The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-22
Prof. Blackmar, Rev. Chas. M.
Sheldon, DIR. Crumbine.
HE WRITES A LETTER.
Tells Governor Haskell Investi-
cation Is Due.
Takes No Stock in the Bernard
Charges.

!
| Kansas penitentiary at Lansing, even
though they appeared groundless. have
| borne fruit. Governor Hoch today ap-
pointed the following committee to in
vestigate the prison and make a report
of their findings: Prof. F. w. Blackmar
| of the state university; F. D. Coburn,
DR.. S. ]. Crumbine. DR.. Charles NJ. Shell
| don and Frank Gilday. state mine in
| spector.
| The personnel Of this committee is as
! high as could be selected in the borders
of the state and any report they might
make would be accepted by the pub
! lie as the true state of affairs.
| In speaking today of the proposed in
vestigation Governor Hoch said: Il be-
| lieve that the public will be satisfied
with any report made by this commit
| tee. Personally, believe that the Kan
/ saS state prison is well conducted as
any in the United States. Prison re-
t form is a hobby of mine. 1 abolished
the dark room at Hutchinson and have
done everything possible to make the
Lansing institution a reformatory rath-
/ er than penitentiary. Warden Haskell
| has acted always under implicit instruc-
1 tions to be only as severe is absolute
| ly necessary and to exercise cruelty un-
der no circumstances. I believe that the
| charges made by Miss Bernard are in
the main groundless."
It will be remembered that at the time
that Kate Bernard in her official char
acter as member of the state board of
charities of Oklahoma made her first
sensational disclosures of the water
drop and the dungeon tortures at Lam
sing that Governor Hoch wrote to Gov
ernor Haskell about the matter and the
latter replied that he was satisfied with
conditions at Lansing as he had heard
of them through various sources and
that he did not care for the investiga-
tion then suggested by Governor Hoch.
Governor Hoch's Letter.
Governor Hoch, in appointing the
committee. today wrote the following
letter to Governor Haskell of Oklahoma
Topeka, Dec. %, 1908.
Hon. c. N. Haskell, Governor of Ok
lahoma, Guthrie. Ok.
MY Dear Sfr:-On the 10th of last
September addressed you letter con-
cerning some charges made through
Oklahoma newspapers by Miss Kate |
Bernard prison inspector of your state, |
with reference to the sanitary condition |
of the Kansas penitentiary and to the !
treatment of prisoners there l sug-
gested in that letter that it would give |
me great pleasure to unite with you IN
appointing a joint committee of proml- !
nent citizens from the two states to in |
yestigate these charges. I stated in my |
letter the belief that our penitentiary |
was one of the best managed 1nst1tu- 1
tions of the kind in the United States
and that Warden Haskell. in my judg- |
ment. had few superiors. still adhere
to this belief. l have talked to scores
of prisoners and ex-prisoners and have
vet to hear a single complaint from any |
of them against Warden Haskell SEN
sational charges, somewhat similar to
those made by Miss Barnard were
made by discharged employe while the
last legislature was in session. warden
Haskell who was also member of the
state senate, promptly rose in his seat
and demanded a legislative investiga-
tion, which was made and the charges
were rendered ridiculous
''Fre0nent examinations OF TINS IN
stitution have been made by members
of our state board of health and their
reports have always been faVorable,
but The official relation of Miss
Barnard to your state and to this in
stitution owing to the fact that Okla
homa has more than half as many
Kansas. renders another investigation
seemingly necessary 1 desire that 1t
shall be thorough and complete ana
that it shall forever settle the ques-
ment of the Kansas penitentiary
'.I am informed that Miss Barnard
has filed formal charges on the sub
ject with you. and in behalf of
Warden w. H Haskell and in behalf
of the state administration, I asked
YOU to appoint a committee of five to
Join with a similar number OF gentle
men that 1 have selected to make this
investigation and make it Immediately.
go out of office on the 18th of next
January and 1 am exceeding anxious
to have this matter disposed Of before
that time.
''T have not seen the official report
of Miss Barnard and hence am not
familiar with the exact charges she
makes. but it is Warden HaskelPs de-
sire as we'll as mine. that there be
investigation of the sanitary
condition of the penitentiary the
modes of punishment. the daily diet,
and all matters pertaining to dis
cipline general care of prisoners, and
xyif
aeement of the Institution.
'-These charges have been widely
published and it is due to Warden
Haskell and to the state of Kansas
that they be investigated. l have al
ready asked the following five gentle
men to make this investigation on be-
half of the state of Kansas: Prof F.
w. Blackmar, of the chair of sociology
and economics at the State university;
Hon F. D. Coburn, secretary of the
state board of agriculture; DR.. S. j. |
Crumbine, secretary of the state board
of health; DR.. Charles M. Sheldon,
author and preacher, and Hon. Frank J
Gilday. state mine inspector.
''I hope there may be no delay in
this matter and that the earliest date
possible may be set for. this investiga-
ton I wish you would kindly have
charges made by Miss Barnard. Hop ;
ing to hear from you Immediately, ]
1 am cordially yours,
"E. w. HoCH."
The following is copy of the letter
sent to each of the members of the
prison investigation committee: {