Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-03-17
INQUIRY SOUGHT
BY LABOR BODY
Tri- City Federation Petitions
Governor Deneen on Geneva
School Conditions.
WANTS POLITICS DROPPED
Impartial Investigation Demanded
That There Be No Suppress
sion of Facts.

At a regular meeting of the Tri-Clty
Federation of Labor held last night the
following resolution was adopted:
Whereas. Through the sworn state
ments of former girl inmates OF the
State Training School for Girls at Gen
eva Ill, it has been disclosed that a
shocking condition of affairs prevails
a, that state institution; that the in
mates are subjected to the most brutal
treatment by the superintendent. Mrs.
Ophelia L. Amigh. and her assistants;
that the food served 10 the inmates is
insufficient and of a wretched quality,
and
Whereas, Such conditions are abso-
IuteIy disgraceful and a sad commen-
tary upon the management of this state
institution; and.
Whereas, Such condition of affairs
should not be tolerated, but should be
Tectified Immediately, and those re
sponsible for the creating or maintain
ing of such conditions removed from
control. IN the interests of common de
cency and humanity. Therefore, be II
NO ONE SHOULD BE SHIELDED.
Resolved, That the Tri-City Fedora
ton of Labor feels that most search
ing. sweeping and thorough investiga-
ton should be made by the proper state
authorities. or by a committee appoint
ed for that purpose by the legislature;
that such investigation should be non
political. and should be made fairly and
honestly by such Investigators as may
have no interest. political or otherwise
in shielding any persons or suppress
ing any facts, but only in bringing out
the exact truth as to conditions. Be it
further
Resolved. That copies of these resO-
buttons be sent 70 Governor Deneen.
Senator F. a. Landee. and Representa-
tives Campbell. Abbey and Wheelan.
and that the resolutions be spread upon
the minutes of this body
SOCIALISTS ACT, ALSO.
The socialists of Rock Island have
also taken cognizance of the Geneva
school situation, and a committee APP
pointed 10 draft resolutions has prepar-
ed the following:
Whereas, II has been revealed
through the sworn statements of Min
ME Hobert and Emma Peterson, two
former inmates of the State Training
School for Girls at Geneva, Ill, a state
institution. that deplorabIe condition
of affairs prevails at said institution:
that the inmates are inhumanely pun.
IL,
that logging. ducking. confinement in
an instrument of torture known as the
straight chair" imprisonment in
vile den known as the Strong room
and the giving of drastic drugs-pun-
ishments smacking strongly of the time
of the inquisitiou. but long supposed to
he obsolete. and certainly not to be toll
Grated under goth century civilization
and,
Whereas. The superintendent of this
barbaric institution, Mrs. Ophelia l..
Amigh, if correctly quoted in the news
papers, has admitted the use of some
Of the punishments charged. and has at
tempted 10 defend their use. although
their use is indefensible and unjustifia
bic; and,
Fhoh LABOHING CLASSES.
Whereas. We realize that the in
mates of this institution are deIinqUent
girls, taken almost exclusively from the
ranks of the labOring class of our cfs-
liens. their delinquency being caused
largely because of present social ami
economic conditions. Therefore. be it
Resolved, That we. the socialists of
the city of Rock Island, Ill. demand
that a systematic and thorough inves-
tigauon of this Geneva institution be
begun by the legislature of the STATE
OF Illinois, an Investigation entered
into by men honestly and earnestly i'm .
bued with sincere desire to arrive at
exact facts and who have no interest
in concealing those facts. or shielding
any individual who may be found IN
be guilty of such barbaric cruelty
that We consider the recent so-caIled
Investigation conducted by state IN.
pointees as a mere sham and farce. in
mat there was no attempt al thorough. .
ness. nor any attempt made TO interro .
gate girls other than those who were /
still inmates Of the institution. and
who would fear to divulge any facts
thai would be ar all damaging to the
management Of this school. And. be it
further
REPRE>ENTATIVES NOTIFIED.
Resolved. That copies Of these reso-
lutions be sent. respectively. TO Cover I
nor Deneen, Senator Landee. and Rem
resentauves Campbell. Abbey and
Wheelan of this district. and that one
copy be sent TO the Appeal TO Reason +
a. Girard. Kan. and one to the Chicago
Daily Socialist.
DECISION Is AFFIRMED