The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-02-19
SENATE DISCUSSES ASYLUM.
BABCOCK AND REGENTS AT
Tackled AND DEFENDED.
Senator GraydOn Criticises the Adj
ministratiOn of the State Hospital
Fer the Insane, While Senator
Rogers Makes q Vigorous Defence
of the Superintendent.

Columbia, Feb. 15.-Whether DR..
]. w. Babcock, superintendent Of the
State Hospital Tor the Insane, and
the board of regents of that institu-
ton will be asked to resign or not
and whether the minority bill of the
Asylum investigating committee will
be accepted or rejected, are two mat
ters to be settled by the senate very
probably tomorrow.
If vote is not reached on both
matters for tomorrow the situation
will not be left hanging in the air for
more than day longer, for the ses
sion is nearing a close.
Two speeches directly at variance
with each other were made in the
senate today One was the attack by
Senator Graydon upon the Asylum
administration and the other was the
eloquent speech by Senator Rogers
In defence of DR.. Babcock. Each of
these senators spoke for nearly two
hours and each held the attention of
the senate and the interest of visi-
tors, for the topic is one of vital inn
portance just now.
Senator GraydOn, in opposing the
passage of the minority" bill, at
tackled the present administration of
the State Hospital for the Insane. He
did not wish any bill passed that
might be construed as an endorse
ment of the present superintendent
and the board of regents. 1.-The name
of the people of South Carolina, their
reputation for humanity and correct
habits Of modern thought and every
thing we hold dear in South Carolina,
is involved in this matter" declared
the senator from Abbeville in open
ing his remarks.
For one and half hours on the
floor Of the senate this morning SEN
ator Graydon spoke against the pas
sage Of the minority bill, and more
especially on the question of the al
legged condition Of affairs at the asy-
lum.
"Never a whisper ever came here
that things were not as they should
be-" said Mr.. Graydon, although he
afterward modified this statement
adding that except for the pointing
out of overcrowded condition, his for
mer statement stands. mo hint was
| made by the superintendent or board
of regents as to the fearful conditions
existing in that institution"
Senator Graydon, dealing more par
ticularly with the personages of the
administration, declared that he cared
not what the reputation of the men
in charge might be, that they had not
discharged their duty toward "these
poor unfortunate people," That they
have not dealt justly nor fairly with
the people of South Carolina nor with
the General Assembly.
Referring to the testimony brought
out before the Legislative committee
Senator Graydon declared further
that this very testimony spoke for it.
self. What are the conditions?" ask
ed the senator, and then he went on
to explain the situation as he sees it.
Under the sworn testimony" and
the senator paused to intimate that
the people of the State had not been
put in possession of all the facts, II
firmly believe II the people of South
Carolina had full understanding of
conditions at the asylum there would
be $4,000 people who would come
here and raze the place to the
ground before they would submit to
the present conditions"
Senator Graydon admitted he had
no personal knowledge Of conditions
but that he got his information from
the testimony and the report of the
committee.
What is the most startling fact %
| asked Mr.. Graydon.
He answered the question by say
Ing that on page 161, of the printed
testimony. DR.. Thompson, who was
physician at the asylum for many
years, made the statement that no
treatment was given there for the
insane" and Senator Graydon went
on to characterize the hospital as
merely a custodian" for the unfor-
tunates.
do you think" again asked Mr..
Graydon, that a superintendent who
has no system for restoring the
health Of those placed under his care,
is the proper man to be at the head
of this institution"
Referring again to the testimony,
oxy6n ck1 4,