Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1881-05-14
NO. 80
Wesr Fhuinia Hospital for the Insane

When tie Hospital fcr the treatment Of IN
sane patients was established at Weston "
Va. no person could have imagined that II
would ever be perverted from is benevolent
objects for the benefit, personal or orothcrwise, OF
any man or arlv set of men But from card
Of DR.. Camden addressed 10 The Friends of
Those having Patients under Treatment Al the
Hospital" il seems that such mwarmntabe
and uniustiiiabe steps have been taken by the
Board of Directors n makes il apparent that
the whole scope and purpose OF the institution
is 10 be changed and made suhScrSient 70 per
sOnal and political aspirations, without regard
,c tbe results which are iikcly 10 follow such
action. .tet
Before calling the attention of the public to
tho extracts of a letter received by Or. Camden
from one If the Directors, it may be well to
inquire into the duties OF the Board, its author
it's, and the powe conferred ulNnitby thelaM.
What are It's sworn duties it Is charged with
the duty of receiving the report of The Super
intendcnt. cyaminiug the correctness OF IFS
financial statements, the number of patients
under treatment their hygicnic and sanitary
condition. their medical and moral treatment
and condition, the condition oi the Hospital
buildings, ncedtul repairs and additions, To-
gether with many details not necessary to
mention in this connection. The Board =
vested with authority 10 examine into The quail
ifcations of the officials In charge of the Hos
pitul thor capabiliiy and fitness for the posi-
tions they occupv the fathiulucss with wh.ci
they discharge their duties and the general ana
special exercise of the functions pertaining Ia
slch DISCHARGE of official obligations and tc
investigate any changes of nisinanagement,
eXtrayaeancc or cruelty 10 patients which may
have occurred or heen alleged.
The Board lns power toappoiW Supcrirtul-
dent, but has il power % rcniofe supcuntcii-
dent gginst whom no charges have been made
against whom no man can be fonnd bold
enough @ make CHARGE Can the Board
create q vacancy, and then proceed 20 exercise
its power t0 appoint? We submit for inveStl-
cation. this question: Does the law intend TO
confer on the Board the right 20 remove com
petent and faithful officers 10 crafty personal
malice or punish POLITICAL contumucN as Las
been done clearly iD this ease, and thus pro
cced TO appoint SupcrintendentP We DO not
believe the law ever intended or meant that
Such power should be placed in the Board o'
Directors They are sworn To exercise the of
fee in the best interests of the State and the
Hospital. Have they done SO? Who knows
what injury may have been wrought by the
removal of Dr. CamdCn2 Who knows bui the
Pickering dawn of returning reason about 10 be-
restored 10 full mental force and yigor, may
not have beer hotted out forever, hy The mis-
chcyous exercise OF What must PC considered
questionable power 90,
referring now 20 N Clmdeh's card Il will
be seen, from extracts of q letter received by
him from member oi the Board, that he IL
very kindly requested To resign, and he ls IN.
formed IN n manner "clild ike and hland,
mo punl il he will only bc c0;nplaisant enough
10 do so, and thus relieve the Board from an
unpleasant dilemma resolutions Cndo sing the
professional financial and executive ability oi
the Superintendent would bc passed by the
Board, sending him TAP, SO 10 speak, m blazeoi
glory The letter also contains notice 10 the
effect that unless vou accept the offer have
L., a will Ia.
here is the cnormty of this outrage-you be
long 10 a ring which is opposed 10 my pOhtical
advancement. and your hrOthcr-Scnatot
Camden-is opposed 10 me. as was opposed to
him, and rs ! cannot reach him. Will strikc
YOU No matter bow competent you are, no
matter how tho Hospital has pr0spcrcd under
your care, no matter how well You have con
Quoted its alars IN all things and IN every
wnv no matter what measure of sicccss has
attended your administration, no matter how
deeply your patients are attached 10 you, ny
matter how much mischief your removal VIII
produce on them or rhatits effect lnag be-
propose 10 utilize the Hospital for thc lnsane
to my personal and political advantage aud
you must be removed.
Is this what Board of Directors Is appointed
for2 Arc pLblic interests and public trusts 10
be made subseryient To private gricvnnccs, anc
is political ambition 10 be- promoted by prusu
tuting state charitics "a such unworthy pir.
And now, taking the extracts as given above
from the letter referred 20, we would Ike 10
ask the legal gentlemen Of the West Virginia
legislature if said letter is not good ground for
impeachment aud removal from. oilice2 n
upon invcstigation--an such investigation
Should be- begun Immediately on the rc-asscm-
bling Of the egislaturc-it is found thnt the
Board Of Directors has abused is trust and
transcendcd its power such action should be-
taken at once as VIII night the wrong which
has been done.
For right is right, since God j. God
And right thc day must WIZ
To doubt would be disoyalty
To faltcr would bc sin.
And if il is found upon examination that tho
law confer. autncrntic power on The Board, let
n be changed forthwith so that the legislature
itself shall have control Of the institution as
regards the removal Of officials and no SUCH
officials sLaii bc removed without charge have
been preferred. and full and complete inycsti-
CATION allowed, and that q Hospital founded
for sweet ciaritya sake may not be- commit
ted a. the p-oagan ogrc ahd rccii,'s kcePUfg OF a
local politician whose motto is Evil, be thou
my gOOdr lut nay bC retained boo the foster
ing care and protecting control Of the reprc,en-
tatiyes Of the people . Jt1i't
The Huntington Adtotscr rcgasds rota-
ton in Office as necessary and thinks DR..
Camden's friends should be content With