The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-09-06
WOMAN APPOINTED
STATE HOME HEAD
Mrs. A. P. Burns Given an
Important Kansas Posi-
ton.
(National News Association


ATCHISON, Kan. Sept. 6.-Ofice
holders of national, state and city po-
sitions always boast OF their political
influence, of the votes they can swing
for their friends, and always when
they take office they announce radi-
cal changes in the work of their Of
fees. Sometimes their changes prove
beneficial. Oftentimes, in the hurry
and anxiety for a quick showing they
make grave mistakes. Politics rather
demands such a course.
But there is one office within the
state of Kansas, a high one which car
ries with it much prestige and 'politi-
cal pie" which will be filled different
ly now.
The new appointee, who takes office
next Monday. will not change the rou-
time of it's conduct with a sweeping
overturn of old customs and does not
boast that by her appointment thou
sands of votes will be thrown to the
Democratic party. In fact she, the ap-
pointee. is a woman, does not even be-
lieve in woman suffrage, and she told
Governor Hodges that she would not
be politician among the women who
were enfranchised by action of the
late legislature.
To Head the Orphans Home.
The woman is Mrs. A. p. Burner of
Fort Scott, and the position to which
she will succeed is that of superin-
tendent of the State Orphans Home at
Atchison, a plant in which PIG boys
and girls between the ages of 2 and
16 are cared for by the state. The in
stitution is one of the largest in the
state. 1t employs seven teachers, an
agriculturist and fifteen or twenty at
PENDANTS, besides operating a large
farm and orchards.
Under the Republican regime the
home has been efficiently managed"
Mrs. Burnes said yesterday while in
Kansas City enroute to Atchison Its
management has been under men-I
will be the first woman to assume
the pOsition-who have studied it
thoroughly and know every detail of
its direction. do not know it as they
know it and l cannot get in and over
throw the systems they have worked
out so pa -nstakingly. 1t may be that
will make changes later; if l do
they will be so gradual and slow that
little notice will be attracted.
ut has been suggested that my ap-
pointment was a political trick by
which Mr.. Hodges hoped to gain in
fluence among the women voters to
further his expected candidacy for the
senatorship. But that is foolish, | am
not suffragist. / believe in repre-
sentation, votes for only the women
who own property. If they can man.
age their own business affairs they
can vote intelligently But for every
woman there is sphere, at home, in
society, in industrial life, in which
she can do much greater good for hui
mainly and herself than by voting
1t has been said of Mrs. Burnes that
she is motherly and old fashioned in
certain of her ideas.
''If in my work at the home I can
make myself pal or chum of every
one of the children under me, I will
be more content than if had voted a
thousand times or tripled my prestige.
If can make each boy and girl law
abiding modest, courteous and good
member of society, l will have attain
ed the ideals of my position. Each
one must be self-sustaining when they
leave the home at the expiration of
the age limit. l shall endeavor to en-
force discipline, of course. 1t is
child's duty to mind his elders But
will enforce it not with corporal pun
ishment and whipping. l could not
punish person with whom l was a
chum."
Mrs Burnes is a Missourian, and
until about four years ago lived in
Platte City, having spent her early life
in Howard county.
She announced before leaving, the
purchase by Bale P. Waggener, poll
tician and friend of the kids, of Atchi-
son, of 1000 fruit trees which will be
set out in the orchard of the home