The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-31
ARE LEFT ALONE.
The Oklahoma Prison InYeSti-
gators Go Home.
Will Return to the Work on
January 8.
KANSANS STILL THERE
Will Take Testimony of the
Prisoners Today.
Warden Haskell Opens Gates to
Investigators.
LANSANS STILL THERE

| L
committee appointed by Governor Has
kell of Oklahoma and Governor Hoch
OF Kansas for the investigation of the
Kansas state prison at Lansing have
| began their inquiry at the prison.
Kansas VIII See 1t Through.
| The Oklahoma Investigators left last
night and will return January 9, after
| the opening of the legislature at Guth-
r1e. Meanwhile the Kansas committee
was spent by the committee in the gen
eral inspection of the institution. 1t is
probable that the testimony of the con-
vets viii be taken today and it is said
| that ex-convicts will be called before
the committee The investigation fol-
lows the filing of charges of cruelty in
prison government and discrimination
against the Oklahoma prisoners by Miss
Kate Barnard, commissioner of chari-
ties in the new state.
Coburn Was for Action
Secretary Coburn, who was chosen
chairman of the joint committee, asked
the stenographer to say that he, per-
SonalIy, was opposed to dragging out
the investigation in this way.
L came here with these other gentle
| men as a representative of the COVER
nor, as his agent, to make a thorough
investigation and report our finding to
him before his term of office expires, -
said Mr. Coburn, ''and certainly object
to any delay
But the ONIahOmans Got Cold Feet
The two committees met at ? o'clock
at the prison. Warden Haskell met the
members at the front gate and conduct
ed them to the directors room on the
top floor of the prison where formal
IntroductionS were made. F. D. Coburn
called the meeting to order and an
nounced that the Kansas committee
was willing to join forces with the Ok
lahoma delegates and work as a joint
committee and bring in joint report
If that idea struck the Oklahoma gentle
men favorably. Judge COnnors for Ok
lahoma agreed to this arrangement and
nominated Mr. Cobnrn for permanent
chairman. Mr.. Coburn was elected by
acclamation. Prof. Blackmar was nom
mated by an Oklahoma delegate for sec
retary and was elected unanimously
The suggestion of Mr.. Gilday of Kansas
that Miss Barnard be brought before
the committee was withdrawn when
Attorney General West intimated that
Oklahoma did not care to have Miss
Barnard appear further in the investi-
cation.
Descended INTO the Mine.
DR.. Sheldon, Prof. Blackmar and DR.
Crumbine and others urged that some
immediate step toward an investigation
be made A resolution was then adopt
ed whereby it was agreed that a brief
joint inspection of the mine be made
this afternoon and adjournment then
be taken until January z. Mr. Coburn
announced that the Kansas delegation
| ton Independent of the Oklahoma COM
mittee. The delegates then went to the
prison mine. Almost half of them got
cold feet at the top of the shaft when
they learned it was 800 feet deep. Sec
retary Coburn Rev. Mr.. Sheldon Cen
era1 West, Prof. Blackmar and the two
mine inspectors and a few others were
dressed in long blue mother hubbards
with white caps and went down into
the mines. They walked south a mile
to the working face which is three
miles long. They tested the air and
ased hundreds of questions. The Okla
homa delegation left at Z o'clock and
the Kansas delegation stayed at the
prison to visit the night school, Mr..
COburn took the committee to a hotel
at Lansing for supper, He said in ex-
PLANTATION of this: 1T would not be
proper for us to accept the hospitality
of the warden. For his good as we'll as
the sake of the investigation we want
to give absolutely no opening for a
charge that any whitewash is being
used. We want to look into every nook
and Granny and ask all kinds of ques-
tions. We are going to probe this mat
ter to the very bottom and our COM
mission gives us almost unlimited pow
err
The Kansas committee came to town
late tonight and will resume the in
vestigation in the morning.
Warden HaskeIPs Statement.
Speaking of the Bernard charges
Warden Haskell said: TT has been our
purpose and aim to reduce punishment
to the minimum and we believe that
our form of punishment here 10 be as
humane and tnerciful and in any other
institution where a like number of men
are confined. A man that refuses to
work is either confined in a solitary
cell made for that purpose and given
rock to break and fed in proportion to
the work he does or is handcuffed to a
bar in the cell house with his hands in
a natural position during working
hours or until he will promise to con-
form with the rules and regulations of
the prison. For fighting, we have fire.
Quently had those who fought hand
cuffed together in a cell until they
made up their differences and agreed
to work together in harmony. The crib
is something that has been in use here
for a great many years, but which we
have used but little and recently took
it from the room where it was kept as
we thought the room more desirable
for other purposes, although 1 should
investigation.
In regard to the so-called water
cure which has been used only in a
very few instances, and then only on
incorrigible prisoners, it consists of
Handwriting man and confining him
on him from an ordinary garden hose.
The water was never forced down his
mouth, neither did it ever result in any
physical injury, it always being used
under the directions of the prison
physician. I believe this to be a hu-
name form of punishment. but it has
been abandoned here on account of the
repugnance many have for it on ac-
count of its misuses in some other
places especially the punishment which
the army. We wish you to take into