The Klickitat County Agriculturist, Goldendale, WA., January 11, 1935, page 5
KLICKITAT COUNTY FARM
By Mrs. W.J. Story
The long wished for opportunity to make a trip to the county farm, located at
Cliffs, came to me last Saturday by the courtesy of Mr. Harold Fariello,
proprietor of The Klickitat County News, who recently published his findings of
the conditions at the farm and in turn were handed to the public through the
columns of the Agri.
I do not see how I could improve upon the report made
by The News, which in my estimation, covered the field in a most accurate and
truthful manner.
Anyone visiting the farm who has an open mind not
prejudiced by gossip and hearsay must feel very much gratified to find
themselves so cordially received by its caretakers as well as by the lavish
praise given Mr. and Mrs. Shearer by the present occupants of the farm.
Any person visiting this farm and who has been
accustomed to the conveniences of the latest type of construction must be
prepared to realize that without these available modern improvements you need
not expect palatial conditions.
The buildings were constructed several years ago and
are of the semi-modern type and so are the conveniences that are used in the
plumbing, etc. At that, from statistical surveys recently made of rural farm
homes, I would say upon an average this has them beat by 100 per cent in favor
of the county institution.
I found the place clean and sanitary, and bearing the
evidences of much painstaking care in the management of its affairs.
The occupants are well provided with plenty of
health-giving foods and storehouses filled with much canned fruit and vegetables
for the makeup of the good menu and was assured by the words of the county that
they had plenty and were also grateful to the taxpayer or providing them with a
house and the average comforts of life.
Plenty of fuel and good stoves in the living rooms of
the cottages to provide ample warmth and the average comforts under such
circumstances. No occupant was complaining but on the other hand were lavish of
the praise toward Mr. and Mrs. Shearer.
I am not saying that improvements could not be made,
but probably the taxpayers of the county who are not in many circumstances as
well provided for have a feeling that it is the best they can afford. It was
evident that the committee appointed to the Taxpayers’ League was satisfied that
the wards were being humanely treated and given even better housing, food and
clothing than many of themselves are enjoying.
I went to visit Mr. Watson, the special and main object
of controversy introduced by the previous correspondent of the Agri. This ward
who for seven long months has been a helpless paralytic with the exception of
his right arm, also has no control over his internal organs. I found this
patient clean and comfortable, with a good fire in his room. I was taken into
an adjoining room, used as a supply room for his particular needs, and found
piles of clean and sanitary pads for use in his case. The clean-smelling odor
of lysol pervaded the premises plainly indicating that sanitary disinfectants
had been well provided for in their skillful efforts at nursing and good care.
I was also interested in the array of some 14 bottles
which still stood in empty array against the wall, and was told that they had
contained rubbing alcohol which had been used upon this patient to keep him in
better condition. I was, personally, convinced that he was being given the very
best of care unless he could have afforded to have special hospitalization with
day and night nurses.
He appeared pleased to receive visitors and spoke no
word of complaint against those who were caring for him. Just as we were
leaving he, in a plaintive manner which indicated that at his age he fully
realized the futility of recovery, he begged our group of visitors to pray that
he might soon be released from his earthly realms of suffering. This was not
done in an attitude of complaint, but more like a prayerful appeal. No doubt
his cause is an appealing one but not one that casts any reflection upon the
manner in which he is being cared for. I felt sure he was having everything
done for him that was humanly possible to be done by those who had his cause in
their hands.
I now bring this report to a close feeling that the
matter has been sufficiently covered by The News and the Agri. and if there are
those who are not satisfied -- let them talk unto themselves about visiting the
farm at different periods of time so as to familiarize themselves with the
taxpayers’ business.
Personally, I am inclined to believe that political
animas may have been the indirect cause of the use of the tempest in a tea pot.
It is not always easy for even the editors to chase down all the little darkies
that hide in political woodpiles. In the course of time these unfortunate
manipulators are given the light of day and the real culprits designated that
have been instrumental in stirring up troubles which might redound to their
covetous benefit.
I personally believe that the county farm is conducted
as well if not better than those in many counties.
Many states are seeing fit to abolish such institutions
and sooner or later it is very likely that this antiquated vehicle will go into
the discard in the state of Washington.
Many forward thinking states are claiming that they can
care for their wards more economically by adopting the pension system which does
away with the mixup in politics.
The last issue of the Eagle magazine has an important
message to bring to the public upon this question and should be read by every
member of the Taxpayers’ League interested in the solution of this vexing
problem.
Mental detectives should never be thrust upon a poor
farm but stricter regulations should be made by enacting state laws giving the
state authority to take these defectives and place them in the proper
institutions providing for handling such unfortunates.
Yours for fair dealing and honest government.