The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-27
ON WRONG PLAN.
Ex-Chaplain Gates Talks of the
Hutchinson ReformatOry.
Officers Governed by Wrong
Code Of Morals.
SET A BAD EXAMPLE.
Governor HOch Promised to In
vestigate But Failed.
Cases of Drunkenness Permitted
to 60 Cnpunished.
SET A BAD EXAMPLE.

A. G.. Gates, who was recently dis
missed from the Hutchinson reforma-
tory by order of Superintendent E. f.
Marshall. is making good his promise
that he would keep up the fight on the
present management of that institu-
ton. in an effort to secure a correction
of what he claims are the evils in the
management of the institution.
In statement from Mr.. Gates re-
ceived today by the State Journal. he
says:
THE article which appeared in sat
urday's Journal. relating to the state
reformatory, at Hutchinson. was the
result of a brief and hasty interview
with the reporter. and contains a
statement, through a misunderstand-
ing which I wish to correct. The article
has it: 7 can take fifty of the inmates
out of their cells and officer that insti-
tuition better than it is off1cered now
The idea intended. and what I believe,
is this: From so per cent Of the in
mates in the institutions charge. 7
can pick men better fitted to fill so per
cent Of the positions Commonly called
JobsO which would be more of a
credit to the state than is the present
order Of things
Several officers in the reformatory
are clean, Christian gentlemen. and
lions Of trust and responsibility, and
many others are fair. average citizens.
Among the inmates, we can also find
a number in the institution and on pa
role still answering to the reformatory
for their conduct if judged by the
standards fixed by the great teacher
and the just judge, who are today even |
more than average citizens, and are /
guilty of violating fewer of the Ten 7
Comma ndments than are many men |
about them, or over them in authority /
y,
scorn and branded as cutcasts-.vile |
and unclean.'
My plan is and has been that the
standard of policy governing such an
institution as the refornatory should
demand that the first and most neces- |
sary qualification of all officers, from
the very lowest to the president of the
BOARD OF managers, should be cleanH- |
ness of speech and character, and free
from such habits as would bring in
mates under the ban of disgrace and an
extended term of Imprisonment, should
they be found guilty of initiating the
same. AS much of a trayesty upon
Justice and right as it Will appear to
those who read this statement. condi-
tions at the reformatory- today lack a
very great deal Of reaching this stand
ard.
Tt is of very little concern who holds
the Jobs and draws the little salaries
a. this institution. AS | have stated, /
have no ambition or desire to hold a
position at the state reformatory under
l4C present. ADMINISTRATION. am not
trying to regain my place there; am
not out Of job.
Visit to Governor Hoch.
I'm company with Rev. G. M. Shell
don brought to the attention of the
governor many of the wrongs, abuses
conduct on the part of officers Of the
institution, and stated to him that any
of these facts could be proven.
las best I could, made clear the
fact that very little could be done
along the line Of true reform. so long
as the standard of policy CT conducting |
the institution was kept on so low a
plane. The greater number of the Of
ficers Of the institution I stated, open
" boast that they are there primarily
to hold a job and draw the coin and
that the 'fellers' brought in by the
county sheriffs will not get any more
hell than they deserve.
II related that Mr.. Marshall stated
at the first officers meeting called 4
This is a refOrmatory, and I will not
stand for officers visiting Joints, drink
ing and indulging in other lines Of
questionable conduct here in Hutchin-
son, but If any Of you men want time
off at any time go to Wichita
or elsewhere' At this same officers
meeting the chaplain was specially
lauded and officers, in general, instruct
ed to give him very proper support.
II told the governor of how the
superintendent would often have a boy
use Of tobacco in some form. when he.
would be obliged to discharge the
'chaw' from his own mouth before he
could speak plainly enough to pro-
nounce sentence upon the culprit.
Il also stated that the superintend
ent would give me instructions in re-
gard to methods which I might use In
endeavoring to do the Christian work
Especially the personal worl) in the
institution, and then turn me down,
without any warning or suggestion,
through some one of the guards. in the
most humiliating and insulting man
ner possible.
IT stated many other facts of kim
dred character. showing the situation.
in general, and then added that I
would be willing to make these state
ments IN the presence of any or all Of
flcers concerned in the mana cement of
the institution.
Promised to Investigate.
THE governor expressed surprise
and regret and promised an investiga-