present time.
"Crittenton home is crowded. and
we have not room enough to take
/ care of the present inmates. to say
nothing of the requests which come
! to us almost daily. The top story OF
! the home has never been plastered
and IS unit for occupancy, and on ac-
I count Of lack Of funds to do this the
( society is conn PEELED to turn away
many unfortunate girls who are com
: PEELED to turn to q cold and unchRrit-
I able world for assistance, and it is
/ easv TO surnise what this means.
What is needed in this city Just al
this time Is q little more Christian at
tentiOn given to our local affairs, and
not so much to foreign"