Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-27

variety. These things constitute the great
essentials to the we'll being of the home
provided by the state for the care of
more than 5000 of her afflicted citizens.
Such being the condition at the sanitarium
relating to essentials, 1 think complaints
must be limited to minor matters. The
rules governing the institution are whole
some and adequate and, 1 believe, are
well enforced. with the qualification that
now and then there are serious infrac-
lions by attendants"
CHARGE IT TO ENMITY.
1t is learned on good authority that one
of the committee appointed to investi-
gate the asylum was preJudiced against
the institution and expressed himself as
being glad to get a chance to make a re-
port Governor Smith was apprised OF
the attitude of the committeeman, but he
stated that it would be impossible to
change at such late date without being
placed in an awkward position. conse-
quently the investigation was allowed to
proceed.
The writer has visited the institution
from time to time and kept in close touch
with every action on the part of the
! management, of the board. and of the
public. In the Milledgeville News of yes
terday the following position is taken by
him in the matter:
Back of the stories that have been cir
culated about the Georgia State sanitari-
UNI are unwritten pages in the chapters
of the lives of virtually 1000 families ir
the state. Unable to come and examine
into details, mothers with sons and daugh-
ters here have been wrought up TO a high
tension, their hearts filled with agony ana
suspense on accounts of the reports which
have been circulated. Strong fathers
toiling amid difficulties have had burdens
added to their shoulders. sisters and
brothers have sorrowed together. won
dering why an all-wise God should permit
such conditions to exist.
And over in the building yonder, where
men devoted to duty have consecrated
their lives to alleviate the suffering Of
Nheir brothers, new troubles have been
added. The strong walls that inclose
more pain and sorrow than anywhere else
on earth, where hopeless wrecks OF hu-
manity are kept safely ancnored from fu.
ture storms, have been characterized as
prison walls death trap. place of hor-
rors. True 1t could scarcely be termed
more than that unless the magical touch
of the Saviour of men should be there.
TRIBUTE TO OFFICIALS.
But all that men can do. honest, con-
scientious men, has been done and Is be-
ing done. In every instance the harsh
ness of pain has been softened by gentle
treatment the bitterness or woe has been
sweetened by tender ministrations The
dead hours of night, when all the world
sishs for sleep find vigilant sentinels
watching and caring for those who need
care. When dewy morning greets earth
and the landscape is made radiant with
beauty of the rising sun, giving birth to
a new day, the same hopeless task con-
fronts the toilers there.
Think of 1000 people WITHIN those walls,
under one great administration. If they
were sane people the task OF governing
and feeding and providing for In every
way would be immense. How much great
Ell II must be now, with all the whins
and fancies of creation conferred there
The MANAGEMENT stands always ready To
do the best possible uncer all clrcum-
stances. The awful ending of one recenF
case and the uncertainty wnlcn now en-
yelops another with lunatic at large
sustains the contentious of the manage
ment from a scientific STANDPOINT. Ihose
who can see the splendid work on the IN
side know how well this Is carried OUT
better than could be imagined with the
f,,,ds IN hand realize there are no short
cominss. NJ
Ind DR.. Jones, DR.. Whitaker, DR.. MOD
lev. DIR. Green, DR.. Walker, Dr. 1ar-
borough, Dr. Willets, DIR. Cranston, Dr-
Richard and others who may be there
whom we do. not know, the people mere
have faith In your management III your
,A,votion to duty in your handling or the
cases coming under you and they win
back you up always. Mr. Lamar MT
Hollinshead, Mr.. Hubbard and others ac-
lively engaged in the responsible places
and all of them are responsible-you DO
well.
This may not suit all. but the truth
never does, still we give 1t as we know
Il and as we believe, others may do as
they will"
MINISTER TO THE DEFENSE
Added to the foregoing Rev. d. W.
Brannen, pastor of the Presbyterian
church. of Milledgeville, who has been
closely identified with the religious, social
and commercial life of the city and In d.
rect touch with the sanitarium for many
years, made the following statement to
the writer:
IT wish to put back of this statement I
make, concerning the state sanitarium,
any reputation 1 may have for conserva-
tism. fairness and veracity. / have no
motive for making 1t further than to pac-
ify the minds of large numbers of rela-
tives and friends of inmates of the SANTA
rum that have been so ruthlessly disturb
ed by recent reports concerning the insti-
tuition, and to let the people of our state
know the character of the authorities Of
the sanitarium from one who has known
them officially and personally for many
years.
In DR.. Jones, the superintendent, In
Drs. Whitaker, Green, Mobley, Walker
and Swint, the state of Georgia is fortu-
nate in having a corps of physicians
who, in experience. equipment, ability.
sympathy and fidelity cannot be surpass-
ed anywhere. have known these men
intimately for a long term of years. and
have compared them with physicians in
other similar institutions-and they have
never suffered by the comparison. There
are other physicians at the sanitarium
whom 1 do not know thus personally. but
whose reputation is equally as good as
those have mentioned.
ct have visited the institution at all
times of the day. often without previous
notice. have talked conhdentially and
freely with hundreds of the inmates. I
have never heard enc complaint of mis-
treatment during a pariod OF 16 years. /
have no doubt there have been instances
of mistreatment of patients on the part
of attendants. There have also been In
stances of attendants being nearly killed
by patients. Such things are inevitable
in large institution, but they are very
rare.
'sThe physicians are as regular as clock