Runge was tireless in his advocacy for the St. Louis Insane Asylum, but he did not always obtain funds he sought from the city health commissioner or the mayor. The asylum was short on resources, and many patients were transferred to the poorhouse, where they received no medical treatment20. Runge further felt that Democratic party corruption prevented him from effectively managing the asylum, because the party bosses had the power to appoint Runge’s staff and used that power to place unqualified individuals into asylum staff positions25