The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-28

handling of the woman problem is a
Woman's job.
The reformatory, properly organ
lied would do away with jail SEN
fences for women. According to re-
port of the county jails of Kansas,
compiled by the warden of the Kan
SaS state penitentiary for 1911, over
four hundred women passed through
the county jails in one year and
greater number through the city jails
of the state. Added to this, about
seventy-fiTe young women are sent to
Beloit each year, and about 10 wo-
men are sent to the Kansas state pen
itentiary
Why do we put through the county
and city jaiIs of this state every year
over eight hundred women? To be-
punished, some one says. BY paying
small fine, earned how? And by
spending from thirty days to one year
in Jail. If the fine and jail sentence
are for The punishment of the woman
prisoner. nothing is accomplished; if
thu punishment of society is desired,
much is gained, because the woman
victim of this Jail sentence comes out
with all her pride gone, more degrad-
ed, more out of sorts with society in
general, and better equipped to do
damage to the moral life of the COM
munity.
The defective woman needs disci-
pline, medical care, more and spiritual
training. The woman who leaves
Jail, leaves it an enemy to society
when she leaves a reformatory, after
period of repair and training, she is
grateful to society. She goes out un-
der parole backed by the friendship
of helpful women who find employ
ment for her, she becomes, instead of
an OutcaSt, a part of the needed life
of the community. In the woman's
reformatory of Indianapolis, III wom-
en- of all grades, ages and conditions
a a N q
The hardened criminal woman is not
at all in touch with the first offender.
We can and should lead Indiana. in
stead of following Arkansas.
Mrs. Miller, who is the president of
the Kansas Federation of Women's
clubs, and also a member of the state
penal board, followed out Mrs Cod
ding's thought for state reformatories.
She explained the necessity of reform
atories especially for fallen women,
whose only method, according to the
old ways of punishment, would be to
pay her fine or earn it at the same
trade that first brought her to the
court. These women. she thinks,
should be taught some means of earn
ing an honest livelihood.
DIR. Corbin who is an instructor in
the Kansas State university, spoke of
the need for halls of residence for
girls in the universities and large col
leges. The girls who come to school
out of the high schools, are young and
have spent their previous years under
the care of their parents in the homes.
The new students in the schools re-
ceive a large share of attentions, and
( unless they are protected, they are
sure to meet many difficulties and
temptations The council will ask that
residences be provided for the fresh
man girls at least, where they can
have the advice and care of a matron
and chaperon.
| The council is preparing to do some
legislative work next winter, and will
present few laws that they will hope
| to see enacted They will concentrate
on two subjects for their legislative
work.
| The late Mrs. Scott Hopkins, who
| was president of the council at the
| interested in having the state provide
| the halls of residence. She was a
| graduate of the State university, and
knew the need for the institutions she
| asked for. The work is continued by
! the council as a memorial to her.
+ + =
| Mrs. A. T. Lucas entertained the
! Friday Bridge-Luncheon club at her
home today. Guests of the club were:
Mrs. T. s Stevens and Mrs. F. E.
| Parr.
The civics and justice department
of the Federation of Women met yes
| terday afternoon at the Y. w. C. A.
! assembly room. Mrs. J. F. Stricken
was appointed chairman of commit
tee to interest a hundred or more
! housewives of the city in a municipal
1 market.
The club endorsed the movement for
a woman probation officer.
Mrs. c. W. Smith had a paper on
girls reformatories which was fol-
lowed by a discussion of the possi-
| bilities Of a home for women over
eighteen. Mrs. L. L. Kiene, Mrs.
Emma Sells Marshall, Mrs. Pearson
/ Mrs. Festus Foster and Mrs. Chas.
1 B. Thomas took part in this discus
sion. No definite conclusion was
reached, but it was decided that there
should be such home and that the
club would take the matter up again
at a later date.
Continued on Page 11.)