The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-18
DIR. Eva Harding Tore Into
"Whitewash Committee"
"What Do You Know About
it," She Fired at Mrs. McCarter
SHE is AFTER CHARLES'S JOB
"He's the Man to Fire." Doctor
Tells the Investigators.
Charges the Trio Was Appoint
ed to Wash the Slate.

DIR. Eva Harding today spent
stormy sixty minutes with the COM
mittee appointed by Governor Capper
TO investigate conditions at the Boys
Industrial school north of Topeka In
the governors office. DIR. Harding told
the committee--the Rev. Charles NJ
Sheldon. Prof. w. F. Blackmar and
Mrs Margaret Hill McCarter-that
the stage had been set for a whitewash
of the institution and the administra-
ton. Governor Capper was not pres
ent and Charles Sessions, his private
secretary. acted as mediator in the dis
cussion in which DR. Harding demand
ed nothing short of superintendent
Charles's job.
Whether the committee liked it or
not, DR.. Harding reiterated her charge
that the investigators were appointed
to whitewash the boys school. All of
the members sought to assure the To-
peka woman that their findings would
be fair, impartial and non-partisan.
They said they would go into every
charge with earnest care and would
report facts.
You can't do it," challenged DR..
Harding. ut can't be done. What do
you know about these things? What
can you find out? Evidence has been
destroyed, covered up. Why, 1 have
been working on this matter since last
July. In November the board said my
charges were true. Now, nearly six
months later, you are appointed to in
vestigate."
Soft Words Fail.
Members of the committee tried to
soothe DIR. Harding with soft words
They failed utterly.
What do you know about the
SCHOOL," demanded DIR. Harding as she
IL Al
never taken an interest in it,
How do you know 1 haven't been
interested" protested the widely
known Topeka author.
How do 1 know? How do I know %
DR.. Harding fairly sputtered. why,
when 1 made my fight, 1 made it
alone. Did you offer to help? Did you
seek information? No indeed That's
why 1 say that no matter how we'll you
may mean, you can't get anywhere.
You don't know where to Begin
The committee sought to secure
names of witnesses from Dr. Harding
They sought names of employees who
had mistreated the inmates. They
sought names of the children them
selves.
I'VE want the Names" insisted Prof
Blackmar. Then we can decide this
matter ourselves"
Il haven't them, L can't give them"
protested the doctor This informa-
ton came to me in anonymous let
tiers, in telephone calls. But 1 have
letter from Chairman Harger of the
board that the charges are true. Go
see him.
Did you try to get names?''
She Knew Better.
Not always knew better.
knew that unscrupulous, designing, Of
flee seeking politicians would fire any
employee who gave information and
permitted the use of their names.
That's why 1 haven't the names
The committee sought to pacify DR.
Harding with the assurance that per-
sons who had mistreated inmates had
been discharged.
Huh, Suppose they have? Sup
pose they have? What of it?" de-
manded the doctor. That's what the
board said. Why if anything goes
wrong in my home, 1 am responsible,
done with the consent of Charles He's
the man to fire. Do you think an
attendant would kick and beat a child
and send him to Charles for further
punishment if he didn't know Charles
would approve his action -
DR.. Harding spent an hour with the
committee. She charged that on four
distinct occasions boys in the home
had been cruelty beaten by attendants
The employees have since been dis
charged, she said. Now she wants
superintendent Charles removed In
the discussion which Secretary Ses-
sions sought to confine to a review of
conditions at the industrial school, DR..
Harding frequently repeated her
charge that an investigating commit
tee had been appointed at this time
with a view of giving the school a
clean bill of health
Members of the committee went to
the school this afternoon. They stated
that they would make thorough in
vestigation and would report to the
governor. 1t is probable that Super
intendent Charles and members of the
state board of corrections will be call
ed upon for statements. Prof. w. F.
Blackmar of Kansas university, heads
the committee. He will be assisted in
his work by Mrs. Margaret Hill Nc
Carter and DR.. Charles M Sheldon,