The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-17
Governor Capper Says That's
What-AiIs DIR. Harding.
Declares Her To Be Well Mean
ing Woman at That.
may SEND SOME ONE TO BELOlT
The Doctor Has Asked for
Probe of Girls School.
Boys School To Be Investigate
ed Probably Tomorrow.

Dr. Eva Harding is a well meaning
woman-but she gets excited. That
was the answer which Governor Cap
per today made to the charges against
state Institutions by the Topeka wom-
an. He also added that DR.. Eva
Harding would find difficulty in con-
vincing the public that his investigat-
ing committee belongs to the white
wash crew.
Several times recently DIR. Harding
has called Governor Capper and the
state administration to task because of
conditions in the state institutions. Her
complaints have included complaints
of mistreatment of inmates of the boys
industrial school, Topeka; and the
girls industrial school, Beloit. The
charges have attracted much atten-
ton and wide comment. Answering
the charge against the boys school
Charles M. Harger of Abilene, chair
man of the state board of corrections,
asserted that DR.. Harding'S charges
were "old stuff" Then DR.. Harding
came back with an indictment against
/ the Beloit school under management
of Miss frankie Wilson, superinten-
dent.
'Dr. Harding is a well meaning
woman" said Governor Capper today
when asked for a statement concern
|
woman, but she gets excited. She
will have a hard time convincing the
people that her charge of whitewash
is good. 1t is not easy to convince
Kansas people that Prof. Blackmar
DR.. Sheldon and Mrs. McCarter resort
to such methods"
DO you know the facts concerning
the charge of use of the straight
jacket at the girls school at Beloit ?''
| was asked.
May Investigate at BeIoit.
NO, but L rather think / shall send
someone there to investigate" was
the reply.
The Harding charges were to the eff
feet that girls in tne school were
placed in straight jackets, their arms
tied behind them and compelled to
sleep on the floor at night and to
! work in the laundry during the day.
| These charges, DIR. Harding claimed,
could be proven by testimony of three
persons. She stated that she had urged
| Governor Capper to send reputable
person to Beloit to investigate. Her
request. she said, had been denied
AT the school for boys, north of To-
peka, DR.. Harding charged cruelty to
| inmates. She asserted that several in
mates had been beaten by officers
with the knowledge and consent OF
Superintendent Charles. She produced
a letter from Harger, which she de-
| clared was an admission of the truth
of her statement A demand was then
made by the Topeka woman for the
removal of the superintendent No
action was taken.
Recently Governor Capper appoint
ed a committee to investigate condi-
lions at the boys school. The COM
mittee is composed of Prof. w. H.
Blackmar. Lawrence; DIR. Charles NJ.
Sheldon and Mrs. Margaret Hill Nc
| Carter, Topeka DIR. Harding declared
Saturday that the committee was APP
pointed for the purpose of whitewash-
ing the school.
Il think the committee will visit the
school Tuesday" said the governor to-
day in discussing the Harding charges
To Develop South Resources.
New Orleans, April 1.-THE South