The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-07-25
WRITES
Of ASYLUM
STRIKE
Former Superintendent Believes
Action of Employees Was
Justified.

The following letters which have
been received from w. H. Gwinn, for
mer superintendent of the State Hos
riJal for the Insane at Chattahoochee,
are self-explanatOry:
Huntington, w. Va, July 81, 1905.
Hon. Frank Mayes Pensacola, Fla:
Dear Sir herewith enclose you
communication which l would like to
De placed in the columns of your paper
for publication. This paper explains
itself and hope same viii receive your
attention. Thanking you in advance,
/ beg to remain,
Yours very truly,
w. H. GwINN.
The communication referred to Is as
follows:
Gentlemen-In a copy of your issue
cf the 18th inst, which has just come
into my hands, / notice an article on
the Asylum Strike" Permit me 10
say through your paper that l think
the so-called strikers" have been IN
Justly treated ana cannot blame
them for the steps they have taken.
They are a good set Of people from
a moral standpoint, and any other
standpoint, and they certainly do
Lot deserve the unkind things that
have been said about them. / know
these people and know that no better
class Of employees can be had any
where and they will compare favor
ably with any set Of nurses or en-
ployes in any other State Hospital for
Insane. Their moral character, hon
esty, industry and integrity is unsur-
passed. They should be held by the
people OF Florida in the highest regard
and esteem. ] have always held them
as such. If I ever doubted ones hon.
esty. veracity or morality that one
was soon informed and the necessary
steps were taken for his or her re-
mOval.
have had experience officially in
hospitals of this kind for over seven
years and I believe / know how the
work should be conducted. have
visited and lately visited quite num-
Der Of insane hospitals. The more l
see Of these hospitals the more l feel
like congratulating my OLD employees
o. the Florida State Hospital for their
efficient work and the people of Flor
ida ought to feel proud of them.
In regard TO the reflection cast on
me as il appears in the papers, brand
Il absolutely false. In regard to the
alleged lectures given me by Mr.. Var
brOugh as appeared in The Pensacola
Journal is entirely without foundation
and false in every detail
Nv residence is in Florida and
expect 10 spend my future life among
the people of Florida. | expect to re-
turn soon; but l am ready to return
any time 10 defend the good name OF
my old employees of the Florida In
sane Hospital
I wish 10 state again clearly, en-
Phatically and without fear or favor
that the reputed reports of immortality,
etc, of the employees or
officers of the Florida State Hospital
during my incumbency as superintend-
ent is false. And say further that
no Legitimate child was born within
the walls of the hospital or was born
within nine months after either pa
tent or employee left the hospital
The old adage when there is so
much smoke there must be some fire.
will not hold good here. but / intend
to clear up the origin of the smoke. /
There were a couple of colOred chilO- /
ren born in the hospital by patients /
who were enciente on admission. /
About three years ago there was one
case among the employees in which a
ceremony righted the wrong /
after leaving the hospital and before
any child was born. Now, for this
wrong. which was duly righted is it |
right that the other employees should /
suffer and that we should all suffer OF /
30 much talk Of gross immortality al
he hospital?