Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1907-02-08


count Of the almost criminal parsimoDy
of the Legislature. in not providing
means for suitable kitchen, he won
ders how DR.. Foster and those under
him, have been able to furnish whole
some and edible food for so many peo-
pie. That kitchen is one of the dis
graces Of Virginia. and DR.. Foster was
powerless to Improve 1t, and In my
opinion it 10 responsible entirely for
any criticism of the food at this insti-
tuition. Its make up is something not
easily described in printable English.
and no time should be lost. in wiDing
1t from the face of the earth, and pTo-
vision made for this branch of the hos
pitsl consistent with Its requirements,
and with the objects for which the
Institution was founded.
Never again should any superintend-
emit be confronted with, or menaced
in bis good name or his administration,
by such mockery as that kitchen. But
If such things happened why wac there
not complaint and where was his local
board and the Hospital Commissioner?
The next charge against Dr. Foster
is lack of harmony with his physicians
and bis board.
The lack of harmony with bis assist
ant physicians, has nothing In it. l
scarcely pause to mention it.
But there has been lack of har
mOny between him and bis special
board. Now we come to the core, the
seat of the disease In this case. l be-
lieve now looking over this whole field
that il an honest effort had ever been
made to treat this trouble as it should
have been treated, by those nearest to
1t, that is the local board. the state
would have saved many thousands Of
dollars. and this Institution saved Its
good name and DR.. Foster and none Of
those about him would be now stand.
ing In the dock OF public opinion.
awaiting a verdict, and possibly sem
tence. But there never has been such
effort. He differed with his local beard
and when these difference are known
they would seem to sustain DR.. Foster.
Four years ago Mr.. e. 81.
Cloves then a member of this body
placed DR.. Foster in nomination for
superintendent. That was in 1908. He
was unanimously elected, and the re-
ports made thereafter, by the special
board to the Governor to be trans
mitted to the General Assembly were
highly Mandatory. Had there
been Just cause Of complaint. would
they not have made it ? or thereby have
written themselves down as unworthy
servants of this commonwealth How
were We of the general board to know
there was aught wrong when such
sweet harmony hung on every chord 7
We did rot know 1t. But there were
discords. Deep down there were dis
sensions. Judge Garnett did not seem
to know this. Nor did Maj. Bland
who thereafter took Judge Garrett .
place on the Board.
The harp which hung in these viii
lows has been for some time sadly out
of tune.
DR.. Porter having borne as he alleges
with conditions as long as be could.
made protest against the return OF one
member. and the results of that pro
protest are we'll known. TIE member
was not returned, Senate committee
unanimously SAID be should not be.
1t is needless for me to say that
there is now no harmony between DIR.
Foster and one member Of his board,
and none between him and the Com
missioner of Hospitals. The unfortu.
nate occurrences before this board
which made manifest the feeling ABOVE
described are subsequent to this in
dictment, and have nothing to do with
il. DR.. Eoster lost his temper, goaded
as be has been for nearly eight months
by all the attendant troubles and diff
entities of an Investigations, his steps
bounded by enemies, and his downfall
sought, but be al the same time gave
voice to some startling facts.
Who might not lose his temper under
such conditions? Having just been
solemnly dismissed by this board in q
wholly illegal manner. then solemnly
reinstated, to be again removed, in q
manner as devoid Of legality as beforei
then brought up for trial at last before
this body whose previous action must
have led him to believe he had only an
unequal chance, and whose hostility
in DIR. Fosters MIND was indisputable,
and which body he found on that oc-
casion fortified with able and astute
counsel; is 1t ask, a matter of sur
prise that DR.. Foster did lose his tenn
per, and that he like a stag at bay,
should turn upon those he looked up
on as his pursuers ?
1t is also deeply regretable that DR..
Foster in an ill advised moment should
have cast ref cti IN on GOV. MOnta-
que. The Governor has many friends
IN this commonwealth, he has a num-
Der on this board, and there are few
who though not close to Gov. MOnta
que, would believe him capable OF
knowingly making improper appoint
ments, or appointments with Interior
designs.
All this has been unfortunate, but 1.
for one either from nature or habit.
cannot withhold nv sympathy from
the weak or the oppressed.
look upon DR.. Foster as the victim
of oppression. / do sympathize with