The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-12-13
Prison Conditions Been Paint
cd Too Black, Says Hodges, :.
Thinks Old One Can Be Rebuilt
to Meet Needs.
Who Urges . Brand New
100000 Prison.
Prof. Blackmar to Make . De-
tailed Report ON Matter.


Kansas prison conditions are not as
had a. they are painted. Governor
Hodges has declared, and when the
legislature takes action in the Lansing
penitentiary case In 1918. It IL quite
probable that remodelling OF the
present prison plant. rather than the
commended. In fact friends OF the ad-
ministration anticipate that Prof.
Blackmar. who 10 soon to file spec
ial report on the prison conditions.
WIN recommend new cells and better
sanitation ana will disapprove Of the
plan to build Q new penitentiary.
e 10 the hope Of the Democrats to
remodel the penitent1ary and to place
II - nearly on an equality with the
poeuible. To do this. they will spend
not more than 100000. will dodge
opectal session Of the legislature: and
Il Prof. Blackmare report bears out
the present theory Of the Democratic
van be placed far above peniten-
tiafies In other states. In fact It IL
claimed that the prison il already in
far better condition than either the
Missouri or Colorado state prisons
In other states.
OF course the state Adm:nistratlon
isn't to blame for the existing cond1-
tiona In fact conditions at Lansing
are probably far better than at any
time in . number Of years. Regard
lee OF the criticism which was arous-
Cd over his appointment, Warden jerry
Bofkin has kept the big state insti-
tuition up to standard and inaugurated
q bunch OF reforms and new business
policies that were not In practice
when he went on the job six months
ago.
The Democrats are not at all pleas
cd because of the criticisms OF the
psnitentiary. They admit that conai-
should be. But they urge that the
penitentiary Is not . summer resort
and that the state does not seno its
criminal element to a first class hotel
to recuperate and lay plans for future
And from that angle. they charge
that the Stubs administration fooled
the voters about condittone at Lam
sing. In that connection tney recaIl
the famous bedbug crusade or three
years ago. The bedbug question even
entered political affairs and when
Governor Stubs defended his record
for spending a few thousand dollars
in q crusade against the bedbugs,
microbes and nondescript germs in the
prison cells, the crowds at the pol1tl-
cal meetings cheered until the roof
shook Most of the voters went home
confident that the Lansing oeopugs
nA0
forced to seek refuge on the opposite
side Of the Missouri river.
Rut each season a new crop OF bed
bugs infested the prison and they
were perhaps just as much In ev1-
dence in the cell houses the day War
den Botkin took over the job a. the
day that Warden Codding went to
Lansing to worl. out his theories of
prison management and reform. SAN
itary conditions were perhaps just as
bad at one time as another. Every
morning a stencil that damned the
prison in the eyes Of the world arose
from the cell blocks as the men
marched single file to the sewer drains
ana emptied their refuse pals. 1t was
the same ten years ago. 1t IL the
same today.
Blackmar Goes to Investigate.
And knowing these conditions.
Governor Hodges sent Prof. Blackmar
to Lansing to investigate. Blackmar
IL an expert In prison matters He
will look over tho sanitary conditions.
study the present ridiculous ventilat-
ing system will look at the narrow,
crowded and stuffy cells, will report
on the need Of running water in the
cells; will look about bugs and germs
and microbes and the ravages OF tho
white plague among men and women
who are compelled to live year after
these things and perhaps moro. Prof.
Blael1mar will discuss in q report
which he will file with Governor
Hodges after his investigation.
1t will be largely on his report that
Governor Hodges will base his theory
Of prison conditions. The governor
himself has made = number OF visits
to the penitentiary ana knows in a
general way the conditions. He ad-
mits that conditions are not what
they should be. although the RESPONSE
bfl1ty IL by no means entirely on the
shoulders OF his administration or
that OF any one OF his predecessors.
Yet the governor does not believe that
q new prison is needed. He thinks
the old one can be made good enough
and at a saving Of 100000 at least
over the cost Of new plant.
Prlson Population Decreasing.
Another thing which II being con-
sidered is the fact that the prison
population Is gradually decreasing.
Each year there IL a reduction in the
number Of felony convictions in Kan
sas. At present there are twice as
many cells in the Lansing penitentiary
as are needed. And perhaps the state
will never again need . prison as
large a. the present one.
Only a few years ago Kansas cared
for the Oklahoma state convicts. They
were sent back to the state n which
they committed their crimes ana
there was a decided lessening of Kan
sas prison population. Then the new
parole system was put in operation. It
has permitted hundreds Of mem to e.
cure another chance to make good
And a good many OF the men and
women ore making good. A small
per cent OF the paro1ed convicts have
been returned.
But today there are less than 500
men and women In the state peniten-
tiary. A few years ago the population
ranged from 1900 to 1900.
Build New steel Cells.
BY building now steel calls. It il