The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-07-18
Difference in Operation Of =
State Institution.
Report Of SSurprise Visit" Ut
Hutchinson Reformatory.
EVERYTHING like CLOCkNOnK
Reform School Managed Like .
Business House.
Inside and Out Of Superintend-
emit Hers Departments.

Kansas owns and operates state in
stitution that is little known outside OF
politics or some other source OF bias.
Il has been visited by politicians and
criminologists, and their expansive
theories concerning affairs inside the
four stone walls of the Hutchinson re-
1ormatory have been put in print, and
Il seems presumptuOus to write any
thing on the almost sacred subject. On
Thursday of this week Superintendent
Herr and his reform shop were visited
by q reporter, who was not under or
ders to get a political interview or get
4 line on some alleged scandal Matched
in political circles. The uninstructed.
unsent and unlimited visitor found con-
cftions so different from anything he
had read or heard about the place. that
the visit was almost like the discovery
Of something new.
First. from the anguish and alarm
exhibited by the outs when the place
was politically renovated and Few
Democrats given jobs on the payroll,
ono got the impression that 1t was not
only the largest institution under state
control. but that there was something
about its management that precluded
the possibility that any but a follower
Of the Republican ticket or some OF its
derivatives was competent for the task.
Both these impressions were dispeIled.
The Hutchinson reformatory occupies
space exactly the size Of the statehouse
grounds in Topeka-four blocks, sur
rounded by a wall with a cute little
stone bird cage on each corner. At one
corner is the main building, and inside
the stone wall are several other Dullo-
ings, each housing the machinery Incl
dent to some trade.
Everything seems to be running
smoothly. and big improvements are
under way. 1t is along the north side
of the enclosure, and leading east from
the main building, that may be seen the
greatest monument to Kansas politics
in the whole state. It looks like
choice find in antique ruins; it is mere
ly the unfinished east-wing cell house
that was abandoned to the elements
through politics, thousands OF dollars
worth of state property butchereo. NOT
TO make Roman holiday but to make
the figures in the auditors once al
Topeka show administration econo-
my" .,..,,
ished, with the exception Of the roof
The heavy stone walls and the heavy
stone and steel cells were built, and
then left to the elements. The huge
hosting device to lift stones into place
was allowed to rot down. 1t will cost
thousands Of dollars just to remove
the coating Of rust from the steel work
Of the cells-it will cost more, in fact
than it would have cost. while the
materials and machinery were on
hand, to have put q roof on the struc-
former administration that Is being
repaired by the ''incompetents" now
on the job.
Dick Allen, Favored One.
The only employee at the reforma-
tory who has lasted over from one
administration to another IL Dick
Allen. He has been there fifteen
years, and SO he Is a real veteran and
knows something OF the history Of the
place. One OF tho most noticeable
things around the institution Is the
They all seem to be busy with their
own affairs and at the same time look
ing out for the best interests Of other
departments. And still another no.
ticeable thing IL the interest the Of
hcers take In their charges. They
make 1t a point to remark upon the
good qualities Of each prisoner and
pass lightly over his offensea The
inmates do not act like prisoners, but
moro like hired mon while out or
their tasks. They work steadily and
intelligently at their various duties
and some Of them are skilled mo.
cap" Smith. a former contracto,
and builder. who has charge Of the
building and woodworking depart.
ments. Is attempting to do a lot OF
work before q change in administers.
ton can remove him. The recon.
etruction of the ruined part of the eel
house and the completion Of the build.
ing n the greatest job ahead Of him
Shawnee County's Contribution.
Shawnee county has done its shar,
toward furnishing recruits to the lit
tie army of tough ones'' at the re-
1ormatory. and Sheriff Kiene has 4
wide acquaintance among tho inmates
1t was In his company that the recen
visit was made. so II took n lof ~ finn.