The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-18
ASKS DISCHARGE
. OF H. W. CHARLES
DIR. Eva Harding Calls for the
Immediate Removal
OF the Superintendent of the
Boys Industrial School.
TAKES IT UP WITH GOVERNOR
She Charges Mistreatment and
Cruelty to Inmates.
Complaints Are Backed Up by
Board of Corrections.
TAKES IT UP WITH GOVERNOR

filed with the state board of correc-
tions have been established by the |
board and four employees nave been |
discharged. Now DR. Harding has de-
manded of Governor Capper the dis
charge of Superintendent H. W.
Charles
Four specific instances of inhuman
treatment and cruelty to children are
in DIR. Harding's indictment OF the
state institution north of Topeka. Gov
ernor Capper. according to state
ment today by DR.. Harding, mas re
fused to act. Evidences OF oruIdl
treatment of children in the reform
school were laid before the governor.
He is quoted by DR.. Harding as having
justified the action of the superln-
tendent and placed TIE responsibility
on the shoulders of DISCHARGED en-
ployees. But DR.. Harding refuses to
be reconciled. She wants the. en-
ployees reinstated and Superintendent
Charles dismissed from service.
Treatment of children in the indus
trial school is simply inhuman ana
brutal" DR. Harding declared. Ihe
present management is making or the
school a kindergarten of the penlten-
tiary Make that clear. 1 can prove
every word of it. Why, do you know
there are thirty-five boys from the IN
dustriaI school now serving sentences
in the state reformatory at Hutchin-
son? / laid all these facts before the
governor and the state board of cor
rections. Yet they didn't seem to
think much of it.
Beaten by Employees.
Children sent to the industrial
school were beaten and mistre2ted by
employees with the apparent knowl-
edge and consent of the superinten-
dent, DIR. Harding charged.
"All the time Dr. Charles, the coun-
try gentleman. was making for him
self national reputation by writing
articles on prison reform for eastern
publications" declared the Topeka
woman. piles of books and maya
zines were coming to the school for no
other purpose, l was told, than that
j. r. Porter, a member of the board,
wanted to read them"
In four distinct instances, boys in
the home as wards of the state and
under the custody of Superintendent
Charles were so severely beaten by
employees that they required medical
aid and attention, she claimed. In one
or two instances the treatment of the
boys was so cruel and vicious that the
inmates have suffered permanent in
jury.
Zone boys back was stripped and
he was beaten with a heavy iron cook
spoon until his body was bleeding and
lacerated," DR.. Harding declared to-
day. His condition was such that a
nurse who was called to attend the
lad nearly tainted when she realized
his condition.
Another boy was charged by an
inmate with spilling a glass of water.
The inmate struck the boy in the
eye with his clenched fist. For six
weeks tho boy required medical treat
ment as a result of his condition. He
has never fully recovered and he may
have suffered permanent injury.
Boy Was Kicked.
That wasn't all. though While Dr.
Charles was writing articles about pri-
Co.
in the groin and ruptured beca use
he didn't stand just as straight as an
employee thought he should.
If those things don't make your
blood boil and don't arouse your feel
tngs about our .so-called humane
treatment of inmates of state insti-
buttons, l can give some more exam
pies. There was the case of a boy
who struck a horse. An attendant
knocked the boy down with his fist
Then the attendant sent the
boy to superintendent Charles for
further punishment. Do you think
the boy would have been sent to the
superintendent had not the attendant
known his action would be approved ~
All of these charges were laid be-
fore the state board of corrections by
DR.. Harding. The charges were es-
tablished in an investigation by the
board. Four employees were dis
CHARGED. In letter to Dr. Harding,
Charles NJ. Harger of Abilene, chair
man of the board, said:
Letter From Harger.
Il conducted an investigation al
the boys school Thursday looking into
the matters which you reported and
found that the facts were just as baG
as your information led us to believe
We discharged two of the Officers
mentioned, also one woman for inef-
ficiency and bad influence. Another
officer for incompetency.
Il feel under obligations to you fol
calling attention to the TT
and l believe it worked for good.
always feel that any officer of am
institution who does not live up to tn
best the state can expect from lin
has no business there, regardless o
his politics. l did not ask nor carr
for the politics of any of these fou
officers.
'sAt any time that you have any in
formation that seems to be of value t.
US. 1 shall appreciate your courtesy il
sending it to me, as I do in this in
stance"
with the same facts which she lai,
before the state board, DR.. Harding
=-+5ited Governor Capper and demand
ed that Superintendent Charles be dis
missed from the states service.
Il have worn a path to the stat
house to talk with the governor abou
this matter" DR. Harding said today
Il urged him to discharge Charles an
to reinstate the men who were dis
missed from the service. Can there b
a doubt in the mind of anyone tina
these employees acted with Superin
tendent Charles's full knowledge, con
sent and approval-even under his or
ders? But 1 couldn't make the gov
ernor see it. In fact Governor Cape
told me that it wasn't Superintendent
Charles's business to know what wa
going on. Those were matters in tn
hands of his employees, was told"