The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-11
Mrs. Mitchner Denies She Will
Quit BeIoit Job.
She Also Says She Has Not
Been Requested To Do So.
MANY COMPLAINTS ARE MADE
Catholics and Christian Scient-
lists Charge Determinations.
Many Inmates Get Away Easily,
1t Is Asserted.

Mrs. Lillian Mitchner of Topeka
superintendent of the State Industrial
School for Girls at Beloit, denies that
she has resigned, has been asked to
resign or has any thought of resign
! ing. At the state house, tho, it is
known that large bundles of com
plants as to Mrs. Mitchner's services
at Beloit have been filed with Cover
nor Allen and the state board of ad-
ministration.
Recently Mrs Mitchner landed on
the south side of several religious rows
that called for delicate state depart
ment diplomacy. But the big blot on
the Topeka woman's official record is
said to be the showing that more girls
have escaped from the school during
Mrs Mitchner's administration than
that of any other superintendent. Dis
cipline is declared to have been at a
low ebb both among employees and in
mates. One of the principal COM
plants has been the charge that Mrs.
Mitchner devoted her time to the or
ganization of the w. c. T. U. for po-
litical purposes and displayed the
greatest concern in the school on pay
days and the visiting dates of state
board members.
Was Strong Prohibitionist
Out at Beloit and in state political
and w. C. T. L. circles, the destiny
of Mrs. Mitchner is a matter of much
concern. Jack" Harrison last week
gave the case more than a column of
good first page space in his BeIoit
Gazette. With John Barleycorn safely
out of the way the possible passing of
Mrs. Mitchner from political power is
of much interest in political and anti
booze circles. Mrs. Mitchner has
been at the head of the women's tenn
perance organization in Kansas for a
| number of years and her power with
the membership was sufficient to land
her the Beioit Job at the hands of
Governor Capper after Mrs. Mitchner
had fought Capper thruout the 1914
campaign.
1t was just sheer strength and cour-
age that landed the job for Mrs.
Mitchner after she had shown inferior
guessing qualifications in the 1914
campaign But her political Judgment
was no better in 1918 than in 1914.
Last year she lined up for Brewster
for governor. That was quite all
right. But she is declared to have
also taken precautions to line up the
school employees also. Another report
is to the effect that she went quite q
bit further and advised one girl who
voted for Allen that her carelessne ess
might result in loss of her job. While
lining up the school for Brewster Mrs.
Mitchner showed appreciation of Gov
ernor Capper'S beautiful humility and
modesty. So she lined the school up
for Capper for senator.
Discriminates Against Catholics?
One complaint to the state house
has been to the effect that Mrs. Mitch
ner Disseminated against the Catho-
lies. Father Heitz declared Catholic
inmates were given no chance to
attend services required by the faith.
A little later Phil Chubbic. a strong
Allen supporter and member of the
Christian Science church. charged that
Mrs Mitchner wouldn't permit the
reading of the church paper and
barred the publication from the IL
brary. Governor Allen and the board
are said to have been called upon to
appease Chubbic and the Scientists.
In each case Mrs. Mitchner is said to
have been reversed.
An investigation of the numerous
| cases of escape from the school is
said to have convinced state officials
| that while Mrs. Mitchner made many
eloquent speeches against booze and
cigarettes and for certain political can
didates, she wabbled badly on disci-
pline. Jack" Harrison followed a
recent probe of the school with tele-
! phone interview with the superintend-
ent. Mrs. Mitchner was willing and
anxious, Harrison reported, to tell the
publisher many things which were not
| for publication. But Harrison is poor
on secrets. He wanted facts for pub
| lie consumption. He then asked Mrs.
Mitchner if she had resigned. had been
asked to resign or intended to resign.
In each instance she gave a negative
1 answer.
The state board of administration
has given neither threats nor promises
as tn Mrs Mitchner'S future