The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-25
Orphans at Local Home DO Not
Have Enough Food.
mo SUGAR FOR THEIR OATMEAL
Yet TOpekans Are Asked To
Send Sugar to BeIgians.
Investigation Shows Officials
DepIOrabIe Condition.

While Kansans are spending thou
. sands of dollars for sugar and other
. articles for the Belgians in Europe,
. inmates of the Topeka Orphans home,
I Third and Fillmore streets, have been
F. eating oatmeal without cream or
sugar, have gone without milk and
other wholesome foods and with doz-
. ems Of toys placed on shelves in the
front room for ornaments, have had
( no toys with which to play. Such was
the statement today by A. A. Rodgers,
chairman of the board of county COM
missioners, following an investigation
by the board of this institution
we go down to the Chamber of
. Commerce and hear Bill Biby cuss and
f, swear at use for not giving to the Bel
gians. and we dig up our money for
4 sugar for those children over there"
. said Roders. fright here in Topeka,
we learn, there are seventeen orphan
( children as badly in need of help"
4 The investigation follows the APP
pointment of Miss Alice Andrews as
superintendent of the institution. Miss
. Andrews in order to take up welfare
work has resigned q good paying posi-
tion as a school teacher and has ac-
. cepted the superintendency of the or
. phans' home at salary Of $50
. month.
Food Not T'roicr Kind.
The trials and hardships OF the un-
fortunate children were reported to
the board by Miss Andrews. For
months one woman has been working
as superintendent and cook for the
seventeen children. Oatmeal served
in q big plate with neither cream nor
sugar was the breakfast menu, accord
ing 10 the report Boiled beef and
cold canned beans were served for din
ner. and in the evening bread with
pumpkin over il served as supper, the
investigation is said TO reveal
81 Hundreds OF dollars worth Of shoes
were found lying dusty and unused in
n dark attic according to reports made
10 the board of county commissioners.
The children it was reported, had one
suit Of underwear without buttons.
slept too many in a bed and had no
toys TO play with.
Dozens upon dozens Of toys. care
fully cleaned and frightened were
found in the parlor which is nicely
furnished and kept closed and dark
ened thirteen days out OF two weeks
and opened on the fourteenth day
when the board Of directors meet
Rodgers stated today.
The board isn't to blame" said
Rodgers. TT did the best It could.
Il The former superintendent merely
didn't handle things right. 1t be-
hooves Topeka to wake up and pay
little attention to her own insttu-
tons"
County Helps Home.
The county gives $40 month to
this Institution. the same as to the
n Crittenden homes. The remainder Of
the sustenance money is raised by sub
scriptions and work Of the board of
directors.
You can bet your bottom dollar
things viii be different in the future"
said Rodgers. After seeing the con-
ditions these children have been living
lin I am convinced more than ever that
4 sthe generous attitude of the county
commissioners in giving the poor, old
people at the county farm the best
available is the best policy and hope
the people of Topeka will see to it that
these unfortunate children get the best
things possible in the future"
House paint. x. Jones Paint Co.
ADV.